got the idea from the "what's in your CD player thread," figured it'll be a good way to get some book reviews and new ideas for reading matter.
anyway, here goes...

"Utopia" - by Thomas Moore
Actually, I just finished it and reading "The Life of Sir Thomas Moore" by William Roper (Moore's son in law). It's actually pretty boring. Utopia was a pretty interesting read. I've wanted to read it for a long time, just never got to it. amazing how progressive Moore was for his time (1500's), although it's hard to tell from the book whether he's actually advocating those Utopian ideas expressed by Hoytholday, since the book is written in the form of a dialogue - probably to protect himself for expressing those radical ideas.
bottom line - not exactly a great read, but is a must-read because of its later impacts on the intellectual history of Europe.

oops, sorry - didn't realize I posted this in the Surfing forum. hopefully a mod will help me out and move it to the NSR.
thanks.

Just started Neal Stephenson's Quicksilver - Baroque Cycle Volume 1. It'll be a long journey, but I'm already sucked in.

Tried to read A Confederacy of Dunces but found Ignatius too disgusting to put up with.
Maybe I'll try again some other time.

Just finished Tim Dorsey's Hammerhead Ranch Motel, it was fun. Everyone in Florida is a sleazebag.
Also working on Dylans Chronicles.




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"The truth is incontrovertible.
malice may attack it,
ignorance may deride it,
but in the end,
there it is." -Sir Winston Churchill

definitely give Confederacy of Dunces another try. I finished it about a month ago. Ignatious is definitely a disgusting fellow, but I just love the way he talks and thinks - it's like a breath of fresh air. and his scheme to bring about world peace by infiltrating the world's militaries with gays just cracked me up.

WG, Loved that Hammerhead book! Try Aloha, Mr. Lucky by Hirschfeld... another one similar in style.


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http://www.flickr.com/photos/flsurferzmom/

Spinoza - Ethics, for my philosophy class. unbelievably difficult reading, written in geometrical order.

The Laws of Change, I Ching and the Philosophy of Life by Jack M. Balkin, for my own interests.

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I wanted seltzer! not salsa!

I tried Confederacy of Dunces twice and just could not finish it. Ignatius reminded me too much of my brother in law.

Tim Dorsey's books are hysterical - every Florida resident should be required to read them.

Right now I'm reading Fan Tan. It was written as a collaboration between Marlon Brando and a screenwriter friend of his and sat in a drawer for a long time before being released recently. I was skepitcal but read some really good reviews and decided to give it a shot. I'm about halfway through and am really enjoying it. Its definitely light reading but its a good adventure story.

On the other hand, I want to steer people clear of Tony Garcia's line of surf related novels. You may have heard of them (Ollie's Point, Tracks of the Tiger) as they have been mentioned in various surf publications and actually got some ok reviews. Let me be honest about these books - they are positively awful. I hate to put them down as the guy is just trying to make a living writing novels about what he loves (something I've daydreamed about myself) but he's just not a writer. Sorry about that but its true.

yeah Spinoza is incredibly difficult - especially if you don't have the benefit of a philosophy professor helping you through it.

what are Tim Dorsey's FL books about? fiction or non-fiction? FL history?

New surfer!

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It's not how big the wave is! It's how you surf it!

Primus sucks!
PLayalinda sucks!!!!

GO BRONCOS!!

The #1 cause of accidental death 4 yrs and younger is drowning!! 407-855-SAFE!!! infantswim.com

Yes, Dorsey is all about Florida history.....and one of Florida's finest sons,
Mr. Serge A. Storms.

I've learned a lot from Serge, he's my idol.

If your a Floridian, Dorsey and Hiaasen are a must!!!!



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www.timebaughdesigns.com

Edited: 09/29/2005 at 06:42 AM by Timinator

Just started reading Robinson Caruso.

Just finnished "On Bull$hit" - mildly insightful

Amazing read!

Just started reading Jerry Seinfeld's "Seinlanguage" ...I guess I look at life
kind of like Jerry, and not take life too seriously! ...lol

My Smithsonian subscription

The Wounded Generation: America after Vietnam

aside from the monthly maxim's i'm in the middle of John Grisham's The Broker.

I really want to read "The Five People You Meet In Heaven"

stef

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Surf naked. It brings out the color in your cheeks.

Don't hate me because I'm a Dolphins fan.

Just some light trash...Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice.

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Keep your yap shut and let your surfing do the talking, Everything else will take care of itself.

MAHALO!

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

I've never read them before, and I want to finish the books before I watch the movies.

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The internet is serious business.

"Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs" by Chuck Klosterman.

A collection of pop culture essays. While sometimes overanalytical and over-intellectual, the viewpoints are very funny, and eye-opening, but not in a life changing manner. Good read for those who are 25-35 years old.

"Waves and Beaches" I forget the author. And I'm still waiting for it to arrive in the mail.

This book, about the science of...waves and beaches, was reccommended to my by a poster on the Dade Country Surf website. It's been called a "must read" for any surfer.

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Goin' where the climate suits my clothes

The Great Shark Hunt
Hunter S Thompson

Re reading it for about the 20th time. Mostly the articles from the McGovern campaign to Nixon resignation.