lawnrrd: (Default)
2025-01-01 12:01 am
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Books Read 2025

  1. Alice Miller, The Drama of the Gifted Child (re-read)
  2. Rick Atkinson, The Guns at Last Light
  3. Jonice Webb, Running on Empty
  4. Oliver Burkeman, Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
  5. Rudyard Kipling, Kim
  6. Joseph Conrad, Nostromo
  7. Evelyn Waugh, Decline and Fall
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lawnrrd: (Default)
2024-03-04 11:18 am
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Books Read 2024

  1. Gordon S. Wood, The Radicalism of the American Revolution
  2. Terry Pratchett, Eric
  3. Terry Pratchett, Moving Pictures
  4. Terry Pratchett, Hogfather
  5. Terry Pratchett, The Wee Free Men
  6. Terry Pratchett, Men at Arms (re-read)
  7. Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky
  8. Terry Pratchett, The Shepherd’s Crown
  9. Terry Pratchett, Wintersmith
  10. Terry Pratchett, I Shall Wear Midnight
  11. Terry Pratchett, The Shepherd’s Crown
  12. Terry Pratchett, Making Money
  13. Terry Pratchett, Witches Abroad
  14. Terry Pratchett, Lords and Ladies
  15. Terry Pratchett, Maskerade
  16. Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment
  17. Terry Pratchett, Night Watch
  18. Adam Higginbotham, Midnight at Chernobyl
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lawnrrd: (Default)
2021-07-31 12:07 am
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Books Read 2021

  1. Robert Shea & Robert Anton Wilson, The Illuminatus! Trilogy (re-read)
  2. Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
  3. Sam Wasson, The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood
  4. J. Michael Straczynski, Becoming Superman
  5. Paul Bowles, The Sheltering Sky
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lawnrrd: (Default)
2019-12-31 11:59 pm
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Books Read 2019

  1. Kevin Wehrbach, The Blockchain and the New Architecture of Trust
  2. Roben Farzad, Hotel Scarface: Where Cocaine Cowboys Partied and Plotted to Control Miami
  3. Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
  4. Wednesday Martin, Untrue
  5. Amanda Palmer, The Art of Asking
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lawnrrd: (Default)
2018-12-31 11:59 pm
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Books Read 2018

  1. Agatha Christie, The Murder on the Links
  2. Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles
  3. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Le Petit Prince (in French)
  4. Niall Barr, Eisenhower’s Armies
  5. Agatha Christie, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
  6. Jim Butcher, Storm Front
  7. Agatha Christie, Poirot Investigates
  8. Melanie Swan, Blockchain
  9. Jim Butcher, Fool Moon
  10. Jim Butcher, Grave Peril
  11. Jim Butcher, Summer Knight
  12. Jim Butcher, Death Masks
  13. Jim Butcher, Blood Rites
  14. Herman Melville, Moby-Dick
  15. Mikhail Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita
  16. George Pendle, Strange Angel: The Otherworldly Life of Rocket Scientist John Whiteside Parsons
  17. Rick Wilson, Everything Trump Touches Dies
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lawnrrd: (kitty)
2017-12-31 11:59 pm
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Books Read 2017

  1. Alexander Rose, Washington’s Spies: The Story of America’s First Spy Ring
  2. Alistair Horne, The Age of Napoleon
  3. Patrick O'Brian, Blue at the Mizzen
  4. Angus Konstam, Horatio Nelson
  5. Len Deighton, The IPCRESS File
  6. Len Deighton, Horse Under Water
  7. Len Deighton, Funeral in Berlin
  8. Len Deighton, Billion-Dollar Brain
  9. Znex Jvfrzna, Zvaq Cynl
  10. Len Deighton, Berlin Game
  11. Colin Woodard, The Republic of Pirates
  12. Umberto Eco, Baudolino
  13. Andy Weir, The Martian
  14. Paul Johnson, Churchill
  15. David Halberstam, The Best and the Brightest
  16. David L. Anderson (ed.), The Columbia History of the Vietnam War
  17. Rudyard Kipling, The Man Who Would Be King
  18. Carlos Bueno, Lauren Ipsum
  19. H.R. McMaster, Dereliction of Duty
  20. Jonathan D. Sarna, When General Grant Expelled the Jews
  21. Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None
  22. Edward O. Thorp, A Man for All Markets: From Las Vegas to Wall Street, How I Beat the Dealer and the Market
  23. George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones (re-read)
  24. George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings (re-read)
  25. George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords (re-read)
  26. George R.R. Martin, A Feast for Crows (re-read)
  27. George R.R. Martin, A Dance With Dragons (re-read)
  28. Elfriede Jelinek, The Piano Teacher
  29. Sarah Waters, Tipping the Velvet
  30. Christopher Hitchens, The Trial of Henry Kissinger
  31. Tim Weiner, One Man Against the World: The Tragedy of Richard Nixon
  32. Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein, All the President’s Men
  33. Neil Gaiman, American Gods (re-read)
  34. Martin Millar, The Anxiety of Kalix the Werewolf
  35. Joe Haldeman, The Forever War
  36. Connie Willis, Crosstalk
  37. Connie Willis, Blackout
  38. Connie Willis, All Clear
  39. Terry Pratchett, Reaper Man
  40. John A. Farrell, Richard Nixon: the Life
  41. Carlo D’Este, Eisenhower: A Soldier’s Life
  42. John Scalzi, Redshirts
  43. John W. Dean, Blind Ambition: The White House Years
  44. Bill Kreutzmann & Benjy Eisen, Deal: My Three Decades of Drumming, Dreams, and Drugs with the Grateful Dead
  45. Margaret MacMillan, The War that Ended Peace: The Road to 1914
  46. Jack Kerouac, On the Road
  47. Max Hastings, Inferno: The World at War, 1939-1945
  48. Neil Gaiman, Norse Mythology
  49. William Poundstone, Fortune's Formula: The Untold Story of the Scientific Betting System that Beat the Casinos and Wall Street
  50. Ian Graham, Scarlet Women: The Scandalous Lives of Courtesans, Concubines, and Royal Mistresses
  51. Alison Weir, The Life of Elizabeth I
  52. Dava Sobel, Longitude
  53. Blair Jackson & David Gans, This Is All a Dream We Dreamed: An Oral History of the Grateful Dead
  54. Michael Keane, Patton: Blood, Guts, and Prayer
  55. Michael Pilhofer, Music Theory for Dummies
  56. Diane Johnson, Into a Paris Quartier: Reine Margot’s Chapel and Other Haunts of St.-Germain
  57. Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express
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lawnrrd: (kitty)
2016-12-31 11:59 pm
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Books Read 2016

  1. William Shakespeare, King Lear (re-read)
  2. Cevaprff Xnyv, Rabhtu Gb Znxr Lbh Oyhfu: Rkcybevat Rebgvp Uhzvyvngvba
  3. Isaac Asimov, Foundation
  4. Robert Ludlum, The Bourne Identity
  5. Isaac Asimov, Foundation and Empire
  6. Jacqueline Carey, Kushiel’s Dart
  7. Isaac Asimov, Second Foundation
  8. Isaac Asimov, Prelude to Foundation
  9. John D. MacDonald, The End of the Night
  10. Jack Nicklaus, Golf My Way
  11. Isaac Asimov, Foundation and Earth
  12. Adam Hochschild, King Leopold's Ghost
  13. Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
  14. Isaac Asimov, Foundation’s Edge
  15. Jeff Gramm, Dear Chairman: Boardroom Battles and the Rise of Shareholder Activism
  16. Frank Herbert, Children of Dune
  17. Gordon S. Wood, The Radicalism of the American Revolution
  18. James Lee McDonough, William Tecumseh Sherman: In the Service of My Country: A Life
  19. Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Two Years Before the Mast
  20. William Faulkner, The Sound and the Fury
  21. Patrick O'Brian, Master & Commander
  22. Patrick O'Brian, Post Captain
  23. Patrick O'Brian, H.M.S. Surprise
  24. Patrick O'Brian, The Mauritius Command
  25. Edwin Lefèvre, Reminiscences of a Stock Operator (annotated edition)
  26. Alexandre Dumas, The Three Musketeers
  27. Peter McPhee, Liberty or Death: The French Revolution, 1789–1799
  28. Patrick O’Brian, Desolation Island
  29. Patrick O’Brian, The Fortune of War
  30. Patrick O’Brian, The Surgeon’s Mate
  31. Patrick O'Brian, The Ionian Mission
  32. Patrick O'Brian, Treason’s Harbour
  33. Patrick O’Brian, The Far Side of the World
  34. Stephen L. Carter, The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln
  35. Patrick O’Brian, The Reverse of the Medal
  36. Patrick O’Brian, The Letter of Marque
  37. Franz Nicolay, The Humorless Ladies of Border Control
  38. Patrick O’Brian, The Thirteen-Gun Salute
  39. Patrick O’Brian, The Nutmeg of Consolation
  40. Patrick O’Brian, The Truelove
  41. Patrick O’Brian, The Wine-Dark Sea
  42. Patrick O’Brian, The Commodore
  43. Patrick O’Brian, The Yellow Admiral
  44. Patrick O’Brian, Men-of-War: Life in Nelson’s Navy
  45. Patrick O’Brian, The Hundred Days
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lawnrrd: (kitty)
2015-12-31 11:59 pm
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Books Read 2015

  1. I forget.
  2. Laurell K. Hamilton, Nightshade (don’t judge me)
  3. I forget.
  4. Neil Gaiman, American Gods (re-read)
  5. Maurice Druon, The Iron King
  6. Maurice Druon, The Strangled Queen
  7. Maurice Druon, The Poisoned Crown
  8. Maurice Druon, The Royal Succession
  9. Maurice Druon, The She-Wolf
  10. George Holmes, The Oxford History of Medieval Europe
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring (re-read) (I didn't mean to, but once I started...)
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers (re-read)
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King (re-read)
  14. Qnivq Wraavatf, Fxvasyvpxf
  15. Ernest Cline, Ready Player One
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lawnrrd: (kitty)
2014-12-31 11:59 pm
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Books Read 2014

  1. Paul Tough, How Children Succeed
  2. Lois McMaster Bujold, Memory (e-book)
  3. Lois McMaster Bujold, Miles in Love (e-book)
  4. Rory Miller, Meditations on Violence
  5. Lois McMaster Bujold, Captain Vorpatril's Alliance (e-book)
  6. Lois McMaster Bujold, Cryoburn (e-book)
  7. Martin E.P. Seligman, Learned Optimism (e-book)
  8. Evpuneq Oebbxuvfre, Nyrknaqre Unzvygba, Nzrevpna
  9. Lauro Martines, Furies: War in Europe 1450–1700 (e-book)
  10. Peter Biskind, Easy Riders, Raging Bulls (re-read)
  11. Neal Stephenson, Cryptonomicon
  12. Elmore Leonard, Get Shorty
  13. Madison Young, Daddy: A Memoir
  14. Laura Antoniou, The Killer Wore Leather
  15. George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones (re-read)
  16. George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings (re-read)
  17. George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords (re-read)
  18. George R.R. Martin, A Feast for Crows (re-read)
  19. George R.R. Martin, A Dance With Dragons (re-read)
  20. Edmund Landau, Foundations of Analysis (skimmed the last third or so)
  21. Robert Graves, I, Claudius (e-book)
  22. Anapl Sevqnl, Orlbaq Zl Pbageby: Sbeovqqra Snagnfvrf va na Haprafberq Ntr (e-book)
  23. John Medina, Brain Rules for Baby
  24. Neil Gaiman, Stardust
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lawnrrd: (kitty)
2013-12-31 11:59 pm
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Books Read 2013

  1. John Ringo, Ghost (re-read)
  2. Matthew But­t­er­ick, Typography for Lawyers
  3. Roy F. Baumeister & John Tierney, Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength
  4. Aaron Hillegass & Alan Preble, Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X (4th ed.) (read the new edition to learn what's new)
  5. Gemma Correll, a cat’s life
  6. Amity Shlaes, Coolidge
  7. John le Carré, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
  8. John le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy
  9. John le Carré, Smiley's People
  10. Barbara Tuchman, The Guns of August
  11. Christopher Hitchens, Thomas Jefferson: Author of America
  12. Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
  13. Connie Willis, To Say Nothing of the Dog
  14. Devora Zack, Networking for People Who Hate Networking
  15. Lois McMaster Bujold, Cordelia's Honor
  16. Lois McMaster Bujold, Young Miles
  17. Lois McMaster Bujold, Miles, Mystery and Mayhem
  18. Lois McMaster Bujold, Miles Errant
  19. Paul Johnson, George Washington
  20. Mario Puzo, The Godfather
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lawnrrd: (Default)
2011-12-31 11:59 pm
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Books Read 2011

(partial list because I didn't keep track for the first part of the year)

  1. Solomon Nortrup, Twelve Years a Slave
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion
  3. George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
  4. Frédéric Bastiat, The Law
  5. George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings
  6. David Ignatius, Bloodmoney
  7. Henryk Sienkiewicz, Quo Vadis: A Narrative of the Time of Nero (trans. by Jeremiah Curtin)
  8. [elided]
  9. [elided 2: electric boogaloo]
  10. Emily Doskow, Nolo's Essential Guide to Divorce
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lawnrrd: (Default)
2011-10-26 10:41 pm
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A Return to Literacy

I'm embarrassed to admit how long it's been since I last read a book. It's easy enough to explain: what with all the work and personal hullabaloo, I've barely had enough mental energy to play Plants vs. Zombies on the subway, much less read anything. Now that things are starting to settle, though, I've noticed how long it really has been. Like, months, really.

There are a bunch of things I'd like to read about, fiction as well as nonfiction, but I'm trying to stick to stuff that's available on Kindle, so I can read it on my phone. That tends to increase convenience while lowering the chance of small people finding inappropriate reading matter next to my bed.

So, more or less on a whim, I've started reading Quo Vadis, which was free to download from the Kindle store. I don't know whether I can stick with anything this heavy these days, but it's worth a shot.
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lawnrrd: (Default)
2010-12-31 11:59 pm
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Books Read 2010

  1. Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles
  2. Arthur Conan Doyle, The Valley of Fear
  3. Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged (reread)
  4. Neil Gaiman, American Gods
  5. Rachel Kramer Bussel (ed.), Best Sex Writing 2010
  6. Stieg Larsson, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
  7. Stieg Larsson, The Girl Who Played With Fire
  8. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Infidel
  9. Jon Meacham, American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House
  10. The Bible (King James Version)
  11. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Nomad: From Islam to America: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations
  12. Norah Vincent, Self-Made Man
  13. The U.S. Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual
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lawnrrd: (Default)
2010-08-09 10:36 am
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Once More Unto the Heap

Following up on this post, I have started reading (and nearly finished) Nomad, the most recent book by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who is a hero to me. It seemed like a natural choice: I had recently read Infidel and found it compelling. Considering that I had just finished the Bible, I also thought it would give me some fresh context for some of what she said about the Quran.

Lots of thoughts so far, but no time right now to put them down. I have found myself nearly shaking with rage at times, though, nearly always directed at western leftists.
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lawnrrd: (Default)
2010-08-04 10:29 am
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Ever Stop to Think and . . .

For the first time in a while, since having finished my project, I have nothing to read. I mean, I have a huge to-read queue heap random pile, but I just don't feel like approaching it. It shouldn't bug me, but it does: I feel, however unreasonably, as though I'm wasting time.
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lawnrrd: (Default)
2010-07-30 11:46 pm
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Light Beach Reading

I just finished reading the Bible. I mean, I read the whole thing for the first time, cover to cover, from "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." to "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

I wanted to read it, to have it as context. I wanted to see where the cultural traces came from—the art, the philosophy, the history. Besides that, I am an American, and most Americans are Christians. A significant portion of them take the Bible very literally. I wanted to see where they were coming from.

And you know, I don't have too much to say about it. I was, and remain, an atheist. I boggled at parts of it and continue to do so, including, for example, the genocide of the Canaanites, including women, children, and domestic animals. Both God's endorsements of casual rape in the Old Testament and Saint Paul's exhortations to celibacy in the New Testament are stunning in their own ways.

In hindsight, I'd probably have had more to say if I had posted as I worked my way thorough it over the past few months. But I didn't, so I don't. At least now I can move to the next item on my to-read queue, as soon as I decide what it is.
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lawnrrd: (Default)
2008-04-22 02:56 pm
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lawnrrd: (Default)
2007-12-31 11:59 pm
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lawnrrd: (Default)
2007-07-30 10:53 am
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Well, I'm Back

I just finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I enjoyed it, and I was impressed that Rowling succeeded as well as she did in resolving plot lines and answering questions, while still telling a story. Besides that, I really have no great insights to share.

There is one thing that has really bothered me throughout the series, though.

( Cut for a couple of mild spoilers. )
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lawnrrd: (Default)
2007-02-26 12:54 pm
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Let's See Who Gets This One

I haven't read 300, Frank Miller's graphic novel upon which the upcoming movie has been based. But I am terribly amused to remember that in Miller's earlier work, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, a passing reference is made to a porn star named "Hot Gates".
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