Do you have in your head a list of books that you'd like to read . . .sometime?
Looking round this room where I am just now I see piles of books, some of which I know I'll probably not get round to. I'm a compulsive bookbuyer and then some get given to me. And then there are the ones I want to read again.
Anyway, I thought people might like to put down any book titles they intend to get to & a bit about them.
It might interest other possible readers.

Here's one.
"The Unwinding: an inner history of the New America"

"Seismic shifts within a single generation have created a country of winners and losers, resulting in a sense of crisis within American democracy. Award winning writer and playwright George Packer has completed an ambitious portrayal of a superpower in danger of coming apart at the seams."

I don't know what has reminded me but I HAVE to sometime get hold of some of the writings of George Sand (real name Aurore Dudevin), a noted 19th century celebrity of French literature & politics. I have read a biography but only today did she come to mind again.
She frequently dressed as a man though she was the long-time lover of Chopin among others. Maybe the first women's libber.
She was also a leading character in the events which brought about the 1848 revolution in Paris.

The Bible.

Here's one that would be interesting, but it may not get on the list because they say it weighs about the same as a small sandbag.

Global Crisis: War, Climate Change and Catastrophe in the 17th Century, by historian Geoffrey Parker

"A Tale of two Cities" and "Moby Dick" were good.

"Down and Out in Paris and London", "Animal farm" are recommended.

"The Bible" is a life changer.
Get a NIV version, big font. Get a nice one, go to a christian shop, they have MANY versions.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Mar 25^th, 2014 at 12:24pm:

"A Tale of two Cities" and "Moby Dick" were good. "Down and Out in Paris and London", "Animal farm" are recommended. "The Bible" is a life changer. Get a NIV version, big font. Get a nice one, go to a christian shop, they have MANY versions.

Thank you.

Down and Out in Paris and London, never read that, nor The Road to Wigan Pier.
Iconic books of their time apparently.

Among 19th century writers, Arnold Bennett (1867-1931) is said to be making a comeback in popularity after remaining practically anonymous for a long time.
I heard a program recently in which a couple of modern writers were singing his praises, even going so far as to put him ahead of Dickens in their rating.
They particularly recommended "The Old Wives Tale".

I read 2 or 3 of his books many years ago and quite liked them. I'm going to have a listen to some on audio again (which is what I do now a lot of the time).

Having a mid-life crisis (at 35 years of age) and went and bought some old math and science textbooks. I figured that since I didn't do very well in high school in either of those fields, I should make it up to myself and go re-do the year 11 and year 12 equivalents of both. Textbooks cost me $70 ($10 each).

I came across an old German textbook that we used in school 60 years ago and I couldn't resist buying it. I thought, I used to enjoy that, I might do it again.
Never did though.
(Just realised this doesn't qualify as a "to read" book)

Winston Smith wrote on Mar 24^th, 2014 at 1:40pm:

The Bible.

It has its moments, but there a long boring sections, and much of it makes no real sense.

Heart of Darkness was good.

1. Basically everything written by Jim Marrs.
2. George Orwell - 1984
3. The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion.
4. Sociopaths in love - Anderson Prunty
5. The Witcher (series) by I-can't-memorise-how-author's-name-is-spelt-because-he's-from-Iceland

I have too many books and too little time.

Winston Smith wrote on Mar 25^th, 2014 at 12:36pm:

Sprintcyclist wrote on Mar 25th, 2014 at 12:24pm: "A Tale of two Cities" and "Moby Dick" were good. "Down and Out in Paris and London", "Animal farm" are recommended. "The Bible" is a life changer. Get a NIV version, big font. Get a nice one, go to a christian shop, they have MANY versions. Thank you.

You're aware that the New International Version Bible is printed by ZONDERVAN, owned by Rupert Murdoch? Zondervan also publishes the "Satanic Bible". I'm not sure if you ever heard of it, but it's basically the Bible of Satan for Satanists.  ;D Just so much about Zondervan's and Murdoch's integrity. And yeah, Murdoch is a Roman Catholic of course. He owns over 100 newspapers worldwide. He makes lots of money from prostitutes advertising in all his newspapers, which technically makes him a pimp. And yeah, he sells porn on his cable channels overseas, but that's all ok. The Vatican won't object. I'm sure they get a cut of his profits.  ;D  It's all good. Confess the sins, pay money to the Catholic Church and go to heaven  ;D 

gone wrote on Aug 30^th, 2014 at 11:06pm:

Winston Smith wrote on Mar 25th, 2014 at 12:36pm: Sprintcyclist wrote on Mar 25th, 2014 at 12:24pm: "A Tale of two Cities" and "Moby Dick" were good. "Down and Out in Paris and London", "Animal farm" are recommended. "The Bible" is a life changer. Get a NIV version, big font. Get a nice one, go to a christian shop, they have MANY versions. Thank you. You're aware that the New International Version Bible is printed by ZONDERVAN, owned by Rupert Murdoch? Zondervan also publishes the "Satanic Bible". I'm not sure if you ever heard of it, but it's basically the Bible of Satan for Satanists.  ;D Just so much about Zondervan's and Murdoch's integrity. And yeah, Murdoch is a Roman Catholic of course. He owns over 100 newspapers worldwide. He makes lots of money from prostitutes advertising in all his newspapers, which technically makes him a pimp. And yeah, he sells porn on his cable channels overseas, but that's all ok. The Vatican won't object. I'm sure they get a cut of his profits.  ;D  It's all good. Confess the sins, pay money to the Catholic Church and go to heaven  ;D

I've read the Satanic bible. It is really mediocre and contradictory. LaVey says Satanists don't believe in fairy tales and put faith in all logic but at the end of the book is a small section of magic rituals, which he states is for "acting out and psychodrama".

Looking at reading Lee Child's "Jack Reacher" books. Actually bought the first six books online the other night. Then thought later that they might not be all that great to read, since I haven't bothered with the first book before going for five other books. Have I made a rash and poor choice in buying these books?

UnSubRocky wrote on Sep 29^th, 2014 at 12:27am:

Looking at reading Lee Child's "Jack Reacher" books. Actually bought the first six books online the other night. Then thought later that they might not be all that great to read, since I haven't bothered with the first book before going for five other books. Have I made a rash and poor choice in buying these books?

I wouldn't say they're amazing, but they're entertaining enough.

The good thing is that you don't have to read them in order. They can easily be followed from which ever book you decide to read.

UnSubRocky wrote on Sep 29^th, 2014 at 12:27am:

Looking at reading Lee Child's "Jack Reacher" books. Actually bought the first six books online the other night. Then thought later that they might not be all that great to read, since I haven't bothered with the first book before going for five other books. Have I made a rash and poor choice in buying these books?

The latest in the series just arrived in my mail today ... read them all, twice  ... love them. As Freedumb said, it doesn't matter what order you read them in. I don't think they were even written in chronological order

Freedumb wrote on Oct 15^th, 2014 at 5:21pm:

UnSubRocky wrote on Sep 29th, 2014 at 12:27am: Looking at reading Lee Child's "Jack Reacher" books. Actually bought the first six books online the other night. Then thought later that they might not be all that great to read, since I haven't bothered with the first book before going for five other books. Have I made a rash and poor choice in buying these books? I wouldn't say they're amazing, but they're entertaining enough. The good thing is that you don't have to read them in order. They can easily be followed from which ever book you decide to read.

I would have to take my mind off another book, and try to get my mind focused on these books. My first 4 books came in the post today. The next two should be arriving soon. I'll start with the first book, and then read them out of publishing order.

UnSubRocky wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2014 at 2:34am:

Freedumb wrote on Oct 15th, 2014 at 5:21pm: UnSubRocky wrote on Sep 29th, 2014 at 12:27am: Looking at reading Lee Child's "Jack Reacher" books. Actually bought the first six books online the other night. Then thought later that they might not be all that great to read, since I haven't bothered with the first book before going for five other books. Have I made a rash and poor choice in buying these books? I wouldn't say they're amazing, but they're entertaining enough. The good thing is that you don't have to read them in order. They can easily be followed from which ever book you decide to read. I would have to take my mind off another book, and try to get my mind focused on these books. My first 4 books came in the post today. The next two should be arriving soon. I'll start with the first book, and then read them out of publishing order.

What book is your mind focused on?

Freedumb wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2014 at 7:46pm:

UnSubRocky wrote on Oct 22nd, 2014 at 2:34am: Freedumb wrote on Oct 15th, 2014 at 5:21pm: UnSubRocky wrote on Sep 29th, 2014 at 12:27am: Looking at reading Lee Child's "Jack Reacher" books. Actually bought the first six books online the other night. Then thought later that they might not be all that great to read, since I haven't bothered with the first book before going for five other books. Have I made a rash and poor choice in buying these books? I wouldn't say they're amazing, but they're entertaining enough. The good thing is that you don't have to read them in order. They can easily be followed from which ever book you decide to read. I would have to take my mind off another book, and try to get my mind focused on these books. My first 4 books came in the post today. The next two should be arriving soon. I'll start with the first book, and then read them out of publishing order. What book is your mind focused on?

I was reading Antony Beevor's "Stalingrad", and I couldn't focus. It's a good read, but my mind is elsewhere. Going to read "killing floor" in this Jack Reacher series.

Absolute page turner of a book. I may have my first book read within the week of getting it.

Here's a book coming up that may interest history buffs - SPQR by Mary Beard.
A history of Rome from around 63 BC to 212 AD.
I'd prefer the whole history but the author sounds pretty interesting:

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/ancient-rome/7137260

I am about embark on the poems of WB Yeats.

I think if you are going to get anything out of the Bible, you will have a positive predisposition towards it. I don't. Any time I looked at it, I could have been reading the telephone book.