Community Forums

EdInArk · 04-01-2020, 11:54 AM

jeanluc001's thead on binge watching recommendations made me think it'd be a good idea for book recommendations.

While staying at home I'm reading even more than normal.

A Legacy of Spies -- John Le Carre
Refers to some of Le Carre's older books but stands well on its own.

Prizzi's Honor -- Richard Condon
This is an old book, but I'd never read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm not planning to finish te rest of the series.

A Higher Call -- Adam Makos and Larry Alexander
True story about a Nazi fighter pilot who escorted a severely wounded American bomber to safety rather than shooting it down.

Any of the Spenser series by Robert B Parker. Read all 40 or so in order, and that should last you a while.

FL420 · 04-01-2020, 02:01 PM

"The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein. My favorite fiction. It will touch you, teach you and stick with you.
"TOP GUN, AN AMERICAN STORY by Dan Pederson, CAPT, USN(ret.,) Founder of the TOPGUN Program." This book is the real deal. I was trained by these guys and flew with or against almost every one of them mentioned in this book.

450Donn · 04-01-2020, 02:03 PM

The Bible

rickemo · 04-01-2020, 02:11 PM

Sixty Feet, Six Inches
Author: Bob Gibson & Reggie Jackson with Lonnie Wheeler
The book is conversations between ex-pitcher Gibson and ex-slugger Jackson about how they played the game and their opinions on opposing players. A ringing defense of the traditional view of baseball. A must read for baseball fans of the 60's & 70's.

The Bible
Author: God

RickNC · 04-01-2020, 02:20 PM

I like to read books related to places I am traveling through. Since this years sojourn will be largely in the midwest especially Oklahoma and Kansas. I am currently re-reading Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath” Though this time I’m reading GOW without the threat of repeating 10th grade. Next in the queue is “Prairie Eryth” by William Least Heat Moon. It is a study about the Flint Hill grasslands of Northern Oklahoma and Kansas .

Solo_RV_Guy · 04-01-2020, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickNC

I like to read books related to places I am traveling through. Since this years sojourn will be largely in the midwest especially Oklahoma and Kansas. I am currently re-reading Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath” Though this time I’m reading GOW without the threat of repeating 10th grade. Next in the queue is “Prairie Eryth” by William Least Heat Moon. It is a study about the Flint Hill grasslands of Northern Oklahoma and Kansas .

The Kansas Turnpike runs through the Flint Hills and if one drives it regularly one "gets" what the prairie ecosystem is about and sees the beauty and potential of each season. US 77 to Junction City gives a different perspective.

A dozen years ago I was south bound, between Emporia and Wichita with a full moon and no other traffic at 4am. For a few moments I shut off my headlights and imagined this is what the natives and homesteaders saw - the rolling prairie, the tall grass, all bathed in moonlight. And then reality back with the headlights and highway and utility lines and other 20th century trappings. I hope you're able to see the Flint Hills up close and personal, hopefully on a full moon.

SeeTheUSA · 04-01-2020, 02:59 PM

I’ve ventured into the big black bag that came with our motorhome ... will read each and every document in there.

vonkamp · 04-01-2020, 03:01 PM

The Stand. Steven King

95f5334j · 04-01-2020, 08:22 PM

Just started reading the eighth and last Philip Marlowe novel Poodle Springs by Raymond Chandler. Next up is the 3 volume Winston Churchill biography by William Manchester. Have a couple other biographies ready, Cecil B DeMille and Walt Disney.

RickNC · 04-02-2020, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solo_RV_Guy

The Kansas Turnpike runs through the Flint Hills and if one drives it regularly one "gets" what the prairie ecosystem is about and sees the beauty and potential of each season. US 77 to Junction City gives a different perspective.

A dozen years ago I was south bound, between Emporia and Wichita with a full moon and no other traffic at 4am. For a few moments I shut off my headlights and imagined this is what the natives and homesteaders saw - the rolling prairie, the tall grass, all bathed in moonlight. And then reality back with the headlights and highway and utility lines and other 20th century trappings. I hope you're able to see the Flint Hills up close and personal, hopefully on a full moon.

The loosely laid plan is to start in Manhattan KS and meander south over a couple to three days on the scenic designated KS177 and side roads until we get to US160 (forgot the name of the town) about a 150 miles south of Manhattan. If our late August schedule is right we would be there at about 1/4 moon.

EdInArk · 04-02-2020, 01:20 PM

An author I didn't mention is Jeff Shaara and his dad Michael Shaara.

Michael started the series with his "The Killer Angels" on the Civil War.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Shaara

Then, on his death, his son, Jeff, took up the mantle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Shaara

These are novels based on the wars fought by the US from the Revolutionary War to the Korean War. I've read them all and highly recommend them.

c_c_dumas · 04-03-2020, 11:59 AM

The Overstory by Richard Powers. It's turned me into a "tree hugger". Also appropriate for the Pacific Northwest.

**hamm2018** · 04-03-2020, 05:10 PM

Try a book called "The Fall of Fortresses" it is about the 8th Air Force in WW2. Also "The Ship of Ghosts" story of the USS Houston and the Burma Railroad built by the survivors. The Burma Railroad was the based of the movie "The Bridge on the River Kiwi".
For me it gave me an added respect for my fellow Navy serviceman and what they endured