Jazzfanz Bookclub
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idestroyedthetoilet
Well-Known Member
I had to go in and get a new pin when the software updated. Took my lazy *** over a year but it's good for audible in Utah/USA I figure.
I'm currently listening to The Gentleman Bastard series, part 3. If you haven't listened to it you are as dumb as Mike and Dave.
I read those, they were fun.
Have you read the Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss (Wise Man's Fear & Name of the Wind) yet? Biggest knock on them is that it's taking forever for book 3 to come out.
idestroyedthetoilet
Well-Known Member
I haven't "read" Rothfuss yet but that dude comes across as one weird sumbitch. I stare at a computer screen all day reading the Code of Federal Regulations, state law and rules, etc, so I listen to books instead of reading. All Rothford I have gotten is in Spanish.
I haven't gotten an ebook from the library as I don't enjoy reading books on my phone, but it looks like they use a couple of different systems (overdrive being one). Someday I'll figure it out.
Some of the books I've read lately:
"The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" by Michelle Alexander. I feel like I've talked about this book on here already, but not sure where. I work in law enforcement, and it was an interesting to read her arguments about how the War on Drugs is a major reason why so many black men are or have been incarcerated. We want to pretend racism isn't a factor in law enforcement decisions, but the stats do not back up a colorblind system. While the author obviously had an agenda, there is a lot of information which support her conclusions. I believe some of them.
"Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race" by Margot Lee Shetterly. This is obviously a much more detailed account of the NASA program and the black women who were a part of it than was shown in the movie. Pretty fascinating stuff. It is frustrating that it has taken this many years for these stories to be told.
"The Maze Runner" by James Dashner. I had never seen the movie nor read the book previously. This is one of the few times that I actually preferred the movie as I liked the simplified plot better. There were some issues with the writing that drove me a bit crazy at first (such as ridiculous amount of made-up slang terms usage), but I settled in and liked it okay. I am planning to read the second book (and see the movie).
"The Collected Stories of Philip K Dick 4." I had never read any stories/books by Philip Dick, although I've heard of him for years. Quite an entertaining collection, including "The Minority Report" (a movie I love). Some of these stories will stick with me. It's funny to read older sci-fi and see how much they got right (and way wrong).
"The Great Train Robbery" by Michael Crichton. I listened on audiobook, and the narrator spoke too deliberately and slowly. But the story of the Great Train Robbery in England in 1855 is an interesting one.
Some of the books I've read lately:
"The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" by Michelle Alexander. I feel like I've talked about this book on here already, but not sure where. I work in law enforcement, and it was an interesting to read her arguments about how the War on Drugs is a major reason why so many black men are or have been incarcerated. We want to pretend racism isn't a factor in law enforcement decisions, but the stats do not back up a colorblind system. While the author obviously had an agenda, there is a lot of information which support her conclusions. I believe some of them.
"Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race" by Margot Lee Shetterly. This is obviously a much more detailed account of the NASA program and the black women who were a part of it than was shown in the movie. Pretty fascinating stuff. It is frustrating that it has taken this many years for these stories to be told.
"The Maze Runner" by James Dashner. I had never seen the movie nor read the book previously. This is one of the few times that I actually preferred the movie as I liked the simplified plot better. There were some issues with the writing that drove me a bit crazy at first (such as ridiculous amount of made-up slang terms usage), but I settled in and liked it okay. I am planning to read the second book (and see the movie).
"The Collected Stories of Philip K Dick 4." I had never read any stories/books by Philip Dick, although I've heard of him for years. Quite an entertaining collection, including "The Minority Report" (a movie I love). Some of these stories will stick with me. It's funny to read older sci-fi and see how much they got right (and way wrong).
"The Great Train Robbery" by Michael Crichton. I listened on audiobook, and the narrator spoke too deliberately and slowly. But the story of the Great Train Robbery in England in 1855 is an interesting one.
I'm taking your advice @gandalfe and just started this one on audiobook last night. Enjoying it so far. I needed to read a book with the word "Red" in it for a reading challenge I'm doing (the category is a title with your favorite color in it), and I remembered this one. Thanks for the recommendation.
was that the movie with the little girl whose parents were Rhea Pearlman and Danny Devito?
anyhow, I've started "Born a Crime" by Trevor Noah - enjoying it very much. I don't watch his show but he's a regular commentator on a podcast I enjoy. That might be a suggestion for you JG, to get an early start on next year's Black History Month
was that the movie with the little girl whose parents were Rhea Pearlman and Danny Devito?
anyhow, I've started "Born a Crime" by Trevor Noah - enjoying it very much. I don't watch his show but he's a regular commentator on a podcast I enjoy. That might be a suggestion for you JG, to get an early start on next year's Black History Month
Yes, that was the movie.
I've already listened to the audiobook of "Born a Crime." It was one of my favorite books I read (well, listened to) last year. Trevor Noah reads the book and it is amazing.
I'm so glad, it's such a fun book!
LOL, I just read through some older posts and saw that you had it on the list of books you'd read last year.
Now I am reading (about 1/3 of the way through)
THE STRANGER IN THE WOODS: THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE LAST TRUE HERMIT
by Michael Finkel
it's pretty fascinating!
D
Deleted member 365
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Have any of you read the book, “The New Jim Crow?” What an incredible read. This along with “Black Like Me” by John Howard Griffin and Bryan Stevenson’s “Just Mercy” are life changers when it comes to my views on race.
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@JazzGal could you tell us more about the things you saw, liked, and disagreed with on this book?
Edit
@JazzGal could you tell us more about the things you saw, liked, and disagreed with on this book?
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