Whatcha readin'?

[luddite lady]

Now that Stewart is an author and all, I thought it was time we had a kind of book club thread. I have a vague memory of such a thread here before. If there was and sombody wants to resurrect it, please do. I'd be glad to post there instead.

Presently I'm reading "The Evolution of God" by Robert Wright. Based on some things I read in STH, recent interviews and in today's Obama/Sting thread on this site, I think it's a book that would appeal to Stewart. I bet a good many of you out there would like it too. It traces humanity's evolving concept of God by studying the history of religion from the earliest most "primitive" spiritual beliefs through to the great faiths of today. It has a whole chapter on shamans, a load of stuff about the Bible,and it even touches on pygmies. Despite its heady topic, the book is engaging, accessible and sometimes downright funny. Whether you're an atheist, staunch believer or something in between, the book is well worth the read. Even if you don't believe in God, there's no denying the reality of God as a social/cultural phenomena that impacts us all. And regardless of my own personal beliefs, I find that kind of thing fascinating.

[Mrs. Gradenko]

I've been reading Diana Gabaldon's An Echo in the Bone.

[ltwoman]

I'm reading Jonathan Kellerman's Evidence and the December issue of Modern Drummer. Broken Music by Sting is on it's way from Amazon (I miss Wild Thing by Ian and of, course, STH).

LL, thanks for sharing something of merit. I'll consider it when I'm done.

[vespapod]

A Season in Rome...great book after my trip

[moonstone]

Was just flicking through 'Island Life' magazine. My attention was grabbed by a article titled
Get cracking with the great nut hunt! - The nutters guide to collecting nibbled nuts.

It turned out to be about a dormouse survey.

[TOWOS]

"Grotesque" by Natsuo Kirino, a Japanese thriller writer whose work I like a lot.

[63falcon]

Mark Spitz's new Bowie bio (despite subject matter, a tad disappointing), "Classic Bike-the Triumph Bonneville tribute issue", C.S. Lewis bio (much more satisfying), and a book about the Monocan Indians, who are indigenous to my home county in VA.
Very much enjoyed Stewart's STH-recommended the read to my boyfriend. He/BF thoroughly enjoyed it as a whole and loved certain passages (Brian is a writer & lit. lover).

[shyvixen]

I just started reading Strange Things Happen a couple of days ago.

I'm late, I know.

[Tamadude]

Robert Munsch and other various children's literature at bedtime.

But not "Love you forever". That makes people cry. Which is not a good thing at bedtime.

[Mrs. Gradenko]

I just started reading Strange Things Happen a couple of days ago.

I'm late, I know.

I still haven't started it yet. I'm holding out for winter break where I can read it all at once. As of now I'm really only reading my textbooks. :/

[smudge]

I'm working my way through Trollope's Barchester novels again. (For the uninitiated, imagine Jane Austen, but with a good sized dollup of Victorian political satire). It's exceedingly english.

63falcon - I'd be interested to know more about the Monacan book you mentioned. I'm pretty ignorant of anything outside the Powhatan group. I believe there was trade between them and the Monacans - would love to know more.

ETA: And thank you LL for the thread. Stonkingly good idea.

[policefan]

The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill

[DirtyMartini]

Nice thread, llady.

Six String Nation by Jowi Taylor about Voyageur, a guitar built from 64 pieces of history and heritage across Canada. It's more coffee table book than narrative, but it describes a really nice project.

[luddite lady]

[quote="policefan"]The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill[/quote]

I started reading that when it first came out. I mostly read in public places while waiting for my kids during their various activities. The title made me feel very self-conscious as I read in such places, and I didn't get very far into it before putting it aside. Now that it is much more well known, I'll have to take it up again. My daughter chose to read it for an independant study unit in English, and loved it.

[Chatchka]

Modern Drummer, December Issue: has an interesting article on Max and Jay Weinberg, who are "Keeping Bruce on the Road."

Guitar Player, Holiday Issue: article on Kiss.

Re-reading: The World in Six Songs, Daniel Levitin. I read most of it while on vacation last year, but it was a bit heavy for a beach read, so I'm circling back. Here is the description from Amazon as I'm too lazy to write my own...

Charles Darwin meets the Beatles in this attempt to blend neuroscience and evolutionary biology to explain why music is such a powerful force. In this rewarding though often repetitious study by bestselling author Levitin (This Is Your Brain on Music), a rock musician turned neuroscientist, argues that music is a core element of human identity, paving the way for language, cooperative work projects and the recording of our lives and history. Through his studies, Levitin has identified six kinds of songs that help us achieve these goals: songs of friendship, joy, comfort, knowledge, religion and love. He cites lyrics ranging from the songs of Johnny Cash to work songs, which, he says, promote feelings of togetherness. According to Levitin, evolution may have selected individuals who were able to use nonviolent means like dance and music to settle disputes. Songs also serve as memory-aids, as records of our lives and legends. Some may find Levitin's evolutionary explanations reductionist, but he lightens the science with personal anecdotes and chats with Sting and others, offering an intriguing explanation for the power of music in our lives as individuals and as a society. (Aug.)
http://www.amazon.com/World-Six-Songs-M ... 464&sr=8-1

If anyone wants it when I'm finished, drop me a line with your addy.