RPS » Reading

The 2010 Reading List

rshah21 — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:23:49 +0000

At the prompting of an acquaintance, I have decided to keep a list of what I have read over 2010. This list is going to be limited to books only (physical or electronic), and won’t include the various web articles, magazine articles, clippings, etc. etc. that I read in between moments.

I have no idea what this will reveal about me, my habits, or my interests, but at least it will give me a record of this year.

The latest book will be at the top. If I feel like a short review, I’ll add it. Links to Amazon, for convenience of whoever spends time reading this.

Totals: Started: 8, Finished: 6, Abandoned: 1, Currently Reading 1

Don’t Get Too Comfortable: The Indignities of Coach Class, The Torments of Low Thread Count, The Never- Ending Quest for Artisanal Olive Oil, and Other First World Problems by David Rakoff, Started 3/20, Currently Reading. Kindle.
The Interrogative Mood:A Novel? by Padgett Powell, Started 3/16, Abandoned 3/20. Kindle. A book entirely composed of questions. Abandoned: Not an easy read. The questions are thought provoking and interrupt the flow. I could literally only read a page a day without my brain overacting. This is the kind of book one reads over the course of a year.
The Templar’s Penance by Michael Jecks, Started 2/27, Finished 3/16. Paperback. My favorite writer of historical mysteries from the middle ages.
SPQR XIII: The Year of Confusion by John Maddox Roberts, Started 2/21, Finished 2/27. Hardcover. My favorite writer of historical fiction set in Roman times. Good mystery writer to boot
Hunt at World’s End by “Gabriel Hunt”, Started 2/17, Finished 2/21. Kindle.
Hunt Through the Cradle of Fear by “Gabriel Hunt”. Started 2/14, Finished 2/17. Kindle. Pure Pulp. Such a fast read.
Newton and the Counterfeiter by Thomas Levenson. Started 2/8, Finished 2/14. Kindle. Not as much a thriller as one would believe from the writeups. Was interested in the story having touched on it in Stephenson’s System of the World trilogy
What the Dog Saw and Other Adventures by Malcolm Gladwell. Started 1/11, Finished 2/8. Kindle. Kind of the “best of” Malcolm Gladwell from the New Yorker over the past 10-12 years. Some of his stuff held up pretty well. If you only could read a couple, I would guide you to Open Secrets, Connecting the Dots, The Art of Failure, The Talent Myth and The New-Boy Network
The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie. Started 1/1, Finished 1/10. Kindle. A modern old school fairy tale. Beautiful prose. Well worth a read

The War Nerd

rshah21 — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:56:31 +0000

I’m not exactly in line with his politics, but I have become an avid reader of the War Nerd (at Exiled). His commentary is almost always insightful, and he does a good job at connecting the dots. His coverage of the Russia-Georgia war and the Mumbai terrorist attacks have been excellent. Some NSFW language.

Reading List

rshah21 — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:43:53 +0000

Been reading a lot, especially with the trip to India (more on that when I have time to upload photos, do some actual writing). Here’s what made the list

“The Last Templar (Knights Templar series)”
“The Merchant’s Partner (Knights Templar series)”
“A Moorland Hanging: A Knights Templar Mystery (Knights Templar Mysteries)”