All booked up

rojo

(Ret)
Never mind Mat; at least you enjoyed the book. Whenever I think of Sagan, I think of "billions and billions." :grin: It's quite a shame. :crazy: I really should read one or more of his books. :rolleyes:

Here's a word from wikipedia about it-

"From Cosmos and his frequent appearances on The Tonight Show, Sagan became associated with the catch phrase "billions and billions." Sagan never actually used the phrase in Cosmos series,[12] however his frequent use of term billions, and distinctive delivery with emphasis on the “b”, made him a favorite target of performers and comedy routines of Johnny Carson, Gary Kroeger, Mike Myers,[13] Bronson Pinchot, Harry Shearer and others. Sagan took this in good humor, and his final book was entitled Billions and Billions and opened with a tongue-in-cheek discussion of this catch phrase. The indefinite and fictitious number Sagan has arisen in popular culture to indicate a count greater than 4 billion."
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
I'm one of those readers who on occasion read science fiction. Now days
it's hard to find any that isn't evil,gory,nasty,or just plain gross. I used
to read Sci fi books that told about the future like 2001, or 2010. My
favorite authors were Carl Sagan,or Clark. Funny ones like Hitchhikers
Guide to the Galaxy.
judy tooley

yeah Judy, I'm with you on Carl Sagan and Arthur C. Clarke. His Rama and Return to Rama were pivotal books in my journey through the sci-fi genre.
 

Mat

Sr. Regulator
Staff member
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Once again - disappointed by the movie. But this time I was smarter. First I had read the book, and then I saw the movie. :cool:
 

Mat

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Sr. Regulator
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Jean-Pierre Davidts - The Return of the Little Prince
 

Tûrwethiel

New member
Thanks for resurrecting this thread, Mat. I hadn't realised it was here.

I'm a bit of a bookworm and have read quite a few of those already mentioned - and put together a shopping list containing others I haven't read!

I really agree about Contact. A most excellent book that didn't receive the treatment it deserved. Joanne Harris' Chocolat was also butchered in the movie studio.

My all-time favourites would have to be Lord of the Rings, which I've read regularly since childhood, and Pride and Prejudice (I've had a crush on Mr Darcy since my early teens!).

I'm currently reading Margaret Atwood's Cat's Eye and enjoying her writing style very much.

I'm lucky enough to work near a bargain-basement book shop that encourages me to read all sorts of things as the books are soooo cheap. Recent favourites include Treasure Island and Kidnapped which I didn't read as a child because they were deemed to be boys' books!
 

Mat

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Hey Turwethiel, no problem.

I like to read a good book, too. Usually, though, I ain't got much time to do so. I am currently looking for a Polish edition of Rimski-Korsakov's Principles Of Orchestration. Apparently, it's not that easy to find this book... But I sincerley hope that Podstawy instrumentacji by Józef Pawłowski will do as well.
 

Mat

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I just finished reading A Perfect Friend by Martin Suter.

I'm currently reading Tig Hague: Zona 22.
 

methodistgirl

New member
I've been trying to read "The Shack" since I had the
book. I just can't get myself to get into it and read.
This story is supposed to compare to the book of
Job in the Bible with a modern twist. Oh well, never
mind.:rolleyes:
judy tooley
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Currently reading a book on Political Analysis entitled *Мы - Русские - С Нами Бог*(We - Russians - God Is With Us).
 

Montefalco

New member
I've just finished reading a few Agatha Christie novels - 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd' and 'Murder on the Links'
 

Dorsetmike

Member
I tend to read quite a mixture, mostly from the local library, I've noticed that their stock these days seems to follow anything the media plugs. (why does that not surprise me)

A number of my favourite authors have fallen by the wayside so to speak, Ernest K Gann, Piers Anthony, Wilbur Smith, Nevil Shute, many works written by each, lucky to find 1 or 2 on the shelves.

One work I have followed and reread the existing volumes a number of times is Jean Auel's Earth's Children series, an on going work started in 1980 set in the ice age exceedingly well researched.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_M._Auel

The next volume is provisionally due in 2011 so you have time to find and read the previous 5 volumes.

Other authors I look for, Anne McCaffery, Lee Childs, Asimov, Charles Clarke, I tend to look for trilogies/series, Clive Cussler and Tom Clancy started out OK but not so much since they started farming out their work, (generate an outline then employ a hack to fill in the gaps)
 

teddy

Duckmeister
I am slowly working my way through a list of books, some of which I have promised myself I would since I was a kid. Struggling a bit with Coldcomfort Farm, mainly because I do not find it that funny. Paradise Lost is next on the list, followed by Brave New World. In between I read quite a broad range on fiction and nonfiction i.e. Beekeeping for Idiots etc. I do not tend to read romantic novels although I did read some Bertha Ruck, but mainly because she was a neighbour in Wales.

teddy
 

teddy

Duckmeister
Finished Eric Claptons autobiog. He certainly had a dark life for a while what with drink and drugs but a fastinating read given my interest in music. Recommended.

teddy
 

teddy

Duckmeister
Just starting on Paradise Lost by Milton. Rather apt with my operations looming

teddy
 

Soubasse

New member
Glad to see Sagan, Clarke and Adams getting a mention. Sagan's Contact and Clarke's Rama novels were indeed cracking good reads. In the past, I've picked up anything by Douglas Adams simply because he's so damn clever (and funny with it).
And for all the criticism he's received (a lot of it for the wrong reasons), I actually find Dan Brown's prose tolerable, but then I'm generally easily pleased when it comes to books. I liked Demons and Angels for example.

But I genuinely can't actually recall the last time I read a fiction novel and I used to love them. Have primarily been picking at Non-fiction over the past few years. Lately have been re-reading some Jung and have also started Richard Dawkins The God Delusion.
 
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