Book Review (for recreational reading)

[Astronuc]

I'm sure that I would find a lot of it interesting. Its just that the particular books you are mentioning mostly give me the impression of being very dense.
Can you recommend something in say comic book form? ;-p

Peter Heather's book is a bit dense, but it is an excellent narrative. One could consider it dense like LOTR, but it's real history.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

Peter Heather's book is a bit dense, but it is an excellent narrative. One could consider it dense like LOTR, but it's real history.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0195159543/?tag=pfamazon01-20
This one? It looks like a good suggestion. I'll have to put it to my list. I'm sure my roomie will be interested aswell.


Reading Dumas made me want to read more on France in the era that the Musketeers stories took place. Even without Dumas' ability for drama the period seems like it is very exciting. Again I've yet to pick up anything.


Having just moved I have all of my books sitting next to me and I see that I have a Barnes & Noble publication 'Encyclopedia of the World's Religions' that I have only skimmed. What I have read though looks like a very simple and concise overview. Unfortunately almost half of it is devoted to just the three major Abrahamic religions. Though I suppose that makes sense.

 

[arildno]

I haven't as yet read (or bought) the Victorian classic, Thomas Hodgkin's 8-volume "Italy and her invaders", but it is supposed to be well written.

I HAVE read extracts of Gibbon's "Decline and Fall", and his footnotes, at least, are rather juicy..

 

[Astronuc]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0195159543/?tag=pfamazon01-20
This one? It looks like a good suggestion. I'll have to put it to my list. I'm sure my roomie will be interested as well.

That's the one. It is really well written. I didn't find it dry at all. It reads like a good novel, only it is real history.

. . . I have a Barnes & Noble publication 'Encyclopedia of the World's Religions' . . .

I'm assuming that's the one by R.C. Zaehner. I'm not familiar with it. I have Huston Smith's book "The Religions of Man (now retitled The World's Religions)," which is pretty good.

I think it's hard to find a comprehensive book on all the world's religions, particularly one balanced between east and west. Smith does a pretty good job though.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

I'm assuming that's the one by R.C. Zaehner.

That's the one. It was on sale so I figured I would pick it up.

I think it's hard to find a comprehensive book on all the world's religions, particularly one balanced between east and west. Smith does a pretty good job though.

An overview of some of the more prominent is good enough for me. If there are any I find particularly intriguing I think I would rather find a book specific to it. I picked up some other books that were on sale at B&N. Among them was one on the Norse mythology which unfortunately was rather skimpy. A decent summery though I guess along with some analysis.
One of the best sale finds I picked up though was the 'Element Encylopedia of Magical Creatures'. Its HUGE and covers creatures from all sorts of mythologies including the roles of certain animals in various tribal myths. The only problem is that it is formatted like an encyclopedia with alphebetical entries, so not exactly a smooth read. The entries are generally well written though.

 

[arildno]

To tempt Astronuc:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521325919/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[Astronuc]

To tempt Astronuc:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521325919/?tag=pfamazon01-20

I'm tempted! I'll add it to my list to acquire.

So there are series on Ancient History and Medieval History.

There's only 19 volumes in the Ancient History series, which are available for a mere $3500. http://www.cambridge.org/us/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521850735
Perhaps in time. Apparently the entire set is unavailable, so I'll have to collect them individually.

And then the The New Cambridge Medieval History Hardback Set
http://www.cambridge.org/us/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521853605
A bargain at $1600

I have to find the reference for a book on Central Asian tribes and their migrations. There is one book which apparently provides a comprehensive treatment of the various tribes, including Huns.

 

[arildno]

One book I have placed in "saved items" concerns the steppe peoples of South Eastern Europe:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/9004163891/?tag=pfamazon01-20
It concerns Cumans, Bulgars, Khazars and Avars (and Pechnegs, I think)
The Cumans arrived in nowadays Hungary somewhat later than the Magyars, and retained their nomadic culture for quite some time.

The Khazars is a very interesting people of the Caucasus region; their nobility converted to Judaism in the tenth century.

THe Avars drove the Lombards into Italy in 568, and for 200 years were in control of a huge empire from the Caucasus and deep into Eastern Europe. They were crushed by Charlemagne's forces in the early ninth century.


As for the Avars, the standard work is the german "Die Awaren" by Walter Pohl, which I'll probably by sometime.

 

[Astronuc]

Re: Khazars - yes their history is very interesting. They had a great Empire (in what is now primarily Ukraine and the Crimean peninsula) adjacent to the Byzantine Empire. See the change from about 650 to 800 CE.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khazaria#Formation_of_the_Khazar_state


Seems to be a propensity for westward movement.


Thanks for the reference on Avars.



Here some more books to consider.

The Narrators of Barbarian History (A.D. 550-800): Jordanes, Gregory of Tours, Bede, And Paul the Deacon (Publications in Medieval Studies) (Paperback)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0268029679/?tag=pfamazon01-20

The Gothic History of Jordanes (Christian Roman Empire) (Paperback)https://www.amazon.com/dp/1889758779/?tag=pfamazon01-20

History of the Lombards (The Middle Ages Series) (Paperback)https://www.amazon.com/dp/0812210794/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Barbarians and Romans, A.D. 418-584 by Walter A. Goffart
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0691102317/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Barbarian Tides: The Migration Age and the Later Roman Empire (Middle Ages Series) (Hardcover) * I have this one.
by Walter Goffart
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0812239393/?tag=pfamazon01-20

People and Identity in Ostrogothic Italy, 489-554 (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series) (Hardcover)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521571510/?tag=pfamazon01-20

The Early Middle Ages: Europe 400-1000 (Short Oxford History of Europe) (Paperback)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0198731728/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Rome's Gothic Wars: From the Third Century to Alaric (Key Conflicts of Classical Antiquity) (Hardcover)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521846331/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Visigothic Spain 409 - 711 (A History of Spain) (Paperback) by Roger Collins
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1405149663/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Imperial Ideology and Political Thought in Byzantium, 1204 - 1330 (Hardcover)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521857031/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Book Description
This is the first systematic study of Byzantine imperial ideology, court rhetoric and political thought after the Latin conquest of Constantinople in 1204 - in the Nicaean state (1204-1261) and during the early period of the restored empire of the Palaiologoi. The book explores Byzantine political imagination at a time of crisis when the Empire ceased to be a first-rate power in the Mediterranean. It investigates the correspondence and fissures between official political rhetoric, on the one hand, and the political ideas of lay thinkers and churchmen, on the other. Through the analysis of a wide body of sources (some of them little known or unpublished), a picture of Byzantine political thought emerges which differs significantly from the traditional one. The period saw refreshing developments in court rhetoric and political thought, some with interesting parallels in the medieval and Renaissance West, which arose in response to the new historical realities.

About the Author
Dimiter Angelov is a Research Fellow and Lecturer in the Centre for Byzantine, Ottoman and Modern Greek Studies at the University of Birmingham. He studied at Harvard University and has also taught at Western Michigan University.

I'll also throught this one in. It's not too expensive.

Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 500–1250
http://www.cambridge.org/us/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521894524


I think this is the book on Central Asia of which I'm thinking.

The Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia (Hardcover)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521243041/?tag=pfamazon01-20

http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521243049

Book on Google - The Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia


FYI - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Central_Asia

The history of Europe is intertwined with that of Central Asia through the various migrations. Heather elucidates the impact of the Huns upon the Roman Empire and the 'barbarian' tribes who were situated between the Huns and Romans.

 

[arildno]

I'm at the moment rifling through Salvian's "On the Government of God", written in 440, and available online
At that time, the Huns were military allies with the Romans (that didn't last long..).
It contains a condemnation of how the then functioning tax system in Gaul had depredating effects, for example by driving the poorer peasants into the arms of the Bagaudae.
It also rails against Carthagian immorality, where transvestites were dominant, it seems..

 

[Astronuc]

I'm at the moment rifling through Salvian's "On the Government of God", written in 440, and available online
At that time, the Huns were military allies with the Romans (that didn't last long..).
It contains a condemnation of how the then functioning tax system in Gaul had depredating effects, for example by driving the poorer peasants into the arms of the Bagaudae.
It also rails against Carthagian immorality, where transvestites were dominant, it seems..

Is this the text?

http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/salvian_gov_04_book4.htm

Check this out!

http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/

 

[arildno]

I know the site well.
And yes, that's where I found the text.

 

[arildno]

It seems that Bachrach wrote a book about the Alans, "The Alans in the West", an Iranian nomadic people eventually settling in Armorica, nowadays Brittany, of all places, back in the fifth century.

Apparently, the Bretons were renowned for their horsemanship, and we have references to that from both Gregory of Tours and later historians.

Thus, it seems, the future Bretons learned their skills from the Alans, or so Bachrach argues in an article I bought at jstor.


This fits very nicely with a hypothesis I had already formed when reading Ammianus, that there might be ALANIC elements in the Arthurian myths!

We know that the Arthurian cycle is mainly from Brittany, and a very interesting passage in Ammianus came to my attention:

Here, Ammianus is commenting on a ritual of commencing war among the Alans:
This cannot be done unless a SWORD HAS BEEN THRUST INTO THE GROUND.
(and presumably, dances, chants as such around the sword before retrieving it)

Could this be the historical basis for what eventually morphed into the Excalibur legend, with the true king takes the sword out of the stone (or ground)?


(Ammianus was a contemporary with Julian the Apostate, and Ammianus, who was a pagan, saw him as the greatest of Cæsars.)

 

[Evo]

It seems that Bachrach wrote a book about the Alans, "The Alans in the West", an Iranian nomadic people eventually settling in Armorica, nowadays Brittany, of all places, back in the fifth century.

Apparently, the Bretons were renowned for their horsemanship, and we have references to that from both Gregory of Tours and later historians.

Thus, it seems, the future Bretons learned their skills from the Alans, or so Bachrach argues in an article I bought at jstor.


This fits very nicely with a hypothesis I had already formed when reading Ammianus, that there might be ALANIC elements in the Arthurian myths!

We know that the Arthurian cycle is mainly from Brittany, and a very interesting passage in Ammianus came to my attention:

Here, Ammianus is commenting on a ritual of commencing war among the Alans:
This cannot be done unless a SWORD HAS BEEN THRUST INTO THE GROUND.
(and presumably, dances, chants as such around the sword before retrieving it)

Could this be the historical basis for what eventually morphed into the Excalibur legend, with the true king takes the sword out of the stone (or ground)?


(Ammianus was a contemporary with Julian the Apostate, and Ammianus, who was a pagan, saw him as the greatest of Cæsars.)

That's very interesting Aildno! I am always amazed by the breadth and depth of your knowledge of history in this period. It's one of my favorites. I wish there was a way I could just plug into your brain. Marcus is another I'd love to plug into.

You do seem to have the ability to recall in great detail all of the history you've read.

 

[Astronuc]

Alanic history is very interesting, as are the individual histories of each tribe from E. Europe and Central Asia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alans

and a map of their migration(s)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Alani_map.jpg

I think the Alans split up - perhaps on more than one occasion. In the Wikipedia article (and IIRC, in Heather's book), they are associated with the Sarmatians.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarmatians

The Sarmatians conquered areas north of the Black Sea ~ 1st cent BCE, and over 2-3 centuries migrated east to the Danube Valley south of the Carpatians. In the 4th century CE, the Huns moved from the Steppes west and south (toward the Don) and that put pressure on the Alans who moved west which displaced the Goths (Visigoths). At some point the Alans were under the domination of the Huns, or perhaps those who didn't escape further east. Eventually, during the 5th cent, the Alans combined with the Vandals and found their way to N. Africa. I suspect during these migrations, groups like the Alans splintered - some going north (to N. Gaul) and others going south (Iberia) with the Vandals.

Now the Alans, like other nomads from the Eurasian Steppes were horsemen. I believe they preferred lances/pikes and swords, which meant that they were not match for the Huns and their bows.

FYI - Sources on the Alans: A Critical Compilation (Handbook of Oriental Studies/Handbuch Der Orientalistik) (Hardcover)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/9004114424/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

By the way here is an interesting website for bibliophiles...
http://www.librarything.com/

 

[Astronuc]

By the way here is an interesting website for bibliophiles...
http://www.librarything.com/

Just what I need - http://www.librarything.com/groups/ancienthistory -

 

[Gokul43201]

It seems that Bachrach wrote a book about the Alans, "The Alans in the West", an Iranian nomadic people eventually settling in Armorica, nowadays Brittany, of all places, back in the fifth century.

Apparently, the Bretons were renowned for their horsemanship, and we have references to that from both Gregory of Tours and later historians.

Thus, it seems, the future Bretons learned their skills from the Alans, or so Bachrach argues in an article I bought at jstor.This fits very nicely with a hypothesis I had already formed when reading Ammianus, that there might be ALANIC elements in the Arthurian myths!

A hypothesis shared with others, I hear.

Being totally illiterate, I get all my knowledge from a brilliantly slanderous show called QI: http://www.guba.com/watch/3000035114

If you don't care about the show itself, skip ahead to about 13 min, for the segment on the Alans. Apparently, Pliny the Elder (my favorite dude of all time) had a not too favorable opinion of the Alans.

 

[arildno]

A hypothesis shared with others, I hear.

Being totally illiterate, I get all my knowledge from a brilliantly slanderous show called QI: http://www.guba.com/watch/3000035114

If you don't care about the show itself, skip ahead to about 13 min, for the segment on the Alans. Apparently, Pliny the Elder (my favorite dude of all time) had a not too favorable opinion of the Alans.

Thanks a lot, Gokul!

No Pulitzer Prize for me then, for making the discovery..

 

[Evo]

Being totally illiterate, I get all my knowledge from a brilliantly slanderous show called QI: http://www.guba.com/watch/3000035114

If you don't care about the show itself, skip ahead to about 13 min, for the segment on the Alans. Apparently, Pliny the Elder (my favorite dude of all time) had a not too favorable opinion of the Alans.

That was wild! Poor Pliny the Elder, killed by Vesuvius.

 

[Astronuc]

More contemporary reading -

Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage (Paperback)
by Sherry Sontag and Christopher Drew
https://www.amazon.com/dp/006097771X/?tag=pfamazon01-20

In an unusually successful amalgam, veteran journalists Sontag and Christopher Drew combine a gripping story with admirable research to relate previously unknown information. Throughout the Cold War, the U.S. depended heavily on submarines for intelligence gathering, whether tracking Soviet missile subs, monitoring Soviet harbors and missile tests or, in some cases, retrieving lost Soviet equipment. The U.S.S.R. responded with everything from comprehensive espionage operations to depth charge attacks on particularly intrusive snoopers. The broad outlines of this clandestine confrontation are relatively familiar, but the details have largely remained secret. Although the authors have based their book largely on interviews with submariners, intelligence operatives and politicians, they recognize the possibility of distortion and back up personal accounts with an elaborate and convincing system of verification. While necessarily incomplete, the resulting work depicts what was arguably the most successful long-term, large-scale intelligence operation in American history. From captains to seamen, the participants combined technical proficiency, . . . .

I've read the book. It is a great story!


Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War (Paperback)
by Robert Coram
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0316796883/?tag=pfamazon01-20

A great American hero-a 20th-century warrior and military strategist who lived outside the spotlight but whose work has been enormously influential-is brought brilliantly to life in this acclaimed biography. John Boyd was the finest fighter pilot in American history. From the proving ground of the Korean War, he went on to win notoriety as the instructor who defeated-in less than 40 seconds-every pilot who challenged him. But what made Boyd a man for the ages was what happened after he left the cockpit. He transformed the way military aircraft-in particular the F-15 and F-16-were designed with his revolutionary Energy-Maneuverability Theory. . . . .

Another great story. I actually exchanged emails with Coram after I read the book.


Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time (Paperback)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0143038257/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Starred Review. Some failures lead to phenomenal successes, and this American nurse's unsuccessful attempt to climb K2, the world's second tallest mountain, is one of them. Dangerously ill when he finished his climb in 1993, Mortenson was sheltered for seven weeks by the small Pakistani village of Korphe; in return, he promised to build the impoverished town's first school, a project that grew into the Central Asia Institute, which has since constructed more than 50 schools across rural Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Coauthor Relin recounts Mortenson's efforts in fascinating detail, presenting compelling portraits of the village elders, con artists, philanthropists, mujahideen, Taliban officials, ambitious school girls and upright Muslims Mortenson met along the way. As the book moves into the post-9/11 world, Mortenson and Relin argue that the United States must fight Islamic extremism in the region through collaborative efforts to alleviate poverty and improve access to education, especially for girls. . . .

I'll read this after my wife finishes reading it. From what she described, it's quite a story.

 

[FrancisZ]

"Flatterland...Like Flatland, Only More So," by Ian Stewart.

I'm about 1/2 way now. I started reading it because a Math professor I once had, had mention it to me. Actually, he had mentioned the original "Flatland," by Edwin Abbott.

I would say that it is an easy read--both children and adults would enjoy it; maybe for different reasons, but nonetheless, because it is an interesting, creative, and witty reflection of our view of the universe.

The main characters are from different dimensions (and that is probably as much as I ought to say).

 

[FrancisZ]

"Flatterland...Like Flatland, Only More So," by Ian Stewart.

I'm about 1/2 way now. I started reading it because a Math professor I once had, had mention it to me. Actually, he had mentioned the original "Flatland," by Edwin Abbott.

I would say that it is an easy read--both children and adults would enjoy it; maybe for different reasons, but nonetheless, because it is an interesting, creative, and witty reflection of our view of the universe.

The main characters are from different dimensions (and that is probably as much as I ought to say).

 

[Integral]

I haven't as yet read (or bought) the Victorian classic, Thomas Hodgkin's 8-volume "Italy and her invaders", but it is supposed to be well written.

I HAVE read extracts of Gibbon's "Decline and Fall", and his footnotes, at least, are rather juicy..

Some years ago ~1980 I waded through the entire Decline and Fall. The English language has evolved since Gibbon wrote this in ~17xx. I found it a tough read, but boy was there a lot of information. I guess his views of the Catholic Church are pretty biased but I felt that it was a good history anyway. Perhaps because I do not have a great love of the Catholic church..even before Gibbon.

Currently I am working on a tale of King Author written by Jack Whyte, The Camulod series. He starts at the fading of the Roman Empire in Britain. It is my understanding that Jack Whyte is a bit of a historian so the events he weaves into his charters lives should be somewhat factual. I am working on the 3rd of maybe 9books.

 

[tribdog]

I was getting tired of reading crappy books, so I decided to read all the hugo winners. Here's what I've read so far:
Starship Troopers, Heinlein- I don't know how the crappy movie dared call itself Starship Troopers. It is nothing like this book. 7.5 out of 10

A Canticle for Leibowitz-Walter Miller. 9 out of 10

Stranger in a strange land, Heinlein- 9.5 out of 10. one of my favorite books

The Man in the High Castle, Philip Dick-7.5 out of 10

Dune, Frank Herbert-9.5 out of 10, I'd almost forgotten how good this is. might even deserve 9.9 out of 10

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Heinlein-7 out of 10, good, not my favorite

Ringworld, Larry Niven-7.5 out of 10, probably deserves higher, but I read the series and all the books together aren't as good as this one by itself

To Your Scattered Bodies Go, Philip Jose Farmer-9 out of 10, I really got into this one having a harder time with the sequels though

Rendezvous with Rama, Clark-7.5 out of 10, I sort of expected more

Gateway, Frederick Pohl-8.5 out of 10, too short

Neuromancer,William Gibson-4 out of 10, I could not get into this book, it was a chore to read it

Ender's Game & Speaker for the Dead, Orson Scott Card- 8 out of 10

The Vor Game, Lois McMaster Bujold-8.5 out of 10, I'll definitely need to read more of this series

Doomsday Book, Connie Willis-9 out of 10, slower than most of these others, but really well written

The Diamond Age, Neal Stephenson-8 out of 10, 90% of this book is 10 out 10, it just drifted a bit towards the end

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling-not as well written or as deep as others in this list, but I have never gotten into a world like I have with the Harry Potter books. I love this series and this is the best of them. I give it 10 out of 10 not because it is great literature but because I love every one of the people in it.

American Gods, Neil Gaiman-8.5 out of 10, another author I want to read more of

Hominids, Robert Sawyer-8.5 out of 10, very enjoyable and easy read

My grades here are only for the books in this list compared to each other. anyone of these books is a 10 out of 10 when compared to most the other books ever written.
I'm planning on reading Hyperion by Dan Simmons and The Gods Themselves by Asimov sometime soon. I have them but haven't read them.

Lastly, the final book in the Harry Potter Series was without a doubt the worst sequel EVER written. What a disappointing way to end such a great series. I cannot believe the publisher didn't pull JK aside and say let's work on this one a bit more. I read the fake Deathly Hallows which was written by a fan and it was better than the real one. I have never been more disappointed by anything I've ever read.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

Neuromancer,William Gibson-4 out of 10, I could not get into this book, it was a chore to read it

His books are all of a rather similar style so I'm not sure if you would enjoy any of the others. I only hardly remember Nueromancer (which maybe says something about it).

American Gods, Neil Gaiman-8.5 out of 10, another author I want to read more of

The sequal, The Anansi Boys, is quite good but not as good as American Gods in my opinion. I would recommend any of his books as well as the calaborative effort with Terry Pratchet, Good Omens. I'm even considering looking for Gaiman's Sandman comic book series, only comic to ever win the World Fantasy Award or to hit the New York Times best seller list.




A good book I read recently was The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. Its somewhat a children's or young adult's book due to content but the narrative is really well written in mature and intelligent language. It has a rather interesting mix of genres with a bit of 'steampunk', 'gernsback continuum', and some fantasy for good measure. I'm just now reading as well that the trilogy is apparently an athiest's answer to The Chronicles of Narnia.
The story is set in the Victorian era with advanced (for the time) technology. Electricity is referred to as 'anbaric energy' and nuclear physics is referred to as 'atomcraft'. Science is still considered in the realm of philosophy and the church is still the primary political power in Europe. London is a high tech (for the time) metropolis powered by nuclear power plants and with zeppelins flying through the skies.
As for the fantasy aspects all persons have a familiar called a daemon which seems to be a metaphysical manifestation of their psyche. There are witchs with magical/metaphysical powers who live for hundreds of years and there is a race of intelligent warrior bears who live in the siberian tundra. There are also what seem to be poltergeists, referred to as ghasts.
The actual storyline follows a young girl who goes on an adventure to save her uncle and best friend who have both been taken prisoner by a mysterious secret organization who runs experiments on children. I find it hard to think of a way to describe the story without hiving anything away and already have with that first sentence so I'll just leave it at that.

By the way I have not seen the movie so I have no idea how they compare.

 

[tribdog]

The sequal, The Anansi Boys, is quite good but not as good as American Gods in my opinion. I would recommend any of his books as well as the calaborative effort with Terry Pratchet, Good Omens. I'm even considering looking for Gaiman's Sandman comic book series, only comic to ever win the World Fantasy Award or to hit the New York Times best seller list.

Good Omens isn't a discworld book is it? I've got 35 discworld audio books, but I don't have good omens.

 

[scorpa]

I haven't had much time to read for pleasure lately so I have just been reading some easy to read books that don't take much thinking haha. I just finished Long Way Round and Long Way Down, by Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor. It is about these actors that loaded up their motorbikes and went around the world (followed closely by a support team to bail them out if need be haha). The books aren't necessarily well written, but they are easy to read and entertaining as they describe all of the places and people they saw. Now that I have finished them I am starting Jupiter's Travels the inspiration for the previous two books. After that I think I would like to do some reading on Russian history and culture, and I should really read Anna Karenina (sp?) as I have had that book forever and not gotten around to it.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

Good Omens isn't a discworld book is it? I've got 35 discworld audio books, but I don't have good omens.

Nope. It's entirely separate from discworld. I always describe it as "If Douglas Adams wrote the apocalypse".

 

[moe darklight]

I'm reading the Poetic Edda and I highly recommend it. Norse (vikings!) mythology and poetry is awesome; it's very imaginative and beautifully written.
I'm glad I read the Prose Edda first though, because it introduces the gods and myths without which I'd be kind of lost.

If you're a fan of Lord Of The Rings (which I can't say I am, but I might give it another chance some day) you'll probably enjoy it, as many of the ideas are inspired by these myths and stories.