I'm still finishing Cobra II about the Iraq invasion. Very detailed and well written and researched account of the military history of that war. The authors make use of a lot of information from all sorts of sources including interrogations from Iraqi military leaders etc.

Apparently not only did the US government think Saddam had WMDs, some of his own generals were hoping he did because he told them he did and they at least knew that the US was going to put a beating on Baghdad.

Saddam didn't think the Americans would go to Baghdad and was more worried about Iran or the Shiites or the Kurds.



It's written by a retired general (I think he's retired) and one of the reporters who was embedded in Iraq and who I also read was involved in the scandal with whatshername from the times, the Plame thing. Judy Miller.

And yet for all its great research it left me wondering who there would be to tell the story of how Congress and the Seante acted during this time, or how the process of embedding reporters came about, or what role exactly do those contractors play? It focuses exclusively on the military (not a fault at all, just saying),and it makes CENTCOM seem like its own country!

I also just started Anita Desai's Fasting Feasting. It's crazy good.

I can't WAIT for September when Mark Danielewski's Only Revoulutions comes out!

An "Archie" comic.

The Org! fuckers.

I just started reading A Long Way Home by Connie Briscoe

So many...

One book that is right here in front of me... Abounding Grace: An Anthology Of Wisdom. I randomly read this one, especially at night. One I have been carrying around in my bag, Time Alive... I read it whenever I have some down time.
[Edited 7/9/06 19:32pm]

Irving's stuff is usually laugh-out-loud funny. I'm just starting this one.



.
[Edited 7/9/06 19:32pm]

'The Eternal Husband and Other Stories' - Fyodor Dostoevsky

still



He's really starting to lay the smack down now. I have about 300 pages to go.

Fauxie said:

I've never read that story, but if The Dream of a Ridiculous Man is in there, that's wonderful!

White Nights is some sappy shit!

Imago said:

I forget if Mercedes ever gives him any sacktime at the end!

Let me know!

2the9s said:

ThreadCula said:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/...47?ie=UTF8

Looks interesting!

Imago said:

Glad to see you've stuck with it. It's a wonderful ride.

still about 30 pages into A Suitable Boy

ZombieKitten said:

At this rate...

2the9s said:

I used it to go to sleep
it works quite well, though I have no idea who any of the characters are

ZombieKitten said:

I was scared to start that one so I got one of his shorter ones...and I couldn't get into that either.

2the9s said:

I am persevering because my mum told me it was good

A book written by my friend.

JustErin said:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/...e&n=283155

Wow, looks great.

How do you know her?

2the9s said:

Yeah, I love 'The Dream...'. I read that one first and then just finished 'Bobok'. I'm going to read 'The Eternal Husband' today. The collection also has 'A Nasty Anecdote' and 'The Meek One'. My friend has a much more comprehensive short story collection that I'm going to have to get a hold of.

I've had 'The Idiot' for nearly 2 years now and have never finished it.

Fauxie said:

I HIGHLY recommend it!

I'm hoping to get 'Journey To The East' by Herman Hesse for my birthday, and also funnily enough 'Journey To The West', although that is one expensive book to get in its entirety.

My favourite book by some margin:



I pick it up every year or so - I don't read it in full, as I've read it quite a few times over the years. I just like reviewing certain sections.

Almost done

2the9s said:

She moved to Moncton, New Brunswick when she was a teen and went to my school. I remember her eating lunch alone every single day, dressed in what I thought was beautiful clothing but what everyone else thought was just really weird so they ignored her. Myself and a friend approached her one day and asked if we could sit with her. She didn't speak A WORD of english. So we basically taught it to her. We became great friends, and I just adored her family, but I lost track of her after she moved to Ottawa to attend university.

Years later, I picked up a paper and there she was on the front page. She was starring in a new semi-autobiographical movie called Kandahar http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0283431/ . I was planning to contact her but literally a week later 9/11 happened and the whole world became fascinated with Afaghanistan and in turn, her. I would turn on the tv and see her being interviewed on everything from local stations to CNN. I wanted to wait until everything settled down to try and contact her. I didn't want it to look like I was suddenly only interested in her because of what happened. I still keep putting it off.

But I really should try to reach her now. I'd love to talk to her. She's really a beautiful, intelligent, strong woman.

JustErin said:

Contact her and tell her we want to read her book for an online book group! Maybe we could have her answer questions or something!

I'm sure we could get enough of these slobs to buy and read her book!

LleeLlee does what I tell her, bkw will do it, and Imago if he ever finishes Monte Cristo and maybe we could get msserendipity (who I know is lurking! ) to read it too! We did it a few years ago with Reading Lolita in Tehran and Mende Naser's Slave!


The return of the Book Club, baby!

2the9s said:

not until YOU read A Suitable Boy!!!!

I cant wait for a return of the Beer Club!

Danielle Steel 'Miracle' and,

Mary Higgins Clark 'No Place Like Home'