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Gravatar you're just funny.


Gravatar What are you reading right now? Which room? My primary is The Reagan Diaries, endlessly interesting and giving me many a chuckle. The latest is when he's in the presence of Lowell Weicker. "I resisted the temptation to tell him what a schmuck he is."
Do you have any idea what you’ll read when you’re done with that? I have Cal Ripken's new book (too lazy to run downstairs and grab the title).
What magazines do you have in your bathroom right now? A copy of Military History, because a college buddy used to be the editor but has been demoted to research director. The mag has suffered greatly as a result, in my opinion. Though he will be a talking head on Dogfights this week on the History Channel. (WWI expert)
What’s the worst thing you were ever forced to read? The Plague by Albert Camus. The worst "good" book anyway. Despite much family pressure, I resisted The DaVinci Code, though I think the ladies in my household did not appreciate my bursting out laughing at numerous "serious" places in the movie. Just couldn't help it.
What’s the one book you always recommend to just about everyone? The Martian Chronicles.
Admit it, the librarians at your library know you on a first name basis, don’t they? Yes. And they have for approximately 50 years. Lots of times when I was a kid I'd stop on the way home from school, read a Hardy Boys (the original great editions with the cars with the running boards) and then wander home when I was done. On Saturdays it would be two or three. Plus a couple to take with me.
Is there a book you absolutely love, but for some reason, people never think it sounds interesting, or maybe they read it and don’t like it at all? Well, the less historically-minded can never understand why I carry around these huge biographies of presidents, etc., or why I leapt for joy when our librarian purchased a copy of the complete Josephus. But he understood. And also knew that he and I would be the only ones in town reading it.
Do you read books while you eat? Often, and precariously.
While you bathe? In the tub, yes. But i do draw the line at the shower.
While you watch movies or TV? Of course. Wouldn't want to miss anything. In fact my reading chair faces both the computer running the Red Sox game and the TV carrying the Yankee game or TCM. Though only one will have the volume up.
While you listen to music? Yes.
While you’re on the computer? nah.
While you’re having sex? While I'm having what?
While you’re driving? Only the large print editions.
When you were little, did other children tease you about your reading habits? Of course. And they all ended up as derelicts and school principals.
What’s the last thing you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn’t put it down? "The Deathly Hallows," of course. And before that "1920: The Year of the Six Presidents", by David Pietrusza, also a college buddy. Terrific piece of writing. I also often stay awake reading "The Evil Has Landed" by Robert N. Going, primarily because it is compelling, exciting, moving, insightful, and available for free online here.


Gravatar I was going to write a long reply, but you really don't want to know that much about my addiction to the printed word. Just wanted to say that I totally think the Hitchhiker's Trilogy should have ended after the 3rd book. The fourth was really just pointless. I didn't know there was a fifth one, I certainly shan't read it now.


Gravatar Welcome, Megan! And I don't mind long replies at all. I think of them as compliments: that what you read gave you an idea that deserved some time to write up.

Regarding Hitchhiker, I think it's better to stop too soon than too late. As a wise man once said in a different context, "Five is right out."


Gravatar More bad book sequels:

Over 40 years after writing A Canticle for Leibowitz, Walter M. Miller put out a sequel. Actually he committed suicide 2/3rds of the way through it and another writer finished.

Canticle is my favorite SF novel with my favorite paragraph. The sequel was porn, and bad porn at that.

The Dune series after the 3rd book also started getting too porn for my blood. Of course, if you are into that.....


Gravatar I pretty much discount the fifth book as well. Douglas Adams hated it himself. I think he said something along the lines that he was miserable during the time that he wrote it and it showed. One thing you could really see during his interviews was how irritated he would get at answering the same questions about Hitchhiker's over and over and over again, especially when he wanted to move on and do new stuff. It was a great "UP YOURS" to all of his fans, but that was really the only way he could just end it all so that people would let him get on with other things and not nag him about writing another Hitchhiker book.


Gravatar I've been seeing this meme everywhere. I simply must do it.


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