Book Thread

[johnsoniu 6,291]

I never read the Jack Reacher series but I did the John Puller series (i'm sure it's no coincidence in the name).  From what you guys have posted about Reacher, Puller sounds like the same thing (a la Coke vs Pepsi).

Puller is a straight up rip off of Reacher. Baldacci has a character, Will Robie, that is a knock-off of Mitch Rapp and Scot Harvath( by Brad Thor). The Harvath series is a must read in this genre also.

 

Baldacci's Puller and Robie are good, but not up the characters they were patterned after. Don't know why Baldacci went this route, his Camel Club and Maxwell&King series were both good in their own right. They are more sleuthy, rather than stone cold rogue vigilantes and assassins.

[Brass Cannon 24,265]

I probably will have a memoir to recommend in a year or 2.  My GFs dad is writing one with the help of her brother.  He talked to me a bit about his life and it was insane.

 

Hes from Korea.  Heres some broad strokes

 

At the age of 10 he had to adopt a Japanese name.

At the age of 15 he had to learn to write Korean.

Between the ages of 15-20 lived through the chaos between the wars.

At the age of 20 he had just gotten to College when the Korean war started and he had to join the South Korean Air Force. 

[OliviaPope40 6,446]

The book worth reading and I laughed my head off is the book written by Cody's parents. 

[Defenserocks28 393]

Do it. I enjoyed it almost as much as Reacher, and I am a huge Reacher fan. Mitch Rapp (main character in the AA series) is equally as bada**. Different feel to it tho, as Rapp is CIA and Reacher is just a bad dude who's always in the wrong place lol.

Thanks.  Got Book 1 in the series last night.  Actually, listening to it right now at work...not much work is getting done...very good thus far!

[Defenserocks28 393]

If anybody is into WWII History Pacific Crucible is a great read by Ian Toll.  Details the lead up to the Pacific War and then the first 6-7 months of the war from Pearl Harbor to Midway.  Its part of a trilogy I am just starting the second the in the trilogy. 

Cool.  Will check these out; sounds very interesting.  

[Naturalhoosier 15,407]

Puller is a straight up rip off of Reacher. Baldacci has a character, Will Robie, that is a knock-off of Mitch Rapp and Scot Harvath( by Brad Thor). The Harvath series is a must read in this genre also.

 

Baldacci's Puller and Robie are good, but not up the characters they were patterned after. Don't know why Baldacci went this route, his Camel Club and Maxwell&King series were both good in their own right. They are more sleuthy, rather than stone cold rogue vigilantes and assassins.

Good to know.  I enjoyed the Camel Club series and truly enjoyed the Puller series as well.  It was one of those books that I just randomly chose when looking through the library e-book options.  

 

I'm currently running through the Joe Ledger series from Jonathan Maberry.  I'm 4 in, I think there are 7 or 8.  Pretty good.  Each one is as predictable as the last (same as Puller series, Reacher, etc), but are still good books.  I have an hour commute to work each way, so I listen to audio books from the library.  I can usually get a full book (these types anyway) in about 7-8 business days.  I'm taking book time off to listen to Xmas music!  Nothing but Xmas music in my car until after Christmas!!!!!

 

Those WWII books mentioned above sound really good too.  Hopefully they have audio options.

[HoosierAloha 30,024]

A great read about tactics used during the Vietnam War is Steel My Soldiers' Heart by Col. Hackworth.

Lone Survivor is also a good read.

Here's a link to watch a speech given by Marcus that's a phenomenon watch.

http://youtu.be/fKDBYDnTeS8

Edit: Part II

http://youtu.be/kzCbbJNG9Zc

[Defenserocks28 393]

Finished American Assassin; great book!  Got through it in two days.  

 

Looks like I found my new series until the next Jack Reacher comes out.  

[Scooter D 928]

Just finished War of the Encyclopaedists.  Good read with some interesting themes, including varying perspectives on war, and the world of the millennial generation.   

[JSHoosier 19,835]

Okay, now I'm caught up on the Reacher series. Got Make Me and read it in about 9 hours.

Yet another enjoyable read in the series.

[Bryan Medema 1,488]

Just finished Chernow's "Alexander Hamilton" (long but incredible) and about to start Nate Silver's signal in the noise. Anyone have any good biographies to recommend?

[OliviaPope40 6,446]

The Energy Bus is worth a read.

[Whoozhers 3,652]

Amazing thread! Proving IU fans CAN read! lol
Thanks for all the great recommendations!
BEAT PSU!!

[JSHoosier 19,835]

Amazing thread! Proving IU fans CAN read! lol
Thanks for all the great recommendations!
BEAT PSU!!

Who says IU fans can't read?  Besides pUKe and PU fans?  And let's face it, the opinions of those two fan bases are invalid on many subjects for a variety of reasons.

[JSHoosier 19,835]

Just finished Chernow's "Alexander Hamilton" (long but incredible) and about to start Nate Silver's signal in the noise. Anyone have any good biographies to recommend?

An autobiography as opposed to biography, but Cash The Autobiography was good.

[HoosierAloha 30,024]

Amazing thread! Proving IU fans CAN read! lol
Thanks for all the great recommendations!
BEAT PSU!!

 

Wait, these are supposed to be books we've read?  I assumed everyone was talking about audio books.  Reading is for lozers!

[Bryan Medema 1,488]

Wait, these are supposed to be books we've read? I assumed everyone was talking about audio books. Reading is for lozers!

I mean, in fairness, that's how I heard the gospel of RMK (the power of thinking negatively)

[Naturalhoosier 15,407]

Most of my books are audio these days. I'm in the car 2 hrs a day. Perfect filler.

[Bryan Medema 1,488]

Most of my books are audio these days. I'm in the car 2 hrs a day. Perfect filler.

Any recommendations? I enjoy listening to podcasts in the office but run out quickly.

[Naturalhoosier 15,407]

As far as podcasts, I only listen to 4:

This American Life (an hour a week)
Undisclosed
Serial
99% Invisible (short but interesting)

Audiobooks are my preference. I'm on 6 or 7 of Jonathan Maberry's "Joe Ledger" series. Sort of Jack Reacher meets bio-terrorism. Good stuff.

I listened to One Shot at Forever. It's essentially Illinois high school baseball version of Hoosiers. Based in the early 70s in Macon, Illinois. I'd recommend that one too. I

have a whole list that I've finished off but those are the most recent.