TamsinValencia
Scooby
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2017
- Messages
- 4,146
What Are You Reading #2
- Thread starter nightshade
- Start date
Stake fodder
What about my me?
"The Calamity Club" by Kathryn Stockett. This is her first book since "The Help" 17 years ago, and it's very good. Only, it's 634 pages, and trying to read the heavy hardback in bed has thrown out my back!
BaskingINBangel
Agent of Nothing
Joan the Vampire Slayer
Carpe Spuffy!
Just finished:
An absolutely fascinating book, very well researched and nostalgic for Millennials! HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
About to start:
Excited to read this, it was a gift.
An absolutely fascinating book, very well researched and nostalgic for Millennials! HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
About to start:
Excited to read this, it was a gift.
T
thrasherpix
I'm thinking hard of reading the Disney book next
Stake fodder
What about my me?
Just finished "The Best Dog in the World," a book of essays by famous authors about their dogs. A warning, though, the majority of the dogs die by the end of the essay. Also just finished "The Lantern of Lost Memories," one of those gentle, small Japanese books, about looking back at one's life.
Now I'm reading "The Midnight Train" by Matt Haig, which is proving to be a quick read. Also about the main character looking back at his life, by riding a ghost train to different memories.
Now I'm reading "The Midnight Train" by Matt Haig, which is proving to be a quick read. Also about the main character looking back at his life, by riding a ghost train to different memories.
thrasherpix
Scooby
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2016
- Messages
- 5,314
- Age
- 43
I just finished Slaying the Dragon by Ben Riggs which details the rise and fall of TSR as it managed (and mismanaged) D&D. (EDITED: TSR went under in 97, bought out by Wizards of the Coast. The book makes WOTC sound good, but I know WOTC has pulled their own crap on creatives over the years, including Christmas firings to keep bonuses high for those at the top.)
I read it in a few days and found it interesting enough, though I know it didn't include all. I was hoping for some specific names that never got mentioned, and I know it left plenty of things out (perhaps due to space limitations). They left a lot out about Gary Gygax (who featured only in the first part of the book, almost full stop after he lost control of TSR), though I learned things I hadn't known before. It leaves out plenty of trivia in the book, though it did include new things I did not personally know about.
It also talked about the obsession of Lorraine Williams to publish and retain rights to Buck Rogers that would seem baffling, though it doesn't mention that Williams owned the copyright so everything TSR did in printing on that property was money in her own pocket, even as it cost TSR (I wonder if it could be described as legalized embezzlement).
Nevertheless, the corporation moved in such a way that would have Scott Adams (creator of Dilbert) nodding knowingly at the rampant ego and absurdity (just TSR was more about suits vs creatives rather than suits vs engineers).
Some of the double-speak that they tried to get away with (out of greed or an attempt to rip off creatives) interested me as well. It's not just children, criminals, and partisans that try to get their way and/or excuse their wrongdoing through spin/wordplay. (But then there are corporations that are dedicated to double-speak for the rich and powerful.)
This here is a 25-minute summary of the book which I leave for anyone interested:
I read it in a few days and found it interesting enough, though I know it didn't include all. I was hoping for some specific names that never got mentioned, and I know it left plenty of things out (perhaps due to space limitations). They left a lot out about Gary Gygax (who featured only in the first part of the book, almost full stop after he lost control of TSR), though I learned things I hadn't known before. It leaves out plenty of trivia in the book, though it did include new things I did not personally know about.
It also talked about the obsession of Lorraine Williams to publish and retain rights to Buck Rogers that would seem baffling, though it doesn't mention that Williams owned the copyright so everything TSR did in printing on that property was money in her own pocket, even as it cost TSR (I wonder if it could be described as legalized embezzlement).
Nevertheless, the corporation moved in such a way that would have Scott Adams (creator of Dilbert) nodding knowingly at the rampant ego and absurdity (just TSR was more about suits vs creatives rather than suits vs engineers).
Some of the double-speak that they tried to get away with (out of greed or an attempt to rip off creatives) interested me as well. It's not just children, criminals, and partisans that try to get their way and/or excuse their wrongdoing through spin/wordplay. (But then there are corporations that are dedicated to double-speak for the rich and powerful.)
This here is a 25-minute summary of the book which I leave for anyone interested:
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Joan the Vampire Slayer
Carpe Spuffy!
@thrasherpix I'm thinking hard of reading the Disney book next
Do it! it's so interesting. You'll love it. I did skip a couple chapters on topics/shows I wasn't so interested in (like the one on Miley Cyrus) but overall I loved the book.
I'm now reading these two books this month:
A companion the second season of TVD which I am watching now and:
The Shards which is the only book I have not read by one of my favorite authors, Bret Easton Ellis (which I coincidentally learned is also being made into a TV show).
Do it! it's so interesting. You'll love it. I did skip a couple chapters on topics/shows I wasn't so interested in (like the one on Miley Cyrus) but overall I loved the book.
I'm now reading these two books this month:
A companion the second season of TVD which I am watching now and:
The Shards which is the only book I have not read by one of my favorite authors, Bret Easton Ellis (which I coincidentally learned is also being made into a TV show).
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machinewolfhear
south of heaven north to hell
i red a lot first come to mind is the long walk by Stephen King//Books of Blood by Clive Barker and Hour of the Werewolf-various authors