I love to read, but I find it hard to commit to a big novel these days... am I alone in that? I can't believe I once had the focus to get through the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Atlas Shrugged and (most of) the unabridged Les Miserables... what happened to my brain????

I need to crack open Casino Royale again. I'll pick it up after Christmas since it is still sitting at Mother's house with many other books.

(Some I might get rid of altogether)

age is a b*tch babe...I would love to be able to read like I could 5 years ago....I could just sit for hours and go through books like crazy.

I read constantly. Mostly new fiction. I'm reading " Cloud Atlas " right now and am attempting the new Pynchon book.

Andy...you find any interest in Tom Clancy novels at all?

I am not a big science fiction fan either...I like my books like my moveis...believeable.

For anyone interested in a book that really explains what...

Science can and cannot do

I highly recommend Carl Sagan's, Demon Haunted World.

Even if you dont like Sagan, I think he gets a bit outlandish sometimes, this was a book written for people who want to educate themselves about what Science really is. Excellent book.

I also read constantly. Current non fiction is Russia, a History, various contributors, compiled byGregory Freeze (Oxford University Press).
Current fiction, "Youth" by Joseph Conrad, for the fourteenth time. I always find more in this masterpiece. Read it if you get a chance.
DTS

funny how everyones mind and what piques peoples interest varies so much. Science has just never held any appeal to me at all...where as I am sure you just flat love it, right Pat?

I have never read anything by him. I do believe, however, that he was sitting near me at a baseball game recently.

I read all kinds of stuff, mostly just light reading to fall asleep...I just finished Splinter Cell Checkmate: Tom Clancy and will probably pick up Brother Odd by Dean Koontz that comes out today...

He's a great read, especially his older stuff. His newer stuff lacks a bit.

Mwind...long time no see. Hope things are well.

I never could develop much of a taste for Clancy's Splinter Cell works...

I read constantly. Mostly new fiction.

You ever read any of James Patterson's work? I am just starting his new book "Cross", which so far is really interesting. Hes the guy who wrote Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider (both turned into movies). I didnt care for those 2 books, think his best stuff is the Lifeguard and the Beachhouse.

I too prefer fiction to nonfiction.

I am impressed you guys have time to read! I can barely read my horse illustrated before the next month's issue comes in the mail. My life is too busy.

Things are good...

How about yourself?

I agree the Splinter Cell books are pretty lame, however Checkmate is the best of the bunch, by far. Not nearly as good as Rainbow Six or Teeth of the Tiger...

Also, I really like The Broker, I believe Grisham wrote that...

Rainbow Six is #1 on my list of Clancy novels....hands down my favorite.

and things are really well in this end too, thanks.

I actually was not into Science at all in High School. I disliked it entirely. I was taught by coaches. But in college I had some really good professors. I also really love books on Foreign Affairs.

Kev: I just have this overwhelming feeling that if people really understood the real nature of Science they would not be so scared of it. One TV show, Myth Busters, is a wonderful attempt at sneaking science in, and I think its working. If you have ever watched this show, these guys are constantly harping on why they are performing experiments in a certain way, and my God they repeat what they are doing constantly to fully test what they are doing. And even after all this, sometimes they profess, we have no idea... A wonderful introductory show.

Kev. If you dont mind, I want to elaborate. When that Street Magician makes himself appear to elevate some people actually want to run away, they are actually scared... mystified and frightened. I find this reaction absolutely astonishing. I teach kids that say they would run cause the guy has some sort of evil power. Other kids say they would like to get a look underneath his shoes, push on him, find out how he does it... isnt this the way it should be? Try to understand phenomena, not run yelling Ghost, Ghost...?
I just want to know how things work. I want the truth, thats all.

I understand what you are saying Pat. I just merely find if fascinating how some people have minds, like yourself, that want to know how things work. Where as other people, such as myself, are not that curious at all as to how things work and let others figure them out.