Current / Recent Books

[Moon68]

I'm a big fan of William R. Forstchen's "One Second After" series, even though I found "The Final Day" to be too predictable and rushed, I picked up his latest installment, "Five Years After". I haven't read it yet but it's on my list.

Some regular reads (at least yearly):

The aforementioned "Revelation Space" series by Alastair Reynolds

"Starship Troopers" by Heinlein

"Old Man's War" by John Scalzi

"Lucifer's Hammer" by Pournelle & Niven

"The Forever War" by Joe Haldeman

"The Last Centurion" by John Ringo

[quintessentone]

For those with books in a case or box. How to relieve mustiness from books:

I will need to order online sweet woodruff and do this because my books need a freshening up.
 "Here's how you can use sweet woodruff to freshen your books:

• Scented sachets: Place dried sweet woodruff leaves in small, breathable sachets and insert them between book pages or in book boxes to absorb musty odors and release a pleasant fragrance."
  

[sahgwa]

I love the smell of the old books!  It has melded interestingly with my sandalwood incense to create a relaxing library temple smell.
I dont think its musty so much as dusty. lol

[quintessentone]

I love the smell of the old books!  It has melded interestingly with my sandalwood incense to create a relaxing library temple smell.
I dont think its musty so much as dusty. lol

Actually, I think I will soak a cotton pad with my wide array of essential oils and refresh that way.

Here's a random passage from my Zen pocket book. I kid you not, it's about dust of the world. Weird!

No Attachment to Dust

"Zengetsu, a Chinese master of the T'ang dynasty, wrote the following advice for his pupils:
Living in the world yet not forming attachments to the dust of the world is the way of a true Zen student.
When witnessing the good action of another encourage yourself to follow his example. Hearing of the mistaken action of another, advise yourself not to emulate it.
Even though alone in a dark room, be as if you were facing a noble guest. Express your feelings, but become no more expressive than your true nature.
Poverty is your treasure. Never exchange it for an easy life.
A person may appear a fool and yet not be one. He may only be guarding his wisdom carefully.
Virtues are the fruit of self-discipline and do not drop from heaven of themselves as does rain or snow.
Modesty is the foundation of all virtues. Let your neighbors discover you before you make yourself known to them.
A noble heart never forces itself forward. Its words are as rare gems, seldom displayed and of great value.
To a sincere student, every day is a fortunate day. Time passes but he never lags behind. Neither glory nor shame can move him.
Censure yourself, never another. Do not discuss right and wrong.
Some things, though right, were considered wrong for generations. Since the value of righteousness may be recognized after centuries, there is no need to crave an immediate appreciation.
Live with cause and leave results to the great law of the universe. Pass each day in peaceful contemplation.

[UltraBudgie]

For those with books in a case or box. How to relieve mustiness from books:

I will need to order online sweet woodruff and do this because my books need a freshening up.
 "Here's how you can use sweet woodruff to freshen your books:

• Scented sachets: Place dried sweet woodruff leaves in small, breathable sachets and insert them between book pages or in book boxes to absorb musty odors and release a pleasant fragrance."
  

I sort of do the opposite. In my library I have a case of a few hundred golden-age scifi paperbacks. You know, the ones with the yellow and crumbling acid-washed paper, before they stopped using that stuff. It gives off a wonderful smell that takes me back to a childhood wandering libraries and used book stores. Armfuls of $0.25 gems. Fills the whole place. Highly recommend.

Most recently finished: When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi. Science fiction/humor. What would really happen if suddenly the moon were replaced by a giant wheel of cheese? Fun, quick, quite enjoyed it. Written as a loosly-interleaved set of well-drawn character and institutional reactions. More of an Emmental than a Cotswold, which was somewhat disappointing.

Free book: Maxims and Moral Reflections by François La Rochefoucauld. PDF here. Witty sayings. Nietzsche's inspiration. Some select quotes from it here, to whet the appetite.

[quintessentone]

I sort of do the opposite. In my library I have a case of a few hundred golden-age scifi paperbacks. You know, the ones with the yellow and crumbling acid-washed paper, before they stopped using that stuff. It gives off a wonderful smell that takes me back to a childhood wandering libraries and used book stores. Armfuls of $0.25 gems. Fills the whole place. Highly recommend.

Most recently finished: When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi. Science fiction/humor. What would really happen if suddenly the moon were replaced by a giant wheel of cheese? Fun, quick, quite enjoyed it. Written as a loosly-interleaved set of well-drawn character and institutional reactions. More of an Emmental than a Cotswold, which was somewhat disappointing.

Free book: Maxims and moral reflections[i] by François La Rochefoucauld. PDF here. Witty sayings. Nietzsche's inspiration. Some select quotes from it here, to whet the appetite.[/i]

Thanks, I downloaded it for reading later. Right now, I have to read the Operator's Manual on my new lawn mower. lol

[Moon68]

I sort of do the opposite. In my library I have a case of a few hundred golden-age scifi paperbacks. You know, the ones with the yellow and crumbling acid-washed paper, before they stopped using that stuff. It gives off a wonderful smell that takes me back to a childhood wandering libraries and used book stores. Armfuls of $0.25 gems. Fills the whole place. Highly recommend.

Most recently finished: When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi. Science fiction/humor. What would really happen if suddenly the moon were replaced by a giant wheel of cheese? Fun, quick, quite enjoyed it. Written as a loosly-interleaved set of well-drawn character and institutional reactions. More of an Emmental than a Cotswold, which was somewhat disappointing.

Free book: Maxims and Moral Reflections by François La Rochefoucauld. PDF here. Witty sayings. Nietzsche's inspiration. Some select quotes from it here, to whet the appetite.

"Redshirts" by Scalzi is freaking hilarious

[sahgwa]

Actually, I think I will soak a cotton pad with my wide array of essential oils and refresh that way.

Here's a random passage from my Zen pocket book. I kid you not, it's about dust of the world. Weird!

No Attachment to Dust

Censure yourself, never another. Do not discuss right and wrong.
Some things, though right, were considered wrong for generations. Since the value of righteousness may be recognized after centuries, there is no need to crave an immediate appreciation.
Live with cause and leave results to the great law of the universe. Pass each day in peaceful contemplation.

Very timely and prescient. Thank you for that. Synchronicity.
Today in the Thelemic Calendar is the day of Nuit, goddess of the stars, and thus infinite space, and thus the divinity inside each human. infinite potential. 
In the book of the law it is said 'For pure will, unassuaged of purpose, delivered from the lust of result, is every way perfect.'

[sahgwa]

I sort of do the opposite. In my library I have a case of a few hundred golden-age scifi paperbacks. You know, the ones with the yellow and crumbling acid-washed paper, before they stopped using that stuff. It gives off a wonderful smell that takes me back to a childhood wandering libraries and used book stores. Armfuls of $0.25 gems. Fills the whole place. Highly recommend.

Most recently finished: When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi. Science fiction/humor. What would really happen if suddenly the moon were replaced by a giant wheel of cheese? Fun, quick, quite enjoyed it. Written as a loosly-interleaved set of well-drawn character and institutional reactions. More of an Emmental than a Cotswold, which was somewhat disappointing.

Free book: Maxims and Moral Reflections by François La Rochefoucauld. PDF here. Witty sayings. Nietzsche's inspiration. Some select quotes from it here, to whet the appetite.

Thank you for adhering to my attempt at a form for the thread and sharing what you recently finished.
I like the idea of a giant cheese in space. 
There is no smell in space right?

[Maxmars]

I have never been able to curb my affliction for books. I have owned tens of thousands.  Mostly culled from some refuse destiny.
(... It's better than drinking  )

At times, I've read 10 - 15 at a time.
But that is not as time consuming as it might seem...
when I read books like that they are usually 'skimmers.' 
Lot's of 'formulaic' fiction, pre-screenplay stuff.

I don't really collect those books though... I'm mostly interested in unpopular non-fiction.

Lot's of OLDER non-fiction.
(It fascinated me to consciously register from "where" our blossoming knowledge grows, and how long we remain static...    )

"Recently" usually involves pouring over old things, that I suspect few would be interested in:
For example... right now, leaning next to my screen...

"Lockhart's Ancient Spanish Ballads" - "Historical and Romantic" Translated with notes by J.G. Lockhart" (1890)

So... I doubt anyone will want to chase that down.

It's all cool though - Reading is fundamental - some concentrate on the "fun," some on the "mental."