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... I was also reading Ringworld Throne, I see now, with the book by my head on the couch, but I can't seem to give a crap about the Ringworld series no matter how much I try.
Apparently, you are in good company:
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The Ringworld Throne is hugely disappointing, and damn near a complete stinkbomb. Sure, it's got scenes that are among the most grandiose that Larry Niven has ever imagined. But that's as obvious as pointing out a crap Hollywood blockbuster movie has sweet special effects.
My lunch time reading is Peeler by Kevin McCarthy, a murder mystery set in the early 1920's during the Anglo-Irish war. A sargeant in the Royal Irish Constabulary (the longtime police for in Ireland seen as traitors by many Irish at this time) seeks to solve the sexual assault and bizarre murder of a local young woman, and the IRA is seeking to do likewise in order not to have it blamed on them. It moves along well, and if it weren't that I need good episodic reading for my lunch hours, I would have finished it off in a few long sittings.
My serious book is A New History of Early Christianity by Charles Freeman. Like a couple of other books that I have read on the same topic in recent years, it benefits very much from new manuscript discoveries and research and archeological work.
My lunch time reading is Peeler by Kevin McCarthy, a murder mystery set in the early 1920's during the Anglo-Irish war. A sargeant in the Royal Irish Constabulary (the longtime police for in Ireland seen as traitors by many Irish at this time) seeks to solve the sexual assault and bizarre murder of a local young woman, and the IRA is seeking to do likewise in order not to have it blamed on them. It moves along well, and if it weren't that I need good episodic reading for my lunch hours, I would have finished it off in a few long sittings.
My serious book is A New History of Early Christianity by Charles Freeman. Like a couple of other books that I have read on the same topic in recent years, it benefits very much from new manuscript discoveries and research and archeological work.
I used to have a fun book and a serious book going, but more lately I try to read just one. I think my brain has challenges with multi-tasking!
I wonder how McCarthy came up with the title "Peeler." Is that Irish slang, or a reference to the murder?
I finished the last complete chapter in the defective copy of "The Universe Within," and put it out to return to the library. (They placed a hold for me for another copy, but there's a long list ahead of me so I have no idea when it will arrive.)
Now I've started on Peter Carey's "Parrot & Olivier in America" and it has "feel" of Marcel Proust's set: "Remembrances of Things Past," (which I have managed to work my way through the first volume, but couldn't bring myself to open the second -- I am hoping they read it to me in the nursing home when I cannot think of anything else to do in my nineties!). The jury's still out on Carey's work, for me.
I wonder how McCarthy came up with the title "Peeler." Is that Irish slang, or a reference to the murder?
I believe that "Peeler" is slang for potato peeler and thus, the Irish. I think is became a popular moniker during the potato famine. As an add on I'll mention something I just learned this week. On Downton Abbey the lord of the manor in England referred to his Irish Catholic son in law as a "Left Footer." So I went digging around for the root of that slang and found it. The Irish who worked the land in the 20s were mostly Catholic (I mean percentage wise in the population rather than someone being 3/4 Catholic and 1/4 something else )
Anyway, those folks, when digging peat, put there left foot on the spade to dig. Thus, left-footers.
It's possible that I am wrong about McCarthy's title and what it means but I do know that Irish Catholics were referred to as "peelers" in the 20s.
My lunch time reading is Peeler by Kevin McCarthy, a murder mystery set in the early 1920's during the Anglo-Irish war. A sargeant in the Royal Irish Constabulary (the longtime police for in Ireland seen as traitors by many Irish at this time) seeks to solve the sexual assault and bizarre murder of a local young woman, and the IRA is seeking to do likewise in order not to have it blamed on them. It moves along well, and if it weren't that I need good episodic reading for my lunch hours, I would have finished it off in a few long sittings.
My serious book is A New History of Early Christianity by Charles Freeman. Like a couple of other books that I have read on the same topic in recent years, it benefits very much from new manuscript discoveries and research and archeological work.
Thank you very much for leading me to Peeler. I just bought it for Boris the Kindle. If you like history and, Irish in particular, then I recommend The History of the IRA by Tim Pat Coogan. Coogan is a writer and journalist in Dublin and you'll find that the book is very well researched.
Now I've started on Peter Carey's "Parrot & Olivier in America" and it has "feel" of Marcel Proust's set: "Remembrances of Things Past," (which I have managed to work my way through the first volume, but couldn't bring myself to open the second -- I am hoping they read it to me in the nursing home when I cannot think of anything else to do in my nineties!). The jury's still out on Carey's work, for me.
Is it the audiobook? The audiobook is so awesome - it's one of the best I've ever heard! I'm not sure the print book would have had the same appeal for me as the audiobook, so if you find you aren't getting into it, you might try to find the audiobook at your library - that's where I got mine, through the downloadable site.
You're right -- when I first read it in the 50s, the conventional wisdom was that this is about the USSR and why we should fear it. As the year 1984 approached, I watched with interest to see if there would be a lot of publicity about the book. There was none. Nobody mentioned it, it was not prominently on bookshelves, nor was there a film remake. Because people rereading it discovered that it was about the USA and why we should fear it.
Big Brother really does appear every day, all day, on our TV screens, on every channel, and nobody turns it off.
Well I am going to try to read again. Been taking a too long break because I just cannot seem to get off the computer I guess... I just reserved and picked up A WALK IN THE WOODS by BILL BRYSON.http://www.amazon.com/Walk-Woods-Red.../dp/0307279464 I hear it's wonderful . I picked it up yesterday and now have it in my possession. (as you can see, I am still on the computer and not reading but I DO have hopes for the weekend
Last edited by Mayvenne; 02-01-2013 at 06:01 AM..
Reason: link included hopefully this time.
You're right -- when I first read it in the 50s, the conventional wisdom was that this is about the USSR and why we should fear it. As the year 1984 approached, I watched with interest to see if there would be a lot of publicity about the book. There was none. Nobody mentioned it, it was not prominently on bookshelves, nor was there a film remake. Because people rereading it discovered that it was about the USA and why we should fear it.
Big Brother really does appear every day, all day, on our TV screens, on every channel, and nobody turns it off.
Reading 1984 is going extremely slowly for me as it always does - with frequent breaks. Usually, I let my mind "get into" a book, I almost feel a part of it if that makes sense. Pages fly by. With this book, I can't get engrossed like that. It's almost as though I keep the story at arm's length, there's only so close that I want to get to it..
I'll be glad to have this one under my belt, though. I feel that this is a "must read" that I, well, must read - lol.
Anyway, those folks, when digging peat, put there left foot on the spade to dig. Thus, left-footers.
It's possible that I am wrong about McCarthy's title and what it means but I do know that Irish Catholics were referred to as "peelers" in the 20s.
Fascinating stuff, K. I love words and knowing where they come from, but don't often take the time to research the way you do. I am so glad you are here.
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Originally Posted by C2ShiningC
Is it the audiobook? The audiobook is so awesome - it's one of the best I've ever heard! I'm not sure the print book would have had the same appeal for me as the audiobook, so if you find you aren't getting into it, you might try to find the audiobook at your library - that's where I got mine, through the downloadable site.
Thanks, C2SC. This is a book, and I can definitely see how a good reader could do a lot with it. I will have to look to see if I can download a copy to my (old, discontinued, unsupported) Zune.
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Originally Posted by jtur88
Big Brother really does appear every day, all day, on our TV screens, on every channel, and nobody turns it off.
Off topic, but I am going to jump in and comment that it is not THEY that are building in all of the monitors to our daily lives, but WE. Only when we take responsibility for monitoring and controlling our OWN actions will we again live in an un-monitored society. Only WE have the chance to make that happen. There are many of us that do not turn on, or tune in, and therefore don't have to turn off.
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Originally Posted by Mayvenne
Well I am going to try to read again. Been taking a too long break because I just cannot seem to get off the computer I guess... I just reserved and picked up A WALK IN THE WOODS by BILL BRYSON.Amazon.com: A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (9780307279460): Bill Bryson: Books I hear it's wonderful . I picked it up yesterday and now have it in my possession. (as you can see, I am still on the computer and not reading but I DO have hopes for the weekend
Bill is a GREAT way to start reading again because he doesn't require any long term commitment. His works in general seem to be ones that you can pick up anywhere, read for any duration, and set aside for months if needed -- he's always there ready to charm and enlighten when you come back.
We listened to that particular title while traveling the Appalachians and the peripheries and it was great.
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Apparently, you are in good company: 
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