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1DeusExLibrus
Guess I kind of slacked on keeping up my list last year, but I did reach my goal of fifty books. Same thing this year, 50 by the last day of December. This year, however, I'm not bothering with a reading list. There are things I will definitely be reading because of Yoga Teacher Training, or a Philosophy 101 class I'm TAing for, but after finishing the books I'm in the midst of now, its pretty open. My one rule is that I'm restricting myself to no more than three books at a time.
2SylviaC
You read a lot of books that I liked last year, so I'll be following your new thread. Happy reading!
3DeusExLibrus
Hi Sylvia, always nice to know someone else on here is interested in the stuff I am. Just finished book two for 2013 so I need to get this updated, but think I'll wait until I'm on my computer. Typing this on my phone.
4DeusExLibrus
Wow, completely forgot about this, and have NO idea where I am now in terms of books read. Well, we are about to head into the sixth month of the year. Might start the count over.
5jillmwo
Rebooting of personal reading threads is entirely understandable. Everyone needs a new processing chip now and again.
6DeusExLibrus
and here we go, starting over:
1 Yoga Mala
Essentially an instruction manual for Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga philosophy and practice. Jois was trained by the "Father of Modern Yoga" Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, which makes Ashtanga Vinyasa even more intriguing, as it uses six set series of postures, unlike the other schools founded by men trained by K, which are much more free form.
1 Yoga Mala
Essentially an instruction manual for Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga philosophy and practice. Jois was trained by the "Father of Modern Yoga" Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, which makes Ashtanga Vinyasa even more intriguing, as it uses six set series of postures, unlike the other schools founded by men trained by K, which are much more free form.
7DeusExLibrus
2 Buddhist Boot Camp
This is one thats staying in my permanent collection. While the book is called Buddhist Bootcamp, its much more about Buddhism from a perspective of how its lived than the teachings themselves. The focus of the book is, essentially, Compassion and voluntary simplicity. Those who know me will, then, be completely unsurprised that I loved it. The book does have its oddities, it is, after all, written by a guy who has a name more reminiscent of Native Americans than Buddhism, and the cover is a photo of Hawkeye in military camo to fit with the title, but if you can look beyond that, you're in for a treat.
This is one thats staying in my permanent collection. While the book is called Buddhist Bootcamp, its much more about Buddhism from a perspective of how its lived than the teachings themselves. The focus of the book is, essentially, Compassion and voluntary simplicity. Those who know me will, then, be completely unsurprised that I loved it. The book does have its oddities, it is, after all, written by a guy who has a name more reminiscent of Native Americans than Buddhism, and the cover is a photo of Hawkeye in military camo to fit with the title, but if you can look beyond that, you're in for a treat.
9DeusExLibrus
In the middle of Ready Player One I've had two friends bug me to read this, and finally picked up a copy. Definitely should have gotten my hands on this earlier. Absolutely love it. Further thoughts later this weekend (or maybe later today) when I finish it).
10DeusExLibrus
4 Ready Player One
Going into this, I was expecting a young adult novel. This is most definitely not a young adult novel, though I can certainly see teens reading and loving it. Wade Welles is a teenage geek living on an earth thats dying a slow painful death, where the only escape is OASIS, a VR world that can be described as Second Life crossed with World of Warcraft on steroids. One of the men responsible for the creation of the OASIS dies, and a half decade long race is on to win a crazy treasure hunt whose winner will inherit a mind-boggling fortune, and control of the company that runs OASIS. In short this is, as the cover says "Willy Wonka meets the Matrix" and so much more. If you're a geek, lover of 80's nostalgia/trivia, or into VR, you need to read this book. If you're a lover of a well told story, you definitely need to read this book.
Going into this, I was expecting a young adult novel. This is most definitely not a young adult novel, though I can certainly see teens reading and loving it. Wade Welles is a teenage geek living on an earth thats dying a slow painful death, where the only escape is OASIS, a VR world that can be described as Second Life crossed with World of Warcraft on steroids. One of the men responsible for the creation of the OASIS dies, and a half decade long race is on to win a crazy treasure hunt whose winner will inherit a mind-boggling fortune, and control of the company that runs OASIS. In short this is, as the cover says "Willy Wonka meets the Matrix" and so much more. If you're a geek, lover of 80's nostalgia/trivia, or into VR, you need to read this book. If you're a lover of a well told story, you definitely need to read this book.
11DeusExLibrus
5 Hammered
Atticus O'Sullivan is a druid in the modern southwest. But not one of those happy sappy peace and love new age wannabes you understand, a reall flesh and blood immortal Druid from the Iron Age, the last survivor of his people. In Hammered, Atticus, along with a vampire, werewolf, a chinese immortal and a pair of gods throw down against the original Thor who is, apparently, a dick.
An old college friend of mine turned me on to this series, and I am LOVING it. If you've read and enjoyed the Dresden Files you will likely love this just as much, as Atticus and Harry could easily be brothers. This is the third in a series, and I highly recommend starting with the first Hounded, as, unlike the Dresden Files, the Iron Druid Chronicles are plot driven instead of each book being a seperate story interconnected by underlying plot threads.
Atticus O'Sullivan is a druid in the modern southwest. But not one of those happy sappy peace and love new age wannabes you understand, a reall flesh and blood immortal Druid from the Iron Age, the last survivor of his people. In Hammered, Atticus, along with a vampire, werewolf, a chinese immortal and a pair of gods throw down against the original Thor who is, apparently, a dick.
An old college friend of mine turned me on to this series, and I am LOVING it. If you've read and enjoyed the Dresden Files you will likely love this just as much, as Atticus and Harry could easily be brothers. This is the third in a series, and I highly recommend starting with the first Hounded, as, unlike the Dresden Files, the Iron Druid Chronicles are plot driven instead of each book being a seperate story interconnected by underlying plot threads.
12DeusExLibrus
6 Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
The Greek Gods are real, they're still having kids with mortals, and Percy Jackson is one of those kids. The book is a fun ride, but by no means great literature. If the Dresden Files is Harry Potter for adults, Percy Jackson is, in some ways, the Dresden Files for the middle school set, with a bit more limited range of creatures.
The Greek Gods are real, they're still having kids with mortals, and Percy Jackson is one of those kids. The book is a fun ride, but by no means great literature. If the Dresden Files is Harry Potter for adults, Percy Jackson is, in some ways, the Dresden Files for the middle school set, with a bit more limited range of creatures.
13DeusExLibrus
7 the Sea of Monsters
Percy and friends are in trouble again. Joined by his Cyclopean brother Tyson, Percy and Annabeth are off on another quest, this time to save camp half-blood when the magic tree that guards the borders of camp. They're off to locate the famous Golden Fleece, but what they find might not be exactly what they were hoping for.
The second book in the series is just as fun as the first. For older readers there won't be much surprising here. Tantalus is quite reminiscent of a certain female Harry Potter character many people love to hate, and the surprise end is sort of given away by the title of the final chapter and a smidge of critical thinking. However, that makes it no less fun and inventive. Highly recommended to kids of all ages.
Percy and friends are in trouble again. Joined by his Cyclopean brother Tyson, Percy and Annabeth are off on another quest, this time to save camp half-blood when the magic tree that guards the borders of camp. They're off to locate the famous Golden Fleece, but what they find might not be exactly what they were hoping for.
The second book in the series is just as fun as the first. For older readers there won't be much surprising here. Tantalus is quite reminiscent of a certain female Harry Potter character many people love to hate, and the surprise end is sort of given away by the title of the final chapter and a smidge of critical thinking. However, that makes it no less fun and inventive. Highly recommended to kids of all ages.
14DeusExLibrus
8 the Titan's Curse
Things are looking worse and worse at camp half blood when Annabeth is kidnapped by Luke and the Titan army. The series is getting dark fast, but still retains this lighthearted tone that is a bit jarring at times. I keep having to remind myself that the books are aimed at fifth and sixth graders. That said, this was a fun, quick read.
Things are looking worse and worse at camp half blood when Annabeth is kidnapped by Luke and the Titan army. The series is getting dark fast, but still retains this lighthearted tone that is a bit jarring at times. I keep having to remind myself that the books are aimed at fifth and sixth graders. That said, this was a fun, quick read.
15DeusExLibrus
9 the Battle of the Labyrinth
...
O.o
Okay, wow. Riordan actually surprised me a couple times. Not least of which was actually showing the fallout of the titular battle. Especially given that the books are aimed at fifth graders, that seems like a pretty ballsy thing to do, and I can't help but respecting him quite a bit for doing it.
...
O.o
Okay, wow. Riordan actually surprised me a couple times. Not least of which was actually showing the fallout of the titular battle. Especially given that the books are aimed at fifth graders, that seems like a pretty ballsy thing to do, and I can't help but respecting him quite a bit for doing it.
16DeusExLibrus
10 the Last Olympian
Percy Annabeth and Grover rally camp Half-Blood for a brutal potentially civilization ending battle to defend Long Island and Olympus from an army of Titans, monsters, and turncoat demigods. The battle takes up most of the book, and has some amazing scenes like Clarisse curb stomping a Drakon. Yet, its still clear that Riordan is writing for kids. We get little hints at the true brutality of what's going on, scenes of wounded and dying campers between fighting, enemy monsters carrying bead necklaces from dead campers and piles of demigod armor and weapons displayed as war trophies at the Titan camp, but everything is much more subdued than it might be had the book been written for even a YA audience. Still, I've got to give Riordan props for telling the story the way he has. He manages to be frank about the results of war, ie yes, people get wounded and lots of people die, respecting the intelligence of his audience while keeping things relatively age appropriate. While it is violent, the book is definitely nowhere near ultraviolence. Sin City this is not. Still, I can defintiely see more sensitive 4th-6th graders being really upset/getting nightmares from reading the book as there are some pretty dark moments. Overall though, an excellent last entry to the series, and an amazing lead in to the sequel series.
Percy Annabeth and Grover rally camp Half-Blood for a brutal potentially civilization ending battle to defend Long Island and Olympus from an army of Titans, monsters, and turncoat demigods. The battle takes up most of the book, and has some amazing scenes like Clarisse curb stomping a Drakon. Yet, its still clear that Riordan is writing for kids. We get little hints at the true brutality of what's going on, scenes of wounded and dying campers between fighting, enemy monsters carrying bead necklaces from dead campers and piles of demigod armor and weapons displayed as war trophies at the Titan camp, but everything is much more subdued than it might be had the book been written for even a YA audience. Still, I've got to give Riordan props for telling the story the way he has. He manages to be frank about the results of war, ie yes, people get wounded and lots of people die, respecting the intelligence of his audience while keeping things relatively age appropriate. While it is violent, the book is definitely nowhere near ultraviolence. Sin City this is not. Still, I can defintiely see more sensitive 4th-6th graders being really upset/getting nightmares from reading the book as there are some pretty dark moments. Overall though, an excellent last entry to the series, and an amazing lead in to the sequel series.
17DeusExLibrus
11 the Lost Olympian
Percy Jackson has disappeared, there's a second camp somewhere based on the Roman pantheon, and another war is coming, along with a second great prophecy. The first book of the Heroes of Olympus, the follow up series to Percy Jackson & the Olympians may just be a better hook than Lightning Thief. I get the sense Riordan is definitely writing for a slightly older audience here as well, as the entire thing is darker and more intense on a lot of levels than most of the first series.
Percy Jackson has disappeared, there's a second camp somewhere based on the Roman pantheon, and another war is coming, along with a second great prophecy. The first book of the Heroes of Olympus, the follow up series to Percy Jackson & the Olympians may just be a better hook than Lightning Thief. I get the sense Riordan is definitely writing for a slightly older audience here as well, as the entire thing is darker and more intense on a lot of levels than most of the first series.
18DeusExLibrus
12 the Son of Neptune
Things are really starting to heat up as we discover where Percy Jackson has been the last few months. Really a gripe, more than anything, but why are the Roman demigods from Camp Mars called campers? It makes sense that the Greeks are, seeing as their base is a summer camp, but the Romans are trained soldiers. Seems kind of weird to call them campers.
Things are really starting to heat up as we discover where Percy Jackson has been the last few months. Really a gripe, more than anything, but why are the Roman demigods from Camp Mars called campers? It makes sense that the Greeks are, seeing as their base is a summer camp, but the Romans are trained soldiers. Seems kind of weird to call them campers.
21DeusExLibrus
15 Odd Thomas
I read this at some point a few years ago, and wasn't blown away either time, but certainly enjoyed the journey. The sequel is apparently horrid, so might or might not continue reading the series. Opinions? Thoughts?
I read this at some point a few years ago, and wasn't blown away either time, but certainly enjoyed the journey. The sequel is apparently horrid, so might or might not continue reading the series. Opinions? Thoughts?
22MrsLee
I enjoyed the sequel, I think it took place in a casino hotel which had burned which was eerie for me, since I work in a hotel by a casino. I know I read at least one more after that, then I just quit reading them. Not great literature, but it is a fun idea, and I really do like Odd himself. If another in the series came to hand I would probably read it. The story can be clumsy, but I liked the characters and the idea.
23DeusExLibrus
16 the Emperor's Soul
Taking place in the same world as Elantris, the Emperor's Soul is the story of Shai, a Forger, a magic user who can alter the nature of an object by stamping it with a seal. Shai is caught attempting to steal from the Emeror, and made to forge a new soul for him, as he's in what could be thought of as a coma after an assassination attempt that led to the death of his wife.
This is a much more intimate book than most of Sanderson's others. The entire thing takes place over the course of a few months, mostly in one room, with about a half dozen named characters. That said, its a great story well told. The magic system is, as always with Sanderson inventive and unique, and the political intrigue of the situation draws you in fast and serves as one thread in a story that you won't want to put down til the last page.
Taking place in the same world as Elantris, the Emperor's Soul is the story of Shai, a Forger, a magic user who can alter the nature of an object by stamping it with a seal. Shai is caught attempting to steal from the Emeror, and made to forge a new soul for him, as he's in what could be thought of as a coma after an assassination attempt that led to the death of his wife.
This is a much more intimate book than most of Sanderson's others. The entire thing takes place over the course of a few months, mostly in one room, with about a half dozen named characters. That said, its a great story well told. The magic system is, as always with Sanderson inventive and unique, and the political intrigue of the situation draws you in fast and serves as one thread in a story that you won't want to put down til the last page.
26DeusExLibrus
18 Legion
The main character is a genius expert in multiple fields, and stays sane by manifesting each area of knowledge as a separate hallucination, ie one is a navy seal, another is a master thief, another is a mechanic, etc. The story involves the theft of a camera that can take pictures of the past. As far as I can tell, this short story is unusual among Sanderson's work in that its the only one set in the modern world on planet Earth.
The main character is a genius expert in multiple fields, and stays sane by manifesting each area of knowledge as a separate hallucination, ie one is a navy seal, another is a master thief, another is a mechanic, etc. The story involves the theft of a camera that can take pictures of the past. As far as I can tell, this short story is unusual among Sanderson's work in that its the only one set in the modern world on planet Earth.
27MrsLee
I'm really hoping Brandon Sanderson will follow up on Legion. I thought it had great possibilities for more stories.
28DeusExLibrus
You and me both. Its a really neat idea. It was certainly fun seeing him do something so outside his normal style.
31reading_fox
Are all the sanderson books short stories? Or novellas? I haven't got aorund to reading anything more recent than alloy of law
32DeusExLibrus
Not by a long shot. The three I read recently are, but Way of Kings, which I'm reading now is just over a thousand pages, and is the first in a series planned to be ten books of similar length. Most of the rest of his stuff are normal length novels.
33DeusExLibrus
21 the Book of Tea
I'm not sure if this was originally written in Japanese and translated, but found it a slog of a read. The edition I read was a free Kindle book.
I'm not sure if this was originally written in Japanese and translated, but found it a slog of a read. The edition I read was a free Kindle book.
34jillmwo
DEL, while I liked The Book of Tea when I read it, at the time I was in a immersive mood having to do with Japanese thinking, the tea ceremony, and slowing down and appreciating the moment as a practice. I can understand why it might not appeal if that's not where you are at the moment. I have it sitting on a shelf of favored titles but haven't re-read it in years.
35DeusExLibrus
22 the Magicians
Take Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia, throw in a healthy dose of the real world and make the main characters teenage/early twenty-something anti-heroes. Thats the Magicians. This was a book I can honestly not say I liked exactly, but I couldn't really put it down either. If you grew up with Narnia and Hogwarts, I highly recommend you give Grossman a look. Just don't expect a remotely happy story.
Take Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia, throw in a healthy dose of the real world and make the main characters teenage/early twenty-something anti-heroes. Thats the Magicians. This was a book I can honestly not say I liked exactly, but I couldn't really put it down either. If you grew up with Narnia and Hogwarts, I highly recommend you give Grossman a look. Just don't expect a remotely happy story.
36DeusExLibrus
23 How to Live
I first ran into this book back in college in 2010 when I heard a review of it on "Books on the Nightstand." I'm not sure why I waited until now to read it, but it was certainly worth it. A copy of Montaigne's essays is now on mount TBR and I'm really looking forward to getting into it.
I first ran into this book back in college in 2010 when I heard a review of it on "Books on the Nightstand." I'm not sure why I waited until now to read it, but it was certainly worth it. A copy of Montaigne's essays is now on mount TBR and I'm really looking forward to getting into it.
37jillmwo
I think you've got the wrong touchstone for How to Live. The one you're pointing to is a novel by Charles Yu rather than the non-fiction biography of Montaigne by Sarah Bakewell
38DeusExLibrus
Thanks for the heads up jillmwo, should be fixed now.
39DeusExLibrus
24 Zealot
This one is slightly out of order as I actually finished reading it between the book of tea and the Magicians.
Aslan's book is bound to upset and confuse a lot of people. Fox News apparently did an interview with him in which they couldn't figure out why a muslim was interested in Jesus. However, it is a solid scholarly biography of the man from a historical perspective and does an excellent job of making the subject interesting to a popular audience.
Personally I enjoyed the book and found it agreed with what I learned in college and expanded on a lot. I've always seen the debate about the real Jesus as more complex than either scholars or the faithful seem to. We forget that most all the material we have about the man was either not written until at least seventy years after his death (the first of the gospels), or by someone who never met him (in the case of the Pauline epistles). Still, for what it is, Aslan's book is excellent and highly recommended.
This one is slightly out of order as I actually finished reading it between the book of tea and the Magicians.
Aslan's book is bound to upset and confuse a lot of people. Fox News apparently did an interview with him in which they couldn't figure out why a muslim was interested in Jesus. However, it is a solid scholarly biography of the man from a historical perspective and does an excellent job of making the subject interesting to a popular audience.
Personally I enjoyed the book and found it agreed with what I learned in college and expanded on a lot. I've always seen the debate about the real Jesus as more complex than either scholars or the faithful seem to. We forget that most all the material we have about the man was either not written until at least seventy years after his death (the first of the gospels), or by someone who never met him (in the case of the Pauline epistles). Still, for what it is, Aslan's book is excellent and highly recommended.
42DeusExLibrus
27 Magician King
Takes the skeleton of Voyage of the Dawn Treader and runs with it. This one didn't feel quite as dark as the first. Don't get me wrong, its still a dark book, but somehow it didn't feel quite as oppressive as the Magicians.
Takes the skeleton of Voyage of the Dawn Treader and runs with it. This one didn't feel quite as dark as the first. Don't get me wrong, its still a dark book, but somehow it didn't feel quite as oppressive as the Magicians.
43DeusExLibrus
28 the Buddha Walks into a Bar
Addictively readable, BWB is Lodro Rinzler's intro to Buddhism aimed at 20 and 30 somethings. The book is focused more on how to live a buddhist life and meditation instructions, which is a definite strength.
Addictively readable, BWB is Lodro Rinzler's intro to Buddhism aimed at 20 and 30 somethings. The book is focused more on how to live a buddhist life and meditation instructions, which is a definite strength.
44DeusExLibrus
29 What makes you not a Buddhist
An intro to Buddhism thats only 125 pages and not based around the Noble Truths or Eightfold Path? You betcha. Instead Khyentse bases his book around the Four Dharma Seals, four truths about reality that Buddha came to understand (notice he didn't create them) upon his enlightenment. If you follow these four truths, according to Khyentse, you are a Buddhist.
I'd be interested, however, if others think the book is at least in part based on a straw man, or at least a theoretical person who no longer exists. Khyentse begins by critiquing people who follow buddhism because of an attachment to one culture or another (Japan in the case of Zen, Tibet in the case of Vajrayana etc), or who practice non violence or think Buddhism is about walking around with a dopey grin all the time. Given this is kind of the way a lot of people in the wider culture seem to perceive buddhists, but I'm not sure anyone in the west acts like this. I'd think he'd be much more interested in critiquing people who mix buddhism and psychology to the detriment of Buddhism.
An intro to Buddhism thats only 125 pages and not based around the Noble Truths or Eightfold Path? You betcha. Instead Khyentse bases his book around the Four Dharma Seals, four truths about reality that Buddha came to understand (notice he didn't create them) upon his enlightenment. If you follow these four truths, according to Khyentse, you are a Buddhist.
I'd be interested, however, if others think the book is at least in part based on a straw man, or at least a theoretical person who no longer exists. Khyentse begins by critiquing people who follow buddhism because of an attachment to one culture or another (Japan in the case of Zen, Tibet in the case of Vajrayana etc), or who practice non violence or think Buddhism is about walking around with a dopey grin all the time. Given this is kind of the way a lot of people in the wider culture seem to perceive buddhists, but I'm not sure anyone in the west acts like this. I'd think he'd be much more interested in critiquing people who mix buddhism and psychology to the detriment of Buddhism.
45DeusExLibrus
30 the Way of Liberation
Way has less to do with Adya's teachings than it does with the practices he recommends. At a scant 50 pages (more like forty something) the book introduces a meditation practice reminiscent of the zen practice of just sitting, along with two other more analytical practices. Though distinctly different in tone from his normal teaching style, Way is extremely useful for someone interested in this style of spiritual practice.
Way has less to do with Adya's teachings than it does with the practices he recommends. At a scant 50 pages (more like forty something) the book introduces a meditation practice reminiscent of the zen practice of just sitting, along with two other more analytical practices. Though distinctly different in tone from his normal teaching style, Way is extremely useful for someone interested in this style of spiritual practice.
47DeusExLibrus
32 Rebel Buddha
Possibly one of the first books that can be thought of as teaching a truly western form of Buddhism. Dzogchen Ponlop, a young Tibetan teachers lays out a style of Buddhism largely divorced from technical language and foreign cultural baggage. The book is challenging, highly readable, and definitely in my list of the best books I've read this year.
Possibly one of the first books that can be thought of as teaching a truly western form of Buddhism. Dzogchen Ponlop, a young Tibetan teachers lays out a style of Buddhism largely divorced from technical language and foreign cultural baggage. The book is challenging, highly readable, and definitely in my list of the best books I've read this year.
49DeusExLibrus
34 Shambhala: the Sacred Path of the Warrior
The only book Trungpa Rinpoche wrote that isn't about Buddhism, although it is, in a sense, as warriorship as he describes it feels a lot like the concept of the Bodhisattva.
The only book Trungpa Rinpoche wrote that isn't about Buddhism, although it is, in a sense, as warriorship as he describes it feels a lot like the concept of the Bodhisattva.
