Off the top of my head…
Bonfire of the Vanities
First they Killed My Father
When Heaven and Earth Changed Places
[quote]carter12 wrote:
Someone mentioned “Gates of Fire”.
They’re making a movie that appears to be based on the book by Pressfield. Not sure if it’s based on the book yet, but one of the characters in the trailer says, “then we will fight in the shade”, which is straight from the book.
It’s called “300”.
I saw the trailer the other night. [/quote]
The movie is based on Frank Millers graphic novel the 300.
The quote and the stories are based on history. The Spartans were badasses.
Whoever was talking about Gates of Fire…I appreciate the recommendation. Looked it up on Amazon and it looks like my cup of tea. Will hopefully check it out soon.
Thanks
[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
The movie is based on Frank Millers graphic novel the 300.
The quote and the stories are based on history. The Spartans were badasses.[/quote]
Cool, didn’t know there was another novel out based on those events. Might have to check it out.
The Spartans truly were “badasses”. Does anyone have any recommendations for books specifically about them/their lifestyle?
Not trying to hijack. Still talkin books here. 
[quote]carter12 wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
The movie is based on Frank Millers graphic novel the 300.
The quote and the stories are based on history. The Spartans were badasses.
Cool, didn’t know there was another novel out based on those events. Might have to check it out.
The Spartans truly were “badasses”. Does anyone have any recommendations for books specifically about them/their lifestyle?
Not trying to hijack. Still talkin books here.
[/quote]
Try reading some Plutarch. Penguin even has a collection of his bios on famous Spartans.
If we’re talking about fiction, my favorites are James Ellroy (especially his LA trilogy), James Clavell’s Shogun and virtually anything by EL Doctorow.
I also really like noir fiction. I’ve read and reread Raymond Chandler’s 7 or 8 novels so many times it’s almost sad.
“Gates of Fire” is hands down, my favorite book. If you like reading about combat and epic battles, try reading Bernard Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles. It is his take on the King Arthur legend. Also “The Last Kingdom” and its sequels for his Viking stories.
Another great author is Michael Curtis Ford. “The Ten Thoousand” and “Sword of Attila”
The Autobiography of Malcolm X was a very powerful book and I’ve read it a few times- fascinating to me to see him change over the course of his life.
“Slaying the Dragon” by Michael Johnson is super-inspirational.
I really like Malcolm Gladwell, but then again, who doesn’t?
As far as novels go, I’m a big fan of Dean Koontz. I just think he’s a brilliant writer and enjoy the themes that run through his books.
[quote]medic33 wrote:
“Gates of Fire” is hands down, my favorite book. [/quote]
Mine too.
[quote]TheWookie wrote:
simon-hecubus wrote:
TThe Deep Blue Goodbye by John D. MacDonald. The first Travis Mcgee.
I am a big fan of McDonald. I used to live in Ft Lauderdale and went to Bahia Mar looking for the Busted Flush in F-18. Wasn’t there. 
Have you read Hiaasen? Tourist Season, Stormy Weather. etc.[/quote]
Hiassen? Very fun stuff. I just read a great review on his new one. Nice outlet he has, turning his rage into some scathing satire.
Tim Dorsey is similar, with Serge, the loveable, but homocidal sociopath.
My favorite Florida series are Randy Wayne White’s retired CIA man, Doc Ford. Probably closer to MacDonald than the other two. White also writes travel adventure pieces for various magazines — he’s really a been-there, done-that kinda guy.
[quote]julia87 wrote:
does anyone know of any really scary books they have read?
I got one and it was all erotic and I threw out window–I just wanted a mainstream scary story. Thats good.[/quote]
Phantoms by Dean Koontz. Interesting take on the Roanoke (sp?) disappearnace and a “possible” explanation…
Bad Karma by Andrew Harper (aka Douglass Clegg). Psychopathic- homicidal girl escapes from mental institution and goes after one of the employees and his family.
Fiction:
A Prayer For Owen Meany - John Irving
Kinda shocked no one’s suggested it yet.
Non-Fiction:
In Pharaoh’s Army - Tobias Wolff
Nearly anything both of those guys write is great.
“Witness”, by Whittaker Chambers. An story of a Communist spy who left the Communist Party, became a Christian, and then testified before Congress at great personal cost on Communist espionage in America.
People don’t read it anymore. They should.
[quote]GDollars37 wrote:
Fiction:
A Prayer For Owen Meany - John Irving
Kinda shocked no one’s suggested it yet.
[/quote]
An excellent read. My favourite Irving novel.
Used to read Tolstoy, Dostoyevski, Hugo. Perhaps favourite story of 19th century is Dumas’ Count of Monte Cristo, though Hugo’s Les Miserable is excellent as is Notre Dame de Paris.
The Hobbit is favourite fantasy novel.
Non-fiction:
Alot. Recently, The Global Political Economy of Israel.
1984- George Orwell
A brave new world- Aldous huxely
Paddy Whacked
Black Mass
The Hate Factory
[quote]TheWookie wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
The movie is based on Frank Millers graphic novel the 300.
The quote and the stories are based on history. The Spartans were badasses.
When will some one make a movie out the most classic graphic novel of all time - Cherry Poptart? [/quote]
How about Black Kiss by Howard Chaykin? A movie of that would turn the hard-bolied genre on it’s ear!!!
Starship Troopers, The movie has nothing to do with the book.
I Claudius & Claudius the God - Robert Graves
Green Team R. Marcinko. Good clean Fun
The rise of Theodore Roosevelt & Theodore Rex. Edmund Morris. The second greatest president in american History. We need him now.
The Shining S. King SCARY!!!
The decline and fall of the Roman Empire
E .Gibbon
The Art of War. Sun Tzu
The Prince N. Machiiavelli
Principles of War. Carl Von Clausewitz
The Ferengi rules of Acquisition
War and Peace–Tolstoy
“There is nothing certain–nothing except the unimportance of everything I understand and the greatness of something incomprehensible yet all important.”
–Prince Andrew Bolkonski
After he was shot he thought he was going to die and he realizes the meaninglessness of everything in his life up to that point except the realization of his love for the young Natasha–his best friend’s betrothed.
This is perhaps the most powerful peice of this epic novel for me philosophicaly. Prince Andrew’s character is the best character writing I have ever read.
You have to read the Britannica Great Books translation.
I forgot to mention Alexander by Steven Pressfield. That was a great read and it held my attention like most no other book I’ve ever read.
[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
carter12 wrote:
Someone mentioned “Gates of Fire”.
They’re making a movie that appears to be based on the book by Pressfield. Not sure if it’s based on the book yet, but one of the characters in the trailer says, “then we will fight in the shade”, which is straight from the book.
It’s called “300”.
I saw the trailer the other night.
The movie is based on Frank Millers graphic novel the 300.
The quote and the stories are based on history. The Spartans were badasses.[/quote]
you aint lieing