What are you reading?

[JohnnyLeadville]

Just sat down with "The Man Behind The Maps - Ski Map Art by James Niehues" ... very cool book.

[greenonion]

Just sat down with "The Man Behind The Maps - Ski Map Art by James Niehues" ... very cool book.

That does sound cool. (From a former cartographer, and crappy skier)

[susanjoypaul]

Whelp, I haven't found three friends yet, but I did find another great book. Empire of Ice & Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Voyage of the Karluk by Buddy Levy is a winner. If you liked Alfred Lansing's Endurance (or any of the other great books in the genre) you'll like this one too. I have to admit that I like all of them, even the ones that go on crazy tangents about weather and snow and ocean currents and the detailed backstories of character after character after character, which many are prone to do. Levy doesn't do any of those things in this book - he just tells an amazing story, and tells it well.

Levy also wrote another of my favorite polar exploration books, Labyrinth of Ice: The Triumphant and Tragic Greely Polar Expedition, and he references the fate of that ship and its crew in Empire, which is kind of cool if you've read both books. Likewise, he mentions the fate of the Belgica, which is told in another one of my favorites, Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica's Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night by Julian Sancton.

Empire just came out this month in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and audiobook. I'm audibling it, and the narration by Will Damron is perfect. I'll probably end up getting the hard cover to put on my bookshelf to read or reference.

Don't google this or you'll find out how it ends. Just go to your favorite bookstore or order it online and don't read any of the reviews.

My other faves in this genre:

Alone on the Ice: The Greatest Survival Story in the History of Exploration by David Roberts
The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard
Trial by Ice: The True Story of Murder and Survival on the 1871 Polaris Expedition by Richard Parry
In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette by Hampton Sides
Ice Ghosts: The Epic Hunt for the Lost Franklin Expedition by Paul Watson

As long as there's another polar exploration book to read, just two friends will do: one to buy me books and the other to hear me blather on about them

[Wentzl]

This from out of nowhere. But if you claim Irish descent, you better have this book MEMORIZED!

"The Immortal Irishman", by Timothy Egan.

What a f***** story. A guy who lived through the potato famine. Banished from Ireland and sent to Tasmania penal colony. Escapes, flees to America, joins the Union Army to fight in the Civil War and ends up in Montana where he mysteriously drowns in the Missouri River.

If that storyline does not draw you in, then take a pass, but this is one of those historical novels that is both entertaining and educational. (factoid, this is the guy who designed the national flag of Ireland)

A fast page turner and fun to read.

[vegabond]

Beyond the mountain, Steve house. Good read!

[justiner]

alive.jpg

[andreasansone]

What doesn’t kill us- By Scott Carney

if you haven’t read this and are interested in mental and physical toughness, make it your next read!

[greenonion]

This from out of nowhere. But if you claim Irish descent, you better have this book MEMORIZED!

"The Immortal Irishman", by Timothy Egan.

What a f***** story. A guy who lived through the potato famine. Banished from Ireland and sent to Tasmania penal colony. Escapes, flees to America, joins the Union Army to fight in the Civil War and ends up in Montana where he mysteriously drowns in the Missouri River.

If that storyline does not draw you in, then take a pass, but this is one of those historical novels that is both entertaining and educational. (factoid, this is the guy who designed the national flag of Ireland)

A fast page turner and fun to read.

I’d call that description a bit too close to a spoiler. I love the Irish, have the heritage, and enjoyed The Big Burn by Timothy Egan, but you just gave away the meat of the book and not sure I’d want to read. Convince me otherwise?

[Wentzl]

Well, the author started with the spoiler, describing the hero's fate in the first page of the book, so really, I did not give much away.

[ScottS]

Any fantasy lovers out there should check out the First Law series by Joe Abercombie. Dark humor and grounded novel, but awesome read. I'm chewing my way through the latest book during the Age of Madness.

Also, since its winter, it's an excellent time to read The Terror by Dan Simmons. Historical fiction novel, but the book is well researched about the Terror. and Erebus ships that got icebound in the arctic. It makes you feel cold when you read it.

[greenonion]

Well, the author started with the spoiler, describing the hero's fate in the first page of the book, so really, I did not give much away.

Fair enough if that's the case. Thanks. Does sound good.

[montanahiker]

This from out of nowhere. But if you claim Irish descent, you better have this book MEMORIZED!

"The Immortal Irishman", by Timothy Egan.

What a f***** story. A guy who lived through the potato famine. Banished from Ireland and sent to Tasmania penal colony. Escapes, flees to America, joins the Union Army to fight in the Civil War and ends up in Montana where he mysteriously drowns in the Missouri River.

If that storyline does not draw you in, then take a pass, but this is one of those historical novels that is both entertaining and educational. (factoid, this is the guy who designed the national flag of Ireland)

A fast page turner and fun to read.

I’d call that description a bit too close to a spoiler. I love the Irish, have the heritage, and enjoyed The Big Burn by Timothy Egan, but you just gave away the meat of the book and not sure I’d want to read. Convince me otherwise?

I'll second Wentzl's recommendation. He didn't really give anything away. It's a great book.