Reading Update

I've described books as my drug, and bookstores such as Barnes and Noble and Borders are akin to cocaine cartels, while the smaller bookstores are like the nice neighbor who grows pot in his basement. With graduate school, I've been devoting a lot of time to my coursepacks, and not very much time for pleasure reading. Thus far this year, I've really only read 16 books. The following ones are what I've got on my top shelf (which is my ever growing to-read list). Here goes:

The Great Uprising in India 1857-58, Rosie Llewllyn-Jones - This is for my long paper, which I'll hopefully finish within a couple days. It's, surprise, about the Sepoy Rebellion in India against the British. I'm arguing for reasons which the rebellion failed. Add in 6-7 articles and Saul David's Victoria's War, and I'll have a paper. Hopefully.

Trilobite - I'm about halfway through. Hopefully I'll finish this one before I die.

Salt, Mark Kurlansky - History of Salt. It's actually pretty interesting so far.

Theodore Rex, Edmud Morris - Theodore Roosevelt's presidency. I've been meaning to get this for a while now, and now I just need to find the time to read it. Ugh.

Ike, Michael Korda - Sort of for a paper that I want to write. I'll get to it sometime, because I've been meaning to learn more about Eisenhower.

The Day of Battle, Rick Atkinson - I just saw Atkinson speak at the SMH conference (which I never finished my writeup about...), and after finishing his first of the trilogy, I can't wait to get through this one.

Mao, Jun Chang - Biography of Mao, I've wanted to read it for a while.

John Adams, David McCullough - After seeing the miniseries, I really want to read this now. I wonder how it shapes up.

Heartshaped Box, Joe Hill - Joe Hill will be at the Granite City Comic Con later this week, when I go down. Hopefully, I'll get my copy signed. First, I have to remember to bring it.

A Crack at the Edge of the World, Simon Winchester - *still* on my reading list. I'll get to it someday.

A Civil Action, Jonathan Harr – On my list for a while now.

Western Warfare 1775-1882, Jeremy Black - Picked this up at SMH. Looks really good.

Warfare in The Western World 1882-1975, Jeremy Black - Ditto. The nice thing, they're both pretty short.

The Big Red One, James Scott Wheeler - History of the 1st Infantry Division, which looks facinating.

Devices and Desires, K.J Parker - Halfway through, I'll get to it sometime.

The 9-11 Commission Report - Also about halfway through this one.

The Space Opera Renaissance, David Hartwell - Short SciFi stories. Always a good read.

Woken Furies, Richard K. Morgan - Third of a trilogy. Need to get to this one soon.

Blood and Thunder, Hampton Sides - Just picked this up the other day, one that I've been meaning to get for a while now.

Prince Caspian, CS Lewis - Movie's coming up - I'd like to finish it before I get to see that. It's a short read. And look, there's yet another commercial on TV for the film. Blah.

A Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin - Friends have threatened me with death and other horrible things if I don't read this. It's on the list.

Neuromancer, William Gibson - A classic I've been meaning to read for a while now.

Command Decision, Elizabeth Moon - Part 4 of a series. Need to read 2 and 3 first.

Marque and Reprisal, Elizabeth Moon - Part 2 of a series. I'll get to it at some point, it's not a huge priority at the moment.

Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert Heinlein - Yet another classic that I haven't read yet.

The Dragon's Nine Sons, Chris Roberson - Cover looked interesting, and it appears to be a non-Americancentric SciFi novel. Woot.

Inferno, Troy Denning - Yep, 3 books behind.

Fury, Aaron Allston - Still behind.

Revelation, Karen Traviss - Yes, I know....

SF12, Judith Merril - Set of short stories that I found for free somewhere.

And a couple others, much lower priority:

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert Heinlein - I need to finish this one.

1776, David McCullough – Still need to finish this one.

And for School:

Battle, John Lynn – Interesting book. I can't wait to read this one.

World History of Warfare, Various - Long. Not sure what I think now.

Carnage and Culture, Victor Davis Hanson - I'm not happy to be reading this one. I'm not a big fan of VDH.

A Short Guide to Ancient Warfare - It's about 100 pages or so, should be a quick read.

Coursepacks 1-3 - Hm...