June Reading List

I thought this whole idea of reviewing my reading list might be fun, but there’s a big difference between thinking and doing. Apart from anecdotes about particular books, I’m not sure there’s any point in telling you every month that I read so-and-so book and it was “ok.” So I think this will end up being the last one of these I submit.

My first book was actually pretty interesting, referred to me by my friend Eric. Kepner’s History of Baseball in Ten Pitches was a fun non-fiction read. Each chapter highlighted a specific kind of pitch – four seam fastball, knuckleball, etc. – and covered all aspects of it including the grip, stories about some of the great pitchers who mastered that pitch, and some anecdotes from others who had to deal with them (i.e. hitters baffled by specific pitchers or catchers forced to deal with catching knuckleballs.)

I always like reading about baseball, and this was a great mix of technique and history.

I threw in some re-reads this month, as I was still writing my fantasy novel and was limited in what I could read. One of my personal favorites is Heinlein’s The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. It’s been called a libertarian bible, but I just really like the story and his writing style. That got me reading another Heinlein novel I own, Starship Troopers, which is much MUCH better than that terrible movie. (OK, terrible as it relates to fidelity to the novel; not a bad movie if you run across it on cable.)

The other books I read were, as I mentioned, “ok.” This puts me on track to once again exceed 100 books for the year.

45. Kepner, History of Baseball in Ten Pitches
46. Swier, Light from Other Stars
47. Heinlein, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
48. Haldeman, Accidental Time Machine
49. Heinlein, Starship Troopers
50. Haldeman, Work Done For Hire
51. Pohl, Narabedla Ltd.
52. Mitchell, Razor

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