rn901

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. 

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Both are chock full of exciting adventures set against a backdrop of constantly changing locations and environments.  
Rereading enables me to meet again with old friends and vicariously relive our adventures.  

Hillbilly Elegy is a great read.

I am reading unspeakable fIlth
Too Much and Never Enough by Mary Trump
I love twisted psychological suspense.
but in this one, we already know it ends badly with tens of thousands of body bags, and a population of potential victims awaiting salvation. Hope the movie will add some humor.

I just finished "Real Life" by Brandon Taylor, a young black queer author; it's about a grad student from Alabama figuring out where he should be in life; it was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize; I had read a short story of his in an anthology ("Kink" edited by R.O. Kwon and Garth Greenwell) and I really enjoyed his writing; I must admit the book did not grab me as much as the short story did. https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/flavors-of-freak/

'Same-Sex Unions in Premodern Europe' By John Boswell.
 
Fascinating to find out that same-sex unions were blessed and performed in the early Christian Church! This evidence is kept hidden in the Vatican Archives and kept from the general public.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-Sex_Unions_in_Pre-Modern_Europe
 
 

Just finished all 1,000 plus pages of the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich - one of many reads but now it is in a different context.
As many know, the Germans, Nazis in particular, were incredible record keepers and note takers. All of Hitler's meeting were transcribed, all of his generals, admirals, major party members kept almost daily diaries. All of this was quoted in the book as well as introduced as evidence at Nuremberg.
What is frightening fascinating is if you close your eyes - it is Trump. The verbiage, the actions, the claims, the lies - all Trump.

I recently read a history of the Vikings, which led me to The Birth of the West by Paul Collins, about the historical importance of the 10th century, in which the simultaneous pressures of both the Vikings from the north and the Muslims from the south were critical in the creation of what became a recognizable western European civilization.

I recently finished Ishmael by Daniel Quinn and very much enjoyed it. Here's the synopsis that made me want to read it:
The narrator of this extraordinary tale is a man in search for truth. He answers an ad in a local newspaper from a teacher looking for serious pupils, only to find himself alone in an abandoned office with a full-grown gorilla who is nibbling delicately on a slender branch. "You are the teacher?" he asks incredulously. "I am the teacher," the gorilla replies. Ishmael is a creature of immense wisdom and he has a story to tell, one that no other human being has ever heard. It is a story that extends backward and forward over the lifespan of the earth from the birth of time to a future there is still time save. Like all great teachers, Ishmael refuses to make the lesson easy; he demands the final illumination to come from within ourselves. Is it man's destiny to rule the world? Or is it a higher destiny possible for him-- one more wonderful than he has ever imagined?

I read "Project Hail Mary", the third book by Andy Weir, who wrote "The Martian", earlier this summer, and re-read a bit of it at the end of our camping trip (after I finished "Auntie Mame" and "Around the World with Auntie Mame", both of which had been in my bookcase for years).  It's very good; Weir's second book, "Artemis" was a bit flat, but I loved this new one as much, possibly more, than "The Martian" - and that's a high bar.

Yes, but this thread is about 'What are you reading', not 'where are you getting your news'.

Currently listening to 'Out of the Shadows: Reimagining Gay Men’s Lives' by Walt Odets on Audible. 
 

As anybody who knows me well, knows reading is one of the great joys of my life. I read constantly, frequently two or three books at a time. Thus I’m always looking for new things to read. I frequently get fixated on a topic and attempt to ready everything I can find regarding it – that explains the nine book I have recently read on The Battle of Midway. There are actually two more that I want to read but they are both way out of print and very expensive. Knowing me I will eventually spring for the money because I WANT to read the books.
SO WHAT ARE YOU GUYS READING?
 
I have read these Midway books and greatly enjoyed them:
 
Boreneman, Walter R., “The Admirals: Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy, and King – The Five-Star Admirals Who Won the War at Sea”.
Buell, Thomas B., “The Quiet Warrior: A Biography of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance”.
Carlson, Elliot, “Joe Rochefort’s War: The Odyssey of the Codebreaker Who Outwitted Yamamoto at Midway”.
Kleiss, N. Jack “Dusty Kleiss, “Never Call Me a Hero: A Legendary American Dive-Bomber Pilot Remembers the Battle of Midway”.
Martell, Ronald E., Showdown in the Pacific War: Nimitz and Yamamoto”.
Potter, E.B., “Nimitz”.
Prange, Gordon W., “Miracle at Midway”.
Rigby, David, “Air Group Commander Wade McClusky and the Battle of Midway”.
Symonds, Craig L., “The Battle of Midway”.
 
I’ve also recently read and enjoyed:
 
Kaufman, Jonathan, “The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties that Helped Create Modern China”.
McGrath, Tim: “James Monroe: A Life”.
 
I am about to read:
 
Penn, Thomas, “A Royal Tragedy: The Brothers York”.
Santopietro, Tom, “Considering Doris Day”.

I disagree. He has his past experience to rely on. 

I'm not speaking for that provider. I'm speaking on the original issue posed: that providers get to be selective. Something you seem to have issue with. That provider or any provider has every right to be selective, just as selective as any client or any person on grindr. This is not analogous to a baker selling bread. This is about how someone spends their time, body and emotional labor. Their boundaries shouldn't be up for debate. The fact that they are, does suggest problematic trends and a problematic mindset on your part. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news- but a provider gets to say "no" for whatever reason they see fit and regardless of the amount of words exchanged. Just because you are looking to pay them doesn't negate their right to boundaries as a person.  

In the screen shot you provide, the provider should've done better communicating. But I'm sorry, I thought the original topic at hand was whether providers get to be selective? You took issue with that and compared this line of work to selling bread and equating the two. If you have an issue with their right to discretion and boundaries, then the problem probably isn't one sided in all other instances now is it? The fact that their right to practice discretion is even be up for debate does say something about your mentality when hiring them. 

Maybe the problem is you. The original topic posed was on providers being selective. You took issue with that and compared it to a baker denying someone service. Providers get to be as selective as anybody when it comes to their body, emotional labor and time. Just because they are a provider doesn't mean they give up their right to boundaries and you are entitled to them. The fact that you take issue with the concept of boundaries and the right to discretion, suggests that maybe one text exchange doesn't tell the whole story... 

Someone exchanging their body, intimacy and emotional labor is not analogous to a baker. They have every right to be as selective as they please when it comes to such boundaries. If other clients are booking them and you are having trouble, then maybe the problem isn't them. Maybe the problem is... You're right, it shouldn't be a complicated process and for many it doesn't seem to be. 

Sex is the simple part. 
Being a great social companion is where actual talent and intellect come into play.  
Make smart decisions about your company. 
 

I only share meals with providers with whom I’m spending the night or several days. That said, all of my companions have been convivial dinner and breakfast partners, without exception. I think you really need to establish a connection with the guy to have a pleasant meal out.

An observation is not deflection.  
You’re right.  The things people do to avert self-growth, introspection and responsibility is remarkable.  
 
 

An observation that has nothing to do with the topic at hand. People aren't allowed to join this site? You're just looking for a way to discredit what has been argued by accusing me of being someone else because you can't offer any other substantive response. Good luck to you both. 

Omg saaaame. Like it doesnt make me look at my phone faster if im not attached to it

Which one is it?
If it was a dud experience and he didn't respond to constructive criticism, you have your answer.
 

Interesting.  You joined this site less than a day ago, but your confrontational and myopic approach to posts is eerily similar to another member who hasn't appeared since embarrassing himself over a month ago.
You continue to hang your hat on the OP's original use of "selective" but are ignoring the substance of his post.  He has stated  multiple times he has no problem with a provider being selective once they engage in conversation.  He has even said his use of the word selective in his original post was unfortunate.  I also stated I had no problem with either the provider or client being selective after they engage in a conversation to determine compatibility or comfort level, but you continue to ignore that and remain laser focused on his initial post.  
In my world,  mutual respect includes replying to an inquiry even if it's to decline said inquiry.