Unintended Consequences?
- Thread starter Jmurman
- Start date
- Status
Moondancer
Member
Ordered it last week at the local Barnes & Nobles.
Seems as though they don't carry it on their shelves and it'll take about a week to ten days to come in. Is this normal?
Seems as though they don't carry it on their shelves and it'll take about a week to ten days to come in. Is this normal?
Dave Markowitz
Member
Excellent book. All pro-rights people should read it, but be warned, doing so will raise your blood pressure.
Edit:
w00t! My 100th post!
Edit:
w00t! My 100th post!
J.Gillespie
Member
I spend to much dang time on here! [sleepy, blank stare at monitor].. Must read threads, post, lurk, no time to read books.
Read it in '98, still have the hardback with the pretty nekkid "Lady Justice" on the cover. Be forewarned, if you read this book THE GOVERNMENT will know and you will be put on a list of subversives. You will be amongst the first when they come to.........................................................................
bad_dad_brad
Member
I bought it a few months ago from Amazon. Didn't take more than a week to arrive. I started reading it. The gun, gun history, firearm legislation, and gun culture information in the book is fascinating, but the story!! It is so author self-centered, and contrived, with every cliche that makes gun ownership a political liability in the eyes of the general public.
It is about as boring as the day is long in June. Still, I suppose I will plod through it with all the enthusiasm of reading "War and Peace." The ending is supposed to be exciting. Maybe I will just skip to the last chapter.
Believe me folks, this is not the Bible of gun culture that some say it is. And about 1/3 of the way into the book, you just wish little Henry Bowman would shoot himself, instead of those "little blocks of wood in the water."
It is about as boring as the day is long in June. Still, I suppose I will plod through it with all the enthusiasm of reading "War and Peace." The ending is supposed to be exciting. Maybe I will just skip to the last chapter.
Believe me folks, this is not the Bible of gun culture that some say it is. And about 1/3 of the way into the book, you just wish little Henry Bowman would shoot himself, instead of those "little blocks of wood in the water."
I would have to rate this book as one of the top two or three books I ever read. I found the story exciting from beginning to end. When I finished it, I was so disappointed that it was over that I turned back to page one and started over. I think I have read the whole thing three times. For me, this was one of the few books that I couldn't put down.
labgrade
Member In Memoriam
I actually got a kick out of the "Li'l Henry's blocks of wood" ... took me back to my own times, I think.
Book's a bit contrived at times, no doubt & it's not the Shooter's Bible by any stretch - merely a work of fiction that'll make some think - hard, usually.
I ripped through it (first time) in about 2 days .....
Book's a bit contrived at times, no doubt & it's not the Shooter's Bible by any stretch - merely a work of fiction that'll make some think - hard, usually.
I ripped through it (first time) in about 2 days .....
Porter Rockwell
Member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2002
- Messages
- 226
John Ross-
I believe it was about this time last year when I noticed that John Ross was selling his personal collection online.
The story goes that the book caused some consternation with the BATF and they set out to harrass both Ross and his wife.
I hear she couldn't deal with the Feds pressure and filed for divorce.
C'mon guys and gals, it's a great read and even my wife enjoyed it!
Warning, I have read some online reports from the Misery Baptists that the book is uncomfortably risque because of a few sex scenes.
Feed Those Hogs Henry!
I believe it was about this time last year when I noticed that John Ross was selling his personal collection online.
The story goes that the book caused some consternation with the BATF and they set out to harrass both Ross and his wife.
I hear she couldn't deal with the Feds pressure and filed for divorce.
C'mon guys and gals, it's a great read and even my wife enjoyed it!
Warning, I have read some online reports from the Misery Baptists that the book is uncomfortably risque because of a few sex scenes.
Feed Those Hogs Henry!
Calamity Jane
Member
I will say I'm glad the book exists. It's an important book and has a great deal of valuable, factual information about history, gun rights, etc.
As a novel, I found it to be contrived and poorly written - but still a good book to read for the information it contains.
As a novel, I found it to be contrived and poorly written - but still a good book to read for the information it contains.
bad_dad_brad
Member
Hey labgrade, you are braggin man. Nobody reads almost 900 pages in two days, and I can speed read when I want to. And if I speed read through this book, all I will see is "Henry Bowman is Jesus . . . Henry Bowman is Jesus". The book absolutely plods like a wagon train on the Oregon trail.
Don Gwinn
Moderator Emeritus
Even numerous scenes of cruising in hot cars and sex with bisexual strippers couldn't really save the plot with regards to Henry Bowman . . . . but it raises issues you won't see in most work. If other authors touched these subjects then the premiere author in the "gun culture" might not have to be an aging gun dealer from St. Louis, but it's a little hypocritical for literati who wouldn't dream of writing about these issues in any serious way to criticize Ross's attempt to do so.
John Ross is not really a novelist, in other words, but somebody had to do it! I'm trying to get my wife to read it now. I don't expect her to enjoy the whole thing, to be honest, and she might not even finish it, but if she reads the first 50 pages I think she'll understand me a little better.
John Ross is not really a novelist, in other words, but somebody had to do it! I'm trying to get my wife to read it now. I don't expect her to enjoy the whole thing, to be honest, and she might not even finish it, but if she reads the first 50 pages I think she'll understand me a little better.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
b_d_b, I agree it will never end up on a list of the World's Greatest Books, but I gotta say it does have merit.
To me, Ross did a pretty good job of using the development of his characters to delineate the rise of gun control laws in the U.S. His various tales of shooting are reasonable accurate history, by and large. The first half of the book is educational, at worst, in that there are lots of bits and pieces not widely known to those outside the gun fraternity or who aren't students of history.
The second half of the book is a wonderful romantic fantasy, in which the small number of good guys win out over the forces of evil. Hey, poorly written or not poorly written, how can you beat a deal like that?
"...he had to go feed his hogs" ranks right in there with "Make my day" and other such great one-liners.
Wonderful invention, call forwarding.
, Art
To me, Ross did a pretty good job of using the development of his characters to delineate the rise of gun control laws in the U.S. His various tales of shooting are reasonable accurate history, by and large. The first half of the book is educational, at worst, in that there are lots of bits and pieces not widely known to those outside the gun fraternity or who aren't students of history.
The second half of the book is a wonderful romantic fantasy, in which the small number of good guys win out over the forces of evil. Hey, poorly written or not poorly written, how can you beat a deal like that?
"...he had to go feed his hogs" ranks right in there with "Make my day" and other such great one-liners.
Wonderful invention, call forwarding.
, Artbad_dad_brad
Member
Calamity Jane,
An important book is one that makes a difference. "Unintended Consequences" does not qualify. Few books do.
A book that makes a difference has to do two things:
It has to make a valid logical and/or moral point.
But most importantly, it has to be well read by the general populace.
Hmmmm, I can't think of any book, save the Bible, that qualifies, and those who claim to have read the Bible and really do, are the minority.
That is the problem with books. They are only important to the individual that writes them, and the scant few individuals that read them.
Sorry to be so cynical, but I am the devil's advocate.
Brad.
An important book is one that makes a difference. "Unintended Consequences" does not qualify. Few books do.
A book that makes a difference has to do two things:
It has to make a valid logical and/or moral point.
But most importantly, it has to be well read by the general populace.
Hmmmm, I can't think of any book, save the Bible, that qualifies, and those who claim to have read the Bible and really do, are the minority.
That is the problem with books. They are only important to the individual that writes them, and the scant few individuals that read them.
Sorry to be so cynical, but I am the devil's advocate.
Brad.
SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI
Member
No, but Boston's Gun Bible is....
bad_dad_brad
Member
Art,
Hey man, on your recommendation, I will read the second half. I am a romantic!
Please just tell me, it will get more exciting.
Brad.
Hey man, on your recommendation, I will read the second half. I am a romantic!
Please just tell me, it will get more exciting.
Brad.
2nd Amendment
member
Actually it's better written than most of what clutters up the Bestseller Lists. The story works, the characters are actually developed and the information is often priceless. Perfect? Hardly, but good enough to keep me sufficiently engrossed to read it in two days as well.
labgrade
Member In Memoriam
Brad, it will. Trust me (us) on this.
& no bragging or really much of a speed reader. I'd heard a bunch about it, finally kinda happened upon it, had the coupla days to burn & did. & agree, the first couple 100 pgs, although interesting with some "gun culture" stuff, seemed to drag.
Stick with it & it'll come around.
Read a few quick blurbs about Leatham (?) & his buds as kids & they write about shooting the exjected brass from their semis ....
Look at Young Henry as a compilation of all the coolest things we all ever did maybe ....
& no bragging or really much of a speed reader. I'd heard a bunch about it, finally kinda happened upon it, had the coupla days to burn & did. & agree, the first couple 100 pgs, although interesting with some "gun culture" stuff, seemed to drag.
Stick with it & it'll come around.
Read a few quick blurbs about Leatham (?) & his buds as kids & they write about shooting the exjected brass from their semis ....
Look at Young Henry as a compilation of all the coolest things we all ever did maybe ....
I read it and am proud to own in. It took me 3 days & I'm a fast reader who devoted the whole weekend to it.
Remember that Ross is not "an author" & as such cut him some slack. Also, since he didn't have an editor coaching him, it is too long. That's the breaks.
You don't have to be "a Baptist" to not like the inappropriate sexual content. The couple of pages with sexual content served no purpose & was too graphic. Because of that, I would not recommend it to high school kids. Therefore, it damages it's purpose, which is to be widely read.
That all said, it was a great book & I recommend it. If anyone makes a top 10 list of politicians to remove, don't use a gun, it only feeds their cause.
Remember that Ross is not "an author" & as such cut him some slack. Also, since he didn't have an editor coaching him, it is too long. That's the breaks.
You don't have to be "a Baptist" to not like the inappropriate sexual content. The couple of pages with sexual content served no purpose & was too graphic. Because of that, I would not recommend it to high school kids. Therefore, it damages it's purpose, which is to be widely read.
That all said, it was a great book & I recommend it. If anyone makes a top 10 list of politicians to remove, don't use a gun, it only feeds their cause.
Calamity Jane
Member
bad_dad_brad - nope, UC isn't/hasn't been widely read by the general populace, but it is, at least at the current time, the most prominent book of its kind (novel; well kinda-sorta! ) in pro-freedom circles.
) in pro-freedom circles.blades67
Member
I'm going to have to get the book.
Shooter 2.5
Member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2002
- Messages
- 476
I heard it was too long until I read it and then read it a second time.
It was supposed to be poorly written and gunowners can't stop talking about it.
The sex was supposed to be gratuitous until I read Robert Heinlein books.
I never read fiction and I bought two copies after my son bought his copy.
I told one person to read it and he positively said he didn't want to read it. I told him to read one chapter and he was up until 2 AM on a weekday reading it. He finished it in four days.
Thanks, Mr. Ross.
It was supposed to be poorly written and gunowners can't stop talking about it.
The sex was supposed to be gratuitous until I read Robert Heinlein books.
I never read fiction and I bought two copies after my son bought his copy.
I told one person to read it and he positively said he didn't want to read it. I told him to read one chapter and he was up until 2 AM on a weekday reading it. He finished it in four days.
Thanks, Mr. Ross.
bad_dad_brad
Member
I give up. I can see the book has too many passionate fans. I don't blame you, and I agree, it is a unique work. But if we are to win the war of gun rights, "Unintended Consequences" will not help us one bit. Sure, the book is right, but it won't win us one anti-gunner, and will indeed fuel many more.
The worst conservative is the zealot. He hurts our cause. The worst liberal is the zealot. She hurts her cause.
Notice the gender.
Only when desperate, does the zealot serve the cause, and I don't think that we, as a country, are there yet.
Well, it has been so fun fellow brothers and sisters, the debate is the spice that makes living fun, but I am tired, and must say good night for the evening. And so, I bid you adieu.
I agree to disagree.
The worst conservative is the zealot. He hurts our cause. The worst liberal is the zealot. She hurts her cause.
Notice the gender.
Only when desperate, does the zealot serve the cause, and I don't think that we, as a country, are there yet.
Well, it has been so fun fellow brothers and sisters, the debate is the spice that makes living fun, but I am tired, and must say good night for the evening. And so, I bid you adieu.
I agree to disagree.
- Status
