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Cryptonomicon
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
With this extraordinary first volume in what promises to be an epoch-making masterpiece, Neal Stephenson hacks into the secret histories of nations and the private obsessions of men, decrypting with dazzling virtuosity the forces that shaped this century. As an added bonus, the e-book edition of this New York Times bestseller includes an excerpt from Stephenson's new novel, Seveneves.In 1942, Lawrence Pritchard Waterhousemathematical genius and young Captain in the U.S. Navyis assigned to detachment 2702. It is an outfit so secret that only a handful of people know it exists, and some of those people have names like Churchill and Roosevelt. The mission of Waterhouse and Detachment 2702commanded by Marine Raider Bobby Shaftoe-is to keep the Nazis ignorant of the fact that Allied Intelligence has cracked the enemy's fabled Enigma code. It is a game, a cryptographic chess match between Waterhouse and his German counterpart, translated into action by the gung-ho Shaftoe and his forces.Fast-forward to the present, where Waterhouse's crypto-hacker grandson, Randy, is attempting to create a "data haven" in Southeast Asiaa place where encrypted data can be stored and exchanged free of repression and scrutiny. As governments and multinationals attack the endeavor, Randy joins forces with Shaftoe's tough-as-nails granddaughter, Amy, to secretly salvage a sunken Nazi submarine that holds the key to keeping the dream of a data haven afloat. But soon their scheme brings to light a massive conspiracy with its roots in Detachment 2702 linked to an unbreakable Nazi code called Arethusa. And it will represent the path to unimaginable riches and a future of personal and digital liberty...or to universal totalitarianism reborn.A breathtaking tour de force, and Neal Stephenson's most accomplished and affecting work to date, Cryptonomicon is profound and prophetic, hypnotic and hyper-driven, as it leaps forward and back between World War II and the World Wide Web, hinting all the while at a dark day-after-tomorrow. It is a work of great art, thought and creative daring; the product of a truly iconoclastic imagination working with white-hot intensity.
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review
Trace
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
Bailedbailed

Started great but couldn‘t get over the author‘s immaturity.

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TK-421
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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“The wind here is a glinting #abrasive thing, a perpetual, face-shredding, eyeball-poking tendency in the fabric of spacetime, inhabited by vast platinum-blond arcs of fire that are centered on the low winter sun.” #QuotsyFeb21

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kwmg40
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Pickpick

Finally finished this monster of a book, on the last day of the #AwesomeAugust #readathon!

This sprawling alternate-history novel covers a lot of territory, both geographically and scientifically. Every time I finish a Stephenson novel, I have the same reaction: “Wow, that was a long haul and my brain hurts,” immediately followed by, “I can‘t wait to read the next one!”

@Andrew65

Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏🙌🥳🥳🥳🍾🥂 4y
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kwmg40
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Neal Stephenson on the conversations of nerds.

I‘m on page 975 of this 1130-page volume. I think I can get this done by the end of the #AwesomeAugust #readathon!

@Andrew65

Andrew65 Getting close 👍 4y
19 likes1 comment
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kwmg40
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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I‘m currently at page 787 of this 1130-page doorstopper. Will I be able to finish it by the end of the #AwesomeAugust #readathon?

@Andrew65

julesG You can do this! But I'd totally understand if you don't want to. 😁 4y
Andrew65 Wow! Good luck, I have total faith. 👍 4y
kwmg40 @julesG @Andrew65 Thanks for the encouragement! I'm glad there are still a few days left in the readathon! 4y
kwmg40 @julesG @Andrew65 Thanks for the encouragement! I'm glad there are still a few days left in the readathon! 4y
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RamsFan1963
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description or reason for wanting to read the book. Some are old and some will be new. Don't judge me - I have a lot of books.
Day 57

#tbrmountain #bookbuyingdiet

julesG I should do that. I might have books to post for months. 4y
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John9272
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
Pickpick

One of his earlier extremely funny and just a wild tale with very wonderful quirky characters. Mathematical, historical and futuristical.
Read it before his trilogy The Baroque Cycle , find so cross characters.

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Daisey
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this story, but I was not wowed by it. The discussion of math and cryptography was intriguing. However, I was somewhat frustrated by the portrayal of the female characters and wished for deeper character development overall. After all the hours of building connections between timelines, the ending seemed abrupt as well.

#Reading1001 #1001books #audiobook

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Daisey
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Tolkien references are apparently everywhere when you‘re completely immersed in his writing.

#1001books #Reading1001
#YearsofTolkien #FellowshipofTolkien #BookSerendipity

JazzFeathers You find Tolkien references everywhere. How is it? 😂 5y
BooksAndPals I'm a newbie around here. How did you create the pic of your quote? 5y
Daisey @JazzFeathers I think it‘s like @Riveted_Reader_Melissa said, part of it is just being hyper aware. Also, I think I‘ve been reading some quality books and they often tend to make more allusions than lighter fluff reading. 5y
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Daisey @LiciaAZ This quote is just a cropped screenshot of a highlight in the ebook. I also like to use the apps Typorama and Over when sharing quotes. 5y
Daisey @JazzFeathers Although, come to think of it I found one in the last YA book I read too! Maybe just luck! 🤔 5y
BooksAndPals Thank you for your help! 5y
Daisey @LiciaAZ You‘re welcome, and welcome to Litsy. Feel free to ask questions anytime. 5y
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Daisey
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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I didn‘t get started listening to this 42 hour audiobook until a couple days after downloading and then realized someone else has it on hold. I‘ve increased the speed the last couple of days and am trying to listen to a few hours each day. It took a little while to sort out the characters and keep track of locations, but halfway in I‘m intrigued by the story and often amused, especially by Bobby Shaftoe.

#Reading1001 #1001books #audiobook

JCPaulk It does pick up pace at the halfway mark! 5y
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Bradleygirl
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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This is out of control 😵 Happy end of 2018!!

#readingchallenge #goodreads #myyearinbooks #2018wrapup

Avanders 😲😲😲 way to go! 🎉 6y
Reviewsbylola Great year! 🥳🥳 6y
BookBabe 🙌🏻 Awesome! 6y
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Bradleygirl
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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I'm narrowing my eyes at this for its jumping around so much at the start (are you a novel or a bunch of short stories?) ....but, this is Stephenson, who so far always comes through. With, uh, the throughline.
#ownedandneedtoread

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Violetta
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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1. Lots of errands I didn't have time for during the week😔 And I really hope my brother will have a day-off and come home from his army service on Sunday. If not, I'll go visit him
2. I haven't finished it yet, but it's great! 😍
3. Cottage cheese (but I love cheesecakes) and beet
4. I used to play basketball at school 🏀, but now I do my morning exercises only
5. Same to you, @jesshowbooks
Have a good weekend, everybody! 😊
#friyayintro

Erofan Basketball is cool! 6y
Violetta @Erofan It would be cooler if I the ball got into the basket at least once 😂 6y
46 likes2 comments
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sprainedbrain
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Pickpick

I haven‘t read anything else in the last six days, but I finally finished this 42 hour audiobook. And I liked it!

The story unfolds in two timelines—WWII and the 90s tech boom—and the characters in both are completely engaging. There‘s a whole lot of nerdy stuff, humor, and action. I didn‘t like this one quite as much as Seveneves, but Neal Stephenson is 👌🏻.

Now on to one of my other EIGHT library loans expiring soon. 😳

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#1001books

LittlePixels I keep thinking I'll get to this, but it keeps slipping down the TBR pile. Older Neal Stephenson seems so different from his newer works (which I love) that I was a little apprehensive. Have you read "Reamde" or "The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O."? 6y
britt_brooke I listened to this recently and really enjoyed it! As did @Booksnchill. This was my first Stephenson, but I‘ll read more someday. 6y
sprainedbrain @LittlePixels no, this was only my second (after Seveneves, which I loved). Do you recommend those? 6y
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Booksnchill @britt_brooke yes I was engrossed and there was a recent kindle sale for one and I got it- stormchaser maybe- blanking on title😬 nope- Snow Crash (edited) 6y
Bradleygirl I've loved Snow Crash and The Diamond Age and I have GOT to read Cryptonomicon 6y
sprainedbrain @Bradleygirl Both of those look very interesting, too! 6y
LittlePixels @sprainedbrain Definitely! I've read Seveneves as well as the ones I mentioned, and I loved them all. Reamde gets a little ludicrously fast-paced at times, but it's still earned "keeper" status on my book shelves. I loved Seveneves, but I think D.O.D.O was my favorite. I'm going to put Cryptonomicon on my hold list now. ?? 6y
britt_brooke @Booksnchill I bought that one, too ... after I made sure it was 1000 pages, ha! 6y
sprainedbrain @LittlePixels awesome. Thank you for the recommendations! 6y
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sprainedbrain
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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So I had a mini panic attack the other day when I realized I only had 10 days left on this loooooong audiobook.

It‘s very interesting and laugh-out-loud funny in a lot of parts, so that‘s awesome.

But I‘ve listened to 11 hours and still have 31 to go, and that‘s giving me anxiety. Thoughts and/or prayers are welcome. 😂

#1001books

Melissa_J Oh wow, that one‘s long! Good luck 👍🏻 6y
ErikasMindfulShelf Speed it up 😀 6y
sprainedbrain @irre I‘m already doing 1.5. I‘m afraid if I go any faster I won‘t be able to keep up with all the nerdy code lingo. 😂 6y
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vivastory Good reason for a 4 day weekend! 6y
SW-T That is long! Good luck 🍀 😊 6y
Maewyn Stephenson doesn't know how to be concise. I finished DODO and am reading Snow Crash now and it is just as massive. 6y
sprainedbrain @Maewyn this is only my second of his, but I absolutely loved Seveneves. 😍 6y
Maewyn I have heard good things about Seveneves. 6y
sprainedbrain @vivastory if only! There‘s no way I can take any vacation this week or next. The struggle! 😂 6y
SconsinBookyBadger Sending lots of thoughts, prayers, and good luck to you! ☘️🙏🏼🍀 6y
sprainedbrain @AnansiGirl thank you for your support. Haha! 6y
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Booksnchill
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Pickpick

@britt_brooke I finally finished. I‘ll admit after 35 hours of CD I switched to read the last 150 pages. I enjoyed it but I didn‘t really understand it. A multigenerational tale of interweaving families- mainly the Shaftoes and the Waterhouses. From WWII to the present involving cryptography, Military actions in the Philipines and strangely precient about what is now bitcoin- hiding and searching for gold. At 912 pages- epic!

britt_brooke 😆 It‘s sooo long, but so entertaining. I‘m not sure I know the point of it either, but the Shaftoes cracked me up! I‘m happy to see it‘s a “pick.” 6y
Booksnchill @britt_brooke so much was funny but the “electronic money” I found so eerie- how did he know??? I looked at other Stephenson books and the Shaftoes and Wateehouses are there as well! 6y
britt_brooke @Booksnchill Creepy foreshadowing! That kind of stuff freaks me out. He has a trilogy that is a prequel to this, but it‘s a bajillion pages. I‘m passing. 6y
Booksnchill @britt_brooke me too for the forseeable future!🙃 6y
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britt_brooke
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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It was a pretty fantastic reading month! Three 5⭐️ and several 4⭐️. #junestats #junewrapup

completed: 12
audio: 7
nonfiction: 8
pulitzer: 1
chunksters: 2*
ARC: 2
in progress: 2

*War Storm: 650+ pgs
*Cryptonomicon: 42+ hrs

BarbaraBB I somehow missed your review of Cryptonomicon. I have to look it up as I‘ve been meaning to read this one for a long time! 6y
parasolofdoom What editor did you use to make the graphic? 6y
britt_brooke @BarbaraBB It was so long, but so good! 6y
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britt_brooke @parasolofdoom I have a Goodreads shelf for my currently monthly reads so that‘s where the book icons are from. Then I added the text in the Pic Collage app. I added a couple of stickers once I was in Litsy, too. 6y
Reviewsbylola Fantastic month!! 6y
parasolofdoom @britt_brooke ohhhh good idea! 6y
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britt_brooke
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Pickpick

“I apologize if my limbic system has misinterpreted your gesture of emotional support.”

My husband insisted I‘d like this massive novel largely about code breaking and war, but I was very hesitant. I do like military novels, but computer stuff is really not my specialty. Yet, I loved this dual-timelined, multigenerational story for its humor and quirk. Bobby Shaftoe has earned a spot in my favorite literary characters list. 👇🏻

britt_brooke The audio was 42hrs+ and fantastic. 7y
britt_brooke @Booksnchill I finished it! Anxious to hear your thoughts. 7y
Bradleygirl I've got to read this one, I've had it on the Kindle shelf for YEARS 7y
britt_brooke @Bradleygirl It‘s so looong, but very entertaining. The dialogue is witty and smart. 5⭐️ from me! 7y
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Booksnchill
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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#BlameItOnLitsy OK @britt_brooke you say that these 42 hours will be enjoyable and I was at library looking for my next commute audiobook and there it was, taunting me saying “you can‘t handle these 42hours”. Challenge on- gulp...😲😱

britt_brooke 😆👏🏻 I have about 2 hours left. Hoping to finish it up today! I hope you like it. It‘s very entertaining. The dialogue is fantastic! 7y
Booksnchill @britt_brooke dying in the car listening to discussions of Alan Turing and his penis games!!! 7y
britt_brooke @Booksnchill 😆😆😆 7y
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britt_brooke @Booksnchill This book made me laugh so much. Happy you‘re enjoying it so far! 7y
britt_brooke Hey, just checking in to see how this one is going? Are you still entertained or ready for it to be over? Lol 6y
Booksnchill Loving it- I am on CD 12 of 34 so 1/3 done. I agree on the language- I will admit paying less attention on the longer math expositions but I think I will read (listen) to more of his work. I would never have considered picking this up so thank your hubby! 6y
britt_brooke @Booksnchill Yeah, I kind of zoned in and out on some parts. It‘s good for multitasking! I‘ll let him know - this will make him happy. 😁 6y
Booksnchill Tell him I‘ll be looking forward to his next recommendation! 6y
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britt_brooke
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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The gym is so peaceful when it first opens. I‘ve been off my normal workout schedule the last 2 weeks, so this is gonna suck. Good thing I have this ridiculous book to entertain and distract me! I‘m about halfway through .... only about 22 hours to go. 😳

#currentlylistening #currentlyreading #multitasking #mindandbody #audio #audiobook #overdrive #chunkster

Caterina My boyfriend‘s been trying to get me to read this for a while now... it‘s his favorite book, but it‘s just so long! I‘m not sure I‘m ready for that investment, especially when the book isn‘t up my usual alley. I look forward to hearing what you think when you make it through the second half! 7y
britt_brooke @Caterina I‘m reading this because of my husband, lol! I have to say I‘m really enjoying it so far, but it IS crazy long. The dialogue is very witty. 7y
Cathythoughts Nice quiet gym 👍🏻 7y
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britt_brooke @Cathythoughts Unfortunately, the peace only lasted about 20 minutes. Now it‘s bonkers in here! 7y
Cathythoughts 😂🤸‍♂️🏋🏻‍♂️ 7y
AlaMich Good for you! The thought of going to the Y in 96° heat to a fitness room that will be gross and humid and sweaty...? I‘ma just stay here eat ice cream instead... (edited) 7y
Reviewsbylola Damn, that‘s quite an investment in time! 7y
britt_brooke @AlaMich It was hot in there! I was gross, but after I met my husband and boys at the pool, so that helped. But it‘s so damned hot here, the pool felt like bath water. 7y
britt_brooke @Reviewsbylola It‘s 43 hours! 😵 Chunksters scare me, but I told my husband I‘d read it. It‘s a library loan and I don‘t know if I‘ll be able to finish it time. I‘m enjoying it though. 👍🏻👍🏻 7y
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britt_brooke
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Hubby read this last year and keeps trying to get me to read it, insisting it‘s up my alley. At 900 pages, I told him maybe I‘d listen to the audio so I can multitask. My #Overdrive hold came in today and I‘m very entertained so far. I hate it when he‘s right!
🤨😬😝

#currentlylistening #currentlyreading #multitasking #audio #audiobook #chunkster

theladygreer One of my all-time faves, though I probably haven't read it in a decade. Nobody digresses like Stephenson. 7y
britt_brooke @theladygreer I‘m enjoying it so much so far! 7y
RJHowe It is a beast and a half but I loved it 7y
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BookHermit Great book. I highly recommend as well another of his clunkers (edited) 7y
britt_brooke @RJHowe Really enjoying it so far! 7y
Kristelh Love this book! 7y
britt_brooke @Kristelh Happy to see so much love for it! I‘m enjoying it so far. 7y
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ajts
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Currently reading. Wasn't planning on starting this one. Browsed through the first page 3 days ago and now I couldn't stop.

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tinaisreading
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Pickpick

This one is not for the faint of heart and it defies any kind of summary, but once you get into it, it's so much fun. There is a lot going on plot-wise in these 900 pages, from cryptography to hacking to U-boats to deep sea diving to computer hacking to WWII and so much more! I really like Stephenson's quirky writing style and sense of humor. The characters were also great. Ultimate nerd fiction right here!

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tinaisreading
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Weekend activities commence! 📖🍷

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tinaisreading
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Still in the race to beat my husband in our reading challenge. Only 900 pages of Neal Stephenson to go!

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mischa
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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#riotgrams #doorstoppers Just two of the chunksters on my shelves. Have I read them yet? HAHAHAHA OMG you guys are hilarious. 😂

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BookHermit
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Top 5 over 500 for #FunPhotoFriday. Had a hard time putting any of these down for long so hardly noticed their, um, girth 😂 @Liberty

Karkar So many good ones that list! The Stand is one of my favorite books!! 8y
BookHermit @Karkar I read it in high school so the plot is a bit fuzzy but I definitely credit it for sparking my love of post-apocalyptic literature. (edited) 8y
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TRANSOM
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Down to 24 hours of reading left in Cryptonomicon. Think I might need a long weekend to finish this before 2017.

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jpmcwisemorgan
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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This is today's @bookriot book deal of the day. I have mixed feelings about it because it's possibly the part of a series and I'm trying not to start new ones unless more than one book is out. Ahhhh...but I bought it anyway. #hereforthebooks

ibridge Pretty sure it's not going to be part of any series. Stephenson had moved on to some very different projects. It stands alone well, so dig in! 7y
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TRANSOM
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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According to my Kindle: only 33 hours, 29 minutes left in this book.

Wilkie Totally jealous of your bookshelves! So much space😍 8y
TRANSOM Thanks! We just had them built in. Not ashamed to say that some nights I just sit and look at them. 8y
3 likes2 comments
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BookishHistorian
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson

Help! I need some feedback. I'm a little more than half of the way through #cryptonomicon. So far I'm fairly bored with it and feel the book was lacking a good content editor. Can anyone tell me if there is a point to this story? Is it worth continuing on? I'm about ready to bail, but I hate bailing on books. FOMO I think. So any thoughts or suggestions?

TRANSOM Bail. 8y
BookishHistorian @MiloThePilot Good advice. Thanks! 8y
TRANSOM There are just too many books out there begging for your attention to waste time slogging through another 400 pages of something you don't love. 8y
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BookishHistorian
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Neal Stephenson's hyperbole is on point!

#HypnoticHyperbole

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BookishHistorian
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Stiff as a Radio Flyer?! 😆

#SpectacularSimilies

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BookishHistorian
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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The descriptions in this book are just...wow...😆

#SpectacularSimilies

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tattoo55
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Pickpick

Completed my #24in48 even sidelined by a bit of stomach flu. Got to page 670 out of 1152! Man I love this book, but I'll be working on it for a while!

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tattoo55
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Moving along in #24in48 It's amazing how even sitting in different places and in different positions? My back is bothering me. Interesting. But this book is gripping.

tattoo55 14 hours in so far! 8y
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tattoo55
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson

If I read for another 1/2 hour (which I will) I'll have 12 hours done in this July #24in48 I'm only up to page 300 in this book which is pretty thick, but I'm loving it.

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tattoo55
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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@Clarkknowles finishing up Louise Erdrich's book. #24in48 Louie is helping.

tattoo55 Hours read? 6.5 8y
MrBook 😸👍🏻 8y
BookBabe Sweet kitty! 😻 8y
5 likes3 comments
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tattoo55
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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#postmeditation image for today. Going to dive in for my 24 in 48 today!!! #24in48

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Robchilver
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
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Stumbled across this in Waterstones. Sounds just my sort of thing!

ReadingEnvy I just read the first 50 pages of this yesterday! 8y
GuiltyFeat Wondering how this would read today. On the one hand it must be a little dated, on the other, Stephenson is a genuine visionary. 8y
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AiBBot
Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson
Pickpick

If you want a book that does not challenge your view of the world, do not read this book. If you want to delve into the minds of the mathematicians/engineers/soldiers/strategists of the world, then read this book. This book changed how I view war, computers, money, people and love.

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