DistortionOfReality
Member
Oh ok - that's good to hear! I'll stick with it through the 2 books I have, and can hopefully sink into it. Thanks!
What are you reading? (August 2015)
- Thread starter Maklershed
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Oh ok - that's good to hear! I'll stick with it through the 2 books I have, and can hopefully sink into it. Thanks!
Yes, it is.
Invader Zim <3
Icarus and I were just reminiscing about this last week, and it was the word DOOM that prompted it. <3
DarkChronic
Member
I'm only about 15% into it so far, but this book is not grabbing me at all.
I'm going to stick with it because everybody and their dog seems to be reading it/the sequel, but normally I can pick up and engage with a fantasy book right away; not so far with this.
I didn't like WoK until the last 100 pages or so, when you finally get some semblance of a story.
The characters and dialogue are just so terribly dry and boring. I only got halfway through WoR before quitting.
Bit of a reading rut lately with other stuff going on (reading about golf just made me want to golf more). Finished 'Slaying the Tiger' last week and it was ok. Felt more like a collection of bios than something really cohesive.
I started Craig Lancaster's new book 'This is What I Want', but just a little bit in and I'm not in any urge to continue, so just not in the mood for that.
I saw the kindle daily "Lost in the Jungle" and I'll get that, but it led me to this.. so I'll be reading this next.
The Kindness of Strangers: Penniless Across America by Mike McIntyre
I started Craig Lancaster's new book 'This is What I Want', but just a little bit in and I'm not in any urge to continue, so just not in the mood for that.
I saw the kindle daily "Lost in the Jungle" and I'll get that, but it led me to this.. so I'll be reading this next.
The Kindness of Strangers: Penniless Across America by Mike McIntyre
Worth reading the first 2 to see what you think, but the series isn't for everyone and it requires an enormous commitment on your part to finish. I'm up to book 9 but stalled out. It became quite unfocused and rambling and random for my tastes, despite the moments of awesome. I'll finish it at some point. Just too many characters/plot lines! Each book seemingly has a couple hundred pages it could do without.
That's really quite a good and fitting summary of the whole series. But at least the highs/moments of awesome are really awesome.
Just finished the second Expanse book, Calibans War. Very very entertaining. Looking forward to the next.
Blasted through the first 3 books of the series Frontlines by Marko Kloos. Pretty fun light reads; military sci-fi being a genre I thoroughly love.
Currently reading:
So far it's OKish. The premise is interesting and apparently the series is great, so maybe it's just this particular book that is weak? It seems a bit directionless and somewhat a slog.
Currently reading:
So far it's OKish. The premise is interesting and apparently the series is great, so maybe it's just this particular book that is weak? It seems a bit directionless and somewhat a slog.
Finished "Gösta Berling's Saga" by Selma Lagerlöf. It's one of those magical books. I put it down five minutes ago, and still have shivers down my spine. Not for everybody, but for some it might become not only a favourite book, but also a very important book. My highest recommendations. I read it in the original Swedish, but there are at least three English translations out there. No idea which is the best.
Now, about to start "Quiet. The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain. I'm an introvert, and expect to find much to like. By the way, I've worked all my life as a salesman, and I'm taking a long course now to become certified at it. The first day of the course, we were asked for traits that a good salesman should have. Of course, being extrovert came up at once. I hope to convince everybody, including the teacher, that a great salesman can be introvert too. Hoping that this book can help me find good arguments.
I wasn't a huge fan of the book. It felt like a lot of rambling nonsense, which is a huge problem when the book is super short.
One thing that I found interesting though is that he pointed out that one of the major factors in the divergence of the Arab and Christian world around 1500 was Europe's pursuing the advancement of gunpowder technology and the printing press. In the Arab world that didnt happen, and they didnt even print anything in the Ottoman Empire in Turkish until the 18th century, which is just kinda crazy. He puts forward the same argument as a book I am currently interested in reading, so I am looking forward to seeing that argument fleshed out in a lot more detail.
Another point he makes is that the Arab world was much more tolerant of Jews and people of other 'book' faiths during the early modern period. Just an intersecting fact that I didnt really know.
Then there is this quote...
What absolute bullshit.
I absolutely hate this sort of 'analysis' that takes supposed "Western" values, like the protestant work ethic, but fails to tie that sort of value to any institution or structure in the society and fails to actually make a rigorous comparative study between Europe and EVERY SINGLE OTHER SOCIETY. I mean, hell, how the hell can you either prove or disprove an argument like that? It is just ridiculous.
I mean, fuck I can think of several examples from China, the supposedly most 'closed off and isolated' nation, that totally contradict that statement. From the Han dynasty to the end of the Tang, there was a fascination with other cultures, the Tang dyansty's capital was a huge cosmopolitan center where ideas and goods where constantly traded and absorbed. Hell, what about Buddhism? It was a religion that was adopted by China, meaning that they were very influenced by their thinking, their way of viewing things, etc.
Another example is in the Qing dynasty. The Kangxi Emperor was absolutely fascinated with Western learning, especially science and math, and he was a big patron of them (until the pope decided that the Jesuits would have to tell the Chinese that they had to give up honoring their ancestors because that was devil worship)
I also think he way overdoes the whole West as a place of curiosity, acceptance, and learning from other cultures as well...
Freeza Under The Shower
Member
That quote, holy shit. That would get your book a single flight into the fireplace if I were reading it.
Then again, with a generic title like that, it should probably not have been that big a surprise. How did you come to pick it up?
(and how the hell do you read one non-fiction book a day? Teach me your ways)
Then again, with a generic title like that, it should probably not have been that big a surprise. How did you come to pick it up?
(and how the hell do you read one non-fiction book a day? Teach me your ways)
Sadly, I was reading it on a kindle and couldnt take my anger out on it. Plus, it was said in like the last 5 pages of the book so by that point I thought I might as well finish the stupid thing. Of course, it makes it even worse that he just threw out such a loaded and unsubstantiated claim in the last 5 pages of the book and doing nothing to support it.
Not to mention his whole chapter on Jews in Europe totally contradict that 'lofty' sentiment, and he certainly did not put a time frame on that 'curiosity' viewpoint, so I don't know if it was since Greece or like since 1960. No matter what though, it would still be bullshit. And if it was in the age of discovery that he is arguing that the West became 'curious', well... holy fuck...
Well, that book was like 100 pages, so it was a very quick read. I basically found it through good reads and I wanted to read a comparative history of the Arab world and Europe during the 1500s. I thought it would be quite interesting to see how both cultures interacted.
As for my secrets. I listen to audiobooks at work, read during my break, and then read for at least an hour+ at home every night. You get a lot of 'reading' done that way.
I believe that Piecake is part of our audiobook contingent, which lets him read when he otherwise wouldn't be able to. And he seems to be a fairly fast reader aside from that!
I'd actually consider myself a pretty average reader when it comes to speed. I've tried going faster before and I just don't really like it. I find it less enjoyable and feels like I am missing out on some info that I would have caught and understood if I went slower.
While I think I do read a good amount, my total would be a whole lot less without audio books
You don't even have to go to the far east. The period and place the book is about has a great many examples.
The recovery of Aristotle comes first to mind.
Atraveller
Banned
It's hypocrisy is disgusting, it's like the crusades or colonial era never existed or something.
kinoki
Illness is the doctor to whom we pay most heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we make promise only; pain we obey.
Making my way through In Search of Lost Time, Volume 6: The Fugitive. Might finish it today depending on how much time I get. It's going to feel so empty when it's gone. It's been a happening for so long now.
Atraveller
Banned
So...how's the book?
sparky2112
Member
If I'm not mistaken, Lewis was one of the (if not THE) Islamic 'expert' the Bush administration consulted with prior to invading Iraq. So...yeah.
Loved Ender's Game, especially with the parts involving Peter and Valentine. I wasn't the biggest fan of the action, but for those parts, I used the movie's imagery to immerse myself in the battles. The random nude parts I could have lived without.
I haven't started on Midnight Children yet. I will start on that tomorrow as I prepare for my vacation and training. I have another eight hours bus ride in my future, so I hope this novel gives me warmth and comfort during it.
kinoki
Illness is the doctor to whom we pay most heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we make promise only; pain we obey.
Ender's Game is one of the best science fiction books out there. Really fun to read. Such a captivating story. Everything that made it great is also not in the movie from yesteryear.
TheOctodad
Member
Halfway through. Really enjoying it. It's pretty action packed except for the odd religious discussions in the library. That said, I'm a sci-fi geek and interested religious ideologies, so it works for me.
Christoff Yurievich
Member
Oh, you haven't seen anything yet.
I still can't get over the weird musical interludes in the audiobook. It was so bad I actually returned it (thanks, Audible!) because I knew I would never listen to that version again.
D
Deleted member 125677
Unconfirmed Member
He's also "infamous" for denying the Armenian genocide, and his debates with Said.
Got the Shakes
Member
Started my re-read of The Man in the High Castle last night. Read it years ago, but figured I would read it again with the tv show being released on November 20th. I know the show is only loosely based on the novel, but it gives me an excuse to re-read it since it's been close to 20 years.
sparky2112
Member
Reading this very slowly at the moment. About 25% through. From here, I'm not seeing myself going 'I'm glad I read that' at the end, but I'd love to be proven wrong...
Dick's writing is just...odd.
I have been on a history kick lately (thanks partly to discovering Dan Carlin). So I thought I would read a history of everything. This book is interesting because of the total lack of focus on warfare, empire building, and political maneuvering. Instead it focuses on how the knowledge humanity posses evolves and improves. It is a very long book. I feel like I have been reading it for a long time and I am only 1/3 complete. Though, it still has me fully engaged and looking forward to cracking it open every night.
RIP my Dwarf friend
I don't think I "got" this book when I read it a couple years ago. I finished it and kind of just went "huh, what happened here? What was the point?" the story felt incomplete for some reason.
Got the Shakes
Member
These are both of my recollections from when I read it as a teenager in the 90s. From what I remembered Dick's writing is odd, and that it was somewhat of a strange story. I'm not that big in reading things for a 2nd time, but it's been 20 years and I watched the pilot for the tv show earlier this year and it got me thinking about reading it again. I'm only a few chapters in and I still find the writing to be strange. I'm going to stick with it, but I imagine that I'm going to question why I decided to read it again. At least it's only 300 pages or so.
sparky2112
Member
Well, I've obviously been aware of Dick for *years*, and Hollywood has certainly elevated him to god-hood, but he's also big with readers. I wonder if High Castle isn't very representative of his work as a whole.
Then again, I've read things saying that Lovecraft's ideas and influence FAR exceeds the quality of his writing, so I'm wondering if Dick is another such case...
Got the Shakes
Member
Well said. Admittedly The Man in the High Castle is the only Dick book that I've read. He obviously didn't make a big enough impression on me when I read it the first time to go and seek out his other works. Going to be interesting to see how may opinion changes from when I read it at age 17 to today when I'm 35 years old. Had it not been for Amazon making the tv show, I don't think I would have had much interest in reading it again.
I've read about five Dick novels and Man in the High Castle definitely isn't representative of that small sample. The other books I read are really fast-paced, insanely imaginative thrillers, and not nearly as ponderous as MitHC. I like that book but much prefer some of his others (The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch being my fave).
eddievanclaylen
Member
Working Stiff
Its about a forensic pathologist from new york and some of her cases. Super interesting!
Its about a forensic pathologist from new york and some of her cases. Super interesting!
kinoki
Illness is the doctor to whom we pay most heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we make promise only; pain we obey.
Lovecraft writes horrible fiction when seen as a text. It's basicly the Bob Dylan of horror fiction. Let a real musician do a cover and you have an instant classic on your hands.
Dick is interesting and a great writer in his comfort zone. He's best when he's nuts. While The Man In The High Castle and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? are often the books people recommend the most I'd rather recommend Ubik, Time is Out of Joint and VALIS--in that order.
sparky2112
Member
Much appreciated.
teruterubozu
Member
My favorite is Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said. It's more Blade Runner than Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
The Man In The High Castle, in my opinion, is the worst book to recommend as an intro to Dick. It's one of the earliest novels he wrote and his craft was not in full bloom yet. In fact, it's very conventional and safe for Dick, which is probably why it was accepted by the mainstream and he got an award for it. His later writings were way ahead of their time, but most people didn't comprehend his psychedelic philosophy sci-fi while he was alive.
macfoshizzle
Member
I think you will find great arguments.. In fact the whole is based on it.
So far I've read only the Foreword and the poem. I read the poem twice, because I'm suspicious that the commentary is going to twist it in unpredictable ways, so I want to try to get a fairly clear idea of what I think it's about. I really like the poem. It has some imagery and ways of seeing things I really hope I remember.
As you can tell from my comment below, I spent the weekend with another book. Sorry >.< my only defence is that I'm a massive Hobb fan.
As for The Fools Quest, solid 2nd book of a trilogy, lots of things answered while leaving several things more for me to ponder over before the next book.I think one of my favorite parts of the book was the return of Fitz as himself to the public eye.
I was slightly disappointed Fitz didn't bond with Fleeter, I miss the relationship between him and Nighteyes. But seeing as it seems the spirit of Nighteyes is still around in some form I can live with it.
I think a lot of people would have seen it as wrong for Fitz's character - he's only bonded with predators. I didn't seriously think he would, but I think Hobb has become a bit less consistent with character, so I guess who knows.
I thoroughly enjoyed Fool's Quest, but it's just as well only those who already love Hobb are going to read it, because even I thought Fitz - and even the Fool! - were whiny and made idiotic decisions. I love them to bits, but I didn't like them much in this book. It also suffered from bloat, one of my biggest dislikes. However, there were several absolutely fantastic sections (the last 100 pages! Sheer joy.) Also I think those who haven't also read Liveships and Rainwilds are missing out on some stuff.
D
Deleted member 125677
Unconfirmed Member
Well, that explains it. The dude just has some fucked up ideas in general. Yeesh...
I also really enjoyed the poem. There's an interesting article in the New Yorker about whether the poem can stand on its own and the critical reaction to it, both positive and negative, as well as changing evaluations. There are spoilers, though even if there were none I would suggest putting it off if only to fully form your own opinion. But it is an interesting read when you're ready.
Atraveller
Banned
Started reading the Mistborn trilogy on Friday night, finished book two today. Despite being more simplistic that some of his other books and book one a bit light on the character development I loved them. I've already read the two Stormlight books so it's really interesting to see how much Sanderson has changed as a writer. As usual my only regret is that I only have one more, at least in this trilogy. I might just go on letting Mistborn be something I associate with these characters rather than starting down the next three books.
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