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[kinoki]

Took a break in reading Jane Eyre and read a book I picked up while spending some time in Amsterdam: My Fellow Skin by Erwin Mortimer. Really good book at times. Really well written prose.

 

[Ashes]

Took a break in reading Jane Eyre and read a book I picked up while spending some time in Amsterdam: My Fellow Skin by Erwin Mortimer. Really good book at times. Really well written prose.

Two people reading novels by the Bronte sisters and a third recommending a lesser known work.

Well, I never.

 

[Peru]

Over the next five years all of them will have their 200th birthday - Charlotte next year - so it's a good excuse to dive in.

 

[kinoki]

Two people reading novels by the Bronte sisters and a third recommending a lesser known work.

Well, I never.

Over the next five years all of them will have their 200th birthday - Charlotte next year - so it's a good excuse to dive in.

I've been wanting to read them for a while. Never really found the oppertunity. Still building my great library. Loving what I've read so far.

 

[Peru]

I recommended Villette as the ultimate Brontë treasure a few pages back, but I'll just add, when we're on the topic, that Anne's "Tenant of Wildfell Hall" is one of the most harrowing depictions of an abusive relationship in fiction - especially considering the almost complete lack of options for women in that position back then. Brutal stuff, no punches pulled.

 

[mu cephei]

Villette is great. *moves Tenant of Wildfell Hall higher up the tbr pile*

Sort of related, there's an excerpt in The Guardian of Elena Ferrante's introduction to Sense and Sensibility, for a new Folio Society edition. Nice to know she's a fan of Austen.

 

[Nymerio]

Finished Uprooted yesterday night after I couldn't fall asleep. Amazing book. Didn't mind the love story, in fact I kind of enjoyed it. Next up: At the Mountains of Madness

 

[Peru]

Sort of related, there's an excerpt in The Guardian of Elena Ferrante's introduction to Sense and Sensibility, for a new Folio Society edition. Nice to know she's a fan of Austen.

That's great. There's a nonsensical Austen comparison as a cover quote on the 2nd neapolitan novel, but here she finds a very interesting connection with the anonymity.

 

[kswiston]

I started Ancillary Justice after finishing off The Handmaid's Tale. Using female pronouns for everyone, regardless of gender, is an interesting approach, but I am having a hard time forming mental pictures of most characters. I can't remember whether a lot of them are male or female.


As someone who hasn't read any of the 19th century female authors (other than Mary Shelly), what would be your top 2-3 novels if I wanted to rectify that?

 

[aidan]

I started Ancillary Justice after finishing off The Handmaid's Tale. Using female pronouns for everyone, regardless of gender, is an interesting approach, but I am having a hard time forming mental pictures of most characters. I can't remember whether a lot of them are male or female.

Stop trying to do this and you'll enjoy the book a lot more. Took me about a third of the novel before I just went with it and stopped fighting the pronouns.

 

[Peru]

As someone who hasn't read any of the 19th century female authors (other than Mary Shelly), what would be your top 2-3 novels if I wanted to rectify that?

I'll answer this, with caveats, and then cheat.

Charlotte Brontë - Villette (Insane book: Creativity, depression, loneliness, art, processed in modern, intimate, honest ways - w/ one of the more fascinating unreliable narrators - though Jane Eyre is more of a page turner if you want to ease your way into it. Depends on your preferences in general.)
Jane Austen - Persuasion (If you just want to start out on your Austen journey with laughs and comedy, Northanger Abbey)
George Eliot - Middlemarch (Big old book, I found it to be a breeze and sped through it in a few days the first time, some seem to think it heavy. Like one synopsis says - "explores nearly every subject of concern to modern life". A sweep through a society in transformation with incredible insight, a big gallery of characters/perspectives, lots of humour and some emotional punches. )

Depends on what you want, though. If you want really raw social realism go with The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Wuthering Heights is the absolute opposite of stale period drama. If you're into the political stuff, working class issues, Elizabeth Gaskell is a natural choice. Poetry: Dickinson. George Sand. Etc.

 

[Ashes]

Considering I'm about to rewrite Pride & Prejudice in a modern setting, I'd obviously recommend Jane Austen's most popular novel.

 

[Maklershed]

Finally finished The Victorian City and on to The Feud - written by the guy (Thomas Berger) that wrote the phenomenal Sneaky People. (<-- should a comma go behind 'phenomenal'? I really need to brush up on grammar and punctuation)


The Feud by Thomas Berger

 

[TTG]

I'll answer this, with caveats, and then cheat.

Charlotte Brontë - Villette (Insane book: Creativity, depression, loneliness, art, processed in modern, intimate, honest ways - w/ one of the more fascinating unreliable narrators - though Jane Eyre is more of a page turner if you want to ease your way into it. Depends on your preferences in general.)
Jane Austen - Persuasion (If you just want to start out on your Austen journey with laughs and comedy, Northanger Abbey)
George Eliot - Middlemarch (Big old book, I found it to be a breeze and sped through it in a few days the first time, some seem to think it heavy. Like one synopsis says - "explores nearly every subject of concern to modern life". A sweep through a society in transformation with incredible insight, a big gallery of characters/perspectives, lots of humour and some emotional punches. )

Depends on what you want, though. If you want really raw social realism go with The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Wuthering Heights is the absolute opposite of stale period drama. If you're into the political stuff, working class issues, Elizabeth Gaskell is a natural choice. Poetry: Dickinson. George Sand. Etc.

Thanks for that list. I'll check out Villette once I've finished my current stuff. Speaking of which...

Anyone here a fan of the Cormoran Strike series? These are JK Rowling's detective books. I was looking for something I knew would hit to flush out one of those frustrating desultory moods I'm in after a weekend of unsuccessful attempts at a couple of highly acclaimed works and sure enough, it's good. Despite being tropy(even to my ignorant eye, I don't read much mystery), I'm really enjoying The Silkworm, having unwittingly skipped the first one. The third book came out today apparently, is there a buzz?

Spoiler

15$ on Kindle /facepalm

This is good, engaging stuff. It's smart, doesn't fetishize the killer or the grotesque. Pacing is steady, never boring. Doesn't have the magic Harry Potter did(for me), but it's a really good, fun way to spend some time reading. Forgive me for rambling on, but quitting books early always puts me in a hypersensitive, almost interrogative mood towards the next thing and this is just a soothing balm. Never less than competent, never cringe inducing and so well crafted.

 

[kinoki]

I'll answer this, with caveats, and then cheat.

Charlotte Brontë - Villette (Insane book: Creativity, depression, loneliness, art, processed in modern, intimate, honest ways - w/ one of the more fascinating unreliable narrators - though Jane Eyre is more of a page turner if you want to ease your way into it. Depends on your preferences in general.)
Jane Austen - Persuasion (If you just want to start out on your Austen journey with laughs and comedy, Northanger Abbey)
George Eliot - Middlemarch (Big old book, I found it to be a breeze and sped through it in a few days the first time, some seem to think it heavy. Like one synopsis says - "explores nearly every subject of concern to modern life". A sweep through a society in transformation with incredible insight, a big gallery of characters/perspectives, lots of humour and some emotional punches. )

Depends on what you want, though. If you want really raw social realism go with The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Wuthering Heights is the absolute opposite of stale period drama. If you're into the political stuff, working class issues, Elizabeth Gaskell is a natural choice. Poetry: Dickinson. George Sand. Etc.

Not quite ready for Austen just yet. Vilette and Middlemarch are on the to-read list. Just need to get a hold of them (and finish Jane Eyre) first.

And I took the time to read The Lover by Marguerite Duras. Fine little book. Interesting depiction of the events in Asia. Good partner piece to Resnais' Hiroshima, mon amour.

 

[fakefaker]

Finished up Let Me In by John Ajvide Lindqvist tonight and damn it's a pretty amazing book. Perfect for chills before Halloween. Gonna go more darkly comedic now with Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick deWitt.

 

[Peru]

JK Rowling's detective books I've been curious about. I think the strengths of her Potter books are obvious - but the weaknesses mostly have to do with "plot hole"-y stuff like the internal laws of the universe--- and that's very important for crime. But also probably easier to avoid when you're not writing about a magic school.

Not quite ready for Austen just yet. Vilette and Middlemarch are on the to-read list. Just need to get a hold of them (and finish Jane Eyre) first.

Thanks for that list. I'll check out Villette once I've finished my current stuff. Speaking of which... .

Make sure you don't buy the cheapest scam edition of Villette you can find - get one with notes, like the one from Oxford University Press, unless you're proficient in French and don't want the occasional French paragraph translated.

Considering I'm about to rewrite Pride & Prejudice in a modern setting, I'd obviously recommend Jane Austen's most popular novel.

With zombies?

 

[Ashes]

With zombies?

Unfortunately it's more in keeping with the original text.

It's going to be a chick-lit novel. And I don't mean that term in a derogatory sense.

 

[besada]

I am organizing my ebook library, using Calibre, instead of reading.

 

[Deleted member 125677]

Anyone here familiar with a newer, good and enjoyable book on Cognitive Science / Theory of Consciousness like Daniel Dennett's Consciousness Explained?

I love his book, but you can really tell at times that it's from 1991, especially the parts on AI/VR/computer science.

 

[thog16]

Anyone here familiar with a newer, good and enjoyable book on Cognitive Science / Theory of Consciousness like Daniel Dennett's Consciousness Explained?

I love his book, but you can really tell at times that it's from 1991, especially the parts on AI/VR/computer science.

The Ego Tunnel: The Science of the Mind and the Myth of the Self by Thomas Metzinger

 

[Paertan]

The Novice by Trudi Canavan. Part two of the Black Magician trilogy. I read the last Robin Hobb book recently and this author was recommended as something similar.
The books so far are pretty good but not great. I will probably check out what else the author has written after.

Also listening to The Truth by Terry Pratchett on my way to work and whenever I am out an bout. Read it before long time ago but I am listening to all Discworld books right now in order. Not the best Discworld novel but I really like them all =)

 

[hardcastlemccormick]

Just finished The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Steven Baxter.

Humanity receives a device that can "step" through to alternate Earths.

Doesn't read like a Pratchett novel but thats okay with me. Very clever, inventive sci-fi with a lot of sociological and conceptual playthings. The plot wasn't much to speak about, but the rest of the book - all the worldbuilding and surprises - really added up to a wonderful work of art. I have niggles, but I don't think they're important to me.

Spoiler

I was expecting Lobsang to reveal himself as an alien from the other side of the Long Earth. Maybe in book 2 or 3.

 

[opticalmace]

I am organizing my ebook library, using Calibre, instead of reading.

Nothing wrong with that. Who doesn't also enjoy setting up one's shelf with a neatly organized game collection?

 

[Christoff Yurievich]

Unfortunately it's more in keeping with the original text.

It's going to be a chick-lit novel. And I don't mean that term in a derogatory sense.

I wouldn't say that. I for one never got on the zombies wagon so I say go for it.

 

[karmaforgotme]

Finished The Cartel by Don Winslow. To be honest this is the scariest book you can read this Halloween, because despite being fiction it is filled with stories of things that actually happen. This book has caused me to actually research groups like the Los Zetas and the Sinaloa Cartel, and places like Nuevo Laredo. There violent tactics are quite shocking (burning people alive). I haven't read the Power of the Dog which this is a sequel to, but you don't have to read it first. This is the third book I have read by Winslow (I guess he is most famous for his novel Savages which Oliver Stone made into a movie), and the he is good damn writer.

I am moving on to my annual Halloween tradition of re-reading a King book. This year it will be Cujo.

 

[sparky2112]

Finished The Cartel by Don Winslow.

You know this is a 'sequel', right? I guess it probably stands alone, but it is a 2-book series.

 

[TheKeyPit]

I'm reading Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith right now. After that I'll probably read A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab.

Any recommendation for the next book I should get? I've recently finished Gone Girl, Ressurection, The Martian, The Frst Fifteen Lives of Harry August.

 

[karmaforgotme]

You know this is a 'sequel', right? I guess it probably stands alone, but it is a 2-book series.

Yes (I mentioned the Power of the Dog in my write-up). You are correct it works fine as a stand alone.

 

[sparky2112]

Yes (I mentioned the Power of the Dog in my write-up). You are correct it works fine as a stand alone.

Well, that's what I get for being a half-assed reader. My bad!

 

[karmaforgotme]

Well, that's what I get for being a half-assed reader. My bad!

I assume you have read it. It is worth going back and reading since I already read The Cartel?

 

[Mr.Towel]

I assume you have read it. It is worth going back and reading since I already read The Cartel?

I haven't read Cartel yet (damn 100+ holds library books), but I thought Power of the Dog was excellent. I'm sure it would still hold up even knowing what happens to some of the characters.

 

[sparky2112]

I assume you have read it. It is worth going back and reading since I already read The Cartel?

Mr. Towel has me beat. I own it, but haven't read it. I read an interview with Winslow where he said Dog basically sucked the life out of him and he had no intention of a follow-up, but it kept nagging at him, so...

 

[besada]

Why must you be so ugly?

 

[Dedication Through Light]

Why do they use such huge font.

 

[besada]

Why do they use such huge font.

Bujold has a clause in her contract that all her covers must be as ugly as possible, I'd guess.

 

[hardcastlemccormick]

Bujold has a clause in her contract that all her covers must be as ugly as possible, I'd guess.

Not true! Some of her eBook backlog is getting updated with these covers.

Well, actually, I think she might be self-pubbing those...so maybe it was in the contract.

 

[Taruranto]

Started The Scarab Murder Case by S.S. Van Dine. This is the third Van Dine's book I read, I had to skip the 3th and 4th because my library didn't have it.

I always find funny how much smoking there is in his stories. Like, I think every chapter of The Canary Murder Case ends with "AND THEN I, VANCE AND MARKHAM WENT TO SMOKE"

So I googled Van Dine for a pic of him, and this popped up on google.

'nuff said.

 

[Mumei]

Not true! Some of her eBook backlog is getting updated with these covers.

Well, actually, I think she might be self-pubbing those...so maybe it was in the contract.

Sacrilege! Bujold covers that aren't garish just seem wrong.

 

[Haly]

Not true! Some of her eBook backlog is getting updated with these covers.

Not sure if 90s sci-fi or pretentious Russian lit.

 

[TTG]

Not sure if 90s sci-fi or pretentious Russian lit.

Are you talking about those Dostoevsky Vintage covers? Because WHERE DO YOU GET THE GALL TO CALL FYODOR PRETENTIOUS!!!?!!?


Ahem, anyway, these new Vorkosigan covers are slightly better because you can't do much worse than this:

 

[Mumei]

Are you talking about those Dostoevsky Vintage covers? Because WHERE DO YOU GET THE GALL TO CALL FYODOR PRETENTIOUS!!!?!!?


Ahem, anyway, these new Vorkosigan covers are slightly better because you can't do much worse than this:

Those covers are so bad that they circle back around to awesome.

 

[Pau]

Hey, at least they stuck to a theme, right?

 

[Tragicomedy]

Vorkosigan Saga covers are abysmal. Like they are actually embarrassingly bad.

Then you open them up and start to read them and realize they are the best books ever.

It's almost as if you shouldn't judge a book...by it's cover.

Spoiler

Okay, I'll see myself out.

 

[Nymerio]

Those covers are so bad that they circle back around to awesome.

That Komarr cover would be great if you could just barely see Mile's hair when he's standing in front of her.

 

[Rankun]

Just finished Revival by Stephen King and I loved it. The best King's written in years. I'd go as far and say that it's all the way up there with It in my favorite King novels.

Spoiler

The Lovecraft shoutouts in the end were amazing and I really enjoyed the cosmic horror episodes towards the end.

Next up are The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi and the next book in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series (Death Masks) which I started last month and am really enjoying so far.

 

[Deleted member 125677]

Ordered Flame Alphabet as I am about to finish Purity (which has really, really grown on me after the first two or three parts, I think it might be one of his top two novels, will write up some thoughts soon)

 

[Head of Vengarl]

I just finished the first chapter of American Gods. Some guy just got swallowed whole by a woman's vagina. If that isn't an indication that I'm entering into a great book, I don't know what is.

 

[Haly]

Can't wait for the adaptation of that scene.

 

[Tragicomedy]

I just finished the first chapter of American Gods. Some guy just got swallowed whole by a woman's vagina. If that isn't an indication that I'm entering into a great book, I don't know what is.

It's all downhill from there.