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What are you reading? (October 2015)
- Thread starter Maklershed
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kinoki
Illness is the doctor to whom we pay most heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we make promise only; pain we obey.
Colorless Tazaki is a good book. It lacks some of the elements that made me fall in love with him when I read Kafka on the Shore. 1Q84 is one of his better works and After Dark was amusing and a breeze to read. So, would I recommend Colorless Tazaki even though I think its inferiour to his earlier works: Yes, yes I would.
Cool. I liked After Dark. I had mixed feelings on 1Q84. It felt unnecessarily long and I found the ending quite unsatisfying even if that is a Murakami staple by now, probably also because of its length. I'll give Colorless a shot for sure though.
disastermouse
Banned
I loved the author's first book and novella and this series is alright. It's a different genre, but it's fun.
This was his first book as an independent author. I liked it enough that I asked to buy a signed copy:
kinoki
Illness is the doctor to whom we pay most heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we make promise only; pain we obey.
My top 3 would be:
- Kafka on the Shore
- 1Q84
- After Dark
I'd recommend them all, really. The only week one would be Sputnik Sweetheart which I felt was nothing special. Sweet and short but nothing special. Colorless goes well into his usual style of books, nothing exceptional. Fun stuff but could have been better.
Can't wait to dive into Memories of Ice, I just wished I had bought it from a local bookstore instead of getting it off book depository... it's cheaper but a 2 week wait....
Do you recommend reading Esslemont's novels? I already have the first on the way so I'll definitely read that... but in general is it worth it?
I read the first 30 or so pages and it didn't really grab me, decided to go back to Robin Hobb's Royal Assassin which I stopped reading last September. I think I like read the first 200 pages of it but I've started off from around 140 as well as flicking through the earlier pages.
Might go back to "Shadow in summer" later though.
BrokenFiction
Member
I read the first two Esslemont, and I own the third, but I stopped there. I think there's something about his writing style that didn't click with me, and at the time I just wanted to be absorbed into the Malazan universe.
opticalmace
Member
I know it's maybe simplistic but I have to say I am really enjoying Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I should have read them long ago.
They're a lot of fun, I go back and read them from time to time.
Wuthering Heights is finished. I wish I'd contemplated on the first third more, because that is where all the dramatic highs are, in my opinion.
It's funny that we end where we begin, in confusion on how best to judge Heathcliffe. I vote to see him as a sinner. He may not strike the final blow, but that only means that he is not a full blown monster.
Personally, it was great to see the narrator's minds ticking along differently. And these differences being accounted for by their variation in motives. Implied or otherwise. From informing us of a bias in describing certain characters ( Nelly's views of the two Catherine). And so very decidely subtle. Also allowing distance from the MC - the opposite of getting intimate and personal; especially toward the end where key scenes are just not told in great detail (Heathcliffe's walk on the moors at the end). Very clever that was Miss Emily Bronte. Very clever.
Edit: And I liked the mirroring events. How different people reacted to their given lots.
It's funny that we end where we begin, in confusion on how best to judge Heathcliffe. I vote to see him as a sinner. He may not strike the final blow, but that only means that he is not a full blown monster.
Personally, it was great to see the narrator's minds ticking along differently. And these differences being accounted for by their variation in motives. Implied or otherwise. From informing us of a bias in describing certain characters ( Nelly's views of the two Catherine). And so very decidely subtle. Also allowing distance from the MC - the opposite of getting intimate and personal; especially toward the end where key scenes are just not told in great detail (Heathcliffe's walk on the moors at the end). Very clever that was Miss Emily Bronte. Very clever.
Edit: And I liked the mirroring events. How different people reacted to their given lots.
Joe Haldeman's Forever War is $1.99 on Amazon's Kindle store. As always, the sale may be US only, but you can easily set up a US Kindle account with foreign credit cards.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PI184XG/?tag=neogaf0e-20
EDIT: It looks like the Curse of Chalion is $3.99 as well:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FC11AQ/?tag=neogaf0e-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PI184XG/?tag=neogaf0e-20
EDIT: It looks like the Curse of Chalion is $3.99 as well:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FC11AQ/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Shit another onto the backlog. Thanks for the heads-up.
Nelly Dean is the villain!
Nice. Revs up nice and gently and gets gradually more and more intense, this one.
Nice. Revs up nice and gently and gets gradually more and more intense, this one.
Two fantastic books.
Kyleripman
Member
Have you seen the new illustrated edition? I saw it at the bookstore over the weekend.
Foucault's Pendulum is my absolute favorite book ever. I know it's not the lightest read ever, but I adored it. I even went to see the Pendulum in real life earlier this year in my first visit to Paris just because of how much impact the book had in me. It was a sort or right time, right place kind of thing for me I guess.
That said, I don't like The Name of the Rose nearly as much, and I doubt you will.
My first taste of Korean literature with Pavane for a Dead Princess. Was interested in reading something about the Korean beauty and plastic surgery culture since it sounds very similar in intensity to Colombia's, but with somewhat different standards. Hopefully it doesn't make me feel like too much crap.
Kafka on the Shore is my favorite too, whenever I discover a new author I'm used to the first book I read from them to end up being my favorite, but KotS beat that trend, it's just too good. I'd rank them:
- Kafka
- Norwegian Wood
- Wind Up Bird
- Hard Boiled Wonderland
After Dark was a bit too short for my tastes, but it was pretty good too.
Foucault's Pendulum is my absolute favorite book ever. I know it's not the lightest read ever, but I adored it. I even went to see the Pendulum in real life earlier this year in my first visit to Paris just because of how much impact the book had in me. It was a sort or right time, right place kind of thing for me I guess.
That said, I don't like The Name of the Rose nearly as much, and I doubt you will.
Well, I finished it, so it wasn't without irredeemable qualities. The premise is a good one, but can you argue that it's not a pedantic nightmare? The title of favorite book ever does not preclude allowing for some flaws surely. Those pages upon pages on the occult and that trip abroad(Brazil?) wore me down. Anyway, I remember looking up images of the Pendulum, it's beautiful. We've got a sort of shabbier facsimile at the observatory here, it's neat.
Meanwhile, I'm done with all of Robert Galbraith's(JK Rowling lolz) detective books. My initial, positive thoughts stand. Having finished all three of them, it's funny, I don't think I would have spotted the creator of Harry Potter behind these. There are some echoes, she still loves a happy denouement, the way all of the pubs are described has that feel to them, but it's sparse pickings if you're looking for that motif. On the bright side, they're smart, cozy books. Very tropy, but that's not the worst thing in the world, especially if you're like me and don't read detective/mystery stuff often.
I will say though, the third is a substantial drop from the first two. These books are formulaic and the new one features chapters from the criminal's point of view. This is like a double helping of bad. First of all, it's classic, shallow, grotesque evil psychopath guy. Second, because the reader is now privy to the details and his crimes are ongoing(he has to satiate that evil thirst!) that formula is much exposed and it's funny to see her stretch the limits of credulity. She likes to keep close to a half dozen suspects in play all through the book to the last pages and with so much of the killer's actions and motivations on the page we find ourselves in situations where all of the potential maniacs have had sons taken away from them and when the killer bumps into Robin in the street all of them have to do so at the same time, on the same block. It's flimsy and I lost interest in trying to solve it before the reveal.
I guess 3 out of 5 for the last book and 4s for the first two. Fun reads.
I will say though, the third is a substantial drop from the first two. These books are formulaic and the new one features chapters from the criminal's point of view. This is like a double helping of bad. First of all, it's classic, shallow, grotesque evil psychopath guy. Second, because the reader is now privy to the details and his crimes are ongoing(he has to satiate that evil thirst!) that formula is much exposed and it's funny to see her stretch the limits of credulity. She likes to keep close to a half dozen suspects in play all through the book to the last pages and with so much of the killer's actions and motivations on the page we find ourselves in situations where all of the potential maniacs have had sons taken away from them and when the killer bumps into Robin in the street all of them have to do so at the same time, on the same block. It's flimsy and I lost interest in trying to solve it before the reveal.
I guess 3 out of 5 for the last book and 4s for the first two. Fun reads.
D
Deleted member 125677
Unconfirmed Member
One part left of Franzen's Purity, wowowowowow, the second last part is some of the most intensive writing I've ever experienced frankly
Got two books in the mail, which I'm starting on today:
came over the Guardian review and was VERY intrigued.
Got two books in the mail, which I'm starting on today:
yes, I'm that guy: who won the nobel? *never heard of him/her* - *goes to amazon* third year in a row 
came over the Guardian review and was VERY intrigued.
kinoki
Illness is the doctor to whom we pay most heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we make promise only; pain we obey.
Finished Jane Eyre by Charlotte. Great book! Really loved it. Need some time to really process it but going to love exploring the Brontë bibliography.
Since I saw that it was Karin Boye's 115th birthday yesterday so I decided to start reading Kris [Crisis] which is really off a good start.
Since I saw that it was Karin Boye's 115th birthday yesterday so I decided to start reading Kris [Crisis] which is really off a good start.
Imp the Dimp
Member
Finished The Long Walk by Stephen King and need a new book now.
I want to read either The Book Thief or Watership Down. Which would you recommend? Are both good?
edit: Downloaded Watership Down. Hope it's good.
I want to read either The Book Thief or Watership Down. Which would you recommend? Are both good?
edit: Downloaded Watership Down. Hope it's good.
Maklershed
Member
Finished The Feud. Great book. I really love Berger's style. He's quickly becoming a new favorite.
Not sure what to read next. I was in the mood for a book with a Deadwood like setting but now I could really go for something to get me ready for Fallout. Irradiated, dusty wasteland type story. Any suggestions? Or maybe I should just re-read A Canticle for Leibowitz or The Postman.
Not sure what to read next. I was in the mood for a book with a Deadwood like setting but now I could really go for something to get me ready for Fallout. Irradiated, dusty wasteland type story. Any suggestions? Or maybe I should just re-read A Canticle for Leibowitz or The Postman.
sparky2112
Member
Finished S.S. Van Dine The Scarab Murder Case.
Now I plan to start The Three Musketeers, I always wanted to read something else from Dumas.
I actually managed to figure the culprit halfway through the book. I feel like Van Dine is a master of psychology, but his murder stories often lack of the complexity Carr and Christie's stories have, for better or worse. The motive and the method are almost clear cut.
Now I plan to start The Three Musketeers, I always wanted to read something else from Dumas.
Maklershed
Member
So I went to Goodreads and searched listopia for 'fallout' to find a list of 6 books and all great choices but I read them all. I then look closer and realize I was the one that made the list ... almost a year ago to the day. I've never claimed to be a bright man.
If anyone wants to add to the list please do:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/79960.Books_With_Fallout_Elements
If anyone wants to add to the list please do:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/79960.Books_With_Fallout_Elements
Hey guys, figured you would know.
Are the books in this collection tiny or am I misreading the product dimensions?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1101965487/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Product Dimensions: 5 x 6.4 x 9.6 inches
Are the books in this collection tiny or am I misreading the product dimensions?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1101965487/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Product Dimensions: 5 x 6.4 x 9.6 inches
Both are great, can't go wrong.
I just finished "The Secret Garden" and am halfway through "Peter Pan." Good lord these are different from the Disney movies...I mean, I know Disney twists all those children's classics into happy tales, but was still a bit surprised. Mary from Secret Garden is a total brat and Peter Pan is basically a psycho. Highly recommend the Pan audiobook read by Tim Curry!
It appears they're pretty tiny, from one of the Amazaon reviews:
It seems as though they're of the same size and quality as the pocket Lord of the Rings Collection.
The Book Thief is one of my favorite novels. I definitely recommend picking it up after finishing Watership Down. (Which unfortunately I myself never managed to finish... it'd be interesting to make a list of all the stuff I started but didn't finish for whatever reason.)
TheOctodad
Member
Just finished Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion. Absolutely loved it, one of my all time favorites. I cried a few times near the end.
I got back last week from a week and a half on vacation. I did a tremendous amount of reading, especially compared to what I usually do.
- The Devil in the White City - I really enjoyed this, but I wish it would have focused a little more on Holmes and a little less on the minutiae of planning the fair.
- The Martian - I had already seen the film, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Read most of it in a day.
- The Picture of Dorian Gray - I had this one on my Kindle because I have been trying to read more classics. Not bad, but the language was a little overly prosaic for my tastes and it was kind of a slog at times.
- The Pillars of the Earth - I got about halfway through this and have been making my way through it since I got back. I don't usually enjoy fiction all that much, but this has been pretty good.
Imp the Dimp
Member
Both are great, can't go wrong.
I just finished "The Secret Garden" and am halfway through "Peter Pan." Good lord these are different from the Disney movies...I mean, I know Disney twists all those children's classics into happy tales, but was still a bit surprised. Mary from Secret Garden is a total brat and Peter Pan is basically a psycho. Highly recommend the Pan audiobook read by Tim Curry!
Thanks guys. Read some of Watership Down today and it was fantastic.
Got two books in the mail, which I'm starting on today:
yes, I'm that guy: who won the nobel? *never heard of him/her* - *goes to amazon* third year in a row
...the cheapest 'War's Unwomanly Face' is £520 on Bookfinder >.< Either there's a Norwegian edition, you really love your books!, or all the cheaper copies have been bought due to her sudden press exposure... (I ordered Voices From Chernobyl a few weeks ago, hasn't arrived yet).
Just finished Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion. Absolutely loved it, one of my all time favorites. I cried a few times near the end.
Now do yourself a favor and DO NOT read the sequels!
I finished The Sixth Extinction. I ended up liking it much more than I thought I was about a quarter into it; suddenly it started talking about stuff that I didn't know nearly as well. I started reading Final Jeopardy: Man vs. Machine and the Quest to Know Everything. It's similar to another book I read about an IBM supercomputer, Behind Deep Blue: Building the Computer That Defeated the World Chess Champion, though that book was actually written by someone who worked on the team that created the computer. It's still very interesting to read about all the challenges involved in creating a supercomputer that performs as Watson does, though.
D
Deleted member 125677
Unconfirmed Member
Haha, I'm reading a Norwegian edition, but I just linked to one of the English ones since very few of you guys are familiar with the GOAT World Culture language that is Norwegian. I'm sure there'll be an explosion of cheap English language reprints pretty soon so no worries
dirt cheap paperback version
Finishing up this 2nd Ferrante neapolitan (which is too good.. crying..) and then finally LTTP starting the ol neogaf favorite A Little Life.
OT:
Charlotte Brontë sketch identified as self-portrait
Right one. Left is official portrait (the only one except for Branwell's less naturalistic version). Seems pretty obvious it's her.
OT:
Charlotte Brontë sketch identified as self-portrait
Right one. Left is official portrait (the only one except for Branwell's less naturalistic version). Seems pretty obvious it's her.
Maklershed
Member
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