Awesome! thanks
-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
What are you reading? (December 2015)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
- Status
Awesome! thanks
D
Deleted member 125677
Unconfirmed Member
Np! Be aware that some of the titles are not 100% accurate
If you have two or three titles to recommend on china and japan respectively I'd love to check them out too
Kindle titles are a big bonus, as I'd like to give my new paperwhite some more action
Np! Be aware that some of the titles are not 100% accurate
If you have two or three titles to recommend on china and japan respectively I'd love to check them out too
Kindle titles are a big bonus, as I'd like to give my new paperwhite some more action
Is there any specific topic/type of history/time period that you are interested in? That can help me narrow it down, since I think survey studies of any aspect are a a bit dull and a generalyl poor way to be introduced to a topic. Be warned, I've read a lot more Chinese history than I have Japanese history
D
Deleted member 125677
Unconfirmed Member
I'm fairly up to speed on modern china since the republic (I think), I guess I'm most interested in Imperial China
This first part are focused history books on a variety of topics, 1 is on WWII and 2 of them are after communist control (all are fantastic and are re-interpretations if you havent read them). Some are written well and are entertaining, some are quite scholarly and dense.
Soulstealers
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61543.Soulstealers
God’s Chinese Son
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/281062.God_s_Chinese_Son
Treason by the Book
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127509.Treason_by_the_Book
Daily Life in China on the Eve of the Mongol Invasion
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show...a_on_the_Eve_of_the_Mongol_Invasion_1250_1276
The Confusions of Pleasure
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/227992.The_Confusions_of_Pleasure
The Tragedy of Liberation
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17287091-the-tragedy-of-liberation
Mao’s Great Famine
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8410925-mao-s-great-famine
The Great Divergence (I particularily think this debate is fascinating - lot of books on the subject)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199002.The_Great_Divergence
The Opium War
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12147002-the-opium-war
Forgotten Ally
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20256718-forgotten-ally?from_search=true&search_version=service
Sex, Law and Society in Late Imperial China
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/504169.Sex_Law_and_Society_in_Late_Imperial_China
The Talented Women of the Zhang Family
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2434139.The_Talented_Women_of_the_Zhang_Family
Rickshaw Beijing
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/371330.Rickshaw_Beijing?from_search=true&search_version=service
China Marches West
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/144867.China_Marches_West
Printing and Book Culture in Late Imperial China
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1843776.Printing_and_Book_Culture_in_Late_Imperial_China
Hankow: Commerce and Society in a Chinese City
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1952651.Hankow
This is a list of good survey books that give you a comprehensive overview of Chinese history
The Search for Modern China (starts in like 1600 and Spence is a fantastic writer)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15764704-the-search-for-modern-china
The Early Chinese Empires (Book 1 of a very informative series on the history of Imperial China)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/643835.The_Early_Chinese_Empires
China in World History (very good and very short overview of Chinese history)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8358763-china-in-world-history
I'll do a Japanese one later after I am able to recall what Ive read (its been a while), but it will be a lot less extensive since I am nearly as well read on Japanese history than I am on Chinese history.
D
Deleted member 125677
Unconfirmed Member
This is really great! Thanks piecake!
Gnome Scat
Member
Just started 11/22/63 by Stephen King the other day. I've been trying to get back into reading for a while, and this one seems to be doing the trick.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
I went into this one blind too, aside from being vaguely aware of a Mr. Rochester. The whole thing was incredibly fun. It's one of those books where you continually say to yourself, oh, that's why it's a classic. The book is constantly funny, comforting, comfortable to read, and engaging. In the same way as Pride and Prejudice snagged me into English society with its social criticism, I found myself enjoying the carefully placed pieces of feminism and moral critique. These barbs were my way in. It's hard for me to just accept the social norms of the period, so I need that amused and critical eye.
I enjoyed Jane Eyre so much that I intend to find more of these classics I've never touched before, to get a vague understand of them at least. This was my intention with Jane Eyre several months ago, but the damn thing dragged me in. To the public domain we go.
EDIT: Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender are way too pretty to be the leads of Jane Eyre. That's just wrong.I'm watching it anyway
Wasikowska does a great Jane Eyre. That movie's also pretty, pretty good - even if it really can't get to the core of the book (like every other adaptation). Very pretty.
I always make an effort to push "Villette" - since you liked JE so much - though public domain freebie may not be the way to go if you want the many french paragraphs translated in notes. Otherwise got tons of suggestions for women-penned 18th century literature.
Currently reading The King in Yellow (Robert W. Chambers) and I'd greatly appreciate if someone could give me some recommendations of good cosmic horror novels. I've read some stuff by Lovecraft already (including Call of Cthulhu) and am looking for other books in the genre.
A full-fledged novel would be appreciated since these usually tend to be short-stories.
A full-fledged novel would be appreciated since these usually tend to be short-stories.
Got to book 2 in Another (volume I have collects both) and so far I like it quite a lot. The plot has opened up mystery wise quite a lot, but even so I am still not 100% sure that mystery girl Misaki
So far the only complaint I have is that the main character can come across as vapid at times to a maddening degree.
Read Akira: Volume 1 by Katsuhiro Otomo. Everything I know of Akira is the movie and I really like that movie. So it is interesting reading one of the books that inspired the movie, which came out before the series even finished its run. Volume 1 follows some of the stuff from the movie, but it is a beast of a different nature. There is way more going on here, more plot, more characters, more action, but even so I merely found the book to be okay. The plot was all over the place and the characters weren't all that interesting.
isn't a ghost.
Read Akira: Volume 1 by Katsuhiro Otomo. Everything I know of Akira is the movie and I really like that movie. So it is interesting reading one of the books that inspired the movie, which came out before the series even finished its run. Volume 1 follows some of the stuff from the movie, but it is a beast of a different nature. There is way more going on here, more plot, more characters, more action, but even so I merely found the book to be okay. The plot was all over the place and the characters weren't all that interesting.
The Southern Reach trilogy was popular here a while a back (still is, it was just "in vogue" for the thread).
Vandermeer's City of Saints and Madmen is a short story collection, and part of a larger series that moves away from Lovecraftian horror the further you go. You may be interested in City, at least.
Not a novel (at least I haven't read the complete novel version that was later published), but I just finished reading John Hersey's Hiroshima (New Yorker version). And it was absolutely remarkable. Required reading.
Now I'm reading:
I adored the first book, thought it was one of the more beautifully written (and translated) things I've ever read.
Also:
I'm pretty new to the Hernandez Brothers, but I'm enjoying it so far.
Now I'm reading:
I adored the first book, thought it was one of the more beautifully written (and translated) things I've ever read.
Also:
I'm pretty new to the Hernandez Brothers, but I'm enjoying it so far.
I have three books going on right now:
1. Rise of the Robots about half way in and really enjoying it. If you keep up with AI and various ways it could lead to unemployment nothing in it will be new or revolutionary but it is a great overview of the subject.
2. Seveneves - So far this book is awesome but i'm only ~100 pages in. Not many books grab me from the first chapter but this one did it. The technospeak gets boring at times but so far it isn't too bad. I've heard the last third is a let down but so far i'm enjoying the ride.
3. Red Rising (audio book) I didn't have high hopes for this but i found myself really liking it despite being full of tropes and being predictable. It reads more like a young adult novel which i like for audiobooks since i don't have to pay close attention.
1. Rise of the Robots about half way in and really enjoying it. If you keep up with AI and various ways it could lead to unemployment nothing in it will be new or revolutionary but it is a great overview of the subject.
2. Seveneves - So far this book is awesome but i'm only ~100 pages in. Not many books grab me from the first chapter but this one did it. The technospeak gets boring at times but so far it isn't too bad. I've heard the last third is a let down but so far i'm enjoying the ride.
3. Red Rising (audio book) I didn't have high hopes for this but i found myself really liking it despite being full of tropes and being predictable. It reads more like a young adult novel which i like for audiobooks since i don't have to pay close attention.
Seveneves goes overboard on technospeak, but it was worthwhile. Been a while since I read a book that long that felt epic.
Bit of an odd question, but if i get a paperwhite from Amazon Japan, I should still be able to access all my Amazon Ebooks and stuff in english right?
Anyway since I'm home for the holidays I finished this doorstopper in two days flat (since I've read it before admittedly)
Mistress Of The Empire by Raymond E. Feist
Feist's best work besides Magician, all praise Janny Wurts
now reading:
Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China by Jung Chang
Christmas present and it's lovely
Anyway since I'm home for the holidays I finished this doorstopper in two days flat (since I've read it before admittedly)
Mistress Of The Empire by Raymond E. Feist
Feist's best work besides Magician, all praise Janny Wurts
now reading:
Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China by Jung Chang
Christmas present and it's lovely
Finally finished reading House of Leaves and boy that was an annoying read. There were some good moments, parts where Johnny had that fear creeping up on him and going on absolutely nutty tangents but there were only maybe 2-3 of those moments throughout. The rest of it was dry as hell, any possible moments of tension were destroyed by page after page of loosely related footnotes and explanations. Not worth the $70 AUD odd that I paid for it.
Reading The Martian for something lighter and easier right now. Enjoyable, my only gripe is that the characters back at NASA feels so one dimensional and are only there for the one liners.
Reading The Martian for something lighter and easier right now. Enjoyable, my only gripe is that the characters back at NASA feels so one dimensional and are only there for the one liners.
Yeah, House of Leaves wasn't my thing either. I found the bits with the ever growing house unsettling, but Johnny Truant ruined it for me.
nailbombxx
Member
Try Laird Barron's two novels, The Croning and The Light is the Darkness.
Unfortunately if you prefer novels over short stories, you're going to find like 10 brilliant short story collections and anthologies for every brilliant novel in that genre. Now, if you're looking for short stories and novellas I could recommend you plenty.
AngmarsKing701
Member
Just finished Captain Vorpatril's Alliance by Bujold. As always, her writing is impressive, and as always, I enjoy returning to the Vorkosigan Saga.
Next up will be The Martian.
Next up will be The Martian.
I can't imagine trying to read infinite jest on Kindle. Only book I used multiple book marks on
Maklershed
Member
Kindle has a bookmark feature. Also the ability to highlight and save passages.
RepairmanJack
Member
I think I have to give up on the audiobooks of the Stormlight Archive books. I think it's just epic fantasy in general with me, but I just get too lost in these type of books. The same thing happened with ASOIF, the first three books I read and remember well the 4th and 5th books I couldn't tell you a single thing about because I listened to them.
I'll probably have to pick up Way of Kings fairly quickly because I was really enjoying it, I could just tell I wasn't really soaking it in like I'd prefer.
I'll probably have to pick up Way of Kings fairly quickly because I was really enjoying it, I could just tell I wasn't really soaking it in like I'd prefer.
hardcastlemccormick
Banned
I sold my Kindle Paperwhite to a friend in need of a Christmas gift so I'm refocusing on the paper books on my shelf and the local library. Currently chuckling my way through A Confederacy of Dunces.
I watched the Jane Eyre film a watch and youch! Incredibly drab, dreary and devoid of all the happiness in the book. It also removed a lot of Jane's agency. I'm not a fan at all.
Bring on the recommendations. I'm trying to hit up a lot of the classics I can to establish a loose grasp of literature of those eras - this is what inspired me to read Jane Eyre, because I had no frame of reference for the Bronte sisters.
Does Kindle have a multiple bookmark feature?
I watched the Jane Eyre film a watch and youch! Incredibly drab, dreary and devoid of all the happiness in the book. It also removed a lot of Jane's agency. I'm not a fan at all.
Bring on the recommendations. I'm trying to hit up a lot of the classics I can to establish a loose grasp of literature of those eras - this is what inspired me to read Jane Eyre, because I had no frame of reference for the Bronte sisters.
Does Kindle have a multiple bookmark feature?
RepairmanJack
Member
Yes, with notes if you want to have an idea of what you bookmarked.
sparky2112
Member
Finished:
Thought I'd love it at the start, but only liked it. For a novel with 'city' in the title, the actual city lacked any kind of flavor, and didn't factor into the story all that much. The author is clearly skilled, which makes some of the book's deficiencies all the more frustrating. Will I read the follow-up? Dunno. I'll probably wait for impressions from other folks here.
Halfway-ish through;
I had to; my God this series ended up on so many year-end best of lists, there was no way I could avoid it any longer. Not surprisingly, I'm liking it quite a bit. I don't read many female writers, and this is certainly a female writer writing about women, but it's compelling and I think it would work for anyone who appreciates great writing. Word is, I'll want to rip through the series in one go, so we'll see...
Thought I'd love it at the start, but only liked it. For a novel with 'city' in the title, the actual city lacked any kind of flavor, and didn't factor into the story all that much. The author is clearly skilled, which makes some of the book's deficiencies all the more frustrating. Will I read the follow-up? Dunno. I'll probably wait for impressions from other folks here.
Halfway-ish through;
I had to; my God this series ended up on so many year-end best of lists, there was no way I could avoid it any longer. Not surprisingly, I'm liking it quite a bit. I don't read many female writers, and this is certainly a female writer writing about women, but it's compelling and I think it would work for anyone who appreciates great writing. Word is, I'll want to rip through the series in one go, so we'll see...
Thank you, I'll be sure to check it out.
Thanks, I'll be checking these two also.
I'm looking for anything, really. Short stories, anthologies and novellas included. The reason I emphasized novels is because I've never read one of the genre and was curious to see how it holds up in a long-form format. Also because I plan to write a story with lots of "lovecraft-ish" elements (not sure if I'd call my story full-on cosmic horror, but it's got quite a lot of it) so having a point of reference would be nice. But if you also have short stories I'd greatly appreciate it!
I had to; my God this series ended up on so many year-end best of lists, there was no way I could avoid it any longer. Not surprisingly, I'm liking it quite a bit. I don't read many female writers, and this is certainly a female writer writing about women, but it's compelling and I think it would work for anyone who appreciates great writing. Word is, I'll want to rip through the series in one go, so we'll see...
I think Book 3 was my favorite but man what a great series so far (I'm halfway through Book 4). The writing is absolutely ferocious.
Really? I have Kindle Keyboard but I don't have the ability to take notes.
That's sounds like such a cool feature.
Funny, I can hardly imagine reading it the conventional way. The amount of words I had to look up in the dictionary and/or on Wiki, search the text etc. It would have taken almost twice as long without Kindle's ability to instantly do all that stuff.
nailbombxx
Member
Well Lovecraft himself wrote one novel, a short novel but a novel nonetheless, The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. You can look into that one and see how it compares to his shorter works that you read.
I've just thought of another Lovecraftian novel perhaps worth looking into: The Ceremonies by T.E.D. Klein.
In my opinion, Lovecraftian horror and other "weird fiction" is perhaps at its most potent in the short form. I think most other fans of that stuff think the same. The stories that I cite as evidence for this are Arthur Machen's The Great God Pan and Algernon Blackwood's The Willows. Machen and Blackwood are two of Lovecraft's greatest influences and those two stories are foundations of cosmic horror. As for Machen, I do think The White People is a far better written story but the concepts explored in The Great God Pan makes it of immense importance to cosmic horror as a genre. So yeah, you'll want to read those. You also can't do any wrong by picking up a couple of those Penguin classics editions of Machen and Blackwood.
You should. Just click the menu button and go to "add note or highlight." I just did it on my kindle keyboard.
OMG, I feel so stupid. I never knew that you could do that.
Now I don't have to use Apple Notes whenever I have an idea while reading lol.
Thank you so much.
Also, Kindle stores all highlights and notes as a plain text document that's not hidden behind anything(unlike the vocab, for example), so you can just lift that stuff every time you connect it to a pc.
Thanks. I bought Girl with Curious Hair. I've never read his stuff, and I don't want to start with Infinite Jest since it's kinda intimidating for a first read.
DarkChronic
Member
Got Stephen King's Bazaar of Bad Dreams for Christmas. Only a few stories in, and I really like it so far, but I'm hoping for some more horror. So far they've just kind of been...stories. But I know King has been leaning away from horror in recent years. Still a fun read.
TwntyOneTwlv
Member
I'm loving this book. It's funny AND educational!
I am 95% of the way through City of Stairs and 80-85% of the way through Serpent of Venice. I should be able to finish both by Dec 31st to bring my 2015 total to 41 books and about 17 000 pages.
I read over 50 books last year, but my page count was only 1200 pages higher than this year, so the real drop is about 100 pages a month.
I will probably set my Goodreads goal to 35 books this year. Last year's goal was 25, which was obviously too low. It's hard to forecast how busy my year will be so far in advance though.
I read over 50 books last year, but my page count was only 1200 pages higher than this year, so the real drop is about 100 pages a month.
I will probably set my Goodreads goal to 35 books this year. Last year's goal was 25, which was obviously too low. It's hard to forecast how busy my year will be so far in advance though.
One thing I really love about Unabridged Books in Chicago is the dedicated set of shelves for Penguin Classics / Penguin Classics Deluxe (and Everyman's Library and NYRB). I really like how it is organized.
I would say no unless you are reading 10 books a month or something. Popular books often go on sale on the Kindle store for $2-3. Most of those are not on unlimited. The service is $10 a month.
Fuck/thank you alternatingly. I picked up Infinite Jest and will get to it in the new year along with some other hefty stuff.
- Status