allbrancooke
Neo Member
Continuing with volume 2. Very fond memories with this series. Read it on night shifts, in the woods of a park I used to work at. Big mistake; if you enjoy cosmic horror in 17th century jargon, it's a good read.
What are you reading? (January 2017)
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Continuing with volume 2. Very fond memories with this series. Read it on night shifts, in the woods of a park I used to work at. Big mistake; if you enjoy cosmic horror in 17th century jargon, it's a good read.
xeroborn55
Member
sparky2112
Member
Speaking of Pessl, I'm reading this:
which read's like Pessl's first, Special Topics in Calamity Physics, but without the mystery that served as Physics' backbone. A group of teenagers bond at a young artist summer camp and then the novel follows them into adulthood. One becomes famous, the rest don't. Watch them deal with life and each other. It's good, but anytime you're dealing with teenagers who speak/think beyond their years, you either go with that conceit, or you don't. I'm going with it. It's Wolitzer's razor wit and observation that makes this a winner.
D
Deleted member 752119
Unconfirmed Member
Red Rising Trilogy. I'm about 75% through Golden Son (book 2). Best series I've read in a long while.
I read the story first, and I think it reduced my enjoyment of the film a lot. Also the bolded is pretty much what I've been telling anyone who'll listen, (you put it much better, I'll need to remember it lol) the film's approach to time is opposite to that of the story and much weaker imo. The film could've done something really clever with the narrative, and the presentation of the language, and it didn't.
Yeah this series is great (vast improvement from night angel) but I think someone here said the 4th book lacks resolution and advised waiting for the release of the 5th book to read them together, so I'm being patient. I'm interested to know what you think.
Continuing with volume 2. Very fond memories with this series. Read it on night shifts, in the woods of a park I used to work at. Big mistake; if you enjoy cosmic horror in 17th century jargon, it's a good read.
Just wanted to quote that cover, it's fab.
KittyClouds
Neo Member
Just finished The Bell Jar. I wasn't particularly impressed by it but there were a few great moments throughout.
I'm currently reading We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. Enjoying it so far.
I'm currently reading We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. Enjoying it so far.
MrOogieBoogie
BioShock Infinite is like playing some homeless guy's vivid imagination
Anyone watch The Stand miniseries? Reading the book and I can't help but imagine how perfect the story, structure, and characters would be for a TV series. I think it'd be huge, and then I remembered the miniseries which never gained huge notoriety. Is it faithful to the book?
Dandy Crocodile
Member
Mostly, but lots of smaller details are naturally omitted. It would need multiple seasons to really do it justice.
In 300 pages or so, Ann Patchett traces the half-century's worth of fallout from the consequences of an adulterous kiss at a child's christening party. The assorted episodes are not arranged wholly with chronology in mind (indeed, after the first chapter we jump to one of the chronologically final segments), though one should not overstate the degree to which it defies chronology -- it does, broadly, with a few judicious cuts ahead. The management of information in this format can be a tricky thing, but Patchett threads the needle effortlessly in her handling of
a particularly significant event in the lives of the two main families (who are, for a time, a blended family). There are initial signs that this event has some great dark secret at the core of it, but as one goes along with the novel it becomes obvious that this would really be against the commitment to something like ordinary life; the real story is emotionally affecting, but nothing outside the realm of the mundane.
Been reading more Chiang to build cred with Haly and Dresden.
Division by Zero
It's a cute story about the philosophy of mathematics as an analogy towards obsession, depression, and personal relationships... I guess. I dunno. It was alright. No real "big ideas" here, just a smaller abstract "what if" scifi tale. The presentation format of the narrative was pretty gimmicky though. Not in a good way either. The perspective on mental health was pretty well written though. Smart, educated, logical people can totally make irrational decisions and go crazy too. So it's nice having that aspect in the narrative voices.
72 Letters
Yeah this was really good. Crazy alternate reality Victorian scifi. What I'm impressed by is how many varied ideas and concepts Chiang can compress into a short story. Much like Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate, there are multiple mini-stories weaved into the proper narrative. Each explores different ideas about this setting, and expands the scope of the story. It was really fun to see how he used the period setting to replicate contemporary scientific talking points like automated labor, genetic engineering, eugenics, and even religious perspective on science. This story alone can probably be a goldmine for a whole TV series, much like what Amazon is doing with Man in Hight Castle, and that was a much longer book!
Division by Zero
It's a cute story about the philosophy of mathematics as an analogy towards obsession, depression, and personal relationships... I guess. I dunno. It was alright. No real "big ideas" here, just a smaller abstract "what if" scifi tale. The presentation format of the narrative was pretty gimmicky though. Not in a good way either. The perspective on mental health was pretty well written though. Smart, educated, logical people can totally make irrational decisions and go crazy too. So it's nice having that aspect in the narrative voices.
72 Letters
Yeah this was really good. Crazy alternate reality Victorian scifi. What I'm impressed by is how many varied ideas and concepts Chiang can compress into a short story. Much like Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate, there are multiple mini-stories weaved into the proper narrative. Each explores different ideas about this setting, and expands the scope of the story. It was really fun to see how he used the period setting to replicate contemporary scientific talking points like automated labor, genetic engineering, eugenics, and even religious perspective on science. This story alone can probably be a goldmine for a whole TV series, much like what Amazon is doing with Man in Hight Castle, and that was a much longer book!
upboats
I couldn't have stopped after the third book even if I'd wanted to. I'm 60% through it anyway, I don't mind waiting though. I've started so many yet to be finished series already, one more doesn't matter.
Zelenogorsk
Banned
Just picked up Childhood's End and I'm already a third of the way through. Loving it! Feels like a Twilight Zone episode. I'm just waiting for The Overlords to handout a book called To Serve Man.
Also halfway through The Dead Zone. Great stuff and it's nice to get a slower and more contemplative work from King. I like how directionless Johnny Smith is.
I've also got the first Dresden Files book sitting on my desk but I probably won't get to that until Thursday. I'm trying to finish a bunch of short novels so I can build up a buffer and then get back to The Wise Man's Fear (which was a horrible book to start off the 50 movies/50 books a year challenge).
Also halfway through The Dead Zone. Great stuff and it's nice to get a slower and more contemplative work from King. I like how directionless Johnny Smith is.
I've also got the first Dresden Files book sitting on my desk but I probably won't get to that until Thursday. I'm trying to finish a bunch of short novels so I can build up a buffer and then get back to The Wise Man's Fear (which was a horrible book to start off the 50 movies/50 books a year challenge).
Damn straight!
sparky2112
Member
In terms of voice, I think the author pulled off a small miracle. But it's too long, and overrated (considering it won the Booker). I think there is at least one other Gaffer with the same opinion...
Might as well watch Children of Men, too.
Maklershed
Member
Maybe throw Parable of the Sower in there while you're at it.
Honestly if the fourth book was out when I finished the third, no way I could have resisted either!
I'm just worried he's going to spend the whole book in that prison
TissueBox
Member
Was kinda afraid of that, and considering its length and all I don't want to feel like it didn''t pay off. Who knows though.
I read it a while ago and found it kind of exhausting, but that may have been a result of my starting to burn out on reading capital L Literature around that time. I've been meaning to take another crack at it eventually.
I think after this I'm done with Chiang for a bit. Don't hate me Haly!
The Evolution of Human Science
Neat in a science journal editorial sort of way. I think Marvel TV and movies have ruined my brain's perception of the term "metahuman" though. All I could think of reading this was "wow so this is what it feels like to be stump in a post-Marvel world, RIP!"
Hell is the Absence of God
Damn this is probably the most Philip K Dick story I've read from Chiang out of all the lot. It has a lot in common with some of Dick's later short story works where he gets more and more obsessed with depicting the cynical side of religion as a reality. I think Chiang on a whole is less into the cynical/depressive angle and was exploring the "what if" of God as a reality and angels as natural disasters though. Cool stuff.
The Evolution of Human Science
Neat in a science journal editorial sort of way. I think Marvel TV and movies have ruined my brain's perception of the term "metahuman" though. All I could think of reading this was "wow so this is what it feels like to be stump in a post-Marvel world, RIP!"
Hell is the Absence of God
Damn this is probably the most Philip K Dick story I've read from Chiang out of all the lot. It has a lot in common with some of Dick's later short story works where he gets more and more obsessed with depicting the cynical side of religion as a reality. I think Chiang on a whole is less into the cynical/depressive angle and was exploring the "what if" of God as a reality and angels as natural disasters though. Cool stuff.
Servbot #42
Unconfirmed Member
I just got a couple of teeth pulled today so here is a strange request: recommend me any writing that involves teeth in anyway. Bonus points if the actual act of pulling is described. In king's The Stand there are teeth involved in a certain chapter, that is pretty much all i got.
getting you teeth taken out is like being mountain being exploited for rare minerals, i don't recommend it
Finished The Human Stain. Felt like it took forever, which is a good thing in this case. Something that I didn't mention in the link, Roth has an ability to fully realize a scene and a conversation. Five minutes in you feel like you've been reading for 20 because of how much of it you're absorbing.
I felt like all the ingredients were there. Novel setting, interesting set up with the mystery, good prose in that anachronistic style. It is too long, but apart from that I don't know why I didn't like it more. Not that I dislike it.
I felt like all the ingredients were there. Novel setting, interesting set up with the mystery, good prose in that anachronistic style. It is too long, but apart from that I don't know why I didn't like it more. Not that I dislike it.
Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman
Yeah, have to admit I was drawn to the title after seeing the articles on Sony purchasing the distribution rights to the already finished movie adaptation.
Heard about the infamous "peach" scene and found it utterly ridiculous outside the context, but even that couldn't put me off from enjoying the novel. The last chapter was just... phew. Perfect description of nostalgia, longing... Getting old physically, but feeling like you're still in that place 20 years ago like nothing has changed, while at the same time knowing everything's different.
Yeah, have to admit I was drawn to the title after seeing the articles on Sony purchasing the distribution rights to the already finished movie adaptation.
Heard about the infamous "peach" scene and found it utterly ridiculous outside the context, but even that couldn't put me off from enjoying the novel. The last chapter was just... phew. Perfect description of nostalgia, longing... Getting old physically, but feeling like you're still in that place 20 years ago like nothing has changed, while at the same time knowing everything's different.
I read it a few years ago, I enjoyed it a lot. The title story is the one I remember best, some of the imagery has really stayed with me. But there were a few pretty good stories and they were all just that bit odd, which was great. (Also I absolutely love the cover.)
This sounds like a novel I'll enjoy. I'll add it to the queue.
Grabbed it a couple week ago and I intend to read it sometime this year. Good to know the stories have a strange atmosphere since that's the vibe I got from it at first.
sparky2112
Member
It's not all that...good. It's still read because it's Dick.
about halfway through, this is becoming a slog. the section i've been in for the past couple hundred pages feels very dark-YA-adventure type thing, not feeling it at all. i will press on.
taking breaks by slowly reading this (in italian, yes i am proud of myself.)
which is a fine crime story set in Sicily.
Chiaroscuro
Member
I saw the german movie, pretty good.
Can anyone give me a recommendation? I'm feeling sort of dried up lately and I want something good to read.
Something weird and dark. Not like a normal guy in a weird situation kind of thing, just a weird book overall. I don't really need explanations, just mystery and strangeness.
Something weird and dark. Not like a normal guy in a weird situation kind of thing, just a weird book overall. I don't really need explanations, just mystery and strangeness.
about halfway through, this is becoming a slog. the section i've been in for the past couple hundred pages feels very dark-YA-adventure type thing, not feeling it at all. i will press on.
I'm intrigued by this but the size and some of the things I've read about it put me off. Such as
isn't there an extended period of time where the book is written in jibberish?
This from The Guardian's review has stuck with me, too:
"Jerusalem contains a great many inventive and instructive cosmologies. Let me offer my humbler own. Most cultures describe an aboriginal chaos, and into this plenitude intervenes a figure call it God, Demiurge, Artificer, Urizen who gives it form, distinction, coherence, elegance and even meaning. An equally good synonym might be Editor."
Bloodborne
Member
It's a pretty good read thus far.
Hey! If you haven't read it yet then "House of Leaves" is EXACTLY what you're asking for with the above.
If you've read that, then "Annihilation" by Jeff Vandermeer, first in a trilogy and they're all brilliant/mysterious/strange/dark/unnerving.
Funyarinpa
Member
The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Murakami.
ROOM by Emma Donoghue more for the "weird and dark" aspect.
Edit: House of Leaves really IS your best bet. It's exactly what you want
Awesome, thank you both! I actually got that book for Christmas, so I guess I'll pick it up tonight.
Chiaroscuro
Member
That is a pretty good jab.
Maklershed
Member
I've got your book right here. It's kinda like The Sisters Brothers set in a dark, Grimm's fairytale world:
The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart by Jesse Bullington
Chiaroscuro
Member
I read the book one week before seeing the movie, so it was fresh in my mind, which made me almost impossible to enjoy the movie.
I agree with your points, book and movie goes in opposite directions.
What the book lacks and movie has is conflict. While it wasn't need for the purpose of the story in the book, it is needed in such a movie. The tension and emminent conflict between the world's nations, the fear of the unknow of the general population, is very well represented in the movie.
However the conflict demands a resolution, and the way it unfolds is pretty much absurd and against the very core idea of the book. Knowing the future does not mean that you can influence the present, means just you have to fulfil it. You cannot act in present knowing about the future, cause and effect are still valid.
That was what I hated the most in the movie.
I guess that was why the fate if her daughter was changed for the movie too, from a simple accident that could have been avoided (but could not in the premisse of the book) to an incurable fatal illness (fate, in the movie).
And all science and language stuff were dumbed down for the audience, to the point the phisic guy does nothing in the story, becomes just her assistent.
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