What are you reading? (July 2011)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
Finished this this morning:
I've never read any Fables before because I was somehow under the impression the series was a bit twee. Animal Farm made me realize how wrong I was. I remember reading Willingham's old Elementals comic series back in the Eighties, which was pretty edgy for its time. Damn it! I should have been reading this years ago.
Still chugging through Stephen King's Under The Dome. Still enjoying it, but there was a bit of padding in there an editor should have chopped out. Even with the small busload of characters, I think this book going over a 1,000 pages is a bit much.
I've never read any Fables before because I was somehow under the impression the series was a bit twee. Animal Farm made me realize how wrong I was. I remember reading Willingham's old Elementals comic series back in the Eighties, which was pretty edgy for its time. Damn it! I should have been reading this years ago.
Still chugging through Stephen King's Under The Dome. Still enjoying it, but there was a bit of padding in there an editor should have chopped out. Even with the small busload of characters, I think this book going over a 1,000 pages is a bit much.
Finished up The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Christie. The ending got me! Even though I am all but certain I've seen the Masterpiece version.
Was visiting friends, and they urged me to read The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. And so lent the book to me while I traveled back across the country.
It was beautiful and touching. Odd, considering the subject. But I can't quite find the words to appropriately describe it other than that.
Picked up Dark Days Ahead, Systems of Survival and the Nature of Economies by Jane Jacobs, my favorite urban planner/sociologist. Also picked up The Protestant Work Ethic and the Nature of Capitalism by Max Weber. And finally grabbed Howl by Alan Ginsberg at City Light Books. My favorite part of the Bay Area is abundance of good books, especially those of a sociological nature, available and in print, even. No idea what of those will find its way into my hands next.
Was visiting friends, and they urged me to read The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. And so lent the book to me while I traveled back across the country.
It was beautiful and touching. Odd, considering the subject. But I can't quite find the words to appropriately describe it other than that.
Picked up Dark Days Ahead, Systems of Survival and the Nature of Economies by Jane Jacobs, my favorite urban planner/sociologist. Also picked up The Protestant Work Ethic and the Nature of Capitalism by Max Weber. And finally grabbed Howl by Alan Ginsberg at City Light Books. My favorite part of the Bay Area is abundance of good books, especially those of a sociological nature, available and in print, even. No idea what of those will find its way into my hands next.
I need some book suggestions gonna try my best to explain for what I'm looking for; a book about being alone yet hansom, sorta something like Morrissey lyrics in book form. This sounds like the most pretentious request but I need something I can relate to right now. Only book that comes to mind is Catcher and The Rye. Fitzgerald comes close to this too in some of his books.
I do really love Isaac Asimov's tales.
Isaac Asimov: Complete Stories I
Isaac Asimov: I, robot. (It does not have any connection with the movie, just a few names...)
Isaac Asimov: Foundation
I already finished the last two books and in the next two days I'll finish the first one.
Isaac Asimov: Complete Stories I
Isaac Asimov: I, robot. (It does not have any connection with the movie, just a few names...)
Isaac Asimov: Foundation
I already finished the last two books and in the next two days I'll finish the first one.
Finished Toni Morrison's "Jazz" last night. Beautiful, wise book.
About to start "Soft City" by Pushwagner. A graphic novel almost without words, so it should only take an hour or two.
Pushwagner is a Norwegian artist. 71 years old, very eccentric. He spent large parts of his life as a homeless drug addict, but his art suddenly became incredibly popular again in the early 2000s, and he has become a rich celebrity. A real from rags to riches story. "Soft City" is his only "book". The manuscript was lost in the 60s, but was found again in 2002 in an old trunk in an attic, and was released for the first time in 2008. I love his drawings. Super-detailed, but in a childish style.
Here's a spread from the book:
About to start "Soft City" by Pushwagner. A graphic novel almost without words, so it should only take an hour or two.
Pushwagner is a Norwegian artist. 71 years old, very eccentric. He spent large parts of his life as a homeless drug addict, but his art suddenly became incredibly popular again in the early 2000s, and he has become a rich celebrity. A real from rags to riches story. "Soft City" is his only "book". The manuscript was lost in the 60s, but was found again in 2002 in an old trunk in an attic, and was released for the first time in 2008. I love his drawings. Super-detailed, but in a childish style.
Here's a spread from the book:
Musha_Soturi
Member
currently halfway through this
Enjoying the story but I'm not keen on the style of writing.
Don't know why I've not gotten into the SW books before, but now I have a mission to obtain and read them all...
Enjoying the story but I'm not keen on the style of writing.
Don't know why I've not gotten into the SW books before, but now I have a mission to obtain and read them all...
That was a quick read. Finished Soft City while eating lunch. It's basically one day in the life of a couple living in Soft City, a 1984-esque dystopia where individuality is conquered once and for all. Wake up, eat a Soft Pill, drive in a nightmarish congestion to work at Soft Inc., shop Soft Meat at Soft Supermarket, then watch Soft TV, eat another Soft Pill and go to bed. Strange and mesmerizing.
Next up: Against the Day by Thomas Pynchon. I've had this gigantic book in my bookshelf since the day before the Wii was released. Time to read it now. Has anyone here done it? Will probably take me two months or so... it's quite daunting.
Next up: Against the Day by Thomas Pynchon. I've had this gigantic book in my bookshelf since the day before the Wii was released. Time to read it now. Has anyone here done it? Will probably take me two months or so... it's quite daunting.
elrechazado
Banned
Just finished fall of hyperion by Dan Simmons. Sooooooooooooooooooooooo good.
MaizeRage25
Member
Of course.
I'm finally reading A Game of Thrones after being floored by the television series on HBO.
Even though I've seen pretty much all of the first book, I'm really enjoying it and can't wait to get to the rest of them.
I'm trying not to get too attached to any characters because I have the feeling this is going to be a heartbreaker of a series.
Even though I've seen pretty much all of the first book, I'm really enjoying it and can't wait to get to the rest of them.
I'm trying not to get too attached to any characters because I have the feeling this is going to be a heartbreaker of a series.
JoJoShabadoo
Member
I'm about 60% done. I was liking it at first but now it's getting tedious.
Granger Danger
Member
Yeah, good luck with that.FoeHammer said:
Cringe Humor
Banned
Reading: The Stand (Stephen King. I love the premise, but the story needs to start picking up already.)
Re-reading: Fight Club (One of my all-time favorites. Minimalism is the most powerful form of writing).
Re-reading: Fight Club (One of my all-time favorites. Minimalism is the most powerful form of writing).
I'm reading and enjoying Dune.
I need some Sci-fi recommendations gaf, I'm not a huge Sci-fi guy but I've read and loved the following:
Foundation series (loved is putting it lightly)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Behold the Man
I Am Legend
The Illustrated Man
Any recommendations in line with those would be good. I'm going to read most of Asimov's and Philip K Dick's stuff, so they don't need to be recommended.
I need some Sci-fi recommendations gaf, I'm not a huge Sci-fi guy but I've read and loved the following:
Foundation series (loved is putting it lightly)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Behold the Man
I Am Legend
The Illustrated Man
Any recommendations in line with those would be good. I'm going to read most of Asimov's and Philip K Dick's stuff, so they don't need to be recommended.
speculawyer
Member
Cringe Humor said:
I loved The Stand but it takes forever to get going.
alex chilton said:Daamn, there is a lot of George RR Martin up in here. Damn my library for not having sufficient copies of ASoFI to loan!
Anways read this
and loved it, unfortunately this is the sole Portis book at my library and my appetite for more Portis needed to be sated.
Portis is a great author, one of the best Americans currently living. Unfortunately his output is lacking in quantity (only 5 books) but everything is great. I actually found Gringos to be his weakest work, with Dog of the South unequivocally his best. Try to hunt down a copy if you can.
Edit: Before he was a novelist he was a long-time newspaper man. I have a lot of respect for that profession, particularly the old died-in-the-wool breed which we are seeing disappear along with the printed page. There's a great interview with him here if you want to read it:
http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~wvest/portis/genArk.pdf
Dutch Mafia
Neo Member
"The Fault In Our Stars"
thomaser said:
I scaled that glorious beast! It's kind of cobbled together from various unfinished works (or at least that what some critics have said and I agree with them), but it didn't really hurt it in my opinion. Just strap yourself in, enjoy the Pynchonian wackiness and rambling plot, and you should be fine. Chums of Chance, HO!
Help Me! said:
I'm 50 pages in, and it's going spiffingly so far! It seems to have a lighter tone than his other books, and those are full of puns and wackiness as it is. I love how Pynchon never restricts himself - anything can happen at any time, no matter how farfetched it is. Talking dogs, time travel, spontaneous sing-alongs,
invisible mechanical super-hens
Read this novella one night last week. Nice little story.
Just started this after having finished the first a a few weeks ago. When I first encountered the series I passed it off as a Battle Royale ripoff, but after giving it a shot, I fell in love. By focusing more on heart and less on gore, I feel that Collins has crafted a work that well exceeds its inspiration. Has there ever been a statement by Collins herself on the similarity between Battle Royale and the Hunger Games?
My on-the-side fluff reading, though, admittedly, this is more my speed of fantasy than the so deeply involved Song of Fire and Ice series.
thomaser said:
Yup, that's the "just go with it" factor. It all starts to make sense eventually.
Have you read Mason & Dixon? Not to add another 800 page Pynchon book to your list, but that one is... I don't think I can put it into words.
Enjoy your first read of AtD!
Gilgamesh said:
My on-the-side fluff reading, though, admittedly, this is more my speed of fantasy than the so deeply involved Song of Fire and Ice series.
I just finished that, as well. I last read it in HS...it hasn't aged well. Some of Salvatore's stylistic tics are awful.
Help Me! said:Yup, that's the "just go with it" factor. It all starts to make sense eventually.
Have you read Mason & Dixon? Not to add another 800 page Pynchon book to your list, but that one is... I don't think I can put it into words.
Enjoy your first read of AtD!
Thanks! I've read all of them except AtD and Inherent Vice. Mason & Dixon was the last one, early last year, and probably my favourite. It's just brilliant - several parts left me in awe. These books need to be read again later, though... V and Gravity's Rainbow flew right over my head the first time.
thomaser said:
Awe; perfect word.
I have read GR fully three times and certain parts of it 6-8 times...I'm just now beginning to get a handle on it. IV is very good, as well. Really, really breezy, if you know what I mean.
Pynchon's my favorite author by a country mile, obviously.
Maklershed
Member
Read them both 
Those are both great books though.
Those are both great books though.
cmonmanreally
Member
Finished reading this about a week ago. Probably my favorite so far this summer.
DrForester
Kills Photobucket
Finally reading through the Spice and Wolf novels that have been sitting on on the shelf for a while. Good stuff, just as good as the anime which I loved. Novels flesh out a bit more dialogue between the two characters, which was by far the highlight of the anime.
Basic story outline for the curious.
It is set in a pre-industrial era, in European like atmosphere. Lawrence is a traveling merchant who, after obtaining a cart of wheat from a small village, finds a naked girl in the back with the ears and tail of a wolf. She introduces herself as Holo, the harvest deity of the the village. She has grown tired of her duties and wishes to return to her homeland in the North. Lawrence reluctantly agrees, and find Holo to be a very shrewd business partner. The two begin their journey, traveling from town to town earning profit and learning about each other.
Unlike the standard animu fare that some may fear, this show avoids the usual trappings. It's not laden with fanservice, even when Holo first appears naked, Lawrence doesn't break down into the usual blob you'd expect from an anime guy. The series is usually a two person play, with the dialogue between Holo and Lawrence driving the story. The smart dialogue takes what would otherwise be something very generic and does something special. The action is minimal, and the plots really do revolve around economics and trade. Somehow it makes everything work.
Basic story outline for the curious.
It is set in a pre-industrial era, in European like atmosphere. Lawrence is a traveling merchant who, after obtaining a cart of wheat from a small village, finds a naked girl in the back with the ears and tail of a wolf. She introduces herself as Holo, the harvest deity of the the village. She has grown tired of her duties and wishes to return to her homeland in the North. Lawrence reluctantly agrees, and find Holo to be a very shrewd business partner. The two begin their journey, traveling from town to town earning profit and learning about each other.
Unlike the standard animu fare that some may fear, this show avoids the usual trappings. It's not laden with fanservice, even when Holo first appears naked, Lawrence doesn't break down into the usual blob you'd expect from an anime guy. The series is usually a two person play, with the dialogue between Holo and Lawrence driving the story. The smart dialogue takes what would otherwise be something very generic and does something special. The action is minimal, and the plots really do revolve around economics and trade. Somehow it makes everything work.
elrechazado
Banned
Just read Endymion, and halfway through Rise of Endymion. So good, can't believe I missed this series for so many years.
Jack Scofield
Member
Just last night I purchased Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (fantastic novel, but my original copy was so incredibly beat up I needed another) and a collection of Vonnegut stories. Probably gonna start with Vonnegut since I've already read Perfume numerous times, but I'm not sure which story I should read first. Maybe I'll just go in order.
The Take Out Bandit
Member
Man, Robert E. Howard's life and death can be super depressing. In just 30 years he managed to create some of the most enduring characters of our time.
Trying to decide what to read next.
Might move on to Blood Oath. Not a fan of goth wank fiction, but am a total mark for action horror stuff. :3
mrkapawutzis
Member
I just finished Child 44, it was such a good book. I didn't even mind the plot twist. I especially liked how the story kept the main characters feet to the fire and never let up.
Started this one. Never saw the series and so far it's a good read. Some interesting discussions on time travel theory
Started this one. Never saw the series and so far it's a good read. Some interesting discussions on time travel theory
Cringe Humor
Banned
MotorbreathX said:
I hate the fact that I'm becoming a literary snob, but I simply couldn't keep going with The Stand. The writing style of popular fiction authors makes me fucking cringe. And a post-apocalyptic novel is supposed to be dark and gritty, and for whatever reason, King's writing was not delivering that.
So, currently reading: Blood Meridian
Cormac McCarthy is an author's author. His style is absurdly good. I love strong, minimalist writing.