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What are you reading? (July 2012)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
AlimNassor
Banned
Terrible, terrible novel. one of the worst scifi novels I've read in a long while. It's like if Harry Turtledoves World War series were set in the modern era but without interesting characters and a truly alien race, we get this. The Alien themselves are too much like the Race, but, lack the foreignness that made the Race so alien.
Read it and loved it. I also enjoyed the sequel. If you like Pillars of the Earth, I'd suggest The Cathedral of the Sea by Idelfonso Falcones. It's not as good, but it's still a great historical novel with some of the same themes.
Right now I'm between books. In the "guilty pleasure" category, I'll be reading A Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness when it comes out on Tuesday. After that I'll probably start something historical/more serious.
Not to wear out my welcome, but I was just reminded of one of my absolute favorite mystery novels, so I've gotta throw out one more: Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith, a 1981 novel about a long suffering Soviet detective who is attempting to solve the murders of three mutilated, anonymous bodies found in a Moscow amusement park. The Soviet angle is fascinating, our hero has the blackest sense of humor you can possibly imagine, and the twists and turns of the mystery are top notch. I can't recommend this one highly enough.
FnordChan
Yes and yes. I read it my freshman year of high school (I'm 18 now) and picked it up because while I identified as an atheist I didn't really have much reasoning behind by beliefs (or lack thereof). Hitchens just seemed so vitriolic and hateful towards religious people that I stopped reading the book halfway through, realizing that I didn't have the same amount of passion he did on the subject of religion. I'm not religious, but, unlike Hitchens, I don't care if other people are.
I'm not familiar with Neil deGrasse Tyson's opinions on the subject. Do you have a link?
Attackthebase
Member
Edit: I just saw your answer.
And yeah, my biggest issue for god is not Great is Hitchen's hatred towards other religions. It's either his way or the highway. I love the book, but I can understand someone's distaste for it.
Head of Vengarl
Banned
Here you go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzSMC5rWvos&sns=sms
I think you'll find yourself agreeing with his comments on the matter. A lot of atheists got really butthurt when that video came out, lol.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
As someone who is a little bit older, and was an atheist before that book came out, I thought Hitchins came off as an asshat when he talked about religion.
British Monsoon
Member
Finished The Long Earth;
It's pretty enjoyable for the most part - the premise is excellent and thought-provoking, and while the prose is of a generally high standard throughout, the pacing could be better. The story drags somewhat in the middle, and then ramps up in the final quarter to such a degree that it becomes obvious there won't be enough time to satisfactorily answer all the questions posed, in this book at least. Overall, with it's odd blend of hard science fiction and Pratchett absurdity, it's an easy recommendation for Pratchett & sci-fi fans alike.
And now, I'm starting up another pretty unique and atypical sci-fi novel; Grass by Sheri S. Tepper;
It's pretty enjoyable for the most part - the premise is excellent and thought-provoking, and while the prose is of a generally high standard throughout, the pacing could be better. The story drags somewhat in the middle, and then ramps up in the final quarter to such a degree that it becomes obvious there won't be enough time to satisfactorily answer all the questions posed, in this book at least. Overall, with it's odd blend of hard science fiction and Pratchett absurdity, it's an easy recommendation for Pratchett & sci-fi fans alike.
And now, I'm starting up another pretty unique and atypical sci-fi novel; Grass by Sheri S. Tepper;
SerArthurDayne
Member
I started Shadow/Claw but don't remember exactly how far I got or why I stopped. I'll give it another go. I have a bunch of unread Wolfe stuff just sitting around, mostly to do with the New Sun.
And I can understand why people like it, and why the book was a finalist for the National Book Award. It just wasn't what I wanted, and I'm not particularly familiar with the Bible so when he began refuting different passages, it didn't mean much to me. Have you read anything else by Hitchens? I do think he's a powerful and convincing author, and I keep meaning to explore his other works.
Thanks for the link!
I just went back and looked at some of the rave reviews the book received when it was published and was starting to feel like I was alone in my opinion. Nice to see I'm not the only one.
Curious as to what you mean by this.
I just finished this yesterday. It was a fun read but not too deep or anything. The pacing was pretty fast but some of the twists were a little ridiculous imo. I'll be starting up Shadow's Edge today.
I loved this trilogy. The Story gets proper epic by the end of thd third book. I'm looking forward to the 2nd book in his new trilogy.
I'm just starting out and the way it builds things up is just incredible. I think I'll read it right now
Finished The Long Earth;
It's pretty enjoyable for the most part - the premise is excellent and thought-provoking, and while the prose is of a generally high standard throughout, the pacing could be better. The story drags somewhat in the middle, and then ramps up in the final quarter to such a degree that it becomes obvious there won't be enough time to satisfactorily answer all the questions posed, in this book at least. Overall, with it's odd blend of hard science fiction and Pratchett absurdity, it's an easy recommendation for Pratchett & sci-fi fans alike.
I've been thinking about adding this to my list....love the premise of it. With your recommendation I think it's solidly on my list.
Late, but yeah, it's really worth it. It's an amazing series.
In other news, just started Murakami's Norwegian Wood.
JasonUresti
Member
Just be prepared that as soon as you finish the last book, you'll want/need to loop back around and read everything again. At that point, you should begin to understand what actually happened.
Wolfe is so good, but because he unashamedly writes fantasy, he gets ignored by the snobbish pop lit critics and fans.
K
kittens
Unconfirmed Member
Just started reading Dune for the first time. It's already awesome, and I'm only 40 pages in.
Lamel
Banned
After high school ended I really didn't read anything since college took a huge toll. however I have vowed to become well read once more, and have taken a liking to some classics.
Just finished Gulliver's Travels.
Really do recommend it. Such great story telling (though a bit heavy handed sometimes, complex vocabulary and writing style). The entire novel I was thinking "no way was this written in the 1700s". It is best read in bursts of 20 pages at a time. Great satire on the human condition.
Currently Reading The Hobbit (literally just started)
What other classics do you guys recommend?
I am currently looking forward to 1984, Picture of Dorian Gray, and Grapes of Wrath.
Just finished Gulliver's Travels.
Really do recommend it. Such great story telling (though a bit heavy handed sometimes, complex vocabulary and writing style). The entire novel I was thinking "no way was this written in the 1700s". It is best read in bursts of 20 pages at a time. Great satire on the human condition.
Currently Reading The Hobbit (literally just started)
What other classics do you guys recommend?
I am currently looking forward to 1984, Picture of Dorian Gray, and Grapes of Wrath.
I finished a few books recently: Reamde by Neal Stephenson, which was great fun. It got pretty silly towards the end, but the pace of the action just about held it together (exactly like Anathem, which was better imo). Also I finished Contact, by Carl Sagan. I was enjoying this right up till the last line, which refocused the meaning of the whole story and made me very much dislike it.
Currently I'm reading The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James. It's my first book by him, and I'm kind of enjoying it. With classics, I've determined to understand the meaning behind every single line no matter how long it takes, and there have been two toughies so far. One was a sarcastic chemistry metaphor, which kind of makes the whole thing worthwhile.
Also I'm on Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. It's very vague so far about how any of what's happened has any relevance to anything else, but it's entertaining enough.
Currently I'm reading The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James. It's my first book by him, and I'm kind of enjoying it. With classics, I've determined to understand the meaning behind every single line no matter how long it takes, and there have been two toughies so far. One was a sarcastic chemistry metaphor, which kind of makes the whole thing worthwhile.
Also I'm on Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. It's very vague so far about how any of what's happened has any relevance to anything else, but it's entertaining enough.
TheChewyWaffles
Member
Finally FINALLY finished A Feast For Crows - the second half of the book picks up significantly compared to the first, so I found myself actually getting through chunks of it. Now I'm about 10% into A Dance with Dragons and finding it a lot more enjoyable, maybe because the characters are a lot more interesting. If what GRRM said at the end of AFFC was true, I wish he would have just combined all of the characters into one book and cut it into two instead of focusing on Westeros in AFFC and the eastern lands in ADWD. Would have made it much easier to read it all chronologically.
brianjones
Member
i dont think im ready for infinite jest yet
this is pretty great so far.. love the story about the kid waiting to go off the high diving board at the pool.. so many great details that took me back
Maklershed
Member
Since I know we have a few Shadow of the Wind fans here I thought I'd let everyone know that a 'sequel' (sorta) is coming out this week ...
The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
NekoFever
Member
I finally finished the Lovecraft omnibus that I've been reading. Took me longer than usual because I found myself flagging slightly with The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, which I found overlong. I liked The Silver Key/Through the Gates of the Silver Key much more, even despite a lot of the tedious detail from Unknown Kadath, because they actually had a really good payoff at the end.
I plan to return to Lovecraft eventually, but I'm going to read some other stuff to stop myself burning out for now.
For my next book, I'm returning to a series that I stopped reading in 2006.
I've heard this is a good one and that I might be well-advised to stop the series after this one, so we'll see how I feel
I plan to return to Lovecraft eventually, but I'm going to read some other stuff to stop myself burning out for now.
For my next book, I'm returning to a series that I stopped reading in 2006.
I've heard this is a good one and that I might be well-advised to stop the series after this one, so we'll see how I feel
ClosingADoor
Member
Going to start on Earth Abides today. Looking forward to it.
No one is "ready" for Infinite Jest, just jump in and drown like the rest of us.
Just finished:
I adored this book. I guess I can see the hate for it, but the writing is so good, and I liked the characters, so...
I'm about half way through On the Road and must say that I am enjoying so far. I started OFOTCN a couple of months earlier but wasn't able to get through the first couple of chapters. Now that I'm on summer break I hope to finish it.
Does anyone have any recommendations for books similar to On the Road? I heard The Dharma Bums, but books by other authors would be appreciated.
brianjones
Member
i havent even read dostoyevsky or kafkaesque yet
Grady Durden
Member
Ditto!
I don't think either of those authors are needed to understand/prepare for Wallace, though. However, even after I read Broom of the System and Wallace's essays, I still had an incredibly tough time with Jest. I still haven't finished it...
Attackthebase
Member
I convinced one of my friends to give Game of Thrones a try. She really dislike the show adaption because she saw it as a "porno disguised as art." Even if she dislikes the book, she at least gave it a chance.
Yeah, The Book of the New Sun shouldn't really be thought of as four (eventually five) separate books; it's better to think of it as one large book split into four parts, with a fifth part that serves as a coda to the series.
The editions I have are split into two parts: Shadow & Claw and Sword & Citadel, so it's clearer that what you are reading is just one big book, sort of similar to the way that the divisions between the Lord of the Rings books aren't really "real" and it is essentially one large story.
Glad you're enjoying it!
Maklershed
Member
On the hard copy side of things I've finished Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman and started Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse
Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse by John Joseph Adams
Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse by John Joseph Adams
brianjones
Member
heh, maybe not .. i just feel like i need to build up some mileage
IJ looks like a marathon
I've heard this is a good one and that I might be well-advised to stop the series after this one, so we'll see how I feel
Don't let others decide for you whether you like something or not. I really liked Wolves of the Calla and I didn't think the folowing books were too bad either. I didn't love everything but I was very happy I finished it. If it's not working for you and you aren't enjoying it, just stop but don't let others cloud your experience.
NekoFever
Member
Oh, don't worry, I won't. If I enjoy this one as much as I liked bombing through 1-3 back in 2006 I'll at least give Wolves of the Calla a try.
This is what I did last year. It really feels great; I hope you're enjoying it as much as I did (and am).
Just finished Gulliver's Travels.
Really do recommend it. Such great story telling (though a bit heavy handed sometimes, complex vocabulary and writing style). The entire novel I was thinking "no way was this written in the 1700s". It is best read in bursts of 20 pages at a time. Great satire on the human condition.
And something I read for the first time last year! I agree with everything you said. It's very funny and disturbing at turns.
The Brobdingnagian section still makes me squick to this day.
Some favorites from last year (using the word "classic" a bit loosely): Don Quixote, Love in the Time of Cholera, Lolita, The Book of the New Sun, Musashi, The Left Hand of Darkness, If on a Winter's Night a Traveler, Pale Fire, The Complete Fairy Tales (George MacDonald), The Little Prince, Earthsea Cycle (#1 - 3), Song of Solomon, Invitation to a Beheading, The Once and Future King, and The Last Unicorn.
And, of course, The Count of Monte Cristo, which was actually a reread for the GAF Reads topic about it.
Crime and Punishment is very good; start there, or Notes from the Underground if you want something shorter. And I just finished The Castle, which was good, although a bit long in some places, but I suggest starting with The Metamorphosis. Great authors so enjoy. And good luck with IJ.
I actually think Brief Interviews is Wallace's most complex work, so if you manage to get through that you should be fine with IJ.
dream
Member
On the hard copy side of things I've finished Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman and started Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse
Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse by John Joseph Adams
How is it?
Leeroy3101
Banned
I'm over halfway done and I'm still not sure how to feel. I want to like this book but it just seems off to me. Maybe it's that I was expecting it to be dark but also optimistic? Everything is so cynical in the book.
It (American Gods) gets hate? I was always under the impression that it was a well recieved novel by readers and critics alike. Anyways I finished last week and I loved it through and through. The beginning was a bit slow but it really picked up halfway through and it was just nonstop fun from there imo. I had to stop and look up some of the mythological names on wikipedia along the way but I enjoyed that
Is Anansi Boys worth checking out?
At the moment I've started reading this and I can't believe it's taken me so long to actually do it.
Such a hilariously entertaining read! Wrapped up the first book in like a day and I'm halfway through The Restaurant at the End of the Universe now.
For later I plan on reading The Road, City of Thieves, Stranger in a Strange Land, The Grand Design, and Universe from Nothing. Oh and Song of Ice and Fire series at some point..
I haven't done much reading in a while, so I'm really happy to have all this free time in the summer to do it
Mackenzie 92
Member
A couple great stories, a couple of not so great and a couple of turds. Not a bad collection at all though. Adams' other collections are pretty good too.
I currently got 3 books started but none have hooked me.
Containment
The Forever War
Crime and Punishment (started this last night.)
ElectricBlue187
Member
don't give up on The Forever War, it gets really great after the training part
Hypno Funk
Member
Have already read "Prelude to Foundation" and "Forward the Foundation", now working on where the Foundation series began.
