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What are you reading? (July 2012)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
Maklershed
Member
Only read two stories so far - one was by Stephen King and the other by Orson Scott Card. They were both meh.
I just read Containment last week. Starts out very slow but then gets awesome and then ends too abruptly. Pacing was all off on what could've been a great book.
Charles de Gaulle's memories of war part 1. He was a French General who fought against the Nazi during the WW2 whereas the Vichy government took the power in France. He was forced to exile himself in UK because of the death verdict pronounced against him by Pétain ( Vichy dictator ). An exceptionnal figure of courage in time of crisis and one of my greatest exemple.
Attackthebase
Member
Just completed:
Going to read the first three volumes of Preacher.
At least until this little bugger arrives from Amazon:
Going to read the first three volumes of Preacher.
At least until this little bugger arrives from Amazon:
Such an interesting and different little memoir with some great life lessons here and there. For some reason I just love reading Murakami's everyday thoughts.
Let me know what you think of it. He is one of my favorite top 5 writers. Because Norwegian Wood and Kafka on the Shore I just love, those books are in my top 3 favorite books together with 1984 from Orwell.
TheChewyWaffles
Member
I'm about 530 pages into it.
Oh shit son you are about to read one of the greatest chapters in the entire series. I'm practically giddy for you.
eattomorro
Neo Member
So far it's really really enjoyable.
Finished:
The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
and
Legion by Brandon Sanderson
Both were very good. Now back to my re-read of Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan.
The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
and
Legion by Brandon Sanderson
Both were very good. Now back to my re-read of Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan.
In my opinion, 95% of Infinite Jest is easier to read than the stories in that book.
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
I've read a couple of things so far this summer:
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami - I really enjoyed reading this even though I thought that the third book was not as good as the first two. Still, I think the ending is my favorite out of all of the Murakami novels I've read so far.
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson - While I found the biography really interesting, I thought that some things about Jobs were repeated way too often (like his anger or his design philosophy). I kind of had to force myself to finish this since it felt like I was reading the same things over again.
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - Really eerie and really creepy. It was the first time I read anything by Kafka outside of short stories and I really liked it.
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami - I really enjoyed reading this even though I thought that the third book was not as good as the first two. Still, I think the ending is my favorite out of all of the Murakami novels I've read so far.
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson - While I found the biography really interesting, I thought that some things about Jobs were repeated way too often (like his anger or his design philosophy). I kind of had to force myself to finish this since it felt like I was reading the same things over again.
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - Really eerie and really creepy. It was the first time I read anything by Kafka outside of short stories and I really liked it.
brianjones
Member
"the depressed person" was an exhausting read.. does it get more difficult than that? (brief interviews)
i should just finish it and shut up.. nm
It's on my to read pile. Kay has always gotten high praise, that I've seen but I've never gotten around to reading him.
alex chilton
Member
Holes by Louis Sachar
A children's book without doubt, but wonderfully executed. Sachar nails the structure, and while the turns are obvious in advance to the adult reader, I expect they'd have been impressive and fun as a kid. I wouldn't hesitate to read this to my imaginary children.
I read this in another language as a way to study, and its awesome! I only knew it from the trailer for the movie, and I figured it was just some dumb kids book. But then I found out was written by the same guy who did the Wayside Stories books.
I just finished Cat's Cradle. I read Breakfast of Champions in high school and it made no sense to me then. But Cat's Cradle is so good, it manages to be so funny and so sad at the same time. I'm gonna reread Breakfast of Champions now.
It's good.
Yes. Just wait until you get to Church Not Made With Hands
Amazing work though. Octet was mindblowing when I read it and the final Brief Interview is incredibly powerful.
sparky2112
Member
Actually, I think 'The Depressed Person' is much more representative of Wallace overall than anything else in the book, except for maybe 'Forever Overhead'. If you didn't like 'Depressed', I'm not really sure Wallace's fiction will appeal to you. His nonfiction is something else entirely.
For the record, I LOVE Wallace and could do without 90% of 'Brief Interviews'. I'm not alone among Wallace fans in that opinion, either. Although John K (Jim from the American version of 'The Office) adapted and directed a movie of 'Brief Interviews', which I've still not seen...
sparky2112
Member
Yes. Just wait until you get to Church Not Made With Hands
Amazing work though. Octet was mindblowing when I read it and the final Brief Interview is incredibly powerful.
Well, and poop. You have just reminded me that, years back, I never even bothered to *finish* Brief Interviews. My very, very bad. Off to the bookshelf...
nakedsushi
Member
Shadow Kin by M.J. Scott
Finished this in 2 days. A fun little paranormal romp. Some of the characters were acting so stupid about the plot in the end, but it worked out.
Shadow Kin by M.J. Scott
Finished this in 2 days. A fun little paranormal romp. Some of the characters were acting so stupid about the plot in the end, but it worked out.
that cover O___O
It's pretty good YA fiction, though predictable. I liked it.
Mackenzie 92
Member
Awesome Animals
Member
Also added this to my current reading because I discovered that the iBooks catalog varies from the Kindle catalog. I've wanted to read this forever but I try not to buy physical books anymore.
nakedsushi
Member
Yeah. When I first saw it, I was like "Oh geeze another generic paranormal bad-ass chick." In a way, it's true, but in another way, it's a fairly accurate representation of the character. Although, I would have liked to see her in "shadow mode" more. Could be worse.
HiroProtagonist
Member
It's very good, and so is his Fionavar Tapestry trilogy.
Can anyone suggest a book(s) similar to 'The Cuckoo's Egg' by Clifford Stoll? I've read: Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution, Ghost in the Wires, The Fugitive Game, and The Watchman. Fiction or non-fiction, it doesn't matter.
Holes by Louis Sachar
A children's book without doubt, but wonderfully executed. Sachar nails the structure, and while the turns are obvious in advance to the adult reader, I expect they'd have been impressive and fun as a kid. I wouldn't hesitate to read this to my imaginary children.
This book is so good, it makes me feel all fuzzy inside.
Mastodonkey
Banned
Have already read "Prelude to Foundation" and "Forward the Foundation", now working on where the Foundation series began.
Reading this as well.. I've never read anything in the series so far it's amazing.
Mackenzie 92
Member
Halting State kinda fits that category. Cool book either way though, so I'd recommend it.
Salvor.Hardin
Banned
Have already read "Prelude to Foundation" and "Forward the Foundation", now working on where the Foundation series began.
You poor bastard. Who told you to read Prelude and Forward before the actual Trilogy?
I have finished Emma. It was on a list of short classic novels. Lies. It is not 210 pages, it is closer to 375.
And as I am feeling so very guilty at having counted a short art book last week, as one part of my fifty Books to read challenge this year, I have decided to start Foucault's Pendulum, a six hundred page monster. That should account to two 300 page novels. At least where word count is concerned.
On Emma, it was great to see Austen the writer at work, and see how things clicked into place. From the paragraph level to the overarching plot. I forgive her for 'telling' so much, which I think is her way of offering a running commentary on her characters and offers a great insight. It goes to show, there are no set rules or ones that can't be broken. I don't think others can do it as well as Austen, and should stick to the more general advice: show.
And as I am feeling so very guilty at having counted a short art book last week, as one part of my fifty Books to read challenge this year, I have decided to start Foucault's Pendulum, a six hundred page monster. That should account to two 300 page novels. At least where word count is concerned.
On Emma, it was great to see Austen the writer at work, and see how things clicked into place. From the paragraph level to the overarching plot. I forgive her for 'telling' so much, which I think is her way of offering a running commentary on her characters and offers a great insight. It goes to show, there are no set rules or ones that can't be broken. I don't think others can do it as well as Austen, and should stick to the more general advice: show.
Finished
Underground by Haruki Murakami - Wonderful and depressing read, the second part was probably the most interesting as it put the whole book into a entirely new context that was fascinating to say the least.
Now Reading
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole - 76-pages in, and I'm blown away by what I'm experiencing so far. Really excited to read the rest of this.;o
Underground by Haruki Murakami - Wonderful and depressing read, the second part was probably the most interesting as it put the whole book into a entirely new context that was fascinating to say the least.
Now Reading
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole - 76-pages in, and I'm blown away by what I'm experiencing so far. Really excited to read the rest of this.;o
HiroProtagonist
Member
The kindle edition was only 8 bucks. I'll start it tonight. Thanks.
Hey reading-gaf, I need some help!
I'm looking for a book about the Inca Empire during the 15th and 16th centuries.
The beginning, how the empire was built - how did it become an empire.
The fall, what happened when the Spanish came.
I've searched the web for a while but this is really not my field, so I was wondering if anyone out there could help me find a book with good status about this subject.
I'm looking for a book about the Inca Empire during the 15th and 16th centuries.
The beginning, how the empire was built - how did it become an empire.
The fall, what happened when the Spanish came.
I've searched the web for a while but this is really not my field, so I was wondering if anyone out there could help me find a book with good status about this subject.
evil solrac v3.0
Member
just Started Reamde by Neal Stephenson.
TheChewyWaffles
Member
I found Prelude infinitely more readable than "Foundation" - are you saying Foundation is better or worse than Prelude?
fake edit: OH HELL YES - these books are finally available on Kindle!
real edit: I read Prelude in high school many years ago, so perhaps it might read differently now that I'm an adult.
ACoD is one of my favorite novels that I've read in a long time. Great book, sad what happened to Toole.
sparky2112
Member
Well, maybe what happened to / what Toole did is part of why ACoD is what it is. Art is much better when it's coupled with the death of the artist. Just sayin'. But, yes, it's a very good book.
devilinanewdress
Banned
Patti Smith's novel Just Kids (adorable and painfully honest) and A Song of Ice & Fire: a Game of Thrones (so late to the party but now the show's off air what can you do).
Well, maybe what happened to / what Toole did is part of why ACoD is what it is. Art is much better when it's coupled with the death of the artist. Just sayin'. But, yes, it's a very good book.
Well, I didn't know he was even dead until a while after I finished the book, so I enjoyed it entirely on its own merits.
Let me know what you think, I got about 20% into it and went on to something else.
Kyleripman
Member
Reading a collection of William Hope Hodgson stories right now. Seafaring horror, subtly supernatural. Really cool!
