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What are you reading? (June 2013)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
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Let me know what you think, I enjoy this kind of literature sometimes.
I recently wrapped up The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also went ahead and snagged a copy of Black House, which I look forward to putting into the rotation in the near future.
I've also been slowly reading all of the Sherlock Holmes stories and novels, having picked up a chunky two-paperback complete collection a couple of years back. (Yes, I confess to watching the first Sherlock series and belatedly deciding it was time to read the Holmes canon.) I finally finished The Return of Sherlock Holmes and look forward to starting up Hound of the Baskervilles a bit later this year.
Earlier this year I read a New York Times article about Gerard de Villiers, discussing his long running series about the aristocratic spy Malko. I love spy novels and have a terrible weakness for men's adventure fiction, so I tracked down Malko: West of Jerusalem (1967), which was published in English in the early 70s in a short lived (14 book) attempt to introduce Malko to readers of The Destroyer and The Executioner. It provided exactly want I wanted: lurid adventure, an incredibly smooth hero, and a reflection of the politics of the day. This isn't to say that West of Jerusalem was a particularly good novel, but it certainly made for a fun, fast read. Also, you have to appreciate any book with a psychedelic costume party sequence.
Currently I'm reading The Deed of Paksennarion trilogy by Elizabeth Moon, which was highly recommended by a pal of mine who's an avid fan of the series. I've finished the first novel, Sheepherder's Daughter, wherein our young heroine Paks leaves home, joins a mercenary company, and becomes a seasoned soldier over the course of several campaigns. Moon has a military background which makes for an interesting take on the bildungsroman formula and I like the way she's created a Tolkienesque high-fantasy world but presents it in a very down to earth manner. I happily went straight into the second novel, Divided Allegiance, wherein our heroine leaves the military and sets out on her own, which has made for a nice change of pace while also illustrating the perils of solo adventuring. So far, I'd certainly recommend this to anyone looking for a good epic fantasy series to read.
FnordChan
I've also been slowly reading all of the Sherlock Holmes stories and novels, having picked up a chunky two-paperback complete collection a couple of years back. (Yes, I confess to watching the first Sherlock series and belatedly deciding it was time to read the Holmes canon.) I finally finished The Return of Sherlock Holmes and look forward to starting up Hound of the Baskervilles a bit later this year.
Earlier this year I read a New York Times article about Gerard de Villiers, discussing his long running series about the aristocratic spy Malko. I love spy novels and have a terrible weakness for men's adventure fiction, so I tracked down Malko: West of Jerusalem (1967), which was published in English in the early 70s in a short lived (14 book) attempt to introduce Malko to readers of The Destroyer and The Executioner. It provided exactly want I wanted: lurid adventure, an incredibly smooth hero, and a reflection of the politics of the day. This isn't to say that West of Jerusalem was a particularly good novel, but it certainly made for a fun, fast read. Also, you have to appreciate any book with a psychedelic costume party sequence.
Currently I'm reading The Deed of Paksennarion trilogy by Elizabeth Moon, which was highly recommended by a pal of mine who's an avid fan of the series. I've finished the first novel, Sheepherder's Daughter, wherein our young heroine Paks leaves home, joins a mercenary company, and becomes a seasoned soldier over the course of several campaigns. Moon has a military background which makes for an interesting take on the bildungsroman formula and I like the way she's created a Tolkienesque high-fantasy world but presents it in a very down to earth manner. I happily went straight into the second novel, Divided Allegiance, wherein our heroine leaves the military and sets out on her own, which has made for a nice change of pace while also illustrating the perils of solo adventuring. So far, I'd certainly recommend this to anyone looking for a good epic fantasy series to read.
FnordChan
There is something really endearing about bad books, I find. I'm gonna track that one down.
Read the first two volumes of Sailor Moon. This is my first real exposure to Sailor Moon. I might have caught an episode or something at some point my life, but I don't remember it. They're cute and silly.
I read this a few days ago. I much prefer this to Kawabata's Snow Country; I think maybe that I prefer his spare prose in this non-fiction(ish), first-person account of Otake (Kitani) and Honinbo Shusai's seminal match. I'm not really sure, though. Or maybe I just found the subject more interesting.
I also started reading these. Ovid's Metamorphoses is a-m-a-z-i-n-g. If you've never tried reading long-form poetry and have the slightest interest in Greek mythology, go and get it immediately. Now. It is translated (mercifully) in blank verse, which really helps me with the issue I always have with poetry: The rhythm of my reading follows the lines too closely, so I end up getting the flow of the words but missing the meaning of what I'm reading. I do more automatic rereading of poetry than any other form of writing, but I find that with this I have more automaticity.
The third volume of The Story of the Stone is simply a continuation of the previous volume (the volume breaks are really irrelevant; it is just one gigantic book). It has been fantastic so far, and has gotten me reading about other family sagas to see if there's anything else in the genre I might like. There are so many fantastic characters, the setting is so immersive, the writing is actually good (Sadly, I have come to be surprised when I read a translation of a Chinese work and even find the prose passable), the characters are complex and well-rounded (both male and female characters) with real personalities and fantastic characterization. I absolutely love it so far, and the only thing I don't like is the fact that at 2500 pages long it will be rather difficult to get other people to take the plunge. When I finish, I would like to read Rereading the Stone... unfortunately my library does not have it and it is expensive. Sigh. The sacrifices I have to make.
I also read 50 pages of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde. I'm not really finding it very interesting, though
dream
Member
Mumei, I studied Story of the Stone when I was doing Comp Lit, and yeah - Yu's book is awesome. But I remember using another (and cheaper) piece of scholarship that you might be interested in. Lemme see if I can find the name of it...
edit: got it. Jing Wang's The Story of Stone: Intertextuality, Ancient Chinese Stone Lore, and the Stone Symbolism in Dream of the Red Chamber, Water Margin, and The Journey to the West.
edit: got it. Jing Wang's The Story of Stone: Intertextuality, Ancient Chinese Stone Lore, and the Stone Symbolism in Dream of the Red Chamber, Water Margin, and The Journey to the West.
Finished Abaddon's Gate this morning. Gave it 5 stars and certainly capped off a sci-fi trilogy I really loved. I assumed it was indeed the end, but after finishing I see folks had mentioned more books were coming, so now I'm excited for what comes next in this series! Woo.
Now to decide what's next.This is on sale at Amazon for a dollar, and sounds pretty interesting, so maybe this is next. edit: Yeah, reading this next, the review quotes make it seem really great. I know 'Wool' gets a lot of love here.. ""So great, I wish I'd come up with it myself..." - HUGH HOWEY, author of Wool (praise for Atopia series)"
Now to decide what's next.This is on sale at Amazon for a dollar, and sounds pretty interesting, so maybe this is next. edit: Yeah, reading this next, the review quotes make it seem really great. I know 'Wool' gets a lot of love here.. ""So great, I wish I'd come up with it myself..." - HUGH HOWEY, author of Wool (praise for Atopia series)"
Maklershed
Member
Shane did you ever find a summary for the past books? I could use one before I delve too much deeper into Caliban.
Finished Abaddon's Gate this morning. Gave it 5 stars and certainly capped off a sci-fi trilogy I really loved. I assumed it was indeed the end, but after finishing I see folks had mentioned more books were coming, so now I'm excited for what comes next in this series! Woo.
Now to decide what's next.This is on sale at Amazon for a dollar, and sounds pretty interesting, so maybe this is next. edit: Yeah, reading this next, the review quotes make it seem really great. I know 'Wool' gets a lot of love here.. ""So great, I wish I'd come up with it myself..." - HUGH HOWEY, author of Wool (praise for Atopia series)"
I'm reading that right now, and it's pretty good. It's an 'end of the world' type of novel, where things are fine then suddenly all goes to shit. It's pretty realistic in how it handles that scenario.
Maklershed
Member
Finished Abaddon's Gate this morning. Gave it 5 stars and certainly capped off a sci-fi trilogy I really loved. I assumed it was indeed the end, but after finishing I see folks had mentioned more books were coming, so now I'm excited for what comes next in this series! Woo.
Now to decide what's next.This is on sale at Amazon for a dollar, and sounds pretty interesting, so maybe this is next. edit: Yeah, reading this next, the review quotes make it seem really great. I know 'Wool' gets a lot of love here.. ""So great, I wish I'd come up with it myself..." - HUGH HOWEY, author of Wool (praise for Atopia series)"
Hmm sounds interesting. Good reviews. Only $1. Purchased!
About 20 pages in and I have no clue what's going on. Should I push on or read Vineland, which I also have, first?
READ THIS BOOK! In my opinion, the best book ever written. You will not understand everything the first time, so just go with the flow. I have read GR three times, and have read some sections six-eight times, and I still am at a loss in certain parts. Vineland is easier, but maybe the best place to start is Lot 49.
Thanks!
Is it a problem if I haven't read The Journey to the West or Water Margin? The only one of the Four I have finished is the one that isn't mentioned in the title!
Thanks for the positive feedback! I'll dive right into it tonight.
Based on your interest in gender, you might like this book
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0824824687/?tag=neogaf0e-20
I haven't read it so I can't vouch for it. Hopefully her feminist approach is something more interesting than placing 21st century values on an 18th century text and culture, but actually discuses gender and identity
But man, youre burning through that book! Glad you like it
Oh, and that rereading book is only 20 bucks including shipping if you get the cheapest used copy. Thats not too bad
Dan Brown has always been a "wait on the reviews" author for me. I'm glad I take that approach because Amazon reviews typically go with your opinion of the book. I'll probably wait for the movie on this one. They'll try to make an entertaining two hours out of it.
Oh! Speaking of China and sex, I want to read this book. That book is about modern Chinese culture, though!
And that does sound interesting. At first the two star review gave me pause, but... then I actually looked at it. Haha.
Mackenzie 92
Member
Bought that Cyber Storm book and it recommended this to me for also a buck. Started it and it's pretty cool.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YP1GXM/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Monsters by Peter Cawdron
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YP1GXM/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Monsters by Peter Cawdron
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0231114079/?tag=neogaf0e-20
This book actually looks more interesting to me.
I think the bolded bit goes to the heart of the novel, and the other themes she deals with sound interesting as well. Plus, you can get it used for 3 bucks!
Dandy Crocodile
Member
I read the first book of The Wheel of Time series probably 9 years ago.
I've forgotten almost all of it but have been wanting to reread it lately so I got the first three books on the cheap in a boxed set.
I have begun The Eye of the World.
I've forgotten almost all of it but have been wanting to reread it lately so I got the first three books on the cheap in a boxed set.
I have begun The Eye of the World.
Mackenzie 92
Member
reading talking it over by julian barnes. not really feeling it. it's basically a love triangle narrated in turn by the three participants, with a rashomon esque different intepretations of similar events. i find the oliver sections pretty witty and barnes is clearly having a lot of fun writing in the language of a ridiculous pesudo-intellectual. yet the story is yet to grip me, seems really one dimensional compared to the other barnes i read - the sense of an ending. hopefully it picks up in the second half.
dream
Member
Nah, I don't think it will be a problem. Some of the explication focuses on textual particulars, but I think the book itself is universal enough for you to easily grasp without having read those texts.
sparky2112
Member
Not touching GR again without a reader's guide.
BlazingDarkness
Member
I recently finished reading Manon Lescaut
and next is Jane Eyre!
and next is Jane Eyre!
LOL. Yeah, but the first read should be "pure."
Finished that Star Trek novel, The Folded World. I regret buying it and spending the time to read it. A complete waste of time.
Getting back into this series. Finished this up and immediately went out to find Volume 8. Gantz can be so over the top, but it does it so well.
And getting back into Caliban's War. Enjoying the new characters quite a bit.
Getting back into this series. Finished this up and immediately went out to find Volume 8. Gantz can be so over the top, but it does it so well.
And getting back into Caliban's War. Enjoying the new characters quite a bit.
Finished:
Getting Rich First: Life in a Changing China by Duncan Hewitt
Great overview of modern China, though seen from a BBC journalist's perspective so obviously somewhat of an outsider's POV, but very easy to read and pretty good all around.
Now reading:
Mattimeo by Brian Jacques
Last read this when I was 12 or something. Going back, my immediate impression is a) the prose is crap b) the food is godly c) some stoat just totally got run through by a sword within 30 pages, damn son
You don't listen to the Sinica podcast do you, by any chance?
Getting Rich First: Life in a Changing China by Duncan Hewitt
Great overview of modern China, though seen from a BBC journalist's perspective so obviously somewhat of an outsider's POV, but very easy to read and pretty good all around.
Now reading:
Mattimeo by Brian Jacques
Last read this when I was 12 or something. Going back, my immediate impression is a) the prose is crap b) the food is godly c) some stoat just totally got run through by a sword within 30 pages, damn son
You don't listen to the Sinica podcast do you, by any chance?
Easystride
Member
Started reading Flannery O'Connor The Complete Stories. A few years ago, I had to read "A Good Man is Hard to Find" for a college literature class, and it was a really messed up story. It was one of the few stories I read in that class that I actually enjoyed. About 20% in now, and I have liked most of the stories so far.
Aaaah
So many books to read! I'll have to figure out what I'm most interested in by the time I finish. I've made it about a third of the way through the third volume this weekend.
I don't listen to any podcasts! Do you think I'd like it?
I was just asking because the author of the Red Door book you linked was on it a few weeks back! It's a very very good podcast about modern day China hosted by a crazy South African expat and an Asian-American expat who happened to front a Chinese rock band back in the 90s. Relevent episode here.
Pick mine! Pick mine!
reading your thoughts on the book has actually made me want to reread this book again. I can honestly say I have forgotten a good deal of it because its been about 8 or so years since I read it. the only thing stopping me from doing it is the 2,500 pages, haha.
I actually read the reviews but figured I'd be my own judge.
It doesn't start off that bad but gets progressively worse. On the bright side it is such an easy read it only took me a couple days to finish it, so not much time was wasted.
Read all of Brandon Sanderson's The Alloy of Law over the weekend. It was pretty typical enjoyable Sanderson fare. Nice light fantasy read with entertaining characters and some fantastically written action scenes. When I was starting I thought that the main character not being a full Mistborn would make the action potentially less interesting, but that wasn't true at all.
Next I'm reading the collection of the prequels to Wool, Shift.
Next I'm reading the collection of the prequels to Wool, Shift.
AngmarsKing701
Member
Finished Kay's "River of Stars." I was actually a little disappointed in this one. I liked "Under Heaven" a ton, but RoS just felt flat to me. I also felt uncomfortable/awkward reading the present tense he chose to use. Weird.
Now reading:
Now reading:
I read this after finishing the last of us:
Earth has six months to go before a giant meteor wipes out civilization, and a young detective is determined to solve a murder before it happens. Or something.
There's a good number of decent, clever writers out there and this is a decent, clever book by a decent, clever writer that I decently enjoyed (and it was a fast read, too, short and snappy and totally one-evening-able) but won't remember by the end of the year. The best parts of it were the extrapolative musings on the state of their society as the deadline draws near.
Earth has six months to go before a giant meteor wipes out civilization, and a young detective is determined to solve a murder before it happens. Or something.
There's a good number of decent, clever writers out there and this is a decent, clever book by a decent, clever writer that I decently enjoyed (and it was a fast read, too, short and snappy and totally one-evening-able) but won't remember by the end of the year. The best parts of it were the extrapolative musings on the state of their society as the deadline draws near.
black_vegeta
Member
I'm currently World War Z. Not too shabby so far.
I bought this book a while ago as an impulse on Kindle because it was on sale for a buck. I never got around to starting it. Glad it sounds like it is decent.
I have told you that I love you Cyan, right?
Definitely read the next two (although Wintersmith is the worst of the 4). I Shall Wear Midnight is up there with Wee Free Men in terms of quality and is really dark by his YA standards. It reminds me a lot of Night Watch in terms of tone. I should note The Wee Free Men makes me tear up a bit towards the end every time I read it. Perfect book to read if you have a deep fondness for a grandparent that is no longer with you.
Also please say you have read Nation. If not read Nation. IMO the best book he has ever written.
Jag
Member
Now reading:
Enjoy. Such a great series that reads like a pulpy action novel, but does great character development. I first read the Drenai series many many years ago and it still has a strong pull for me.
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