Well, for me at least, it is a good mix between non-fiction & manga right now. It's the great deluge, Negima! Vol. 1 Omnibus (limited edition) & Higurashi Vol. 1
I'm reading Juggler of Worlds by Larry Niven and Edward Lerner.
I'm re-reading Parting the Waters: America in the King Years, vol 1. - seemed just about right this week to reflect on where we were, and how hard it was to get to where we are now, as we celebrate what we have become.
By, Taylor Branch.
i'm reading the memoirs of casanova
Hi All
I've just been introduced to Lee Child's books. Thrillers (?) starring Jack Reacher - women want him, men want to be him. Hmm. But the books are not as corny as the publicists.
Cindy James
Jeremy Clarkson - Born To Be Riled.
Half way through.. with some very funny comments!
Just finished Beware of God by Shalom Auslander, now reading his 2nd book, Foreskin's Lament.
Z
Just finishing Blackman (thirteen in the U.K.) by Richard K Morgan...amazing.
Have Claimed by shadow by Karen Chance up on my bedside next :)
I'm currently reading The Fire - the long awaited sequel to The Eight- by Katherine Neville. It's O.K., but not nearly as good as The Eight. Too much telling, not enough showing, IMO.
Sideshow: Nixon, Kissinger and the Destruction of Cambodia - William Shawcross
Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield and Jules Verne's Journey to the center of the earth. I always read a couple of books at a time!
The River Knows by Amanda Quick.
Quote from: Jemma on January 17, 2009, 07:16:45 PM
Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield and Jules Verne's Journey to the center of the earth. I always read a couple of books at a time!
I used to read more than one at a time. But my attention span seems to be getting shorter as I get older.
Wait, is that a chicken over there?
Right now I am reading Neuromancer by William Gibson, published in 1984. This is the book that defined the cyberpunk genre and gave us such terms as "the matrix."
Quote from: Lisbeth on January 18, 2009, 06:46:26 PM
Right now I am reading Neuromancer by William Gibson, published in 1984. This is the book that defined the cyberpunk genre and gave us such terms as "the matrix."
That one's in my top 5. :)
Right now I'm reading Count Zero, also by Gibson, plus an assortment of Hemingway short stories for my American Literature class, and I'm trying to get through Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan.
I just finished the Great Gatsby (for class) and absolutely loved it, which surprised me. I hated it the first time through, back in High School.
If you want a good laugh and a look at colonial life try Gerald Durrels. "My Family and Other Animals". A 13 yr old's look at Greece with a bizzare family.
Availbe on Amazon for NTN
Cindy J
Post Merge: January 19, 2009, 03:53:34 AM
Hi
Not reading but asking.
Did Dean Kootz release volume three of his Frakenstein series?
Cindy J
Quote from: CindyJames on January 19, 2009, 03:51:35 AM
Post Merge: January 19, 2009, 03:53:34 AM
Hi
Not reading but asking.
Did Dean Kootz release volume three of his Frakenstein series?
Cindy J
No. I'm impatiently awaiting that one, as well. Along with the last Fire & Ice book by George R.R. Martin, and the 2nd Kingslayer book by Patrick Rothfus.
just finished The Perks of Being a Wallflower, great book
now im starting on Dead Until Dark, I like it so far
i'm looking at old london maps. i found two short roads with 18 pubs on them, they are linked by a small thoroughfare called pissing alley.
just finished Julia Serano's Whipping Girl.
Julia Serano is my new trans hero (though there wasn't really an old one).
The Maeve Chronicles II: The Passion of Mary Magdalen by Elizabeth Cunningham and loving every paragraph.
Nichole
Just finished Circus of the Damned by Laurel K. Hamilton. About to continue with In Over Our Heads: The Mental Demands of Modern Life by Dr. Robert Keegan.
I started Les Misérables (by Victor Hugo) on Tuesday. I started reading it last year, in November, I think, but I gave up after like 300 pages. It is the unabridged version, 1463 pages. Now, after three days, I'm on page 143. It seems easier this time, especially because I now know a lot of the words I didn't know the last time (I'm not a native speaker). It's really hard to read, and maybe I'm too young for it, but I want to finish it. And I will. :icon_suspicious: (If I continue reading 40 pages per day, I'll be done in like five weeks...)
I just finished The Difference Engine by Gibson and Sterling.
Quote from: Nero on March 20, 2009, 02:36:04 PM
just finished Julia Serano's Whipping Girl.
Julia Serano is my new trans hero (though there wasn't really an old one).
That's a fantastic book, normally can't stand trans stuff as it's all me, me , me, but that's an exception.
Currently reading "Girl from the Coast" by Pramoedya Ananta Toer. Great writer, one of my all time favourite authors.
I am reading True Selves by Mildred Brown & Chloe Ann Rounsley.
Am I the only one who reads fiction?
I read science all day and at night want to escape.
Not that I have any problems with what people read. I have to admit the movies I watch are the action thrillers; about as real as ????. Do you have similar tastes in movies to books?
Cindy James
Right now I'm reading Gloria Steinem's "Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions", a volume of essays. Gloria Steinem is a cool woman. She wrote an introduction to "Whipping Girl", a very cool act for a 2nd wave feminist. You wouldn't see Betty Friedan doing that!
Next on the reading list: trash! "Männer sind wie Schokolade" (Men are like chocolate). I need something that won't strain my brain.
Quote from: pong on March 27, 2009, 04:11:10 AM
I am reading True Selves by Mildred Brown & Chloe Ann Rounsley.
I'm reading the same book :) I picked it up yesterday at borders
Quote from: Brianna on March 27, 2009, 06:32:08 AM
I'm reading the same book :) I picked it up yesterday at borders
Actually, I just got mine yesterday. I ordered it from Amazon. :)
This is one of those strange times where I'm reading three books at once.
Transgender History by Susan Stryker
Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness by Shunryu Suzuki-roshi
Instructions to the Cook by Bernard Glassman & Rick Fields
recently finished Tales of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. Dick, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldrich, also by Phillip K. Dick, Ubik, also by Phillip K. Dick, and the short stories Think Blue, Count Two, and Scanners Live in Vain by Cordwainer Smith.
now reading The Man in the High Castle, by Phillip K. Dick, and also The Other Wind, by Ursula K. LeGuin
Quote from: emoboi on March 20, 2009, 02:25:10 PM
just finished The Perks of Being a Wallflower, great book
LOVED that book.
Quote from: CindyJames on March 27, 2009, 05:35:17 AM
Am I the only one who reads fiction?
I only read fiction! (unless otherwise forced by a professor and even then, it's iffy).
Currently going through some post modern American poetry (loving O'Hara) and some Victorian British lit for classes. In another class, I just finished
The Bridge of San Luis Rey and
The Skin of Our Teeth by Thornton Wilder. Those were all right.
For fun, I'm reading
South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami (my FAVORITE!) and
Silent in the Moor by Deanna Raybourn and I just finished the Moonlight series by Rob Thurman (I hope she writes more...they're so campy, but I can't help myself).
I'm waiting patiently for Patrick Rothfuss' new book in April.
Well, it's my English teacher's fault that I'm currently suffering through The Grapes of Wrath.
But I'm also interspersing it with Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett, so that's okay.
I'm drowning myself in manga right now. My brain hurts (3 papers and a novel response this week!!!).
Mostly Harmless - Douglas Adams.
I read catch 22, I liked it lots
I'm reading 'Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Aspergers' by John Elder Robison and 'Mimus' by Lilli Thal (for the 2196th time).
Quote from: Unconditional Acceptance on April 09, 2009, 08:52:59 PM
But I'm also interspersing it with Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett, so that's okay.
Terry Pratchett is fun.
trying to read crimes of love by marqui de sade. its showing difficult. needing a dictionary near my side. so i'm gonna maybe try pandora by anne rice. i just finished animal farm by george orwell.
I'm rereading Now Is the Hour by Tom Spanbauer. I'm writing a paper about Dangerous Writing.
rying to read crimes of love by marqui de sade.
I always liked The 120 Days of Sodom, or the School of Licentiousness (Les 120 journées de Sodome, ou l'École du libertinage, novel, 1785, pub. 1904) and Justine, or Good Conduct Well Chastised (Justine ou les Malheurs de la vertu, novel, 2nd version of Justine, 1788, pub. 1791)
They both read better in the French somehow. Hey, its how I passed my grad school language requirement was by translating a chapter of each.
Justine is so hard to find! I've been searching for ages, but I can never find it, although I did find some short stories by him (in English, unfortunately, but I'll take what I can get; anyway, since apparantly de Sade is hard in English, he would probably be mind-boggling in French, especially for me who is only in French III).
Just started Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman this weekend, it's FANTASTIC.
Quote from: Unconditional Acceptance on April 13, 2009, 10:34:38 PM
Just started Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman this weekend, it's FANTASTIC.
YES IT IS! It's my favorite Gaiman, I think.
Quote from: Jaimey on April 13, 2009, 10:37:50 PM
YES IT IS! It's my favorite Gaiman, I think.
sounds cool, I'll have to check it out! I've only read "Stardust" but looooved it :)
I'm more or less switching between 3 at the moment-
"Bridging Science and Spirit" by Norman Friedman, about common elements in physics and spirituality
"Celandine" by Steve Augarde, 2nd of a trilogy about some fairy tribes in England. "The Various" is the first and the third isn't out yet
and
"Tithe: a modern faerie tale" by Holly Black, a dark sort of faerie story
I have a short attention span so I have to switch around lol
right now i'm re-reading BLEACH vol's 2, 12,14,18 & 26 & the code geass light novels
The Maeve Chronicles by Elizabeth Cunningham
Magdalen Rising
The Passion of Mary Magdalen
Bright Dark Madonna
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller.
I started Beautiful Children by Charles Bock. Seems good, but I don't think I'll have time to read it until after school is over...and I want to reread three Murakami novels: Norwegian Wood, Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, and Kafka on the Shore. *sigh* So many books to read and no time to read them...
Yoga Spandakarika by Daniel Odier, one of my favs and reading it again.
I'm currently rereading Ringworld by Larry Niven.
Cardiovascular physiology, gastrointestinal physiology, physiochemical principles of pharmacy.
Not to mention Barron's Anatomy, Barrons Biology, Swanson's Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and Barron's Chemistry flashcards along with a couple of my own boxes to review for the USMLE 1.
I can't wait for college to be over...
..... one of R.A. Salvatore's books on drizzt
I know..
Quote from: Miniar on April 20, 2009, 10:49:39 AM
..... one of R.A. Salvatore's books on drizzt
I know..
Drizzt... the ultimate dream boy badass rebel mofo.
Quote from: Annwyn on April 20, 2009, 11:00:19 AM
Drizzt... the ultimate dream boy badass rebel mofo.
Actually, I was referring to the lack of quality and literary value of the books.. I still like them for their soap-opera-like qualities..
That and.. well.. some of the characters are just sexy..
The Testosterone Files and Not on Our Watch.
between reading Managerial Accounting and The VBA Environment/Software Design. Very Exciting stuff.
Myles
I am currently reading The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldrich by Phillip K. Dick and Light A Penny Candle by Maeve Binchy.
unabridged diary of samuel pepys for the year 1660...he's just threatened to throw his wife's little dog out of the window because 'it keeps pissing around the house'.
"blackwater" it's about the rise of mercenary armies in america. one of the most important (and frightening!) books that i've read in a long time.
I just read "The Courter" by Salman Rushdie (from East, West). I think I'm going to have to read some Rushdie now...I think I'll start with Midnight Children if I can find it...
Read "Haroun and the Sea of Stories." It's a children's book by Rushdie, and quite good, especially if you can get my mother to read it to you in funny voices.
I just read The Chocolate War and reread Perks of Being a Wallflower, and now I've begun The Sound and the Fury (a school assignment).
Chocolate War and Perks are two of my favorite books! If you like those you might like Hairstyles of the Damned by John Meno and As Simple As Snow by Gregory Galloway.
I want to read Haroun. Perhaps when I finish Midnight Children, I can pick it up. :)
I liked The Chocolate War, but i am the cheese is my favorite Cormier book. And now I looked up the cover of Hairstyles of the Damned, and it is the book I saw a review of years ago and wanted to read but forgot the name of. I have wondered every time I saw it, and I finally decided to look it up, and I remembered. Yay! We probably have a freakishly similar taste in books, although perhaps you wouldn't like Good Old-Fashioned Girl (one of those books of my youth that I love and hated at the same time).
finished 'blackwater'. just started 'the riddles of epsilon' by christine morton-shaw.
Quote from: Mr. Fox on April 27, 2009, 10:16:21 AM
I liked The Chocolate War, but i am the cheese is my favorite Cormier book. And now I looked up the cover of Hairstyles of the Damned, and it is the book I saw a review of years ago and wanted to read but forgot the name of. I have wondered every time I saw it, and I finally decided to look it up, and I remembered. Yay! We probably have a freakishly similar taste in books, although perhaps you wouldn't like Good Old-Fashioned Girl (one of those books of my youth that I love and hated at the same time).
...I've never read "I Am the Cheese"...FOR SHAME! Don't you hate when you forget a book title! I'm glad I could help! It's a really great book too, although it did increase my use of curse words for a bit. :D Like my language wasn't bad enough to begin with...heh. It does sound like we have similar tastes...when I worked at Borders, there was a group of us and we all read the same books...so I should recommend
Now Is the Hour as well. :) I've never heard of
Good Old Fashioned Girl.
Enchantress From The Stars, Sylvia Louise Engdahl
Quote from: Jaimey on April 27, 2009, 03:42:44 PM
...I've never read "I Am the Cheese"...FOR SHAME! Don't you hate when you forget a book title! I'm glad I could help! It's a really great book too, although it did increase my use of curse words for a bit. :D Like my language wasn't bad enough to begin with...heh. It does sound like we have similar tastes...when I worked at Borders, there was a group of us and we all read the same books...so I should recommend Now Is the Hour as well. :) I've never heard of Good Old Fashioned Girl.
Don't worry, I don't think anything will increase my cursing. Good Old-Fashioned Girl is a Louisa May Alcott book. If you're going to read something by Alcott, read Little Women, her best book. However, I feel like this is an area of reading taste where we do not overlap. Just intuition.
I like Alcott. :)
Little Women rocks, just read it a couple months ago. Now I'm reading I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
I just scanned through The Chocolate War, What Happened to Lani Garver?, and Howl's Moving Castle for a paper I was writing...I want to go back and read them for real again...especially Howl.
Jaimey and Kat, my book soulmates. Little Women is on my to reread list, along with 1984 (I loved it in fifth grade, but now I've forgotten a lot of it). I swear I must have more to reread, but I can't think of them.
Quote from: Mr. Fox on April 29, 2009, 04:41:46 PM
Jaimey and Kat, my book soulmates. Little Women is on my to reread list, along with 1984 (I loved it in fifth grade, but now I've forgotten a lot of it). I swear I must have more to reread, but I can't think of them.
There's always more to reread...and never enough time to reread them all. :P I'd like to go back and reread
To Kill a Mockingbird, Lord of the Flies, Wuthering Heights (just to see if it's any good 10 years later),
Animal Farm and all those other books I read so long ago...
I'm about to sit down and open up my favorite book and read it for the 3rd time in this lifetime: Guardian of the Balance by Irene Radford.
Then it's the man-kzin wars...
-does happy dance-
THIS SEMESTER IS FINALLY OVER!!!
I just got Haruki Murakami's The Elephant Vanishes. It's a collection of short stories. I'm so excited!
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. My mother recommended it, and I always like what she recommends.
The scary thing about 1984 is how far past it we are now. It almost seems quaint.
Paulo Coelho, "The Witch of Portobello."
Indelible - Karen Slaughter
I've read Blindsighted, Kisscut, A Faint Cold Fear by Slaughter as well and they are all amazing! I highly rate her!
Jay
the first wives club by olivia goldsmith.
Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire, by Chalmers Johnson
I'm trying to make myself read "Midnight's Children" by Rushdie, "The Elephant Vanishes" and "South of the Sun, West of the Border" by Murakami...I've had them forever and I just can't seem to buckle down and read them. :embarrassed:
Quote from: Matilda on June 04, 2009, 07:29:33 PM
After watching the movie "Angels & Demons" last weekend, I have just started Dan Brown's book by the same name.
It's much better than the Da Vinci Code. On a side note, the guy who did the audio recording I was listening to sounded just like Kelsey Grammar.
Very much enjoying a biography of 'The Ladies of Langollen'. Two women who eloped together in the late 18th century and set up house together in Wales where they tried to create a perfect domestic life. I've got Nell Gwyn after, promises to be funny.
Last month: Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte), The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne Bronte)
Last week: The Parsifal Mosaic (Robert Ludlum)
Now: Nemesis (Isaac Asimov)
Next week: The Bride of Lammermoor (Sir Walter Scott)
bag of bones - stephen king
Anna Karenina, haven't read it in a decade at least, quite the love story, matter of fact, its the love story that makes you think staying single the rest of your life isn't all that bad an idea.
The Summer Land and The Winter Oak both by James Hetley. Actually pretty good characterisation of the main (female) leads by a man and a good grasp of some of the ways childhood abuse and rape play out in adulthood as well.
the novel
Quote from: Natasha on June 15, 2009, 06:08:19 PM
bag of bones - stephen king
I thought Bag Of Bones was incredibly weak. I enjoyed Cell much better.
Right now I am reading "Twilight" by Kim Pritekel. No, not the vampire thing. This is a novel about famous rock star Christine Gray, who is sick of booze, drugs and pressure, and jumps of a bridge in Podunk, Oklahoma. Married nurse Willow Bowman happens to be driving by and jumps in and saves her life. Over time, the two of them fall in love. It's delicious, I totally recommend it. I only have 21 pages to go.
Quote from: Stealthgrrl on June 18, 2009, 08:33:55 PM
I thought Bag Of Bones was incredibly weak.
agreed. bag of bones is proof that stephen king is now so rich that he can just quit trying.
You, too, can write a Stephen King novel! You will need:
1 quiet small town in Maine.
1 outsider, alien or disease
1 annoying child with both an affliction and a special ability
Several adults willing to be led by said child
Several peripheral characters, to be killed off at intervals
1 person, preferably female, to spout religiously tinged pseudo-profundities
1 giant, hideous underground monster
2 shy people who fall in love
1 writer, professor or other expert to explain what's happening to the other characters
Several hundred unnecessary pages
Mix, allow to set for five minutes, and sell to television!
(I'm only ripping on King because he can create such great yarns when he wants to. it just seems like he wants to less and less.)
"One for the Money" by Janet Evanovich
It's a pretty funny book. I'm enjoying it.
Summerland by Michael Chabon He's becoming one of my favorite authors. And I'm pleased to say that his style doesn't go completely out the window when he writes a book for kids, like some great adult authors do. Though he does, perforce, reel in his vocabulary a bit. ;)
The Aesthetics of the Japanese Lunchbox by Kenji Ekuan. It's a book about the design and beauty of the bento box.
Quote from: Shades O'Grey on July 07, 2009, 02:58:31 PM
The Aesthetics of the Japanese Lunchbox by Kenji Ekuan. It's a book about the design and beauty of the bento box.
That actually sounds quite fascinating...I love bento boxes. :laugh: If only I could cook Japanese food...
Just started "The Origin", by Irving Stone. 800 pages of Charles Darwins life and expeditions. So far so good. I had a little aprehension with making the commitmentbut I'm 100 pages into it and good to go.
Just finished" Buddha" by Depak Chopra. It is kind of a different take on herman Hesses Siddathur. A few insights but I remain an atheist,
Within the past 3 weeks:
Paolo Coelho
The Witch Of Portobello
Brida
The Alchemist
The Pilgrimage
The Zahir
Veronika Decides To Die
Warrior Of The Light
The Fifth Mountain
Currently:
Barbara Kingslover
Prodigal Summer
Quote from: Nichole on July 17, 2009, 04:28:48 PM
Within the past 3 weeks:
Paolo Coelho
The Witch Of Portobello
Brida
The Alchemist
The Pilgrimage
The Zahir
Veronika Decides To Die
Warrior Of The Light
The Fifth Mountain
Currently:
Barbara Kingslover
Prodigal Summer
....
Jeez, go for a walk or get laid baby, lol.
Quote from: Annwyn D'Fenwyr on July 17, 2009, 04:40:11 PM
....
Jeez, go for a walk or get laid baby, lol.
You can be such a jerk sometimes. Guess it's a a good thing I love ya, ain't it?
I've taken lotsa walks and gotten laid a few times in that time as well. Also cooked, eaten, shopped, worked, been on vacation, seen my son perform a few times and slept, among other things.
O, I see now! How could I have forgotten!? Ann, I don't move my lips when I read and read without a ruler under the lines I am reading.
Sorry, it didn't dawn on me why you'd find that a lot of reading! :)
"The Last Defender of Camelot" (short stories by Roger Zelazny)
books your now reading
Dictionary ...the y's....
Books you're now reading. You are = you're. Not your. Books "you are" now reading.
Your should be used when "you are" is not appropriate.
Your car, your house, your book.
I probably sound like a bitch right now but it bugs me to see this common mistake everywhere. Its like Lose and Loose.
How much money did you loose. No...how much money did you lose. Much better.
Sorry, I had to get that off my chest.
Quote from: Nichole on July 17, 2009, 04:47:05 PM
You can be such a jerk sometimes. Guess it's a a good thing I love ya, ain't it?
I've taken lotsa walks and gotten laid a few times in that time as well. Also cooked, eaten, shopped, worked, been on vacation, seen my son perform a few times and slept, among other things.
O, I see now! How could I have forgotten!? Ann, I don't move my lips when I read and read without a ruler under the lines I am reading.
Sorry, it didn't dawn on me why you'd find that a lot of reading! :)
Brb, I'll respond in more detail after I find my ruler... eeeerg I'm so elletireet I can't even spell it right.
I'm reading this book called Beastly by Alex Flinn. :D It's really good. it's about the modern fairy tale beauty and the beast and it's told by the beast's point of view. It's also going to be a movie real soon.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1152398/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1152398/)
"The Rat" by Günter Grass
"Grimm's Fairy Tales" by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
"Count Zero" by William Gibson
"The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror", vol. 8 (1994), ed. by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
Currently the top of my reading stack is Water - Nine Stories by Alyce Miller. This is mostly because I spent a week (plus) doing virtual photography on the theme of water to enter in the H2O contest sponsored by the Koinup, The Museum of Second Life Photography, and Orange Island. Result is that I am one of the finalists in the contest.
Additionally, I am reading On Design - The Magic Language of Things by Eva Zeisel; Ajax in 10 Minutes by Phil Ballard; and Effective Java by Joshua Block.
The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper, which, if not talking a long walk, is at least reading about others taking a long walk.
Holy ->-bleeped-<-, thank you, Kat! My sister has been trying to remember who wrote The Last of the Mohicans all day! I'll go tell her.
I finished "Fortitude" by Hugh Walpole (1916) last night.
Now I'm on "Dune Messiah" by Frank Herbert (1969).
"Dewey" by Vicki Myron. It's the story of Dewey Readmore Books, a kitten who was dropped through the book return on the coldest night of the year, and was adopted by the women of the Spencer, Iowa public library. It's fun, I'm really enjoying reading about Dewey. :)
On sex and marriage - Dave Barry
Never After - Rebecca Lickiss
Years Best Science Fiction - Gardner Dozois (20th annual)
Creating Webpages for Dummies - ?
Failure is not an option by Gene Kranz.
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
Alan Carr - Tooth Fairy.
Jay
Jeff Shaara - The Last Full Measure
Le Morte Darthur translated from the original by Sir Thomas Malory.
I'm just so into Lancelot having an assignation with his paramour. So sexy.
'Stone Butch Blues' by Leslie Feinberg (trying to brush up on my trans/feminist reading)
Anybody read it?
Yeah, almost a decade ago, seems dated now, I still like Rubyfruit Jungle myself. Somehow it aged better, perhaps because its a coming of age story, which are timeless (though set in a period) and less of a day to day deal. But that's just me.
Rubyfruit jungle - is that a transgendered, gay or femininst one?
Quote from: Nero on August 30, 2009, 07:11:35 PM
Rubyfruit jungle - is that a transgendered, gay or femininst one?
Gay and feminist. And awesome.
Post Merge: September 02, 2009, 06:18:52 PM
Oh, and my books. I just finished Boy Toy by Barry Lyga, Tenderness by Robert Cormier, and Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut. Now I am starting The Subtle Knife by Phillip Pullman
The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot.
It's a lot more absorbing than most classical novels I've come across.
"Apollo 13" by Jim Lovell
"The Idiot's Guide to Your Carbon Footprint". Some errors, but overall, pretty enlightening...
The Art of Eating -M F K Fisher
Just starting now
"The Time Traveler's Wife." It's WONDERFUL.
Dexter by Design by Jeff Lindsay
The Wheel of Time: book #4: The Shadow Rising - Robert Jordan
Yes epic nerdom...
Bisexuality & the Eroticism of Everyday Life by Marjorie Garber
It was a birthday present.
My SO took The Art of Eating from me (I let her read it as she is much faster at reading than I am) so I have now started Lazy B (Sandra Day O'Connor and H. Alan Day).
Myles
Machiavelli's "The Prince"
Hey, it'll help me if I ever decide to commandeer myself a country.
SilverFang
Inngangur að sálfræði (entrance to psychology)
and
Félagsfræði 2 - kenningar og samfélag (Sociology 2 - theories and community)
J. R. R. Tolkien- The Legend of Sigurd & Gudrun.
Quite different from most of his other works. :)
Sleepy Hollow and Tron (can't remember the author's names)
I am currently on the third book of the Wayfarer Redemption series by Sara Douglass. The third book is called `Starman` and is moving along the mythos quite nicely.
For those who have never read it is a fantasy book set in a land where there are various races. However, a thousand years ago the human race went to war with the others when the religion of Artor and the plough came about. Forests were destroyed along with any who got in the way.
Now an ancient prophesy walks the land and tells of the Starman who will reunite the races and possibly bring down a big bad from the northern region that seeks to destroy all in his path.
Magics of various kinds, lots of politics, turmoil, religion.... a full plate of items and all dealt with quite nicely.
I'm being childish and reading 'Toilet Of Doom' by Michael Lawrence. :D It is actually about gender-switching as well, so it's not just an enjoyable read, it's topical here too!
Next I'm considering rereading 'My Family And Other Animals by Gerald Durrel. I wish my childhood was that cool. ;D
Most of you will recoil in horror but...oh well...
I'm reading (and LOVING by the way) "Arguing With Idiots"
"Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
Quote from: Fenrir on November 27, 2009, 08:08:59 PM
I'm being childish and reading 'Toilet Of Doom' by Michael Lawrence.
When I was younger, I picked up that book at the library, read the inside flap, shuddered, and placed it back on the shelf.
I am now reading Blue Boy, which is painful to read because it's about someone in sixth grade. And still reading The Poisonwood Bible, which is awesome.
Been on an 18th Century binge a lot of this year, on Tom Jones now, which is a huge beast but told with a wonderfully slippery sense of humour.
new favorite the historian by Elizabeth Kostova a wonderful vampire story
jessica
"Eclipse" by Stephenie Meyer
Outside of Bram Stoker's classic, I think that Kostova's The Historian is the best vampire book ever. The history of the entire vampire deal is very well laid out, a highly recommended book.
New Moon- Stephanie Meyer :icon_redface:
Point of Origin-Patricia Cornwell
Quote from: tekla on December 16, 2009, 04:16:20 PM
Outside of Bram Stoker's classic, I think that Kostova's The Historian is the best vampire book ever. The history of the entire vampire deal is very well laid out, a highly recommended book.
What I like about the Stephenie Meyer books is that vampires are shown in a way that differs from nearly all other vampire stories I've read, save one.
The Dragon Waiting by John M. Ford was an alternate history fantasy, but vampires were involved. Holy object didn't bother them, though they were sensitive to sunlight (no sparkling, though). But, like Meyer's vampires, Ford's vampires could subsist on any blood.
I agree about The Historian. It's an amazing book, whether you like vampires or not. It's spectacular. It's an especially great story of a girl getting to know her father through letters and it gives a completely different feel to the Dracula myth with all of the historical bits. Everyone should read it. You won't be disappointed.
I also agree with Shades on Meyer. :D Her books are well written and if you keep in mind that they are aimed at 14 year old girls, they do what they are supposed to do. She does a good job of sucking you into the story. It cracks me up when people complain about the vampires "sparkling." I have to bite my tongue to keep myself from saying, "vampires AREN'T REAL." :laugh:
The early Brian Lumely Vampire books were fun. The later ones descended onto stupidity, IMO.
Jaimey I've started on Koontz's final Frankenstein, so far a good laugh.
Cindy
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
I've finally finished 'Tom Jones'. Don't want to give the ending away but I'm grinning like a loon - good ol' Partridge.
Yesterday and the day before I read Marly's Ghost by David Levithan, The Realm of Possiblity by same, and Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger. The latter is a novel about a teenage transboy, and it was pretty good. :)
"Small Gods" by Terry Pratchett. ;D
Human Happiness - Blaise Pascal
The Republic - Plato
Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne (Ah, school-required reading)
Heir Apparent - Vivian Vande Velde (Need to throw some light, easy reading into the mix.)
Since Strangling Isn't an Option... Dealing with Difficult People - Common Problems & Uncommon Solutions by Sandra Crowe.
Quite insightful, actually. Snarky, too ;D
The Creation of Patriarchy by Gerda Lerner
And Another Thing Part 6 of 3 of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Eoin Colfer
Quote from: Shades O'Grey on January 06, 2010, 11:35:59 AM
And Another Thing Part 6 of 3 of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Eoin Colfer
Since when is Hitchhiker's Guide by Eoin Colfer?
I'm currently reading Stiff, by Mary Roach, and rereading Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by David Levithan.
Quote from: Aaron Chris on January 06, 2010, 10:36:12 PM
Since when is Hitchhiker's Guide by Eoin Colfer?
Colfer must have been asked to write part 6 of 3.
http://www.6of3.com/ (http://www.6of3.com/)
Quote from: Shades O'Grey on January 06, 2010, 11:21:41 PM
Colfer must have been asked to write part 6 of 3.
http://www.6of3.com/ (http://www.6of3.com/)
Now that I realized it's 6 of 3 I'm even more confused. -_-'
Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews
Perect Health by Deepak Chopra , An explanation and guide to Ayurveda
Budda by Deepak Chopra, So far the best portrayal of Budda's life I've encountered
Can't Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg.
The God Delusion
Richard Dawkins
A masterpiece of logic and clear argument
Cindy
Yeah, Dawkins is very logical and precise. And hated.
Posted on: Today at 01:34:05 amPosted by: tekla
Insert Quote
Yeah, Dawkins is very logical and precise. And hated
God squads will believe in fantasy but reject reality, sad comment on the glorious human brain, which has evolved to be unused by so many
Cindy
Well here is the quote I used the other day on the Xianity thread that got all their knickers in a knot.
"If all the achievements of scientists were wiped out tomorrow, there would be no doctors but witch doctors, no transport faster than horses, no computers, no printed books, no agriculture beyond subsistence peasant farming. If all the achievements of theologians were wiped out tomorrow, would anyone notice the smallest difference?"
-Richard Dawkins, The Emptiness of Theology
@Tekla: Nice. I like that. :laugh:
I finally started Midnight's Children by Rushdie. I'm excited, but with the semester starting, it'll be slow going.
Quote from: CindyJames on January 09, 2010, 12:38:56 AM
God squads will believe in fantasy but reject reality, sad comment on the glorious human brain, which has evolved to be unused by so many
Cindy
Not to digress the thread at all but yeah sure there are people out there that are different but it is just their way, if they need to delude themselves to get through life then whatever, I do agree that it is wrong to push those beliefs on others but it's equally as wrong to denounce someone's way of living because it doesn't fit your own POV.
Some believe in an afterlife to ease the thought of death, it's delusional sure but if it makes them happy.. *shrugs*.
--------------------------------------------------
Anyways I just finished 'landscapes of the night', and starting 'the doors of perception/heaven and hell'. 8)
Yeah, but here they want to take all science out of the science curriculum and replace it with 'the book'. They want to force everyone to believe as they do, and punish all that might dissent. That's a brave new world to be sure. Except the last time we did that, we called it 'The Dark Ages.'
'they' = the government who fund the churches. The people are the innocent victims that need to be led. I'm not going to hate on those people for being mentally weak.
I recently went shopping since I received a couple Borders gift cards for Christmas. I bought several books, but I'm currently reading Invisible History: Afghanistan's Untold Story by Paul Fitzgerald & Elizabeth Gould.
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
As well as the Watchmen comic book,..
and I'm gonna grab some schoolbooks soon..
Born In Fire by Nora Roberts
Is that the first one of the three for you, or have you read the other two?
"People of the Earth: an introduction to world prehistory". It was only $109 for the paperback, lol
Quote from: tekla on January 17, 2010, 01:46:36 AM
Is that the first one of the three for you, or have you read the other two?
It's the first; I saw the whole trilogy in one book on the bargain rack at Borders and they looked good so I snatched 'em up :D
I thought Nora did an awesome job of character development (something that is so rare as to be largely absent anymore) and I really liked that the stories were so plain, there are no weird plot twists, no fake melodrama - it's (like the other two) a very compelling story. Enjoy.
well right now it's manly the manga lucky star and would you beleive band of brothers took me a while to find a desent version of it but i got it in pdf and besides i'm using that for research for an rp i'm doing
Ambrose is a great writer, you might also like his book on Lewis and Clark, Undaunted Courage.
hmmm that's odd i grabed it from demonoid earlyer and all they had was just a batch of war books didn't see it but i'll go back and look later
Last month I read Emma for the first time, a book on consumer behavior called Predictably Irrational, and two books by Kurt Vonnegut. I've been busy redecorating my bedroom, so I'm on a reading hiatus atm. I have a couple in the queue for once I get things settled though :).
Just finished Everlost by Neal Shusterman. Looking for Everwild now, but my library didn't have it. Maybe the other libraries. . .
Jen, which Vonneguts?
- I'm back with ol' Sammy Pepys... diary of 1662.
Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism & the Scapegoating of Femininity - Julia Serano.
God Bless You Mr. Rosewater and Breakfast of Champions. They were pretty good, but not as good as some of his others imo.
I'm reading The road
It is totally awsome, bleak, post apocolyptic book full of ash, cold, starvation and despair. And a love of a guy for his son.
The imagery is just so startling. I'm totally hooked.
Depressing read, but a real page turner.
Not very big either, got it yesterday and am almost finished. Quick read but I think it makes a huge impact.
Quote from: Nicky on January 20, 2010, 06:55:51 PM
I'm reading The road
It is totally awsome, bleak, post apocolyptic book full of ash, cold, starvation and despair. And a love of a guy for his son.
The imagery is just so startling. I'm totally hooked.
Depressing read, but a real page turner.
Not very big either, got it yesterday and am almost finished. Quick read but I think it makes a huge impact.
God I hate those kind of books, lol. My friend made me read
Fahrenheit 451 a couple months ago and I still haven't forgiven him for making me finish it.
Give the people contests they win by remembering the words to more popular songs or the names of state capitals or how much corn Iowa grew last year. Cram them full of non-combustible data, chock them so damned full of 'facts' they feel stuffed, but absolutely 'brilliant' with information. Then they'll feel they're thinking, they'll get a sense of motion without moving. And they'll be happy, because facts of that sort don't change. Don't give them any slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy.
Fahrenheit 451 is only sad because its only become more true.
Quote from: tekla on January 20, 2010, 08:14:55 PM
Fahrenheit 451 is only sad because its only become more true.
Not sad- barren and dismal. I do agree its message has aged really well and it did have a few nuggets to think about, but nothing that remotely made up for sucking the joy out of my life for a couple days. I've had enough of that depression BS, thank you very much.
Also, omg the most ridiculous pulp-ish prose ever written. And he killed off the one character that had any soul wayyy too early. Maybe intentional irony I dunno, but the result was a story carried by husk-like caricatures of human beings set in a world in which I had no interest spending time, real or imagined. Seriously, don't get me started, I could rant all night about that book.
Quote from: Jen on January 20, 2010, 06:45:22 PM
God Bless You Mr. Rosewater and Breakfast of Champions. They were pretty good, but not as good as some of his others imo.
Sirens of Titan has become my favourite now, which is odd because I was less keen when I first read it.
Quote from: Pica Pica on January 24, 2010, 05:21:16 PM
Sirens of Titan has become my favourite now, which is odd because I was less keen when I first read it.
I feel the same way about Slapstick. Well, I dunno if it's my fave, but I like it lots more than I used to. I reread Slaughterhouse 5 recently and it sure took on a deeper meaning for me within the context of our recent times... speaking of timeless messages.
I haven't read Sirens of Titan yet, sounds like maybe I should. :)
Started Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. I loved Coraline and some of his short stories/picture books, and I'm really liking this book! ;D
I just finished reading Asimov's Foundation series and the robot novels. Really good stories. It's intersesting to see his idea of the Future from 50-60 years in his Future. I believe I will get some of his other books.
Quote from: Anastasia on January 28, 2010, 12:43:44 PM
I just finished reading Asimov's Foundation series and the robot novels. Really good stories. It's intersesting to see his idea of the Future from 50-60 years in his Future. I believe I will get some of his other books.
It's a long time since I read Asimov but he was a fine writter with a very clever mind. I think the Foundation series get too long, from memory the first three were very good and then it became a bit repetetive (IMO) ^-^.
He also wrote some excellent detective novels. I just can't place them in my mind. There was a book of short stories based on a detective/investigator theme, love to know if anyone can point them out.
I do so marvel at people who the endless imagination to keep writing so much stuff, and most of it very good.
Have you tried Dan Simmons Hyperion series? Again from memory three or four books. I found them a bit difficult to get into at first because the story is very elaborate and journies to the past and future and the plot tries not to reveal the end (soory if that makes no sense :laugh:). But I found the story very rewarding. I think one of the best reads I have had for making me think about novel construction and plot. And enjoyable.
Nothing like a good book; a man is a good cuddle, but a book keeps you happy for hours :laugh:
Sorry Guys
Cindy
I feel like I'm reading too many series at the same time right now, but they're all just piling up because of how much I've had to work for the last 6 months. *frown*
Currently reading Black Sun Rising by C.S. Friedman, which is the first in a trilogy I've been lent.
On the backburner are:
Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series (at book 9)
Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series (at book 9)
George R.R. Martin's series (haven't started yet)
and I keep getting pushed by people to read Harry Potter
I'm sure there are several others I'll be assaulted with as I finish these, but I tend to drift towards fantasy/sci-fi if it wasn't obvious :P
and I keep getting pushed by people to read Harry Potter
You can safely resist this. Thin character development (and that's being charitable) is just the worst part. But you know what's even worse about Harry Potter? The movies are actually better than the books are. Which pretty much says it all.
Quote from: tekla on January 29, 2010, 07:04:58 PM
and I keep getting pushed by people to read Harry Potter
You can safely resist this. Thin character development (and that's being charitable) is just the worst part. But you know what's even worse about Harry Potter? The movies are actually better than the books are. Which pretty much says it all.
Nice books for children to learn to understand reading as a pleasure and past time. I read the first three out of interest. First book was ok for a very light read. Went downhill from there :laugh:.
I still don't know the ending, so that's how engrossed I became, haven't watched the films either.
Cindy
I read the books because my kids were reading them (among other things) and I read the books my kids were reading (its called parenting - and oh yeah, I listened to all them damn rap records too, only to go on and work with half of them). I watched the movies, because I must confess, I'm a total slut for Alan Rickman - I'd watch anything if he is in it.
I'm a total slut for Alan Rickman
Best Sheriff of Nottingham ever (so far); yes an oxymoron brought to life :laugh:, and the only reason to watch DH1. JMPO
Cindy
Still on the wheel of time series myself. Also reading Thomas Covenent The Unbeliever. But I don't remember the author and I'm too lazy to look. Sorry.
Right now I'm reading Cut, I really like it cause I can really relate to the main character.
Watership Down by Richard Adams.
Christine Feehan's Street Game
Now I'm on Col. Jack by Daniel Defoe, and actually it's pretty good considering even the introduction said it wasn't all that good.
I watched Apocalypse Now Redux, so I have to read Heart of Darkness again. Its still by Joesph Conrad. The Horror, the horror.
Quote from: Anastasia on January 28, 2010, 12:43:44 PM
I just finished reading Asimov's Foundation series and the robot novels. Really good stories. It's intersesting to see his idea of the Future from 50-60 years in his Future. I believe I will get some of his other books.
Finishing up
Foundation (book #1) right now. Asimov's short stories are my favorite, though; there are several anthologies in print. Clever, imaginative writer with a prescient sense of technology. He predicted a future where all knowledge would reside in a great computer--of course, instead of a miles-long machine with vacuum tubes, we have the internet, but... close enough. Great stuff to read in a laboratory while conducting... science :P
I'm also currently reading
The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene. I remember the professor of my intro-level Physics class mentioning, as we were learning about Newton's Laws, that the laws were 'wrong.' This book is about why that is so, and a lot more. Absolutely fascinating, and not an impossible read. I highly recommend it if you're at all interested in physics--or sci-fi for that matter.
prescient sense of technology
He did have a PhD in BioChem from Columbia, and a professor at Boston U. So his science and technology was not by accident. He was however very afraid of flying and only did it twice in his life, which is why, outside of New England, he rarely traveled.
Books really are a dime a dozen... I haven't heard of any of these lol :P
I'm still ssttiillllllll reading The Doors of Perception - heaven and hell by Aldous Huxley. It's an amazing book so far, really really enjoying it..but I just can never be still long enough to read :S
Quote from: tekla on February 12, 2010, 01:02:14 AM
I watched Apocalypse Now Redux, so I have to read Heart of Darkness again. Its still by Joesph Conrad. The Horror, the horror.
The horror, the horror is right! We just had to read that in English, and I think it's worst book I've ever had to read in class; when you're pining for
In Our Time or
Great Expectations, times are not good.
I'm re reading Gerald Durrell, My Family and Other Animals.
Finished the God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. So I bought The Greatest Show on Earth by him. I also got the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. And just to finish of a good shopping trip I bought 1080 Recipes by Simone and Ines Ortega; "The bible of authentic spanish cooking" so the cover note says.
Now for some time to read them :laugh:
Cindy
Re-reading Nylon Angel by Marianne de Pierres.
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
My therapist lent me True Selves yesterday and I already read through it >_> For leisure reading, I've moved on to the second book in the trilogy I was working on before: When True Night Falls by C.S. Friedman.
I'm reading Nietzsche's "Beyond Good and Evil" for class and loving it. "The Walking Dead" comics, Ovid's "Metamorphoses" on occasion, and "The Eternal Prison" by Jeffrey Somers in my spare time.
I just finished the first three books in the Legend of Drizzt series by Salvatore, and....holy moly, why the heck did I wait so long?! They are now my favorites!
I also just finished World of Warcraft: Arthas, which, if you're a WoW fan, is a quick, fun read.
The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor is what I'm reading now. It's a bit awkward, but is getting better as it goes along.
Found a book on Behavioral Endocrinology. Only book I've ever found on the subject so I think I'll enjoy this.
Quote from: SilverFang on February 26, 2010, 03:11:02 AM
Found a book on Behavioral Endocrinology. Only book I've ever found on the subject so I think I'll enjoy this.
Who is the author editor?
James Hunt?
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. A slow, dense read but I've been enjoying its melancholy humour.
Quote from: CindyJames on February 26, 2010, 03:59:07 AM
Who is the author editor?
James Hunt?
Just noticed. Alan I. Leshner apparently.
Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil
Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure by John Cleland
Oh I love Fanny Hill so much. That being said I'm reading Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage. Yeah, I'm boring.
Gonna enjoy it then am I?
You should, then pair it (books can be like wine and cheese events) with Henry Fielding's Tom Jones.
read that in december
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
Call Waiting by R.L. Stine
The Wandering Taoist by Deng Ming-Dao. It's the biography of a Chinese Taoist Master, following him from his childhood in a Chinese monastery in the 1930's to the present day U.S. So far an interesting read.
I tend to work on a lot of books at once.
School textbooks:
Women, Art and Society by Whitney Chadwick
Gardner's Art Through The Ages by Fred S. Kleiner, volumes I and II
Personal reading:
Behind The Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema by Jasper Sharp
Industrial Society And Its Future by Theodore Kaczynski
Currently set down/stalled:
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The Information Age: Economy, Society And Culture Vol. II: The Power of Identity by Manuel Castells
Just finished Steig Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Went straight to my favourite book store and bought the next. The Girl who played with Fire. Even go $10 off from my loyalty card :laugh:
Cindy
Gravel Queen by Tea Benduhn
Fanny Hill gave me some interesting new phrases and words (anyone for 'engine of love assaults?' or 'laboratory of love?')- on the rambling glory of 'Tristram Shandy' now.
Just started reading The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America, by John M. Barry
Richard North Patterson's latest, The Spire: http://www.amazon.com/Spire-Novel-Richard-North-Patterson/dp/0805087737/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269632431&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Spire-Novel-Richard-North-Patterson/dp/0805087737/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269632431&sr=8-1)
~L~
Beloved: Toni Morrison
I am working my way through Patricia Briggs' book "Iron Kissed" and I am also working my way through "The Gay Science" by Friedrich Nietzsche even though I find it a bit more 'dry' than "Beyond Good and Evil"
I also just read chapter 30 of "Sasameki Koto" by Ikeda Takashi I cannot wait for Volume 6!
Anything by Nietzsche is more dry than toast or stuffing or sand in the Sahara. Which is not to detract from what he is saying. He could have cared less about people who only read things they find 'interesting'.
I recall that Richard Rorty said in an interview that philosophy attracts a certain kind of people who crave answers. Thus, people get into philosophy out of need or craving, not because they just find it interesting or amusing. This certainly squares with my own experience, although I've found that philosophical reading can often serve for me as a high-minded way of obsessively doubting myself.
Quote from: tekla on March 27, 2010, 01:06:01 AM
Anything by Nietzsche is more dry than toast or stuffing or sand in the Sahara. Which is not to detract from what he is saying. He could have cared less about people who only read things they find 'interesting'.
I find nietzsche to be just bad poetry, but then I was never very tolerant of continental philosophy.
I just started MOAB is my Washpot by Stephen Fry.
Quote from: Pica Pica on March 27, 2010, 03:55:05 AM
I find nietzsche to be just bad poetry, but then I was never very tolerant of continental philosophy.
Funny, that - I always found analytic approaches more than a tad naïve on foundational issues. It seems, though, that the two schools have developed, much as they might not want to admit it, so as to be useful to their fields of specialty - social sciences for continental philosophy, and hard sciences for analytic. Both then end up resorting to support of ideas, sometimes rather extreme or unusual ones, that are methodologically useful for their fields.
Meh...
I find that continental philosophy abstracts itself till it arrives at pointlessness, and analytic philosophy keeps narrowing itself until it arrives at pointlessness - tis why I now read novels.
I just finished Rx by Tracy Lynn (bad, but I recommend it), and am not reading Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews.
The Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association's Standards Of Care For Gender Identity Disorders, Sixth Version
Just finished Wizards First Rule - Terry Gookind. I'm a sucker for fantasy novels and decided to check this series out after seeing legend of the seeker on TV that its based on.
Completed Richard North Patterson's latest, Spire. It's yet another college murder mystery, about a coed found strangled at the base of an iconic campus bell tower. I found it reasonably entertaining, although the novel definitely lacked the societal specific gravity of his recent efforts. I wasn't able to identify the Evildoer right away, which was fun, although the love interest was easy to predict long before it happened.
Now I'm sixty pages into the late Michael Crichton's last novel, Next, about the hazards and sculduggeries of the biotech/genetic engineering industry. Pretty intriguing thus far.
~L~
James W. Heisig - "Remembering the Kanji vol. 1"
and
ストロベリーシェイク Sweet (Strawberry Shake Sweet) by 林家 志弦 (Hayashiya Shizuru) It is rather hard, since I have to look up every other word (I do however, have the English version as well to see if I am getting it right). Eventually I will be able to read unassisted.....
Just started "The New Elite" by Taylor, Harrison, Kraus.
I was really into James Patterson for a light read, airplane fodder :angel:. but he seems to have dropped away.
I really liked his Women's Club stuff as well. I 'm reluctant to by him at the moment.
I'm onto Stieg Larssons final of his, trilogy. I also saw the film, in Swedish with subtitles.
AWESOME. I hope to hell that Hollywood doesn't repeat it. Sandra Bullock and Hank thingy vs newbies who can act. Watch it, it is very confronting but very good.
Cindy
I'm going to the WonderCon comics convention today, so I should be bringing plenty of reading material home! Wish me luck. :3
I'm about 3/4 of the way through James Blaylock's The Rainy Season. I think I may check out a few more of his books.
Woman I Was Born Not To Be by Aleshia Brevard
Alright, I survived day one of WonderCon. ;D I brought in a bit of a haul, but my biggest catch was a personally autographed copy of Jobnik! by Miriam Libicki. It's the author's autobiographical experiences as a jobnik (person with a desk job) in the Israeli Defense Force, told not as a political testimony or commentary on war itself, but rather an examination of the day-to-day life of a young recruit against the background of a world submerged in politics and war.
There is a growing corpus of comics works by Jews dealing with Jewish themes, and its roots are deep: the term "graphic novel" caught on after it was used by Will Eisner on the cover of his A Contract With God, and Other Tenement Stories, a classic comic illustrating stories of the Jewish diaspora in America. Many of the foundational artists and writers of American comics, indeed including the inventors of the superhero, were Jewish. Jobnik! joins Joe Sacco's Palestine and Footnotes In Gaza as personal experiences of the Israel-Palestine situation told by Jews, although Libicki takes a different tone and says that she does not intend to respond to Sacco, but rather simply to relay her persona experience. She does a good job at that.
Land of Desire: Merchants, Power, and the Rise of a New American Culture
~ William R. Leach
I just procured myself a neat trifecta of literary bricks: Mason & Dixon and Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon, and Ulysses by James Joyce. I intend to read them, too.
For the moment, though, I'm content to be gnawing on a high fantasy novel. :D
Just started reading Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides.
Looks really good, a friend recommended it.
Sepulchre by Kate Moss
Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S.Lewis. ;D
Alias Grace: Margaret Atwood.
Gnawing on Gravity's Rainbow. Great stuff. Half the time, I have no idea what's going on - and I like it. Fancy that!
Nobody's ever had any idea what's going on in Gravity's Rainbow. That's why everybody loves it. Though I kinda like V more.
I'm reading Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide ~ Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
Just finished Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist.
Overall I liked it, although I found most of the scenes with the alcoholics (that's how he describes them) rather tedious, and I would have liked to have learned more about Eli's History. For example, who gave him/her the egg? What made him/her pick out the pedophile to be his/her protector, how has s/he survived the past couple hundred years, etc.
Finally got to the end of Tristram Shandy - extremely enjoyable, and I fell in love with Uncle Toby, but the fact it doesn't have a forward moving story and is built on the art of the digression, really made it quite a difficult book also.
Nope, onwards and sidewards in true Shandean style, Vicar of Wakefield now - that Goldsmith better make me cry or I won't be happy
The Bone Thief by Jefferson Bass
Just finished reading "Kafka on the Shore" by Haruki Murakami for the second time. It is a thoroughly brilliant book. It also includes a FTM character, though I won't spoil whom it is in case any of you plan to read the book.
The London Journal of Boswell 1762-3
otherwise known as - Mr Toady shags supreme.
"I have found you an argument; I am not obliged to find you an understanding."
No Country For Old Men - Cormac McCarthy
The Paper Grail by James P. Blaylock
So far it's wonderfully surreal.
Edit: Started out great, but got a little tiresome after that. I've only made it about halfway through, so we'll see if it picks up again.
Hey, Pica Pica, will you marry me?
You have such good taste in books.
Not enough people appreciate rap-master Sammy J.
Um, can I borrow your copy of Trivia?
I can't find one here.
Ok, to get into the spirit of this thread, I just finished "How the Other Half Lives: Studies among the Tenements of New York" (1890)
Now I'm picking out some pieces from the complete works of Kurt Tucholsky.
Severed - Simon Kernick
I've set myself an C18th reading list, and I'm using this thread to check on how I'm doing.
My Trivia is in a larger book on travelling C18th London - but the poem is here http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/encap/skilton/poetry/gay01a.html (http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/encap/skilton/poetry/gay01a.html)
Read 'Polly' the Beggar's Opera sequel on the weekend, it's not as good, it's a sequel.
How do you pick stuff in a complete work? With Sam Johnson for example, I read the big prefaces first, then the idlers and ramblers I can get hold of - or do you flit interesting looking thing to interesting looking thing?
Quote from: Pica Pica on May 24, 2010, 01:48:50 PM
How do you pick stuff in a complete work?
That's always a good question. I like reading the earliest stuff to get perspective.
Depending on the situation, I'll then either pick out the interesting bits or plow through it all.
I've read everything from George Orwell. His humanity comes out best in the "As I Please" columns.
Oh, I didn't realize that "Trivia" was so short.
I just finished Dare Truth or Promise by Paula Boock, and now I'm starting What We Eat When We Eat Alone by Deborah Madison and Patrick McFarlin.
Decent into chaos
Three cups of tea
Carrying on th Boswell theme with his 'Life of Johnson'.
A mix of fiction, non-fiction and magazines.
Sharon Shinn's fantasy novel " The Thirteenth House", "Painting Landscapes with Atmosphere", Australian Motorcycle News and Australian Road Rider.
Reading "Advanced Calculus" by R. Creighton Buck and struggling through "The Bourne Supremacy" by Robert Ludlum...Or is it the other way around?
They're both difficult reads. I'm sad to say "Advanced Calculus" is slightly more interesting at the moment.
I just finished The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky, and that was a great read.
Now, I'm reading Ironman by Chris Crutcher and The Pleasures of Cooking for One by Judith Jones.
BTW, is there any way to change this thread's incorrect use of the possessive pronoun "your" to the pronoun-verb contraction "you're?"
The Gunslinger - Stephen King.
I've read quite a few Stephen King books but i've never read the Dark Tower series and needed a new book so I though this was a good time to start.
Magic Street by Orson Scott Card This is the second book of his that I've read, and they have both been superb. One of these days I may have to cave in and read his Sci-Fi stuff. Not a big Sci-Fi fan, though. Fantasy, yes. Sci-Fi, no.
Zombies: A Field Guide to the Walking Dead
Gotta be prepared for the inevitable invasion.
How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life by Kaavya Visawanathan. Yes, I know all copies of this book were recalled from book stores and destroyed due to the plagiarism case against Ms. Viswanathan. Copies already owned by public libraries were not recalled. There was such a big to-do about this book a while back, that I decided to read it.
Running With Scissors By augusten burroughs. I dont usually read books much, but its got me hooked.
Quote from: michaeljay33 on June 22, 2010, 12:54:03 AM
Running With Scissors By augusten burroughs. I dont usually read books much, but its got me hooked.
Wonderful book. Wonderful movie. :)
I finally started reading again. I just finished Idylls of the King and it was really great. I haven't yet decided what's next :).
Just finished "Song of the Beast" by Carol Berg (my favorite author!).
Now I'm going to finish reading "The Looking Glass Wars" by Frank Beddor, and
"Watching the English" by Kate Fox.
I've got a lot of time to read nowadays:
Finished the Coldfire Trilogy (which was a good read and darkly religious/philosophical) a couple months ago and am almost done with the Harry Potter series now. It's alright, but certainly nothing special. Will be wrapping up Wheel of Time next, then who knows?
Quote from: Yakshini on June 21, 2010, 07:23:06 PM
Zombies: A Field Guide to the Walking Dead
Gotta be prepared for the inevitable invasion.
Lol.
"The Trench" by Steve Alten.
Gotta love giant sharks killing people.
"True Grit" - a really surprisingly good book from the point of view of 14 yr old Mattie Ross.
"Child of God" - by Cormac McCarthy.
They are remaking the movie 'True Grit' (I kid you not) with the Coen Brothers having Jeff Bridges take the Rooster Cogburn role, previously played by by John Wayne, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin in the Glen Campbell and bad guy roles and some unknown as Mattie.
That's why I read the book. i forgot to say that.
The book is very much like the first movie, with several differences. I don't want to say what they are so people will be surprised by the film which is sticking to the book.
I'm reading Zodiac... about the killer in California. It's creepy.
I'm also reading Transfer Of Power by Vince Flynn. ;D
Just finished 'Rant' by Palahniuk
World Without End by Ken Follett
Conquistadors of the Useless by Lionel Terray
"Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by JK Rowling.
Hopefully I'll soon be reading "Meg: Primal Waters" by Steve Alten.
Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy by Barbara Ehrenreich
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: Ken Kesey
I read her book 'Bait and Switch' it was pretty entertaining.
Almost finished with King Rolen's Kin: The King's Bastard by Corey Rowena Daniells. Picked it up on a whim and now I can't wait for the sequel! It is truly awesome!
Quote from: tekla on July 03, 2010, 11:20:30 PM
They are remaking the movie 'True Grit' (I kid you not) with the Coen Brothers having Jeff Bridges take the Rooster Cogburn role, previously played by by John Wayne, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin in the Glen Campbell and bad guy roles and some unknown as Mattie.
My total apologies as I haven't read the whole thread.
But wasn't 'or rather is there a plan to remake "High Noon"?
Cindy
I'm reading "The Madness of Angels" by Kate Griffin. There were comments on both covers comparing her to Gaiman and the book to Neverwhere. I beg to differ on both accounts, but it is a pretty good book.
I just finished Michael Crichton's Prey, which was a very quick entertaining read. I then started on Vellum by Hal Duncun, but I found the style too choppy and scattered, so I doubt I will be finishing it. Skimming through, it looks as if it's a bit too artsy-fartsy for my taste, anyway. Too bad. It was an interesting concept.
The Atlantis Code - Charles Brokaw &
Hawx - Tom Clancy
Just found John Connelly (and Charlie Parker)
To bed to read
Cindy
The Hundred Secret Senses - Amy Tan
Yes, someone bought the rights to High Noon, and have a $20million budget so far (which is like cat piss when it comes to making movies, real stars get more than that just for showing up - Johnny Depp=$42million just for PotC4)
I'd say Christian Bale, but he's a bit wooden (not that Gary Cooper wasn't a bit stiff), or perhaps Danial Craig (who has time now the that new Bond film is on ice), Sean Connery is a bit old (and he already remade it, Outland is just High Noon in space). But if it were up to me - and you're going to find out why they don't let me make movies, though perhaps they should - I'd remake it with a female lead, either Angelina Jolie or Mariska Hargitay, with a Quaker boyfriend (Owen Wilson perhaps).
And, oh yeah, you got to get Willie Nelson to do the soundtrack, I don't know who else could ever replace Tex Ritter except Willie.
You risk your skin catching killers and the juries turn them loose so they can come back and shoot at you again. If you're honest you're poor your whole life and in the end you wind up dying all alone on some dirty street. For what? For nothing. For a tin star.
Tekla said
I'd remake it with a female lead, either Angelina Jolie or Mariska Hargitay, with a Quaker boyfriend (Owen Wilson perhaps).
And, oh yeah, you got to get Willie Nelson to do the soundtrack, I don't know who else could ever replace Tex Ritter except Willie.
Now that would be worthwhile; I'd go for Mariska, I think she is a better actress and has the attitude. But I don't think any Hollywood studio would be willing to make a movie nowadays with long drawn tension, carried by brilliant acting and limited SFX. They would have to have a spaceship landing in the desert somewhere and green goo.
Cindy
Currently I'm reading Goth Craft by Raven Digitalis magickal studies and other things rather good heh
"In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto" Michael Pollan
Bastard Out of Carolina: Dorothy Allison
Bright-Sided: Barbara Ehrenreich
The Bell Jar: Sylvia Plath.
And just finished Push by Sapphire.
I'm wrist deep in 1984 by George Orwell.
And my girlfriend and I are reading Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire - since we just finished the first book in the Wicked! Trilogy.
Necronomicon. - A complete collection of the work of H.P. Lovecraft
When I found it at the world's biggest book store in Toronto, I squeaked like a puppy, grabbed it, and bounced over to my husband with it between my paws as if it were a precious treasure.
wouldja believe -
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Just the title alone was irresistible.
Quote from: Tammy Hope on August 19, 2010, 11:06:24 PM
wouldja believe -
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Just the title alone was irresistible.
That's from the same people as did Pride and Prejudice and Zombies you know...
Got hooked on Stieg Larsson's books. I recently finished The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and The Girl Who Played With Fire, and am now starting on The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. I'm very sad that he died shortly after turning in these three manuscripts. But at least he didn't die before he finished the third book! ;)
I saw the movie based on the first book, and while the book is better, the movie was quite good as well. I look forward to the sequels becoming available on Netflix.
Code of Conduct by Kristine Smith
A Mighty Fortress by David Weber
The Blue Sword - Robin McKinley
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson
Just wrapped up Luna by Julie Anne Peters
Cheers -
Raya
Of the Rings of Power in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Silmarian.
Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell
Shakespeare's Lost Kingdom by Charles Beuclerk. I haven't gotten far enough into it to decide what I think, but he offers some interesting arguments for Shakespeare's actual identity being Edward DeVere, Earl of Oxford, and for Oxford being the illegitimate son of Queen Elizabeth I and Lord Admiral Seymour.
Journey to the End of the Night by Ferdinand Céline
It's kind of like a darker ironic version of On the Road. Also French. So it's pretty weird but I can't put it down.
Still with Life of Johnson, long time now - 3 months, but it goes so slow.
Hayek
"The Duel: The Eighty Day Struggle Between Churchill and Hitler" by John Lukacs.
It's actually pretty good and easy to read.
"East Asia: Identities and Change in the Modern World; 1700 to Present" by R. Keith Schoppa.
"The Holy Man of Mount Koya" by Izumi Kyoka (This is more of a short story).
"Japanese Tales of Mystery and Imagination" by Edogawa Rampo
One of my professors brought in a sack of books he didn't want anymore and I picked up The Ask by Sam Lipsyte. I've read one page and I can already tell it's going to be spectacular.
Reading A Scanner Darkly by Philip K Dick, i'm maybe a third of the way through? Takes place a 'futuristic' or alternate reality, science fiction. The main factor in the book is 'Substance D,' this super-addictive, cheap, widely used, fatal recreational drug. The characters are believably insane. It's really interesting, some of the best imagery and phrasing i've read in a long time, and a fun one to read if you, hm, have ever participated in consumption of illicit substances ;) Probably be done with it pretty soon.
Quote from: Jaimey on September 01, 2010, 10:27:01 PM
One of my professors brought in a sack of books he didn't want anymore and I picked up The Ask by Sam Lipsyte. I've read one page and I can already tell it's going to be spectacular.
I'll have to read it; you have similar taste to me; hopefully our stupid library will have it.
As for me, Ash by Malinda Lo.
Man Without a Country - Kurt Vonnegut
Dragons Prefer Blondes - Candace Havens
I love a bit o' chick lit "beach" trash every now and then. Cute little story - one of the sequels in a series - reads a bit like Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Charlie's Angels, and has all of the cheesy romantic plot, references to pop culture and couture.
Good for filler between reading more chunky material.
I just concluded reading Nine Lives by Dan Baum.
Gennee
Reading Dracula now.
Reading "Temple of the Winds" by Terry Goodkind... book 4 in the Sword of Truth series. So amazing. Seriously.
i'm DESPERATELY trying to finish Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
Quote from: Lexine on September 21, 2010, 12:26:59 AM
i'm DESPERATELY trying to finish Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
OMG I've been wanting to read that for the longest.. is it any good??
Quote from: aranikace on September 21, 2010, 12:30:42 AM
OMG I've been wanting to read that for the longest.. is it any good??
It's really good! Honest Abe isn't being honest after all ;)
The Witch of Hebron, James Howard Kunstler....
The Medici Aesop
I Don't Want to be Crazy by: Samantha Schutz
It's written in the same format as an Ellen Hopkins book (she wrote Crank, Glass, Burn, etc.) except instead of being about drugs, it is about a girl who develops Panic Disorder and begins questioning her sanity. I'm liking it so far.
I just finished The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot.
I've got Middlemarch queued up but I'm taking a breather with:
Vida, short stories by Patricia Engel.
"A Philosphy Of Poetry: Based On Thomistic Principles"
Finally got to the end of life of Johnson - been reading Goldsmith's various essay sequences and loving them, Sterne's Sentimental Journey, which was okay and now on An essay on the art of ingeniously tormenting - which has a bit too much bite for me - crosses over satire into nasty.
I'm at the moment switching between multiple books, and will probably never finish any of them.
Naked Lunch, which is holding my interest, but I have no idea what is going on.
Hitch-22, which is starting to lose my interest.
The girl with the dragon Tattoo, Which is pretty good.
The Gun Seller, a book by Hugh Laurie, which is very funny I must say.
Still trying to get through 'Eat,Pray,Love' , by Elizabeth Gilbert. It's not bad, but I used to be able to read anything with words in a line, but lately just can't get into it at all.
Just finished 'Worth dying for' by Lee Childs. Good fun but that's all.
Been given a nice cook book. "Maggie's Harvest" by Maggie Beer, probably not known outside of Australia.
Cindy
a Mills and Boon. Outback Proposals by Lindsay Armstrong.
Handsome pilot's plane crashes and he wakes up in a woman's farmhouse and then he...I haven't got that far yet.. :D
M or F?
a sort-of 'teen novel' :P
"Frannie is desperate to get the attention of her crush, Jeffrey, but too shy to make a move. Frannie's gay best friend, Marcus, advises her to get the ball rolling by chatting with Jeffrey online, but Frannie won't type a word. Marcus takes over at the keyboard, and soon his plan is a success! But the more he chats, the more it seems Jeffrey is falling for Marcus, not Frannie. Whose romance is this, anyway?"
I'm reading East Village Tetralogy by Arthur Nersesian. These are four plays.
Gennee
I'm reading The Golden Notebook
Different Loving: The World of Sexual Dominance and Submission by Gloria G. Brame, William D. Brame, and Jon Jacobs. So it is incredibly boreing, but educational in all respects.
Secrets - Mills and Boob Spoltlight slushy romance. Couple meet on plane to romantic holiday and fall head over heels. Silly guy doesn't tell her he is widowed with 4 year old twins. I need to read next chapter to find out how he tells and her reaction.
But He'll Change: End the Thinking That Keeps You in an Abusive Relationship (2010) - Joanna V. Hunter * Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/159285818X)
Also, Middlemarch - George Elliott
Quote from: Katelyn Alexandra on October 08, 2010, 02:48:03 AM
I'm at the moment switching between multiple books, and will probably never finish any of them.
Naked Lunch, which is holding my interest, but I have no idea what is going on.
Hitch-22, which is starting to lose my interest.
The girl with the dragon Tattoo, Which is pretty good.The Gun Seller, a book by Hugh Laurie, which is very funny I must say.
Great choice. I can't wait for the movies to come out!
The Crow. Or rather, I just finished it. I've owned it FOREVER, but had never actually read it. It was AWESOME.
Quote from: Erica L. on November 03, 2010, 03:55:07 PM
Great choice. I can't wait for the movies to come out!
Watch the Swedish films of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series they are awesome. I seriously doubt that the Hollywood version will get close.
Cindy
"Fight Club", currently...Looking to read the play "Equis" and a few other books :3
The Help was really good.
Jamie
Unfortunately, I've been stuck reading the GMAT prep guide for the last week, and will continue to be reading it until I take the exam! Terrible reading!
(replacing the possessive pronoun "your" with the pronoun-verb contraction "you're" in the subject line)
"Roma Eterna" by Robert Silverberg
Breaking Dawn by: Stephanie Meyer.
I dragged myself through the first three books in the series quickly enough. I figured that I should read the series to form my own opinions instead of just listening to what other people told me. I'm not very impressed.
Not having a whole lot of time to read lately.
Almost done with Winter's Heart (Wheel of Time book 9)
Starting The Best Short Stories of J.G. Ballard, which is science fiction
Personally, I love reading about "The Big Issues."
A personal fave of mine is Isle of Wight, British author, David Icke. Many people think he's quite the madman. I think he's rather the genius. The economic fiasco that's brewing worldwide? Nobody addresses it more directly or candidly, IMHO:
You open-minded? You free-thinking? You bold-spirited? Then this one's for you ... "Robots' Rebellion" by David Icke ... here's the whole thing:
http://www.orgoneitalia.com/downloads/David%20Icke%20-%20The%20Robots'%20Rebellion%20-%20The%20Story%20of%20the%20Spiritual%20Renaissance.pdf (http://www.orgoneitalia.com/downloads/David%20Icke%20-%20The%20Robots'%20Rebellion%20-%20The%20Story%20of%20the%20Spiritual%20Renaissance.pdf)
Check out the table of contents. Peace :) Lacey
"Let Me In" by: John Ajvide Lindqvist
Im reading a book i found at walgreens by one of my favorite authors. Daughter of Darkness by V. C. Andrews. I know she is an author for women mostly, but ever sence flowers in the attic I was hooked.
Isaiah Berlin
I'm just finishing a bedside Tome....
And have been given a nod-n-wink this be good!
http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dragon-Tatoo-STIEG-LARSSON/dp/B0034L0HY6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1291650660&sr=1-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dragon-Tatoo-STIEG-LARSSON/dp/B0034L0HY6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1291650660&sr=1-1)
So will order it for Boston trip.... as i squint through the bandages....lol
Quote from: Cruelladeville on December 06, 2010, 09:52:13 AM
I'm just finishing a bedside Tome....
And have been given a nod-n-wink this be good!
http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dragon-Tatoo-STIEG-LARSSON/dp/B0034L0HY6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1291650660&sr=1-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dragon-Tatoo-STIEG-LARSSON/dp/B0034L0HY6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1291650660&sr=1-1)
So will order it for Boston trip.... as i squint through the bandages....lol
I found all three of The Girl series to be an excellent read. Enjoy.
Cindy
Tom Waits's biography ;D
For fun: Blink - Malcolm Gladwell
For "real books": Love in the Time of Cholera - GGM
For "cliche nerd sci/fi fantasy": Apprentice (?) [The first Riftwar book] - Ray Feist
And thanks to Renate (and a gift cert from my Dad), I just ordered Whipping Girl
Okay 4 books! I know, stretching beyond my means, but they are rolling along!
Anthony Bourdain- Kitchen Confidential
Sam Harris- Letter to a Christian Nation
Sam Harris- The End of Faith
George Bush- Decision Points
The Book of Mirdad by Mikhail Naimy
QuoteThe Book of Mirdad by Mikhail Naimy
That book is out of print and not cheap. I read it 4 years ago and keep my copy clean.
Quote from: Lacey Lynne on November 28, 2010, 12:46:37 AM
A personal fave of mine is Isle of Wight, British author, David Icke. Many people think he's quite the madman. I think he's rather the genius.
I have read every book by David Icke. Totally cool and quite ingenious. Robot's Rebellion would not let me put it down. I read it cover to cover. Very enlightening read and packed with history. =)
Quote from: lisagurl on January 08, 2011, 07:25:55 PM
That book is out of print and not cheap. I read it 4 years ago and keep my copy clean.
I actually found the full text online at no cost. I read it in about 4 days. If anyone wishes to read it just google Book of Mirdad.
Another book I am reading, also available online at no cost.
From Sex to Superconsciousness by Osho
I have taken an extended break from reading books so am doing a bit of light reading ... an old issue of National Geographic magazine (march 2009)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Frpmedia.ask.com%2Fts%3Fu%3D%2Fwikipedia%2Fen%2Fd%2Fd5%2FNational_Geographic_March_2009.jpg&hash=ab08a5d1f1951ac915d2829472f3f85b82ab115a)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F51R8FSHZAPL._SS500_.jpg&hash=879bb2aaf051e4d3d56d30d2373ca884f4cfc216)
It's pretty interesting.
She's Not There - Jennifer Finney Boylan
Next is the Dear Dumb Diary series by Jim Benton.
Quote from: regan on January 09, 2011, 05:17:49 PM
She's Not There - Jennifer Finney Boylan
I own that book. Good read. :)
A Million Little Pieces by: James Frey
Yeah, I'm a little behind on reading fad books.
"Waking the Moon" by Elizabeth Hand
Sex for One by Betty Dodson
"The Open Society and Its Enemies"
Vathek by William Beckford - man going to hell and taking others with him,
Now Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole.
Eileen Wilks - Blood Challenge (novel of the lupi)
Grave Peril - Jim Butcher
and I'm still working on getting through
Necronomicon; The Best Weird Tales of H.P. Lovecraft.
I'm pretty close to the end of Empire in Black & Gold by Adrian Tchaikovsky.
Aside from the unnecessary sex scene and 'sludginess' of the book, it's pretty good.
Just finished Darkly Dreaming Dexter by: Jeff Lindsay and Why Do Men Have Nipples? by: Mark Leyner and Billy Goldberg, M.D.
I think next I'll read Dead Until Dark by: Charlaine Harris.
Life, by Keith Richards
also, Thelonious Monk, an American Original
Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg
Provides a real sense of history for the pre-Stonewall era; she writes, basically her own story, presented as a novel. I'm loving it.
Finished The Hunger Games: Catching Fire last night, and started The Hunger Games: Mockingjay straight after.
Darkover: First Contact by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Dying to Live: Life Sentence by Kim Paffenroth
Guardians of Ga'Hoole by Kathryn Lasky
Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes by Tony Kushner
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson.
I started Slapstick by Kurt Vonnegut today and I'm already on chapter 7. Something about Vonnegut just gets me- I shoot through his books in no time and love every minute of it.
I highly recommend:
Cat's Cradle
Bogombo Snuffbox
Slaughterhouse Five
The Sirens of Titan (my favorite)
and Breakfast of Champions
At this point I think I'm just going to dedicate myself and work on reading everything he's ever written haha.
Abnormal Psychology: The Problem of Maladaptive Behaviour
Quote from: spacepilot on February 04, 2011, 08:45:23 PM
I started Slapstick by Kurt Vonnegut today and I'm already on chapter 7. Something about Vonnegut just gets me- I shoot through his books in no time and love every minute of it.
I highly recommend:
Cat's Cradle
Bogombo Snuffbox
Slaughterhouse Five
The Sirens of Titan (my favorite)
and Breakfast of Champions
At this point I think I'm just going to dedicate myself and work on reading everything he's ever written haha.
I adore Kurt Vonnegut and have read all his stuff several times over - similarly to you I read a few in a row - Sirens of Titan is my favourite, then Bluebeard and then Mother Night.
Have you read Look at the Birdie? There's a new unpublished short story collection coming out soon too.
I"m currently returning to Burton's 'Anatomy of Melancholy', an interesting gathering of mediaeval psychology and medical knowledge.
The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher
Plato - The Republic
It's actually for philosophy, but I <3 Philosophy.
Quote from: Pica Pica on February 05, 2011, 03:36:02 PM
I'm currently returning to Burton's 'Anatomy of Melancholy', an interesting gathering of mediaeval psychology and medical knowledge.
You slay me, Pica. Robert Burton, eh? I haven't seen that brought up in conversation in a while.
You're a font, er, I mean a fount of knowledge.
Yes, I've read it.
I'm rereading Fleet of Worlds and Juggler of Worlds by Larry Niven and Edward Lerner in preparation for reading Destroyer of Worlds.
Known Space, babeee, bring it on.
Picked up and started Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams so far.
It's quite... Odd.
After finishing The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown I went into withdrawals. I started re-reading old books. Then I went online looking for something readers really liked. Steig Larsson's trilogy was high on almost all the lists I found.
I bought all three in hardcover for about half what the packaged deal was and I've been racing through them in the last couple of weeks.
The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo was pretty good. The Girl Who Played With Fire was great but here I was coming to the final pages and the action was still rolling. I'm asking myself, "How is he going to finish this with only a few pages left?!" The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest picked up right where the previous one left off. I'm about half way through with that and still enjoying it as much as the second book. I have to force myself to do other things or I'd be reading all day.
I did a little web search and found Sweden has already made movies of all three. Most who have seen them say the first is very good. The other two were made with a different director to save money, and it shows.
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO - English Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlF-hk3IJQE#ws)
I am a sucker for paranormal romance and have been going through my series...again. I'm currently working throught the Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyin Kenyon.
My library loans Kindle 2's out that are loaded with about 90 best-sellers on them.
I've been trying to figure out if a Kindle is just a pretentious toy or useful.
I've read whole books online on an LCD screen and didn't find it too pleasant.
I went to Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org/) and downloaded some copyright-free books.
I'm reading "Unterm Birnbaum" from Theodor Fontane.
I'm enjoying the book and the Kindle reading experience is pretty pleasant.
It's nice not having to find your place when you pick it up again.
I am sort of juggling books in slow motion. My girlfriend wanted me to read Harry Potter, so I am on book 5 now. Before that, I was reading Wealth of Nations, but have not got in very far yet!
Quote from: Sera on February 19, 2011, 08:59:05 AM
My girlfriend wanted me to read Harry Potter...
I'd get a new girlfriend. >:-)
My girlfriend has gotten me into the Darkover series. I am on "Two to Conquer" ( Book three ) and I have "The Hiers of Hammerfell" waiting.
Good stuff.
Quote from: Renate on February 06, 2011, 07:45:18 PM
You slay me, Pica. Robert Burton, eh? I haven't seen that brought up in conversation in a while.
You're a font, er, I mean a fount of knowledge.
Yes, I've read it.
It's like a portal to another world - however I can only read a chunk at a time, I can't sit through it all in one go.
The Second Book of General Ignorance, I'm finding out more things that I know are wrong :)
Quote from: Princess Rachel on February 20, 2011, 07:55:15 AM
The Second Book of General Ignorance, I'm finding out more things that I know are wrong :)
Oh, there's a second? Must get it, then, to go with my original and extended copies. Missing a few of the QI books now, actually.
True Grit, by Charles Portis. Not just one of the best Westerns ever written, a real 'writer's writer' Portis wrote one of the best American novels I've ever read.
currently reading:
Pattern Recognition by William Gibson and
Un'Anima Divisa by Paolo Crepet
I just can't keep to one book. I seem to end up with a couple of them at the same time :)
I used to be able to read a few books in one go, but I can't keep all the strands separate nowadays.
Hastur Lord - the latest in the Darkover series published last year.
I have read all the others too! They are my among favourite books and MZB is one of my favorite authors.
My other favourite is Kim Harrison.
Quote from: Lairiana on February 20, 2011, 08:32:42 AM
Oh, there's a second? Must get it, then, to go with my original and extended copies. Missing a few of the QI books now, actually.
I got it from The Works for just £3.99 :)
Quote from: Princess Rachel on February 20, 2011, 04:17:05 PM
I got it from The Works for just £3.99 :)
Ah, good ol' Works. It's either really good or really bad, or both. Usually both.
I think I'm going to try Terry Brooks'
The Sword of Shannara again tonight. Yippee.
I just finished Strategic Planning and My Iceberg Is Melting...gotta love grad school... :)
I've just reread "Making Money" by Pratchett, absolutly love the disc world series. The more serious book I'm reading is "The count of Monte Cristo", I like the dedication to patience and planning in order for him to right all the wrongs done to him.
I tend to have several books on the go, several light hearted and a few more serious, although "Lord of the rings" is always at some stage of been reread.... I just can't help myself :P
Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison. One of my girlfriend's favorite author.
Armor: by john steakley. Great story not a genre i really like but the story makes up for it.
This morning I have just received PALE DEMON which is the latest in the Rachel Morgan series written by my good friend KIM HARRISON and ordered direct from the USA as it isn't yet available in the UK
I have had an on and off correspondence with Kim for some years and she was responsible for my going back to uni to get my MA in creative writing so she has a lot to answer for. Sadly I neglected to ask her to sign my copy!
Don't worry Janet - you only have 9 to read to catch me up! ;D
Just finished reading "The Court of the Air" by Stephen Hunt. Interesting and complex steampunkish book. Now, I'm going into a heavy work-read stage so I've started with "VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing the Virtual Environment" by Edward Haletky. So far, most of it is familiar and a bit dated (was pre-vSphere).
I'm reading...
"Bright-sided: How Positive Thinking is Undermining America"by Barbara Ehrenreich
Good but a little biased, still worth a read.
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Yay!
I've started reading "Feed" by Mira Grant. Interesting twist on the ol' zombie story. :)
I'm reading The book thief by Markus Zusak.
Quote from: jqual on March 05, 2011, 02:12:56 AM
I'm reading...
"Bright-sided: How Positive Thinking is Undermining America"by Barbara Ehrenreich
Good but a little biased, still worth a read.
I've read 'Nickel and Dimed' and 'Bait and Switch', both very interesting books and good examples of a certain kind of subjective journalism.
"Destroyer of Worlds" by Larry Niven and Edward M. Lerner
Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin
It's a bit of a tie between Matthew Farrer's Enforcer and Brandon Sanderson's Warbreaker, although for some reason I managed about 60 pages of Moon's The Deed of Paksenarrion last night.
While I was at the Chillout GLBTIQ festival today in Daylesford I picked up a couple of SF classics. Edgar Rice Burroughs "A Princess of Mars", and "Mastermind of Mars". Originally published in 1912 and 1927. It will be interesting to see how they compare to a couple of other oldies I have.
The Year of the Flood by: Margaret Atwood. Generally I'm not a fan of sci-fi, but I love Margaret Atwood's version of sci-fi.
Quote from: Lairiana on March 05, 2011, 06:06:59 AM
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Yay!
Ugh! Love that series!
Anyone read Randolph Lalonde's Spinward Fringe (http://www.nightbynight.net/) series? I'm a few books in, and they're some of the best Sci-Fi I've read. And the first 3 are freebies (http://www.nightbynight.net/)!
I love Marion's series.
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Betrayer of Worlds by Larry Niven and Edward M. Lerner
I'm reading the Iliad by Homer for my English class. It's pretty interesting if you're into classics.
Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon.
The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall
I have been reading a lot of poetry lately. I have read Edgar Allan Poe, Herman Melville, Sylvia Plath, and Claude McKay. I also have four anthologies that I'm perusing through.
Gennee
Modern Psychotherapies: A Comprehensive Christian Appraisel
exploring my convictions with psychology how it relates with religion
kendall
The dark tower series by Stephen King, the first of his books Ive got into and enjoyed.
Started and finished The Hellbound Heart by: Clive Barker in one day. Amazingly written with a story I completely devoured. I need to find more horror like this!
Life, the Universe and Everything. Third in the Hitchhiker's Guide.
I am currently reading The Thirst Series by Christopher Pike. On book 2. Great story and is the second time I am reading it. I am picking up on a lot of things that I didn't see the first time through now that I know what is happening.
Also reading Silvia Browne's Journey of the Soul Series again. I have read it more that once. What I really liked about it was right in the opening introduction she makes it clear that she is just presenting a way to find your own personal truths and that you should only take from it what you need and want and leave the rest. As I was reading it more and more and really thought about what it was saying and how it applied to everything around me it just really felt right.
For One More Day by: Mitch Albom
Yakshini: are you a reader of Christopher Pike?
Quote from: Amy1177 on April 25, 2011, 12:20:11 AM
Yakshini: are you a reader of Christopher Pike?
I read The Last Vampire series years ago, and adopted my internet name after the creature in the books. So, yes I am a C.P. reader. :)
That's cool. I bought the first book about 6 months ago. By the time i was into the first couple of hundred pages I knew I would be picking the other two up the next time I was at the store. I think the fourth one is due out soon.
This might seem a bit retro, but I'm currently waiting for a copy of The Marvellous Land of Oz, 2nd of the Oz books by L Frank Baum. It was a book I read over and over when I was a little kid, and it's just popped back into my memory because it was my first transgender story. I was totally fascinated with Tip becoming Ozma.
I'm currently reading The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursala K. Le Guin. Written in 1969, it's a science fiction story about a planet where people do not have gender except during their kemmer period when they can temporarily become either male or female for reproduction. And which you were last time does not determine which you will be next time.
http://www.amazon.com/Left-Hand-Darkness-Ursula-LeGuin/dp/0441478123 (http://www.amazon.com/Left-Hand-Darkness-Ursula-LeGuin/dp/0441478123)
Kenneth Grahame - The Wind in the Willows
My second-fav book of all time, which I read once a year. ;) At this point in my life, it's like the only book that matters to me.
A Million Little Pieces
The Help (loved it!), Northanger Abbey, The Upside of Irrationality, Idylls of the King
Quote from: JungianZoe on April 30, 2011, 07:57:12 PM
Kenneth Grahame - The Wind in the Willows
My second-fav book of all time, which I read once a year. ;) At this point in my life, it's like the only book that matters to me.
Love that book, keeps me sane, sort of :laugh:
Cindy
The Black House by Peter May
A Detective from Edinburgh (Scotland) is sent to one of the isolated Scotland Islands he was brought up on. He has to confront his past in this isolated place. Not only does he have to deal with the way he is changed, but also the murdered man was the school bully . Dark but interesting. Also you can feel the isolation of these places. Possibly a horror story for people who live in large cities. Very well written. Haven't finished it as yet but recommend to the detective reading groups.
Cindy
Sorry.
Zoe's post reminded me of favourites to live by.
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durell.
Nice, sweet, very funny, a bit dated but if you just want to laugh at a totally dysfunctional English family going to Corfu post WII it is a great stress reliever. It was his early autobiography or so he claimed. You may pick it up in 2nd hand book shops. BTW excellent writing.
Cindy
I generaly read a book in about 3 days (depending on the length), in the last couple of weeks i've read:
Every babylon 5 book (as I have the locations & cast set in memory it only takes about a day to read a B5 book), I'm on a B5 fest at the moment as i've spent my weeks holiday re-watching the entire series whilst reading the books.
Frontier Earth by Bruce Boxleitner, it's a mix of sci-fi & western (did you know that aliens were involved in the shoot out at the OK Corrall between the Wyatts & Earps?)
Profiles of the Future by Arthur C Clark, A C Clarks attempt at predicting the future ( a very brave book for any sci-fi author to attempt)
War of the Worlds by H G Wells, I've read this so many times I know every word off by heart but still can't resist reading it over & over again
Im involved in a online read and discussion of the book Evelina by Fanny Burney, I'll be reading that then.
- link to reading group http://georgianaduchessofdevonshire.blogspot.com/ (http://georgianaduchessofdevonshire.blogspot.com/)
- link to my blog http://grubstreetlodger.blogspot.com/ (http://grubstreetlodger.blogspot.com/)
The Sea Priestess by Dion Fortune
(I swear one of these days I'll read a book I haven't already read a million times, but right now I need my comforting staples). ;)
What's more, I loaned my copy of this book to a friend of mine about 3 years ago and she kept it for a year and a half. During that time, she said she loved it so much that she took it all over the world and she stuffed my book with little souvenirs of places it had been. When she gave it back, she also gave me a lovely note and this beautiful stone that I keep over my fireplace.
Oh, recently I've been going to bed every night with William Shakespeare and his sexy sonnets. He'll be a tough act to follow.
Quote from: Sarah7 on May 12, 2011, 11:26:17 AM
I was completely obsessed with that book when I was 11! I think I read it 3 times in one year.
I was the same and then found a copy on Amazon a few years back, it lives at the side of my bed and gets read in passages often
Cindy
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire. I was 2/3 of the way through before I realized he had named the narrator "Iris" for a reason.
Business Continuity Management - 3rd Edition.
Gotta love grad school! :)
I'm always slow to starting books. But the newest one I'm reading is Cabal by: Clive Barker
the truth about forever by Sarah Dessen
I'm a voracious reader so that tends to be a bit complicated to answer. Currently reading a psychology text and Grey's Anatomy.
I have finally located a copy of Jan Morris's "Conundrum" after much searching, and will start shortly.
Man Kzin Wars XII
Girls Like Us, Rachel Lloyd (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0061582050/)
Transition, Chaz Bono (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0525952144/)
Sing You Home, Jodi Picoult (http://www.amazon.com/dp/1439102724/)
I can heartily recommend all three of these, despite not having finished the third yet.
Recently I've been plowing through all of Ngaio Marsh's (http://"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngaio_Marsh") books. They're fairly entertaining whodunit-type mysteries.
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Enough Said.
I love books - have a number of shelves full of them. Fav. author and someone I'm nearly always reading is Terry Pratchett. I've been lucky enough to get to signings of his on two occasions. One a couple of years ago *after his alzheimer's diagnosis* and it was noticeable the change unfortunately. I also have an auto immune disease *Rheumatoid arthritis* and this curtails how much I can read these days, much to my frustration. I would often read a book pretty much cover to cover in one go, these days it can take several weeks. I have considered audio books as an alternative, but they are not easy to obtain, are often abridged and a lot more expensive to buy. I also cannot afford a kindle - which I do believe has a place - but still love my books.
Current reads have been - I shall wear midnight (T Pratchett), Slaughterhouse 5 (Kurt Vonnegut) and The killing place (Tess Gerritsen).
Back with Sammy Pepys, this year is 1663 - at the moment he is incredibly jealous of his wife and the dancing master, is checking the beds for signs of illicit hanky panky.
Currently reading a collection of lesbian short stories called Women on Women. Cried my eyes out over a story in it called "A Letter to Harvey Milk."
Just started. 'I am God' by Giorgio Faletti. So far quite scary
Cindy
Quote from: Pica Pica on July 13, 2011, 03:03:32 PM
Back with Sammy Pepys, this year is 1663
Stop that! We're going to make you compete in another division, Pica!
I read (a bit back) the new Jodi Picoult book, "Sing You Home".
With her huge following, I think it will go down in history as one of the more influential LGBT books.
But Sammy Pepys is so silly and fun - he's spent the last few weeks stalking his wife because he's obsessively jealous of her relationship with her dancing master.
Boeing: The First Century
I just finished a book dealing with prostitution in my country, Finland. It was quite interesting.
Hmm well i'm waiting for The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri to arrive, though I might re read the Book thief by Markus Zusak.
The Divine Comedy is a good read. I should re-read it, at least the good parts (Inferno). >:-)
Ok, eight centuries has made it a bit troublesome to understand the references of recent events,
but that's why they have footnotes.
I'm reading "Jeder stirbt für sich allein" (Every Man Dies Alone), Hans Fallada, 1947.
I just finished Women on Women, ed by Nestle and Holoch. It's an anthology of short lesbian fiction.
Lot's of Goldsmith Biographies - I'm considering writing one.
"The Fall" by del Torro.
I've read a couple really good summer sun-soakers so far: The Kitchen House: A Novel by Kathleen Grissom, and A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. Trying to find the next one...
Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
Sorry that the grammar nazi in me had to correct the subject line format. It just seems important in a thread about reading.
Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain. Not really my cup of tea, but I don't think I'm really the audience it was meant to target. It's well-written and there were a few good chapters at least. I love his TV show.
Ogden Nash.
Biography or his works?
Cindy
Best of, as collected by his daughters - love him.
Can you post the needed?
Cindy
Hero by Perry Moore
Dimensional Shift: Firsts Step
Science fiction kindle format.
I'm reading it for the 13'th time...... Those of you who may know me, will know why if you look at it.
Was reading this.
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/Candy-Dandy-Best-Ogden-Nash/dp/0233988920/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313569305&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Candy-Dandy-Best-Ogden-Nash/dp/0233988920/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313569305&sr=8-1)
Found his sparkle and humour diminished with age, became a rather painful read because of the utter pleasure I got from the earlier stuff.
Now I have to find something that will interest me on a 7 hour there, 7 hour back coach ride.
"The Wives of Bath" by Wendy Holden pleasantly funny chick-lit, 2005 first published
and my second, 3rd? try of, "The Red and the Black" by Stendhal, 1830 first published
Axelle
How They Met and Other Stories by David Levithan
My War Gone By, I Miss It So by Anthony Lloyd
"'We want to know what killing is like.' The words hang in my mind. If you are a young man of combat age frustrated by the tedium and meaninglessness of life...you may understand them. If not, you will probably think they come from a psychopath."
Just started a fascinating book.
'No rest for the dead' Ed by A & L Gulli.
It is a murder mystery were each chapter has been written by a different best-selling author. Including the likes of Kathy Reichs, Tess Gerritsen etc. But it is one story.
Wonder how it will stand up
Cindy
I recently finished Chaz Bono's new book.
Am now reading Transgender History by Susan Stryker.
Just finished reading Mockingjay, currently reading 'Have Spacesuit, Will Travel', by Heinlein, slowly working my way through his books.
Quote from: Zythyra on August 21, 2011, 12:08:04 PM
Am now reading Transgender History by Susan Stryker.
I loved that book. My wife got me a copy a few years ago for my birthday.
Right now, I'm reading
Sexy by Joyce Carol Oates.
Boss GT10 owner's manual.
Quote from: 8888 on August 23, 2011, 12:40:42 PM
Boss GT10 owner's manual.
Like a boss. :D
I'm reading
Rage: A Love Story by Julie Anne Peters.
Going on a Grub Street rampage.
Reading one about 'The Grub Street Journal' - which was actually more at ripping it out of Grub Street. Then I'm reading 'Grub Street - Stripped Bare' which reprints lots of rare Grub Street writings. Then on to 'Grub Street - Stories of a Subculture' which seems to be the closest thing to a definitive history. Then 'The women of Grub Street' which is self explanatory and then 'Ned Ward, of Grub Street' about Ned Ward who wrote 'The London Spy' - then I'll read 'The London Spy'.
By then, I think I'll have read everything published in book form about Grubstreet for the last 100 years - and this little obsession will leave me alone.
I keep switching between Swann's Way by Marcel Proust and re-reading Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse, which makes for an interesting contrast of style and pacing.
Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card. A boring subject brought to life by a master.
Quote from: nogoodnik on August 26, 2011, 06:00:14 PM
I keep switching between Swann's Way by Marcel Proust
You leave me no choice...
My doctor encouraged me with it (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwAOc4g3K-g#)
Quote from: Cindi Jones on August 26, 2011, 06:03:12 PM
Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card. A boring subject brought to life by a master.
I've read that, in the 'How to write a million' set.
Also, to nogoodnik - ditch the airy froggy git and stick with The Master.
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
Quote from: Pica Pica on August 26, 2011, 07:33:20 PM
Also, to nogoodnik - ditch the airy froggy git and stick with The Master.
Or I could read whatever books I want. :P Though I'm serious when I say they work well in contrast with each other. Both writers have very strong styles that I enjoy but get tired of after a while. I know, getting tired of Wodehouse, heresy! But there's only so much Bertie Wooster I can handle in one sitting. I actually prefer the Psmith books. Haven't got around to reading many of his others.
I just finished my odyssey with Stephen King's The Stand (unabridged version). I'm prepping for another epic, Dan Simmons' Ilium. Go Moravecs!
Boyfriends with Girlfriends by Alex Sanchez
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami.
Forever by Judy Blume
Quote from: nogoodnik on August 26, 2011, 06:00:14 PM
I keep switching between Swann's Way by Marcel Proust and re-reading Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse, which makes for an interesting contrast of style and pacing.
Ooooh,
Right Ho, Jeeves is one of my favourites! I just finished 'Thank You, Jeeves' - I'm reading all the Jeeves saga in chronological order, lol. I have the 'World of Jeeves' compendium, which is brilliant, because it puts all the short stories in chronological order - I ate them up! I have 'Ring for Jeeves' on my night table, though, tempting me to skip ahead...
I adore how 'Thank You, Jeeves' is such a love story! They're split up and you spend the whole book hoping they'll get back together, lol! The best bit of all is when Bertie encounters Jeeves at Chuffy's house and is so excited to see him again that he asks Jeeves if he can play him 'What Is This Thing Called Love?' on the banjolele. It's just ripping, lol.
I'm partway through 'Naked Lunch' (have been for months), have just started to re-read 'The Portrait of the Artist' and also just started Hugh Laurie's 'The Gun Seller' - very funny, so far.
I'm so promiscuous, when it comes to reading, lol. I really should commit.
Quote from: Clive on September 15, 2011, 05:00:58 PM
I adore how 'Thank You, Jeeves' is such a love story! They're split up and you spend the whole book hoping they'll get back together, lol! The best bit of all is when Bertie encounters Jeeves at Chuffy's house and is so excited to see him again that he asks Jeeves if he can play him 'What Is This Thing Called Love?' on the banjolele. It's just ripping, lol.
Oh, yes,
Thank You, Jeeves is excellent! I love it, I should really re-read it again sometime.
Reading them in chronological order sounds like a great idea. I should try that sometime... because I've read many of the books but not all of them, and sometimes I forget which ones I've read and try and read a "new" one and it turns out I've already read it. But usually by that time I'm about halfway through, since they're so easy to read, and because some bits of plot are common across various Jeeves stories... and so then I end up just re-reading the whole thing anyway.
I get what you mean about promiscuous reading, too. Right now I'm actually between books, but I've been trying to read/re-read all the Miss Marple novels in chronological order,
and I want to re-read the first Raffles book,
and I'm thinking about heading to the library later to get out some books about the history of domestic service that I flipped through earlier in the week,
and I have a pile of assorted books here that I haven't read but keep picking up and reading bits of..... ack! Too many books! Sometimes I think it would be more convenient to be an alien with five heads and ten arms, so I could read multiple books at once. It's hard to stick with just one, sometimes.
"All that is gone" - Pramoedya Ananta Toer
M or F by Lisa Papademetriou and Chris Tebbetts
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Earthquake Weather - third in a trilogy by Tim Powers, a metamythical treat! (I think he's a great writer - though I suspect he has a problem with catholic guilt, and a smidge of homophobia too...)
Which leads nicely into my current choice. "Lesbian Passions", by JoAnn Loulan. All about passionate friendships, self image and self love.
lots of it is applicable to everyone, not just lesbians. Well worth reading.
Karen.
finishing the hunger games trilogy
So Hard To Say by Alex Sanchez
Hudibras
The Affair by Lee Childs
Just about to start "Game of Thrones." Has anyone else read it?
Quote from: justmeinoz on October 02, 2011, 07:44:41 AM
Just about to start "Game of Thrones." Has anyone else read it?
I've never read it myself but I've only heard great things about it. Personally I watched the show and didn't like it too much, but what's a show compared to a book?
I'm currently reading the "New Jersey Driving Manual". I have to admit it's a really good read ;D.
The last book that I read for my own personal pleasure to be honest was The Count of Monte Cristo. It's a really great read if you're willing to put in the effort to understand it at parts.
The Body of Chistopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci
I Am J.
I actually just finished it but holy crap this was an excellent book.
Yup, I read that. It was good.
I Am J (2011) - Cris Beam * Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0316053619) * WorldCat (http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/548642110)
Quote from: Renate on October 12, 2011, 02:22:37 PM
Yup, I read that. It was good.
I Am J (2011) - Cris Beam * Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0316053619) * WorldCat (http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/548642110)
That one is in my local public library's catalog. It's now on my reading list.
Quote from: justmeinoz on October 02, 2011, 07:44:41 AM
Just about to start "Game of Thrones." Has anyone else read it?
AH IT'S SO GOOD OMG! A friend of mine had been bugging me to start the series and I just didn't get around to it till I watched the first 4 episodes of the show... in one sitting. I ran out, bought the book, read it all in about 4 days, and I'm on book two of the Song of Fire and Ice series: A Clash of Kings. Book 5 Just came out and I'm trying to see how fast I can catch up to my friend who's read the first 4. Really rich and detailed fantasy driven by wonderfully interesting characters.
I won't spoil anything, I'm just repeating what my friend told me about the series... Don't get too attached to
anybody.
I tend to read multiple books at once (yay Kindle! :D) so I am currently making my way through...
Whipping Girl by Julia Serano
Godless by Dan Barker
Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? by Michael J. Sandel
and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
:)
Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja
Seeing Lei's post how many read books on kindle, or its equivalents. I like the feel of a real book.
Reading Gordon Ramsey's Healthy Appetite (planning a dinner party)
"Diplomacy" by Henry Kissinger.
Affords one sometime to get out of all this trans-->-bleeped-<-e augmentations for a bit at a time 'till we feel for some more "support" :-)
He he,
Axelle
It's about the moral writing of Samuel Johnson, it's pretty interesting, but better than that, when I read it on the train it has emblazoned on it nothing but the words 'Passionate Intelligence'. I am sure it could be a pulling book.
Just started Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad today
I'm re-reading Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card. I read the entire series (well it's actually 2 series...but whatever) in seventh grade, and decided that because my school library has it, I'm going to read it again. :3
I just read an excellent fanfic called Romance Reports based in the MLP: Friendship is Magic universe, and I'm a few chapters into The Forest of Hands and Teeth's sequel, The Dead-Tossed Waves.
Against The Tide of Years by S. M. Stirling
All of his stuff is really good.
Night Work, by Laurie R. King - 4th in the Kate Martinelli series. Kate is a lesbian cop in
San Francisco, but her sexual orientation is just one of many aspects of the book and is
not exploited.
:icon_chick: Sandra
A Hidden Wholeness by Parker Palmer
I just got 1Q84 yesterday!!! I've only read one chapter (damn you, graduate school! :icon_shakefist:), but I've been looking forward to it for so long!!!! Haruki Murakami is a genius.
The Help - consuming and beautiful.
I'm reading a local history book, a tree-identification guide, and a book about radical sex by Pat Califia.
When I read fiction I stick to one book at a time.
Quote from: Felix on November 17, 2011, 11:42:08 PM
I'm reading a local history book, a tree-identification guide, and a book about radical sex by Pat Califia.
When I read fiction I stick to one book at a time.
Patterson's Field Guide to Trees of Western North America (I think I remembered that right, it's been a while)?
edit: I saw tree guide and didn't even register the radical sex thing, /nerd
Quote from: EmmaM on November 17, 2011, 11:45:12 PM
Patterson's Field Guide to Trees of Western North America (I think I remembered that right, it's been a while)?
edit: I saw tree guide and didn't even register the radical sex thing, /nerd
You are so awesome. ;D
Quote from: Felix on November 18, 2011, 12:30:13 AM
You are so awesome. ;D
I know, I'm like a time bomb sometimes. /twirls out
Quote from: Jaimey on October 31, 2011, 11:22:12 PM
I just got 1Q84 yesterday!!! I've only read one chapter (damn you, graduate school! :icon_shakefist:), but I've been looking forward to it for so long!!!! Haruki Murakami is a genius.
I saw it in my book store, what is it about?
The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz.
A new Sherlock Holmes novel, I'm a sucker for SH
Cindy
made in italy by georgio locatelli
Finished my last novel and now I'm reading Developmental Biology by Scott F. Gilbert and a tonne of peer review papers. Oh the joys of college literature reviews :P
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré. I'm looking forward to the movie and I like to read the book first.
After that, Othello, then The Tempest...I'm a big shakespeare nerd. :D
Quote from: Callum on November 20, 2011, 09:19:52 PM
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré. I'm looking forward to the movie and I like to read the book first.
After that, Othello, then The Tempest...I'm a big shakespeare nerd. :D
The Tempest was by far my favorite of old mister Bard's work. In fact, it inspired me to go out and pick up a copy of Shakespeare's Words.
Quote from: MarinaM on November 17, 2011, 11:37:15 PM
The Help - consuming and beautiful.
It totally was. I LOVED it! I never became so emotional over a book.
Quote from: Cindy James on November 18, 2011, 01:49:30 AM
The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz.
A new Sherlock Holmes novel, I'm a sucker for SH
Cindy
:) Cindy, me too! Have your read the Mary Russell (w/Holmes) series by Laurie King?
Cheers,
:icon_chick: Sandra
Quote from: sandra on November 24, 2011, 06:46:59 PM
:) Cindy, me too! Have your read the Mary Russell (w/Holmes) series by Laurie King?
Cheers,
:icon_chick: Sandra
No I haven't heard of them!
I got really stressed out last night. I finally got up and dug through my daughter's bookshelf, looking for something totally simple, non-threatening, non-serious, and hopefully happy. I decided on Mr. Popper's Penguins. It's really silly and pointless. ;D
Quote from: Cindy James on November 26, 2011, 12:53:11 AM
No I haven't heard of them!
:) Cindy, There are now eleven novels in this series. Mary Russell, at age 15, meets her Sussex
neighbor, the retired S. Holmes, who takes her on as an apprentice and later an associate. To me,
Laurie R. King's Holmes, and the details about him, are very believable. But now the reader sees
him through the eyes of a woman, the first-person narrator, Mary Russell. I'm now reading the
fourth novel and still going strong!
Cheers,
:icon_chick: Sandra
Is the first one 'The Beekeepers Apprentice?' and then something like 'A Battalion of Women" I did read those two years ago but hadn't realised there were more.
Thanks time to go to the book shop
Quote from: Cindy James on November 27, 2011, 12:16:08 AM
Is the first one 'The Beekeepers Apprentice?' and then something like 'A Battalion of Women" I did read those two years ago but hadn't realised there were more.
Thanks time to go to the book shop
:) You're welcome, and yes, Cindy, those are the first two! Glad to know you enjoyed them!
I usually have a dozen books on the go. I am currently reading at least a half dozen philosophy books and the same amount of chess books (yes I am a nerd!).
On the 'lighter' end of the spectrum I am reading the Anita Blake series of books by Laurell K Hamilton. I'm on book 2 - the laughing corpse. So far so good! :)
I would also recommend any of the Honor Harrington scifi novels by David Weber.
oh yeah, and reading 'Dance with Dragons' by George R. R. Martin.
Hugs
Zaria
In a few minutes I'm going to get off the computer and begin reading GONE by Michael Grant.
All the Harry Potter books. I don't even wanna read anything else right now.
Going to give Clarissa a go.
Intimidated by length, and also the character of Richardson, who seems dry and humourless but so far (A preface and four letters) I am very much enjoying the book, there are many interesting and insightful details in the behaviour of people with each other.
100 Tough Questions for Japan
I think the author is Itasaka Gen, but it's kinda hard to tell. And despite the title, it's very light reading. :)
11/22/63 by Stephen King.
It's really good so far, I'm a little over halfway through. I'm also reading The Stand by Stephen King but put that on hold while I'm reading this book.
Can you tell I like Stephen King a little?
Right now I am listening to The Voice of Reason on audiobook, and I just started reading the new Steve Jobs biography.
A few weeks ago, I read The Stranger by Albert Camus and really liked it, so right now I'm reading through his philosophy work: The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays. Not much of a novel (though The Stranger is quite a good novel!) but that's more my style 8) *sits in the corner with a machiatto*
Quote from: pidgeontoed on January 03, 2012, 03:26:58 AM
A few weeks ago, I read The Stranger by Albert Camus and really liked it, so right now I'm reading through his philosophy work: The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays. Not much of a novel (though The Stranger is quite a good novel!) but that's more my style 8) *sits in the corner with a machiatto*
I won't usually admit it, but Camus is a man after my own mind. My favorite novel ever is The Plague, and when I get too tired or hurt I think of myself as a strong and happy Sisyphus. Camus's thinking was both practical and poetic.
I'm currently on darren shan's cirque du freak series, book 8(its a 12 book series)
Order 66 by Karen Traviss
Quote from: Felix on January 03, 2012, 04:15:28 AM
I won't usually admit it, but Camus is a man after my own mind. My favorite novel ever is The Plague, and when I get too tired or hurt I think of myself as a strong and happy Sisyphus. Camus's thinking was both practical and poetic.
I'll have to look that one up. There does seem to be something alluring about him to me as well. Perhaps I should get into his other novels once I'm finished with this work. I'm mostly reading it for the same scenario you mentioned, I want to learn more about his thoughts on Sisyphus and help that come into my own life. Good to know that there's another Camus fan here :)
Working myself through Daniel Defoe's (Robinson Crusoe) very last book "Roxana".
Interesting to note that it's written by a male, obviously, but from the view-point of one out of the ordinary female for the time (18th century) I durst say, eh. 't was first published 1724, if thou shan't mind my telling thee... um.
She 'accumulated' at least 10! birth (from age 15 on), had been deserted by a fool husband in her early 20s. Then refused to ever take the 'easy way' of marriage ever again, yet after 10 birth still cut a very presentable figure attracting plenty of male suitors and lovers.
(What about stretch-marks and cellulite? All happened in the dark I suppose... And so much for 'throwing a slipper down Oxford street' after 10 child births, eh).
Never mind, it has been written by a male as I said --- so let's factor that in, one really HAS TOO. I give him 8/10 for reality, etc. etc. :-)
Axélle
Cool, I like Defoe - he has a very straight ahead manner of telling a story. I've got Roxana, but haven't got a chance to read it yet, I look forward to that then.
Currently halfway through 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. Next, probably Birthday by Koji Suzuki.
Quote from: ~RoadToTrista~ on November 27, 2011, 08:23:51 PM
All the Harry Potter books. I don't even wanna read anything else right now.
You and my girlfriend would probably get along well. She absolutely loves Harry Potter. She's read and re-read the series so many times. I'm only into the 5th book.
One of my Christmas presents this year was a Kindle so I'm going to try to read more this year. I am currently reading
The Hunger Games trilogy. I really enjoy it so far.
I'm reading Serphim by Michele Hauf.
It's the third time I'm reading this novel in 2 years. I just love it.
Can I put the summery that is on the back of the book?
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
Dinosaur Wars: Earthfall by Thomas P. Hopp
The Artful Edit - Susan Bell >> http://amzn.to/yGhKxp (http://amzn.to/yGhKxp)
Killing Floor - Lee Child >> http://amzn.to/xITxJb (http://amzn.to/xITxJb)
I just finished an Asimov's science fiction magazine, and before that I read a graphic novel called Why I Hate Saturn. I'm trying to decide what to read next.
I've just started Haruki Murakami's 1Q84 and I am ecstatic!
Also, I'm reading an uncorrected version of a book of prose poetry called Syzygy, Beauty by T. Fleischmann that comes out in April. When it comes out, GET IT. Because it is absolutely fantastic and there are definitely transgender issues being addressed. I love what I've read so far! (My professor owns the publishing company, so that's our text...yay for not buying books!)
Opening the Straight Spouse's Closet by PFLAG
DC Weird Mystery Tales from 1973. Terrible pulpy stuff. Very fun.
The Burning Soul by John Connolly. Another in his Charlie Parker series. He is a good writer.
Quote from: amrisa loftus on January 12, 2012, 01:06:23 PM
I'm reading Serphim by Michele Hauf.
It's the third time I'm reading this novel in 2 years. I just love it.
Can I put the summery that is on the back of the book?
Sadly I think we (Susan's) have copyright problems with that, but I'll check because it would be a nice feature for this thread.
Cindy
Quote from: Cindy James on January 14, 2012, 12:33:48 AM
Sadly I think we (Susan's) have copyright problems with that, but I'll check because it would be a nice feature for this thread.
Cindy
Thank you Cindy. Reading the back of a book is what gets me to read it.
Quote from: amrisa loftus on January 14, 2012, 01:20:13 AM
Thank you Cindy. Reading the back of a book is what gets me to read it.
Amrisa it's totally legal to summarize the book in your own words, if you feel like doing that. :)
In News posting guidelines, the quoted material is supposed to be under 200 words, so as to not violate copyright. Then we post a link, where people can read the rest of an article. That might be the best way to go with books too.
Zythyra
Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer...Edward's version of "Twilight", and is still in limbo, not completed yet.
Crime and punishment by Dostoyevsky. Hard to get into at first but quite good
Two books by Ayn Rand:
Return of the Primitive: The Anti-Industrial Revolution and The Romantic Manifesto: A Philosophy of Literature
I've just started a new author, Jo Nesbo, a Scandinavian author. He writes murder mystery with a character of Det. Harry Hole. Anyone read him?
"Liberty Defined: The 50 Urgent Issues That Affect Our Freedom (http://www.ronpaul.com/books/liberty-defined/)"
Vote Ron Paul 2012
I'm one of those people who reads many books at a time and hardly ever finishes one of them.
I'm reading--
Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
Half-Assed: A Weight Loss Memoir
Tom Brown's School Days
Jurassic Park
The Hunger Games
I'm also reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to my kids.
I'm not reading a book. Anybody have any suggestions?
UK law allows for quotes when used in certain circumstances such as study. As far as I am aware there is nothing to stop a book being reviewed or a synopsis given. The only thing is, do you want to give away the plot as I am sure others will enjoy the book more if it comes as a surprise.
Nothing to stop you giving brief details of what the book is about and reviewing it.
As for what I am reading, I have quite a backlog. I am working my way throught the Harry Potter's (On number 4, so 3 to go). I have a couple of Bernard Cornwall's to read (a bit formulaic but I love history). I have a couple of Bill Brysons to read and Cormac McCarthy's The Road (if I want to make myself depressed).
For my diploma, I have just finished John Simpsons Unreliable Reports, which should be read out at the Levenson Inquiry as it shows nothing has changed with the British Press (yes, the Daily Mail has always been for the congenitally stupid). I have just started Essential Law for Journalists (yes, the wonders of defamation and the Human Rights Act).
Quote from: Devin87 on January 28, 2012, 05:16:35 PM
I'm one of those people who reads many books at a time and hardly ever finishes one of them.
I'm reading--
Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
Half-Assed: A Weight Loss Memoir
Tom Brown's School Days
Jurassic Park
The Hunger Games
I'm also reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to my kids.
I love it when they change the names of books in America. Apparently Americans don't understand what Philosopher means. The same thing happended to Kingsley Amis's James Bond book. In the UK it was called Licence Revoked. It was changed to Licence to Kill in the US because the publishers thought Americans wouldn't understand the word revoked.
Quote from: Pippa on January 29, 2012, 04:41:39 AM
I love it when they change the names of books in America. Apparently Americans don't understand what Philosopher means.
It's not that we don't understand what Philosopher means. It's that to the average American it is simply means something different. While a British person might think of an alchemist when they hear that word, to an American it doesn't mean that. It means someone who ponders great questions and comes up with new philosophies-- Aristotle, Plato, Confucius, etc. To an American, Nicholas Flamel being a philosopher wouldn't make much sense because he doesn't fit our definition of a philosopher.
They change things for British people, too. For example-- they took the amazing reference to my uber-amazing state motto in the movie Live Free or Die Hard and made it into boring Die Hard 4.0 because I guess British people don't want to learn any history of the American Revolution. Maybe they don't like to think about how farmers with pitchforks beat their greatest army in the world... :P
Or take one of the greatest TV/Movie/Toy franchises of my childhood-- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In England it was turned into Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles because apparently ninjas are too scary for the fragile British children. I wanted to be a ninja from the time I was 4 until I was 7 and I turned out alright.
It happens all over the world, not only in America.
philosopher has exactly the same meaning here in the uk as it does in the states. a philosopher's stone is an alchemical substance used to transmute metal.... the meaning has been in place for millennia. changing the name of the book makes absolutely no sense, unless you're implying that americans aren't educated enough to recognise this and need it simplified.
i just got finished reading 'the river why?' ... not my usual choice, i hate fishing, but i picked it up and somehow got drawn into this person's world despite my dislike of the subject. it's well written and absorbing and by the end of it i felt like i'd really gotten to know a person and taken a journey with him learning about himself and his place in the universe.
Quote from: schism on January 29, 2012, 10:33:41 AM
philosopher has exactly the same meaning here in the uk as it does in the states. a philosopher's stone is an alchemical substance used to transmute metal.... the meaning has been in place for millennia. changing the name of the book makes absolutely no sense, unless you're implying that americans aren't educated enough to recognise this and need it simplified.
Just because different parts of the world have different things in them doesn't mean we're uneducated. There you go thinking we're still your colony and should do things the exact same way you do. And people knock Americans for thinking we're the center of the universe... I'd never heard of the philosopher's stone until Harry Potter came out not because I'm too uneducated to recognize it, but because it's not a very popular story in a America. Different place, different stories. That's all there is to it.
philosopher's stone is not a british thing. the greeks first wrote about it in 300 AD.
Quote from: schism on January 29, 2012, 10:50:27 AM
philosopher's stone is not a british thing. the greeks first wrote about it in 300 AD.
Doesn't matter who wrote it-- it's a popular story in England but it's not in America. Again-- different places, different stories we tell our children. For example-- my students have never heard of Jack and the Beanstalk or the Three Billy Goats Gruff. I don't assume it's because they're uneducated. It's because they're from a different culture than me. They could tell me dozens of coyote stories I've never heard, or about the four worlds or Turquoise Boy. I've never heard those stories and they've never heard my stories because we're from different places and have different cultures. Don't you think it's a little self-centered to assume if other people weren't raised with the same stories you were they must be uneducated? At least now I know where many white Americans get that sense of "our culture is the only one that's right"-- from our British ancestors (actually, I've known that for a long time).
BTW-- I'm not going to post on this anymore because it's completely off topic and hijacking threads is rude. If you want to make a separate topic for it, that'd be fun.
sure. but nowhere did i assume on anyone's education. if you'll reread what i said, i wondered at your own implications in a post that was already offensive in tone towards the british. don't be surprised when someone responds in kind (:
A Clash of Kings (Game of Thrones)- George R. R. Martin
I don't want to jump into an argument, but I'm going to jump into this argument anyway. Devin I've always known what a philosopher's stone is, and I was born in Texas. It's in old fairytales and stuff. I think they changed the name not because americans wouldn't recognize it, but because "Sorcerer's Stone" is understood by a wider swath of the populace, and so is more marketable. There are a lot of people in our country, and money is money.
And schism, License to Kill is way more marketable here than Licence Revoked. That has nothing to do with whether we can parse the meaning. The culture in the US is not less intelligent or all that much less educated, we just think we're crazy cowboys (or rockstars or pioneers or whatever) and that needs to be pandered to. Products are constantly competing to be more eyecatching or more quickly assessed, and books of some genres get packaged like any other product.
We in the US do take a lot of guff for being arrogant and bumbling, so please understand if some of us are sometimes touchy about any perceived attacks on that front.
Also, hey people, what should I read next? Right now I'm working through a stack of old Dana Foundation newsletters. I'm under a lot of stress, so I need something either lighthearted or really escapist. The only unread books on my shelf are Tolstoy and Proust. I'll be visiting the library.
Quote from: Beverley on February 01, 2012, 05:46:47 PM
'Mort' by Terry Pratchett
or
'An alien heat' by Michael Moorcock
or
'Master and Commander' by Patrick O'Brian (it is not the movie and the 18th Century english is a bit challenging, but it is a good story)
Beverley
noted, thanks
I'm reading The Hobbit, lolz
Quote from: Felix on February 01, 2012, 05:35:26 PM
Also, hey people, what should I read next? Right now I'm working through a stack of old Dana Foundation newsletters. I'm under a lot of stress, so I need something either lighthearted or really escapist. The only unread books on my shelf are Tolstoy and Proust. I'll be visiting the library.
i was gonna jump in here, then i noticed you said lighthearted.... i think everything i read is morose and/or intense. escapist, though.... china mieville. my favourite novel is perdido street station. it isn't lighthearted but it's an incredible story, his writing is brilliant and it's definately escapist. new weird/fantasy/horror... alt universe, weird creatures, steampunk, original. awesome stuff.
Quote from: schism on February 04, 2012, 03:06:45 AM
i was gonna jump in here, then i noticed you said lighthearted.... i think everything i read is morose and/or intense. escapist, though.... china mieville. my favourite novel is perdido street station. it isn't lighthearted but it's an incredible story, his writing is brilliant and it's definately escapist. new weird/fantasy/horror... alt universe, weird creatures, steampunk, original. awesome stuff.
My library has 32 copies of just one of his books (Embassytown) and they are all checked out. I'll put a hold on it as soon as I convince them to put off holding me accountable for the generic manga book that my daughter destroyed recently. GD little monster didn't even read it - she never reads any fiction, she just checked it out to impress a kid at school. :laugh:
So, ah, maybe I'm betraying my pulpiness or age or something, but is he anything like Clive Barker or Poppy Z Brite or Kathy Koja? I've read a lot of other horror but not much modern/current. Familiar with cyberpunk but not steampunk (literaturewise). I like science fiction but I fell out of the culture long enough ago that I'm not grounded there either. I guess the only genre I read regularly is social commentary/history, but that isn't intentional.
I think the last adult fiction I read that wasn't a short story or comic book was American Gods.
he's.... different. his writing can get very purple, but he does it in a way that isn't suffocating (i think). i haven't read embassytown though so i can't give an opinion on it; i know it isn't one of his Bas Lag books, which is his steampunk universe.
I read Scriblerus last night for a small Clarissa break, but back onto Clarissa - If I can have it finished by April, I will be a happy bunny.
Just picked up She's Not There off Amazon for a few bucks after seeing it mentioned here. About 3 chapters into it, but I'm enjoying it so far. So many parallels with my own childhood and feelings I can't quite put to words. Jenny does a fantastic job of bringing some humor and wit into her story. Definitely going to have to lend it out to people who are interested in learning what it's been like to be me.
Currently reading Eragon: Brisingr
Quote from: Maya Zimmerman on February 04, 2012, 12:39:48 PM
Anything by Tom Robbins or Haruki Murakami. I think I mentioned Kafka on the Shore elsewhere on here for having a trans guy as one of the main characters and the other major plotline in it follows an older gentle man who can speak with cats.
I like Tom Robbins and I don't think I've read all of his books, but I wrote down Haruki Murakami on a notepad by my keyboard. My ex/only close friend came over and when he saw it he thought I'd written it down on his recommendation. He wouldn't believe me it was from someone else. XD So I'm doubly interested.
Currently having a slight problem with the library but we'll get it worked out when I get the nerve to just go talk to them about it.
Just finishing up reading We The Living, for the second time. The next book on my list is Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology.
Quote from: Semiopathy on February 08, 2012, 12:51:42 PM
The next book on my list is Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology.
A friend of mine has been telling me about that book. I'm not sure if he' read it yet, but it sounded intriguing. We both have been trying to make it through Albert Camus's works before going off on another philosophy haha.
I like history.
I just finished Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President, by Candice Millard.
It is about the dark horse nomination, election, and assassination of James Garfield.
The book demonstrates that the doctors who refused to use antiseptic procedures really killed President Garfield, rather than the nutcase who shot him. (And how Alexander Graham Bell nearly saved Garfield's life.)
Quote from: Beverley on February 12, 2012, 04:22:24 AM
I find French Philosophers write really, really good paperweights. Or insomnia cures..... :D I much prefer anything to do with cosmology, quantum physics or non-linear mathematics.
Beverley
Quantum physics can be very stimulating - in the right company, of course.
Quote from: Beverley on February 12, 2012, 04:22:24 AM
I find French Philosophers write really, really good paperweights. Or insomnia cures..... :D I much prefer anything to do with cosmology, quantum physics or non-linear mathematics.
Beverley
Camus makes me feel safe and good when I'm tired and feeling ungrounded. :)
Liberty Defined: 50 Essential Issues That Affect Our Freedom (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/liberty-defined-ron-paul/1100090657?ean=9781455504435&itm=1&usri=liberty+defined) [NOOK Book by Ron Paul (http://www.dailypaul.com/)]
AND The Constitution of the United States of America; The Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation (Extra: The Constitutional Dictionary) (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-constitution-of-the-united-states-of-america-the-declaration-of-independence-and-articles-of-confederation-thomas-jefferson/1104331428?ean=2940012793560&itm=2&usri=the+constitution+of+the+united+states+of+america) [NOOK Book by Thomas Jefferson (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/thomas-jefferson), Benjamin Franklin, Constitutional Convention, Second Continental Congress]
Two of the most important books that still affect our lives, OUR FUTURE today ! American Democracy has slowly degenerated into one of the worst form of despotism possible: the tyranny of the "alleged masses", so-called "popular opinion" ! Due to fear, complacency and neglect we, like a sheep and two wolves deciding "what's for dinner", are actually giving our FREEDOMS & RIGHTS away ! (https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedailypaul.com%2Fimages%2Fron-paul-troops.jpg&hash=e98d229ce96a06ed4b66ff929bca95a233f9c44a)
VOTE RON PAUL for President 2012 !Quote from: {the preamble}We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance . . .
Your lives maybe... Alice in Wonderland, the limericks of Edward Lear and Johnson's Rambler essays have had more impact on my life than those.
Quote from: Pica Pica on February 15, 2012, 11:41:01 AM
Your lives maybe...
Pica, your "Fem Labor govt" doesn't even really associate itself with "working men" anymore, does it?
How's the tour, restaurant business doing? Can
I we still come visit? (getting kids Passports)
And given the dull milquetoast running it at the moment, will not be in again.
Anyway, I was talking literature, not politics. I well written chapter in a book has made far more impact on my life than a hundred canting politicians.
Dracula by Bram Stoker. Who knew gothic literature (the real gothic genre, not the emo-only kind) would have so much homosexuality hidden in it
Dog Soldiers. It's been on the shelf but I didn't know what it was for awhile because it didn't have a cover. I'm scrounging, literature-wise. I need to go pay the library for the books we lost, and get them to change my name, and get a new card because mine's bar code is worn off. Then I'll get something by Haruki Murakami, and afterward something by Sarah Vowell. I like her.
I am about halfway through Ameritopia: The Unmaking of America by Mark Levin.
If you are not into political science and the philosophical roots of the Founding Generation, then this book is not for you.
I've got three started right now, Cloud Atlas, The Night Land, and the Wizard of Earthsea...
I'm concentrating on The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula LeGuin right now. It's the first in a trilogy about a young boy named Ged with a knack for wizardry and magic, as the title may suggest... It's solid fantasy, with a lot of environmental and humanistic themes, like much of LeGuin's writing. I'm really enjoying it.
right this minute I'm watching the second last episode of Sarah Connor Chronicles
bookwise I'm half way through, Tana French - In The Woods
I'll probably continue on with the next in the series of 3, but I'll just chip away at it and read one of these as well
On my kobo:
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsugarandmedicine.files.wordpress.com%2F2012%2F03%2Fkobo.jpg%3Fw%3D453&hash=3ae649e2ac68df603f6a4e7e5a2ad5d528e17219)
I got my fines paid. Close to sixty dollars, which is why I'd been putting it off since sometime last year. One book got left at the hospital when my daughter was having some issues, and one I found at the bottom of her backpack along with an open container of juice. Lol. I still think we've done pretty well, considering. 13 years of library use as a family and only two books I've had to pay to replace. :)
I put a hold on Murakami's first book so I get dibs when a copy gets returned and I got a book about sexuality in early America to read in the meantime. It's really neat.
Quote from: Maya Zimmerman on March 12, 2012, 02:15:17 AM
Yay! I actually had to look up what Murakami's first novel was. I've only known of his novels when they've debuted starting with Kafka on the Shore, so I have no clue what order the older stuff is in. Hear the Wind Sing, eh? I've never read it (or seen it in a book store; that and Pinball, 1973 are completely unfamiliar to me), but I'm sure it'll be great!
Ooh hey no I was wrong. What I reserved is apparently his third - A Wild Sheep Chase. I was just going on hearsay. Now I'm curious. There are a few that my county library doesn't have, but the author is well-respected enough that I bet they'd be willing to get them. Thanks Maya. :)
Uni Texts mainly, "Integrated Principles of Zoology" by Hickman et al which is keeping the inner nerdette happy; History text "The pursuit of Glory, Europe 1648-1825" by Tim Blanning, not as bad as it sounds;
lots of selected readings;
and for a bit of relief, "Murder in the Dark", one of the Phryne Fisher murder mysteries by Kerry Greenwood. Adventures of a Bohemian woman detective, set in 1920's Melbourne and very much in the lighter style of P.G.Woodhouse.
Karen.
Before I tried to go through the (digital) card catalog, I looked for a Murakami book on the shelf. I realized then that I haven't checked out or even looked for any fiction at a public library in more than five years, and I had zero familiarity with that part of the local library system. I do know the rest of it like the back of my hand. I read novels, but I guess I get most of them from friends and free bins.
Veritas (http://www.amazon.com/Veritas-Anne-Laughlin/dp/1602821240) by Anne Laughlin. It's the first romance-mystery novel I've ever read that wasn't a Harlequin Romance. It's actually very good and it's a lesbian romance so I'm thoroughly enjoying reading something like this that isn't filled with smut and actually shows the girls have character.
I'm also read Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (http://www.amazon.com/Wicca-A-Guide-Solitary-Practitioner/dp/0875421180/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331986392&sr=1-1) by Scott Cunningham.
"the rise & fall of a yummy mummy" by Polly Williams, and I just love it.
It give a great insight into motherhood and all it's issues but in a very funny and down to earth way.
Axelle
Quote from: Felix on March 12, 2012, 05:08:27 AM
Ooh hey no I was wrong. What I reserved is apparently his third - A Wild Sheep Chase. I was just going on hearsay. Now I'm curious. There are a few that my county library doesn't have, but the author is well-respected enough that I bet they'd be willing to get them. Thanks Maya. :)
Hey, I'm actually just now reading A Wild Sheep Chase! It was my introduction to Murakami, as it was the book on my uncle's coffee table, but I haven't read it through yet. Did you manage to get it checked out?
After getting done with The Hunger Games Trilogy, I'm now re-reading The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan. My goal is to make it through the entire series this time.
Quote from: Maya Zimmerman on April 09, 2012, 04:21:21 PM
Hey, I'm actually just now reading A Wild Sheep Chase! It was my introduction to Murakami, as it was the book on my uncle's coffee table, but I haven't read it through yet. Did you manage to get it checked out?
Um, kinda. No. I put it on hold and they emailed when it came in and I left it on the holdshelf for 3 days and someone else got it. I'm lazily reading about north american sex and pair-bonding in the 17 and 1800s, and it's pretty dry stuff so it's taking longer than I expected. Also I just feel a little sheepish about putting another hold on the book I want. I'll get to it. I'm seriously overdue for a bit of actual storytelling.
Quote from: Felix on April 10, 2012, 03:14:47 AMAlso I just feel a little sheepish about putting another hold on the book I want.
Sheepish, eh? :)
Also, a dry sex book sounds pretty rough.
Okay. I'm going to stop with the puns now.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
next: We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
Quote from: Lynn Gabriel on April 09, 2012, 09:43:51 PM
After getting done with The Hunger Games Trilogy, I'm now re-reading The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan. My goal is to make it through the entire series this time.
Good choice! Although it really loses its way in the middle. Unfortunately Jordan himself died before the final book was published but they've brought in a substitute to finish his final book (split into 3 volumes, with the first 2 out already). Its a shame he didn't get to finish his works, but the new author (Brandon Sanderson) has added fresh impetus, listened to fans and changed the annoying repetitive parts and also cranked up the action so things
actually happen! :laugh:
I've been reading a lot of the twentieth-century classics recently; I finished Mailer's 'The Naked and the Dead' and have just begun 'Catch 22' (which i'm embarrassed to admit never having read before :embarrassed:)
One of the helpful side effects of my recovery period - I've start reading at a reasonable rate again for the first time in a couple years. The last six weeks:
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest by Stieg Larsson
The Young in One Another's Arms by Jane Rule
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
Ash by Malinda Lo
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
A Room with a View by E.M. Forster
Now I'm reading Faulkner's As I Lay Dying... and remembering what a pain it is to read Faulkner.
Quote from: Bexi on April 13, 2012, 06:28:43 PM
'Catch 22' (which i'm embarrassed to admit never having read before :embarrassed:)
Love that book. And my list of shame is 8 or 9 miles long now. Too much to read, too little time.
Quote from: Sarah7 on April 13, 2012, 06:38:23 PM
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest by Stieg Larsson
I'm not into detective, whodunnit type books but I read the Millenium trilogy and thought they were outstanding, although I got the feeling that there were a few loose ends in the final book that paved the way for another book(s) ifnot for Larsson's unfortunate death.
Quote from: Sarah7 on April 13, 2012, 06:38:23 PM
Now I'm reading Faulkner's As I Lay Dying... and remembering what a pain it is to read Faulkner.
Faulkner to you must be what Cormac MacCarthy is to me :laugh: I've read most of his work, and they're all good books, but ->-bleeped-<--me its an arduous slog through Old West vistas, American colloquialisms interspersed with smatterings of spanish! Not much to relate to for someone across the pond!
Quote from: Sarah7 on April 13, 2012, 06:38:23 PM
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
If you get a chance,
Freedom also by Frantzen is an extremely good read!
short story: The Yellow Wallpaper by Charolette P Stetson
Quote from: Andy8715 on January 03, 2012, 12:05:25 AM
11/22/63 by Stephen King.
It's really good so far, I'm a little over halfway through.
Can you tell I like Stephen King a little?
Just started this one as well.
Also, on a totally unrelated note:
http://eachvoicepub.com/PaintedPonies.php
Quote from: Lynn Gabriel on April 09, 2012, 09:43:51 PM
After getting done with The Hunger Games Trilogy, I'm now re-reading The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan. My goal is to make it through the entire series this time.
I want to buy The Hunger Games trilogy as well. Box set is pricey, though XD
Quote from: Bexi on April 13, 2012, 06:52:07 PM
If you get a chance, Freedom also by Frantzen is an extremely good read!
It's the one after next. Finished As I Lay Dying, currently reading All Quiet on the Western Front (translated - I don't speak German), then James Joyce's Dubliners, then Freedom.
I liked The Corrections a lot more than I expected. I think I was predisposed against Franzen due to the press storm that surrounds him. That and I tend to look a bit sceptically at any book that breaches 500 pages. But he's actually rather good. I really wasn't expecting Denise, she kind of won me over.
"The Witching Hour" by Anne Rice
"The Magical Household: Spells and Rituals for the Home" by Scott Cunningham and David Harrington
Quote from: Sarah7 on April 15, 2012, 11:38:40 PM
It's the one after next. Finished As I Lay Dying, currently reading All Quiet on the Western Front (translated - I don't speak German), then James Joyce's Dubliners, then Freedom.
I liked The Corrections a lot more than I expected. I think I was predisposed against Franzen due to the press storm that surrounds him. That and I tend to look a bit sceptically at any book that breaches 500 pages. But he's actually rather good. I really wasn't expecting Denise, she kind of won me over.
I
had to read AQOTWF as part of my German class at university and it was a nightmare! As soon as I'd finished, I watched the film and reread the english translation as soon as possible!
I agree about the media storm aspect of some authors being offputting. Sometimes if the thing doesn't live up to its reputation it can leave you a bit underwhelmed (like a few years ago, ALL my friends kept telling me "'
Inception' is the best film EVER". I watched it and kept on expecting mind->blown but that never really happened. It was a good film but imho not worth the buzz). I've never tried to be one who follows the crowd but some things are really worth the hype.
Understanding Objectivism: A Guide to Learning Ayn Rand's Philosophy
A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin. Currently on book two, A Clash of Kings.
At the moment, I am between a couple books.
Breathers: A Zombie Romance Story
Cinder (a retelling of Cinderella... set in the future... with robots. Oh yes)
Let the Right One In (I love the movie, the Swedish movie, and I wanted to read the book it was based off of).
Quote from: Maya Zimmerman on April 10, 2012, 09:44:50 AM
Sheepish, eh? :)
Also, a dry sex book sounds pretty rough.
Okay. I'm going to stop with the puns now.
Bahaha this is the first I've checked this thread in ages. I lol'd. ;D
Gonna buck up and put in another hold. Finally finished the colonial american sexuality book a week ago and I've been reading dollar comics since.
Quote from: bballshorty on April 13, 2012, 09:13:03 PM
short story: The Yellow Wallpaper by Charolette P Stetson
I love that story.
'An Apology for the Life of Colley Cibber' - poor man, he felt he had to write a book apologising for his life.
I'm reading "L'anglais correct Pour les nuls" (The correct english For dummies) and "Le jour des fourmis" the second book of the trilogy by Bernard Werber my favorite author ever. :P
After reading the trilogy of The Ants you will never want to walk on an ant ever again. :P
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi603.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ftt111%2FFauve_photos%2FLa-trilogie-les-fourmis-de-Bernard-.jpg&hash=75c0bdef69c9b8f214188eeab20afe780e3f1f00)
The House You Pass on the Way by Jacqueline Woodson
Of Kinkajous, Capybaras, Horned Beetles, Seladangs, And The Oddest And Most Wonderful Mammals, Insects, Birds, And Plants Of Our World. It's a layman-friendly collection of small chunks of info about various animals and stuff. It's fun.
Before that I read David Sedaris's Christmas book. I'm still waiting on the Murakami.
Loving Life: The Morality of Self-Interest and the Facts that Support It, by Craig Biddle
The Yard by Alex Grecian.
The Duff by Kody Keplinger
Halting State by Charles Stross
Inner Secrets by Suzie Carr
Cheers,
:icon_chick: Sandra
My Butt Itches, That's Why I Dance So Well by Ummmmmmmmmmmmm, Oh wait, this is about reading not writing
Never mind
Quote from: V M on June 07, 2012, 12:29:14 AM
My Butt Itches, That's Why I Dance So Well by Ummmmmmmmmmmmm, Oh wait, this is about reading not writing
Never mind
Haha!A lady must never say her butt itches - obviously theres insects or something on the seat :P
X
The 2nd book of The Hunger Games triology.
A Wild Sheep Chase just came in on the hold shelf, so I'm reading that. Yay.
State of the World 2012: Moving Toward Sustainable Prosperity by The Worldwatch Institute.
Thank you so much for correcting the spelling of the title of this thread! ;D ;D ;D
THANK YOU !
Jennifer
The Barbarian Nurseries by Hector Tobar - This one's for le college. It's good so far, but then again I'm not very far.
I just finished Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, which was one of the most emotional books I've read. I really think that it's helped me get a new perspective in my life. It truly is a very good read.
I'm a little sad the title has changed, I had a fondness for the old one.
I have just finished a biography on Richard Savage, which I very much enjoyed and am now looking for something else to grab my attention.
"Sex & Stravinsky" by Barbara Trapido, after having finished "The last Tycoon" by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
The latter as close to good chick-lit as it will get ... for any male author :)
Axélle
Quote from: Pica Pica on June 13, 2012, 02:15:15 AM
I'm a little sad the title has changed, I had a fondness for the old one.
I have just finished a biography on Richard Savage, which I very much enjoyed and am now looking for something else to grab my attention.
The old title was "Books your now reading." Given the literary nature of the topic, we thought an edit, after several years, was in order.
You are free to title your own posts howsoever you wish. I see that you have done so. I admire your rugged individuality. :eusa_clap:
Quote from: Jamie D on June 13, 2012, 02:28:35 AM
The old title was "Books your now reading." Given the literary nature of the topic, we thought an edit, after several years, was in order.
You are free to title your own posts howsoever you wish. I see that you have done so. I admire your rugged individuality. :eusa_clap:
Grammar eh? "Books you
are now reading" or "Books
you're now reading" hey, da Englis my is second speak, but still, no?
Axelle
Quote from: Axélle on June 13, 2012, 02:39:39 AM
Grammar eh? "Books you are now reading" or "Books you're now reading" hey, da Englis my is second speak, but still, no?
Axelle
Yes, the problem dated back to the original post in January 2009. A member stated that she might be forced to remove her eyes with a hot poker if she had to look at that title any longer.
Out of sheer sympathy, we made the change to something more palatable to the
litterati and intellectuals who frequent the topic.
Ach du lieber Himmel!
Currently working on Proven Guilty, one of the Dresden Files novels. Is good.
I Am J by Chris Beam
I get my copy of Charles Churchill's Rosciad tomorrow.
Some not so serious stuff for a change. Just a little Aussie romantic novel set in the 1850's
Miles Franklin's My Brilliant Career
Hummm. Those days of sweet innocence
Be safe, well and happy
Lotsa huggs
Catherine
Quote from: Jennifer on June 10, 2012, 09:55:32 AM
State of the World 2012: Moving Toward Sustainable Prosperity by The Worldwatch Institute.
Thank you so much for correcting the spelling of the title of this thread! ;D ;D ;D
THANK YOU !
Jennifer
I have such a hard time refraining from correcting thread titles. I fail so hard at posting news lately (cuz it makes me sad) I should probably be doing something more useful. :angel:
I just started the 3rd book in The Hunger Games trilogy on my Kindle and I'm listening to the 2nd Dresden Files audio book.
Quote from: dalebert on June 14, 2012, 01:50:52 PM
I just started the 3rd book in The Hunger Games trilogy on my Kindle
I just finished that one on Monday. And oww that hurt. Collins is very good at making you feel like ->-bleeped-<-.
Think I'll probably go to The Sentimentalists by Johanna Skibsrud next.
I'm still reading A Wild Sheep Chase, but I keep getting distracted by Get Fuzzy and also random manga here and there. We spend a ton of time at the library and I expect that'll continue now that school's out.
I just finished The Giver by Lois Lowry. It was a pretty good read. It reminded me a lot of Brave New World, but it was different in it's own way.
Still, it certainly poked thought at the concept of individuality in terms of the pain that it brings versus the safe, although not-very-happy, concept of uniformity.
Mapping Human History: Genes, Race, and Our Common Origins by Steve Olson
A Discover "Best science book of the year"
On preparation of seeing the film this weekend ...
Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter
by Seth Grahame-Smith
Mosby's Comprehensive Review for Veterinary Technicians by Monica Tighe
OK it is a textbook, but that is all I have read over the last year.
"more than it hurts you" by Darin Strauss.
I initially put it away 2 or 3 times, than reading the dust cover intro ... hello, this is all about Münchhausen Syndrome by Proxy.
It appears there is such a lingering case in my extended family ... so after this bit of info, actually even the first chapter starts to make sense.
This first chapter is VERY long-winded and without the added info one might think all could have been said in a few paragraphs.
First time for me, that the reading the dust cover info up front actually help to get into the book without really pre-empting the story :)
Axélle
PS: I now give it ~ 4 / 5
Translated ancient Greek love poems, quite a nice thing for a Saturday afternoon.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D_EfiUclQT4IC%26amp%3Bprintsec%3Dfrontcover%26amp%3Bimg%3D1%26amp%3Bzoom%3D1%26amp%3Bedge%3Dcurl%26amp%3Bimgtk%3DAFLRE71J3TTd0yzoXVJIdO3oZ3WHfP0oWbxOcckjsqPuOA4Qm0fcH2G7mHAm0QAwWuBBkWWnmh5uZSK6zzkQuWjEDFQ4Kq9uYmQBk7dLReVM439EtFJej4wkt168ttB2vhwd_0E8gPFY&hash=e0c85fe0e249c003e7d443c128abf19aeb4d097c)
Quote from: Ms. OBrien on June 23, 2012, 07:19:18 AM
Mosby's Comprehensive Review for Veterinary Technicians by Monica Tighe
OK it is a textbook, but that is all I have read over the last year.
One of my all time favorites! I particularly like the part on "Hoof and Mouth Disease". ;)
I just finished The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan, and I never want to eat anything again :P
Now I'm getting myself into the Divine Comedy
Richelle Meade's Bloodlines Series. The second book in the series recently came out. It's a great series to come out of the Vampire Academy series.
Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger
Quote from: Lisbeth on January 18, 2009, 06:46:26 PM
Right now I am reading Neuromancer by William Gibson, published in 1984. This is the book that defined the cyberpunk genre and gave us such terms as "the matrix."(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smakynet.com%2Fimages%2Fhello.gif&hash=4eb1a6f8f195c3402626816cdf7ba516b213b544)
I just got that from Amazon today!!! :P
All One Wicca by Kaatryn MacMorgan
The Prophecy of Zephyrus by G. A. Hesse, my cousin I didn't know I had two months back. She gave me a signed copy to read when I visited her last month. It is a good read so far, I'm halfway through it. A fantasy about a Wyoming teenage boy who is transported to another world with its prophecy and the usual mix of Gothic royalty, wizards, transformations, warriors and the like.
Joelene
Going back and forth between finishing the 3rd Hunger Games book and reading a book my friend wrote and is publishing today called Infinity Squad. It's pretty good so far. It has clones and psychic spiders.
The three little pigs by David weisner.
I find myself on the edge of my seat as I read.
Going back and forth between "Best Lesbian Romance 2012", and "Mortal Companion" by Patrick Califia. Forget "50 Shades of Grey"! ;)
Karen.
Catching Fire (Second book in The Hunger Games trilogy) by Suzanne Collins
as annoying as some people think she is, I love Effie Trinket :)
Lincoln and Chief Justice Taney: Slavery, Secession, and the President's War Powers by Professor (of Law) James F. Simon. First edition 2006
A history, with emphasis on the legal controversies of the day.
I have found several factual errors!
Quote from: Jamie D on July 08, 2012, 03:47:22 AM
Lincoln and Chief Justice Taney: Slavery, Secession, and the President's War Powers by Professor (of Law) James F. Simon. First edition 2006
A history, with emphasis on the legal controversies of the day.
I have found several factual errors!
In. The book?
Smarty pants :P
Quote from: Adam1 on July 08, 2012, 03:54:03 AM
In. The book?
Smarty pants :P
The author is a retired law professor at the New York Law School. He is not an historian. Should have paid me to proof read it before he published.
By way of example:
The author refers to Lincoln's son, Edward, as "Tad." Edward Baker Lincoln (1846-1850) was Lincoln's second son. "Tad" was Thomas Lincoln (1853-1871), Lincoln's fourth and youngest son.
Quote from: Jamie D on July 08, 2012, 04:15:16 AM
The author is a retired law professor at the New York Law School. He is not an historian. Should have paid me to proof read it before he published.
By way of example:
The author refers to Lincoln's son, Edward, as "Tad." Edward Baker Lincoln (1846-1850) was Lincoln's second son. "Tad" was Thomas Lincoln (1853-1871), Lincoln's fourth and youngest son.
*backs away slowly*
Quote from: Jamie D on July 08, 2012, 04:15:16 AM
The author is a retired law professor at the New York Law School. He is not an historian. Should have paid me to proof read it before he published.
By way of example:
The author refers to Lincoln's son, Edward, as "Tad." Edward Baker Lincoln (1846-1850) was Lincoln's second son. "Tad" was Thomas Lincoln (1853-1871), Lincoln's fourth and youngest son.
147 is my record for factual errors in a book. Of course that was pre-publication... luckily for the author. ;)
Fiona Walker "Lucy Talk" great fun read, chick-lit. One more addition to my growing chick-lit library.
Much better than watching any soapies or serials, save "Friends" ? Could be :)
And no one hogging the remote either - what a blessing!
Axélle
Quote from: Sarah7 on July 08, 2012, 08:18:18 AM
147 is my record for factual errors in a book. Of course that was pre-publication... luckily for the author. ;)
Oooh! You're good.
Finally got around to reading "Odd Thomas" and now I'm working on "Forever Odd"
Love & Lies: Marisol's Story by Ellen Wittlinger
The End (http://www.prizmbooks.com/zen/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=66) by Nora Olsen. Queer Young Adult fiction, with a trans theme buried in there somewhere :).
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
I love this book!
Quote from: Arawn Gabriel on July 27, 2012, 09:41:51 AM
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
I love this book!
Seconded! Have you read Ender's Shadow? It's told from Bean's point of view.
I'm reading
American Gods by Neil Gaiman,
Durarara!!, and
Preacher.
reading Dance with Dragons - George R. R. Martin
Quote from: Edge on July 27, 2012, 09:50:38 AM
Seconded! Have you read Ender's Shadow? It's told from Bean's point of view.
I thought all three of the Shadow novels were written so much better than the Ender's series, and I loved the Ender's books
Just finished the
Divine Comedy - Dante Alighieri - worst translation ever, I think would have been better off reading it in Italian
I'm starting into
The Judgement of Paris - George Taber
I'm in the middle of My Name is Red by Orhan Pamouk (bloody great book, re-reading it, trying not to cringe at the American English translation), about to start Body of Glass by Marge Piercy. Taking a temporary break from all the YA LGBT fiction I've been reading lately :).
I've been on a zine bender. I put in holds lately for all the history stuff by Sarah Mirk that I hadn't read yet, and I'm also plowing through all the education-related, sex positive/queer, and Portlandy zines I find at the handful of nearby libraries.
I managed to get hold of the twelve volumes of Casanova's unexpurgated memoirs. On volume two and having a wonderful time.
'To the Heart of the Nile: Lady Florence Baker and the Exploration of Central Africa' by Pat Shipman.
It's an entertaining read, but highly fictionalized in its' presentation (lots of filler... invented dialogue...). The author admits to as much, in the introduction, as a way of fleshing out the subjects... but it's just a weird departure from the style I am accustomed to.
I read quite a bit of Orson Scott Card when I was younger - and not to politicize... but I recently came across the unflattering news that he expends a fair amount of effort in denying LGBT rights. Bummer.
Quote from: Sadie May on August 01, 2012, 05:05:46 PM
I read quite a bit of Orson Scott Card when I was younger - and not to politicize... but I recently came across the unflattering news that he expends a fair amount of effort in denying LGBT rights. Bummer.
This is a thing that still makes me incredibly sad. I adored Ender's Game when I was growing up - I first read it when I was 11, the entire thing in one sitting. It was my second favourite book (after The Hobbit).
I try to keep in mind that the book and the author are not the same. That I can love the book and not the author and that's okay. And the truth is I have no idea what J.R.R. Tolkien's position was on queer folks, or the position of many of my other favourites. But it still makes me sad for some reason.
I guess I felt like Card was on my side. That by writing that book, he understood what it was like to be an outsider, what it was like to feel that lonely. I guess not.
Quote from: Pica Pica on August 01, 2012, 04:50:02 PM
I managed to get hold of the twelve volumes of Casanova's unexpurgated memoirs. On volume two and having a wonderful time.
"Unexpurgated" is the coolest word I've heard today.
Quote from: Felix on August 01, 2012, 08:57:53 PM
"Unexpurgated" is the coolest word I've heard today.
Heheh, and it's important with Casanova, the best bits often get cut out.
She Loves You, She Loves You Not by Julie Anne Peters
The Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
Quote from: Felix on June 15, 2012, 06:47:12 PM
I'm still reading A Wild Sheep Chase, but I keep getting distracted by Get Fuzzy and also random manga here and there. We spend a ton of time at the library and I expect that'll continue now that school's out.
Holy crap! Hurray! I'm glad you're finally getting to read that!
I just finished Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife today. Next up on my list is George Boole's An Investigation of the Laws of Thought.
I'm onto Bordeaux/Burgundy: A Vintage Rivalry - Jean-Robert Pitte
i know, I'm lame; another food/wine book
It's Our Prom (So Deal With It) by Julie Anne Peters
"God Is Not One" by Stephen Prothero. I'm nearly done, and its been a fantastic read. I highly recommend it to anyone who is searching or wants to objectively learn about other faiths.
Quote from: Maya Zimmerman on August 07, 2012, 09:11:41 PM
Holy crap! Hurray! I'm glad you're finally getting to read that!
I just finished Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife today. Next up on my list is George Boole's An Investigation of the Laws of Thought.
Dammit Maya. You know I'm going to read whatever you mention.
I've been reading an anatomy book and local history zines. And I keep finding newspapers lying around so I've been reading those. Woohoo my head is full of details about the Polish economy and mining accidents and drought and taxes. Whee. :laugh:
If it counts, Infinite Crisis by Geoff Johns....ir is a Graphic Novel...i probably should leave.
I confess, I have done the Fifty Shades trilogy >:-) I wanted fantasy and escapism and I got it. I also got a renewed desire for a vagina :-*
Quote from: Felix on August 10, 2012, 08:29:00 AM
Dammit Maya. You know I'm going to read whatever you mention.
I've been reading an anatomy book and local history zines. And I keep finding newspapers lying around so I've been reading those. Woohoo my head is full of details about the Polish economy and mining accidents and drought and taxes. Whee. :laugh:
You're always reading such interesting stuff. Be careful about reading anything I mention. I started reading Investigation of the Laws of Thought and it's pretty intense. O_O
Quote from: DonnaTroy on August 11, 2012, 12:31:35 PM
If it counts, Infinite Crisis by Geoff Johns....ir is a Graphic Novel...i probably should leave.
That counts in my book. I liked Infinite Crisis a lot, though really preferred the series directly preceding and following it, Identity Crisis and 52.
Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts
Contact, by Carl Sagan
Quote from: Alexis on August 07, 2012, 09:39:41 PM
I'm onto Bordeaux/Burgundy: A Vintage Rivalry - Jean-Robert Pitte
Worst book ever!
I'm so disillusioned right now :laugh:
Starting
Deception Point - Dan Brown
I'm finally done American Gods. (I took my sweet time reading it.) I have yet to read my new Bleach volumes. I think I might reread the Night Watch trilogy.
The Once and Future King by TH White - first modern book in a while and adoring it so far.
Just last night began "His Excellency: George Washington" by Joseph Ellis.
So far... so good: I'll just have to read on to see how Mr. Ellis takes on breathing new life into "... the deadest, whitest male in American history".
Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
"the second wives club" by Jane Moore, I like it
Axx
Sacred Country by Rose Tremain. Gripping.
Quote from: Padma on August 15, 2012, 11:23:48 AM
Sacred Country by Rose Tremain. Gripping.
That Is a good book.
Quote from: Pica Pica on August 15, 2012, 03:07:57 PM
That Is a good book.
I'm finding it very moving. My inner-woman-who-might-be-a-transman is fascinated.
The World in Six Songs: How the Musical Brain Created Human Nature by Daniel J. Levitin
"Innocence" by Kathleen Tessaro... 2004... this woman is not only pretty (who cares she's a writer?) she is SMART, and funny as heck to boot!
I'm only at page 39 and have had to stop reading for moments because I have to laugh so hard (female like mind you! :))
She gets the sort of situational humour that's so up my ALLEY, just cracks me up, oh wow! :)
OK, done sayin' my bit,
Axélle
I am currently reading a new book about James Madison, James Madison and the Making of America by Prof Kevin Gutzman.
But I would really like to read a new childrens book entitled, My New Mommy: The Right Children's Book for a Difficult Transition by Lilly Mossiano. I hear it has good reviews.
The Suicide Index, by Joan Wickersham.
There's a part of me that needs some closure from a friend's suicide, but there's another part of me that needs to learn what to write in a suicide note, so that there aren't any unanswered questions.
Just finished Hocus Pocus by Kurt Vonnegut and just started Villa Incognito by Tom Robbins.
Re-reading The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin, and Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger - just finished A Door into Ocean by Joan Slonczewski. Also about to start The Fault in our Stars by John Green. Help me!
Different Seasons by Stephen King
Quote from: Andy8715 on August 21, 2012, 03:31:07 PM
Different Seasons by Stephen King
Apt Pupil and Shawshank Redemption are good stories.
My brothers just recieved "A series of Unfortunate Events" as a gift set and I find them pretty easy to read, but also very funny and interesting. I'd definetly recommend them for a fun read.
Alison, Who Went Away by Vivian Vande Velde
Yeats is Dead! by 15 Irish authors.
It is both inexplicable and hilarious.
Daniel Defoe's Trip around Great Britain 1725.
Just resurrected 'My Family and Other Animals' by Gerald Durrell. Goddess I had to read it at school, in the UK, for my 'O levels' and still like it, so it must be good.
Quote from: lilacwoman on August 28, 2012, 02:37:28 PM
Daniel Defoe's Trip around Great Britain 1725.
That's in my to-read pile, any good?
On a related note, I am reading Boswell's travels to the Western Isles.
I didn't know we had a books section :eusa_eh:
Im reading 'The Hobbit'
Quote from: Pica Pica on August 29, 2012, 06:42:33 PM
That's in my to-read pile, any good?
Eye opening in places...annoyingly bland in other sections. Get it from Amazon for one penny, er, one p.
A Game Of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Quote from: lilacwoman on August 30, 2012, 01:38:36 AM
Eye opening in places...annoyingly bland in other sections. Get it from Amazon for one penny, er, one p.
Got it already. Amazon seem to be having a lot of good stuff for a penny at the moment.
Just started reading The Art of Reasoning by David Kelley
I have just finished Michel Foucalt's "History of Sexuality", and am working my way through "Origins of the Modern World" by Robert Marks, and "After Tamerlaine" by John Darwin. History texts, so
have to plough through them in a rush.
Also Kate Bornstein's "My Gender Workbook" and Gary Cox "How to be an Existentialist" for a change of pace. Both a big help at the moment.
Quote from: Pica Pica on August 30, 2012, 05:17:40 AM
Got it already. Amazon seem to be having a lot of good stuff for a penny at the moment.
I got a ton of Koji Suzuki 1st edition hardcovers for $1 each, after they went out of print, at Amazon. :)
Fins are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs
I just read Infinity Squad. It's very similar to Starship Troopers in style in terms of an Earth army with really advanced tech in a war on another planet with highly evolved but low-tech enemies. It's from the POV of the squad leader of Infinity Squad, named such because they wear helmets that, if they die in battle, transmit the contents of their brain into a cloned body so they can get back to fighting.
I really enjoyed it. I recommend it for anyone who likes sort of old-school hardcore sci-fi.
In the interest of full disclosure, it was written by someone in my writer's group and he's releasing it through Smashwords (http://www.smashwords.com/) sometime tonight.
Finished my G. Washington book - it was a good read, but the notes were a mess.
Just started "The Price of Inequality: How Today's Divided Society Endangers Our Future", by Joseph E. Stiglitz - it's an interesting subject, and the author is a Nobel Prize winning economist... but that certainly doesn't make him a writer.
I'm barely out of the Introduction, and not sure I can stand to keep going: this book sorely missed having a competent editor.
Transparent. About transgender youth in LA.
Red Glove by Holly Black. Magical mafia yeah!
I will be reading YA books for as long as I want. Good thing because Holly Black is one of my favourite authors.
has anyone read anything by Ellen Hopkins? She is a great author.
Horns by Joe Hill..
Its going to be a movie starring Daniel Radcliffe
Quote from: Maya Zimmerman on August 11, 2012, 05:09:50 PM
You're always reading such interesting stuff. Be careful about reading anything I mention. I started reading Investigation of the Laws of Thought and it's pretty intense. O_O
So I picked up The Time Traveler's Wife off the holdshelf at the library the other day, and I thought ohmahgolly this is Oprah book club crap, no way. As I was grimacing my daughter says "daddy you put that on hold now you have to read it!" and I laughed but decided to give it a chance. Turns out it is great fun, and I think more ppl would probably pick it up if it played up the science fiction elements on the back cover instead of describing it like it's all romance. So yeah. Most of the way through that.
We got a complimentary newspaper subscription so I read that every day now too.
Yes, I recently read The Time Traveler's Wife and was really unexpectedly blown away by it. And determined I'm never, ever going to watch the film, I can imagine exactly how crap and romanticised Hollywood would make it.
right now I'm reading Circle of Change, by Laney Cairo - which is a delightful (and raunchy) young adult novel set in a gentle pagan/Wicca background, about a young cis gay man getting together with a young trans gay man. It's very funny and very, very sweet.
Quote from: Felix on September 01, 2012, 12:06:54 AM
So I picked up The Time Traveler's Wife off the holdshelf at the library the other day, and I thought ohmahgolly this is Oprah book club crap, no way. As I was grimacing my daughter says "daddy you put that on hold now you have to read it!" and I laughed but decided to give it a chance. Turns out it is great fun, and I think more ppl would probably pick it up if it played up the science fiction elements on the back cover instead of describing it like it's all romance. So yeah. Most of the way through that.
It's funny. I stayed away from it because my ex complained about its excessive use of descriptions of Chicago, but I ended up loving it because of the way it tells such a touching love story in such an interesting way. It's also the single most consistent time travel fiction I've come across that uses the cyclical time travel model. I should have known excessive description wouldn't bother me, considering how much I loved Dangerous Angels when I was younger.
Quote from: Padma on September 01, 2012, 04:00:27 AM
Yes, I recently read The Time Traveler's Wife and was really unexpectedly blown away by it. And determined I'm never, ever going to watch the film, I can imagine exactly how crap and romanticised Hollywood would make it.
I haven't seen it, but I imagine it's really bogged down by time restraints, not to mention losing the journal-based style of the novel. The double first-person perspective allows the reader to fall in love with these characters the way that they fell in love with each other, over the span of their lifetimes, in different orders. It focuses on their feelings about situations instead of just portraying them. I mean, that's generally something that movies can't accomplish in the same way as books no matter what, but this seems like an extreme case.
Quote from: Padma on September 01, 2012, 04:00:27 AM
Yes, I recently read The Time Traveler's Wife and was really unexpectedly blown away by it. And determined I'm never, ever going to watch the film, I can imagine exactly how crap and romanticised Hollywood would make it.
I didn't know there was a movie. I think yeah I'll avoid it too.
I'm mostly done with the book but taking breaks for Tee Time in Berzerkistan, which is funny-pages political stuff. Recentish and fun.
White Truffles in Winter by N M Kelby a wonderful historicle fiction recounting the tale of a premier french chef who revolutionized the restraunt industry and his wife who supported him threw it all.
I just finished Bloodraven by P.L. Nunn. It was absolutely wonderful!! Right now though I'm reading Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb. Love that lady! The farseer trilogy was superb.
Following Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci
I just read Skipping Towards Gomorrah, and now I'm reading a stack of very silly zines. One was about Glenn Danzig and Henry Rollins being in love, and another was about Wolverine doing a bunch of stupid stuff, and another was about a girl who was raised by wolves. One was about monkeynauts.
I keep trying to read the newspaper but my brain is half-broken and wandery today.
The Wrarh of Angels by John Connolly.
If you like thrillers with a twist he is an outstanding author with a very interesting by line. Very well written with excellent scene setting.
Divine Misdemeanors --Laurell K. Hamilton
Death of a Dreamonger by Adam Stevenson.
Finding it a little disappointing so far.
Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger. Second time around.
The Legacy of Shanara. Its a compilation of the whole series.
Redcoat by Bernard Cornwell.
A bit more of a melodrama compared to his usual swash buckling fare.
I have a pile of books to get through including Operation Mincemeat by Ben McIntyre (the use of a dead body to fool the Nazis as to the location of the D-Day landings) and Bill Bryson's Made in America about the development of American English).
For my post grad I am currently stumbling through The Great Shark Hunt by Hunter S Thompson.
Good Moon Rising by Nancy Garden
"50 shades of Grey" by EL James
Kind of intriguing in style... the latest "in item" here in SA.
EDIT:
OMG... complete and utter crap, like written by some love-sick teenagers. The most pathetic book I can recall ever.
9 1/2 weeks PLUS, but lacking finesse and anything one might call -literature-.
An insult to one's intellect...
Waste of time and money >:(
Axélle
I'm reading a Pogo collection.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F_-H-t-Wz1VNU%2FSv4NGrepN9I%2FAAAAAAAAGj0%2FBal74FVQ88k%2Fs400%2FWaltKelly_OriginalPogoSketch_100.jpg&hash=c57f71e42a1188b0dcf8e7e01998e02a8b288b14)
American Casino: The Rigged Game That's Killing Democracy
By Douglas E Schoen
Deliver Us From Evie, by ME Kerr.
I'm reading through the Harry Potter series again. Right now I'm on Chamber of Secrets.
"The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Fate of Worlds by Larry Niven & Edward M. Lerner
Fifty Shades of Grey!
The Flight of Dragons, it is great.
Currently on my nightstand is When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris.
Cold Comfort Farm, Fingersmith, and Exploring Science Book 1 :). Help!
I liked Fingersmith - very twisty.
I am reading 'The Midwife', a collection of eighteenth century magazines written by Christopher Smart before he went mad under the pseudonym of Mary Midnight.
I have also just come back from a talk by Phillip Pullman about his new book which retells 50 of Grimm's Fairy Tales.
Fingersmith is fascinating. The protagonists are just... I'm so impressed Sarah Waters got that to work - enabled the reader to hook into and empathize with those two despite their... flaws.
I'm currently reading 419 by Will Ferguson. Also, I'm reading Grimm's Fairy Tales.
Cats Have No Lord by Will Shetterly.
It comes from an old box of books that was passed to me and I thought I would give it a try because I can do bland fantasy but it is turning out kind of painful :-\
Halfway through What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell. It's alright.
Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts
ALL THE FEELS ;D >:-) :laugh: :icon_omfg: :icon_eek: :icon_cry2:
I am slowly making my way through A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin
The A Song of Ice and Fire series has been, hands down, one of my favorite book series so far.
I'm halfway through Cloud Atlas and had to postpone a date to see it last weekend until I finish the book first. So far, it's quite good.
'Oh Rare Amanda', it's about Amanda McKitterick Ros, quite possibly the worst novelist who ever wrote.
Reading Fahrenheit 451 for school
If it counts
Avengers vs X-Men (i'm at issue 9)
I am just over half way thorugh
Bared to You
by Sylvia Day
I'm such a harlet ! :-*
Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
The Terror Presidency: Law and Judgment Inside the Bush Administration by Jack Goldsmith.
Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny.
Quote from: DeeperThanSwords on December 05, 2012, 09:15:10 PM
Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny.
Ohh, is it any good? I've only read the chronicles of amber, but I lurrved those books! I'd like to read some more from him.
Quote from: muffinpants on December 05, 2012, 09:30:57 PM
Ohh, is it any good? I've only read the chronicles of amber, but I lurrved those books! I'd like to read some more from him.
It's brilliant. Great exploration of spirituality.
Quote from: DeeperThanSwords on December 05, 2012, 09:38:24 PM
It's brilliant. Great exploration of spirituality.
I think I'm gonna have to check this one out :)
I don't know if I already put it in here, but right now I'm reading Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb. Ahh, it is fantastic so far, but I haven't had much time to read :( Thank goodness finals will be over on tuesday!
My current little room reading is Picasso: Creator and Destroyer, written by Arianna Huffington back in the '80s. It's really thick and I'm only like 100 pages along, so this will be awhile at 2-3 pages per trip. You get a pretty good feel for the artistic environment of the Paris art scene in the early 20th century, though.
As an artist to some degree myself, I dig this sort of thing. Once of my fav movies is Henry and June, about writers in Paris in '30s-- a very sexy flick BTW.
~ Lyric ~
Quote from: Nathan. on November 30, 2012, 01:16:33 PM
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
EXCELLENCE.
I'm currently on A Dance With Dragons, also by George R. R. Martin.
I NEED MORE! haha
I'm reading kinda on/off the book "Mad Manners" by the hosts - Tuomas Milonoff and Riku Rantala - of a Finnish travel program Madventures.
Tells about manners and etiquettes around the world, pretty useful for a Finn. :D
"The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman. It's a take on "The Jungle Book".
I've got about 150 pages left in "The Shadow Rising" (Wheel of Time book 4). I'm planning on reading "A Storm of Swords" next.
I'm rereading Dare Truth or Promise by Paula Boock
Waking For Hours by Connie Anne McEntee.
Quote from: EmSchuma on December 28, 2012, 10:14:59 AM
I've got about 150 pages left in "The Shadow Rising" (Wheel of Time book 4). I'm planning on reading "A Storm of Swords" next.
That's a great series. :) I love it!
Gulliver's Travels
Also Death of a Dreamonger, I may actually be one of my top 30 favourite writers.
Quote from: Arawn Gabriel on December 28, 2012, 06:58:43 PM
That's a great series. :) I love it!
Which series, Wheel of Time or Song of Ice and Fire? I'm enjoying both, which is part of why I keep switching between the two :D
Quote from: EmSchuma on December 28, 2012, 08:11:26 PM
Which series, Wheel of Time or Song of Ice and Fire? I'm enjoying both, which is part of why I keep switching between the two :D
Wheel of Time. ^^ I haven't read the other yet. xD I'd like to, though.
Quote from: Arawn Gabriel on December 28, 2012, 08:22:49 PM
Wheel of Time. ^^ I haven't read the other yet. xD I'd like to, though.
Well, I'm enjoying them so far! I'm sure you won't be disappointed once you get to them :D
Quote from: EmSchuma on December 28, 2012, 08:28:44 PM
Well, I'm enjoying them so far! I'm sure you won't be disappointed once you get to them :D
:D ^^ I hope so! I'll be getting to them after my Neil Gaiman books.
Quote from: EmSchuma on December 28, 2012, 10:14:59 AM
I've got about 150 pages left in "The Shadow Rising" (Wheel of Time book 4). I'm planning on reading "A Storm of Swords" next.
A storm of swords is the best in the series and is a good book - not going to spoil the ending. :)
I've ordered True Selves: Understanding Transsexualism by Brown and Rounsley yesterday amd hoping that the book would help me educate my friends and family.
Has anyone read that book?
Lately, I've been rereading When You Are Engulfed in Flames orally. I love the way it feels to form his clever words with my tongue and teeth and lips. It almost makes me feel like I'm clever.
Quote from: Alexia6 on January 02, 2013, 11:57:52 AM
A storm of swords is the best in the series and is a good book - not going to spoil the ending. :)
Thanks for not spoiling it :) I'm a little over 50 pages in (I finished the first Tyrion chapter before trying to go to bed last night).
I started A Storm of Swords yesterday :)
Quote from: Nathan. on January 03, 2013, 06:52:53 AM
I started A Storm of Swords yesterday :)
All my memories of the emotional rollercoaster of the audiobook have just come flooding back to me. I hope you love it.
I am rereading The Hitch Hikers guide to the galaxy: a trilogy in 4 parts.
Nicholas and Alexandra about the Russian Czar and his family. Rasputin was a dark and evil character, a peasant with mesmerizing powers who wormed his way into their family life and opened the door for the Bolsheviks who murdered them in the basement.
Quote from: LilDevilOfPrada on January 04, 2013, 06:41:36 PM
I am rereading The Hitch Hikers guide to the galaxy: a trilogy in 4 parts.
Another awesome book. The movie just doesn't do it justice.
Also reading Atonement by Ian McEwan
Quote from: LilDevilOfPrada on January 04, 2013, 06:41:36 PM
I am rereading The Hitch Hikers guide to the galaxy: a trilogy in 4 parts.
A few years ago, my son gave me
And Another Thing by Eoin Colfer which was billed as part 6 of 3 of the Hitch Hiker's Guide.
http://www.6of3.com/ (http://www.6of3.com/)
Quote from: LilDevilOfPrada on January 04, 2013, 06:41:36 PM
I am rereading The Hitch Hikers guide to the galaxy: a trilogy in 4 parts.
Are you skipping Mostly Harmless?
Quote from: EmSchuma on January 05, 2013, 09:52:18 AM
Are you skipping Mostly Harmless?
Pretty much seeming I never couldnt find the triologies 5th part. Kinda annoys me I will never be able to finish the series.
True Selves: Understanding Transsexualism got delivered this afternoon.
Quote from: LilDevilOfPrada on January 05, 2013, 10:25:00 AM
Pretty much seeming I never couldnt find the triologies 5th part. Kinda annoys me I will never be able to finish the series.
That s***s ... hate when we can't get next book in the series - Have you tried getting The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy it has all 5 volumes.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13.The_Ultimate_Hitchhiker_s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13.The_Ultimate_Hitchhiker_s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy)
Quote from: Alexia6 on January 05, 2013, 11:06:27 AM
True Selves: Understanding Transsexualism got delivered this afternoon.
That s***s ... hate when we can't get next book in the series - Have you tried getting The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy it has all 5 volumes.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13.The_Ultimate_Hitchhiker_s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13.The_Ultimate_Hitchhiker_s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy)
I dont order online because my countrys mail is raided so much ... but I got the Hitch hikers guide to the galaxy a trilogy in 4 parts and seeming I usually travel to asia I cant buy the 5th but when I go to euro I will try aquire it.
"Good Omens" by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman and The blank slate by Steven Pinker
Zoobiquity by Barbara Natterson-Horowitz. Funnest book I've read in years. I might've already mentioned it somewhere. I'm quite taken with it.
Quote from: Arawn Gabriel on January 07, 2013, 06:45:25 PM
"Good Omens" by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.
I recently read that one. It was pretty good.
Quote from: hazel on January 07, 2013, 06:48:36 PM
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman and The blank slate by Steven Pinker
I was on the phone with Phillip Pullman's agent today.
I'm Reading the John Bull series of pamphlets by John Arbuthnott, they are okay.
I am currently reading "This is Gonna Hurt: Music, Photography, and Life Through the Distorted Lens of Nikki Sixx" by Nikki Sixx and i just finished his first book "The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rockstar." I was told that if I'm in America, I have to read these books, and I must say, I swear this guy is my Papa! haha.
"Money", by Martin Amis. I love books with decadent antiheroes as main characters.
Absolutely, Positively Not ... Gay by David LaRochelle
I finally was able to finish ship of destiny by robin hobb, and it was AMAZING. I would wholeheartedly recommend this trilogy to any fantasy lover. Now that I'm done with that, on to the oathbound by mercedes lackey!
"American Gods" by Neil Gaiman. I'm having a nerd fit. XD
Um.... Fundamentals of Physics. Textbook by Halliday/Resnick/Walker.
Game of Thrones. Again. ;D
Im Stahlgewittern by Ernst Jünger. I'm a WWI nerd.
Quote from: Johe on January 25, 2013, 10:02:06 PM
Game of Thrones. Again. ;D
Have you read anything by Joe Abercrombie? You might like his style if you like Game of Thrones.
I'm still working my way through Storm of Swords but some of the chapters are long and apparently my attention span is shot (I blame facebook). So now I'm also reading The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide (currently on Restaurant at the End of the Universe) and Shada (a novel of a half-produced classic Doctor Who story).
Watership Down, and it is wonderful.
I'm am currently reading the hunger games saga
Got stressed out so I read a pile of children's books off my kid's shelf. She never reads the fiction anyway. Dr Dolittle, a picture book about talking animals who learn to take turns listening, a collection of stories about red squirrel (from peter rabbit), a short novel about a kid who has asthma and has trouble in school, um, idk what else and next on tap is The BFG by Roald Dahl.
Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt by Megan Nicolay
Quote from: Constance on February 02, 2013, 11:00:17 AM
Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt by Megan Nicolay
That's very cool. I hope the get along shirt isn't in it. That one kinda creeps me out.
So I read an old fairy tale book last night that was labeled as a read aloud book for young children and beginning readers. Lol it was the most gruesome and riveting stuff I've read in a long time. There was a scene where a princess was trying to help a prince escape an evil magician, and she removes her fingers and four of her toes so the prince can use them as a ladder to climb a tree, and two children get their heads smashed on rocks by a giant who is tricked into thinking each one is the prince, and people are getting poisoned and charmed and drowned left and right...oldschool kid's fiction is sick stuff. :laugh:
I just finished reading Mother Night by Vonnegut. Loved it!!!! I am undecided as to which book I will read next...
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. It's good so far.
Sisterhood of Dune
Babylon 5: Thirdspace (Novelisation)
Doctor Who: The Tenth Planet (Novelisation)
Twitter for Dummies and Pregnancy for Dummies ... I kid you not.
Quote from: Constance on February 11, 2013, 09:33:35 AM
Twitter for Dummies and Pregnancy for Dummies ... I kid you not.
Was "Twitter for Dummies" limited to 140 characters?
Quote from: EmSchuma on February 11, 2013, 09:34:23 AM
Was "Twitter for Dummies" limited to 140 characters?
:D :D :D
I'm currently reading Edge, by Koji Suzuki. It seems to be getting really close to treading the same territory as Loop and Promenade of the Gods, but it's still great. Oh, also, this seems to be the worst translation yet of his work... and it's still amazing.
Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke. :)
Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
I am about to finish the last 10 pages of Guru Sant Singh Kahlsa's
Confessions of An American Sikh: Locked Up In India, corrupt cops, and my escape from a tantric yoga cult which I downloaded for free on Amazon. Then I am moving onto Yann Martel's
Life of Pi because I wanted to see the movie but didn't get the chance to go, and because I couldn't help it, I also bought Alexandra Horowitz's
Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know.
Quote from: Kayla on February 09, 2013, 08:04:42 PM
I just finished reading Mother Night by Vonnegut. Loved it!!!! I am undecided as to which book I will read next...
I love that book, Kurt Vonnegut is such an amazing author.
Quote from: Silver on February 21, 2013, 05:29:47 PM
Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
I haven't read that one, but hear it's good too, let us know what you think about it.
I'm rereading Luna by Julie Anne Peters.
I'm actually listening to an audio book with Chaz Bono's voice: his book, Transition: The Story of How I Became A Man.
Quote from: Silver on February 21, 2013, 05:29:47 PM
Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
Awwww... You should try "Timequake" - It's a bit cheesy, but delivers a very powerful message (one that arrived in a timely manner for myself, and really precipitated a bit of a lateral shift in my outlook... not often that a book does that...).
Currently reading "Conservatives Without Conscience", by John W. Dean. I'm about halfway through, but thus far not finding it particularly good: for one, he has an axe to grind - which shows itself throughout the book - leading to a loss of objectivity... Secondly, he has very little of a point to make - instead engaging in a bit of circular logic, reliant on a small resource pool (he largely cites one study). If this book were titled "Why The Sky Is Blue", it would read something like:
It is self-inherent that the sky is blue... it is also blue because people believe it is is blue.Nice try, Mr. Rogers.
I'm also working on "Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler And Stalin", by Timothy Snyder. I'm not too far into it, but it's reading okay right now (if I overlook the map on every other page: looking at pictures of shifting geographical and political boundaries doesn't do much for me... I'm more of a concept kind of gal... same when I read military history: my eyes just glaze over at glossy pictures of little blue and red cannons arranged along a forgotten brook...). I'm kinda putting the cart in front of the horse on this book - I wanted to make a biography on Stalin my next book, as my interest in him was piqued by the book I most recently completed - "FDR", by Jean Edward Smith (a superb book, except for the frigging footnotes on damn near every page... work it into the text if it's that damn important, but don't make me chase down asterisks and crosses...) - in which the characterization of Stalin was presented as being a bit more complex than the murderous brute I have always filed him away as being...
Anyhoo - Thanks for letting me get this off my chest! :)
Ivanhoe, my kinda hoe! ;D Great story!
Quote from: Sadie May on March 03, 2013, 10:46:39 AM
Awwww... You should try "Timequake" - It's a bit cheesy, but delivers a very powerful message (one that arrived in a timely manner for myself, and really precipitated a bit of a lateral shift in my outlook... not often that a book does that...).
Possibly my favourite Vonnegut that, the bit when he goes to buy a stamp is one of the most moving pieces of writing I have ever read (the mundanity of the activity is a big part of the effect).
I am reading David Simple by Sarah Fielding, Henry's sister. It's a little bloodless so far, I might need something with more bite next.
Harry portter for the 20 th time
Genetics textbook.
A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
Quote from: DianaP on March 03, 2013, 06:09:00 PM
Genetics textbook.
OMG don't envy you. I remember all the fun with crosses, alles and false positives etc. Enjoy!
I will enjoy. :P
I am reading "Pet Sematary" by Stephen King
The Female Brain by Dr. Louann Brizendine.
Guaranteed a NOT TO BE MISSED, by those transitioning MtF. A similar title by the same author, The Male Brain for FtM.
Written by a neuropsychariast with many years of research and clinical experience it provides and astonishing insight into the effects of marinating the brain in your preferred gender hormones.
on with City of Bones, then I'll start on City of Ashes
I'm reading through Julie Rose's Les Misérables translation after remembering how much I loved the musical when I was younger... I'm like 400 pages in and not even halfway through. :laugh:
I was disappointed by the recent movie with the two notable exceptions of Fantine (Anne Hathway killed it) and Marius (I've never cared that much for the character, but Eddie Redmayne made me bawl during Empty Chairs at Empty Tables).
Quote from: Catherine Sarah on March 05, 2013, 08:08:05 AM
The Female Brain by Dr. Louann Brizendine.
Guaranteed a NOT TO BE MISSED, by those transitioning MtF. A similar title by the same author, The Male Brain for FtM.
Written by a neuropsychariast with many years of research and clinical experience it provides and astonishing insight into the effects of marinating the brain in your preferred gender hormones.
That's odd, I found the book to be incredibly insulting, suggesting that women were trapped into their minds by their hormones and unable to ever escape. I also found that it provided an awful lot of legitimising evidence for all the narrowing rubbish that has been forced on women the last thousand years or so.
Just had a tear as another Johnson biography ended, read a few biographies on mad eighteenth century poet Kit Smart and giving Casanova's third volume a go - so far not as entertaining as the other two.
Come On All You Ghosts, poetry collection by Matthew Zapruder.
Trans-Sister Radio by Chris Bohjalian
About to start on 'Cold Granite' by Stuart MacBride, on a friend's recommendation.
A biography of Calvin Coolidge, which is pretty good (but could have stood some proofreading) - and Bush At War, by B. Woodward... which is also pretty good.
I was mostly rushed for time at the library, and had to grab a coupla things on the fly (I'm completely miserable without something to read).
I'm currently dipping in and out of the last published "A Song of Ice and Fire" book when I get time, but I'm partially not wanting to finish it because who knows when G. R. R. Martin will feel kind enough to give us the next installment? I would say the name of it, but I'm not sure where my copy has run off to and I get completely confused seeing as some are split into two by some publishers and others aren't. I don't know how it would be possible to comfortably read the versions which aren't split into two books though, magnifying glasses perhaps?
I need to get down to the library before the 18th to pick up a book I've got reserved there as well though, "Sacred Country" by Rose Tremain for two reasons, one, the character is trans, and two, it's set in my county.
Quote from: AlexanderC on May 13, 2013, 08:25:47 AM
I need to get down to the library before the 18th to pick up a book I've got reserved there as well though, "Sacred Country" by Rose Tremain for two reasons, one, the character is trans, and two, it's set in my county.
It's a moving, if rather bleak book. Well written though.
George R.R. Martin's vampire book Fevre Dream
A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge
The Ego and It's Own Max Stirner
And the Autobiography of Malcolm X
kinda a book spazz
Quote from: Kia on May 13, 2013, 06:47:20 PM
George R.R. Martin's vampire book Fevre Dream
A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge
The Ego and It's Own Max Stirner
And the Autobiography of Malcolm X
kinda a book spazz
Wow ... thats a lot of books. I am still stuck on
50 Shades of Grey
Quote from: Alexia6 on May 14, 2013, 02:28:46 PM
Wow ... thats a lot of books. I am still stuck on 50 Shades of Grey
Read that one, the author certainly had a vivid imagination about male sexual prowess. ???
I'm reading a modern book for once. It's called 'Our Tragic Universe' and is by Scarlett Thomas.
I'm finding I have to read it slower than I am used to because it feels like I have walked in on a group of friends having an interesting conversation that I wasn't there at the beginning for. Perhaps this is what reading modern novels feels like.
Currently Reading:
Jean-Paul Sartre "Existentialism and Humanism"
Albert Camus "The Rebel"
Quote from: Sadie May on May 12, 2013, 06:54:39 AM
A biography of Calvin Coolidge, which is pretty good (but could have stood some proofreading) - and Bush At War, by B. Woodward... which is also pretty good.
I was mostly rushed for time at the library, and had to grab a coupla things on the fly (I'm completely miserable without something to read).
I like Woodward's works. Since you are reading "Bush At War", make sure you read "State of Denial" the third part. Not only is it a great insight into the Iraq war, but it also really highlights conditions in the State Department under Rumsfeld. Interesting for political and history junkies.
QuoteAlbert Camus "The Rebel"
oooh I really want to read that, I'm a big Camus fan just haven't got around to reading his bigger works
I am currently reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance but am also about to add (I sometimes read 2 books at once) Preston and Child's Two Graves.
I *heart* Pendergast :-*
Quote from: Felix on May 11, 2013, 04:30:35 AM
Come On All You Ghosts, poetry collection by Matthew Zapruder.
A few times a year my best friend and I are able to go back and meet up in the little college bar where we hung out to smoke/write/drink four dollar pitchers and plan our future fame and glory ;) When we got together this past February she had this book in her purse, and I fell in love with Zapruder. Gorgeous stuff, can't wait for his new collection next year.
As far as my current reading goes: All I can say is that I'm absolutely NOT reading Wallace's The Pale King, as that was bought to be started after I finish this round of revisions on my new rough draft...and I would never, ever break my word on something like that...
(Seriously loving it, though.)
Officially, I'm re-reading Hemingway.
-Jake
This weekend I have been re-reading Restoration: Congress, Term Limits, and the Recovery of Deliberative Democracy, by George F. Will. In fact, he signed my copy at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, CA, in 1992.
A review on Amazon.com:
In this book George Will has proven himself to be one of the great political thinkers of our times. His wisdom ... is still vitally relevant to today and tomorrow and to the future of the American Republic as when he wrote it....
Many of us have had a nagging feeling that something was causing our nation to slowly slide into the hands of unconstitutional, unpatriotic, unethical, immoral, greedy, power hungry, elitist who pretend to care about "WE the People." But really care only about padding their own nest, enriching themselves and their families with material and monetary things, and to ensure their political longevity.
They seek only to acquire unwarranted influence and with it manipulate the mob and sheepish unenlightened among us for their deviant personal near-treasonous self-gratification.
Communism, socialism, mob rule democracy (dispised by our founders) or life-term representative incumbancy, it makes no difference to them, as long as they are on the top of the social aristocracy, and the rest of us are on the bottom. Nepotism and narcissism runs rampant in their ranks and this shows each and every day whether they are conducting business in the House or Senate, or during elections and reelection campaigns....
George will brings all these tactics, the senseless selfish unprofessional conduct, the sickening behavior in direct violation of their sacred charges and honor to light. He highlights their failure to respect their sworn oaths and their duty.
He explains how and why our political process, our political representatives and our judiciaries have failed us.
The devils ... of our destruction ... are incumbency, redistricting, subsidies, excessive pay for public service and a retirement system that breeds contempt for the constitution....
This is a great book, one of the best I have ever read and Mr. Will would get my vote as the man who could help us heal our nations. A must read for one who can stomach the truth of just how bad things have gotten in Washington...
Word count: 329
I've got a few sitting in the 'mid-read' pile.
House of Leaves is the one I'm currently working through. Delightfully meta, and the way the anomaly weaves through the book, narrator and characters is just brilliant. It is too bad that the author's other books did the same thing - Avante Garde only works if you keep moving forward.
The Trial is also partway through as the less beefy 'on the train' book. Joseph K.'s plight mirrors Kafka's own life and mentality brilliantly.
Metro 2033, Discipline and Punish, The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius and Ulysses are next in line, all for various reasons. I like to mix my fiction and literature as much as possible.
EDIT: Also worth adding in is my use of Finnegan's Wake to aid my vocal training. It's hard enough to read normally, but using proper voice and intonation is equally important. It also helps develop an unintelligible Irish accent.
Been rereading some classics, To Kill a MockingBird Right now
Quote from: girl you look fierce on May 29, 2013, 01:40:43 AM
I am reading Dune :) though I am kinda thinking lol, what have I gotten into??? It's not exactly what I wanted but I was looking for something audiobook format to listen to while I do loooong walks on the treadmill.
Next I think I will read Interview With the Vampire, I have seen the movies now I want to read the books... I know probably the wrong way around but I'm happy to have seen Tom Cruise's Lestat ;D
I've always wanted to read those two (well dune more of a series). I should get to them one day.
Well, I recently finished "The Silmarillion" by Tolkien. I've read it before, but never followed all the nuances. It's very detailed and reads more like a historical work at times than a piece of fiction.
Next on my list is the following:
"The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism" by Max Weber
"Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman
Quote from: girl you look fierce on May 29, 2013, 01:40:43 AM
Next I think I will read Interview With the Vampire, I have seen the movies now I want to read the books... I know probably the wrong way around but I'm happy to have seen Tom Cruise's Lestat ;D
The book is better than the movie :)
"Half Life" by Shelley Jackson. It's set in a parallel future and it about a woman named Nora who longs for love and adventure. But she is just one problem: she is a conjoined twin, a twofer, with another head (one that has been asleep for 13 years). So she sets out to find a secret medical society that will get rid of her unwanted asleep sister, Blanche, and cut the problem offf once and for all.
It's a really good book but can be hard to follow at times but I highly recommend it. Here's a preview from Google Books:
http://books.google.com/books/about/Half_Life.html?id=2sV2faWGmWkC (http://books.google.com/books/about/Half_Life.html?id=2sV2faWGmWkC)
EDIT: There are pretty striking parallels in the novel to trans idenitity: Nora seeks a surgical solution to her problem but the thing is surgery is illegal and highly frowned upon, it's about discovering and becoming oneself, and it is about the shackles that communities put on us. (There is nothing so pathetic as a protest.) (The half-life of Uranium 238: 769 million years. The half life of myself: 30.)
But most of all it's about doing what is ever necessary to be happy and to have a "half life" i.e. maybe you can't have a full life as 30 years are taken from you but you can have a half life.
I identify with the novel completely. But then again I am 30.
Quote from: learningtolive on May 16, 2013, 06:40:23 PM
Jean-Paul Sartre "Existentialism and Humanism"
Albert Camus "The Rebel"
Sartre and Camus hated each other so it is ironic you're reading both. I read his short stories last year. The Stranger is one of my fave books too. (And he fired the gun into the Arab and each shot was like knocking four times on the door to unhappiness).
Quote from: girl you look fierce on May 29, 2013, 01:40:43 AM
Next I think I will read Interview With the Vampire, I have seen the movies now I want to read the books... I know probably the wrong way around but I'm happy to have seen Tom Cruise's Lestat ;D
You won't be dissapointed. I can't recommend these books highly enough. They are awesome. All Anne Rice's vampire books are the bomb. I liked "The Vampire Lestat" the best. "Queen of the Damned" was also great and so was "The Vampire Armand."
Quote from: Joanna Dark on May 30, 2013, 08:12:28 PM
Sartre and Camus hated each other so it is ironic you're reading both. I read his short stories last year. The Stranger is one of my fave books too. (And he fired the gun into the Arab and each shot was like knocking four times on the door to unhappiness).
I'd say hate is a strong word. The main contention was over Soviet communism. Camus was an anti totalitarian, so he would often speak out against Sartre's beloved regime. Also, Camus kind of put down Sartre for his minimal involvement in the French resistance during World War two. Other than that, they didn't seem to hate each other. While they differed with one another and would speak out, they appeared to have respect for each other's work. However, this is all to the best of my knowledge. You may be aware of some additional info I was unaware of.
And thank you for mentioning "The Stranger". It's a classic. I love the conversation between the protagonist and the priest at the end.
Well this article says it is their views on the USA: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/14/sartre-and-camus-in-new-york/ (http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/14/sartre-and-camus-in-new-york/)
But yeah I think and thought it was communism too that separated them.
Quote from: LearnedHand on May 30, 2013, 07:47:28 PM
The book is better than the movie :)
The book is ALWAYS better than the movie!, they have to cut stuff out, the author is the originator! the creator. the real story is there.
Quote from: vegie271 on May 31, 2013, 10:56:24 AM
The book is ALWAYS better than the movie!, they have to cut stuff out, the author is the originator! the creator. the real story is there.
I think the series True Blood is actually better then the Sookie Stackhouse Novels. Or should I say Sookeh lol
I finished "Thud!" by Terry Pratchett (which BTW features transsexual dwarfs) two weeks ago. Now i have spent my money on music and have to wait for more money. My favorite author, probably. Has his own witty style. Shame he has Alzheimers.
I'm reading John Dies at the End, which is a lie. He dies at the beginning.
Quote from: Shodan on June 03, 2013, 03:25:56 PM
I'm reading John Dies at the End. Which is a lie. He dies at the beginning.
Doesn't the writer write for Cracked!?
Quote from: CalmRage on June 03, 2013, 03:26:23 PM
Doesn't the writer write for Cracked!?
Ayup. I've watched the movie, and it was pretty awesome. I'm reading the book and it's even more awesomer.
Quote from: Shodan on June 03, 2013, 03:27:18 PM
Ayup. I've watched the movie, and it was pretty awesome. I'm reading the book and it's even more awesomer.
I'm an avid Cracked reader. Can you tell me what the writer's name is? And didn't he write You Might Be A Zombie?
His nom de plume is David Wong.
Quote from: CalmRage on June 03, 2013, 03:19:41 PM
I finished "Thud!" by Terry Pratchett (which BTW features transsexual dwarfs) two weeks ago. Now i have spent my money on music and have to wait for more money. My favorite author, probably. Has his own witty style. Shame he has Alzheimers.
I don't remember any MTFs in Discworld :(
Other FTM themed books: Equal Rites - about a girl that can use Wizard magic, and Monstrous Regiment - about a girl that wants to join the army.
Monstrous Regiment was an absolute blast :). Otherwise, The Thief of Time has been my most favoured one and the most serious of Pratchett's books, because there is a very deep philosophy and other treasures hidden inside :)
Quote from: Anna! on June 03, 2013, 05:03:59 PM
I don't remember any MTFs in Discworld :(
Other FTM themed books: Equal Rites - about a girl that can use Wizard magic, and Monstrous Regiment - about a girl that wants to join the army.
Cheery Littlebottom is one.
Quote from: CalmRage on June 04, 2013, 07:09:09 AM
Cheery Littlebottom is one.
I was thinking that female dwarves, like Cheery, started off biologically female but took up male roles and dress in their society (basically making all female dwarves FTMs). Cheery came out as female, not transexual.
Going to start reading "The Truth" either today or tomorrow (if i can find the concentration). Always found the concept of time-travel intriguing.
Quote from: CalmRage on June 04, 2013, 07:39:11 AM
Going to start reading "The Truth" either today or tomorrow (if i can find the concentration). Always found the concept of time-travel intriguing.
"The Truth"? Time-travelling? Did You mean, perhaps, "Night Watch"? Both are excellent reads, by the way, with Night Watch winning out a bit IMHO :)
One a side note, I found that "Unseen Academicals" was one of the weakest books ever...
Quote from: Sammy on June 04, 2013, 08:30:03 AM
"The Truth"? Time-travelling? Did You mean, perhaps, "Night Watch"? Both are excellent reads, by the way, with Night Watch winning out a bit IMHO :)
One a side note, I found that "Unseen Academicals" was one of the weakest books ever...
D'oh. I picked the wrong one again! No problem, i'll get it in a few months.
Wasn't Unseen Academicals that book with the football team?
Quote from: CalmRage on June 04, 2013, 09:06:14 AM
D'oh. I picked the wrong one again! No problem, i'll get it in a few months.
Wasn't Unseen Academicals that book with the football team?
Exactly! Never been a fan of football though... At the same time, "Snuff" was an excellent read.
Quote from: Sammy on June 04, 2013, 01:51:57 PM
Exactly! Never been a fan of football though... At the same time, "Snuff" was an excellent read.
I hate football. Will admit to watching it whenever the German national team or the Dutch football team plays. It's my "national duty".
Just finished Chuck Palahniuk's Survivor. About to start Pygmy by the same guy. He's quickly becoming my favorite author, this will be my sixth book of his.
I just started
What Is the What by Dave Eggers, it's great so far! :D
Quote from: Chamillion on June 04, 2013, 01:59:16 PM
Just finished Chuck Palahniuk's Survivor. About to start Pygmy by the same guy. He's quickly becoming my favorite author, this will be my sixth book of his.
Loved
Survivor,
Pygmy wasn't as good as his other stuff.
I love all the Terry Pratchett books, however Thief of time is my favorite main branch book, along with the rest of the Susan/Death branch. I do also love the Tiffany Aching stories aswell. Oh and the cynical understandings of the post office and the banks in Going Postal and Making Money.... I really hope raising Taxes comes out soon!! I love Pratchett!!! ;D
Quote from: Chamillion on June 04, 2013, 01:59:16 PM
Just finished Chuck Palahniuk's Survivor. About to start Pygmy by the same guy. He's quickly becoming my favorite author, this will be my sixth book of his.
I've always wanted to read more of his stuff. I only got around to reading "Fight Club". I was going to read "Choke", but I heard it wasn't so great. Maybe I'll put it back on my pile of books to read.
I started reading a Harry Dresden book on the suggestion of a friend.
Quote from: LearnedHand on June 15, 2013, 08:58:21 PM
Loved Survivor, Pygmy wasn't as good as his other stuff.
Yeah I've been finding that out lol. Have only read the first few chapters and can't get into it. Usually once I start reading one of his books I can't put it down so this is odd for me.
Quote from: learningtolive on June 18, 2013, 03:19:13 PM
I've always wanted to read more of his stuff. I only got around to reading "Fight Club". I was going to read "Choke", but I heard it wasn't so great. Maybe I'll put it back on my pile of books to read.
Choke was pretty good I thought. Not my favorite of his but still worth a read, you should!
I'm currently reading "How We Do Harm" by Otis W. Brawley M.D., "The Price of Inequality" by Joseph E. Stiglitz, and "Inseperable" by Emma Donoghue. Looking forward to putting "House of Steel" by David Weber on my reading queue.
I bought John Green's "Looking For Alaska" yesterday, and finished it about an hour ago. It had been a long time since I read a good book at all let alone so intensively.
Needless to say that story did not forget to be awesome :P
Jess.
I'm currently reading "A Fair Country: Telling Truths About Canada" by John Ralston Saul.
Here's a summary from Amazon:
"In this startlingly original vision of Canada, renowned thinker John Ralston Saul argues that Canada is a Métis nation, heavily influenced and shaped by Aboriginal ideas: Egalitarianism, a proper balance between individual and group, and a penchant for negotiation over violence are all Aboriginal values that Canada absorbed. An obstacle to our progress, Saul argues, is that Canada has an increasingly ineffective elite, a colonial non-intellectual business elite that doesn't believe in Canada. It is critical that we recognize these aspects of the country in order to rethink it's future."
Besides
What is the What, I am finishing up a non-fiction book called
The First Muslim: The Story of Muhammad and it's incredibly good, probably the best non-fiction I've ever read.
Quote from: Chamillion on June 18, 2013, 04:47:31 PM
Yeah I've been finding that out lol. Have only read the first few chapters and can't get into it. Usually once I start reading one of his books I can't put it down so this is odd for me.
Choke was pretty good I thought. Not my favorite of his but still worth a read, you should!
Yeah the broken English was part of what made me not get into it.
Choke is hilarious, definitely worth the read.
Rereading Tom Jones and loving it 50 times more than i did the first time.
Quote from: Pica Pica on July 06, 2013, 05:03:21 PM
Rereading Tom Jones and loving it 50 times more than i did the first time.
Ah, I
adore that book! Utterly so. Good choice!
I'm reading 'Carmilla' by Sheridan LeFanu. It's often considered the first 'proper' Vampire story, predating Stoker by almost two decades. I'm enjoying it very much so far.
I'm reading "The Exorcist". :) It's not bad though I'm waiting for it to get scary. It's supposed to be really scary to read, but so far nothing's phased me.
Quote from: Arawn Bheur on July 07, 2013, 01:10:59 PM
I'm reading "The Exorcist". :) It's not bad though I'm waiting for it to get scary. It's supposed to be really scary to read, but so far nothing's phased me.
I guess it depends on when you read it. When I read it, I was a 12 year old alter server. I was scared out of my mind!
The movie scared me too, until I saw it with my parents and two of our parish priests. They were MST3King it! "That's the wrong prayer. That's the wrong vestments. We don't do that... etc" Both of them were smirking the whole way through the actual exorcism.
Currently devouring Elantris by Brandon Sanderson.
Quote from: Yukari-sensei on July 07, 2013, 05:40:20 PM
I guess it depends on when you read it. When I read it, I was a 12 year old alter server. I was scared out of my mind!
The movie scared me too, until I saw it with my parents and two of our parish priests. They were MST3King it! "That's the wrong prayer. That's the wrong vestments. We don't do that... etc" Both of them were smirking the whole way through the actual exorcism.
I don't know..."Pet Sematary" still gives me the heebie-jeebies. So far there's only been part in "The Exorcist" that made me remotely go "o.o" and that was because she licked her baby sitter's ankle. >.>
xD that movie got me when I was maybe 7. Now I can watch it without flinching. xD
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Just read a book entitled "The Art of Loving," what an eye opener that is! The author is a psychoanalyst that blows Freud's theories out of the water as total BS and hones in on what real love is about as opposed to what Western Society has bought into. I highly recommend it, by Erich Fromm.
Just started "First, break all the rules", and I have "7 habits of highly effective people" coming up right after. No time for pleasure reading when you are trying to tackle a management-development list :)
Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg
Currrently reading The Transgender Guidebook: Keys to a Successful Transition, by Anne L. Boedecker, PhD. :D
The last book I read was Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline. Great book! Lots of fun!
"1984" by George Orwell
The information is quite relevant today. Back in 1984 newspaper editorialists said George was wrong. What they didn't see is that it was in fact happening incrementally starting with politically correct speech, the thought police are not far off. :police:
Quote from: Shantel on August 17, 2013, 05:55:16 PM
"1984" by George Orwell
The information is quite relevant today. Back in 1984 newspaper editorialists said George was wrong. What they didn't see is that it was in fact happening incrementally starting with politically correct speech, the thought police are not far off. :police:
post of the day. People have to open their eyes. What i see praised as technological advancement is worrying me a bit.
Quote from: ZootAllures! on August 18, 2013, 09:31:24 AM
post of the day. People have to open their eyes. What i see praised as technological advancement is worrying me a bit.
You're sure right about that!
Got 2 on the go,
Hung Jury - Testimonies of Genital Surgery by Transsexual Men. This book is for me a much needed positive outlook on genital surgery for guys
and
Veronica Roth's Divergent which I find is a pleasantly entertaining read. Glad I picked it up on a whim.
Nate
'The Pig That Wants to be Eaten - and 99 Other Thought Experiments',
By Julian Baggini.
'Tricks of the Mind',
By Derren Brown.
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
Quote from: Lajs on August 26, 2013, 05:52:26 PM
'Tricks of the Mind',
By Derren Brown.
Oh, how is that? I love him! He's so talented and cute.
As of now, I'm reading a bunch of GRE prep books and math workbooks. And I try each night to read a little of "The City of God" by Saint Augustine; however, my studies are preventing me from even making a dent in it.
Quote from: learningtolive on August 26, 2013, 08:21:45 PM
Oh, how is that? I love him! He's so talented and cute.
Just as funny and fascinating as any of his shows. It even gives a little more insight into him as a person. The man is a genius, no question about that! : )
I was putting it off for years and years, but I have finally started reading Anna Karenina.
Quote from: Mary81 on August 27, 2013, 02:29:26 AM
I was putting it off for years and years, but I have finally started reading Anna Karenina.
I did the same for "War and Peace", so don't sweat it. I commend you.
Quote from: learningtolive on August 27, 2013, 03:02:34 AM
I did the same for "War and Peace", so don't sweat it. I commend you.
I am in hospital next week to get a tonsil out. I was actually planning to pick up War and Peace to occupy the time :)
Star Wars: Edge of the Empire
Yes. I've been conned into running a game using the new Fantasy Flight RPG.
Having watched the movie I am currently reading Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.
The Shawshank Redemption is one of the best movies I've watched, Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman are great. Books usually ruin the movie if I watch the movie second, or vice versa, but not in this case. The book gives slightly different details (perhaps for good reasons) but it gives good extra insight which I love. I also recommend Vanity Fair and Crime and Punishment.
"The Black Swan" by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Naked Lunch by William S Burroughs, my favorite Beat writer.
I'm reading a Jean Auel book--I think it's the third in her series about prehistoric humans--and it is positively awful. I tried to read these once before and gave up quickly when it became apparent that the second and third books were far inferior than the first book, which I thought was actually pretty good. If I didn't need to read these for some other books I'm writing about, I would gladly have given up the endeavor after the first mention of Jonda-dork's swollen manhood and Idiot-la's inviting folds.
The Satanic Bible by Anton LeVay.
Quote from: dalebert on August 27, 2013, 07:52:52 PM
The Satanic Bible by Anton LeVay.
Funny story: I was in a Barnes & Noble once cruising through the New Age section since there is sometimes a gem amongst the tarot decks and dream dictionaries. And there is Anton LeVay's book of Satanic Rituals. And being a occult extremist I thought "oh, cool." So I open up to a random page and start reading, and wouldn't you know it I pledged my soul to Satan right there in the mall.
Story of my life :P
It's actually a pretty good read so far. I recommend it. Also feels like a quick read, very much contrary to that other bible. Yeesh. I made it about 2/3 through and couldn't take it anymore though I did get through the New Testament several times over. That one's not too bad.
Quote from: dalebert on August 27, 2013, 07:52:52 PM
The Satanic Bible by Anton LeVay.
It's sort of like Friedreich Nietzsche meets Aleister Crowley. Personally, I would prefer to read those sources than Levay. If you are enjoying that, I would suggest reading Nietzsche in the future. Crowley not so much.
Totally read Crowley :laugh: I'm no Thelemite but I thoroughly enjoy Crowley, especially when you realize that he is trying to ->-bleeped-<- people as well as legitimate teach you how to commune with demons. quite simply there would be no LeVay without old Uncle Al.
Quote from: Kia on August 28, 2013, 01:32:51 AM
Totally read Crowley :laugh: I'm no Thelemite but I thoroughly enjoy Crowley, especially when you realize that he is trying to <not allowed> people as well as legitimate teach you how to commune with demons. quite simply there would be no LeVay without old Uncle Al.
As a non spiritual person, I can take the philosophy without the magick. That's why I recommend Nietzsche (even though I have major disagreements with him). But Crowley is a great source of information for those interested in magick and would probably be enjoyed by the fans of LeVay.
Quote from: learningtolive on August 28, 2013, 01:37:15 AM
As a non spiritual person, I can take the philosophy without the magick. That's why I recommend Nietzsche (even though I have major disagreements with him). But Crowley is a great source of information for those interested in magick and would probably be enjoyed by the fans of LeVay.
Both Nietzsche and Crowley are landmarks in my philosophical and spiritual legacy (i.e. paradigm). So I'm a fan though I've never actually read any of Nietzsche's works at length. Though I am more of a Max Stirner girl a la The Ego and His Own and an Austin Spare fanatic. But yeah if you like LeVay Crowley would definitely catch your fancy
Quote from: learningtolive on August 28, 2013, 01:17:53 AM
It's sort of like Friedreich Nietzsche meets Aleister Crowley. Personally, I would prefer to read those sources than Levay. If you are enjoying that, I would suggest reading Nietzsche in the future. Crowley not so much.
Fortunately, I don't have to choose. Like I said, this is actually a pretty quick read. I've read a little Nietzsche and more of him is already on my reading list. Already loaded up my Kindle with it.
The Passionate Journey, Irving Stone.
Raising My Rainbow (http://raisingmyrainbow.com/): Adventures in Raising a Fabulous, Gender Creative Son by Lori Duron
1984 - George Orwell
I want to read Raising my Rainbow (bought it for kindle already)... but I'm taking a break from any Trans* non-fiction. I just started " Dance, Dance, Dance" by Murakami Haruki. I've read 6 or so of his books... definitely my favorite author!
Quote from: ZootAllures! on September 17, 2013, 03:47:07 PM
1984 - George Orwell
Really gets one thinking, that one. It's right up my alley with its themes.
You Are Not A Stranger Here by Adam Haslett. Found it in a free pile the other day and I'd recommend it to anyone. Just well-written short stories about a number of white Americans, but more feeling and understanding than you'd expect from that premise.
Quote from: kabit on September 17, 2013, 06:18:00 PM
I want to read Raising my Rainbow (bought it for kindle already)... but I'm taking a break from any Trans* non-fiction. I just started " Dance, Dance, Dance" by Murakami Haruki. I've read 6 or so of his books... definitely my favorite author!
Love Murakami!
Having a whack at Locke's 'Essay Concerning Humane Understanding'.
Reading it is a bit like wandering round a very large and strange town, you get lost for several streets but then find somewhere you know before turning off another street and get lost again, that said it is very engaging.
Quote from: Pica Pica on October 02, 2013, 03:26:57 PM
Having a whack at Locke's 'Essay Concerning Humane Understanding'.
Reading it is a bit like wandering round a very large and strange town, you get lost for several streets but then find somewhere you know before turning off another street and get lost again, that said it is very engaging.
Locke? Blechh. Gave me headaches. Now Mill I could dig.
Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth -- by Reza Aslan
Orwell's 1984. Or as I call it "United States 2013".
Quote from: Jessica Merriman on October 07, 2013, 09:26:21 AM
Orwell's 1984. Or as I call it "United States 2013".
I'm reading it too, it certainly is relevant to 2013 isn't it?
Quote from: Shantel on October 07, 2013, 09:29:04 AM
I'm reading it too, it certainly is relevant to 2013 isn't it?
reading it too.
"On the People's Terms - A Republican Theory and Model of Democracy" by Philip Pettit. In addition, "House of Steel" by David Weber and "Twilight of the Elites" by Christopher Hayes.
"What is Religion?" By Robert Crawford
Anthropological look at 6 major religions.
The Ethical Slut by Dossie Easton and Janet W. Hardy
The Gifts of Imperfection, by Brené Brown. (Subtitle: Your Guide to a Wholehearted Life) I am finding this book amazing. It is addressed to everyone, but so much of it is applicable to my life struggling to live according to my brain/heart/soul rather than my body.
- Kate
Sisters by the river by Helena Thorfinn. Kind of reminds me about The Kite Runner/A Thousand Splendid Suns (haven't read his last book yet but it's on my to read list). Usually I prefer books with lots of crimes and action but it's quite good, not as lovey dovey as I thought it would be.
"Reefer Madness" by Eric Schlosser
The war on drugs never ceases to shock and disgust me. :-\
'October Mourning' by Leslea Newman.
This is a fairly new book, a cycle of sixty-some poems composed around the beating and death of Matthew Shepard in October 1998. Newman allows the world that witnessed this event the chance to speak 'their' experience - hence, stars speak, as does the moon, the fence Shepard was tied to, the truck he was driven in, the road the truck travelled along.
I am nearing the halfway point of this journey and I have already wept two or three times. A stunning work of poetic imagination (or, perhaps, human sympathy/sensitivity).
Quote from: TanyaW on October 25, 2013, 07:55:05 PM
'October Mourning' by Leslea Newman.
This is a fairly new book, a cycle of sixty-some poems composed around the beating and death of Matthew Shepard in October 1998. Newman allows the world that witnessed this event the chance to speak 'their' experience - hence, stars speak, as does the moon, the fence Shepard was tied to, the truck he was driven in, the road the truck travelled along.
I am nearing the halfway point of this journey and I have already wept two or three times. A stunning work of poetic imagination (or, perhaps, human sympathy/sensitivity).
That was so tragic and unnecessary, I'll have to read those poems, very thoughtful of her!
Native Poetry in Canada: A Contemporary Anthology
Edited by Jeanette Armstrong & Lally Grauer
For anyone interested in 'watching' a highly marginalized group (sound familiar?) slowly find/raise it's voice within mainstream society, this one is an amazing read. Many times I found myself choked near tears by the bravery on display.
the shadow matrix by marion zimmer bradley
"I am J" by Cris Beam
I'd be curious to know our FtM community's opinion of it.
"The Death and Life of Great American Cities" by Jane Jacobs. This was written over 50 years ago and is still relevant. In fact, with the US car culture, suburbia, and urban sprawl sucking the life out of the cities, creating places where we have to drive to go anywhere and do anything, it is probably more relevant than ever.
Quote from: K8 on November 02, 2013, 06:31:02 PM
"The Death and Life of Great American Cities" by Jane Jacobs. This was written over 50 years ago and is still relevant. In fact, with the US car culture, suburbia, and urban sprawl sucking the life out of the cities, creating places where we have to drive to go anywhere and do anything, it is probably more relevant than ever.
Every great city should have a Jane's Walk.
I'm reading a strange little book called Medusa, through the eyes of the Gorgon. So far, so good
I just finished reading Stephen King's 11/22/63 and I found it to be a very interesting novel about the possibilities of not assassinating JFK and the reprocussions of what could happen if he had lived.
Right now I've just started reading John Grisham's "The Brethren."
Quote from: Gina Taylor on November 04, 2013, 06:57:46 PM
I just finished reading Stephen King's 11/22/63 and I found it to be a very interesting novel about the possibilities of not assassinating JFK and the reprocussions of what could happen if he had lived.
Right now I've just started reading John Grisham's "The Brethren."
Just finished reading John Grisham's "The Brethren", and I really didn't like it :P
One of his best books was "A Time To Kill."
I'm reading "Indexing," a Kindle Serial by Seanan McGuire. It's about a world where fairy tales are real and recurring nightmares. The main character identifies as Snow White.
There are TONS of quotes that fit us... and, surprise... we just ran into a trans* character! Seanan is pro trans* and into LGBT+ rights.
The book isn't too deep... but it's quite entertaining!!
Rounded with Sleep by Rob Chilson
The synopsis on the back made me think it was written about Malachite.
"Shadowboxer" by Paula Sophia...
I bought it to read because I was going to meet the author, who is a local trans woman. I was expecting to be unimpressed; after all, Oklahoma is not known as a hot spot for the literary elite. And the book is a cop novel. Not even on the radar for my preferred genre.
I am continually being blown away. The prose is stark and compelling, the character (a macho police trainee, just out of the academy) is identifiable, tough, and still vulnerable. And his struggle as he learns he is transgendered is all too real, too close for comfort.
Having met the author, my suspicions are confirmed. She has blood in this story, her heart's blood was poured into it.
Highly, HIGHLY recommended.
I am re-reading "Labyrinth" by Kate Mosse and enjoying it even more than I did when I read it for the first time (~ 3 years ago). Very looking forwards to start the second part of her Languedoc trilogy "Sepulchre" and "Citadel" (the third one).
It is archaeological mystery novel, there are two main storylines, which set out in 1209 and 2005 and they are interlinked - both protagonists are female :) It is a good adventure read, where action (Albigensian Crusade and the Grail storyline) is nicely balanced with emotional life of both heroines (romance, love, betrayal).
I'm so happy. They've reprinted my favorite vampire novel series, Anno Dracula, by Kim Newman, because he just released the fourth book.
"ARAMIS or The Love of Technology" by Bruno Latour
All The Laws But One: Civil Liberties in Wartime
by William H Rehnquist
(A)n insightful and fascinating account of the history of civil liberties during wartime
Quote from: Jamie D on December 05, 2013, 01:25:09 AM
All The Laws But One: Civil Liberties in Wartime
by William H Rehnquist
(A)n insightful and fascinating account of the history of civil liberties during wartime
I have a deep respect for Rehnquist, even though I disagree with him on many points.
For Yourself : The Fulfillment of Female Sexuality; by Lonnie Barbach, PH.D
WOW!!!! :embarrassed: :embarrassed: :embarrassed: Ah-hummmm Yes. IT does work. And very well thank you. :embarrassed:
<Can someone turn the A/C on please. It's hot in here. :laugh:>
Quote from: Catherine Sarah on December 10, 2013, 10:37:48 AM
For Yourself : The Fulfillment of Female Sexuality; by Lonnie Barbach, PH.D
WOW!!!! :embarrassed: :embarrassed: :embarrassed: Ah-hummmm Yes. IT does work. And very well thank you. :embarrassed:
<Can someone turn the A/C on please. It's hot in here. :laugh:>
'It's always a pleasure to pleasure someone who knows how to pleasure herself. A journey through new territory is best when at least one of you has a good map and an idea of how to get there." -Maddie
I am loving Julia Serrano,Excluded: Making Feminist and Queer Movements More Inclusive. (2013, Seal Press).
Outstanding framework for understanding and combatting all forms of sexism-based marginalization, especially cissexism and transmisogyny.
Quote from: MadelineB on December 10, 2013, 11:00:44 AM
'It's always a pleasure to pleasure someone who knows how to pleasure herself. A journey through new territory is best when at least one of you has a good map and an idea of how to get there." -Maddie
Thank you. It's interesting to experience how all this new stuff works. And how well it works. Completely different to the previous model :laugh:
Quote from: MadelineB on December 10, 2013, 11:00:44 AM
I am loving Julia Serrano,Excluded: Making Feminist and Queer Movements More Inclusive. (2013, Seal Press)
Sounds like my next one to read. Information is power.
You're doing great things Maddie. Keep up the awesome work. But don't bite that tongue. It was looking intense. :laugh:
Love you
Catherine
Quote from: Catherine Sarah on December 10, 2013, 11:12:14 AM
Sounds like my next one to read. Information is power.
Me too! I just finished Whipping Girl and it's excellent (though extremely technical). I expect to reread it at least a time or two.
I am currently reading "Kafka by the Shore."
Quote from: Catherine Sarah on December 10, 2013, 11:12:14 AM
Thank you. It's interesting to experience how all this new stuff works. And how well it works. Completely different to the previous model :laugh:
Sounds like my next one to read. Information is power.
You're doing great things Maddie. Keep up the awesome work. But don't bite that tongue. It was looking intense. :laugh:
Love you
Catherine
Love you too. Have to keep tonguing to think though; I lose 50 IQ points when my tongue is inside my mouth and not sticking out.
Regulatory Discourses in Education: A Lacanian Perspective (R. Atkinson)
I'm reading Colbert's American Again, and also a Nebula awards collection from I forget what year. Sometime in the last decade.
Been on a Kit Smart binge and reading his letters at the moment.
John Hattie - Visible Learning
Hey!
I'm rereading Electroboy by Andy Behrman for the fourth time, rereading Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh for the second time, and reading The Arab Mind by Raphael Patai for the first time.
"Things that matter" by Charles Krauthammer
The man is a brilliant writer!
Perv: The Sexual Deviant in All of Us (Jesse Bering)
Susan Griffin's The Eros of Everyday Life: Essays on Ecology, Gender, and Society.
Like all of Griffin's work, this book has a hard to pin down quality to it - not unlike poetry, which makes sense as she also composes in this genre. The gender theme comes and goes through the writing, when it arises, though, she offers some fascinating insights. Typically these run along the lines of how our ideas about gender impose structure that is ofttimes not appropriate.
At one juncture she offers this wonderful and thought provoking passage:
"Though it is the nature of mind to create and delineate forms, and though forms are never perfectly consonant with reality, still there is a crucial difference between a form which closes off experience and a form which evokes and opens it...The effect that a deadening form has on a human life is more complex if only because a living, complex being still exists beneath any assumed identity, hiding behind and yet contradicting and rebelling against the mask."
Quote from: Tanya W on January 05, 2014, 11:43:22 AM
Susan Griffin's The Eros of Everyday Life: Essays on Ecology, Gender, and Society.
"Though it is the nature of mind to create and delineate forms, and though forms are never perfectly consonant with reality, still there is a crucial difference between a form which closes off experience and a form which evokes and opens it...The effect that a deadening form has on a human life is more complex if only because a living, complex being still exists beneath any assumed identity, hiding behind and yet contradicting and rebelling against the mask."
Ms. Griffin seems to have an excellent sense of perception, looks like a good read!
Quote from: Shantel on January 05, 2014, 11:48:32 AM
Ms. Griffin seems to have an excellent sense of perception, looks like a good read!
I would agree with this comment on Ms Griffin's perception. She seems to allow her gaze to linger, a rarity in this culture in my opinion. Through this lingering she sees quite deeply and the reports she offers from these depths are considerable in their insight. Again and again I find myself reading and then re-reading and
then re-re-reading.
In both this and her poetic sensibility she is similar to Annie Dillard. Generally, however, I like Ms Griffin's subject matter a bit more - more of an edge / a
cutting edge to it.
Should you pick it up, I'd love to hear any impressions.
Quote from: Tanya W on January 05, 2014, 12:18:38 PM
I would agree with this comment on Ms Griffin's perception. She seems to allow her gaze to linger, a rarity in this culture in my opinion. Through this lingering she sees quite deeply and the reports she offers from these depths are considerable in their insight. Again and again I find myself reading and then re-reading and then re-re-reading.
In both this and her poetic sensibility she is similar to Annie Dillard. Generally, however, I like Ms Griffin's subject matter a bit more - more of an edge / a cutting edge to it.
Should you pick it up, I'd love to hear any impressions.
I probably will, but mind you I am a slow reader still on the "Dick and Jane" level according to my S.O. who hogs the Kindle. ;D
Quote from: Shantel on January 05, 2014, 12:31:10 PM
I am a slow reader still on the "Dick and Jane" level according to my S.O. who hogs the Kindle. ;D
If someone who reads Charles Krauthammer and considers picking up Susan Griffin is considered a 'Dick and Jane' level reader, well your SO must be formidable in the letters department! Someone along the lines of
Schooling in Capitalist America (my toughest slog ever) and Marcel Proust! ;)
Quote from: Tanya W on January 05, 2014, 12:53:11 PM
If someone who reads Charles Krauthammer and considers picking up Susan Griffin is considered a 'Dick and Jane' level reader, well your SO must be formidable in the letters department! Someone along the lines of Schooling in Capitalist America (my toughest slog ever) and Marcel Proust! ;)
I'm still slogging through Krauthammer, he's intelligent, insightful and humorous and sometimes a tad over my head. I started 1984 some time back and found it so depressing that it's on hold probably for quite some time.
Quote from: Shantel on January 05, 2014, 01:00:47 PM
I started 1984 some time back and found it so depressing that it's on hold probably for quite some time.
This I can certainly understand. Honestly, however,
1984 is one of several books I go back to again and again. My experience of titles like this is the writing lifts them so far above the depressing nature of their content - or perhaps takes them so deeply
into this content - that, paradoxically, they transform into a testament to the enduring human spirit. Granted there are not many this well-written -
1984, Cormac McCarthy's
The Road, and, though working in a different medium, Bob Dylan's 'Blind Willie McTell' - but they are out there.
Still, sometimes one has to simply put that book down...
Tragedy and Hope (productions.org) A History of the World In Our Times
FREE download on NOOK.
QuoteThe Peace Revolution Podcast acts as a virtual classroom for adults, designed to point out and provide useful resources and information pertaining to history, philosophy, economics, politics, and other subjects; to enable individuals to act responsibly and attain life, liberty, and happiness.
She's Not There by Jennifer Finney Boylan
The movie has made me nostalgic for reading The Hobbit. I read it several times as a kid but it's been so long. I'll give it a peek on my Kindle.
I'm not reading it at the moment because I don't have it yet but I will be reading a book called House of Evil: The Indiana Torture Slaying by John Dean.
I bought a book on culturally responsive education reforms in Maori communities. Looks like a cool read. Eager to crack. :)
Star Wars: Kenobi by John Jackson Miller
I'm reading The Sword in the Stone by TH White, I love his irreverent take on Arthurian legend.
White Fire by Preston & Child. It's part of the Agent Pendergast series.
1984.
It's been happening for years i think. We're not at the beginning of it but in the endphase of preparation.
Quote from: Zóôt Threepwood on January 17, 2014, 03:40:13 PM
1984.
It's been happening for years i think. We're not at the beginning of it but in the endphase of preparation.
I got part way though it and had to put it down because it is a very depressing read. The people of the former Soviet Union experienced much of that as are the people of North Korea now. I see elements of it in place here in the US already with so many nanny state laws now on the books, political correctness speech and group-think. George's book was prophetic, he was ahead of his time!
Quote from: Shantel on January 17, 2014, 05:28:33 PM
I got part way though it and had to put it down because it is a very depressing read. The people of the former Soviet Union experienced much of that as are the people of North Korea now. I see elements of it in place here in the US already with so many nanny state laws now on the books, political correctness speech and group-think. George's book was prophetic, he was ahead of his time!
Crimethink! Shantel unbellyfeel Ingsoc
Quote from: Zóôt Threepwood on January 17, 2014, 05:36:12 PM
Crimethink! Shantel unbellyfeel Ingsoc
Uh -oh the thought police are after me! :o
Quote from: Shantel on January 17, 2014, 05:52:44 PM
Uh -oh the thought police are after me! :o
Oranges and lemons,
Say the bells of St. Clement's.
You owe me five farthings,
Say the bells of St. Martin's.
When will you pay me?
Say the bells of Old Bailey.
When I grow rich,
Say the bells of Shoreditch.
When will that be?
Say the bells of Stepney.
I do not know,
Says the great bell of Bow.
Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!
Fifty Shades of boredom.. what a rubbish book. I can't imagine how the orginal Fifty Shades sold millions.
Quote from: Zóôt Threepwood on January 18, 2014, 07:30:13 AM
Oranges and lemons,
Say the bells of St. Clement's.
You owe me five farthings,
Say the bells of St. Martin's.
When will you pay me?
Say the bells of Old Bailey.
When I grow rich,
Say the bells of Shoreditch.
When will that be?
Say the bells of Stepney.
I do not know,
Says the great bell of Bow.
Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!
Shades of Lizzie Borden who had an axe, she gave her mother forty whacks and when she was done, gave her father forty-one.
Quote from: Shantel on January 18, 2014, 10:31:41 AM
Shades of Lizzie Borden who had an axe, she gave her mother forty whacks and when she was done, gave her father forty-one.
Under the spreading chestnut tree
I sold you and you sold me
There lie they, and here lie we
Under the spreading chestnut tree
A Beefheart picture and a Monkey Island name - great stuff.
I'm reading a translation of a 12th century Bestiary and it is very interesting the way the other blends natural history, myth and christianity into one bizarre hotch-potch.
Quote from: Pica Pica on January 18, 2014, 01:17:22 PM
A Beefheart picture and a Monkey Island name - great stuff.
I'm reading a translation of a 12th century Bestiary and it is very interesting the way the other blends natural history, myth and christianity into one bizarre hotch-potch.
rubber chicken puller
puller puller
puller puller
;)
The eye of the world by Robert Jordan. I've also got Book 2 The Great hunt lined up when I"m done with the first one. And King's Under the Dome, so many I've yet to read but so little time.
Starting on "The reason I jump" on Tuesday I believe. It's the thoughts of an autistic child. Intrigues me as I can relate.
Politics by Aristotle
http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/politics.html
Quote from: Thing on January 24, 2014, 03:41:41 PM
Politics by Aristotle
http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/politics.html
A good choice! I find Aristotle rather interesting, although, the world he proposes seems rather cold.
Murdoch's Pirates. Brilliant stuff, reads like a cold war spy book.
Admittedly I have an interest in satellite TV and was aware of the various people and web sites involved, but it still makes for fascinating reading and well before the obscene telephone hacking scandal.
http://www.amazon.com/Murdochs-Pirates-hacking-Ruperts-skullduggery-ebook/dp/B009VA1NVU
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/on-the-run-with-murdochs-pirates-20121024-284th.html
http://www.murdochspirates.com/
I just picked up 1636: Seas of Fortune. I'm also eagerly awaiting the next Honor Harrington installment and comic book!
The Janus Tree by Glen Hirshberg was priced at $1.50 on a bogo sale day at the library store, and mis-shelved so I didn't realize how dark the stories would be. It's pleasant stuff, creepy enough to be fun and literate enough to be fascinating and boring enough to be safe to read in bed or when I'm not necessarily happy. It feels cheap and meaningful.
I am currently reading the aptly-named, How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran. It came to me highly recommended from a friend of mine. It is a pretty good book, though there are chapters that make me feel really dysphoric.
Finally got the book I've been looking for called The House of Evil: the Indiana Torture Slaying by John Dean. It's a true crime story about a girl that was tortured to death in the 1960's.
Quote from: Mr Hockey on February 16, 2014, 09:27:51 AM
Finally got the book I've been looking for called The House of Evil: the Indiana Torture Slaying by John Dean. It's a true crime story about a girl that was tortured to death in the 1960's.
Sounds gruesome!
Quote from: Shantel on February 16, 2014, 09:32:40 AM
Sounds gruesome!
It is a very horrific story; I've read a lot about it online but the book goes into more detail. Ellen Page played Sylvia Likens, the girl that was tortured in the movie An American Crime.
Quote from: Mr Hockey on February 16, 2014, 09:35:48 AM
It is a very horrific story; I've read a lot about it online but the book goes into more detail. Ellen Page played Sylvia Likens, the girl that was tortured in the movie An American Crime.
Stories like that and about the three girls in Cincinnati and others we read about leaves you wondering about humanity and makes you paranoid about people and places.
I've just finished "The Republic of Thieves" by Scott Lynch.
It follows the misadventures of con-artists in a Renaissance style fantasy setting as they are pitted against each other in an attempt to rig an election.
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first instalment "The Lies of Locke Lamora" which has become one of my favourite books of all time.
Right now I'm re-reading The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers. (Currently Free for Kindles on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/King-Yellow-Robert-William-Chambers-ebook/dp/B00847UYWA/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=)) It's a classic book of weird tales that influenced Lovecraft and just a bunch of others, and is currently being woven into the show True Detective (which is an awesome show, if you get HBO). I highly recommend it.
Quote from: Shodan on February 21, 2014, 06:12:14 PM
Right now I'm re-reading The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers. (Currently Free for Kindles on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/King-Yellow-Robert-William-Chambers-ebook/dp/B00847UYWA/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=)) It's a classic book of weird tales that influenced Lovecraft and just a bunch of others, and is currently being woven into the show True Detective (which is an awesome show, if you get HBO). I highly recommend it.
Been watching it, it's well done and extremely erie and creepy but not too out of line with reality for New Orleans.
Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills :o
Quote from: Shantel on February 21, 2014, 06:18:49 PM
Been watching it, it's well done and extremely erie and creepy but not too out of line with reality for New Orleans.
I initially wasn't all that interested in it, until a friend of mine told me about the connection to the book (which, if you can't tell, I'm a huge fan of.) The great thing about it is that it really captures the mood of the book as well, and could have very well been one of Chambers' stories if he were alive today to write another one.
I'm in a very active writer's group and a friend is working on the sequel to his first book (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16060312-infinity-squad), which I recommend you check out if you like sci-fi. I read an earlier draft but he's changed some things so I'm re-reading it all since it's been a little while. It looks very promising and I'm looking forward to reading the final version!
I'm afraid the title isn't very original-- Infinity Squad 2. :)
Quote from: Shodan on February 21, 2014, 06:12:14 PM
Right now I'm re-reading The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers.
I've seen references to that somewhere, I believe in a game that was Lovecraft-inspired. Arkham Horror?
I'm reading The Hobbit.
Nebula Awards collection from 1968
I am currently reading Carrie by Stephen king, great book in a really weird format i should say also, almost done with it also.
I just finished that scifi collection, and oh my gosh it is dated. The stories hold up fine except for the references to "darkies" and "negroes" (and worse in that vein) and homosexuality explicitly and casually talked about as a perversion. 1968 is not that long ago, but I'm so glad I exist now and not then.
The Trans-fer Student by Elise Himes
Currently reading book 10 in the Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson.
An excellent fantasy series (best I've ever read) but very very long (over 3 million words)
Once I finish I plan to start the prequel trilogy that Erikson is currently writing.
I'm reading a great non-fiction book:
Taoist Sexual Meditation: Connecting Love, Energy and Spirit by Bruce Kumar Frantzis
my odd choice is currently transgender 101
I have a reading rotation. I usually read 3-4 books at a time, a little of each throughout the day. It reminds me of my school days, which I miss somewhat. Takes me a while to get through one title but I like to savor things.
On my current rotation is:
Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler; Intellectuals and Society by Thomas Sowell; Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever by Christoper Hitchens; and Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee.
Finished Inferno by Dan Brown a few days ago (it's good! I think it's better than the Da Vinci Code, personally. But if you read too many of Brown's books his style becomes too obvious, IMO), and just started in the first book of A Song of Ice and Fire. You know the HBO hit series the Game of Thrones? Well, those are the books it's based upon.
Me as a fully seasoned fantasy nerd find it hard to believe I didn't pick it up WAY earlier, even though I knew of it's existence and knew lots of people said it was good. And even when the series hit TV, I still kept a blind spot for it and DID NOT watch it until season 3 was well finished. I even watched the first episode many months ago and was so unimpressed I didn't even finish it. But later on I convinced my parents to give it a try with me (lots of people say it's... unhealthy to watch it with your parents, but my dad actually loved it! (my mom thought it was too much violence and sex, but yeah...)), and was hooked right after the second episode, and got pretty obsessed with it.
So I REALLY recommend it to anyone (as well the books as the series), and if you like fantasy you MUST MUST MUST watch and/or read this!
ok the new book of the week...... "Shes not the man i married"
I simply must recommend The Days of Anna Madrigal by Armistead Maupin. If you were reading Maupin's Tales of the City series decades ago this is a fresh treat. I enjoyed the characters and dialogue so much that rereading the old books from his series was next.
Anna is the transgender mother to her intentional family of delightful characters that consider her the glue in their lives. It was one of the first books i read on my kindle that i have also enjoyed. so much so that when i was reading a hard copy recently I automatically started pressing on a word i wanted to look up in the dictionary. Duh too techno much?
Great fun!
Quote from: Erik Ezrin on March 21, 2014, 07:32:27 AM
and just started in the first book of A Song of Ice and Fire.
Yeah good choice! I've read all the books, and of course i've seen it on TV. I've found the books even better than the tv episodes. The political plots are way more detailled in the books, there is more characters, and all in all the whole Westeros universe is larger.
Obviously there is a lot you can't put in a tv episode, so the books provide much more depth :D
I think i've read the entire book set in 6 months. ENJOY!
PS: can't wait for the next book!
PS*: you'll see how hard it is to not spoil people once you reach the fourth book xD
I'm reading The Hobbit. Read it ages ago, but what with the films being so different, I forget a lot of the details so I wanted to read it again and get more familiar with it. Then I'll be reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy again.
Quote
Yeah good choice! I've read all the books, and of course i've seen it on TV. I've found the books even better than the tv episodes. The political plots are way more detailled in the books, there is more characters, and all in all the whole Westeros universe is larger.
Obviously there is a lot you can't put in a tv episode, so the books provide much more depth :D
I think i've read the entire book set in 6 months. ENJOY!
PS: can't wait for the next book!
PS*: you'll see how hard it is to not spoil people once you reach the fourth book xD
Yeah! I saw it on TV first, and was hooked after the second episode (the first was a bit confusing with all the new names and stuff, and actually the first time I tried to watch it I quit halfway though. I don't even get HOW that was possible now LOL!), and then decided to pick up the books as well. I though the tv show was good (and it IS! Compared to book films it is very true to the books and does a good job in showing the complexity of the politics and plots going on in Westeros, and is good to follow for people who haven't read the books first (unlike many movies of complex books like these))
But now I am reading the books I actually like them A LOT more! You get so much more backgrounds, and details, and everything! Also some characters that come right out of the blue in the show have a good buildup in the books.
Quote from: Erik Ezrin on March 31, 2014, 05:02:48 AM
Yeah! I saw it on TV first, and was hooked after the second episode (the first was a bit confusing with all the new names and stuff, and actually the first time I tried to watch it I quit halfway though. I don't even get HOW that was possible now LOL!), and then decided to pick up the books as well. I though the tv show was good (and it IS! Compared to book films it is very true to the books and does a good job in showing the complexity of the politics and plots going on in Westeros, and is good to follow for people who haven't read the books first (unlike many movies of complex books like these))
But now I am reading the books I actually like them A LOT more! You get so much more backgrounds, and details, and everything! Also some characters that come right out of the blue in the show have a good buildup in the books.
Exactly what I think. How far are you in the books?
I'm currently reading Percy jackson and the sea of monsters i loved the films and the books but they do tend to keep me up late at night i get so stuck into the story line ::)
Quote from: Shantel on February 16, 2014, 09:39:57 AM
Stories like that and about the three girls in Cincinnati and others we read about leaves you wondering about humanity and makes you paranoid about people and places.
I've read stories like that since I was around 11 so it doesn't make me paranoid. It made me more aware of just how screwed up humanity can be. Now...the nightly news and news websites, in general, with their focus on "if it bleeds, it leads" and doom n gloom, in general, THAT is the stuff that warps people's perceptions about reality. I've seen it many times. So many people living in fairly safe locales believe they are going to be murdered the moment they walk out the door.
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Exactly what I think. How far are you in the books?
Almost through book 1. Got myself book 2 already for when I'm finished.
Actually I kinda quit reading, because of all the horrible books I had to read for school I just started to hate it, while I was an avid reader in my youth. And my obsession with this great universe/story made me pick up books again after a long time, and I'm very glad I did!
Fate of Worlds by Larry Niven and Edward M. Learner
Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac.
:)
I'm reading "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood, a novel about a time in the future where everything is ruled by a new type of government and most women are unable to get pregnant, so they take the women who are fertile and use them as vessels to get pregnant for the rich well off 'commanders' and their wives. Its very interesting, I like "what if" kinds of books that explore different possibilities.
Quote from: Elijah on April 19, 2014, 01:41:45 AM
I'm reading "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood, a novel about a time in the future where everything is ruled by a new type of government and most women are unable to get pregnant, so they take the women who are fertile and use them as vessels to get pregnant for the rich well off 'commanders' and their wives. Its very interesting, I like "what if" kinds of books that explore different possibilities.
My sister used to live across the street from Atwood. She's an eccentric cat and quite brilliant.
Nearly finished "A storm or swords" by George Martin.
Don't have HBO here so if I want to know what happens in season 4 5 & 6 of Game of thrones I don't have to wait for it to be released on blue ray.
The books are so much better than the TV series. Much more background and detail.
Gwynne, I would like to see an electric cat...
J
Jenny, I have no HBO either, but some place called "piratebay" is my friend ::)
But yeah, the books are better. Though I think it's easier to enjoy the books when you have seen the show than to enjoy the show when you have read the books (get it? Lol)
Wendy the Witch School Drop-out by A. C. Harris
"redefining realness" by Janet Mock.
Highly recommend to anyone who hasn't read it! if you don't know who Janet Mock is she's a transgender activist and the book is her life story. It's gotten more publicity than any other trans book that i can think of, which is great.
WARNING SLIGHT SPOLIERS COMMING WITH GEORGE R.R. MARTIN'S WRITING STYLE CONTINUE READING AT YOUR OWN RISK
Still here ok. One of the interesting things about his writing style is that he is not afraid to destroy a main character mid novel same goes for the ones he edits, (if you like him or fantasy check out the wild card series, editor or fever dream, writer). To me he also is not afraid to make you get invested in a character then set you up for something big.
@Immortal Gypsy, yeah true, I actually liked that of his style. It keep things exciting. Like REALLY exciting. You REALLY fear for their lives, instead of -like when watching "Batman Begins" for example- KNOWING an important character will live. Also is his series one of the FEW fantasy novels I've read where not everything is black and white, good vs evil, but where EVERY character or creature has good and bad characteristics, like in real life. Wait, did I say EVERY? Every except the White Walkers. (but what do we know about the White Walkers? Very little. I'd like to see them deepened out more, know WHY they exist, WHY they want to kill humans, etc. etc.)
Quote from: Erik Ezrin on April 24, 2014, 08:20:22 AM
@Immortal Gypsy, yeah true, I actually liked that of his style. It keep things exciting. Like REALLY exciting. You REALLY fear for their lives, instead of -like when watching "Batman Begins" for example- KNOWING an important character will live. Also is his series one of the FEW fantasy novels I've read where not everything is black and white, good vs evil, but where EVERY character or creature has good and bad characteristics, like in real life. Wait, did I say EVERY? Every except the White Walkers. (but what do we know about the White Walkers? Very little. I'd like to see them deepened out more, know WHY they exist, WHY they want to kill humans, etc. etc.)
Keep reading
I definitely will. Currently in book 2, but I'll catch up with the show soon enough.
Just... GEORGE FREAKING MARTIN, START WRITING!!!
Though I'd better not complain too much, or he will kill even more favourite characters (if Tyrion dies... oh God... I will tear that book in two! Like seriously!)
One problem with the novels is he started the second generation at the wrong age and before he last published book (a feast of crows), he had written himself in a little bit of a corner. By a dance of dragons there is more elbow room for him but with this series, wild cards and the tv show it will be some time before it's complete. Remember he only has two more novels left in the series. (He can take all the time he wants as long as he release some more Dunk and Egg stories. Short stories set in westeros past)
Right now, I'm working on The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice, then I'll be working on The Wolves of Midwinter, which is the second book in that series. Soon as my FTM book comes in the mail, though, I'll be tearing into that. I'm also reading an informational book on the side about everyday life in ancient Egypt (I have a sort of obsession with ancient Egypt) whenever I have time, and get tired of a spicy werewolf thriller :laugh: