What are you reading? - Page 13

J A Eyers · 08-25-2006, 03:41 AM

"Lazily leafing" = looking for the juicy bits in particular?

What's the Eco book about?

The Drunkk Machine · 08-25-2006, 07:22 AM

Precisely, although some of them (thankfully) still managed to slip below the radar. The Mysterious Flame... is about a sixty year old man, a dealer of rare books, who wakes from a coma with an almost encyclopedic knowledge of facts and literature, but has lost all of his own personal memories. The book deals with him travelling back to his childhood house reliving them, trying to remember the face of his first love that has haunted him throughout his life. It's full of illustrations and whole song lyrics, from comic panels to Fascist propoganda. I read the first third of it over the course of a week than left it. I finally summoned the energy to tackle it again and finished the remaining pages in one afternoon.

I started The Business but only got a chapter in before we had a power cut. (!?) Perhaps the most inviting opening chapter ever though. Hopefully it'll carry on.

J A Eyers · 08-26-2006, 02:48 PM

I looked up Mysterious Flame on Wikipedia and I see Eco has said it's the last novel he's going to write. Hmm.

noodle boy · 09-16-2006, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lithium65
The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. Mmhm, undead ghouls.

Read World War Z yet? Great stuff. Max Brooks knows his zombies. just finished WWZ myself, got zombie survival guide last month. Read through it about ten times since then.

BullpupDFWM · 09-18-2006, 07:42 PM

I recently read Donnie Brasco by Joseph D. Pistone and Richard Woodley, Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi, and The Way of the Wiseguy by Joseph D. Pistone. All top books that I'd recommend to anyone interested in the Mafia.

I also recently read The Big Nowhere by James Ellroy and I'm nearing the end of L.A. Confidential.

Gretel · 09-21-2006, 05:52 PM

Just finished An Enquiry Concerning The Principles Of Morals by David Hume. Now 150 pages into The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt.

MacCabbe · 09-21-2006, 06:38 PM

Gretel, once it'll be translated in German, I really advise you to have a look on "Les Bienveillantes", by Jonathan Littell.

Gretel · 10-03-2006, 02:55 PM

I'm definitly going to do that. Might be a while until it gets translated though. Last thing i heard is publishers are outbidding each other with ridiculously high amounts of money for the rights.

Desdinova · 10-13-2006, 01:29 AM

I've been on an alternate history binge lately. Most recently finished SM Sterling's Dies the Fire trilogy and then Conquistador, and I just started rereading The Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove.

Vega · 10-23-2006, 11:36 PM

Ugh, I promised myself I'd never again subject myself to the garbage books that have been released under the title of star wars, especially after the new jedi order debacle.

But..............a knights of the old republic book........about Darth Bane.....so tempting to get it.....

Seifer · 11-02-2006, 10:17 AM

I just finished World War Z and I am Legend. I was on a zombie/vampire kick during halloween.

From what I hear both are being made into movies, so you might want to read the "un Hollywood'ized" versions to get the real stories.

BullpupDFWM · 11-06-2006, 05:07 PM

Reading Gangland International by James Morton. It's a bit of a monster at 900 pages, especially since he has a very dry writing style, but it's an interesting read, hearing about all the crazy shit that's happened in the world of organised crime.

Xeal · 11-07-2006, 02:07 AM

Started a few days ago on Magician by Raymond Feist. Its a fantasy book.. Pretty exciting

MacCabbe · 11-07-2006, 07:43 AM

Right into some Neil Gaiman orgy... I started with the savorous Neverwhere, then with the disappointing Stardust, and I'm now enjoying each and every line of American Gods.

Conner Macleod · 11-07-2006, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Real Mac Cabbe
Right into some Neil Gaiman orgy... I started with the savorous Neverwhere, then with the disappointing Stardust, and I'm now enjoying each and every line of American Gods.

'American Gods' rocks

On my list of books to read, the sequel to 'American Gods' entitled 'Anansi Boys' is next.

Hannibalien · 11-27-2006, 10:31 PM

I've taken two british literature classes this semester, and I'm very glad I did, since it's expanded the almost non-existant literature selection we were given in high school. A few of the works we've read are:

- Jane Eyre - Didn't think I'd like it but I love it
- Mill on the Floss - Didn't care much for it until the ending
- A Handful of Dust - Instantly one of my Favorites
- Look Back in Anger - Also instantly one of my Favorites
- A Passage to India - Didn't find terribly exciting
- Good Morning, Midnight - So bizzare and suffocating I love it

We've also read a bunch of poety, of which The Waste Land, Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and Kubla Khan are the standouts.

I'm also in a shakespeare class, and Henry V and Othello are awesome. As is Hamlet though it's more difficult to approach.

Right now I'm reading Dracula and I can't put it down.

Injektilo · 01-01-2007, 03:53 AM

Just finished Grey Knights. Was alright, tried too hard to be unpredictable though.

Injektilo · 01-01-2007, 03:54 AM

Just finished Grey Knights. Was alright, tried too hard to be unpredictable though I think.

Bicest-80 · 01-04-2007, 08:43 AM

I'm reading "Hannibal Rising" by Thomas Harris. I'm really surprised by the writing style in this one, it's very to the point and simple, while the other books had a tendency to wander. It's a simple story, but it's thrilling; I'm up to the bit where the guys who did wrong by Hannibal are really getting whats coming to them. Now to see if the movie is rubbish or not (I am quietly optimistic).
I'm also slowly devouring Neil Gaiman's "Fragile Things", I thought the story about the months of the year was great, and the story within the story was really haunting and engaging.

MacCabbe · 01-04-2007, 12:56 PM

En attendant le vote des betes sauvages by A. Kourouma. An excellent novel regarding the state of things in Africa...

01-04-2007, 01:49 PM

The Otori series.

They feel more like documentaries than the typical fantasy stories. Good detail, and not really a bad series, but your too far removed from the characters. I want to find out what happens, but I don't really care for either one of the main characters.

Not bad, but I don't think they are great either.

Hannibalien · 01-10-2007, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bicest-80

I'm reading "Hannibal Rising" by Thomas Harris. I'm really surprised by the writing style in this one, it's very to the point and simple, while the other books had a tendency to wander. It's a simple story, but it's thrilling; I'm up to the bit where the guys who did wrong by Hannibal are really getting whats coming to them. Now to see if the movie is rubbish or not (I am quietly optimistic).
I'm also slowly devouring Neil Gaiman's "Fragile Things", I thought the story about the months of the year was great, and the story within the story was really haunting and engaging.

Yeah, where has HANNIBAL was full of superflous shit (i.e. A lesbian bodybuilder who kills her brother with an eel) this one is very minimalized. Still, its exactly what I expected. Nothing standout or overly interesting.

Temujin · 01-10-2007, 06:57 PM

Just finished Freakonomics by Steven Levitt. Goddamn that was an interesting read.

Currently in the middle of a volume of Hermann Hesse's writing--Siddhartha, Demian, and a coupla other things. I really should finish reading Steppenwolf, started it and then had to return it to the library.

Looking forward to either moving on to Talbot's or Proust's works.

MacCabbe · 01-11-2007, 12:13 PM

The Eyes of the Dragon, by Stephen King. Surprisingly decent.

BullpupDFWM · 01-11-2007, 04:14 PM

Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris. Pretty good so far.

Cutter Zane · 01-11-2007, 07:21 PM

The Walking Dead by Rupert Kirkman - an ongoing comic series following the survivors of a zombie holocaust. Fantastic story, with strong character focus.

Injektilo · 01-11-2007, 10:08 PM

Been reading lots of Warhammer 40k novels recently, one or two were complete duds (Warrior Brood especially), but I happily enjoyed Eisenhorn, Draco, Armageddon and Grey Knights.

Read Lord Of The Rings for the first time a couple of weeks ago too.

Kimarhi Ronso · 01-11-2007, 10:34 PM

I tried reading through the lord of the rings, and go so far as Hobbit and Fellowship. By the time I got too Two Towers, I couldn't take anymore. His way of writing wasn't very fluid and hard for me at least, to get into.

Injektilo · 01-13-2007, 03:42 AM

If I was to be honest, I was expecting something better. After being talked up to it's total brilliance I found myself a tad underwhelmed.

Understandable, since he's speaking in 50+ year old tongues (the "threw some faggots on the fire" line made me chuckle inwardly), but I'll stick to the films I think.

Have to give it rrrrispeck though Kimmy, given all that it's spawned. Lord Of The Rings is my Metallica, I can appreciate it setting standards, but much prefer the contemporary media it's given birth to.

J A Eyers · 01-13-2007, 08:10 AM

I gave up on both The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring before they'd even left the Shire in either book. The films are indeed much better. They even made me consider giving the books another go, but my old bookmarks are still in their old places, and the thought of ploughing through all that poorly edited rubbish again decided me otherwise.

I'm currently reading Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, which is about the last two magicians in England, written in a wordy mock-Dickensian style. It's not bad for a novel that so desperately wants to convince the reader it's NOT a genre-fantasy fantasy novel.

01-04-2007, 01:49 PM	#381 (permalink)
Kimahri Guest Posts: n/a	The Otori series. They feel more like documentaries than the typical fantasy stories. Good detail, and not really a bad series, but your too far removed from the characters. I want to find out what happens, but I don't really care for either one of the main characters. Not bad, but I don't think they are great either.
Kimahri Guest Posts: n/a

08-25-2006, 03:41 AM	#361 (permalink)
J A Eyers Better ban'd than bland Godlike Poster Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Southend, England Posts: 24,312	"Lazily leafing" = looking for the juicy bits in particular? What's the Eco book about?

08-25-2006, 07:22 AM	#362 (permalink)
The Drunkk Machine see you - GET ME A ♥♥♥♥ING CURLY WURLY Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,345	Precisely, although some of them (thankfully) still managed to slip below the radar. The Mysterious Flame... is about a sixty year old man, a dealer of rare books, who wakes from a coma with an almost encyclopedic knowledge of facts and literature, but has lost all of his own personal memories. The book deals with him travelling back to his childhood house reliving them, trying to remember the face of his first love that has haunted him throughout his life. It's full of illustrations and whole song lyrics, from comic panels to Fascist propoganda. I read the first third of it over the course of a week than left it. I finally summoned the energy to tackle it again and finished the remaining pages in one afternoon. I started The Business but only got a chapter in before we had a power cut. (!?) Perhaps the most inviting opening chapter ever though. Hopefully it'll carry on.

08-26-2006, 02:48 PM	#363 (permalink)
J A Eyers Better ban'd than bland Godlike Poster Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Southend, England Posts: 24,312	I looked up Mysterious Flame on Wikipedia and I see Eco has said it's the last novel he's going to write. Hmm.

09-18-2006, 07:42 PM	#365 (permalink)
BullpupDFWM I've had my shit PUSHED IN Hardcore Veteran Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 9,793	I recently read Donnie Brasco by Joseph D. Pistone and Richard Woodley, Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi, and The Way of the Wiseguy by Joseph D. Pistone. All top books that I'd recommend to anyone interested in the Mafia. I also recently read The Big Nowhere by James Ellroy and I'm nearing the end of L.A. Confidential.

09-21-2006, 05:52 PM	#366 (permalink)
Gretel icon. Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,958	Just finished An Enquiry Concerning The Principles Of Morals by David Hume. Now 150 pages into The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt.

09-21-2006, 06:38 PM	#367 (permalink)
MacCabbe Occasionally Wont ! Hardcore Veteran Join Date: May 2004 Location: Paris Posts: 6,958	Gretel, once it'll be translated in German, I really advise you to have a look on "Les Bienveillantes", by Jonathan Littell.

10-03-2006, 02:55 PM	#368 (permalink)
Gretel icon. Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,958	I'm definitly going to do that. Might be a while until it gets translated though. Last thing i heard is publishers are outbidding each other with ridiculously high amounts of money for the rights.

10-13-2006, 01:29 AM	#369 (permalink)
Desdinova Wait for the cream Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2002 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 4,919	I've been on an alternate history binge lately. Most recently finished SM Sterling's Dies the Fire trilogy and then Conquistador, and I just started rereading The Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove.

10-23-2006, 11:36 PM	#370 (permalink)
Vega SuperAdmin-Prime Godlike Poster Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Virginia Posts: 22,184	Ugh, I promised myself I'd never again subject myself to the garbage books that have been released under the title of star wars, especially after the new jedi order debacle. But..............a knights of the old republic book........about Darth Bane.....so tempting to get it.....

11-02-2006, 10:17 AM	#371 (permalink)
Seifer Registered User Forum Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: East Coast Posts: 187	I just finished World War Z and I am Legend. I was on a zombie/vampire kick during halloween. From what I hear both are being made into movies, so you might want to read the "un Hollywood'ized" versions to get the real stories.

11-06-2006, 05:07 PM	#372 (permalink)
BullpupDFWM I've had my shit PUSHED IN Hardcore Veteran Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 9,793	Reading Gangland International by James Morton. It's a bit of a monster at 900 pages, especially since he has a very dry writing style, but it's an interesting read, hearing about all the crazy shit that's happened in the world of organised crime.

11-07-2006, 02:07 AM	#373 (permalink)
Xeal Registered User Forum Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: I phorgot Posts: 222	Started a few days ago on Magician by Raymond Feist. Its a fantasy book.. Pretty exciting

11-07-2006, 07:43 AM	#374 (permalink)
MacCabbe Occasionally Wont ! Hardcore Veteran Join Date: May 2004 Location: Paris Posts: 6,958	Right into some Neil Gaiman orgy... I started with the savorous Neverwhere, then with the disappointing Stardust, and I'm now enjoying each and every line of American Gods.

11-27-2006, 10:31 PM	#376 (permalink)
Hannibalien Everything happens for a reason Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: New Berlin, WI, USA Posts: 1,896	I've taken two british literature classes this semester, and I'm very glad I did, since it's expanded the almost non-existant literature selection we were given in high school. A few of the works we've read are: - Jane Eyre - Didn't think I'd like it but I love it - Mill on the Floss - Didn't care much for it until the ending - A Handful of Dust - Instantly one of my Favorites - Look Back in Anger - Also instantly one of my Favorites - A Passage to India - Didn't find terribly exciting - Good Morning, Midnight - So bizzare and suffocating I love it We've also read a bunch of poety, of which The Waste Land, Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and Kubla Khan are the standouts. I'm also in a shakespeare class, and Henry V and Othello are awesome. As is Hamlet though it's more difficult to approach. Right now I'm reading Dracula and I can't put it down.

01-01-2007, 03:53 AM	#377 (permalink)
Injektilo bleep freak Godlike Poster Tournaments Won: 1 Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: northampton, UK Posts: 22,157	Just finished Grey Knights. Was alright, tried too hard to be unpredictable though.

01-01-2007, 03:54 AM	#378 (permalink)
Injektilo bleep freak Godlike Poster Tournaments Won: 1 Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: northampton, UK Posts: 22,157	Just finished Grey Knights. Was alright, tried too hard to be unpredictable though I think.

01-04-2007, 08:43 AM	#379 (permalink)
Bicest-80 Registered User Forum Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 321	I'm reading "Hannibal Rising" by Thomas Harris. I'm really surprised by the writing style in this one, it's very to the point and simple, while the other books had a tendency to wander. It's a simple story, but it's thrilling; I'm up to the bit where the guys who did wrong by Hannibal are really getting whats coming to them. Now to see if the movie is rubbish or not (I am quietly optimistic). I'm also slowly devouring Neil Gaiman's "Fragile Things", I thought the story about the months of the year was great, and the story within the story was really haunting and engaging.

01-04-2007, 12:56 PM	#380 (permalink)
MacCabbe Occasionally Wont ! Hardcore Veteran Join Date: May 2004 Location: Paris Posts: 6,958	En attendant le vote des betes sauvages by A. Kourouma. An excellent novel regarding the state of things in Africa...

01-10-2007, 06:57 PM	#383 (permalink)
Temujin Registered User Hardcore Veteran Join Date: May 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 5,049	Just finished Freakonomics by Steven Levitt. Goddamn that was an interesting read. Currently in the middle of a volume of Hermann Hesse's writing--Siddhartha, Demian, and a coupla other things. I really should finish reading Steppenwolf, started it and then had to return it to the library. Looking forward to either moving on to Talbot's or Proust's works.

01-11-2007, 12:13 PM	#384 (permalink)
MacCabbe Occasionally Wont ! Hardcore Veteran Join Date: May 2004 Location: Paris Posts: 6,958	The Eyes of the Dragon, by Stephen King. Surprisingly decent.

01-11-2007, 04:14 PM	#385 (permalink)
BullpupDFWM I've had my shit PUSHED IN Hardcore Veteran Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 9,793	Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris. Pretty good so far.

01-11-2007, 07:21 PM	#386 (permalink)
Cutter Zane Execute Order 666 Administrator Godlike Poster Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Mont Clare, PA Posts: 20,775	The Walking Dead by Rupert Kirkman - an ongoing comic series following the survivors of a zombie holocaust. Fantastic story, with strong character focus.

01-11-2007, 10:08 PM	#387 (permalink)
Injektilo bleep freak Godlike Poster Tournaments Won: 1 Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: northampton, UK Posts: 22,157	Been reading lots of Warhammer 40k novels recently, one or two were complete duds (Warrior Brood especially), but I happily enjoyed Eisenhorn, Draco, Armageddon and Grey Knights. Read Lord Of The Rings for the first time a couple of weeks ago too.

01-11-2007, 10:34 PM	#388 (permalink)
Kimarhi Ronso I thought what I'd do was.... Epic Poster Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hooterville, KY, USA Posts: 16,263	I tried reading through the lord of the rings, and go so far as Hobbit and Fellowship. By the time I got too Two Towers, I couldn't take anymore. His way of writing wasn't very fluid and hard for me at least, to get into.

01-13-2007, 03:42 AM	#389 (permalink)
Injektilo bleep freak Godlike Poster Tournaments Won: 1 Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: northampton, UK Posts: 22,157	If I was to be honest, I was expecting something better. After being talked up to it's total brilliance I found myself a tad underwhelmed. Understandable, since he's speaking in 50+ year old tongues (the "threw some faggots on the fire" line made me chuckle inwardly), but I'll stick to the films I think. Have to give it rrrrispeck though Kimmy, given all that it's spawned. Lord Of The Rings is my Metallica, I can appreciate it setting standards, but much prefer the contemporary media it's given birth to.

01-13-2007, 08:10 AM	#390 (permalink)
J A Eyers Better ban'd than bland Godlike Poster Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Southend, England Posts: 24,312	I gave up on both The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring before they'd even left the Shire in either book. The films are indeed much better. They even made me consider giving the books another go, but my old bookmarks are still in their old places, and the thought of ploughing through all that poorly edited rubbish again decided me otherwise. I'm currently reading Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, which is about the last two magicians in England, written in a wordy mock-Dickensian style. It's not bad for a novel that so desperately wants to convince the reader it's NOT a genre-fantasy fantasy novel.