What are you reading?

[J A Eyers]

Today I finished Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle. Finding out the relevance of what the Ha Ha Ha means was a really viscerally emotional moment. I recommend it. Though it's Irish, it's not the usual Irish Lit shebang. Indeed, there's not a single reference to the IRA.

Indeed, it inspired me to write in the style of it today, though I'm still deciding whether to post what I wrote or not.

[SM]

Finished A Ship of the Line - and since it ended on a cliffhanger am now seeking out the Admiral Hornblower anthology.

Currently on Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham, which I accidently stumbled across in the bookshelves yesterday. Don't ever recall buying it, so it's a bit of mystery as to where it came from. Triffid must've put it there or something...

Pretty good so far.

[J A Eyers]

I've just started on the first in the His Dark Materials trilogy, Northern Lights, by Philip Pullman. I recommend it to anyone who felt Harry Potter was massively overrated.

[Conner Macleod]

Just finished 'Timeline' by Michael Crichton a few days ago. Very good book and makes me wonder about what the future holds in the not too distant future. The technology discussed in the book will revolutionize the world forever, it's only a matter of time before it happens, since it is already in the early stages of development. Now I'm curious to see how the movie measures up in comparison.

I'm currently reading 'When the Wind Blows' by James Patterson. The book's a real page turner and the theme is very different from anything I've ever read or heard about. Fascinating and unique, not to mention thrilling which makes it hard to put it down. Not anything like his other books like 'Kiss the Girls', 'Along Came A Spider', 'Jack & Jill', etc.

[The Flaming Llama]

Right now I'm working on Shardik, by Richard Adams. I'm early in the book of Gelt.

[twistdsistr]

@ JA Eyers: I was told to read his Dark Materials Trilogy last week. I don't know anything about it though - so what are the basics of it?

I have just finished reading Angels and Demons by Dan Brown - it was so good, I couldn't put it down. It's fiction written around a lot of facts and real organisations and it's quite an intelligent book. I actually learnt a lot of scientific and historical facts whilst reading it.

The Da Vinche Code is the book I am about to read - by the same author and there is a lot of hype about it all of a sudden and loads of people I know (even my teachers at school) are waiting to read it. So I would recommend anything written by this guy.

[J A Eyers]

Well, I'm only 100 pages into Northern Lights so far, but basically it's set in a subtly different parallel universe where everyone has these things called daemons, which are like their conscience personified into these shapeshifting creatures that follow them around. It's about an orphan girl named Lyra, the niece of a famous explorer who has disappeared investigating the aurora over the North Pole, and finding that the clerics who look after her are involved in his disappearence. I'm not sure yet, but I think the aurora is actually some sort of gateway to another parallel universe (seeing as in the preface, Pullman says the three books are set in three different universes, Lyra's, our own, and a third one).

[simmo]

I just finished re-re-reading papillon, best book ever, almost.

[SM]

Finished Triffids last night. Very satisfying ending.

Started Flying Colours today - the seventh Horatio Hornblower book.

[Seifer]

I'm currently about 2/3's of the way through The Dark Tower VII.

[Instinct]

Yukio Mishima's: The Temple of the Golden Pavillion

[Satori]

The Grass Crown by Colleen McCullough, great historical novel about the Roman Empire.

[SePhO_zO]

Originally posted by Seifer
I'm currently about 2/3's of the way through The Dark Tower VII.

That's what I'm reading, too, but I'm only about 350 pages into it because of the lack of time resulting from the school year.

I'm also reading The Talisman, and several other, shorter books, including Phantoms by Dean Koontz, and The Swiss Family Robinson. My sister brought it home from school and I accidently started reading it. I can pick up any book and read it. I've never found a book that has truly bored me, and I still haven't found a book that I really have altogether disliked.

I'm also reading Hamlet and In Cold Blood for senior English, and I'm nearly done with both of them. I actually find Hamlet very easy and interesting to read (though I'm reading it in a way that allows me to enjoy the essence of the story without overanalyzing each individual line as is intended in class), and I think I'd go see it performed on stage one day if given the chance. Most of my classmates don't seem to like it. They pretend not to understand it, though nobody has done horrible on any of the tests given based on it so far. I suppose it's just too uncool by today's standards, which is funny because Shakespeare was undoubetedly one of the coolest cats in the neighborhood, in his day.

In Cold Blood is a very interesting book, a description of the killing of a family in Kansas during the late 50's, and the investigation and trial following the murders. I have to admit I'm still a little suprised at the sophistication of the writing. One thing I really like is the deep analysis of the two murderers, and the sympathy that the author seemed to have for them, or perhaps it was just an effort to present an unbiased view.

One very interesting fact I learned about Capote was that the character Dill in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, which is one of my favorite books, was modeled after him. Apparently the two authors befriended as children.

[Salvage Guy]

War Of The Worlds by HG Wells and not Orson (different speling of Well(e)s anyway).

Read it some years ago but I have the urge again and obsessing over it a little. Hard to think this was written over a hundred years ago and offers even some graphic descriptions of events from all percievable angles from the one perspective of the narrative. Cruel, descriptive and insightful.

[Conner Macleod]

Originally posted by Sepho_Zo:
I suppose it's just too uncool by today's standards, which is funny because Shakespeare was undoubetedly one of the coolest cats in the neighborhood, in his day.

Actually Shakespeare wasn't popular nor rich during his lifetime. It wasn't until centuries later that he gained notoriety and later international fame. Many literary experts agree that Shakespeare is highly overrated and I happen to second that sentiment. He was skilled to be sure, but not really out of the ordinary to the level he's made out to be in modern times. He's simply one author from his time whose documents are well preserved and subsequently celebrated. That's more the result of happenstance than talent. Personally, Shakespeare was never my cup of tea, but I suppose I can see what people admire about his tragedies and comedies, which is a window to a gone but not forgotten world, one in which people like to lose themselves in, and understandably so. It was a romantic era filled with the whimsical musings of the renaissance movement and that appeals to a broad demographic.

[Instinct]

I heard that it wasnt shakespeare who wrote all that romantic mumbo jumbo but rather a knight/noble that didnt want to get caught writing such stuff for it was unappropriate for a person of that status to do so at a time? So he told shakespeare to take all the credit and broadcast his writings for him

[J A Eyers]

Today I finished Northern Lights. Once more I recommend it. Great book from beginning to end. I'm not going to read the next in the series just yet, because next I'm going onto the AvP novelisation. Which is sure to be a literary masterpiece, I bet.

[SM]

Just finished that myself.

It's mostly bad. Mostly.

[SePhO_zO]

Originally posted by Conner Macleod
Actually Shakespeare wasn't popular nor rich during his lifetime. It wasn't until centuries later that he gained notoriety and later international fame.

I actually knew that (my English III teacher made it a point for all students to understand that), but I suppose it slipped my mind while I was concentrating on crafting my post. To add to the topic, I've noticed it's not uncommon for semi-famous writers to gain even more fame posthumously

Many literary experts agree that Shakespeare is highly overrated and I happen to second that sentiment. He was skilled to be sure, but not really out of the ordinary to the level he's made out to be in modern times. He's simply one author from his time whose documents are well preserved and subsequently celebrated. That's more the result of happenstance than talent.

On this point, I can neither agree or disagree for I've really read no other playwright from Shakespeare's time to compare him to. Additionally, I've only read three plays he's written that are required reading at my high school (Romeo & Juliet, Julius Caesar, and Hamlet). I have to say that I thought R & J was rubbish, but I enjoyed Caesar for the most part. Regarding Hamlet, I'm indifferent to the play overall, but I like Hamlet's character.

Personally, Shakespeare was never my cup of tea, but I suppose I can see what people admire about his tragedies and comedies, which is a window to a gone but not forgotten world, one in which people like to lose themselves in, and understandably so. It was a romantic era filled with the whimsical musings of the renaissance movement and that appeals to a broad demographic.

It's important to point out that the three Shakespeareian plays I've read so far are all tragedies. Based on the plot and outcome of these three plays, I'd have to say I'm hardly a fan of the genre. They should change the name of it from "Tragedy" to "Everyone Dies in the End". That's what you learn to expect after reading a few, and I doubt that if I read another it wouldn't fail to disappoint in that regard. I suppose I'll have to read a comedy of his one o' these days.

Beyond that, after examining Iambic Pentameter, I recognize that its a very difficult style of writing to use, especially to utilize in a long play. For that, I commend Shakespeare and every other playwright from the era who used it. I don't understand, however, why an author word work so hard to produce something that's so hard to read. On that same token, I often wonder if somehow the people of Shakespeare's day had an easier time inherently understanding the lines. And I have to remind myself that everything he wrote was meant to be heard, and not read.

Regardless of his talents (which I remind you, I, as a result of my ignorance, I can't provide a valid argument for or against), I can understand what you were talking about when you said that he was skilled.

I have to say, I didn't expect much to come of the Hamlet part of my original post.

[Seifer]

Finished Dark Tower VII, and am now reading The Road to The Dark Tower; Exploring Stephen King's Magnum Opus by Bev Vincent.

Afterwards, I plan on re reading the entire series from The Gunslinger -> DT7.

[Conner Macleod]

Originally posted by Sepho_Zo:
I actually knew that (my English III teacher made it a point for all students to understand that), but I suppose it slipped my mind while I was concentrating on crafting my post. To add to the topic, I've noticed it's not uncommon for semi-famous writers to gain even more fame posthumously

'Tis true, a bit of a cultural phenomenon to say the least. Same is true for painters, singers, actors and other artists who've died in relative obscurity or semi-fame and gone on to become objects of obsessions for sub-cultures as well as the mainstream. I suppose it has something to do with the mystery of death and the untold promise of potential talent that went unfulfilled.

Originally posted by Sepho_Zo:
On this point, I can neither agree or disagree for I've really read no other playwright from Shakespeare's time to compare him to.

Ah, but therein lies the answer. That's exactly it, most if not everyone have never heard of anyone else but Shakespare, so naturally he has become the focal point of admiration for people who desire or hold some sense of belonging to that romantic reneissance era. As I mentioned before, Shakespeare's fame is just the fortunate victim of happenstance.

Originally posted by Sepho_Zo:
Additionally, I've only read three plays he's written that are required reading at my high school (Romeo & Juliet, Julius Caesar, and Hamlet). I have to say that I thought R & J was rubbish, but I enjoyed Caesar for the most part. Regarding Hamlet, I'm indifferent to the play overall, but I like Hamlet's character.

Check out 'Much Ado About Nothing' and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. 'Othello' is a pretty good tragedy, btw, better than the others that you mentioned. It's less pretentious.

Originally posted by Sepho_Zo:
Beyond that, after examining Iambic Pentameter, I recognize that its a very difficult style of writing to use, especially to utilize in a long play. For that, I commend Shakespeare and every other playwright from the era who used it. I don't understand, however, why an author word work so hard to produce something that's so hard to read. On that same token, I often wonder if somehow the people of Shakespeare's day had an easier time inherently understanding the lines. And I have to remind myself that everything he wrote was meant to be heard, and not read.

Indeed, it's like learning a new language of sorts because it's written in such a backwards, awkward style that seems counter-intuitive. I'm sure you're right though about his plays being more relevant back in his time and thusly more easily understood by his contemporaries. You raise a good point about the advantage of his pieces being read out loud as opposed to being read since the vocal association with the text makes the comprehension and visualization far easier. Our minds make the association more effectively in such a manner and thereby the greater picture is grasped which reveals the core of Shakespeare's plays. As to his cryptic writing style, I suppose the greater the pain taken in understanding, the greater the reward will be for the reader when the message is received and translated correctly. Metaphorically speaking, no pain, no gain.

Originally posted by Sepho_Zo:
I have to say, I didn't expect much to come of the Hamlet part of my original post.

That's one of the great things about life, the unexpected twists and turns that broaden our horizon

[J A Eyers]

Originally posted by SM
Just finished that myself.

It's mostly bad. Mostly.

I was disappointed. It was generally better paced than the movie, but Cerasini is not on a par with Alan Dean Foster, who took the movies and made them his own. Two glaring omissions were cutting out the entire scene where Rousseau bites the dust (I was hoping to discover what actually happened to Thomas), and it being another Predator, not Scar, who gets impregnated after taking off his mask - yet Scar still has a chestburster inside him at the end. When did that happen?

[BullpupDFWM]

I recently acquired A Brief History of Time, by Stephen Hawking, and as soon as exams are finished I intend to read every word of it. I've read the first few pages and so far it seems intensely interesting and easy to read.

[The Idiot]

Originally posted by BullpupDFWM
I recently acquired A Brief History of Time, by Stephen Hawking, and as soon as exams are finished I intend to read every word of it. I've read the first few pages and so far it seems intensely interesting and easy to read.

that's a really tough book. it took me a LONG time to get through it. It's the kind of book where you read a paragraph, and it literally takes you an hour to process it before you go on to the next. and in order to understand his general hypothesis, i had to make sure i understood every paragraph. really good shitter material becasue you can read little bits of it at a time. have fun with it.

i just finished reading David Adger's "Core Syntax: A minimalist Approach".

[Gabe]

Currently reading the New Testament of the Bible. (In Mark right now)
Last book I read was One day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich It's an interesting book about a Russian prisoner, Ivan, who goes through just another day in a prison camp.

[BullpupDFWM]

Originally posted by Gabe
Currently reading the New Testament of the Bible. (In Mark right now)
Last book I read was One day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich It's an interesting book about a Russian prisoner, Ivan, who goes through just another day in a prison camp.

True story.......?

[Gabe]

Originally posted by BullpupDFWM
True story.......?

fiction, I believe. I'm pretty sure the camp it was based on was real (been a while since I finished it) but the events aren't.

[Harryz]

Anyone read Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species? Worth reading? Does it take a PHD to read it?

[jedigirl78]

Just finished reading Mario Puzo's Omerta, now I'm reading the Godfather.

[The Idiot]

Originally posted by Harryz
Anyone read Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species? Worth reading? Does it take a PHD to read it?

you should get the "darwin reader". it was selected works by darwin with commentary to help you understand it. it's difficult reading, but it's doable.