Books - What are you reading?

[Pothole]

Laurel Green said:

Pothole said:

hat do you actually mean, here?

Endlessly going on and on about things that added nothing, or at least very little to the plot.

So did you actually mean to write 'waffled' and 'much ado about nothing'?

[Laurel Green]

Pothole said:

o did you actually mean to write 'waffled' and 'much ado about nothing'?

Ah! I suppose it would help if I first read what I had wrote before pressing submit.
I seem to be doing a lot of this lately.

[Blown2CV]

davepoth said:

I'm reading Jack Kerouac's The Town and the City. He started trying to write "The Great American Novel" but got bored halfway through and began moving towards the stream of consciousness style in On The Road. Sadly the segue is quite jarring.

the 'stream' style is a weird one, i can see why it divides opinion. Whilst it is interesting, and unusual, it tends to focus on irrelevant details whilst skipping important things entirely... and whilst this mirrors what people experience in real life consciousness at times, the prose comes across as childishly written on occasion.

[marcosgt]

Currently trying to read "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" by TE Lawrenece - Rather hard work, but I'll carry on.

Re Patricia Cornwell - I like a good crime novel and seeing as her books are so popular I got a few when I saw them in the local charity shop, but she writes like a 9 year old - Some of the worst books I've ever read.

M

[g3org3y]

Einion Yrth said:

If you enjoyed DOTT might I recommend "The Kraken Wakes" and "The Midwich Cuckoos" by the same author; indeed anything by John Wyndham it's of variable quality but all very readable.

ETA Dang it! ... and especially "The Chrysalids", brilliant work.

Thanks for the recommendation, will check it out.

Have a huge pile of books awaiting to be read but the temptation is always to order more! Will add to the growing Amazon basket.

Aizle said:

I've just finished reading Alex Roy - The Driver.

Fasinating read about his driving (suprisingly). From Gumball, lapping New York and trying to beat the record from New York to LA.

Very well written, couldn't put it down.

Also done in an E39 M5 just like mine which may have helped.

Sounds like another one I need to add!

Blown2CV said:

davepoth said:

I'm reading Jack Kerouac's The Town and the City. He started trying to write "The Great American Novel" but got bored halfway through and began moving towards the stream of consciousness style in On The Road. Sadly the segue is quite jarring.

the 'stream' style is a weird one, i can see why it divides opinion. Whilst it is interesting, and unusual, it tends to focus on irrelevant details whilst skipping important things entirely... and whilst this mirrors what people experience in real life consciousness at times, the prose comes across as childishly written on occasion.

I can certainly recommend JK's Big Sur. Chronicles his descent into alcoholism. Quite an interesting read.

[andy_s]

Ace-T said:

The Etymologicon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Etymologicon-Circular-thro...

Created by this guy

http://blog.inkyfool.com/2011/08/etymologicon.html

Origins of words told in a meandering wander through our fantastic language. Interesting and a bit whimsical the way it has been done.

Trace

Wonder if that was the same guy who recently had a short series on Radio 4? Fascinating and funny short etymologies.

[perdu]

Just finished "Makers" by Cory Doctorow

Near future sci-fi and has moments of being almost as good as Heinlein and the non Heinlein bits are "good story" class.
Pair of inventors in the good ol' US of A inventing stuff and changing their world. And ours with no "global warming" horror storyline either

I would read more of his stuff after reading this one.

Chrysalids - absolutely fabtastic story Wyndham is just something else when it comes to a scifi tale about people

The Kraken Wakes is good too, JW at his finest IMO

[Halb]

T84 said:

I have Game of Thrones as well, which seems to be quite good but I don't really get the time to sit and read a book for hours at a time any more

How far have you got, it gets stupidly addictive at a certain stage.

g3org3y said:

Really good book, finished it while on holiday. Unlike Dawkins' scientific approach (God Delusion), Hitchens takes on religion from a historical point of view dissecting arguments in a clear, witty and convincing manner. Often the evidence is presented and he lets you make up your own mind. Really worthwhile both for confirmed atheists and those perhaps questioning religion/have come to their senses.

Currently reading:


Enjoying it so far!

I have read the God Delusion, loved it. Try Darwin's Watch Science of Discworld 3 if you like that.
Also try Night of the Triffids, the follow up to day. Loved DotT, the old Beeb adaptation was good as well.

Edited by Halb on Thursday 23 February 22:26

[Ace-T]

As well as the aforementioned Etymologicon (dunno if he was the Radio 4 chap, sorry) I picked up 'The Old Reliable by PG Wodehouse (my first one ). Wonderfully written dialog and most amusing!

Trace

[MadOne]

Just finished readying 'Mercy' by Jussi Adler-Olsen. By far the second best book I have ever read. The best being 'Change of Heart' by Jodi Piccult.

[Blown2CV]

struggling my way through doors of perception. I was lectured by an english teacher (one of my gf's mates) about how it is a peyote trip stream of consciousness kind of thing etc etc. I'm sure she didn't realise i know all of that... i just think that does not an interesting story make. I've done drugs in my younger life, and I think the experiences are only interesting to those experiencing them... like dreams really. It's boring hearing about other people's, not matter how wonderous they found them

[Pixel Pusher]

Just finished Gone Baby Gone by Dennis Lehane.

What a book, I would recommend it to enyone. Fantastic.

[g3org3y]

g3org3y said:

Currently reading this:


About a quarter of the way through. As ever, brilliantly written - sharp, witty and to the point.

Finished this last week. Very good book and an excellent insight into Hitch's life. I found the chapters in which he talks about his personal life (family/friends/himself as a person) more interesting/intriguing than those in which he gets quite into politics but that's my own personal preference. For me, the political chapters slightly dragged but that's only because it's not really my cup up tea. If you've got any interest in Hitchens, this is a very worthwhile read.

Currently on this:



Charming collection of stories regarding Berlin around the 1930s. Really really enjoying it so far. Picked this book up by chance on seeing it at The Book Warehouse (£2.99!) and I'm glad that I did. Certainly has encouraged me seek out more of Isherwood's work.

[davepoth]

g3org3y said:

Blown2CV said:

davepoth said:

I'm reading Jack Kerouac's The Town and the City. He started trying to write "The Great American Novel" but got bored halfway through and began moving towards the stream of consciousness style in On The Road. Sadly the segue is quite jarring.

the 'stream' style is a weird one, i can see why it divides opinion. Whilst it is interesting, and unusual, it tends to focus on irrelevant details whilst skipping important things entirely... and whilst this mirrors what people experience in real life consciousness at times, the prose comes across as childishly written on occasion.

I can certainly recommend JK's Big Sur. Chronicles his descent into alcoholism. Quite an interesting read.

Of all of Kerouac's books I think Doctor Sax is my favourite. But overall, it's only the bits where Kerouac is describing Jazz music that the Stream-Of-Consciousness method seems to work properly for him, which sort of makes sense really.

[Dr Gonzo]

g3org3y said:

Charming collection of stories regarding Berlin around the 1930s. Really really enjoying it so far. Picked this book up by chance on seeing it at The Book Warehouse (£2.99!) and I'm glad that I did. Certainly has encouraged me seek out more of Isherwood's work.

Try 'Mr Norris Changes Trains'.

Berlin in the 30's again - with several characters who were in 'Goodbye to Berlin'.

[Ace-T]

Just finished PG Wodehouse 'The Old Reliable'. Written almost entirely in wonderfully sparkling, funny dialogue, You can hear Kate Hepburn say Bill's lines.

All writers should read this to learn how it should be done. Brilliant. More please, but which one next?

Trace

[g3org3y]

davepoth said:

Of all of Kerouac's books I think Doctor Sax is my favourite. But overall, it's only the bits where Kerouac is describing Jazz music that the Stream-Of-Consciousness method seems to work properly for him, which sort of makes sense really.

I've got Dr Sax on the shelf and I made an attempt to read it a while back but must admit I didn't really get on with it, seemed a little all over the shop tbh. Will give it another go in the upcoming months.

I quite enjoyed On the Road but found it struggled to live up to its legendary reputation.

I've read quite a lot around the beat generation: Kerouc, Will Burroughs, Tom Woolfe and Ginsburg. Still got Neal Cassidy's 'The First Third' on the shelf. So many books, so little time!

Dr Gonzo said:

g3org3y said:

Charming collection of stories regarding Berlin around the 1930s. Really really enjoying it so far. Picked this book up by chance on seeing it at The Book Warehouse (£2.99!) and I'm glad that I did. Certainly has encouraged me seek out more of Isherwood's work.

Try 'Mr Norris Changes Trains'.

Berlin in the 30's again - with several characters who were in 'Goodbye to Berlin'.

Thanks for the recommendation, I had already added 'A Single Man' to my Amazon basket.

I finished 'Goodbye to Berlin' yesterday, really really enjoyed it. Seems Isherwood is not that well known. Mentioning this book to others, they've never heard of it, nor the author. Seems a real shame as the writing is fabulous.

Now taking it back to the 'old skool'

[g3org3y]

Blown2CV said:

struggling my way through doors of perception. I was lectured by an english teacher (one of my gf's mates) about how it is a peyote trip stream of consciousness kind of thing etc etc. I'm sure she didn't realise i know all of that... i just think that does not an interesting story make. I've done drugs in my younger life, and I think the experiences are only interesting to those experiencing them... like dreams really. It's boring hearing about other people's, not matter how wonderous they found them

Give Huxley's 'Brave New World' a go. Imo the equal of Orwell's 1984. If you enjoy that, worth continuing with 'Island' his utopian alternative.

[Blown2CV]

g3org3y said:

Blown2CV said:

struggling my way through doors of perception. I was lectured by an english teacher (one of my gf's mates) about how it is a peyote trip stream of consciousness kind of thing etc etc. I'm sure she didn't realise i know all of that... i just think that does not an interesting story make. I've done drugs in my younger life, and I think the experiences are only interesting to those experiencing them... like dreams really. It's boring hearing about other people's, not matter how wonderous they found them

Give Huxley's 'Brave New World' a go. Imo the equal of Orwell's 1984. If you enjoy that, worth continuing with 'Island' his utopian alternative.

it's on my "to read" pile. I am reading heaven and hell at the mo and i think it is a more interesting... thesis i suppose you would call it rather than a novel. On the subject of 1984-style novels, I listened to an audiobook of Ayn Rand's Anthem recently.

[Dr Gonzo]

g3org3y said:

I finished 'Goodbye to Berlin' yesterday, really really enjoyed it. Seems Isherwood is not that well known. Mentioning this book to others, they've never heard of it, nor the author. Seems a real shame as the writing is fabulous.

Most people will have heard of the film 'Cabaret', which is based on 'Goodbye to Berlin' - with Isherwood played by Michael York.

Isherwood really got into this 'I am a camera' thing, with his books recording what he saw while living in Berlin during the rise of the Nazis.