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What are you reading? (January 2012)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
The Culture Vulture
Member
80% done, limping to the finish. Some decent stuff but feels very much like a first novel.
Graham Greene is great. The movie adaptations of his works are good too, my professor said Our Man in Havana is a great movie. You should check it out when you're done reading it.
I'm alternating between 'things I find interesting in and of themselves' and 'Stuff I saw on a list somewhere and should now read'.
So basically I'm reading Dickens, and am pleasantly surprised to find the seeds of English dark humour writing all over the place, if a little wordier than normal.
So basically I'm reading Dickens, and am pleasantly surprised to find the seeds of English dark humour writing all over the place, if a little wordier than normal.
pitcairn55
Member
Aquavelvaman
Banned
Yes, Greene is one of my favorite authors although I haven't seen any of the films. It's too bad that he's not on Kindle in the US or I would have read all of his works by now.
I'm still reading 11/22/63. The middle is a tad slow, but I'm still enjoying it.
I have a question for any Terry Pratchett fans out there: I shamefully have never read a single novel of his. Discworld sounds really interesting and I'd loved to get into it, but I'm told that you shouldn't necessarily just start with the first one he did. There's so many, though.
My brother vehemently recommended that I try "Guards! Guards!". Sound advice?
I have a question for any Terry Pratchett fans out there: I shamefully have never read a single novel of his. Discworld sounds really interesting and I'd loved to get into it, but I'm told that you shouldn't necessarily just start with the first one he did. There's so many, though.
My brother vehemently recommended that I try "Guards! Guards!". Sound advice?
I've heard Guards ! Guards! is the first one to read. It's on my Kindle, but is still unread.
Probably. Mort is superb.
nakedsushi
Member
Still halfway through this. Now that it's finally picking up, maybe I can finish it by the end of the week.
Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton
Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton
Go watch The Third Man. You have to, it's amazing.
Just finished:
Great book, and I can see why it's so popular. I pretty much read it cover to cover in one day as it was quite gripping. I heard that it was quite similar to Battle Royale, a franchise that I love, and it kinda was in concept I guess but the way it's presented is so different I don't think anyone could say "it's like Battle Royale" as a criticism. This book was kinda a break from reading the Way of Kings which I'm halfway through but I can't wait to move onto the next book.
Great book, and I can see why it's so popular. I pretty much read it cover to cover in one day as it was quite gripping. I heard that it was quite similar to Battle Royale, a franchise that I love, and it kinda was in concept I guess but the way it's presented is so different I don't think anyone could say "it's like Battle Royale" as a criticism. This book was kinda a break from reading the Way of Kings which I'm halfway through but I can't wait to move onto the next book.
Haruki Murakami: Underground. A non-fiction work where he writes about the terror attack on Tokyo's underground system some years ago. He interviews both victims and perpetrators. Murakami is one of my favourite fiction writers, so I'm very much looking forward to seeing how he deals with this.
This is one of my favourite Murakami works, honestly. This and after the quake are what I like to recommend to people, since most other people will usually recommend Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Hardboiled Wonderland, Norwegian Wood, etc.
I usually recommend Guards! Guards!, Small Gods, or Mort for first time readers. Guards! Guards! can be a bit slow and it's one of the longer books but starts the best series, Small Gods is seriously one of the best so sometimes it's nice to leave that for later, but Mort is sweet and short and a very good introduction to the world and one of the first times Pratchett nails his style. But it's not too developed so it's a nice start. I'd go with Mort if possible but then again you can't really go wrong with Guards! Guards!.
charlemagne
Member
About half-way through A Feast for Crows. At this point all I have to say is
Cersei? Bitches be crazy.
Both are amazing books.Just finished:
Great book, and I can see why it's so popular. I pretty much read it cover to cover in one day as it was quite gripping. I heard that it was quite similar to Battle Royale, a franchise that I love, and it kinda was in concept I guess but the way it's presented is so different I don't think anyone could say "it's like Battle Royale" as a criticism. This book was kinda a break from reading the Way of Kings which I'm halfway through but I can't wait to move onto the next book.
I love how alien Roshar is. Giant crabs, retreating grass, it's great.
I have no idea where you are but I can tell you she only gets worse/better.
Kenshin001
Member
I just finished reading A Tale of Two Cities, having avoided Dickens for ages in the mistaken belief his writing was incomprehensible "lawks a mercy" style old English. Loved it. Great story telling, great characters and a cutting insight into the French Revolution.
Next up, JG Ballard's Empire of the Sun.
I'm interested in how many Gaffers are doing the Goodreads reading challenge this year and what your targets is?
http://www.goodreads.com/challenges/207-2012-reading-challenge
I'm being kinda conservative and putting 40 books to read this year even though I'm trying to read a book a week. With exams and study though I think that will be hard to achieve, plus I'm planning to read through big fantasy novels like the Wheel of Time series this year.
So anyone else doing it?
http://www.goodreads.com/challenges/207-2012-reading-challenge
I'm being kinda conservative and putting 40 books to read this year even though I'm trying to read a book a week. With exams and study though I think that will be hard to achieve, plus I'm planning to read through big fantasy novels like the Wheel of Time series this year.
So anyone else doing it?
Maklershed
Member
Yeah. I did 25 last year and set it to 35 this year.
Murakami's Underground:
Yeah, I saw it. Very nice, after such a long time! Only two of the Aum sect suspects are still at large.
I've read around 50 pages so far, and it's very gripping. Reads almost like some kind of experimental suspense novel, like Orhan Pamuk's My Name Is Red, where an incident is told again and again by different people with conflicting viewpoints. It's very fascinating to read how differently people experience the same thing, and the differences in what they remember or forget. It fits Murakami's style like a glove so far. Hopefully he'll try something like this again in the future. Perhaps something about the tsunami?
Yeah, I saw it. Very nice, after such a long time! Only two of the Aum sect suspects are still at large.
I've read around 50 pages so far, and it's very gripping. Reads almost like some kind of experimental suspense novel, like Orhan Pamuk's My Name Is Red, where an incident is told again and again by different people with conflicting viewpoints. It's very fascinating to read how differently people experience the same thing, and the differences in what they remember or forget. It fits Murakami's style like a glove so far. Hopefully he'll try something like this again in the future. Perhaps something about the tsunami?
Man, I wish I could read that many books. I had a meager goal of 18 for 2011 and managed to reach it. Going for 24 this year.
I don't know what it is exactly, but I'm not great at carving out time to read consistently. Books can take me way too long as a result.
tyguy20204
Member
Gifford's Ulysses Annotated is generally considered the best annotation, but it's not online as far as I know. And you should read The Odyssey as you go along. This shouldn't be a chore, as The Odyssey is amazing.
But Ulysses is actually far more readable as a standalone text than people might lead you to believe. As long as you're a patient reader, that is.
I don't t read as much as I used to (About 10 books a year I'm sad to say) but lately I've been reading a lot more (and at the same time seeing not as many movies). My aim is to read at least 24 books.
Currently reading: Bernard Cornwell - The Pale Horseman
Read this on the weekend. I was surprised at how much killing Matt Murdock actually did, and how aggressive he was. Maybe shouldn't have been considering Miller wrote it. Regardless, it's a seminal work in the character's history, and features wonderful artwork, and interesting scenarios. The extras at the back of the hardcover premium edition are also great.
I really need to get back into reading novels this year. :-/ I feel like I haven't read a book from cover to cover in ages.
Salvor.Hardin
Banned
Read this on the weekend. I was surprised at how much killing Matt Murdock actually did, and how aggressive he was. Maybe shouldn't have been considering Miller wrote it. Regardless, it's a seminal work in the character's history, and features wonderful artwork, and interesting scenarios. The extras at the back of the hardcover premium edition are also great.
I really need to get back into reading novels this year. :-/ I feel like I haven't read a book from cover to cover in ages.
Hope you've read Bendis's (and the subsequent Brubaker) run on Daredevil. Easily the best DD stories ever told, with some amazing art by Alex Maleev (in the Bendis half).
I read:
Mushishi, Volume 4
The Lightning Thief
I'm currently reading:
The Norton Anthology of Children's Literature: Traditions in English
Since it's a 2400 page monstrosity, I'm uh... not planning on reading it in a few days like most books. I have it checked out from the library, so I just plan on reading it over the course of the time I have it checked out. It has a lot of interesting information about the authors and about attitudes towards children and their education over the years in addition to classic stories (including quite a few in forms that I hadn't read before).
I also am going to start another book - it might be another in the Percy Jackson series, since the first one was such a light read, or it might be a library book. Not sure yet.
Mushishi, Volume 4
The Lightning Thief
I'm currently reading:
The Norton Anthology of Children's Literature: Traditions in English
Since it's a 2400 page monstrosity, I'm uh... not planning on reading it in a few days like most books. I have it checked out from the library, so I just plan on reading it over the course of the time I have it checked out. It has a lot of interesting information about the authors and about attitudes towards children and their education over the years in addition to classic stories (including quite a few in forms that I hadn't read before).
I also am going to start another book - it might be another in the Percy Jackson series, since the first one was such a light read, or it might be a library book. Not sure yet.
I know I've been reading this for about 3 months now. Just been busy with work, my 1 year old, and games. I have about 150 pages left. I'll be finishing it this week. I like it and find it very well written but for some reason I'm not loving it. Maybe the end will completely blow me away but I can kind of see where this is all going. The foreshadowing started really early in this book.
nakedsushi
Member
I set my challenge to 81 last year and ended up topping it with 92 books. This year, I'm setting it to 90.
it's like battle royal to a point where it's less of a criticism and more of a direct rip-off of plot points for two books straight
Maklershed
Member
Finished up Devil in the White City and on to Nightwood
Nightwoods by Charles Frazier
That's PA right? How is it?
Nightwoods by Charles Frazier
That's PA right? How is it?
I'm going for 50. Let me ask, does everyone count audiobooks? My wife and I had a discussion about this today. She thinks audiobooks should not count. Her argument is that reading takes time and you can't really be doing much while in the act of reading. Where with an audiobook, you could be driving, doing housework, etc. I said it doesn't matter as you are still getting the same information either way and that's what really counts.
nakedsushi
Member
I definitely count audiobooks. A book to me, is a collection of ideas an author conveys to you and an audiobook is just another way to do this. I'd say 1/4 of my "reading" comes from Kindle's text to speech while I'm on my way to/from work.
I'll probably finish this tonight or tomorrow
Next in line:
Okay...i just finished Inferno and i absolutely loved it, i liked it so much that i have to get my hands on the sequel, now!
so, a change of plans, Never Let Me Go and Altered Carbon have to wait for a little longer.
I'm a sucker for stuff like this, hell/biblical themes from the darker side of the spectrum really fascinate me, i should get my hands on the real deal as well, Dante's Inferno.
I think audiobooks definitely count.
Maklershed
Member
The sequel is somehow even better imo.
I am. Last year I had 132:
But they were of varying length and style (about 40 of them were either comics collections or manga volumes, for instance, and there was a small group of children's books), so it's somewhat less impressive than it sounds as a raw number. There were a couple things that I read but weren't counted, though, since I had read them before (The Count of Monte Cristo, Absolute Sandman I - III, and A Song of Ice and Fire (I - IV).
My initial goal for this year is 75, though I'll probably up it if I get ahead.
Just finished reading
An am now reading
I found the Dragon reborn to be a little slow but the last ~100 pages or so were great. The Gap into Conflict is great so far, just over half way done and is a very weird violent romance/sci-fi story. Heard the rest of the bookms in the series is even better.
An am now reading
I found the Dragon reborn to be a little slow but the last ~100 pages or so were great. The Gap into Conflict is great so far, just over half way done and is a very weird violent romance/sci-fi story. Heard the rest of the bookms in the series is even better.
I am. Last year I had 132:
But they were of varying length and style (about 40 of them were either comics collections or manga volumes, for instance, and there was a small group of children's books), so it's somewhat less impressive than it sounds as a raw number. There were a couple things that I read but weren't counted, though, since I had read them before (The Count of Monte Cristo, Absolute Sandman I - III, and A Song of Ice and Fire (I - IV).
My initial goal for this year is 75, though I'll probably up it if I get ahead.
