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Maklershed · Aug 1, 2016

Maklershed · Aug 1, 2016

Visit the summer book club thread hosted by Cyan: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1226913

The book for summer is Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

Via goodreads.com: Set in an addicts' halfway house and a tennis academy, and featuring the most endearingly screwed-up family to come along in recent fiction, Infinite Jest explores essential questions about what entertainment is and why it has come to so dominate our lives; about how our desire for entertainment affects our need to connect with other people; and about what the pleasures we choose say about who we are.

Equal parts philosophical quest and screwball comedy, Infinite Jest bends every rule of fiction without sacrificing for a moment its own entertainment value. It is an exuberant, uniquely American exploration of the passions that make us human—and one of those rare books that renew the idea of what a novel can do.

Amazon US
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble

AngmarsKing701 · Aug 1, 2016

Humming through The Goblin Emperor

Kahoona · Aug 1, 2016

BrokenFiction · Aug 1, 2016

Just finished Star Wars Aftermath Life Debt. I liked the first one, but this was all around better in every way. I really enjoyed the story they're laying out, and the teases in the interludes were mostly properly tantalizing. Can't wait to see what

Sheev hid on Jakku.

Fuu · Aug 1, 2016

My picks for August:

O Livro de Ouro do Universo (2000), Ronaldo Rogério de Freitas Mourão
1822 (2010), Laurentino Gomes
Outwitting the Devil: The Secret to Freedom and Success (2011-written in 1938), Napoleon Hill
Lord of the Flies (1954), William Golding
The Goblin Emperor (2014), Katherine Addison

Trying to read more non-fiction: astronomy (O Livro de Ouro do Universo), Brazilian history (1822) and personal development (Outwitting the Devil).

I actually listened to the first two chapters of an audiobook of Lord of the Flies earlier this year, but I realized Id prefer to experience it in written form.

And The Goblin Emperor because of the July thread.

Sounds fun!

fakefaker · Aug 1, 2016

Erebos by Ursula Poznanski

Haly · Aug 1, 2016

Servbot #42 said:
I finally finished reading this book, i liked it, sorry Haly.

TheExhaustedWalrus · Aug 1, 2016

Just about finished with 10% Happier by Dan Harris, which has been an excellent and informative memoir that has really helped me with my approach to mediation.

I'm almost finished with Chamber of Secrets in my annual Harry Potter series re-read, it's probably still my least favorite one in the series.

Also, I bough The Girls and Modern Romance on sale today. Hoping to start those soon.

Pau · Aug 1, 2016

Finished Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary. It was a good blend of Indian and British history. Went into way too much detail at times but at the same time it was neat that the biographer could do that.

Now reading Penric and the Shaman. I have such a bad memory or just read too much. It's hard to keep track of so many ongoing series. I forget so many details.

Hop · Aug 1, 2016

Stuff I'm already working on:

Fiction I'm hoping to get to over August:

Falchion · Aug 1, 2016

Just finished reading The Last Wish which is a collection of short stories, and the beginning of the Witcher books. I enjoyed Witcher 3's plot and lore so much I went to the source materials and it wasn't a disappointment. Now I've just got to decide if I want to jump right into book 2 or take a break and read some Bond novels.

GYODX · Aug 1, 2016

English:

I Wrote This For You by Iain S. Thomas

Spanish:

Hija De La Fortuna (Daughter Of Fortune) by Isabel Allende

Japanese:

Ningen Shikkaku (No Longer Human) by Osamu Dazai

noquarter · Aug 1, 2016

Reading this again. Like it even more than when I read it ten years ago. A pretty great book, really wish the author would have wrote more.

Christoff Yurievich · Aug 1, 2016

Reading The Dressmaker since I saw the movie last month. The changes are interesting, but I think it's harder to keep track of people since it seems like they've combined some characters for the film.

WAR recon zero · Aug 1, 2016

The making of the atomic bomb by Richard Rhodes.

Thick science and a thick book for my tastes. Still very fascinating. My first non fiction book

NipplesAndToes23 · Aug 1, 2016

Reading Shipbreaker by Paolo right now. It's okay.

thomaser · Aug 1, 2016

Halfway through Hunter S. Thompson's "Hell's Angels". It's a typical HST-book, and by that I mean bloody brilliant.

Quote · Aug 1, 2016

I'm half way through Permutation City, and it's blowing my god damn mind.

Arenesus · Aug 1, 2016

About a quarter of the way through Gridlinked (Agent Cormac #1), enjoying it so far but it hasn't quite got its hooks in me yet.

Nymerio · Aug 1, 2016

Part three of the Wayward Pines trilogy: The Last Town. I like it.

TestMonkey · Aug 1, 2016

Reading Duty Calls by Sandy Mitchell. Running out of good, available Warhammer 40k stuff to read.

The Culture Vulture · Aug 1, 2016

Read in July - Trigger Warning, Doctor Sleep and Brave New World

Started for August - Station Eleven and Me And The Devil

Paganmoon · Aug 1, 2016

Currently reading Sharp Ends by Joe Abercrombie and absolutely loving it. Really makes me excited for the new trilogy in the First Law world as well.

Necrovex · Aug 1, 2016

The Culture Vulture said:
Read in July - Trigger Warning, Doctor Sleep and Brave New World

Started for August - Station Eleven and Me And The Devil

How is Trigger Warning for someone who typically avoids short stories?

The Culture Vulture · Aug 1, 2016

Necrovex said:
How is Trigger Warning for someone who typically avoids short stories?

If you like Gaiman check it out. There was only 3 or 4 stories I really liked so I would recommend other collections first. That being said it's a very easy read.

Typhares · Aug 1, 2016

Yesterday I started and finished the first book of the Dresden Files and I enjoyed it so I'll be carrying on with the next book.

sparky2112 · Aug 1, 2016

WAR recon zero said:
The making of the atomic bomb by Richard Rhodes.

Thick science and a thick book for my tastes. Still very fascinating. My first non fiction book

That is a WHOPPER to make your first non-fiction read. Man, as readers go, I'm as stubborn as they come, and as much as I love science, the chemistry/physics portion of the book is fairly brutal, imho. I almost skipped over it, but then ultimately stalled out on the read as a whole. I need to go back...

Rug Monkey · Aug 1, 2016

Read the Challion books and thoroughly enjoyed them. The theology/magic system grew on me, as did the language changes (Roya/Royina/Royen/Royesse) the 3rd book is definitely the weakest. The use of the flat-pack medieval template of 95% of other fantasy novels and an entire world about the size of France (like 80% of them) always annoys, but her characterisation lifts her above the crowd, and her storytelling serves it well..

Next up are ...

Piercing by Ryu Murakami

and 3 books by Ha Jin

Waiting, Nanjing Requiem, and War Trash

TTG · Aug 1, 2016

sparky2112 said:
That is a WHOPPER to make your first non-fiction read. Man, as readers go, I'm as stubborn as they come, and as much as I love science, the chemistry/physics portion of the book is fairly brutal, imho. I almost skipped over it, but then ultimately stalled out on the read as a whole. I need to go back...

I had the opposite experience. Coming off A Brief History Of Time, which does a very poor job of explaining nuclear physics, I was so ready for someone to walk me through all of it from the beginning and that's exactly what this book did. It's when he transitioned to logistics and military/ethical problems that I found it less engaging.

I promised myself I would one day at least attempt to read the sequel about hydrogen bombs. There's suppose to be espionage!

Maklershed · Aug 1, 2016

Forgot to update ..

Currently reading Nobody's Fool by Russo. I'm about 70% through and quite enjoyable. Much like Larry David from Curb Your Enthusiasm, Sully is great to observe but sure would be a pain in the ass to be around. Does anyone know if this book has connections with Empire Falls at all? (shared characters, locations, etc)

Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo

ngower · Aug 1, 2016

Haven't been able to finish anything in a while. Partly because I'm distracted by everything all the time and partly because I'm moving soon. But I decided to treat myself with a few book buys yesterday for my birthday.

Started reading Call Me By Your Name and I suspect I'll enjoy it. Engrossing and well written from the early goings.

Townie, on the other hand, looks like it's going to be an experiment in self-loathing as that books just oozes with despair.

MrS · Aug 1, 2016

Notes of a Native Son - James Baldwin

Cade · Aug 1, 2016

Well instead of getting more sleep, I spent the last seven hours reading the last 600 pages of The Fireman. I liked it quite a bit but that ending. Fucking yikes. Not a fan, really. Caught quite a few good references that were subtle though most of them were brick to face obvious. I like Hill but I hope he makes something nore unique next... Or does his own Salem's Lot.

JaseMath · Aug 1, 2016

Rereading The Stand.
Probably start A Monster Calls after that.

Nappuccino · Aug 1, 2016

Blitzed through A Sense of an Ending, but I can't say I really cared for it. I have a pet peeve when authors/characters lay the themes on thick. When every other section ends with, essentially, "Well those were my memories. They might be wrong, maybe." I end up going "Ok, I get it. Move on."

I'd still recommend it for the beautiful writing and great characterization, but it's a rather tempered recommendation.

Lasthope106 · Aug 1, 2016

Still reading A Game Of Thrones

It has been slow going. But'm like 90% done. Might finish it this week. I'm really enjoying the battle scenes in the book. A lot more richer than what was on the show the 1st season.

Falchion said:
Just finished reading The Last Wish which is a collection of short stories, and the beginning of the Witcher books. I enjoyed Witcher 3's plot and lore so much I went to the source materials and it wasn't a disappointment. Now I've just got to decide if I want to jump right into book 2 or take a break and read some Bond novels.

Might read this next. I got the Spanish version.

Intheflorsh · Aug 1, 2016

Halfway through this. It's definitely better than Fargo season 2.

sparky2112 · Aug 1, 2016

Intheflorsh said:
Halfway through this. It's definitely better than Fargo season 2.

Dem's fightin' words. Season 2: very different, but equally brilliant.

effzee · Aug 1, 2016

Finished Amazonia - was alright don't think I liked the reveal and thus the overall book that much.

Starting Goblin Emperor today. HP 8 next.

commish · Aug 1, 2016

Tried again to read the final book of the Malazan series. Again I failed. It's just such a chore to read. I wish he had limited the number of characters. It's just too many.

Instead I am reading Dead Wake, a nonfiction book about the Lusitania sinking 100 years ago. Fascinating book.

Damerman · Aug 1, 2016

How do i subcribe to the thread on mobile?

Kawl_USC · Aug 1, 2016

Damerman said:
How do i subcribe to the thread on mobile?

Hit tools at the bottom of the page and then add subscription.

Christoff Yurievich · Aug 1, 2016

Damerman said:
How do i subcribe to the thread on mobile?

I'm pretty sure that subscriptions are automatically applied when you reply.

Additionally, in Control Panel -> Edit Options there's this block:

Default Thread Subscription Mode
When you post a new thread, or reply to a topic, you can choose to automatically add that thread to your list of subscribed threads, with the option to receive email notification of new replies to that thread.

With a drop down menu so you can be emailed when a thread you've subscribed to updates.

Lashley · Aug 1, 2016

is the new harry potter book any good?

Pazu · Aug 1, 2016

Lashley said:
is the new harry potter book any good?

It is utterly fantastic. It's a play in book form, though. It still manages to capture the wonder and depth of the original series while passing the torch from the original characters to the new generation. If you liked the Harry Potter books it's essential.

Pagusas · Aug 1, 2016

I just finished "American Gods".

...

I fricken hate this book. I dont get how its so loved. I was actually glad its over so I can move onto something else (Everyone kept telling me to wait till the end so the whole story made sense, BS the ending is predictable as all hell and boring to boot).

Just an absolute drudge to read through. So many sections of long winded stories of gods coming to america that killed the pacing. The "gods" were silly in them selves, some of the descriptions were just eye role worthy.

sasliquid · Aug 1, 2016

I'm about 200 pages into the first wheel of time book, it's very derivative of Tolkien plot wise so far and already pretty slow (gods help me if I ever get to the latter books) but it seems pretty Kool, I'll try reading the first 2/3 before trying something else for a bit (probly Iain m banks' excession)

Woorloog · Aug 1, 2016

sasliquid said:
I'm about 200 pages into the first wheel of time book, it's very derivative of Tolkien plot wise so far and already pretty slow (gods help me if I ever get to the latter books) but it seems pretty Kool, I'll try reading the first 2/3 before trying something else for a bit (probly Iain m banks' excession)

The first book is not the best one certainly. Very traditional fantasy. Things start getting way more interesting in the second book.

EDIT That said, I think even the first book is rather different from Tolkien's stories. It does follow the traditional Hero's Journey certainly, and the basic fantasy tropes are there. But there's also considerably amount of set ups for later books (one reason i cannot suggest just starting from Book 2).

Lashley · Aug 1, 2016

Pazu said:
It is utterly fantastic. It's a play in book form, though. It still manages to capture the wonder and depth of the original series while passing the torch from the original characters to the new generation. If you liked the Harry Potter books it's essential.

I'll buy it now, thank you

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