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A Thousand Splendid...
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Spin
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bookshelves: own, currently-reading
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  (page 458 of 458)
Jan 24, 2012 06:59am
 
Seventh Son
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  (page 241 of 241)
Jan 22, 2012 08:18am
 

Ben's Recent Updates

The Rise of Endymion by Dan Simmons
" I survived!

As I’ve reported in my previous reviews of this series there were times where it seemed as if my gray matter was going to be permanently fried by this epic sci-fi story. I finally got through to the end with most of my marbles... "
Read more of this review »
Tau Zero by Poul Anderson
" ...According to the blurb on the cover, James Blish considers this book the ultimate hard science fiction novel. There is something to be said for that. I have rarely read a novel with such rigorous scientific underpinnings. Anderson had a degree in ... "
Read more of this review »
Under a Canvas Sky by Clare Peake
" The youngest child of Mervyn Peake and Maeve Gilmore describes her bohemian childhood and teenage years in 60s London. Although Clare is always keen to stress how happy and loved she was, the pain of her father's rapid mental decline is, at times, dr... "
Read more of this review »
A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick
" I used to wonder how Phillip K. Dick came up with all the trippy concepts in his stories until I read A Scanner Darkly. That’s when I realized that the drugs probably had a lot to do with it.

Originally published in 1977 and set in the mi... "
Read more of this review »
6437061
"Everyone I know who has read this has enjoyed this, leaving me to wonder if I was just all Mr. Grumpyface when reading it!

I suspect I was, to some ext...more
"
41zb-am2apl
"So given that you said Basic Eight remains your favourite, would you recommend I start that one first if I want to give Handler a try? Or is there som...more"
Ben Babcock marked as to-read:
The Basic Eight by Daniel Handler
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didn't like it it was ok liked it really liked it it was amazing
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Ben Babcock is currently reading:
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
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didn't like it it was ok liked it really liked it it was amazing
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Ben Babcock gave 2 of 5 stars to:
The Child in Time by Ian McEwan
The Child in Time
by Ian McEwan
read in January, 2012
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Childhood is magical.

There is a myth, or at least a misconception, that this is a result of children being innocent. If you have ever been a child, then if you look deep into your heart, you will recognize this as the lie we tell ourselves to conce...more
Ben Babcock is finished with Spin
Spin
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More of Ben's books…
Douglas Coupland
“A few years ago it dawned on me that everybody past a certain age ... pretty much constantly dreams of being able to escape from their lives. They don't want to be who they are any more. They want out. This list includes Thurston Howell the Third, Ann-Margret, the cat members of Rent, Václav Havel, space shuttle astronauts and Snuffleupagus. It's universal.”
Douglas Coupland, The Gum Thief

Jhumpa Lahiri
“He owned an expensive camera that required thought before you pressed the shutter, and I quickly became his favorite subject, round-faced, missing teeth, my thick bangs in need of a trim. They are still the pictures of myself I like best, for they convey that confidence of youth I no longer possess, especially in front of a camera.”
Jhumpa Lahiri, Unaccustomed Earth

Larry Doyle
“The temperature in the gym reached 125 degrees, qualifying anyone there to be served rare.

"Could we," Dr. Henneman said, wafting her hands about, "open those back doors, let a little air in? Please?"....

Miles Paterini and Pete Couvier ... pressed down on the metal bars. The doors didn't open.

People actually gasped.

Dennis began calculating the amount of oxygen left in the gymnasium.

Dr. Henneman's doctorate in school administration had prepared her for this.

"Is Mr. Wrona here?"

Mr. Wrona, the school custodian, was not here. He was at home watching women's volleyball with the sound turned off and imagining the moment everyone realized the back doors were locked.”
Larry Doyle, I Love You, Beth Cooper

Douglas Coupland
“...we're told by TV and Reader's Digest that a crisis will trigger massive personal change--and that those big changes will make the pain worthwhile. But from what he could see, big change almost never happens. People simply feel lost. They have no idea what to say or do or feel or think. they become messes and tend to remain messes.”
Douglas Coupland, The Gum Thief

Paul Quarrington
“The man behind the check-in counter gives the impression that he has just axe-murdered the motel's owner (and family, and family pet) and is going through these procedures of hostelry so as not to arouse suspicion.”
Paul Quarrington, The Ravine

12897 The Alternative World — 81 members — last activity 6 hours, 50 min ago
A private group focusing on discussion of speculative fiction. Group membership is restricted to encourage thoughtful, engaged discussions.
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1 Goodreads Feedback — 6525 members — last activity 41 minutes ago
This is a place to give feedback about Goodreads. Feature ideas, bugs, or any other suggestion for improvement. The Goodreads staff monitors this gr...more
1865 SciFi and Fantasy Book Club — 6033 members — last activity 4 minutes ago
Welcome to the SciFi and Fantasy Book Club!

The Lenin: Brad
The Trotsky: Ala
The Stalin: Denae
The Marx: Nick

PLE...more

220 Goodreads Librarians — 12978 members — last activity 4 minutes ago
A place where all Goodreads members can work together to improve the Goodreads book catalog. Non-librarians are welcome to join the group as well, to ...more
185 What's The Name of That Book??? — 3552 members — last activity 2 hours, 26 min ago
Can't remember the title of a book you read a while back? Come post a description on our message board and we can try to help each other out.

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Dan
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Sarah  Pi
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5,167 books | 733 friends

BunWat
773 books | 121 friends

Brooke
1,772 books | 105 friends

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988 books | 112 friends

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1,749 books | 127 friends

Terence
2,980 books | 137 friends

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2012 Reading Challenge
Ben Babcock
Ben Babcock has read 8 books toward his goal of 120 books.
 
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