What Have We Been Reading

[Gregory]

Finished A Clash of Kings last night. Now I am reading Norwegian Wood. After a few more quick reads, I'll be moving onto A Storm of Swords

[Steve]

CANNOT STOP READING CORMAC MCCARTHY

[[deleted user]]

I don't think that's a bad thing

[whimsicalmeerkat]

I really loved the only book of his I've read, but I don't think of him as an author I can't put down, step away from for awhile (2-3 years) then come back to, apparently.

[Steve]

I've found as he's quite a unique author, it's interesting to run through his novels and track his progression. I started with the newer batch, to his first couple and now filling in the rest.

[BookReader]

I am in college right now so most of my reading consists of textbooks. Fortunately my Comparative Studies teacher assigned awesome reading this semester! We are studying medical ethics and history, and so far I have read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down.

I would especially recommend the first to anyone else who loves science, as it follows the story of the HeLa cells, which have been used in everything from atomic bomb testing to stem cell research.

I've noticed that Frankenstein is also on our course syllabus, so I am super excited for that too.

[[deleted user]]

What the hell...for the life of me, I never connected that book with those cells. I thought it was some old-timey fiction book so never even looked at it before.

Added to me TBR list, thanks Kelley :)

[Nimit]

For those of you who are reading or have read A Song of Ice and Fire, what is your general impression of the series? I'm not a huge fantasy fan generally outside of like the mainstream stuff (Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter). Do you think its accessible for casual fantasy readers? And I heard the series drops pretty hard with the fourth book. Is that true?

[whimsicalmeerkat]

Ala wrote: "What the hell...for the life of me, I never connected that book with those cells. I thought it was some old-timey fiction book so never even looked at it before.

Added to me TBR list, thanks Kelle..."

learn to read synopses?

[[deleted user]]

@Nim: I love ASoIaF. Great story, the characters feel realistic, and it moves along at a nice pace. The setting isn't very magical either, in fact there's not much magic in the entire series so far. So a non-fantasy reader shouldn't have too many qualms enjoying it, especially if they can just imagine it as a medieval setting with weird names.

The fourth book was a bit of a letdown to some, due to the fact that not everyone's favorite characters were present. But I enjoyed the stories of the ones that were included.

The only downside, to me, is that it isn't done yet. And the wait is damn near hellish.

@Denae: don't you have boxes to be moving?

[whimsicalmeerkat]

Eating something is occasionally necessary. Also, ADD. There's only so much sorting through paperwork and occasionally running across reminders of past relationships I can do at a time.

[[deleted user]]

Ah, reminders of failure and broken heartedness.






Burn that shit in a bonfire while drinking.

[whimsicalmeerkat]

Don't have enough time, but I do have a shredder!

I also have divorce papers I need to file, but NC is ass backwards, so I have another 6+ months to wait until I can do that. Once November hits though I will have the dubious distinction of being a double divorcee.

[John]

Just finished the first Dresden book. Quite enjoyable.

[[deleted user]]

Going to continue the series?

[John]

I think I will. Not right away... got a lot on my "to read" pile, but I'd like to read more. I've heard it actually gets better as it goes along.

[[deleted user]]

I've read the entire series, and it does actually get better later on. The first few books are a bit rocky, but around 4 or 5 it smooths out all the way.

Plus they're all pretty quick and manageable reads.

[whimsicalmeerkat]

Hmm, they may have to go onto Mount TBR.

[[deleted user]]

They're what I like to call popcorn books.

Quick, page turners with some decent action, a few good quips, someone to root for and are all-around just fun and fast reads.

[whimsicalmeerkat]

I like having some of those around for palate cleansers

[Justin]

I just finished A Visit from the Goon Squad. I had high expectations, obviously, since it just won the Pulitzer. I was not disappointed. I couldn't put it down.

Next up, I'm starting on If on a Winter's Night a Traveler.

[[deleted user]]

That's two books I've been thinking of reading.

Added to my ever growing TBR list. One day I'll get to them all...one day

[[deleted user]]

Finished up a re-read of Retribution Falls last night. It's very reminiscent of Firefly, only without that Whedon wit and Fillion charm.

It's set on just one planet with steampunk inspired airships instead of spacecraft. And there's some magic and perhaps paranormal elements as well.

Good stuffs if you're looking for something to read.

[Geoff]

I love Calvino. Hope you enjoy the book Justin, I thought it was quite good.

Right now I'm reading Being Dead by Jim Crace, which is marvelous thus far (I expect nothing less from Crace),Them by Joyce Carol Oates, and North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, which I may stop because I've read my share of Victorian literature lately and may want to try something different. We'll see.

Also, Ala, that looks interesting. I need to get into steampunk. And if it's at all like Firefly I think I probably would like it.

[[deleted user]]

I rather enjoyed it, and actually have the sequel on my shelf ready to read once I get a few other book-of-the-month reads done.

[Steve]

Spent a weekend in Ontario cottage country. Read Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West and Night.

Blood Meridian was a violent rampage across Mexico, as it progressed I cared about it more than I expected.

Night was.. well.. as expected. Short and to the point, but as haunting as the subject matter usually is.

[Steve]

Sergio Rubén wrote: "Well I finished "Los siete locos" (the seven madmen), and really it's very... dense sometimes. Just started Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk

Hi John and Ala! Thanks for the welcoming!"

I really enjoyed Haunted.. as a collection of short stories, it had to be the most interesting presentation I've seen.

[Brian]

I've been working my way through William Gibson's novels. Just finished the Sprawl Trilogy, which was surprisingly engaging. I'm currently on Pattern Recognition. So far (about p. 25), it's sort of alienating; just lots of exposition on rich people's clothes.

[[deleted user]]

Damn rich people thinking they're all fancy and whatnot just because they have pants...

[Vlad]

Hello, r/bookclub, it's been awhile and I've been busy and I feel I should share what I've read recently:
One of E.E. Doc Smith Skylark books - beautiful beautiful incredibly campy old school sci-fi. Glad I don't have any more or I would never stop reading. Highly recommended.
Seth Godin's Tribes - not bad. I'd say he's getting better with every book. Worth it.
Gladwell's Blink - yeah, I'm late to the party... Not as shallow as I expected, it's ok, just don't expect any major revelations.
Leafed through some very very Christian books - don't ask.
Blue Ocean Strategy - some business book, don't ask either. Very much skippable.
Finally I'm reading Ira Levin's Perfect Day - about half way through.

[[deleted user]]

Oh sure, now you come back. After we've all finished your pick.

What you did there? I saw it.

[Fergus]

Currently reading If on a winter's night a traveller by Calvino which is amazing. Got Swann's Way by Proust and Candide by Voltaire on hold right now due to exams.

On a side note I was wondering, as no one commented on reddit, which of these books would be the best to read: Bleak House, Don Quixote or War and Peace.

[[deleted user]]

I have never read any of those. So, pulling straight outta the old rectum here, I'll say Don Quixote.

I'm sure someone here has actually read them all, though, and can give you a real suggestion. :P

[whimsicalmeerkat]

Given how different the three are, I would say it largely depends on what sort of book best suits your mood at the time. I am intrigued as to why you are choosing among those three. They don't seem to have a huge amount in common. In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I've not read any of them.

[Fergus]

Well mainly it was the monumental stature of the books/authors and the need to have a big book for my summer holidays. They all seem to have something in common in that they feature, apparently, well developed characters and an ability to envelop the reader, which is what I'd like in a summer read. Thanks for the replies :)

[whimsicalmeerkat]

A big book of monumental stature I have read and enjoyed is The Brothers Karamazov, if you've not read it. I've not read War and Peace yet, but Anna Karenina is one of my favorite books.

[Nimit]

I read the first 200 pages of Don Quixote before I eventually got distracted and lost interest. It was pretty funny and probably more accessible than the other two books, so I'd vote for that one. I got the Edith Grossman translation and I'm eventually going to start again and read it all the way through, but its still on my "to read" list along with War and Peace.

[Fergus]

I adored TBK! I've got Crime and Punishment on my bedside table right now actually. I'll perhaps leave Tolstoy for later seeing as he's got two huge masterworks, although if I get time I'll check out Anna Karenina first.
I'll be actively seeking out the Grossman translation, thanks Nim!

[Nimit]

I just finished A Game of Thrones and it was really good, but much darker than I imagined. I'm not sure how they're going to show some of this stuff on HBO or how it managed to get so insanely popular since its completely counter to the typical American stories of good triumphing over evil. Won't go into details to avoid spoiling it for anyone who's going to read it, but it was definitely worth the time. I blazed through it and now I'm on to A Clash of Kings.

[[deleted user]]

The entire series is great, with 4 being a bit of a let down.

[Vlad]

Ala wrote: "Oh sure, now you come back. After we've all finished your pick.

What you did there? I saw it."
I wish I could take credit, but sadly no. Honesty beats pragmatism yet again...

Insectoverlord wrote: "I adored TBK!"
This just stopped me cold. What's "War and Peace"? Dub-pee? Anyone else feels slight eccentricity in Earth orbit? Due to all the dead Russian lit teachers spinning in their graves?

[whimsicalmeerkat]

rofl

[Fergus]

I apologise for my apparently offensive use of acronyms, next time I'm typing a message I'll have you specifically in mind eh?

[Melissa]

I haven't read any of those classics. I think I'm too intimidated. I've been starting a lot books lately and just not been able to get into them. Anyone else have that problem?

It's definitely not all books. I just read Bellwether by Connie Willis in just a couple days and before that I killed This Perfect Day. In between, though, I must have picked up 4 different books and read the first 100 pages or so before giving up. I hope it's just a phase!

[Vlad]

Insectoverlord wrote: "I apologise for my apparently offensive use of acronyms, next time I'm typing a message I'll have you specifically in mind eh?"
No need. I wasn't offended, and even if I was - I'm just a random dude on the internet and if I take your words a little too seriously it's my problem, not yours.
I just found it funny that Dostoyevsky has such passionate fans. In the best possible way. For me, this world is a now a better richer place because I know there's someone out there who digs Dostoevsky to the point of abbreviating book titles.
Please don't take my previous comment as an attack on you - it wasn't meant that way.

[Fergus]

Ah right. Well in my defense it outwardly appears a rather nasty comment, and me in the middle of exams and all nervy I hope can be forgiven for misinterpreting it :D

[Steve]

Oh redditors.. the best thread dispute/reconciliation I've seen in some time.

[[deleted user]]

You shut your whore mouth, Steve.

[[deleted user]]

Well...ok then.

[Steve]

So.. I've been reading Primo Levi.. a few of his books. man... I need some happier literature. The Toronto library keeps taking my Tigana back.. can't keep it long enough to finish.