The Next Best Book Club discussion
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What are you reading?
Yep - we'll see if I get all the way through. I totally love the stories, but the short stories especially do get to seem slightly redundant. Maybe the key will be taking a break and reading something totally different and then coming back. Yeah - Robert Downey, Jr got the total dick down. Wonder why?? :) Phenomenal actor.
Yeah, for a long time I'd read a couple short stories in between whatever else I was reading. It was a nice palate cleanser. But now an anthology of science essays has taken that role away from it.Downey's joined Daniel Day Lewis and Meryl Streep in the pantheon of people whose movies I'll probably watch even if they look really stupid. Tropic Thunder was what did it for me.
Hello everyone. I was looking for some help. Last week I logged on to goodreads, and on someone's shelf was a book about a father who saved his son from the hip-hop life through 15,000 books. Its title I think was Losing or something similar. I appreciate all the help. Thank you Currently reading Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict
BJ Rose wrote: "Claire, I'm trying to stick with Brave New World, but it's slow going, and yes, it's boring. Since it's about a Utopia gone horribly wrong with its total dehumanization, it should have some pull, b..."Ok, thanks, BJ Rose. I'll read that first and decide. I read The Handmaid's Tale and loved that. I also heard that 1984 was a good dystopian novel.
I'm reading "The Postmistress" Sarah Blake
Olympia, I tracked that book down for you because the description sounded hilariously bizarre. It is Losing My Cool: How a Father's Love and 15,000 Books Beat Hip-hop Culture.Description:
"Growing up in Westfield, New Jersey, with a father who loved wisdom and ran an SAT prep business in a home crammed with books, Williams blithely ignored all that in favor of the hip-hop culture he heard and saw on BET. He spent his youth meticulously studying and imitating images of cool and thuggishness and listening to music that glorified misogyny, violence, and bling. The objective was to be "authentically black," despite his white mother and erudite father. He modeled the thug life with a hair-trigger temper that led to fights and a ghetto-fabulous girlfriend, living on the margins of drug dealing. At Georgetown, he continued the cool persona until he began to gradually face up to evidence that it would lead to failure and that a more interesting life might be available to him. Only then does he acknowledge the gift of his father's efforts to get him to appreciate the value of being able to truly and deeply think for himself. This is more than a coming-of-age story; it is an awakening, as Williams blends Dostoyevsky and Jay-Z in a compelling memoir and analysis of urban youth culture."
I feel like someone ought to clue this dude in to the fact that hip-hop is the single most influential force on language and culture in modern times, and the best of the rappers - like Jay-Z - are creating works so lyrically complex that they'll stand up to the best poets. And I mean that. There's a lot of b.s., misogynist, violent rap out there, but there's also some stuff our children's grandchildren will literally be studying in college.
I agree completely - I've been a RDJ fan for a long time, but it was mostly a "thought he was hot" sort of thing until Tropic Thunder. Now I really think he has some serious talent and can do anything! (Like Meryl Streep.) Besides, he wasn't attractive in Tropic Thunder. :)Daniel Day-Lewis is similar, but I did NOT enjoy Nine. I don't know if I just didn't get it or what. I think I went expecting Chicago and thought the music and plot were quite a bit far below that.
Yeah, I heard Nine was so terrible that I might not bother even for Danny.
Aw, I thought Nine was okay. It wasn't Chicago, but it was still fun to watch.
Nine has a few moments of brightness, but I just didn't think it was up to snuff. Penelope Cruz and the French actress whose name I can never remember (in my opinion) far out-acted Daniel D-L.
Fiona - it probably doesn't help that LKH is apparently working through her divorce in the Anita Blake books. A certain werewolf with issues is based on the ex-husband. This doesn't help.I stopped reading them around book 10 or so. Didn't like the direction they were clearly headed for.
Lol. "And then the werewolf insisted on going out drinking with his stupid friends when he knew it was my birthday."
Claire wrote: "Ok, thanks, BJ Rose. I'll read that first and decide. I read The Handmaid's Tale and loved that. I also heard that 1984 was a good dystopian novel."Claire, I finished BNW this morning, and think the 2nd half of the book was much better than the first. I thought 1984 was better than BNW, but IMO Orwell was building on Huxley's previous work. I actually got a scarier message out of Orwell's Animal Farm; more of that changing-history scenario can be seen in today's politics & society, altho 1984's Big Brother is scary enough!
I copied this from Wikipedia: good comparison of Brave New World & 1984:
Social critic Neil Postman contrasts the worlds of Nineteen Eighty-Four and Brave New World in the foreword of his 1985 book Amusing Ourselves to Death. He writes:
"What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions." In 1984, Orwell added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we fear will ruin us. Huxley feared that our desire will ruin us."
I personally prefer Brave New World to 1984; but 1984 was rather shoved down our throats in school (probably inevitable for... wait for it... the class of 1984), and Brave New World wasn't.
Susanna wrote: "I personally prefer Brave New World to 1984; but 1984 was rather shoved down our throats in school (probably inevitable for... wait for it... the class of 1984), and Brave New World wasn't."1984 is better written. BnW is great at the start, but then just falls apart in the end. 1984 is captivating from start to finish.
I had exactly the opposite experience: forced to read BNW in high school - still haven't read 1984.
Alex wrote: "Lol. "And then the werewolf insisted on going out drinking with his stupid friends when he knew it was my birthday.""Hilarious!
Im reading Time Traveler's Wife still! Almost done though(:
Melet wrote: "I had exactly the opposite experience: forced to read BNW in high school - still haven't read 1984."I know we read Animal Farm in high school but I can't remember (it was so long ago -lol) if we read BNW or 1984. I'll give it a try since I have it on my
TBR (BNW). Thanks for all your input.
I just finished I Am the Messenger which I really enjoyed. i look forwardto reading The Book Thief at some point, but first I have to plow through The Count of Monte Cristo.
I liked The Postmistress - but not for the normal reason - I wasn't all wound up about the post mistress and all that... For Me - it was all about Frankie's story - to me she was the one bringing the news and the real story - she was truly the post mistress. I think if I had waited a bit - I might have given the book less than five stars - but Frankie's story - was the story.... and was worthy of all the stars...I just finished The Truth about Lord Stoneham and am ready to move onto Vows, Vendettas, and a Little Black Dress,.
I'm reading 'The Life in the Wood with JONI-PIP' by Carrie King, I've never got past the first few pages of any fantasy book before, apart from Pratchett, I'll admit this one has got me intrigued, I'm on page 40!Being an author has it's perks, Carrie came to Winchester saturday and brought me a copy, I wonder what she is making of my book.
all the best Paul Rix [oldgeezer:]
Marti wrote: "I liked The Postmistress - but not for the normal reason - I wasn't all wound up about the post mistress and all that... For Me - it was all about Frankie's story - to me she was the one bringing...Thanks for your comments Marti. I'm only about 10 pages in so far so can't really comment yet. I'm looking forward to getting into it more.
i (kind of) finished The Calligrapher's Daughter. i only gave it 2 stars, but it was more like 2.5 for me. i wanted to really like it, but it was slow, and i couldn't figure out why. maybe too much description, but it was necessary, especially because very few readers would know much detail on the history of the korean nation. i started The Magicians by Lev Grossman tonight, and i'm loving it so far!! hoping it stays this good and doesn't venture into cheesey-world.
Alex wrote: "Downey's joined Daniel Day Lewis and Meryl Streep in the pantheon of people whose movies I'll probably watch even if they look really stupid. Tropic Thunder was what did it for me."You and me, Alex. I could watch RDJ sit in sackcloth for 2 hours and yet be entertained. However, I'm of his generation, and watched with horror his hard times. He was a breakout actor at the time, and it was so hard watch him circle the drain. What a wonderful comeback he has had.
RDJ is one of my favorite actors, in no small part because he managed to pull himself back from the abyss. I really admire that. Plus, he's hot.
Marti wrote: "I just finished The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest..."I found myself in need of the next book between Sat night & Sun morning and couldn't make a decision on what to read. I just couldn't wait any longer to read The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (I was taking a small break after "...Played With Fire"). The download took a whole 30 seconds - thank you Amazon Kindle! Of course I attempted to read just a page or two (at 5:30am) and got sucked in for an hour or so of reading in sheer bliss...even with my eyes half shut!
BTW, glad you're feeling better, Marti!!
I'm reading The Undomestic Godness by Sophie Kinsella. :)
I am so much better - thanks everyone! Whipping through Vows, Vendettas and a Little Black Dress. Kyra Davis has a twisted sense of humor!! I love it. I liked this line. Leah got up and tripped on Marcus's area rug, causing her to "accidentally" hurl her empty shot glass across the room. [pp108:]
I finally finished The Decameron and Our Mutual Friend!I started last night on Laxdæla Saga, but the Introduction is freaking 40+ pages long. I'm only about halfway through the Intro right now. Ready to get into the meat of it!
I'm sorry to hear about LKH. I'm sure that life effects everyone, writer or not. But she should have taken a break form writing. I used to love her books. But reading a book about people just having sex for hundreds of pages is simply boring and sick. I personally would rather be doing it. LOL
Karen wrote: "I'm sorry to hear about LKH. I'm sure that life effects everyone, writer or not. But she should have taken a break form writing. I used to love her books. But reading a book about people just havin..."Her books up to and including Obsidian Butterfly were really entertaining. After that, they became porn. Bad porn.
I tried a few of them but eventually they got rid of the plot entirely and just focused on the sex. blah. Its sad that she ruined a good series and a really strong, independant, well-written female character
Just finished Wolf Hall and am moving on to The Informers. Talk about something completely different! I loved Wolf Hall. The Informers is my first Bret Easton Ellis, but I'm getting into it. Also still reading The Mysteries of Udolpho and some others that I almost completely abandoned while reading Wolf Hall.
Bridgit, I totally agree with you. Maybe one day she'll get through this sick phase of her life and start putting out great books again. Maybe start another series.
I just finished American Gods by Neil Gaiman. I highly recommend it. It might not be a "beach read," but I thought it was a great summer book. I'm now dividing my time between Moby Dick, All the Pretty Horses, The Swimming-Pool Library, and If I Loved You, I Would Tell You This. All of them are excellent, although I must say I'm looking forward to finally getting through Moby-Dick. It's taken me a while.
You are a better person than I . I put down Moby Dick last year. I drowned the sucker.
I read Moby Dick but didn't really care for it. I've been told I should try it again. I think those people are crazy for suggesting it. :) I'm glad you're enjoying it though, Isaac.
I just got The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet and Life and Times of Michael K. Barnes & Noble send me a free drama called The Glades. It is suppose to debut on July 11 at 10:00 pm Sunday.
El wrote: "I read Moby Dick but didn't really care for it. I've been told I should try it again. I think those people are crazy for suggesting it. :) I'm glad you're enjoying it though, Isaac."Carol (akittykat) wrote: "You are a better person than I . I put down Moby Dick last year. I drowned the sucker."
In the interest of full disclosure, I will say that I haven't read every word of Moby-Dick. I've skimmed or skipped a lot of the boring bits, especially those chapters that read more like an encyclopedia of Cetology than a novel. I find the story riveting, but I'm not so interested in learning the finer points of mid-19th century whaling. So maybe you could try that, Carol and El.
I'm sure there are some who believe those chapters are essential to truly appreciating the book, but I just find the story much more interesting.
I read Moby Dick a while ago and didn't enjoy it that much, but I've been considering giving it another shot. I just have so many other things that I want to read right now, so I guess we'll see.
Rayna wrote: "I read Moby Dick a while ago and didn't enjoy it that much, but I've been considering giving it another shot. I just have so many other things that I want to read right now, so I guess we'll see."Fair enough, but for those who haven't read it and enjoy epic stories I'd definitely recommend giving it a shot, no matter how they read it.
Carol (akittykat) wrote: "I just got The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet and Life and Times of Michael K. Barnes & Noble send me a free drama called The Glades. It is suppose to debut on July 11..."I just got the Glades too Carol. I wonder what their distribution strategy was for that - everyone within a certain time period? That seems really expensive. Only select choices? I had gotten Lolita.
Lori wrote: "I am currently knee deep in the Dexter Series... I finished Darkly Dreaming Dexter last nite (a day and a half), and I am already half way through the Dearly Devoted Dexter.I have Dexter in the..."
I haven't read the series, but I am a devoted Showtime series fan! Welcome to the club. Muwahaha!
Bullet by Laurell K. HamiltonAnd after the library visit on Monday, I have:
Still Alice
Anna Karenina by Tolstoy
Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter
Flirting with 40 by Jane Porter
Wild Ride by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (just finished yesterday).
Kristi wrote: "Lori wrote: "I am currently knee deep in the Dexter Series... I finished Darkly Dreaming Dexter last nite (a day and a half), and I am already half way through the Dearly Devoted Dexter.I have ..."
Kristi: I am also a DEXTER fan but watch the seasons on DVD. Same with True Blood on HBO. But I don't read the books for either series.
Me and you, El. Sometime next year. Moby-Dick. On which we'll disagree, as usual.
Alright, books at 20 paces!
Oh, hellz no, Alex. That ship has sailed. There's no going back.But we don't disagree on everything. We both really liked Anna Karenina.
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The Next Best Book Club
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Saw the movie more recently and thought it was pretty cool. Better than I'd been led to believe. More focus on Holmes' fighting skills, but that's not untrue to the book - just more emphasized. Holmes the character is, let's face it, a total dick, and Downey doesn't shy away from that at all.
Cool project, anyway!