Author Topic: What Books are you reading???? just curious! (Read 42685 times)

andrucer · « **Reply #480 on:** January 17, 2012, 03:31:40 PM »

Just finished reading "Before I go to sleep" by S.J. Watson.

Definitely worth reading.

Harpoinseoul · « **Reply #481 on:** January 20, 2012, 09:52:21 PM »

I'm listening to ULTRA METABOLISM and DETOX DIETS FOR DUMMIES.

mountaingoat · « **Reply #482 on:** January 26, 2012, 03:04:28 PM »

Read We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver while on holiday. It was disturbing but wonderfully written. I highly recommend it. Also, Norwegian Wood was a hard one to put down. But maybe that's because I was in Japan while reading it.

riswyk · « **Reply #483 on:** January 26, 2012, 05:20:22 PM »

I'm reading "Jamaica Inn" by Daphne DuMaurier. She also wrote the classic "Rebecca" which was made into a movie by Alfred Hitchcock. It's kind of dark in a Wuthering Heights kind of way.

To above poster, I read We Need to Talk about Kevin. It was a very thought-provoking book.

Since I'm deskwarming, I do a mix of websurfing and reading.

TheKidDoog · « **Reply #484 on:** January 28, 2012, 12:15:01 PM »

Quote from: Rusty Shackleford on January 26, 2012, 06:10:16 PM

Still slogging through A Dance With Dragons. It really is hugely disappointing but still very good in places and the best fantasy writing I have ever read (the small amount I have read).

I'm about half way through that book myself but I'm definitely enjoying it. True, there are some chapters focussing on characters you really don't care all that much about and there seems to be a lot of time spent wishing the story would get back to some of the more interesting story threads, but overall I think it is a pretty compelling read.

A lot of people I know that have read he series were so put off the 4th book that they kind of lost steam, but I didn't think it was THAT horrible, though definitely the worst of the series thus far.

The main thing that annoys me about Martin's writing however, is the repetitiveness. I don't find it adds anything to the story when you're reading for the 50th time almost the exact same sentence that the one character keeps repeating over and over again. Hard to explain without any spoilers, but if you're that far into the series you must know what I mean.

DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP · « **Reply #485 on:** January 28, 2012, 12:22:21 PM »

At the end of 'The Echo Maker' by Richard Powers.

Centered on the lives of a Capgras sufferer in Nebraska and his Sister and the world renowned populiser of Neuroscience who investigates his case.

If you're fascinated by the world of the mind and how the self is constructed and you love scientific facts and detail, this is definately a must.

Frozencat99 · « **Reply #486 on:** January 28, 2012, 07:08:31 PM »

Quote from: Rusty Shackleford on January 28, 2012, 03:04:10 PM

Quote from: TheKidDoog on January 28, 2012, 12:15:01 PM
Quote from: Rusty Shackleford on January 26, 2012, 06:10:16 PM

Still slogging through A Dance With Dragons. It really is hugely disappointing but still very good in places and the best fantasy writing I have ever read (the small amount I have read).

I'm about half way through that book myself but I'm definitely enjoying it. True, there are some chapters focussing on characters you really don't care all that much about and there seems to be a lot of time spent wishing the story would get back to some of the more interesting story threads, but overall I think it is a pretty compelling read.

A lot of people I know that have read he series were so put off the 4th book that they kind of lost steam, but I didn't think it was THAT horrible, though definitely the worst of the series thus far.

The main thing that annoys me about Martin's writing however, is the repetitiveness. I don't find it adds anything to the story when you're reading for the 50th time almost the exact same sentence that the one character keeps repeating over and over again. Hard to explain without any spoilers, but if you're that far into the series you must know what I mean.
I have to admit some of the short chapters through the middle stages have me hooked. At the moment I'm stuck on a chapter about those people (I don't even know who they are) whose main guy was killed by Gregor Clegayne about a book and a half ago. They finally got his skull but now they are talking about invading Westeros or some such, yawn.I'm thinking about skipping that chapter.

Storm Of Swords is definitely my favorite in the series and the most action packed. I quite like some of the repetitive parts. I'm endlessly fascinated by the descriptions of the various feasts. I can't think of any examples of repeated phrases off hand. Probably a problem with my reading comprehension more than anything.

You know nothing, Rusty Shackleford.

(Not a jab in case you don't catch the reference :3)

TheKidDoog · « **Reply #487 on:** January 29, 2012, 01:38:12 AM »

Quote

You know nothing, Rusty Shackleford.

(Not a jab in case you don't catch the reference :3)

Haha, exactly! I find it even more prevalent in the inner dialogue for characters though. For example Bran always saying how he wished he could be a knight, over and over. Another bad one a little more recent (won't give names for fear of spoilers) is the one guy who won't shut up about the crossbow quarrel and his father. It just tends to get on my nerves after reading the same sentence 5 times.

skipping rocks · « **Reply #488 on:** January 29, 2012, 08:41:41 PM »

The best book I've recently read is Revolutionary Road by Peter Yates. His writing is wonderful and his observations on suburban US culture are still as insightful ass they were fifty years ago.

DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP · « **Reply #489 on:** January 30, 2012, 12:55:23 AM »

Quote

insightful ass

Tell me mo'... tell me more....! :D

SpaceRook · « **Reply #490 on:** January 31, 2012, 12:26:57 PM »

I'm currently reading the Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson. It's pretty entertaining. Even if you're not an Apple guy (and I'm not), it's a good history lesson of the last 40 years of computing. My only complaint is that, even at 600 pages, it still seems to be a little shallow in places.

TriKorea · « **Reply #491 on:** February 04, 2012, 03:05:18 PM »

Just started "Eat, Pray, Love" :) So far it's great (but just like the movie)

Harpoinseoul · « **Reply #492 on:** March 16, 2012, 09:48:07 AM »

Reading "Change Your Thoughts-Change Your Life" by Dr. Wayne Dyer. It's a commentary on Daoism. A very good read filled with lots of ancient wisdom.

TheWB18 · « **Reply #493 on:** March 16, 2012, 10:36:43 AM »

About to start Last Exit to Brooklyn.

Tiamat · « **Reply #494 on:** March 16, 2012, 11:04:09 AM »

I finished "Extremely loud and incredibly close" by Jonathan Safranfoer this morning on the bus. Wow, what a journey!

#basedcowboyshirt · « **Reply #495 on:** March 16, 2012, 11:40:18 AM »

Quote from: Hesterf on March 16, 2012, 11:04:09 AM

I finished "Extremely loud and incredibly close" by Jonathan Safranfoer this morning on the bus. Wow, what a journey!

This is such a wonderful book. I wish I could read it for the first time again.

These days, I'm still slogging through the giant and weighty collection of dragonbooks known as the Malazan series. Because I'm a giant dork.

Tiamat · « **Reply #496 on:** March 16, 2012, 02:56:30 PM »

Quote from: #basedcowboyshirt on March 16, 2012, 11:40:18 AM

Quote from: Hesterf on March 16, 2012, 11:04:09 AM
I finished "Extremely loud and incredibly close" by Jonathan Safranfoer this morning on the bus. Wow, what a journey!

This is such a wonderful book. I wish I could read it for the first time again.

These days, I'm still slogging through the giant and weighty collection of dragonbooks known as the Malazan series. Because I'm a giant dork.

I was told that I would hate the ending. Apparently there was much criticism about the book in general. I, however, thought it was amazing and that there couldn't have been a better/more appropriate ending.

The Malazan series? I've never heard of it. How many books are in the series and is it worth to start reading it?

seanathon · « **Reply #497 on:** March 16, 2012, 03:38:35 PM »

Quote from: TheWB18 on March 16, 2012, 10:36:43 AM

About to start Last Exit to Brooklyn.

Great book. I like Selby's portrayal of an earlier, grittier, nyc. If you haven't already, you should check out some of Burroughs' works. I just read Junkie by him a few months ago and have Naked Lunch on my Kindle in a long, long backlog of books to read.

TheWB18 · « **Reply #498 on:** March 16, 2012, 04:03:06 PM »

Quote from: seanathon on March 16, 2012, 03:38:35 PM

Quote from: TheWB18 on March 16, 2012, 10:36:43 AM
About to start Last Exit to Brooklyn.

Great book. I like Selby's portrayal of an earlier, grittier, nyc. If you haven't already, you should check out some of Burroughs' works. I just read Junkie by him a few months ago and have Naked Lunch on my Kindle in a long, long backlog of books to read.

I loved Junkie. A few years ago I tore through a decent amount of Kerouac and Burroughs and Ginsberg, haven't gone back since but I might. Luckily (I guess? maybe not) I don't have a Kindle so my backlog is just a couple. Missing all my books at home, actually.

chasmmi · « **Reply #499 on:** March 16, 2012, 04:15:18 PM »

Quote from: dmbpang on September 28, 2011, 11:20:09 AM

Check out The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo books. The yare pretty amazing. They beat Dan Brown's boels any day of the week.

BUt to be fair, Alphabet spaghetti is a more compelling read than a Dan Brown Book.

I'm doing some literature style classes with my students so am currently reading about 10 or 12 books silmultaneously.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The BFG
James and the Giant Peach:

White Fang
Dracula
Howl's Moving Castle

Marley and Me
The Alchemist
Life of Pi

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Captain Corelli's Mandolin

There is not a weak book there in my opinion and I still maintain Captain Corelli's Mandolin to be one of the best books ever written. Especially for strength of characters.

My main problem is that my favourite authors seem to either be dead, or write about 1 book every 5-10 years.

Louis De Bernieres
Douglas Adams
Thomas Harris
Roald Dahl (at least when I was younger and would still read a new Dahl book if one was ever discoverd just because)

Saying that, The Alchemist was good so I may give Coelho another whirl once I have got through this lot.