The Book Thread (Official Thread)

[Colorblind!]

Finished Wild Things in one day, was awesome.
Now I'm almost through The Orphaned Anythings. Whenever I see a book written by a musician I automatically think it will suck. This novel does not suck.

[brenByah]

Finished Wild Things in one day, was awesome.
Now I'm almost through The Orphaned Anythings. Whenever I see a book written by a musician I automatically think it will suck. This novel does not suck.

It's pretty short though isn't it?

[Wait_For_It]

I'm halfway through The Wild Things. I'm loving it so far.

[Colorblind!]

It's pretty short though isn't it?

Wild Things or Orphaned Anythings?
OA is only like 110 pages, but they cram a lot of words in there, the book is slightly deceptive. I think if it was normally formatted it would be closer to 200 pages.

[brenByah]

Wild Things or Orphaned Anythings?
OA is only like 110 pages, but they cram a lot of words in there, the book is slightly deceptive. I think if it was normally formatted it would be closer to 200 pages.

I was speaking about OA, I still have plans to check it out, I just couldn't remember how long it was. Either way it's definitely quality over quantity.

[TheBaroness]

Finished Wild Things in one day, was awesome.
Now I'm almost through The Orphaned Anythings. Whenever I see a book written by a musician I automatically think it will suck. This novel does not suck.

I thought OA was terrible - poorly written and very tired, trite, predictable ideas. But that's just my opinion.

[ashiex3]

I need to pick up The Wild Things. I'm really looking forward to reading it. I'm reading A Million Little Pieces right now. I bought it for a dollar at a book fair!

[Thomas Balkcom]

starting this in the morning

http://media.us.macmillan.com/jackets/500H/9780230574595.jpg

[CstSnow]

Haha thanks. I'm not sure I want to be mentally scarred anymore either.

Finished The Grapes of Wrath today, I really enjoyed most of it, but I will admit I skipped some of the chapters for the migrants as a whole... I've got East of Eden to get through as well sometime, but I'm reading Ghost World by Daniel Clowes first.

Ghost World is pretty good, but you will absolutely love East of Eden if you enjoyed Grapes of Wrath at all. IMO it is by far the better book and definitely Steinbecks masterpiece.

[CstSnow]

The only Irving book I've read so far is A Prayer for Owen Meany, and it's probably my favorite book... I'm reading it (on and off) for my third time right now. My English teacher told me to go to Cider House or Garp next, and I picked Cider House. I have Hotel New Hampshire too, but I haven't really been able to get into that one.

I love all the ones you mentioned, Irving is way underrated.(around here at least)

[brenByah]

I keep hearing a lot about The Wild Things, could someone fill me in? I have a general idea of the premise, but the one on Amazon is a mile long.

[CstSnow]

Just started reading "The Shining" after just finishing "Things The Grandchildren Should Know" by Mark Oliver Everett (EELS frontman). It was a fantastic read.

Loved that book, I was actually sent it for free to review from Librarything such an awesome site

[CstSnow]

Has anybody read either The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski or The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb? I'm considering getting both, but I've heard mixed reviews on each

A little late with this, but the Story of Edgar Sawtelle was pretty good. Not amazing or anything, but definitely solid, and worth the read.

Oh and about your Fast Food Nation question, maybe it's just me because lots of people have sworn off fast food after reading it, but I had no problem with it after. Interesting read though.

[dakota0135]

Ghost World is pretty good, but you will absolutely love East of Eden if you enjoyed Grapes of Wrath at all. IMO it is by far the better book and definitely Steinbecks masterpiece.
So far I am enjoying it more, but I'm only about 6 chapters in.

[Kyle Huntington]

Loved that book, I was actually sent it for free to review from Librarything such an awesome site
Yeah, seriously awesome. I bought it expecting to love it anyways and it really just matched and succeeded everything I had assumed. One of those books I kinda didn't want to end, found his life very interesting as well as his style of writing, easily involved in it.

[Colorblind!]

I thought OA was terrible - poorly written and very tired, trite, predictable ideas. But that's just my opinion.

Really!?
I expected not to enjoy it because I am certainly not an Anberlin fan anymore, but I was really surprised with the quality of his writing. I admit that some of the reconciliation with his family was fairly cliche, but I loved the style of writing: intentionally leaving it full of spelling errors, and a lack of structure and punctuation. I think the imperfections of the words themselves matched those of the character in the book.
I thought it was fairly honest and I found myself chuckling as the character had thoughts that I myself have mulled over, so maybe it's the relatability that I found endearing.

I'm curious if anybody else liked it or if I'm completely isolated in my bad taste haha.

[Wait_For_It]

I just finished The Wild Things. I loved it. It was a great simple read.

[TheBaroness]

Really!?
I expected not to enjoy it because I am certainly not an Anberlin fan anymore, but I was really surprised with the quality of his writing. I admit that some of the reconciliation with his family was fairly cliche, but I loved the style of writing: intentionally leaving it full of spelling errors, and a lack of structure and punctuation. I think the imperfections of the words themselves matched those of the character in the book.
I thought it was fairly honest and I found myself chuckling as the character had thoughts that I myself have mulled over, so maybe it's the relatability that I found endearing.

I'm curious if anybody else liked it or if I'm completely isolated in my bad taste haha.

The deliberate imperfections in his prose really annoyed me - I thought it was overdone and, at times, inconsistent with the thoughts of the character.

What I had the biggest problem with, however, was the ending. I found the last act of the book particularly trite, his recovery after the attempted suicide felt very cliche - the whole 'I've found someone so now I want to live' thing, it's a very glib approach to such a situation, it reads like it was written by someone who hasn't personally dealt with such problems but is just looking at them from a distance... I don't know, it's been a while since I read the book so I can't really remember a lot of the details of it, but again, the central theme of the book is 'there's more to living than being alive', that sentence in itself irritates me - no shit, of course 'there's more to living than being alive', it's nothing which hasn't been said a million times before, find a more interesting way of articulating said point!

[phil19]

currently reading royal exile by fiona mcintosh

[Lueda Alia]

I have to read The Last of the Mohicans for my class and I'm not too happy about it. I tried to start reading it a few weeks ago, and I just couldn't get into it. Has anyone here read it before?

[jusscali]

Anyone ever read Wind, Sand and Stars or The Little Prince? Thoughts? I'm also trying to delve into some more philosophical based stuff, mainly pertaining to education and learning so any recommendations there would be fantastic.

My Uncle recently passed and so I've been reading a lot of Leo Buscaglia, also re-reading One Flew Over

[Colorblind!]

The deliberate imperfections in his prose really annoyed me - I thought it was overdone and, at times, inconsistent with the thoughts of the character.

What I had the biggest problem with, however, was the ending. I found the last act of the book particularly trite, his recovery after the attempted suicide felt very cliche - the whole 'I've found someone so now I want to live' thing, it's a very glib approach to such a situation, it reads like it was written by someone who hasn't personally dealt with such problems but is just looking at them from a distance... I don't know, it's been a while since I read the book so I can't really remember a lot of the details of it, but again, the central theme of the book is 'there's more to living than being alive', that sentence in itself irritates me - no shit, of course 'there's more to living than being alive', it's nothing which hasn't been said a million times before, find a more interesting way of articulating said point!

All your arguments are completely valid. One thing that's interesting though is the person that inspired him to live disappears from his life entirely, and he never hears from her or sees her again. Although the thought itself is cliched, they don't live happily ever after. I still really enjoyed it and found some of the philosophies rather attractive even if they are nothing new, but yeah, all of your complaints are completely justified.

[Colorblind!]

Anyone ever read Wind, Sand and Stars or The Little Prince? Thoughts? I'm also trying to delve into some more philosophical based stuff, mainly pertaining to education and learning so any recommendations there would be fantastic.

My Uncle recently passed and so I've been reading a lot of Leo Buscaglia, also re-reading One Flew Over

As far as philosophical readings go, I just recently read the two novellas The Stranger by Albert Camus (Existentialist) and Anthem by Ayn Rand (Individualist). I highly recommend both.

I'm assuming somebody on here as read Fountainhead/Atlas Shrugged, which one should I dive into first?

[unwritten_law9]

Anyone ever read mediated by thomas de zengotita?

[eraserhead]

I'm going through a huge Beat phase right now. Been reading nothing but Ginsberg, Kerouac, and Burroughs for the last two weeks or so. Currently working through On the Road. So great. Also been reading a little bit of Camus on the side

And I just ordered this:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71T41DGHSWL.gif

from Amazon for $12. So pumped for it to come.

[jusscali]

In addition, has anyone read any Dewey, Kozol, Silberman, or the politics of experience by laing?

[chokemeout]

Labyrinths - Jorge Luis Borges - fantastic stuff. Not always making alot of sense but you know exactly what he's on about!
You Are Being Lied To - Russ Kick/Disinformation - Some interesting stuff in here, outdated slightly but still relevant. Read it to see a few of the ways we're all being screwed over

[dakota0135]

I have to read The Last of the Mohicans for my class and I'm not too happy about it. I tried to start reading it a few weeks ago, and I just couldn't get into it. Has anyone here read it before?
I tried to read it a couple of months ago because I love the film, but I only got about 4 pages in. The writing was too complex for me to be able to stick at it and finish it.

[Lueda Alia]

I tried to read it a couple of months ago because I love the film, but I only got about 4 pages in. The writing was too complex for me to be able to stick at it and finish it.
Yeah, I've read only 10 pages. I just can't get into it and I don't know what to do about it. My paper is due on Wednesday and I have no desire to ever read the book. Sigh.

[dakota0135]

Yeah, I've read only 10 pages. I just can't get into it and I don't know what to do about it. My paper is due on Wednesday and I have no desire to ever read the book. Sigh.
I couldn't get into it either, but I didn't have a paper to write on it... Just watch the movie and blag it!

[eucademix]

I'm currently working my way through House of Leaves and it's seriously creepy. I haven't even finished a quarter of the book.

[TJ Wells]

Just pre-ordered Stephen King's new one Under the Dome on Amazon, only nine bucks.

[BryterJonah]

Do David Mitchell's other novels live up to Cloud Atlas? I would love to read more from him before his newest one next year.

Also, has anyone read Camus' The Stranger? Thoughts?

[chokemeout]

Do David Mitchell's other novels live up to Cloud Atlas? I would love to read more from him before his newest one next year.

Also, has anyone read Camus' The Stranger? Thoughts?

I havent read Cloud Atlas but have read Black Swan Green which I liked - I dont remember much about it but is worth the read.

[Colorblind!]

Do David Mitchell's other novels live up to Cloud Atlas? I would love to read more from him before his newest one next year.

Also, has anyone read Camus' The Stranger? Thoughts?

I absolutely loved it, just read it a couple weeks ago.
The story in itself is wonderfully written so even people that aren't interested in the philosophical side should enjoy it.

In other news, I started American Gods a couple days ago, should be through it by tomorrow. So good, the epitome of "page turner".

[Thomas Balkcom]

The Stranger is my all-time favorite book.

[doyouhas?]

The Stranger is my all-time favorite book.


Did you ever get around to reading The Fall?

[Thomas Balkcom]

Did you ever get around to reading The Fall?

still sitting on my coffee table, I swear I will soon. School has been crazy lately

[takingbackrufio]

I have to read The Last of the Mohicans for my class and I'm not too happy about it. I tried to start reading it a few weeks ago, and I just couldn't get into it. Has anyone here read it before?
I have. It's an interesting novel, not great, not bad. Cooper can turn a phrase, and he basically set the formula for contemporary Hollywood action films. I think it's an important American text because it embodies many of the dominant values and prejudices of the time, but it's the guilt and uncertainty of those values that makes Cooper worth reading.

[lindZ629]

Starting Blankets a little later on. Felt like switching it up a bit, hopefully I don't breeze through this. I hate reading a book in 2-3 days, I feel like it defeats part of the purpose of me buying them. Although I shouldn't have a problem, I was able to stretch out The Wild Things to about a week.

[Colorblind!]

Starting Blankets a little later on. Felt like switching it up a bit, hopefully I don't breeze through this. I hate reading a book in 2-3 days, I feel like it defeats part of the purpose of me buying them. Although I shouldn't have a problem, I was able to stretch out The Wild Things to about a week.

That must've been a challenge!

Finished American Gods much faster than I expected just because it was that good. Now moving onto a McCarthy marathon, with No Country For Old Men, The Road, and Blood Meridian.

[topher465]

I just finished reading Cannary Row by Steinbeck and now I'm reading On The Road. An interesting read.

[doyouhas?]

I just finished reading Cannary Row by Steinbeck and now I'm reading On The Road. An interesting read.


The really like On The Road, but found The Dharma Bums to be a lot more interesting. If you like On The Road, I would recommend checking it out.

[Wait_For_It]

I'm reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian for my literature class. It's surprisingly good.

[CstSnow]

I'm reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian for my literature class. It's surprisingly good.

Read that in class last year, didn't get the hype at all. Thought it was just OK.

NVM I was thinking of the Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heave, which Alexie wrote as well.

[CstSnow]

I just finished reading Cannary Row by Steinbeck and now I'm reading On The Road. An interesting read.

If you liked Cannery Row, the follow up Sweet Thursday is a really fun read as well.

[whoaisame]

Just started reading The Dark Tower books. I'm sure people in here have read them. Thoughts? (I'm only about 30 pages into book 1)

[TheBaroness]

That must've been a challenge!

Finished American Gods much faster than I expected just because it was that good. Now moving onto a McCarthy marathon, with No Country For Old Men, The Road, and Blood Meridian.

Blood Meridian is amazing. You're in for a treat.

[Colorblind!]

Blood Meridian is amazing. You're in for a treat.

Awesome, I'm excited!

So far, No Country is exactly how I imagined it in my head. Having never read McCarthy is quoation-free writing style is different but kind of cool once you get used to it.

[whoaisame]

Starting Blankets a little later on. Felt like switching it up a bit, hopefully I don't breeze through this. I hate reading a book in 2-3 days, I feel like it defeats part of the purpose of me buying them. Although I shouldn't have a problem, I was able to stretch out The Wild Things to about a week.

Blankets as in the graphic novel? If so, you will fly through it.

[lindZ629]

Blankets as in the graphic novel? If so, you will fly through it.
Yeah, I've been trying to read a chapter a day, but it only takes me like 20 minutes. But something like this I can read a bunch of times, novels are way more time consuming.

[dakota0135]

Started Wicked Lovely by Melissa (?) Marr today, finally finished East of Eden which I really enjoyed.

[chokemeout]

Just finished Half Of A Yellow Sun - I wasnt expecting it to be as good as it was. Flawless storytelling. Deffo worth picking up at some point

[4N6 science]

Just finished Choke by Chuck Palahniuk and I thought it was pretty good. I don't know if I'm messed up in my own head to enjoy the pathetic life of the main character but I read through this book really quickly.

[Blake Solomon]

i'm reading "Naked" by David Sedaris. One of the better memoirs I've read.

[Mitch]

Yeah, I've been trying to read a chapter a day, but it only takes me like 20 minutes. But something like this I can read a bunch of times, novels are way more time consuming.

Haha, I read Blankets in less than a full day without even really trying.

[I am Mick]

I put Dave Eggers' "The Wild Things" on hold at the library, told me I won't get it till next year haha.
Been reading Murakami's book of short stories "Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman"

[dakota0135]

Finished Wicked Lovely today, not sure I liked the ending though. Think I'll start Xenocide by Orson Scott Card next.

[irthesteve]

the wind-up bird chronicle
i'm 2/3 through the book and it's pretty weird/crazy so far. As much as I feel the book is slightly slow moving, so much is going on and I really really really want to know what the fuck is going on, haha

[4N6 science]

Starting Rant by Chuck P. Interesting back story that got me interested in reading the book. Still getting used to the way the book is written.

[TJ Wells]

Don't forget; you can pre-order Under the Dome on Amazon for only nine bucks. Guillermo del Toro gave it a rave review.

[lindZ629]

I think I'm going to reread The Road to keep it fresh in my head.

[Thomas Balkcom]

I think I'm going to reread The Road to keep it fresh in my head.

I need to do this as well

[Nettn07]

Ok you guys. I need book recommendations. I've never been much of a reader but I want to get into books and reading. Recommend me something mystery, Criminal Minds-ish. If possible. lol

[dakota0135]

I think I'm going to reread The Road to keep it fresh in my head.
I've got that out from the library to read soon, heard it's pretty good.

[richie]

Looking for a great love story. Any advice?

[lindZ629]

Looking for a great love story. Any advice?
I can't recall too many, but have you read The Time Traveler's Wife? That's a great one. So is Water for Elephants, love is a part of it, but not really the main focus. Then there's also the books by Nicholas Sparks, but I'm not sure if you're looking for something that girly.

[whoaisame]

Looking for a great love story. Any advice?

Definitely The Time Travelers Wife, if you haven't read it.

[whoaisame]

Ok you guys. I need book recommendations. I've never been much of a reader but I want to get into books and reading. Recommend me something mystery, Criminal Minds-ish. If possible. lol

I haven't been too much of a reader until recently. One of the first books I read recently was Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane, which was fantastic. It was VERY mystery/criminal mindish.

[takingbackrufio]

Ok you guys. I need book recommendations. I've never been much of a reader but I want to get into books and reading. Recommend me something mystery, Criminal Minds-ish. If possible. lol
One of my favourite detective novels is The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. You might want to take a peak into that. The movie is good too.

If you want something a little more substantive and challenging then I'd try Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose. Don't write it off because it's associated with postmodernism - yeah, it's a 'metaphysical' detective novel but it's a page-turner. A part of the fun is that Eco plays with the conventions of the genre.

[TJ Wells]

Looking for a great love story. Any advice?
Bag of Bones by Stephen King. I still think it's his best story, and it's definitely the only one of his stories that made me cry.

EDIT: Check that. Lisey's Story did too.

[Nettn07]

I haven't been too much of a reader until recently. One of the first books I read recently was Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane, which was fantastic. It was VERY mystery/criminal mindish.

One of my favourite detective novels is The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. You might want to take a peak into that. The movie is good too.

If you want something a little more substantive and challenging then I'd try Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose. Don't write it off because it's associated with postmodernism - yeah, it's a 'metaphysical' detective novel but it's a page-turner. A part of the fun is that Eco plays with the conventions of the genre.

Thank you both. :-)

[Colorblind!]

I'm about to start V by Thomas Pynchon, really hoping I'm able to keep up.

[dakota0135]

I started The Road by Cormac McArthy today, read it in a few hours but really enjoyed it. Starting Xenocide by Orson Scott Card tomorrow.

[love_american_style]

Starting Rant by Chuck P. Interesting back story that got me interested in reading the book. Still getting used to the way the book is written.

decent book...hard to follow.

it took me a whole month to finish Pygmy. the narrator speaks in broken english and it's even harder to follow than Rant.

[IAmNietzche]

One of my favourite detective novels is The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. You might want to take a peak into that. The movie is good too.

If you want something a little more substantive and challenging then I'd try Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose. Don't write it off because it's associated with postmodernism - yeah, it's a 'metaphysical' detective novel but it's a page-turner. A part of the fun is that Eco plays with the conventions of the genre.
Who in their right mind would write off a book for being associated with postmodernism?

[4N6 science]

decent book...hard to follow.

it took me a whole month to finish Pygmy. the narrator speaks in broken english and it's even harder to follow than Rant.

Yeah it's pretty interesting so far. (about 50 pages in) The book is kind of hard to follow and the bad english is starting to bug me a bit. After this book I was going to read Snuff.

Was Pygmy good?

[love_american_style]

Yeah it's pretty interesting so far. (about 50 pages in) The book is kind of hard to follow and the bad english is starting to bug me a bit. After this book I was going to read Snuff.

Was Pygmy good?

i could never understand the ending of Rant. i need to read it again but i let my singer borrow it and he nver brought it back.

Pygmy was okay i suppose. the ending was nothing like i thought it would be.

[4N6 science]

i could never understand the ending of Rant. i need to read it again but i let my singer borrow it and he nver brought it back.

Pygmy was okay i suppose. the ending was nothing like i thought it would be.

Yeah I'm trying to stay on top of Rant. I do think it's an interesting way to write a book though.

I'll have to put Pygmy on my list then.

[TJ Wells]

Just started in on:

http://www.lcc.gatech.edu/%7Empaproth3/ulysses%20cover%20image.jpg

[itsmesean0630]

Just finished Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. It was...interesting to say the least. I think the fact it was a play was a bit strange (though I've read plays before), but it was just different. At any rate, a second reading will probably be necessary later on in life.

Up next, The Sea by John Banville.

[takingbackrufio]

Who in their right mind would write off a book for being associated with postmodernism?
I'm not sure, but I don't think I'm crazy to think that some people immediately move away from works that make a conscious effort at being intellectual. Which, in my opinion, is just as bad as refuting something because it's "low" art. I've heard "elitism" thrown around about the whole movement, but whatever. Some great stuff came out of it.

[B00sh]

Why We Suck is a great book.

[Tautou107]

Just got a list of novels to choose from to read independently in my AP English class. We're choosing several, but there's quite a few that look good so I'm having trouble picking, ha. But I've got it narrowed down to My Antonia (Cather), The Awakening (Chopin), Ethan Frome (Wharton), Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Hardy), White Teeth (Zadie Smith), and Sula (Morrison). Any suggestions/recommendations?

[TheBaroness]

Just started in on:

http://www.lcc.gatech.edu/%7Empaproth3/ulysses%20cover%20image.jpg

one of my favorite books

[odizzle_word]

Just got a list of novels to choose from to read independently in my AP English class. We're choosing several, but there's quite a few that look good so I'm having trouble picking, ha. But I've got it narrowed down to My Antonia (Cather), The Awakening (Chopin), Ethan Frome (Wharton), Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Hardy), White Teeth (Zadie Smith), and Sula (Morrison). Any suggestions/recommendations?

I'd pick either Tess of the D'Urbervilles or White Teeth.

[Zeran]

Just got a list of novels to choose from to read independently in my AP English class. We're choosing several, but there's quite a few that look good so I'm having trouble picking, ha. But I've got it narrowed down to My Antonia (Cather), The Awakening (Chopin), Ethan Frome (Wharton), Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Hardy), White Teeth (Zadie Smith), and Sula (Morrison). Any suggestions/recommendations?

oh man, i absolutely hated the awakening.

[topher465]

i have twenty pages left in On The Road. I'll finish it up tonight then start I Am Legend.

[Wait_For_It]

I started The Time Traveler's Wife today.

[fifpb99]

just curious ... about how long does it take you guys to read a book? i dont read very frequently, but when i do i feel like i don't read very quickly. in the past 2 nights i have read for about an hour total and read about 50 pages.

is that normal or do i have the downs?

[lindZ629]

just curious ... about how long does it take you guys to read a book? i dont read very frequently, but when i do i feel like i don't read very quickly. in the past 2 nights i have read for about an hour total and read about 50 pages.

is that normal or do i have the downs?
It depends. If it's somewhere between 300 and 400 pages then maybe like 2-3 weeks. I think I read quickly, but I don't like to finish books in less than a week, so I hold back on how many pages I read each day. And sometimes in the middle of the book I'll just stop reading altogether for weeks, so when that happens it would obviously take longer from start to finish.

[eraserhead]

I have Naked Lunch coming in the mail. Pretty excited.

[fifpb99]

It depends. If it's somewhere between 300 and 400 pages then maybe like 2-3 weeks. I think I read quickly, but I don't like to finish books in less than a week, so I hold back on how many pages I read each day. And sometimes in the middle of the book I'll just stop reading altogether for weeks, so when that happens it would obviously take longer from start to finish.

i dont mean in total how long does it take though, i just mean is 50 pages in an hour (approx) slow or fast or normal? i feel like it is slow but i really have no idea haha.

[lindZ629]

i dont mean in total how long does it take though, i just mean is 50 pages in an hour (approx) slow or fast or normal? i feel like it is slow but i really have no idea haha.
Well that depends on the size of the page and the font, but I'd say that's pretty normal.

[TheBaroness]

I do about one hundred pages an hour, maybe less depending on how dense the writing/concepts are and how many other distractions there are around me.

[lindZ629]

Well that's obviously above average.

[Thomas Balkcom]

I read about 75-80 pages an hour

[Tead42]

I'm soon to embark on the Divine Comedy, wish me luck with 900 pages!

[fifpb99]

thanks for the responses

[odizzle_word]

If you want something a little more substantive and challenging then I'd try Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose. Don't write it off because it's associated with postmodernism - yeah, it's a 'metaphysical' detective novel but it's a page-turner. A part of the fun is that Eco plays with the conventions of the genre.

I haven't read The Name of the Rose (yet), but I'm thinking of taking a class centered around it next semester. Since you've read it already, do you think it's one of those books that will only get better through in-depth discussion, or one that I'll probably wind up hating after dealing with it for months on end?

Here's a description for said class, which has the potential to be either really interesting, or will make me want to smash my head against a wall:
Taking Umberto Eco's novel The Name of the Rose as its centerpiece, this course will explore literary theories and critical methods through the lenses of intertextuality and bibliography. As we follow the trail of the mysterious book that seems to motivate the murders in the 14th century Italian abbey, we'll consider the monk-detectives' strategies for gathering clues and forming hypotheses in the light of both medieval and contemporary theories of semiotics of literature and language. Along the way we'll venture into the intertextual labyrinth this novel constructs, a bookish region in which books may be overheard, as Eco's narrator observes, to speak "among themselves." Works that we'll read along with The Name of the Rose -- pieces as chronologically and culturally far-flung as Augustine, Dante, Poe, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Matthew Pearl -- will provide additional perspectives on the nature of written artifacts and the obsessions they inspire.
I'm deciding if I should take that, or a class about emerging technology in literature which will have a significantly lighter workload.

[TJ Wells]

Christ, I'm slow. I average maybe a page a minute, but I find that I get anxious whenever I read for a long period of time.

[takingbackrufio]

I haven't read The Name of the Rose (yet), but I'm thinking of taking a class centered around it next semester. Since you've read it already, do you think it's one of those books that will only get better through in-depth discussion, or one that I'll probably wind up hating after dealing with it for months on end?

Here's a description for said class, which has the potential to be either really interesting, or will make me want to smash my head against a wall:

I'm deciding if I should take that, or a class about emerging technology in literature which will have a significantly lighter workload.

Personally I'd be giddy about getting to take a class like that. I took it in Postmodern Lit and studying it made it even better, though it wasn't as focused on that one novel because we did eight, so obviously we couldn't go as in-depth as that class would. I think we spent a few weeks on it though. It was great.

[Lueda Alia]

I actually read pretty fast, too.

Anyway, I was going to ask what everyone's Top 5 books are?

[lindZ629]

Christ, I'm slow. I average maybe a page a minute, but I find that I get anxious whenever I read for a long period of time.
I can do about the same, but I don't think it's slow at all, probably about average. But I also tend to daydream regardless of how much I'm enjoying the book, so I have to read the same paragraph 2 or 3 times.

[Tautou107]

I'd pick either Tess of the D'Urbervilles or White Teeth.
oh man, i absolutely hated the awakening.

Haha, I was told The Awakening was similar to Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper," which I loved so I thought I might like it.
But I will keep these both in mind; thanks. :-)

I think I'm going to end up choosing either Tess of the d'Ubervilles and Sula, or White Teeth and Ethan Frome.

[Kyle Huntington]

Just started The Road as I got it part of a buy one get one free deal at my local bookshop. Want to read it before I watch the film and whatnot.

[KellyGleason]

just curious ... about how long does it take you guys to read a book? i dont read very frequently, but when i do i feel like i don't read very quickly. in the past 2 nights i have read for about an hour total and read about 50 pages.

is that normal or do i have the downs?I think you're normal. Everyone reads at a different pace.

I can usually finish a 300 page book in less than a day. But I love reading so I've gotten used to it I guess.

[chokemeout]

just curious ... about how long does it take you guys to read a book? i dont read very frequently, but when i do i feel like i don't read very quickly. in the past 2 nights i have read for about an hour total and read about 50 pages.

is that normal or do i have the downs?

I think that's fairly normal. I tend to finish books in 3/4 days - I have at least two hours a day when I can read.

[chokemeout]

I actually read pretty fast, too.

Anyway, I was going to ask what everyone's Top 5 books are?

Ham On Rye - Bukowski
American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis
The Count Of Monte Christo - Dumas
As I Lay Dying - Faulkner
The Sun Also Rises - Hemingway

But it all depends on my mood. I'd put Tom Robbins' Jitterbug Perfume up there and Kafka On The Shore by Murakami, .... Dostoyevsky, Henry Miller, Anthony Burgess. George Orwell.

[TJ Wells]

I actually read pretty fast, too.

Anyway, I was going to ask what everyone's Top 5 books are?
the Dark Tower series

/end

Though I still haven't read the last book, and it's been so long since I read the others, I may have to go back and read them all again before starting the seventh.

[dakota0135]

Can anybody think of a book that is pretty much Nietzsche For Dummies? I want to get through some of his philosophies, but there is no way I could read any of his actual books...

[takingbackrufio]

I actually read pretty fast, too.

Anyway, I was going to ask what everyone's Top 5 books are?
Mostly contemporary stuff.

Novels: Infinite Jest, The Corrections, White Noise, Midnight's Children, A Confederacy of Dunces

Drama: King Lear, Death of a Salesman, The Real Inspector Hound, Othello, Hamlet

I'm not really well-read in non-fiction, but I like Emerson's Self-Reliance and Essays, The Prince, The Tipping Point, The 48 Laws of Power, Fredrick Douglass's Narrative of the Life

[Colorblind!]

Mostly contemporary stuff.

Novels: Infinite Jest, The Corrections, White Noise, Midnight's Children, A Confederacy of Dunces

Drama: King Lear, Death of a Salesman, The Real Inspector Hound, Othello, Hamlet

I'm not really well-read in non-fiction, but I like Emerson's Self-Reliance and Essays, The Prince, The Tipping Point, The 48 Laws of Power, Fredrick Douglass's Narrative of the Life

Going to be starting this any day, glad to know it's good!

I'm finishg The Crying Of Lot 49 right now, that book is fucked up.

It's almost Christmas, time to make a book wishlist.
I'm asking for Infinite Jest, V, and Breakfast of Champions at this point.
I also want to get a few contemporary novels, what are some of people's favorites?

Also: I reccomend Bright Shiny Morning to everybody.

[irthesteve]

I'd pick either Tess of the D'Urbervilles or White Teeth.
I hate hate hated Tess

[IAmNietzche]

Going to be starting this any day, glad to know it's good!

I'm finishg The Crying Of Lot 49 right now, that book is fucked up.

It's almost Christmas, time to make a book wishlist.
I'm asking for Infinite Jest, V, and Breakfast of Champions at this point.
I also want to get a few contemporary novels, what are some of people's favorites?

Also: I reccomend Bright Shiny Morning to everybody.
Haha, possessing both IJ and V at the same time is pretty aggressive.

[odizzle_word]

I hate hate hated Tess

I know taste in books is subjective, yadda, yadda, yadda, but what exactly did you hate about Tess? I went into it thinking it'd be a shitfest, especially since I ordinarily can't stand books dealing with the sentimental female heroine (I'm talking to you, Jane Austen), but I thought the writing was good, that Hardy did a great job writing from the female perspective, and that it blended the tragic and the comic together pretty well.

[Colorblind!]

Haha, possessing both IJ and V at the same time is pretty aggressive.

After reading TCOL49 I'm slightly worried for V as that one kind of fucked my mind, but I think I can handle it. I have alot of time to read this semester so I'm not too worried about it!

[irthesteve]

I know taste in books is subjective, yadda, yadda, yadda, but what exactly did you hate about Tess? I went into it thinking it'd be a shitfest, especially since I ordinarily can't stand books dealing with the sentimental female heroine (I'm talking to you, Jane Austen), but I thought the writing was good, that Hardy did a great job writing from the female perspective, and that it blended the tragic and the comic together pretty well.
To put it simply I felt the story dragged on very slowly and I could never find myself interested in the main character or any events that occured to her. I dunno, maybe it was just because I had to read it for school, but I just never got into it

[IAmNietzche]

Can anybody think of a book that is pretty much Nietzsche For Dummies? I want to get through some of his philosophies, but there is no way I could read any of his actual books...
There is an Existentialism for Dummies that has some pretty good reviews on Amazon (I haven't read it). Outside of that I'd pick up a reader (Keith Pearson's is my favorite). But honestly, give him a try. He's no Heidegger or Hegel.

[Thomas Balkcom]

Nietszche is not all that hard compared to some of the other big thinkers, and most of his work is great or at least entertaining.

[odizzle_word]

To put it simply I felt the story dragged on very slowly and I could never find myself interested in the main character or any events that occured to her. I dunno, maybe it was just because I had to read it for school, but I just never got into it

That's understandable. It's possible I only like it as much as I do because I adore the professor who I read it with haha.

[alboneceleste]

I am reading Three Weeks with My Brother by Nicholas and Micah Sparks. I am really liking it. I have not read any of Nicholas Sparks' fiction books.

[dakota0135]

There is an Existentialism for Dummies that has some pretty good reviews on Amazon (I haven't read it). Outside of that I'd pick up a reader (Keith Pearson's is my favorite). But honestly, give him a try. He's no Heidegger or Hegel.
Thanks, I'll have a look at some of those. If I ever brave the real Nietzsche, I'd like to get some of the ides beforehand in case I don't understand it...

[BryterJonah]

I also want to get a few contemporary novels, what are some of people's favorites?


http://thejubjubbird.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/david_mitchell_cloud_atlas.jpg

[takingbackrufio]

I also want to get a few contemporary novels, what are some of people's favorites?

http://tuscaloosajewishbookgroup.files.wor dpress.com/2008/11/the_yiddish_policemens_union_a_nove l-119186000647639.jpg

[eucademix]

just bought this today:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/66/EyreAffair.jpg/200px-EyreAffair.jpg

[Tautou107]

Starting My Antonia soon.

[Colorblind!]

http://thejubjubbird.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/david_mitchell_cloud_atlas.jpg

http://tuscaloosajewishbookgroup.files.wor dpress.com/2008/11/the_yiddish_policemens_union_a_nove l-119186000647639.jpg

Will look into both of these! Especially interested in Cloud Atlas.

[TJ Wells]

This came in the mail today:

http://bookchatterandotherstuff.files.word press.com/2009/10/under-the-dome.jpg

Guess I have my free time for the next two weeks planned out.

[Colorblind!]

I wish that book had a synopsis on it. I'm really interested by the concept but have no idea what to expect from the story whatsoever, still curious!

Does anybody have any last recommendations for great modern novels to add to my christmas list? So far I have,
Cloud Atlas
Yiddish Policemen's Union/Kavalier and Clay
You Shall Know Our Velocity
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

[lindZ629]

I wish that book had a synopsis on it. I'm really interested by the concept but have no idea what to expect from the story whatsoever, still curious!

Does anybody have any last recommendations for great modern novels to add to my christmas list? So far I have,
Cloud Atlas
Yiddish Policemen's Union/Kavalier and Clay
You Shall Know Our Velocity
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Have you read Water for Elephants?

[ForlrnPerplxity]

This came in the mail today:

http://bookchatterandotherstuff.files.word press.com/2009/10/under-the-dome.jpg

Guess I have my free time for the next two weeks planned out.
I'm roughly 300 pages in and am really enjoying it so far.

[Colorblind!]

Have you read Water for Elephants?

Negative!

[IAmNietzche]

This came in the mail today:

http://bookchatterandotherstuff.files.word press.com/2009/10/under-the-dome.jpg

Guess I have my free time for the next two weeks planned out.
Simpsons did it!

[TheBaroness]

I actually read pretty fast, too.

Anyway, I was going to ask what everyone's Top 5 books are?

No particular order:

Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow (sentimental reasons)
Jane Eyre
Moby Dick
Blood Meridian
The Unbearable Lightness of Being

[odizzle_word]

No particular order:

Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow (sentimental reasons)
Jane Eyre
Moby Dick
Blood Meridian
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Love these. I'm actually rereading Moby Dick for my American Lit. class right now. It's awesome.

[brenByah]

I actually read pretty fast, too.

Anyway, I was going to ask what everyone's Top 5 books are?

That's tough. For now I'll go with:

The Great Gatsby
Animal Farm
The Alchemist
Catalina
1984

[TJ Wells]

Simpsons did it!
To be fair, he started writing this in 1985. The Simpsons movie is what made him go back to it.

[Wake Up]

This came in the mail today:

http://bookchatterandotherstuff.files.word press.com/2009/10/under-the-dome.jpg

Guess I have my free time for the next two weeks planned out.

Is this a simpsons sequel? If so than I am more than interested.

[Wake Up]

Just finished.

http://www.worshipworthy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/glamorama.jpg

[TJ Wells]

I just want to say Stephen King was fully aware of the Simpsons movie when he wrote the book. After seeing the movie, he decided (because he started writing it almost thirty years ago) that he wanted to go back to this.

[king gabriel]

i need to get myself some really good books to read on a flight to melbourne next week (8 hours wtf)
suggestions?

books that i like : the perks of being a wallflower, looking for alaska, losers by matthue roth, etc

[Wake Up]

^ and for this, stephen king is a brilliant man

[DanielJames]

I'm currently reading Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk. It's pretty good.

[ForlrnPerplxity]

I just want to say Stephen King was fully aware of the Simpsons movie when he wrote the book. After seeing the movie, he decided (because he started writing it almost thirty years ago) that he wanted to go back to this.
I'm pretty sure he never even saw the movie.

[The Summer Ends]

read crime and punishment. i hate reading, but i love that book.

[CstSnow]

The Tender Bar- J.R. Moehringer, really great memoir.

But maybe check out the book thread and you will probably see more stuff you would want to read.

[ReturnedSnowDay]

I suggest reading anything by Irvine Welsh. I started out with Ecstacy, it is composed of three connected novellas, and pretty much was hooked until I read his whole catalog.

[popdisaster00]

A little Hemingway never hurt anyone.

[crimsonandclovr]

I'm currently reading Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk. It's pretty good.

I second this, but my favorite Palahniuk book is (no, not Fight Club) Survivor.
But my favorite book to read over and over again is The Kite Runner.
Also I've never read those books you mentioned, but I've heard good things. What did you think of Looking for Alaska and Perks?

[love_american_style]

the Holy Fuckin Bible!

nah...but in all seriousness DON'T read Pygmy by Palahniuk. Just because he's a great writer doesn't mean everything he does is gold.

I would recomend picking up some Kurt Vonnegut. He has many graet books. I would suggest Breakfast of Champions.

[jaryd]

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. He's also written Gone Baby Gone and Mystic River.

[dakota0135]

I finished Xenocide today, think I'm gonna skip through a couple of easier to read books so I can clear up my library card.

[drudo182]

I am currently reading Under the Dome by Stephen King. Only seventy or so pages in so it's hard to say whether or not it's good, but I'm into it so far.

[And Hours Pass]

A little Hemingway never hurt anyone.

I actually found it painful to read Hemmingway, so technically your statement is incorrect...

the Holy Fuckin Bible!

nah...but in all seriousness DON'T read Pygmy by Palahniuk. Just because he's a great writer doesn't mean everything he does is gold.

I would recomend picking up some Kurt Vonnegut. He has many graet books. I would suggest Breakfast of Champions.

I love Vonnegut. He's a brilliant writer and keeps you engaged. I would actually recommend Cat's Cradle or Slaughterhouse 5 before Breakfast of champions. In BoC he breaks the fourth wall and references characters from other books (kilgore trout). I found it more fun to read having understand those references and appreciated his style a bit rather than reading that first. But all vonnegut rocks.

My other favorite author is Nick Hornby (you'd know him because two of his books - about a boy and high fidelity - were made into big movies). If you liked the movies, even a little, read the books. They were a million times better than the movies, and I liked the movies.

Some other authors to check out would include: Kingsley Amis, Christopher Moore, and Paul Feig. Very funny reads.

[DryEarth]

I would recomend picking up some Kurt Vonnegut. He has many graet books. I would suggest Breakfast of Champions.

Or Slaughterhouse Five, or Welcome to Monkey House, or Cat's Cradle...

[DanielJames]

I second this, but my favorite Palahniuk book is (no, not Fight Club) Survivor.
But my favorite book to read over and over again is The Kite Runner.
Also I've never read those books you mentioned, but I've heard good things. What did you think of Looking for Alaska and Perks?

I actually want to read Survivor next.

[I am Mick]

Check the book thread, but The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall is fucking incredible.

[Losthope182]

A little Hemingway never hurt anyone.

Seconded, you should definitely read Hemingway. Also, like others have said, Vonnegut is great as well.

[flask]

i suggest The Road by Cormac Mccarthy. anything he writes is gold but i think The Road is his best. you could probably read the whole thing on the flight.

on the topic of Palahniuk, he's been going downhill fast with his last few books. its like he's just trying to outdo himself with each book in terms of crazy ass shit instead of telling a good story.

[bNz719]

I second The Road. Just finished it, myself, and it was great. I'm onto World War Z now and so far it's good too.

[TJ Wells]

I'm pretty sure he never even saw the movie.
Seriously? You clearly never read his column in EW.

[only the clouds]

I love Looking For Alaska. You could try John Green's other books. Also "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak.

[crimsonandclovr]

the Holy Fuckin Bible!

nah...but in all seriousness DON'T read Pygmy by Palahniuk. Just because he's a great writer doesn't mean everything he does is gold.

I would recomend picking up some Kurt Vonnegut. He has many graet books. I would suggest Breakfast of Champions.

Haha to the Bible comment
Why not Pygmy? I was planning on reading that. what's wrong with it?

I actually want to read Survivor next.
I liked it more than Fight Club. I feel like there was more to think about. How's Lullaby going for you? I'm about halfway through but I haven't picked it up in a whiiiiile haha

[Wake Up]

McCarthy is masterful. I suggest Sutree. The Road is also great. I recommend anything by Bret Easton Ellis. Glamorama and Less than Zero are flawed, but immensely entertaining.

[Mandee, darling]

I'm currently reading Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk. It's pretty good.

Amazing book, just recently finished it.

[Mandee, darling]

I'm currently reading the final installment in Stephen King's The Dark Tower series. I'd suggest it, but since it's an entire series, you may want to skip it--- I suggest classics, like The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1984 by George Orwell, or To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

[ctmk]

Check the book thread, but The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall is fucking incredible.

is it? it looked cool

[only the clouds]

Forgot to mention: any of the Night Watch novels by Terry Pratchett are a fun read. If you're looking for more young adult fiction I also suggest Magic City by Drew Lerman, Road of the Dead by Kevin Brooks, and Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher.

[BryterJonah]

http://meerchant.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/david_mitchell_cloud_atlas.jpg

Or you could read some Chuck Palahniuk. Being an illiterate jackass is considered in nowadays

And seriously, another Perks fan? That's a book children say they like only because they think they can relate. Morons.

[Wake Up]

Or you could read some Chuck Palahniuk. Being an illiterate jackass is considered in nowadays

And seriously, another Perks fan? That's a book children say they like only because they think they can relate. Morons.

i think you just over-hipped yourself right there. palahniuk is no genius, but he can write a completely decent novel.

[JuneJuly]

i need to get myself some really good books to read on a flight to melbourne next week (8 hours wtf)
suggestions?

books that i like : the perks of being a wallflower, looking for alaska, losers by matthue roth, etc

good fucking book.

his second, an abundance of katherines, is really good.

however his third, paper towns, is badddddd.

[ForlrnPerplxity]

Seriously? You clearly never read his column in EW.
From Stephen King himself on his own website:
There’s another reason for publishing this on the website. Several Internet writers have speculated on a perceived similarity between Under the Dome and The Simpsons Movie, where, according to Wikipedia, Homer’s town of Springfield is isolated inside a large glass dome (probably because of that pesky nuclear power plant). I can’t speak personally to this, because I have never seen the movie, and the similarity came as a complete surprise to me…although I know, from personal experience, that the similarity will turn out to be casual. Unless there’s deliberate copying (sometimes known as “plagiarism”), stories can no more be alike than snowflakes. The reason is simple: no two human imaginations are exactly alike. For the doubters, this excerpt should demonstrate that I was thinking dome and isolation long before Homer, Marge, and their amusing brood came on the scene.

[BryterJonah]

Through Part 1 of Anna Karenina and seriously reconsidering any future as a writer.

Who could even think to top this?

[apresnuledeluge]

read crime and punishment. i hate reading, but i love that book.

I second Crime and Punishment. Any Dostoevsky is great.

[DanielJames]

Haha to the Bible comment
Why not Pygmy? I was planning on reading that. what's wrong with it?


I liked it more than Fight Club. I feel like there was more to think about. How's Lullaby going for you? I'm about halfway through but I haven't picked it up in a whiiiiile haha

It's going pretty good. It's not the best book ever, but it's enjoyable. I'm on chapter 19 so I'm about halfway through.

[Colorblind!]

http://meerchant.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/david_mitchell_cloud_atlas.jpg

Or you could read some Chuck Palahniuk. Being an illiterate jackass is considered in nowadays

And seriously, another Perks fan? That's a book children say they like only because they think they can relate. Morons.

Or you could be an elitist cock and rag on an overhyped but above average author.

[love_american_style]

Haha to the Bible comment
Why not Pygmy? I was planning on reading that. what's wrong with it?


it's a tough book to read....the narrator (Pygmy) spoke in broken english and used phrases such as "made a small parade" or "operative me" (refering to himself). I got lost on so many occasions. It took me a month to read it and by the time i was done i wasn't satisfied. The ending was quite a suprise to me as well which I didn't like.

[Carlo Marx]

Bukowski's Ham on Rye is one of my all-time favorites. I'm also reading Naked Lunch by William Burroughs, and it's been awesome thus far. Another one that I read recently and really loved was Dave Eggers' You Shall Know Our Velocity!. It reminded me of a modern day On The Road, but with philanthropy instead of poverty. Great read.

[DeathCabForCoon]

Or you could read some Chuck Palahniuk. Being an illiterate jackass is considered in nowadays

And seriously, another Perks fan? That's a book children say they like only because they think they can relate. Morons.

You're dumb.

Read Downtown Owl and Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman if you like pop culture stuff.
Rant is my favorite Chuck Palahniuk book (and one of his more easily digestible)
I'm reading Under The Dome by Stephen King now. It's huge (like 1200 pages) but he's such a quick read, and thoroughly entertaining. His best are The Stand and the Dark Tower Series. If you are a fan of LOST (or any other multi-character narratives like Heroes, Flash Forward etc) check out either of those three.
You could probably read the majority of the Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, the most fun sci-fi series ever.
If you haven't read John Krakauer's Into the Wild or Into Thin Air, read those now.

[BryterJonah]

Or you could be an elitist cock and rag on an overhyped but above average author.
Yeah, call me an elitist. Like that means something.

You're dumb.

Read Downtown Owl and Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman if you like pop culture stuff.
Rant is my favorite Chuck Palahniuk book (and one of his more easily digestible)
I'm reading Under The Dome by Stephen King now. It's huge (like 1200 pages) but he's such a quick read, and thoroughly entertaining. His best are The Stand and the Dark Tower Series. If you are a fan of LOST (or any other multi-character narratives like Heroes, Flash Forward etc) check out either of those three.
You could probably read the majority of the Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, the most fun sci-fi series ever.
If you haven't read John Krakauer's Into the Wild or Into Thin Air, read those now.
Ahaha, the guy recommending Sex Drugs and Cocoa Puffs, a Chuck Pile-a-shit book, and who also happens to have Perks in his favorite books section(not to mention he's in his early 20s) is calling somebody else dumb.

You should be a comedian.

[Red Lion]

I'm currently reading Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk. It's pretty good.

Yeah I would recommend any Palahniuk. Snuff is disgusting but great, Rant is pretty stellar, and Fight Club is of course a classic.

[eucademix]

just checked these out from the library:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a8/Only_Revolutions.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c1/MaeveBinchy_TaraRoad.jpghttp://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n0/n3108.jpg

i'll be spending thanksgiving and christmas reading these.

[Oddpac87]

just checked these out from the library:
i'll be spending thanksgiving and christmas reading these.
House of Leaves is my favorite book of all-time, but I was never able to get through Only Revolutions. Seemed like he was forcing the gimmick too much. The crazy stuff felt natural in House of Leaves, Only Revolutions could have been written with a normal font and without forcing the reader to turn the book around every 8 pages. One of these days I'll read it.

[eucademix]

House of Leaves is my favorite book of all-time, but I was never able to get through Only Revolutions. Seemed like he was forcing the gimmick too much. The crazy stuff felt natural in House of Leaves, Only Revolutions could have been written with a normal font and without forcing the reader to turn the book around every 8 pages. One of these days I'll read it.
i heard it wasn't as good as house of leaves but i wanted to check it out. i just finished house of leaves and it just made me confused as hell. i was bored of johnny's story though.

[jordalsh]

The Raw Shark Texts is so weird.

btw I went through this thread to compile my christmas list hah

[eucademix]

okay i changed my mind on Only Revolutions. the formatting is driving me crazy. this is going back to the library tomorrow.

[TheBaroness]

Just started Sirens of Titan by Vonnegut.

[Wait_For_It]

I just finished The Time Traveler's Wife. I need to go to the library soon to find something new to read.

[Wake Up]

I just finished The Time Traveler's Wife. I need to go to the library soon to find something new to read.

im sorry, must've been a bad experience. a palate cleanser is needed. i recommend a good man is hard to find by flannery o' connor.

[brenByah]

Only Revolutions? what's so strange about it? I'm intrigued (haven't read it or heard about it before).

[odizzle_word]

im sorry, must've been a bad experience. a palate cleanser is needed. i recommend a good man is hard to find by flannery o' connor.
Second this rec, and anything written by O'Connor in general. "A Good Man Is Hard To Find" and The Violent Bear It Away are my favorites.

[Oddpac87]

okay i changed my mind on Only Revolutions. the formatting is driving me crazy. this is going back to the library tomorrow.
Haha. At least it's not just me that feels that way.

Only Revolutions? what's so strange about it? I'm intrigued (haven't read it or heard about it before).
Easier than trying to explain it myself:
The story alternates between two different narratives (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrative): Sam and Hailey, and Hailey and Sam, wild and wayward teenagers who never grow old. With an evolving stable of cars, the teenagers move through various places and moments in time as they try to outrace history (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History).
As the story proceeds, one can note that many events are perceptual and not certain. By reading both stories some sense can be made from this poetic styled puzzle. The words written are a vague mix of poetry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetry) and stream of consciousness (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stream_of_consciousness_writing) prose (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prose). Both Hailey and Sam depict their feelings as well as ideas and thoughts towards one another. It is truly difficult to summarize the plot as most readers will understand the parts of story in different ways.
It can also be noted that the end very much leads into the beginning. It is possible, after finishing the book, to continue the story from the beginning.
Only Revolutions is printed in such a way that both covers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_cover) appear to be the front of the book. The side with the green cover is the story as told by Sam, and the side with the gold cover is the story as told by Hailey. Every page contains upside-down text in the bottom margin, which is actually later pages of the opposite volume. For example, the first page of Hailey's story contains the last several lines of Sam's story, apparently upside down. When you reach that page while reading Sam's story, those lines will appear to be the only right-side-up text on the page.
The first letter of each 8 page "section" is larger and bold when compared to the other letters. When the reader puts the single letters together from Hailey's side they spell out "Sam and Hailey and Sam and Hailey..." etc. When read from Sam's side, they spell out "Hailey and Sam and Hailey and Sam..." etc.
Each half-page contains exactly 90 words. When both stories are combined, the words add together for a total of 180 words per page, perhaps to symbolize the 180 degrees the reader must turn the book to read the opposite volume.[original research? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:No_original_research)] Also, with both pages open, the full word count is 360, essentially making a revolution (360 degrees) with every open page.
The publisher recommends the reading of eight pages from one story, then the other, and so on.
In addition, every page contains a sidebar with a date and a list of world events that happened between that date and the one which appears on the next page. Dates in Sam's story run from Nov 22 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nov_22), 1863 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1863) to Nov 22 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nov_22), 1963 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1963), while dates in Hailey's story run from Nov 22 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nov_22), 1963 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1963) to Jan 19 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_19), 2063 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2063). This chronological sidebar, which offers a mosaic of 19th - 21st Century historical quotations, becomes blank after Only Revolutions' own publication date. The diverging point between Sam's line and Hailey's line is set at the date of the John F. Kennedy assassination (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_assassination), November 22 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_22), 1963 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1963).

[brenByah]

Ha ha, wow, that is insane.

[garggggh]

Hm, I'll return to this thread later if more recs are added. Don't really want any Palahniuk, Vonnegut or Bukowski recs since they're pretty standard but anyone read anything good written in 2009?

[Jake Denning]

Andrew Schwab (of Project 86) has a new book coming out next month. I'd suggest that.

[phil19]

if you like sci fi check out enders game by orson scott card.

[Colorblind!]

Yeah, call me an elitist. Like that means something.


The comment still stands, as you stated that anybody who reads Palahniuk is an illiterate jackass. This is entirely false as, believe it or not, I CAN READ. He's not brilliant in the least, but to criticize him to that extent is completely unnecessary just because he's overrated. He is certainly not a bad author.

[makeshiftmind]

Andrew Schwab (of Project 86) has a new book coming out next month. I'd suggest that.
yea cause OP has a time machine

[Losthope182]

Just started All The Kings Men by Robert Penn Warren, still in the first chapter but so far it's not doing it for me. I hear it gets better as it goes though. Anyone else read it and care to share their thoughts?

[ForlrnPerplxity]

Just started All The Kings Men by Robert Penn Warren, still in the first chapter but so far it's not doing it for me. I hear it gets better as it goes though. Anyone else read it and care to share their thoughts?
It took me roughly 100-150 pages in to finally enjoy it, but I was still slightly disappointed by it.

[the outsider]

if you like sci fi check out enders game by orson scott card.

Hell, even if you DON'T like sci-fi. I read this for the first time about 10 years ago and I've loved it ever since. Bought a new copy on a whim when I saw one in a record store I shop at. (they have one shelf of books there)

[dakota0135]

Only Revolutions sounds like it could be pretty good, I think I'll check it out.

This weekend I'm flicking through some crappy chick-lit-fairy shizz cause I feel like something light-hearted.

[Oddpac87]

Only Revolutions sounds like it could be pretty good, I think I'll check it out.

This weekend I'm flicking through some crappy chick-lit-fairy shizz cause I feel like something light-hearted.
That was my thought, too. Then I tried reading it. Changed my opinion a bit.

[dakota0135]

That was my thought, too. Then I tried reading it. Changed my opinion a bit.
How come? Is it pretty hard to read?

[Red Lion]

Hm, I'll return to this thread later if more recs are added. Don't really want any Palahniuk, Vonnegut or Bukowski recs since they're pretty standard but anyone read anything good written in 2009?



Pssh. Fine.
Welcome to FC (http://www.welcometoFC.com)

[garggggh]

Pssh. Fine.
Welcome to FC (http://www.welcometoFC.com)

I got invited to some Project Mayhem event in LA a few days ago. Too bad I moved to the East Coast...

But hm. Only author I can't get into is Ayn Rand. And maybe in my younger days I couldn't appreciate Dostoevsky. I'll have to go back and re-read C&P.

[eucademix]

How come? Is it pretty hard to read?
because this is what a page looks like.
http://smallvictories.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/sam-2.jpg

now, imagine it being the entire 300-something page book and finding a note from the publisher to read 8 pages at a time and then turn the book upside down to read the other side of the story.

[brenByah]

because this is what a page looks like.
http://smallvictories.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/sam-2.jpg

now, imagine it being the entire 300-something page book and finding a note from the publisher to read 8 pages at a time and then turn the book upside down to read the other side of the story.

Damn that's crazy.

[eucademix]

Damn that's crazy.
house of leaves, the guy's first book, starts out normally and then after about 97 pages, the formatting starts to go bonkers. and there's the footnotes. god the footnotes.

[TJ Wells]

I won a copy of this in a Twitter contest from the paperback publisher like 3 months ago, and it finally came in the mail:

http://bestlittlebookshelf.files.wordpress .com/2009/08/2666cover.jpg

Looks like Stephen King will be falling by the wayside for the next month or so.

[Colorblind!]

I need to read You Shall Know Our Velocity!

What Is The What is going down so good right now.

[Colorblind!]

I won a copy of this in a Twitter contest from the paperback publisher like 3 months ago, and it finally came in the mail:

http://bestlittlebookshelf.files.wordpress .com/2009/08/2666cover.jpg

Looks like Stephen King will be falling by the wayside for the next month or so.

Everytime I see this book at the store I get so fucking intrigued. I'm pretty anxious to read it myself but I think I may be too stupid.

[Oddpac87]

How come? Is it pretty hard to read?
eucademix beat me to the answer, but as you see, yes. It's really more annoying than anything else, in my opinion.

house of leaves, the guy's first book, starts out normally and then after about 97 pages, the formatting starts to go bonkers. and there's the footnotes. god the footnotes.
I don't know why, but it never bothered me in House of Leaves. The footnotes and stuff got a little ridiculous at times, but that's all.

[TheBaroness]

I won a copy of this in a Twitter contest from the paperback publisher like 3 months ago, and it finally came in the mail:

http://bestlittlebookshelf.files.wordpress .com/2009/08/2666cover.jpg

Looks like Stephen King will be falling by the wayside for the next month or so.

Amazing book, everyone should read it.

[phil19]

Hell, even if you DON'T like sci-fi. I read this for the first time about 10 years ago and I've loved it ever since. Bought a new copy on a whim when I saw one in a record store I shop at. (they have one shelf of books there)

its my favourite book. absolutely amazing!

[eucademix]

I don't know why, but it never bothered me in House of Leaves. The footnotes and stuff got a little ridiculous at times, but that's all.
my issue with the notes was johnny's story and i didn't really care about that plot.

[stayillogical]

Has anyone in here read a book in Spanish? I really want to. I bought my sister Love in the Time of Cholera a few Christmases ago in the original language but she didn't like it. I still might pick it up, but I'm thinking about my other options. 2666 maybe? Any recommendations?

[dakota0135]

eucademix beat me to the answer, but as you see, yes. It's really more annoying than anything else, in my opinion.
I can see that that's gonna be a bit annoying. Maybe there's an audiobook X-)

because this is what a page looks like.
http://smallvictories.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/sam-2.jpg

now, imagine it being the entire 300-something page book and finding a note from the publisher to read 8 pages at a time and then turn the book upside down to read the other side of the story.
I see :-|

[eucademix]

I won a copy of this in a Twitter contest from the paperback publisher like 3 months ago, and it finally came in the mail:

http://bestlittlebookshelf.files.wordpress .com/2009/08/2666cover.jpg

Looks like Stephen King will be falling by the wayside for the next month or so.
i just returned only revolutions by mark danielewski and checked this one out from the library today.

[drudo182]

Loving Under the Dome so far. Anyone finished it?

[ForlrnPerplxity]

Loving Under the Dome so far. Anyone finished it?
I'm about 2/3rds of the way through, and I love it so far. It's the first novel I've read of his since The Green Mile that I think is very good. Most of his later stuff, outside of the short stories, has been pretty mediocre, IMO.

[drudo182]

I'm about 2/3rds of the way through, and I love it so far. It's the first novel I've read of his since The Green Mile that I think is very good. Most of his later stuff, outside of the short stories, has been pretty mediocre, IMO.

Yeah. Last one of his I read was "Cell" and I thought that was pretty good. I need to read the one he did before Under the Dome after I finish it.

[doyouhas?]

I got invited to some Project Mayhem event in LA a few days ago. Too bad I moved to the East Coast...

But hm. Only author I can't get into is Ayn Rand. And maybe in my younger days I couldn't appreciate Dostoevsky. I'll have to go back and re-read C&P.


Ayn Rand was a stupid bitch with wonderful prose. We have a love/hate relationship.

[ForlrnPerplxity]

Yeah. Last one of his I read was "Cell" and I thought that was pretty good. I need to read the one he did before Under the Dome after I finish it.
Cell was really entertaining. Duma Key (the one before Under the Dome) wasn't too bad, but it was pretty meh for me. Reading the epic novel that is Under the Dome makes me want to go back and read The Stand and It.

[drudo182]

Cell was really entertaining. Duma Key (the one before Under the Dome) wasn't too bad, but it was pretty meh for me. Reading the epic novel that is Under the Dome makes me want to go back and read The Stand and It.

Haven't read either but I've always wanted to read The Stand.

[ForlrnPerplxity]

Haven't read either but I've always wanted to read The Stand.
Oh man, you really have to go pick that up. It's by far the best Stephen King novel I've ever read. I've read it twice and still find myself wanting to go back again.

[drudo182]

Oh man, you really have to go pick that up. It's by far the best Stephen King novel I've ever read. I've read it twice and still find myself wanting to go back again.

K. I'll add it to my book list. Might pick it up this week.

[ForlrnPerplxity]

K. I'll add it to my book list. Might pick it up this week.
Let me know what you think. The Stand has the list of most memorable characters I've read in one of his novels.

[bobcatbob18]

I am currently reading "The Real Animal House" by Chris Miller. It accounts (you guessed it) the real life accounts of a guy who rushed a fraternity in the early sixties whose debauchery influenced the Animal House film. It is basically a smarter, more clever "I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell" but about fraternity brothers. His nickname was "Pinto" for a hilarious reason that I will not spoil here.

I also just picked up "Friday Night Lights" since I have recently fallen in love with the show, yet haven't seen the move. Either way, I'm excited to crack it open.

[TJ Wells]

Oh man, you really have to go pick that up. It's by far the best Stephen King novel I've ever read. I've read it twice and still find myself wanting to go back again.
As far as individual novels go (because I will put the Dark Tower miles above everything else as a whole) Bag of Bones is by far my favorite of his. It could be (won't be based on the IMDb of it, though) a great movie if done right.

[ForlrnPerplxity]

As far as individual novels go (because I will put the Dark Tower miles above everything else as a whole) Bag of Bones is by far my favorite of his. It could be (won't be based on the IMDb of it, though) a great movie if done right.
I have Bag of Bones but for some reason have never read it. I need to pick it up soon, because I've heard pretty much from anybody who has read it that it's one of their favorites.

Anybody picking up Michael Crichton's posthumous new novel on Tuesday?

[brenByah]

Loving Under the Dome so far. Anyone finished it?

Loving your avatar.

[drudo182]

Never read a Chrichton novel.

[drudo182]

Loving your avatar.

Thanks. Someone has a Mr. Fox one and I pretty much ripped it, only for Ash. Hope he doesn't mind. Ha.

New trailer is amazing too. Cannot wait for Friday! Looks too funny.

[brenByah]

Thanks. Someone has a Mr. Fox one and I pretty much ripped it, only for Ash. Hope he doesn't mind. Ha.

New trailer is amazing too. Cannot wait for Friday! Looks too funny.

I'm very excited for it too, I'm a big Wes Andersen fan.

[ForlrnPerplxity]

Crichton's novels are pretty hit and miss for me. His last novel wasn't very good, but the new one sounds entertaining.

[drudo182]

I'm very excited for it too, I'm a big Wes Andersen fan.

Yeah, me too. Life Aquatic is my favorite. Want to watch them all again before I see the new one this week.

Crichton's novels are pretty hit and miss for me. His last novel wasn't very good, but the new one sounds entertaining.

Did he actually finish it before he passed or did someone wrap it up?

[ForlrnPerplxity]

Did he actually finish it before he passed or did someone wrap it up?
I'm pretty sure he finished it outside of the final editing and such. He was part way through another novel that's supposed to come out in the near future after they find another author(s) to finish it.

[dakota0135]

I think I'm going to start Little Children by Tom Perotta tonight; I really enjoyed the film. However, I think becasue I saw the film first, I'm not going to ejnoy the book as much as I might have.

[msdelaney]

Bitch, In Praise of Difficult Women, by Elizabeth Wurtzel, same author as Prozac Nation. I'm still trying to figure out if I like it, but it's entertaining for now.

[Wait_For_It]

I'm currently reading Flashforward.

[Colorblind!]

Ayn Rand was a stupid bitch with wonderful prose. We have a love/hate relationship.

Haha, why was she a stupid bitch!?
I read Anthem and plan on going to read her novels, I really enjoyed it.

[doyouhas?]

Haha, why was she a stupid bitch!?
I read Anthem and plan on going to read her novels, I really enjoyed it.


She was a socio and political nut job. The Fountainhead is one of my favorite books, I just don't entirely agree with the philosophy presented.

[garggggh]

She was a socio and political nut job. The Fountainhead is one of my favorite books, I just don't entirely agree with the philosophy presented.

I agree. It's the way it's worded and phrased, I guess. It took me forever to finish Fountainhead.

I'm reading World According to Garp now.

[DeathCabForCoon]

I'm currently reading Flashforward.


I read that in like two days. Loved it. Way better than the show (although I'm a fan of both)

[Oddpac87]

I read that in like two days. Loved it. Way better than the show (although I'm a fan of both)
Same.

[Mitch]

Finally finished The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. Wonderful book, in my opinion.

[Colorblind!]

She was a socio and political nut job. The Fountainhead is one of my favorite books, I just don't entirely agree with the philosophy presented.

Haha, I don't know a whole lot about her philosophy, individualism, right?

[Red Lion]

I got invited to some Project Mayhem event in LA a few days ago. Too bad I moved to the East Coast...




really? what was the occasion?