The Book Thread (Official Thread)

[unwritten]

Sideways Stories From Wayside School.

wow, that brings me back. haha

[MADSTA]

I'm excited and nervous for it. Those books were great.



Quite possibly my favorite book series. Odd is such a unique character.
I loved the first, but I haven't had time to read the others. But I heard they aren't as good as the first.

[anamericangod]

I loved the first, but I haven't had time to read the others. But I heard they aren't as good as the first.

The first was my favorite. The third one is almost as good as the first though. None of them are bad, it's just that it'd be nearly impossible to make a book as good as the first one.

[MADSTA]

Odd Thomas is one of my favourite books ever. I seriously need to get my hands on the second and third.

[Ailite]

I want to see an Artemis Fowl movie really bad.

[xshady121]

Sideways Stories From Wayside School.

It's a kids show on Nickelodeon now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayside_%28TV_series%29

[lilRIPsta]

Perdido Street Station - China Mieville
The Lies of Locke Lamora - Scott Lynch

[Jessooker]

On wednesday I read "Atonement" by Ian McEwan. It was really good. There's a movie based on it with James Mcavoy and Keira Knightley that looks excellent.

I also finished up "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold yesterday, and today I'll finish "Survivor" by Chuck Palahnuik.

Tomorrow I'll probably start "Lucky" by Alice Sebold.

I read a lot.

[guywithstik]

has anyone ever read Dreaming In Cuban I have to read it for Spanish class

I actually had to read it for a cultural politics class a few years ago. Admittedly, it didn't stay with me all that much, but most stuff I read for classes don't. I might have a better/worse opinion of it if I had chose to read it on my own.

Just recently started Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman.

Makes sense about all of his observances in a very twisted way.

definitely his best book.

[Prestonxsmith]

I just found out the real ending of Survivor. It makes so much sense now.

[kwsqd]

Currently reading "The Weather Makers: How man is changing the climate and what it means for life on earth" by Tim Flannery.

Not exactly light reading material :suave:.

[I am all talk]

What do you think is the most overrated book that you read..something that you expected to be amazed by and you read it and it was just "eh"?
Catcher in the Rye & A Confederacy of Dunces.

[gonz]

Just recently started Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman.

Makes sense about all of his observances in a very twisted way.
My freshman year english teacher recommended that to me at the end of last year, along with a couple other of his books. I'm definitely going to get around to them eventually.

[Broken Parachute]

I had to pick two books from a list for my AP class to do an assignment on for over the Christmas break with three backup choices just in case someone already chose the ones I wanted. I chose:

"Friday Night Lights" by HG Bissinger
"The Dante Club" by Matthew Pearl

Backups:

"Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt
"The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien
"I Know This Much is True" by Wally Lamb

[Blake Solomon]

I'm reading "The Golden Compass" by Phillip Pullman right now. And i recently bought "Motherless Brooklyn" by Johnathan Lethem. Can't wait to start reading that one.

[Broken Parachute]

Has anyone read "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini? Is it any good?

[Broken Parachute]

bumper

Just finished "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara. I loved it.

[Jessooker]

I finished "Lucky" by Alice Sebold, it was okay.

Also, "Diary" by Chuck Palahniuk, i loved it.

[Shatter590]

i finally got a copy of Brian Froud's "Faeries"

its a beautiful book, really well researched and illustrated.

[EndlessMike]

Has anyone read "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini? Is it any good?

I just finished it and thought it was excellent. It was easy to read and the story just took me in.


Right now I'm 50 pages into The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger. I can't say I've been gripped by it so far, but I have faith it will get better.

[ForlrnPerplxity]

After the Koufax biography I'm on, the next 5 books in line are:

The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
The Road - Cormac McCarthy
Reservation Road - John Burnham Schwartz
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford - Ron Hansen
The World Without Us - Alan Weisman

Has anybody read any of these? Thoughts?

[noselove]

Has anyone ever read LoveSick by Jake Coburn?

It's a cool book.

Plus, he's a really cool guy. I sent him a letter last school year for some extra credit in English class and never thought about it again until I received a hand-written letter back from him. It was really nice.

[cfear]

These quotes are all backwards from the end. How have I not seen this thread?

Foucault's The History Of Sexuality was incredible. On the topic of philosophy, Alain Badiou and Slavoj Zizek are currently my favorite philosophers. They've also gotten me into Lacan, a psychoanalytical theorist, whose works I've currently delved into with Ecrits-a collection of some of his major works.

Biopower.

I just finished reading "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close", by Johnathan Safran Foer, and it was really pretty good.

Basically one of the best novels of the last ten years, behind The Boy Detective Fails by Joe Meno and The World To Come by Dara Horn. Both of which are amazing novels.

I just finished 'I Love You Beth Cooper' by Larry Doyle. I found it very entertaining and funny, but I"m a huge sucker for the whole coming of age/graduation/high school type books. Doyle is far from being a great writer, but his humor is enough to make you keep reading, and the characters are very likable.

I disagree, I think his writing is actually really good. Not amazing, the plot was, basically, predictable; but I think that was a fault of the story over the writing. It was a great read though. I'm not disappointed in having bought it.

Currently I'm reading How the Hula Girl Sings by Joe Meno.

I loved this book. Not Meno's best, but it is an amazing story.

Has anyone read The Wooden Sea by Joseph Carrol (I think that's his name, I don't remember)? It's a fucking amazing novel. I think it came out in the late 90s, but maybe early 00s.

[Salsa_Shark]

House of Leaves is my absolute favorite. Mark Z. Danielewski's style of writing just blows my mind. Anything that Chuck Palahniuk writes is definitely up there on my "Must Read" list.

[meliisssaaaa]

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. The book that every american should read. its about finded ones identity and purpose


call me crazy but i couldn't get into that book

[meliisssaaaa]

running with scissors by augusten burroughs is an amazing book

[meliisssaaaa]

4 pages of posts and noone mentions Irvine Welsh? the cockney parts are a pain in the ass to read but Porno and Trainspotting are outstanding.

Also, The Westies is a great non-fiction book about the Irish mob in Hell's Kitchen in the 70s and 80s.

i love trainspotting

[Yakacack]

The Collector by John Fowles

Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo

Lunar Park by Bret Easton Ellis

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

any short stories written by Nathaniel Hawthorne

all of John Keats' letters


I used to hate reading as a kid, but now love it and wish I had writing talent myself

[meliisssaaaa]

also, speak by laurie halse anderson, smack by melvin burgess, go ask alice, white oleander by janet fitch, a million little pieces by james frey, and every chuck palahniuck book.

[nonamesleft]

Le Petit Prince

[Jessooker]

Atonement- Ian McEwan
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy- Douglas Adams
Reservation Road- John Burnham Schwartz
Diary- Chuck Palahniuk
The Giver- Lois Lowry

[Jessooker]

After the Koufax biography I'm on, the next 5 books in line are:

The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
The Road - Cormac McCarthy
Reservation Road - John Burnham Schwartz
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford - Ron Hansen
The World Without Us - Alan Weisman

Has anybody read any of these? Thoughts?


I just finished it. I really liked it.

[Adeniz19]

ok so i started reading Haunted just because I've had it for about a year now and never got around to it. i was seriously just grossed out by the first short story in it and i really dont know if i want to finish it now. are all the stories as disgusting as that one (the saint gut-free story) or does it simmer down a bit? i really dont want to read about peoples intestines getting sucked out of their asshole anymore haha.

[Shatter590]

i just skimmed through House of Leaves again, and got all shivery. best "horror" novel ive ever read.

[ascitiesburn101]

Just read Apathy and Other Small Victories by Paul Neilan and am currently starting The Catcher In The Rye for the second time.

[hailthewarrior]

I just finished "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman and "Animal Farm" by Orwell... overall, very good stuff.

Next is "Sharpshooter" for school, by David Madden.

[EnderDove]

Any thoughts on what Vonnegut work I should read first?

[ForlrnPerplxity]

I'm about to buy The World Without Us by Alan Weisman.

I'm also looking at these books:

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham
No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy


Has anybody read these or heard anything about them?

[Broken Parachute]

I'm going to start "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien tonight.

[EnderDove]

Picked up Animal Farm today, plan on getting Breakfast of Champions tomorrow.

Also, has anyone read this...

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/4193ZGY6NSL._SS500_.jpg

[Shatter590]

Any thoughts on what Vonnegut work I should read first?

cats cradle or slaughterhouse 5

[Logan95]

Any thoughts on what Vonnegut work I should read first?

In Chapter 18 of his book Palm Sunday "The Sexual Revolution," Vonnegut grades his own works. He states that the grades "do not place me in literary history" and that he is comparing "myself with myself." The grades are as follows:

Player Piano (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Player_Piano): B
The Sirens of Titan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sirens_of_Titan): A
Mother Night (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Night): A
Cat's Cradle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%27s_Cradle): A-plus
God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Bless_You%2C_Mr._Rosewater): A
Slaughterhouse-Five (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaughterhouse-Five): A-plus
Welcome to the Monkey House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welcome_to_the_Monkey_House): B-minus
Happy Birthday, Wanda June (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Birthday%2C_Wanda_June): D
Breakfast of Champions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakfast_of_Champions): C
Slapstick (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slapstick_%28novel%29): D
Jailbird (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jailbird): A
Palm Sunday (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Sunday_%28book%29): C

[Shatter590]

In Chapter 18 of his book Palm Sunday "The Sexual Revolution," Vonnegut grades his own works. He states that the grades "do not place me in literary history" and that he is comparing "myself with myself." The grades are as follows:

Player Piano (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Player_Piano): B
The Sirens of Titan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sirens_of_Titan): A
Mother Night (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Night): A
Cat's Cradle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%27s_Cradle): A-plus
God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Bless_You%2C_Mr._Rosewater): A
Slaughterhouse-Five (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaughterhouse-Five): A-plus
Welcome to the Monkey House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welcome_to_the_Monkey_House): B-minus
Happy Birthday, Wanda June (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Birthday%2C_Wanda_June): D
Breakfast of Champions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakfast_of_Champions): C
Slapstick (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slapstick_%28novel%29): D
Jailbird (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jailbird): A
Palm Sunday (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Sunday_%28book%29): C

like i said- Cats Cradle and Slaughterhouse Five.

its the only Vonnegut ive ever read and I adored them.

[Logan95]

like i said- Cats Cradle and Slaughterhouse Five.

its the only Vonnegut ive ever read and I adored them.


I was surprised that he graded Breakfast of Champions as a C, personally that was my favorite. Mother Night and God Bless You Mr. Rosewater are close seconds.

[EnderDove]

I was surprised that he graded Breakfast of Champions as a C, personally that was my favorite. Mother Night and God Bless You Mr. Rosewater are close seconds.

It was the one I planned on picking up first, I still might, although I plan on picking up several.

[gonz]

Casually reading Fight Club, gonna start The Sound and the Fury soon, debating reading the Chronicles of Narnia series cus I haven't in years and eventually want to get deeper into Lewis' works.

[eraserhead]

reading Breakfast of Champions, it's so good

[Dervela]

I'm about to buy The World Without Us by Alan Weisman.

I'm also looking at these books:

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham
No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy


Has anybody read these or heard anything about them?


i read All the Pretty Horses last yr. if you're a fan of mccarthy's work i'm sure you'll love it. full of really rich descriptive prose.

Any thoughts on what Vonnegut work I should read first?

def Cat's Cradle. it's amazing.
i just finished pygmalion for one of my classes. i just started reading chuck palahniuk's 'diary' right now. my first palahniuk read.

[Lee McGee]

I have lots of time on my hands right now, so I've read in the past week:

Fight Club (again) by CP

The Last Summer of You and Me - I don't remember the author's name, but it's the woman that wrote The Sisterhood of the traveling pants

Somebody to Love? Grace Slick's Autobiography

I started the Awakening by Kate Chopin but I lost interest in it, so I put it down

I started Washington Square by Henry James, but lost interest in that too

So now I'm reading To Kill a Mockingbird- yea, yea, I've never read it

[Mitch]

I started 1984 last night. Somehow I never had to read it in high school.

[Lee McGee]

that book is good. also read brave new world if you haven't already

[lindZ629]

It's taking me forever to get through Kavalier & Clay, but damn it's so good

Next up would be Chuck Klosterman IV and A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

[EnderDove]

I'm going to go shower and then finish Animal Farm. Pretty good so far and I haven't been able to put it down tonight simply because I want to see how it ends. Fuck Napoleon.

[MikeAL4W]

I'm halfway through Song of Susannah, the 6th book of Stephen King's Dark Tower series. One more after that and I'm done!!

I'm a nerd.

[MikeAL4W]

It's taking me forever to get through Kavalier & Clay, but damn it's so good

Next up would be Chuck Klosterman IV and A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

I love a Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genious, and Chuck Klosterman is one of my favorites too. You rule.

P.S. I havent read IV yet, but Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs is the best thing ever.

[LV03]

Crime and Punishment
The Giver

[Shatter590]

frank herbert- Dune

[takingbackrufio]

A Tale of Two Cities, Catch 22, and Fight Club.

And Mrs. Rowling, for sheer pleasure, memorable characters, strong plotting, and all kinds of fun.

[noselove]

Ethan Frome.
Has anyone else ever read this?


And I'm reading Frankenstein right now for English class and really liking it.

[lindZ629]

Ethan Frome.
Has anyone else ever read this?


And I'm reading Frankenstein right now for English class and really liking it.
I'm almost positive I've read Ethan Frome...probably sometime in HS

A couple of my favorites:
Fight Club/Choke - Chuck Palahniuk
Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
Harry Potters - JK Rowling
Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay - Michael Chabon

[xvszero]

LOTR
Narnia
CS Lewis sci-fi trilogy
Dune
Lots of Philip K Dick
Pretty much everything Terry Pratchett writes

[Zeran]

this is tough. definitely my favorite author is thomas pynchon. i just finished reading against the day and thought it was freaking ridiculously good. but it's too difficult to pin down any one particular "favorite" book, i've read too many.

[BoiledFrogs.]

The Secret Garden

Alice In Exile

Almost all of Sidney Sheldon's books great reads

and my most memorable book to date Haunted

[WakingTheMisery]

Ishmael

[SJms1026]

It's probably been said already, but To Kill A Mockingbird is my favorite book.

[PunkENG]

Dark Tower

[Fluke13]

Choke - Chuck Palahniuk (not sure how anyone can put Survivor ahead of this)

Hyperion - Dan Simmons (the first book is fantastic, the rest of the series is probably one of the most rewarding reads I can think of besides the Ender series)

Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card (one of the best storytellers around right now...the whole series is amazing...I especially like the third and fourth book in the original series Xenocide and Childern of the Mind respectively)

Neuromancer - William Gibson (this man coined the term cyberspace in 1984 in this book, so you can just imagine the imagination that he displays in this story....the third section of the book is called The Straylight Run....hmmm I wonder where they got their name from)

Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson (this book is just plain fun and the ideas in it are insane)

A Game of Thrones - George R. R. Martin (best fantasy series ever...the magic comes in later books)

[notoaststereo]

you shall know our velocity! - dave eggars

[ForlrnPerplxity]

I just finished The Lovely Bones. After 100 pages in or so I didn't think I was going to like it as much as others have, but I loved it by the time I finished the book.

I'm currently reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy and I hope it progresses a bit more than it has already. So far I'm a little disappointed by it.

Next in line are:
Reservation Road by John Burnham Schwartz
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford by Ron Hansen
The Ruins by Scott Smith
The World Without Us by Alan Weisman
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Then I really want to start on Cold Mountain.

Thoughts on any of these?

[Jessooker]

I just finished The Lovely Bones. After 100 pages in or so I didn't think I was going to like it as much as others have, but I loved it by the time I finished the book.

I'm currently reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy and I hope it progresses a bit more than it has already. So far I'm a little disappointed by it.

Next in line are:
Reservation Road by John Burnham Schwartz
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford by Ron Hansen
The Ruins by Scott Smith
The World Without Us by Alan Weisman
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Then I really want to start on Cold Mountain.

Thoughts on any of these?


I really liked Reservation Road, however the movie that's coming out based on it looks as if they enhanced the story even better, which is surprising for a book based film.

[emerypearl]

Im re-reading The Five People You Meet In Heaven, I thought the book was simply amazing.


I plan on trying to read The Lovely Bones next.

[meeotch]

I want to read some Vonnegut. Any suggestions?

[classys]

I just finished The Lovely Bones. After 100 pages in or so I didn't think I was going to like it as much as others have, but I loved it by the time I finished the book.

I'm currently reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy and I hope it progresses a bit more than it has already. So far I'm a little disappointed by it.

Next in line are:
Reservation Road by John Burnham Schwartz
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford by Ron Hansen
The Ruins by Scott Smith
The World Without Us by Alan Weisman
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Then I really want to start on Cold Mountain.

Thoughts on any of these?
Cold Mountain is fantastic, one of my favs

[noselove]

I read And Then There Were None this summer.

Amazing.

I'm reading Frankenstein right now and loving it.

[B-Bones]

Has anyone read Rant by Palahniuk? If so, does anyone else find it genius how he leaks information bit by bit through his different characters, slowly controlling how much the reader knows. This guy blows my mind every time. However, I don't know what to make of the whole time-travel thing, though I still have fifty pages or so to go so that could change everything. What are your guys' thoughts?

[B-Bones]

ok so i started reading Haunted just because I've had it for about a year now and never got around to it. i was seriously just grossed out by the first short story in it and i really dont know if i want to finish it now. are all the stories as disgusting as that one (the saint gut-free story) or does it simmer down a bit? i really dont want to read about peoples intestines getting sucked out of their asshole anymore haha.

The other ones aren't as gross, no. However, I read about 3/4 of the way and then quit and started reading Rant. That one just didn't grip me as much as most of his novels do.

[B-Bones]

Another amazing book is How We Are Hungry by Dave Eggers. Same guy that wrote A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. He is definetely one of my favorite authors. This man can do no wrong. (Along with the Thrice art that he's done for their albums.)

[gman610]

I'm reading Catch-22 right now for school. It's really good, but it's very confusing. I don't really like how it's jumps back and forth in the story/time. After we read this, we're reading Slaughterhouse-Five, and I can not wait to read it. Everything I've read of Vonnegut's (a few short stories) I have loved.

I also just finished A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, which was amazing. As was A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. One of the best fantasy books I've ever read.

[Jessooker]

Has anyone read Rant by Palahniuk? If so, does anyone else find it genius how he leaks information bit by bit through his different characters, slowly controlling how much the reader knows. This guy blows my mind every time. However, I don't know what to make of the whole time-travel thing, though I still have fifty pages or so to go so that could change everything. What are your guys' thoughts?

i bought it, but have yet to read it. i love his work.

[TheBaroness]

I'm looking forward to buying Peter Hoeg's new book The Quiet Girl this weekend, and devouring it in one sitting (this must be how Harry Potter fans felt)

[TheBaroness]

I read And Then There Were None this summer.

Amazing.

I'm reading Frankenstein right now and loving it.

Frankenstein's one of my favorites. The prose is so gorgeous.

[TheBaroness]

Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg

Far from a perfect novel but it changed my life.

[errricc]

the five people you meet in heaven, by mitch albom?
im not sure who its by but its an easy book to read basically about and old guy who dies and meets five people in heaven.. lol

[EvilconCarne]

Dune by Frank Herbert, and all it's follow-ups. To me it's a work of art

[Shatter590]

Dune by Frank Herbert, and all it's follow-ups. To me it's a work of art

definitely concur on dune.

didnt care for the follow ups though.

[Shatter590]

Frankenstein's one of my favorites. The prose is so gorgeous.

are you talking about the original edition, or her re-edit?

[SockMonkeyRiot]

Just read Vonnegut's "God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater" and "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey

Starting "The Trial" by Franz Kafka

[EvilconCarne]

By follow-ups I meant the rest of the 5 titles in Dune series...it's time very well spent reading those too, at least for me it was

[Zeran]

personally, the first dune book was amazing. but the next couple got to be too pseudo-religious or whatever, and the overall theme and feeling for the books was too much. it lost the coolness and interesting sci-fi stuff from the first one.

[noselove]

Frankenstein's one of my favorites. The prose is so gorgeous.
I know! I wasn't expecting to like it so much but it's so poetic.

[catscradle]

Ishmael

Thats such a bad ass book. Props to anyone else whose read it.
With that said, my favorite books would have to be...
Breakfast of Champions/ God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater- Kurt Vonnegut
Ilium/Olympos- Dan Simmons
Ender's Game- Orson Scott Card (the whole ender and bean series totally blow my mind)
Lonesome Dove- Larry McMurtry (if you get a chance read all 4 book, so good)
The Martian Chronicles- Ray Bradbury
Grendel- John Gardner

[TheBaroness]

are you talking about the original edition, or her re-edit?

I believe it's the revised edition

I know! I wasn't expecting to like it so much but it's so poetic.

The imagery is amazing

[Shatter590]

I believe it's the revised edition



The imagery is amazing

shelley changed stuff in her second printing, to add "legitimacy"

try to track down the revised and annotated edition i think. its the original text.

[TheBaroness]

shelley changed stuff in her second printing, to add "legitimacy"

try to track down the revised and annotated edition i think. its the original text.

I own a few different editions of it - Penguin Classics and some other 'Classics' version (both of which I read), and also an annotated version with additional notes, essays and criticisms, which I haven't read. Hopefully that version will have the original text in it. I'll hunt around in my closet for it and have a look.

[HelpMeSleep]

I am reading The Lovely Bones right now. On page like 220 something.

It's pretty awesome so far. Love it.

The Lovely Bones is really good. i read it a couple years ago. i liked it a lot. i remember i tried to read it sometime before that and was kind of creeped out but then i read it later and i liked it a lot.

[eraserhead]

still working through Breakfast of Champions, I can't find time to read it. I'll try to finish it on the car ride to and from Eau Claire on Monday.

[Rawrr]

Currently: A Clockwork Orange
Finished: Great Expectations (bleh)

[when_katysparks]

I'm currently reading Time Traveler's Wife for the second time, and it's still fantastic. Not sure what I'll read next, might take some suggestions from this forum.

[meliisssaaaa]

currently reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. it's amazing so far.. kind of disturbing though

[ashesofapril234]

Currently reading Walden by Thoreau. So far I'm really enjoying it.

[MattRM]

I'm working on Catch-22. I've been meaning to read it for a while, and just got around to getting it from the library last week.

[eraserhead]

Recently I've read:

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut

all very very good, and hopefully I'll get Factotum tomorrow. and just for kicks I got a book of e.e. cummings poetry which I'm enjoying very much.

[TheBaroness]

I started Rant by Palahniuk yesterday...not thinking much of it so far. I think he's become a parody of himself.

[Mr_Massacre]

if you're into Sci-Fi, try picking up "The Giver"

it's pretty awesome.

[eraserhead]

Finished Factotum, it was excellent, good quick read. probably the best last line in a book ever.

[disco.tetris]

I'm reading PS, I Love You by Cecelia Ahern. It's nice so far.

[k_kitty2011]

Stargirl, it's a book about this weird girl who moves to Arizona, she becomes really popular, then she becomes a cheerleader and stuff happens (not spoiling for anyone who wants to read it) but anyway, they all decide they hate her until the very end of the book, then she leaves.

I've read a few times aslready, it's good. Also, the sequal, Love Stargirl, is good.

[VersustheBear]

I started The Bear and The Dragon by Tom Clancy. I have like 6 other books by him, but I haven't touched them for some reason.

[scole]

I am currently in the process of reading U.S.! by Chris Bacheldor. I'm struggling through it, one reason being classes and the other being my lack of interest in the idea behind the book. I just finished Hocus Pocus by Kurt Vonnegut and Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin, both of which are classics in my opinion. Once I get done with U.S.! (if I ever do) I think I'll move on to A Death In The Family. I've had it for a while but I just haven't gotten around to ever reading it. Has anyone read it yet? And if so, is it worth the read?

[ashesofapril234]

I'm currently in the process of reading Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson, so far it's amazing.

[3mpire]

I'm reading American Psycho. Christ it's disgusting. :-0

[thatsignant]

I'm reading American Psycho. Christ it's disgusting. :-0

It only gets worse and worse as the book goes on, making it better and better to read.

[disco.tetris]

I'm gonna start A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. After Kite Runner, I've really looked forward to this.

[anamericangod]

I started The Bear and The Dragon by Tom Clancy. I have like 6 other books by him, but I haven't touched them for some reason.

Executive Orders is my favorite by him, that book is so fucking intense.

I need to buy some books, but I'm really at a loss at what to get. Amazon.com's recommendations kinda suck.

[Kram41]

http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/14800000/14807686.JPG

I read this book a couple of months ago. I had seen it at the bookstore for months and finally decided to pick it up expecting a light and humorous read. What I go t was one of the strangest novels I've ever read.

Every paragraph had a dozen layers to it and the language and sentence structure was beautiful. It was clearly a tribute to all of the Chase's favorite authors. I've never been so lost in a book before, and I mean that in both senses of the word. I couldn't put it down, but there were times when I felt I was missing the entire point of the book.

It's not a great casual read, but take a chance on this book when you have an entire day that you want to spend somewhere sitting and reading. I can't guarantee you'll like it, but it's worth a shot if you like the style of any of the classic authors that you read in English classes.

[Mitch]

http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/14800000/14807686.JPG

I read this book a couple of months ago. I had seen it at the bookstore for months and finally decided to pick it up expecting a light and humorous read. What I go t was one of the strangest novels I've ever read.

Every paragraph had a dozen layers to it and the language and sentence structure was beautiful. It was clearly a tribute to all of the Chase's favorite authors. I've never been so lost in a book before, and I mean that in both senses of the word. I couldn't put it down, but there were times when I felt I was missing the entire point of the book.

It's not a great casual read, but take a chance on this book when you have an entire day that you want to spend somewhere sitting and reading. I can't guarantee you'll like it, but it's worth a shot if you like the style of any of the classic authors that you read in English classes.

I'm going to pick this up as well as Winesburg, Ohio sometime this week. I love this thread.

[3mpire]

Just finished American Psycho and loved it. Are his other books worth picking up? (Apart from Less Than Zero)

[lew_1987]

'stiff: the curious lives of human cadavers' was a good read. pretty gruesome too.

[Kram41]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516fQ1NgBrL._AA240_.jpg

Right now, I'm trying to read this book. I got through the first two "chapters" and really enjoyed them. I think it would definitely appeal to most AP.net users. From amazon.com:

The Words of Every Song is a literate and original debut novel in the form of fourteen linked episodes, each centered on a character involved with the music industry in some fashion. There’s the arrogantly hip, twenty-six-year-old A&R man; the rising young singer-songwriter; the established, arena-filling rock star on the verge of a midlife crisis; the type-A female executive with the heavy social calendar; and other recognizable figures.

Set in the sleek offices, high-tech recording studios, and grungy downtown clubs of New York, The Words of Every Song offers an authenticity drawn from Liz Moore’s own experience and brings an insider’s touch to its depiction of the music industry and its denizens.

[Mitch]

My shopping list consists of:

Miss Lonely Hearts + The Day of the Locust by Nathanel West
Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson
Winkie by Clifford Chase (possibly)
American Psycho

[TheBaroness]

Started reading Darkmans by Nicola Barker. It's pretty long (800-odd pages) so we'll see how far I get before I lose interest and move onto something else

[disco.tetris]

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini is a brilliant book. Extremely well written and the story is so good. I can't think of any better adjectives.. but seriously, it's a good read. Totally worth it.

[johnx]

I asked my family for a ton of new books this Christmas, so I have a lot of reading ahead of me.

[I Saved Latin]

Just finished American Psycho and loved it. Are his other books worth picking up? (Apart from Less Than Zero)

Pick up Rules of Attraction. It is definetly as good as American Psycho in my opinion.

[TheBaroness]

I finished Rant the other day (after putting it aside for a while). It was ok. Darkmans is really awesome so far, trying to slow down because I don't want to finish it, so I've started Despair and Invitation to a Beheading by Vladamir Nabokov in the mean time.

[Bob Payne]

Right Now I'm reading Sailor Song by Ken Kesey, then I'm onto The Sirens of Titan by Vonnegut, followed by selected works from the Oscar Wilde omnibus I have. Yes, I read a criminally large amount. I have more books in my room that I haven't read than entire collections of other people.

[looksthatkillbn]

anyone in here read Monkeewrench by P.J. Tracy?

[EndlessMike]

I just bought Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett, I'll probably start it tonight.

[ashesofapril234]

I just read Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson. It was an amazing book, great characters.

[eraserhead]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516fQ1NgBrL._AA240_.jpg

Right now, I'm trying to read this book. I got through the first two "chapters" and really enjoyed them. I think it would definitely appeal to most AP.net users. From amazon.com:

The Words of Every Song is a literate and original debut novel in the form of fourteen linked episodes, each centered on a character involved with the music industry in some fashion. There’s the arrogantly hip, twenty-six-year-old A&R man; the rising young singer-songwriter; the established, arena-filling rock star on the verge of a midlife crisis; the type-A female executive with the heavy social calendar; and other recognizable figures.

Set in the sleek offices, high-tech recording studios, and grungy downtown clubs of New York, The Words of Every Song offers an authenticity drawn from Liz Moore’s own experience and brings an insider’s touch to its depiction of the music industry and its denizens.
that sounds like something I'd like.

right now I'm almost done with To Kill a Mockingbird.

[WakingTheMisery]

I just bought The Zombie Survival Guide.

[TheBaroness]

I decided to read Nabokov's Despair instead of Invitation to a Beheading. Anywho, it's good.

[Adrian Villagomez]

I decided to read Nabokov's Despair instead of Invitation to a Beheading. Anywho, it's good.My friend just told me about Invitation (a book I never heard of) today. Eerie.

She said it sounded more interesting than his other works she's read, btw.

[takingbackrufio]

Just finished Melville's Moby Dick for a class, and started Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, same class -- typical, I know. Also working on Gulliver's Travels by Swift, which is just brilliant. I'm glad almost all my profs picked enjoyable novels this year, as I don't have time for other reading.

[TheBaroness]

My friend just told me about Invitation (a book I never heard of) today. Eerie.

She said it sounded more interesting than his other works she's read, btw.

I'm going to go back to it after I've finished Despair. It's funny, when everyone talks about Nabokov it's only ever about Lolita but he's written a ton of other stories that seem a lot more interesting.

[TheBaroness]

Just finished Melville's Moby Dick for a class, and started Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, same class -- typical, I know. Also working on Gulliver's Travels by Swift, which is just brilliant. I'm glad almost all my profs picked enjoyable novels this year, as I don't have time for other reading.

Moby Dick is one of my favorites. Amazing book.

[takingbackrufio]

Moby Dick is one of my favorites. Amazing book.
Agreed. It's excellent.

[TheBaroness]

Agreed. It's excellent.

What's The Scarlett Letter like? I've been meaning to read it one day but haven't got around to it

[lilRIPsta]

The Fifth Head of Cerberus- Gene Wolfe

[Adrian Villagomez]

What's The Scarlett Letter like? I've been meaning to read it one day but haven't got around to itThe plight of women. Damn men.

[TheBaroness]

The plight of women. Damn men.

lolz

[Stupendous_Man]

I've started reading 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill. What a great collection of short stories. Each one of them are interesting in their own right and have a different feel to them. Not all of them are horror stories either. Joe Hill AKA Joseph King seems to have inherited his father's gift for writing.

[TheBaroness]

Finished Despair...now tossing up between Only Revolutions and re-reading The Plague

[PickGuard]

The Kite Runner

It's really for school, but I'm reading normally, as everyone, their mother, and my mother are raving about it. To be honest, I'm not feeling it.

[TheBaroness]

I chose to read The Plague, nearly finished it. Afterwards I'll either start Only Revolutions or re-commence Darkmans

[TheBaroness]

Finished The Plague. Now started You Don't Love Me Yet by Jonathan Lethem. Didn't have enough concentration this afternoon to get into Only Revolutions.

[takingbackrufio]

What's The Scarlett Letter like? I've been meaning to read it one day but haven't got around to it
I haven't read enough yet to form a real opinion on it ... but from what I have ... it's promising. I've been busy reading Gulliver's Travels which I will hopefully finish tonight.

[digitalstreetsx]

I'm reading Chuck Palahniuk's Lullaby. My 5th Chucky P. novel. >.<

[my9ridesshotgun]

im almost finished with everything is illuminated by jonathan safran foer.

its seriously the best book that i ever read.

i highly recommend it.

[inCinerate.1028]

Everything Stephen King is a good read.

[fifpb99]

The last book I read in it's entirety was Fahrenheit 451 about 4-5 years ago lol, so as you can tell I'm not a huge reader. But, I had heard a lot about Chuck Palahniuk and I loved Fight Club (the movie) so I bought Choke yesterday afternoon. I'm really enjoying it and have been flying through it (for me, anyways) so I was wondering what people recommended reading next by him. I've heard Survivor was really good. Thanks.

(And I don't care if he is overrated, or you don't like him, etc etc. I do, so do your best to refrain from elitist posts...)

[Ailite]

I think I'm going to tackle the Dark Tower series.

Currently reading Against The Day by Thomas Pynchon.

[takingbackrufio]

The last book I read in it's entirety was Fahrenheit 451 about 4-5 years ago lol, so as you can tell I'm not a huge reader. But, I had heard a lot about Chuck Palahniuk and I loved Fight Club (the movie) so I bought Choke yesterday afternoon. I'm really enjoying it and have been flying through it (for me, anyways) so I was wondering what people recommended reading next by him. I've heard Survivor was really good. Thanks.
Survivor is probably my favourite book of his, along with Fight Club. I may be in the minority with this, but I enjoyed Rant as well.

(And I don't care if he is overrated, or you don't like him, etc etc. I do, so do your best to refrain from elitist posts...)
Glad you brought this up, because although I don't think they are trying to be "elite", Palahniuk does not deserve to be immediately denounced when praised. Contrary to what people of that opinion toward him believe, there is literary significance in his work. Just because he is popular in a loathed subculture does not depreciate the value of his art. That being said, I willingly accept that there are strong, scathing arguments of his work. So, to each their own.

[TheBaroness]

Survivor is probably my favourite book of his, along with Fight Club. I may be in the minority with this, but I enjoyed Rant as well.


Glad you brought this up, because although I don't think they are trying to be "elite", Palahniuk does not deserve to be immediately denounced when praised. Contrary to what people of that opinion toward him believe, there is literary significance in his work. Just because he is popular in a loathed subculture does not relegate the value of his art. That being said, I willingly accept that there are strong, scathing arguments of his work. So, to each their own.

Palahniuk's an interesting one. I've read most of his stuff, some of it's decent, others I haven't enjoyed. I guess my only beef with him (and it's not with him personally) is that he's so overrated, particularly in the 'scene'. I just hope that he's a 'gateway drug' for a lot of kids to other kinds of literature/experimental fiction.

[takingbackrufio]

Palahniuk's an interesting one. I've read most of his stuff, some of it's decent, others I haven't enjoyed. I guess my only beef with him (and it's not with him personally) is that he's so overrated, particularly in the 'scene'. I just hope that he's a 'gateway drug' for a lot of kids to other kinds of literature/experimental fiction.
I can definitely see where you're coming from, and yeah, maybe he is overpraised (especially in the 'scene'), and for the wrong reasons ... but my point is that his readership doesn't really need to be so polarized. I definitely agree with your last point, though. Anybody who likes Palahniuk should immediately put their head in some Bret Easton Ellis or Will Christopher Baer, ideally both.

[TheBaroness]

I can definitely see where you're coming from, and yeah, maybe he is overpraised (especially in the 'scene'), and for the wrong reasons ... but my point is that his readership doesn't really need to be so polarized. I definitely agree with your last point, though. Anybody who likes Palahniuk should immediately put their head in some Bret Easton Ellis or Will Christopher Baer, ideally both.

I haven't read any Baer yet but I've got some of his books coming to me from amazon. Looking forward to reading them.

[takingbackrufio]

I haven't read any Baer yet but I've got some of his books coming to me from amazon. Looking forward to reading them.
I luckily stumbled upon his name while scouring through a Palahniuk thread on another forum. I've only read "Kiss Me, Judas" but have been meaning to read his other stuff too.

On a less related note, I just finished The Scarlet Letter, and I thought it was wonderful. I could go on and on about it - but I'll leave it at that for fear of sounding ostentatious.

[chokeychicken]

i am reading this right now. its fantastic and highly recommended, especially for peanuts fans:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41WnkG9oMQL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb -dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_.jpg

[TheBaroness]

I luckily stumbled upon his name while scouring through a Palahniuk thread on another forum. I've only read "Kiss Me, Judas" but have been meaning to read his other stuff too.

On a less related note, I just finished The Scarlet Letter, and I thought it was wonderful. I could go on and on about it - but I'll leave it at that for fear of sounding ostentatious.

I've ordered the Phineas Poe trilogy, and he's got a new one coming in January called Godspeed.

I'll have to add The Scarlet Letter to my 'must-read' pile

[framebyframe]

Has anyone read Behold a Pale Horse by William Cooper?

[Ailite]

Are there any other Dave Eggers fans here? I know Tate is one but I figure there have to be more.

AHWOSG is my favorite book.

[TheBaroness]

Are there any other Dave Eggers fans here? I know Tate is one but I figure there have to be more.

AHWOSG is my favorite book.

Yep.

I need to get around to ordering One Hundred and Fourty Five Stories in a Small Box

[Ailite]

I haven't heard of it, what is it?

[TheBaroness]

Epic bump

Just finished The Quiet Girl... Peter Hoeg is far more clever than I. Definately ripe for a re-read.

Now reading The Contortionist's Handbook

[TheBaroness]

I haven't heard of it, what is it?

It's a collection of short stories featuring his work and that of a couple of other writers

[Ailite]

I'm thinking about reading the Dark Tower Series by Stephen King.

Is it worth it?

[bailmeout13]

Read- The Sound and The Fury by William Faulkner. Read for my Modernist Studies class, book was confusing may need another read sometime down the line.

Reading- American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

To Read- Rant by Chuck Palahniuk

[lindZ629]

I just started You Shall Know Our Velocity and it's damn good so far.

[TheBaroness]

starting The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao, hope it lives up to the hype

[Kid B]

i am reading Dress Your Family In Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris

[CubbyNick42]

Anybody get any books for Christmas? I got...

The Road - McCarthy
The Jungle - Sinclair
I Am Legend - Matheson
Three Nights in August - Bissinger
Ted Williams: Biography of an American Hero - Montville
The Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig - Eig

I haven't read any of them. Can't wait to get started.

[boykosaurus]

I'm trying to start and finish The Stranger before break is over

[gloriousmuse]

I'm currently reading "The Subtle Knife" from the His Dark Materials series, for the first time. As disappointing as the film was (especially after reading "TGC" for the first time after seeing the film) I am thankful that I saw it, because I probably would have never picked up these books.

I've now found a new series to love, although its "over".

[takingbackrufio]

I have a bunch of gift cards that I'm going to partly spend at the book-store, but reading stuff outside of novels related to my classes seems borderline impossible right now.

[TheBaroness]

Anybody get any books for Christmas? I got...

The Road - McCarthy
The Jungle - Sinclair
I Am Legend - Matheson
Three Nights in August - Bissinger
Ted Williams: Biography of an American Hero - Montville
The Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig - Eig

I haven't read any of them. Can't wait to get started.

Yeah, I got a bunch, including:
The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao - Junot Diaz
On Ugliness - Umberto Eco
The Book of Other People - Zadie Smith
New American Book of Short Stories
The new Michael Chabon hardbound novella (can't remember the title)
In the Wake - Per Patterson

And some others I can't remember off the top of my head

[Merkin]

Eggers is the man. Check out his wikipedia page.

[AP_Punk]

Recently purchased:
I Am America (You Can Too!) - Stephen Colbert
America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction - Jon Stewart

Next book I want to check out:
god is not great - Christopher Hitchens

[ForlrnPerplxity]

I just picked up:
I Am Legend
Revolutionary Road
Lonesome Dove

Has anybody read any of these? I picked up Revolutionary Road because it's Sam Mendes's new film and the book is supposed to be good. I picked up Lonesome Dove because my dad rec'd that hard to me.

[Jessooker]

I just picked up:
I Am Legend
Revolutionary Road
Lonesome Dove

Has anybody read any of these? I picked up Revolutionary Road because it's Sam Mendes's new film and the book is supposed to be good. I picked up Lonesome Dove because my dad rec'd that hard to me.


I read Revolutionary Road. I liked it, a fast read.

[ForlrnPerplxity]

To any Stephen King fans:
Amazon.com is having a 30-page preview of his new book, Duma Key. Just search for the book and it's on the book's main page. The book releases on January 22nd.

[ForlrnPerplxity]

I read Revolutionary Road. I liked it, a fast read.
Sweet. Do you have any recs?

[EndlessMike]

I just started Born Standing Up by Steve Martin this afternoon, I can't wait to really get into it.

[dashboard1190]

I just finished a book my girlfriend gave me, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (by Mark Haddon). It was really good, moved quickly, and was very interesting.

I started Of Mice and Men today (Steinbeck) and we'll see how that goes.

[Christiii]

I love to read!
I just read those popular books everyone's reading.. Twilight and New Moon by Stephanie Meyer.
I haven't read the third one yet, though.

I wish there was a website where you could download books! I hate having to wait for books to come in at the library! Grr.

[TheBaroness]

Holy shit, The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao is fucking awesome. You people need to read this. Seriously, it's going to be an instant classic

(Also, fans of Eggers and Jonathan Lethem will love this)

[TheDemosRock]

Recently purchased:
I Am America (You Can Too!) - Stephen Colbert
America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction - Jon Stewart

Next book I want to check out:
god is not great - Christopher HitchensVery funny books, the first two. I don't own the Colbert book, though. =\

God Is Not Great is amaaaazing I think that anyone who'd honestly want to buy it is bound to enjoy it.

[EndlessMike]

I just finished Born Standing Up by Steve Martin. It was great other than the fact that it was very short (about 210 pages.) It felt like he just kind of breezed over what could've potentially been some very funny (or funnier) stories. Still it was an excellent read.

Now I'm on to Rigged by Ben Mezrich.

[Dervela]

I just finished a book my girlfriend gave me, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (by Mark Haddon). It was really good, moved quickly, and was very interesting.

I started Of Mice and Men today (Steinbeck) and we'll see how that goes.


i had to read both of them in high school and they were both pretty good reads.

[Dervela]

i just started reading chuck klosterman's 'killing yourself to live'. so far so good, i like it.

[micahistheballs]

I have to read the Kite Runner for english. If it wasn't for school I bet I might be able to enjoy it.

[ForlrnPerplxity]

Over the past week I've been able to read The Assassination of Jesse James..., The Ruins, and I Am Legend.

I'd recommend all three. I liked The Ruins a lot more than I thought I would, but I think they'll royally screw it up as a movie, which comes out later this year.

Next up:
The World Without Us
Into the Wild
Revolutionary Road
Lonesome Dove
The Kite Runner

Can't wait to get Stephen King's new book later this month.

[Tuff Luff]

hey, i just finished Still Life With Woodpecker and it's mos def my favorite book right now. i'd rec it to anyone. hilarious and thought-provoking.

i only picked this book up cus of a quote from the book that my friend told me about that goes, "if you believe in peace, act peacefully; if you believe in love, act lovingly; if you believe every which way, then act every which way etc etc" i read the book, but i've never read over these lines. i flipped through it a million times. if anyone has already read this book, and could point out to me where these lines are, that would be really swt. thx.

[MixtapexxDeath]

I just finished I Am America (And So Can You!) By Stephen Colbert. It was pretty funny.


I'm reading The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain for English and I'm finding it extremely boring. I don't think it's as great as the back cover says, but that's just my opinion.

[lindZ629]

Anyone want to recommend me a book? I'm having a hard time figuring out what I want to read next.

I've recently finished:
You Shall Know Our Velocity - Dave Eggers
Chuck Klosterman IV and Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs - Chuck Klosterman
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay - Michael Chabon

[gloriousmuse]

I just finished I Am America (And So Can You!) By Stephen Colbert. It was pretty funny.

Is that actually a "book" or is it more like Jon Stewart's where it was mostly illustrations and facts?

[MixtapexxDeath]

Is that actually a "book" or is it more like Jon Stewart's where it was mostly illustrations and facts?

I didn't read Jon Stewart's book, but there are a bunch of illustrations. Probably between the two.

[rcrook]

Just finished The Game by Neil Strauss...great read

[Dervela]

Anyone want to recommend me a book? I'm having a hard time figuring out what I want to read next.

I've recently finished:
You Shall Know Our Velocity - Dave Eggers
Chuck Klosterman IV and Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs - Chuck Klosterman
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay - Michael Chabon


if you're a fan of klosterman check out "killing yourself to live". it's a good read.

[takingbackrufio]

Took a bit of a reading hiatus during the holidays, unfortunately. But I'm back into and almost done Ruth Hall. Highly recommended; Fanny Fern is a fascinating stylist.

[lindZ629]

if you're a fan of klosterman check out "killing yourself to live". it's a good read.
I'll eventually get around to reading that, I was just looking for something that isn't Klosterman, Eggers, Palahniuk, etc.

[takingbackrufio]

I'm reading The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain for English and I'm finding it extremely boring. I don't think it's as great as the back cover says, but that's just my opinion.
Your opinion is wrong.

Sorry, but Twain is one of the great American writers, maybe even the top of them all. And, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the most enduring satires ever written.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Sorry, but Twain is one of the great American writers, maybe even the top of them all.This is true. I could see how someone can appreciate the satire and not enjoy the book, though. Everyone has their own flavor. I didn't especially like Huck Finn back when I read it in 5th grade.

[takingbackrufio]

This is true. I could see how someone can appreciate the satire and not enjoy the book, though. Everyone has their own flavor. I didn't especially like Huck Finn back when I read it in 5th grade.
Good point. Fully understanding the satire is a large part of appreciating the true meaning and greatness of the book. And yes, everyone does have their own flavour, but I believe that a book can still be great and significant literature even if the reader doesn't like it.

[nivek87]

Just finished Max Lucado - 3:16 The Numbers of Hope. I highly enjoyed it. I should be on my way to the bookstore again soon.

[stayillogical]

It's taking me forever to read Into The Wild. I keep losing it and now I've left it as a cousin's house. It might as well just start A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.

[stayillogical]

I have to read the Kite Runner for english. If it wasn't for school I bet I might be able to enjoy it.

I had to read it for school too and I enjoyed it very much. It's a good story and a fast read. You'll enjoy it.

[Blakebear]

I wish there was a website where you could download books! I hate having to wait for books to come in at the library! Grr.

Google Books :shrug:

I just started Brave New World, I've having a difficult time getting into it. I hope another 50 pages will have me hooked...

[micahistheballs]

I had to read it for school too and I enjoyed it very much. It's a good story and a fast read. You'll enjoy it.
I hope so, I'm just procrastinating way too much.

[Love As Arson]

http://www.monthlyreview.org/images/buti2cvr_170.jpg



Biology Under the Influence: Dialectical Essays on Ecology, Agriculture, and Health by Richard Lewontin and Richard Levins

How do we understand the world? While some look to the heavens for intelligent design, others argue that it is determined by information encoded in DNA. Science serves as an important activity for uncovering the processes and operations of nature, but it is also immersed in a social context where ideology influences the questions we ask and how we approach the material world. Biology Under the Influence: Dialectical Essays on Ecology, Agriculture, and Health breaks from the confines of determinism, offering a dialectical analysis for comprehending our dynamic social and natural world.

In Biology Under the Influence, Richard Lewontin and Richard Levins provide a devastating critique of genetic determinism and reductionism within science while exploring a broad range of issues including the nature of science, biology, evolution, the environment, public health, and dialectics. They dismantle contemporary ideologies that attempt to naturalize social inequalities, unveil the alienation of science and nature, and illustrate how dialectical philosophy provides a basis for grappling with a world characterized by constant change. Biology Under the Influence brings together the incisive essays of two prominent scientists who are working to empower the public by demystifying science and nature.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Good point. Fully understanding the satire is a large part of appreciating the true meaning and greatness of the book. And yes, everyone does have their own flavour, but I believe that a book can still be great and significant literature even if the reader doesn't like it.One must respect the literary cannon, though it does change over the years.

[TheBaroness]

Anyone want to recommend me a book? I'm having a hard time figuring out what I want to read next.

I've recently finished:
You Shall Know Our Velocity - Dave Eggers
Chuck Klosterman IV and Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs - Chuck Klosterman
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay - Michael Chabon

Read this book, you will love it

http://www.amazon.com/Brief-Wondrous-Life-Oscar-Wao/dp/1594489580/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199769484&sr=8-1

[lindZ629]

Read this book, you will love it

http://www.amazon.com/Brief-Wondrous-Life-Oscar-Wao/dp/1594489580/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199769484&sr=8-1
It sounds like a good read, but I don't know if I want to spring for the hardcover...it's so expensive

[eraserhead]

I'm reading The Winter of Our Discontent, it's real good so far.

[TheBaroness]

It sounds like a good read, but I don't know if I want to spring for the hardcover...it's so expensive

there should be a paperback version available somewhere, they're selling one here so I imagine there's one in the US

[lindZ629]

there should be a paperback version available somewhere, they're selling one here so I imagine there's one in the US
I'll still probably pick it up even if it's only in hardcover...it sounds really good

[3mpire]

Just finished up I Am Legend. What a great story.

[Zeran]

i finished against the day a couple months ago. it took me like 6 months just to get halfway through it, but it is such a great book.

[Broken Parachute]

Has anyone read "Next" by Michael Crichton? I'm reading it right now.

[Chancetobe]

I just read Choke by Chuck Palahniuk. Not like anything i've ever read before.

[Zeran]

i read choke too. it was really good, except that the writing style was kind of annoying after a while.

[odizzle_word]

i read choke too. it was really good, except that the writing style was kind of annoying after a while.

I had the same problem with the writing style. The story/plot itself is good, but the writing prevents me from reading it again and enjoying it.

Right now I'm rereading some David Sedaris. Funny guy.

[Chancetobe]

i read choke too. it was really good, except that the writing style was kind of annoying after a while.

After about the 3rd time he said "--- isn't the correct word, but it's the first word that comes to mind" I sort of wanted to slap him. The first time I read that line, i thought it was brilliant, but then he ruined it. The See also: thing wasn't so bad.

The plot was also sort of crazy though. I got to the end, and was kind of upset that there was no real ending.

[TheBaroness]

Seriously people, everyone here (especially people who like Palahnuik et al) should read this fucking book:
http://www.amazon.com/Brief-Wondrous-Life-Oscar-Wao/dp/1594489580/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199769484&sr=8-1

I wouldn't be hyping the shit out of this if it wasn't justified. This book is one of the best released in the past 20 years. It will be a landmark of modern literature. READ IT!!

[takingbackrufio]

That's a pretty bold claim; I'll have to check it out.

Just finished Ruth Hall by Fanny Fern, which is quite good and I like mainly for the very poignant style of writing (which is used at strategic points, and is entirely admirable). Also finished The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, which is rather interesting to say the least. I have quite a bit to say about it but if you're in the mind for a quick read of a dark yet compelling fantasy, check it out.

[CubbyNick42]

Seriously people, everyone here (especially people who like Palahnuik et al) should read this fucking book:
http://www.amazon.com/Brief-Wondrous-Life-Oscar-Wao/dp/1594489580/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199769484&sr=8-1

I wouldn't be hyping the shit out of this if it wasn't justified. This book is one of the best released in the past 20 years. It will be a landmark of modern literature. READ IT!!
Just added it to my hold list at the local library. I'll let you know.

[boykosaurus]

finished Covering Islam by Edward Said not too long ago. It's very academic and hard to read at some points, but he brings up some really interesting points. Worth the read if yo have the time and patience.

[Zeran]

just finished reading 1421: the year china discovered america. very very interesting and controversial, but i enjoyed it.

now i'm starting the second book in c.s. lewis' trilogy, called perelandra. the first is out of the silent planet, and the last is that hideous strength.

[Broken Parachute]

Seriously people, everyone here (especially people who like Palahnuik et al) should read this fucking book:
http://www.amazon.com/Brief-Wondrous-Life-Oscar-Wao/dp/1594489580/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199769484&sr=8-1

I wouldn't be hyping the shit out of this if it wasn't justified. This book is one of the best released in the past 20 years. It will be a landmark of modern literature. READ IT!!Well, now I have to read it.

[eraserhead]

I'm reading The Winter of Our Discontent by Steinbeck. really good.

[takingbackrufio]

I'm reading The Winter of Our Discontent by Steinbeck. really good.
I've always wanted to read that; Of Mice and Men is one of my favourite books that I read in school.

[TheBaroness]

Just added it to my hold list at the local library. I'll let you know.

That's a pretty bold claim; I'll have to check it out.

Just finished Ruth Hall by Fanny Fern, which is quite good and I like mainly for the very poignant style of writing (which is used at strategic points, and is entirely admirable). Also finished The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, which is rather interesting to say the least. I have quite a bit to say about it but if you're in the mind for a quick read of a dark yet compelling fantasy, check it out.

Well, now I have to read it.

Good stuff. I guarantee you'll enjoy it, at least

[micahistheballs]

I'm about halfway through the Kite Runner. I am shocked how much I am enjoying it.

[micahistheballs]

After about the 3rd time he said "--- isn't the correct word, but it's the first word that comes to mind" I sort of wanted to slap him. The first time I read that line, i thought it was brilliant, but then he ruined it. The See also: thing wasn't so bad.

The plot was also sort of crazy though. I got to the end, and was kind of upset that there was no real ending.
Really? I find the reoccuring things of that sort in his novels very interesting.

I wasn't a fan of the ending either though. A disappointment after everything else leading up to it.

[Skadrist]

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u123/emulinhabr/info01/tropa_elite_livro.jpg


It has some amazing accounts about Rio de Janeiro's special police force the BOPE. It is only in Portuguese unfortunately but I understand most of it since i know Spanish. However, my complete lack of knowledge when it comes to Brazilian Portuguese slang has proven to be detrimental.

[Broken Parachute]

Anyone into Stephen King (I'm sure most people are, haha)? My uncle gave me the book "Cell" about the people who turn into zombies or something because of a cell phone frequency. It's been on my book shelf for like an entire year. I just finished reading "Next" by Michael Crichton like 20 minutes ago and "Cell" was staring at me. I'm wondering if I should read it or not? Anybody read it and like it?

Also, my aunt loves The Dark Tower series. Should I get into that or does it suck? Haha.

[stayillogical]

I'm about halfway through the Kite Runner. I am shocked how much I am enjoying it.

That was fast. What'd I say? :-)

[stayillogical]

One of the coolest professors I have ever had was for a Short Story class. I had a young (and INCREDIBLY good looking) professor, 27 or 28, who was a grad student working on his dissertation. Might I add that every single girl in the class was smitten with him... Well anyways, all we did was read a bunch of Eggers, Sedaris, Salinger, Kafka, etc. I looked forward to doing the reading every time. Oh and when the professor lectured about something from one of the stories we had read, it was like watching a stand up comedian. Man, I miss that class.

[micahistheballs]

That was fast. What'd I say? :-)

yeah, I guess I'd just never enjoyed reading a book I'd read for school before. I'm interested to see where this book goes. It just better not let me down.

[stayillogical]

yeah, I guess I'd just never enjoyed reading a book I'd read for school before. I'm interested to see where this book goes. It just better not let me down.

Dude, I cried 4 different times reading that book. I could tell you exactly which 4 too when you're done.

[middlenameboom]

Hey there. I'm a first time poster in this thread. I'm a big time poster over in the comics thread, but I thought I'd get a little bit more refined and post something in here. I was looking for some new suggestions. The books I've read this year are:
-World War Z (max brooks)
-Rant (Chuck P)
-Baltimore (Mike Mignola & Christopher Golden)
-Crooked Little Vein (Warren Ellis)(I seriously recomend this for any Chuck P fans)
-Whalestoe Letters & Only Revolutions (Mark Z Danielewski)
-Post Office (Bukowski)
-Chuck Dugan is AWOL (Eric Chase Anderson)

If anybody has any recs along those lines, it would be much appreciated. I'm currently reading You Shall Know Our Velocity. Two books I was looking at are Bad Monkeys and The Raw Shark Texts. Can anyone vouch for these?

[Chancetobe]

Really? I find the reoccuring things of that sort in his novels very interesting.

I wasn't a fan of the ending either though. A disappointment after everything else leading up to it.

Yeah. I get what he's trying to do, but it really just winds up annoying me.

[Ailite]

I'm really enjoying Then We Came To The End by Joshua Ferris, its a great book.

The Raw Shark Texts is also very good according to my girlfriend, I've wanted to read it for awhile

[takingbackrufio]

Hey there. I'm a first time poster in this thread. I'm a big time poster over in the comics thread, but I thought I'd get a little bit more refined and post something in here. I was looking for some new suggestions. The books I've read this year are:
-World War Z (max brooks)
-Rant (Chuck P)
-Baltimore (Mike Mignola & Christopher Golden)
-Crooked Little Vein (Warren Ellis)(I seriously recomend this for any Chuck P fans)
-Whalestoe Letters & Only Revolutions (Mark Z Danielewski)
-Post Office (Bukowski)
-Chuck Dugan is AWOL (Eric Chase Anderson)

If anybody has any recs along those lines, it would be much appreciated. I'm currently reading You Shall Know Our Velocity. Two books I was looking at are Bad Monkeys and The Raw Shark Texts. Can anyone vouch for these?
Will Christopher Baer (http://www.amazon.ca/Phineas-Poe-Judas-Penny-Dreadful/dp/159692151X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199981084&sr=8-3). You'd probably enjoy Bret Easton Ellis as well.

[micahistheballs]

Dude, I cried 4 different times reading that book. I could tell you exactly which 4 too when you're done.
Well, I can guess one of them is one I got to last night and it upset me VERY much.
When he finds about the death of Hassan, I was furious and saddened. I was so upset because I wanted Amir and Hassan to be able to reconcile and be happy and all that jazz and also just because a character i had sympathy for had died. I just threw my book across the room I was so upset.
I'm doing better now and will probably finish it tonight

[Jumpoff]

Figured I could ask for some book reccs in here..

Authors I enjoy:

Fyodor Dostoevsky
Peter O' Toole
Adam Mansbach
Jules Verne
William Faulkner

I didn't honestly enjoy Tolstoy too much, but I'm willing to give it another chance.

[siren eyes]

Water For Elephants

[middlenameboom]

Thanks for the recs. A lot of those sound cool.

[lindZ629]

Water For Elephants
Such a great read

[siren eyes]

Such a great read

I was a little unsure at first, because when I asked what it was about, the person who handed it to me said, 'The circus.' But, once I started I couldn't put it down.

[boykosaurus]

I'm about halfway through the Kite Runner. I am shocked how much I am enjoying it.

I love that book. It was a book the whole university had to read, and at the end of the semester they brought in Hosseini (sp?) to lecture and talk about it. So tight.