Chapter One

[RedWizard]

I thought that would be a witty title for the "what did you just read" thread. Is it?

Anyways, I'm still reading my Vampire hunter D volume 11 right now.

[WanderingMind]

It worked...the title caught my mind...*thumbs up*

I need to finish Casino Royale.

[GlassAdam]

I am currently reading:

-The Time Traveler's Wife
-How To Survive a Robot Uprising

[PSRT]

The Great Gatsby, for my English class. It's one strange book. Once I'm done that, I got No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy for Christmas and I'm really excited to get into it, and I also got Blink and Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, so that should keep me busy for some time.

[GlassAdam]

We were supposed to read The Great Gatsby back in HS English... but like all books in that class, I didn't read it and got along fine. Required reading in high school kills the desire to read for a lot of people, I think, and that's unfortunate. I'd be willing to bet that a lot of people never pick up a book again after high school because required reading took away all the joy.

Lucky for me, I needed something to do while skipping classes in college, so I took up reading. I may have dropped out of college but I'm an avid reader to this day, so I think it's a wash. ;)

[PSRT]

Yeah, I agree completely. Thankfully, that's the last book I'll have to read in my high school career, so I can start reading for enjoyment again. First up is Tipping Point.

The Time Traveler's Wife seems interesting...I'll have to put it on my list.

[GlassAdam]

Yeah, I agree completely. Thankfully, that's the last book I'll have to read in my high school career, so I can start reading for enjoyment again. First up is Tipping Point.

The Time Traveler's Wife seems interesting...I'll have to put it on my list.

I'm barely into it, maybe 30 pages or so. I was pretty tired when I started it, so I'm a bit lost. It's sort of confusing, but I'm hoping that is just gonna be the initial stages and that the story will seem more natural as I get further into it. So far, though, my impressions are so-so. Plus, I really don't like it when the author writes in first person, present-tense. But we shall see...




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Now playing: Michael Jackson - You Rock My World (http://www.foxytunes.com/artist/michael+jackson/track/you+rock+my+world)
via FoxyTunes (http://www.foxytunes.com/signatunes/)

[WanderingMind]

We were supposed to read The Great Gatsby back in HS English... but like all books in that class, I didn't read it and got along fine. Required reading in high school kills the desire to read for a lot of people, I think, and that's unfortunate. I'd be willing to bet that a lot of people never pick up a book again after high school because required reading took away all the joy.

Lucky for me, I needed something to do while skipping classes in college, so I took up reading. I may have dropped out of college but I'm an avid reader to this day, so I think it's a wash. ;)

Thankfully, required reading never stopped me from reading books on my own free time. I would always bring something to read during study halls, whether it be Starship Troopers or The Kite Runner. Now that I'm in college...I have trouble putting aside time to read these days...

[AlucardsFate]

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/4/41738-3626-47398-1-classic-x-men_medium.jpg

I just finished X-Men Classic #10!

Following Jean Grey's death and rebirth (Thanks to the cosmic being known as "The Phoenix", which gave her it's power to bring her back to life...she has slipped into a coma...

With Cyclops and Xavier at her side, Xavier forces the remainder of the still new team to take a vaction..while they still can.

The X-Men (Banshee, Wolverine, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Storm) therefore go to Cassidy Keep, an old castle inherited by Sean "Banshee" Cassidy. But they are in for a rude surprise as the castle has been taken over by Sean's brother "Black" Tom Cassidy and at his side...is the unstoppable Juggernaut!

(For those unfamiliar with the ultra obscure "Black" Tom Cassidy...basically...he is Banshee's hated brother...who is immune to Banshee's Sonic Screaming abilities and can fire energy blasts...but only through wooden sources. Which is why he always carries a shillelagh with him....)

They have been hired by a yet unknown benefactor to eliminate the X-Men. So much for the vacation...as they battle Black Tom and the Juggernaut...Storm is rendered useless inside the Castles confined walls....as her claustrophobia sets in...

The X-Men are at his mercy...Onward to #11!

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/4/41739-3626-47399-1-classic-x-men_medium.jpg

[ChukoLiang]

I finally finished Catch-22. It was REALLY depressing at one point and I almost quit reading, but now I'm EXTREMELY glad I did finish it. Awesome ending, after one of the best books I've ever read. I highly recommend the book, the majority of it is hilarious, and the parts that aren't are still REALLY well-written. Heller's vocabulary is simply amazing.

Now, on to the Zombie Survival Guide! I've got several books backed up behind that, but I borrowed it, so I should start on it first.

[SnakeEyez]

Plus, I really don't like it when the author writes in first person, present-tense. But we shall see...

Have you ever tried to write a story in first-person present tense? It's freaking hard. Whomever the author of that book is, they have my respect.

I finally finished Catch-22. It was REALLY depressing at one point and I almost quit reading, but now I'm EXTREMELY glad I did finish it. Awesome ending, after one of the best books I've ever read. I highly recommend the book, the majority of it is hilarious, and the parts that aren't are still REALLY well-written. Heller's vocabulary is simply amazing.

Now, on to the Zombie Survival Guide! I've got several books backed up behind that, but I borrowed it, so I should start on it first.

Good man. That book is one of my favorites as well. I loved how it could go from light-hearted and ridiculous to dead serious in the blink of an eye. There aren't too many authors who can pull that off.

[GlassAdam]

I finally finished Catch-22. It was REALLY depressing at one point and I almost quit reading, but now I'm EXTREMELY glad I did finish it. Awesome ending, after one of the best books I've ever read. I highly recommend the book, the majority of it is hilarious, and the parts that aren't are still REALLY well-written. Heller's vocabulary is simply amazing.

Now, on to the Zombie Survival Guide! I've got several books backed up behind that, but I borrowed it, so I should start on it first.I got about halfway through Catch-22 and kinda fell away from it. Yes it was hilarious but the nonsense story left me with no desire to keep coming back to it. Every time I'd pick it back up I'd struggle to remember what had been happening in the story. After a while, I just stopped picking it up and moved on to other books.

Zombie Survival Guide is great. World War Z is even better.

Have you ever tried to write a story in first-person present tense? It's freaking hard. Whomever the author of that book is, they have my respect.
Nah, never tried. I don't really fancy myself much of a writer. First-person is okay, but when you add the present-tense, it just takes me out of the story... Definitely not my preferred point-of-view.

[ChukoLiang]

I just got back from Barnes & Noble, minus one $25 gift card and $6 additionally.

What I came back with:

The Light Fantastic, by Terry Pratchett

"The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson"

The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Volumes I and II (two separate books) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

(the previous three books came in a buy two, get one free pack that also included such greats as The Idiot (Fyodr Dostoevsky), the assorted works of Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray (also by Oscar Wilde), Anna Karena (or whatever the title is) by Leo Tolstoy, several books by Charles Dickens, and a BUNCH of other stuff.

As well as the book for my english class, recommended by several people, including an employee of B&N who was extremely enthusiastic about it, called American Gods, by Neil Gaiman

Now, to the zombie survival guide.

[KomodoAce]

Finished The Bancroft Strategy a few days ago.

Great book, although it goes into MGS4-level craziness by the end.

[Marioarm2]

I read The Wide Sargasso Sea not too long ago for English. Now I have to write a 5 page paper on it. Yikes.

[Baberific]

guh, the ethics of a modern society, by Nancy Rachels.

Even though I am having a hard time even comprehending what it is talking about, it has some interesting ideas.

[GlassAdam]

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/4/41738-3626-47398-1-classic-x-men_medium.jpg

I just finished X-Men Classic #10!

Following Jean Grey's death and rebirth (Thanks to the cosmic being known as "The Phoenix", which gave her it's power to bring her back to life...she has slipped into a coma...

With Cyclops and Xavier at her side, Xavier forces the remainder of the still new team to take a vaction..while they still can.

The X-Men (Banshee, Wolverine, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Storm) therefore go to Cassidy Keep, an old castle inherited by Sean "Banshee" Cassidy. But they are in for a rude surprise as the castle has been taken over by Sean's brother "Black" Tom Cassidy and at his side...is the unstoppable Juggernaut!

(For those unfamiliar with the ultra obscure "Black" Tom Cassidy...basically...he is Banshee's hated brother...who is immune to Banshee's Sonic Screaming abilities and can fire energy blasts...but only through wooden sources. Which is why he always carries a shillelagh with him....)

They have been hired by a yet unknown benefactor to eliminate the X-Men. So much for the vacation...as they battle Black Tom and the Juggernaut...Storm is rendered useless inside the Castles confined walls....as her claustrophobia sets in...

The X-Men are at his mercy...Onward to #11!

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/4/41739-3626-47399-1-classic-x-men_medium.jpgI never knew about the "only through wooden sources" thing. Now an entire arc from Generation X a few years back makes sense...

[ChukoLiang]

holy crap. Zombie survival guide's too hardcore and in-depth for me. Seriously.

I'm giving up on it. It's just not entertaining. Now then, to read some American Gods...

[GlassAdam]

holy crap. Zombie survival guide's too hardcore and in-depth for me. Seriously.

It keeps that serious tone, but that's the genius. If you're considering giving up, at least skip to the last section with the "Recorded Attacks" which are most all interesting reads... Little mini zombie tales but made to seem plausible. They give you just a taste of what is to come in the sequel (and much more fun to read) "World War Z."

[WanderingMind]

As well as the book for my english class, recommended by several people, including an employee of B&N who was extremely enthusiastic about it, called American Gods, by Neil Gaiman

I really enjoyed American Gods when I read it last summer. It's on the long side, but it's a great book.

[SnakeEyez]

"Confessions" by Saint Augustine

B-O-R-I-N-G.

[AlucardsFate]

Boring eh? Maybe you should get into fights while you read it...

That will make it exciting...

[PSRT]

Just finished The Tipping Point. Next up is either Blink, or Brisingr, the third Inheritance book.

[SnakeEyez]

Reading a couple short things for class on Thursday...

"A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner
"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot
"Up from Slavery" by Booker T. Washington

And a couple other essays and whatnot.

[Baberific]

GUH.... THE ELEMENTS OF MORAL PHILOSOPHY~by Stuart Rachels

This book is surprisingly...not boring.

[GlassAdam]

I think I might get back into reading A Soldier of the Great War... My heart wasn't in it the first time, but now I want to read something that's actually good. I can't get into The Time Traveler's Wife. Damn you first-person present-tense. Damn you.

[ChukoLiang]

Reading a couple short things for class on Thursday...

"A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner
"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot
"Up from Slavery" by Booker T. Washington

And a couple other essays and whatnot.

I need to wiki these people.

I'm around page 150 in American Gods. Something amazing and awesome just occured, and I finally realized who a major character was. That was a totally sweet sequence.
I had no idea Wednesday was Odin's Day. Almost makes sense. Almost. That was incredible when you find out who the new characters were. I kind of knew that they were gods after Chernobog, but I didn't expect Wednesday to be ODIN.

[Fedaykin]

I myself am reading "A Storm of Swords" by G.R.R. Martin from the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series. These books are simply amazing in scope, detail, characterization, realism, awesomeness, everything. I highly recommend.

Anyone else reading or read these?

[SnakeEyez]

"Confessions" by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Slightly less mind-numbing than "Confessions" by St. Augustine, but still boring nonetheless.

[ChukoLiang]

once again, American Gods.

[Fedaykin]

once again, American Gods.

The Sandman. Best graphic novel I have read, then comes Watchmen.

[Robobvious]

I'm re-reading The Demonata Book 3 Slawter

http://www.stumblebumstudios.com/images/features/Slawter.jpg



I actually have a list of stuff to check out on Barnes and Noble
The Wish List by Eoin Colfer
Last Universe by William Sleator
Birthright (The Sin War Trilogy #1) (Diablo Series) by Richard A. Knaak
Bec (The Demonata Series #4) by Darren Shan
Blood Beast (The Demonata Series #5) by Darren Shan
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Walking Dead, Book 1 by Charlie Adlard, Tony Moore, Robert Kirkman, Cliff Rathburn
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead by Max Brooks, Max Werner (Illustrator)
The Myst Reader: The Book of Atrus, The Book of Ti'ana, The Book of D'ni
by Rand Miller, Robyn Miller, David Wingrove, Robyn Miller, David Wingrove (With)
City of Ember (Books of Ember Series #1)
by Jeanne DuPrau
Watchmen by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Barry Marx (Editor)
Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore, Brian Bolland (Illustrator), Richard Starkings

[ChukoLiang]

Wish List? I remember hearing about that book. Way way way back.

[GlassAdam]

World War Z is so awesome. I like to re-read it every once in a while.

[Robobvious]

Wish List? I remember hearing about that book. Way way way back.

Yeah I found it typing in names of authors I've liked in the past for new stuff. Seemed interesting, this girl dies robbing an old man, gets stuck in limbo, and needs to go back and help out the same old guy to get into heaven, but if she ****s up she'll go to hell.

P.S. Funny thing about the "historical" examples in Zombie Survival Guide, a bunch of the customer reviews were by people who actually thought they were real. lol, I hope those people stay away from uncyclopedia, lest they be misled by the melonfuhrer.

[PSRT]

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

That's an amazing book. It's a pretty quick read too, which is nice. I should re-read that sometime soon.

As for reading right now, I started Blink and another McCarthy book, No Country For Old Men, which is really interesting so far. I tried starting Brisingr, the third Inheritance book by Christopher Paolini, but I couldn't get past the first 10 pages. The gratuitous use of sophisticated language and awkwardly forced "big words" was bothering me way too much.

[GlassAdam]

Yeah I found it typing in names of authors I've liked in the past for new stuff. Seemed interesting, this girl dies robbing an old man, gets stuck in limbo, and needs to go back and help out the same old guy to get into heaven, but if she ****s up she'll go to hell.

P.S. Funny thing about the "historical" examples in Zombie Survival Guide, a bunch of the customer reviews were by people who actually thought they were real. lol, I hope those people stay away from uncyclopedia, lest they be misled by the melonfuhrer.
Whoa, what? They're not real?! ;)

Are you talking about Amazon customer reviews? Or somewhere else? Because now I'd sort of like to read what these people have to say.... :D

[Robobvious]

I think I read it on the Barnes and Noble (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Zombie-Survival-Guide/Max-Brooks/e/9781400049622/?itm=1) customer reviews.

"I think this book is very informational. I dont know if it is real or not but the historical facts still need to be reserched"

"This book was outstanding 'and very helpful' but what I dont under stand is why it is labled as a 'humor' book..."

[Marioarm2]

I'm reading Peony in Love.

It's about a girl who is about to be married to a man she doesn't know. Before her marriage she meets a stranger who she ends up falling in love with after secretly seeing 3 nights in a row.

I just started but so far so good :D

[SnakeEyez]

"The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway

I read half of it today; I'll finish it tomorrow. God, I hate Hemingway.

[ChukoLiang]

Hemingway...I've never heard anything good about him, except that one of my favorite authors likes him a lot and emulated (by parodying) his style (or what I'm assuming is his style) a couple times.

[SnakeEyez]

You will either adore Hemingway or you will despise him; there is no middle ground.

I hate him because his writing is absolutely insipid. In his stories, the plot crawls from one scene to the next without any sense of urgency or direction -- almost as if Hemingway doesn't know where his story is going and he's just sort of making everything up as he goes along. Furthermore, he is just boring as hell. There is no tension or conflict in his stories at all. There's nothing present that keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you want to continue reading. It's just one bland, lifeless description after another.

Whenever something of importance happens, he crams the entire event into one small paragraph and glosses over it in the blink of an eye. And yet, he insists on spending pages and pages describing the smallest, most insignificant details that have absolutely no bearing to the plot. His characters are emotionless cardboard cutouts spouting off the same empty dialogue and holding vapid conversations that convey zero personality. He has no idea what a "transition" is, choosing instead to just jump large expanses of time from one line to the next instead of trying to give us some indication that time has passed.

If I were to write a book in Hemingway's style, it would be buried by critics claiming it's too simple and sophomoric. Oh, but when Hemingway writes like an inexperienced ninth grader, he's internationally acclaimed and his brusque writing style is lauded as being "refreshing" and "accessible." He's an overhyped, no-talent hack.

[PSRT]

You will either adore Hemingway or you will despise him; there is no middle ground.

I hate him because his writing is absolutely insipid. In his stories, the plot crawls from one scene to the next without any sense of urgency or direction -- almost as if Hemingway doesn't know where his story is going and he's just sort of making everything up as he goes along. Furthermore, he is just boring as hell. There is no tension or conflict in his stories at all. There's nothing present that keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you want to continue reading. It's just one bland, lifeless description after another.

Whenever something of importance happens, he crams the entire event into one small paragraph and glosses over it in the blink of an eye. And yet, he insists on spending pages and pages describing the smallest, most insignificant details that have absolutely no bearing to the plot. His characters are emotionless cardboard cutouts spouting off the same empty dialogue and holding vapid conversations that convey zero personality. He has no idea what a "transition" is, choosing instead to just jump large expanses of time from one line to the next instead of trying to give us some indication that time has passed.

If I were to write a book in Hemingway's style, it would be buried by critics claiming it's too simple and sophomoric. Oh, but when Hemingway writes like an inexperienced ninth grader, he's internationally acclaimed and his brusque writing style is lauded as being "refreshing" and "accessible." He's an overhyped, no-talent hack.

+1 despise him camp.

[ChukoLiang]

You will either adore Hemingway or you will despise him; there is no middle ground.

I hate him because his writing is absolutely insipid. In his stories, the plot crawls from one scene to the next without any sense of urgency or direction -- almost as if Hemingway doesn't know where his story is going and he's just sort of making everything up as he goes along. Furthermore, he is just boring as hell. There is no tension or conflict in his stories at all. There's nothing present that keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you want to continue reading. It's just one bland, lifeless description after another.

Whenever something of importance happens, he crams the entire event into one small paragraph and glosses over it in the blink of an eye. And yet, he insists on spending pages and pages describing the smallest, most insignificant details that have absolutely no bearing to the plot. His characters are emotionless cardboard cutouts spouting off the same empty dialogue and holding vapid conversations that convey zero personality. He has no idea what a "transition" is, choosing instead to just jump large expanses of time from one line to the next instead of trying to give us some indication that time has passed.

If I were to write a book in Hemingway's style, it would be buried by critics claiming it's too simple and sophomoric. Oh, but when Hemingway writes like an inexperienced ninth grader, he's internationally acclaimed and his brusque writing style is lauded as being "refreshing" and "accessible." He's an overhyped, no-talent hack.

McManus wrote a couple stories like that. Except they had somewhat conflict in them, and they didn't quite go over the top with the descriptions, but it DEFINITELY wasn't his writing style, and he had constant references to hemingway so I figured that's who he was emulating.

edit: One more key difference: They're hilarious because of the parody aspect.

[WanderingMind]

It's just like how I feel about Jane Austen. She's an overrated author who wrote books that are know to kill people from boredom. I hope Emma is the last Jane Austen book I ever have to read. It didn't help that I read the entire book in a week. A bit too much to ask for in a short amount of time, wouldn't you say? Ugh...

[Marioarm2]

The only Hemingway book I've ever read was the Old Man and the Sea. I kind of liked it for some reason but just because I liked one doesn't mean I would feel the same way towards his other novels.

I'm actually going to visit my library this week to pick up some classics I didn't get a chance to read in school. Anyone have any good book suggestions? It can be anything :)

[PSRT]

The only Hemingway book I've ever read was the Old Man and the Sea. I kind of liked it for some reason but just because I liked one doesn't mean I would feel the same way towards his other novels.

I'm actually going to visit my library this week to pick up some classics I didn't get a chance to read in school. Anyone have any good book suggestions? It can be anything :)

Cormac McCarthy's The Road. It's not exactly a classic, but it's one of the best contemporary books I've read in a helluva long time. Also, Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell.

[SnakeEyez]

The only Hemingway book I've ever read was the Old Man and the Sea. I kind of liked it for some reason but just because I liked one doesn't mean I would feel the same way towards his other novels.

I'm actually going to visit my library this week to pick up some classics I didn't get a chance to read in school. Anyone have any good book suggestions? It can be anything :)

Ooooh! Read Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut. That's my favorite book. Everybody ought to read it at least once.

[WanderingMind]

I recommend A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. I love that book and you should read it, even if you've already seen the movie. I haven't seen the movie myself, but I know that Kubrick took out the last chapter of the book.

[ChukoLiang]

if you like comedy, go Terry Pratchett.

[GlassAdam]

The only Hemingway book I've ever read was the Old Man and the Sea. I kind of liked it for some reason but just because I liked one doesn't mean I would feel the same way towards his other novels.

I'm actually going to visit my library this week to pick up some classics I didn't get a chance to read in school. Anyone have any good book suggestions? It can be anything :)

Book suggestions?! My all-time favorite book is either The World According to Garp or Until I Find You, both by John Irving. If you're looking for fiction on the funnier side, I'd recommend looking into a book called Freddy and Fredricka by Mark Helprin (especially the fantastic-looking hardcover edition). For sci-fi, I'd say yeah, go with 1984, just like PSRT said. Or anything by Neal Stephenson, though I'd classify him closer to historical fiction than sci-fi. Aside from 1984, these books are all on the long side, which is what I like.




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Now playing: David Bowie - The Motel (http://www.foxytunes.com/artist/david+bowie/track/the+motel)
via FoxyTunes (http://www.foxytunes.com/signatunes/)

[ChukoLiang]

Kima keeps telling me o read 1984. I've got too much shit I already have to read.

[PSRT]

Ooooh! Read Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut. That's my favorite book. Everybody ought to read it at least once.

I've heard so much about that book. I'll put it on my list.

Kima keeps telling me o read 1984. I've got too much shit I already have to read.

1984 is a really remarkable read. It's not too long either, and even though Orwell's a better essayist than he is a novelist, he gets his messages across well enough.

[SnakeEyez]

I've heard so much about that book. I'll put it on my list.

Most excellent. It's pretty short (186 pages), but it's absolutely packed full of symbolism and allegories. It's also highly accessible -- a definite pick-up-and-read-anywhere type of book. I've read it at least six times now, and I'm still discovering new stuff that I didn't notice before.

[ChukoLiang]

ooh, then I can't read it. I don't like symbolism and allegories. I don't want to have to think when I read most of the time. Sometimes I do, but not often.

[GlassAdam]

I bought my friend a fine hardcover leatherbound edition of Slaughterhouse Five as part of his wedding present.

[SnakeEyez]

ooh, then I can't read it. I don't like symbolism and allegories. I don't want to have to think when I read most of the time. Sometimes I do, but not often.

You seem to have skipped the part where I said it was accessible. Just because it has all the symbolism doesn't mean you have to go over the text with a fine-tooth comb looking for it all. It's a perfectly enjoyable book even if you don't feel like delving too deeply into it.

Did I mention that it's only 186 pages? You can read that in two or three sittings if you wanted to. It's not that long.

[ChukoLiang]

hmm...

Maybe I'll get it, then. I always thought it was a huge book, I'd never seen a copy, so I assumed that I should avoid it.

[SnakeEyez]

hmm...

Maybe I'll get it, then. I always thought it was a huge book, I'd never seen a copy, so I assumed that I should avoid it.

If you liked Catch-22, you should enjoy Slaughterhouse-Five as well. They're similar in some ways.

[PSRT]

Well, thanks to all this chat, I stopped by the library on my way home the other day and picked up Slaughterhouse-Five. We'll see how it goes...

[RedWizard]

Finished Vampire Hunter D Volume 11: Dark Nocturne. I have gone back to my old standby, 2012. I'm hoping it picks up soon, because at the moment its kinda boring, which is why I end up reading something else whenever I get the chance.

[SnakeEyez]

Well, thanks to all this chat, I stopped by the library on my way home the other day and picked up Slaughterhouse-Five. We'll see how it goes...

So it goes.

[Marioarm2]

Well, I stopped by my library today and saw The Road and just had to get it. I might start some of it tonight since it looks like an easy read. I'm very excited!! I think next I'm going to try to get Slaughterhouse-Five before my book club hands out our new novel, An Abundance of Katherines!

[SnakeEyez]

"The History of Sexuality" by Michel Foucault

Not nearly as interesting as the title would lead you to believe. Humbug.

[WanderingMind]

Parts of books have to read for American Foreign Policy this week:

"Strategies of Containment: A Critical Appraisal of American National Security Policy During the Cold War"

"The Cold War: A History Through Documents"

"Meeting the Communist Threat: Truman to Reagan"

"America, Russia, and the Cold War"

I'm going to listen to music while I read, preferably Falcom JDK.

[SnakeEyez]

"Quicksand" by Nella Larson

Well, I can definitely tell that this is her first book. Her writing reminds me of something I would have written four years ago.

[Grand_OoF]

Ummm...

I still have to finish the second book of Vampire Hunter D: Mysterious Journey to the North Sea. I managed to get through the first book relatively easily. This one's proving much harder for me to get into.

I also need to finish Atlantis Found by Clive Cussler, which is a good book I just never bother to get back into it.

Aside from re-reading comics and manga, the only books I'm reading right now are The Shack by William P. Young (REALLY good so far) and the book for my Men's Bible Study.

And since we're out there suggesting books, might I recommend Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick. Maybe someone already beat me to the punch, but if not you should. It's an AMAZING book. It was the book that inspired "Blade Runner", though the book is significantly better, imho.

"The History of Sexuality" by Michel Foucault

Not nearly as interesting as the title would lead you to believe. Humbug.

Also, that's poo gas.

[ChukoLiang]

Go Clive Cussler. He's awesome.

American Gods. I haven't touched it in awhile though...

[Fedaykin]

Go Clive Cussler. He's awesome.

American Gods. I haven't touched it in awhile though...

I never finished that one. Currently re-reading The Sandman for the third time.

[WanderingMind]

And since we're out there suggesting books, might I recommend Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick. Maybe someone already beat me to the punch, but if not you should. It's an AMAZING book. It was the book that inspired "Blade Runner", though the book is significantly better, imho.

I liked that book....

Let's see....more reading this week....like usual...ugh...

[Grand_OoF]

Go Clive Cussler. He's awesome.

American Gods. I haven't touched it in awhile though...

Just finished American Gods like....two weeks ago. MAN I couldn't put that book DOWN. Gaiman is a genius (which, to anyone who's read Sandman, this is obvious).

I liked that book....

Let's see....more reading this week....like usual...ugh...

Glad someone else liked it too. ^_^

I'm assuming by "ugh" it's school related?

[WanderingMind]

Glad someone else liked it too. ^_^

I'm assuming by "ugh" it's school related?

Yep...

[GlassAdam]

YES! I just received (as a gift) a hardcover edition of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell!!! I used to own this book but I let a chick borrow it and when that eventually flamed out I never got it back.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/comicbookqueers/blackhbkjacket_w150.jpg

I love this book. Can't recommend it highly enough! Gonna start re-reading it maybe today.

[ChukoLiang]

I have to read a really depressing shitty book named "Speak" for my english class.

ugh. Even worse, I had to BUY it so I could work on it at home.

[SnakeEyez]

"Villette" by Charlotte Bronte

I have finally, finally finished this book. I honestly was not expecting it to take this long, but the print is so small and the text is so dense that it makes this 500-page book seem more like a 1,000-page book. Now that I'm done with it, I have the rest of the night to write a 5-page essay on it. Wish me luck!

[ChukoLiang]

I HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE SPEAK!

Hate hate hate hate it!

[SnakeEyez]

"Vita Sexualis" by Ogai Mori

After languishing through "Villette" for three freaking weeks, it feels good to be able to read an entire novel in one sitting again.

[WanderingMind]

I'll have to read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair over spring break. Shouldn't be a problem because I read it back in middle school and still remember a lot of the book.

[SnakeEyez]

"City of Glass" by Paul Auster

Outstanding. Best book I've read this year. Everyone needs to read this.

[WanderingMind]

Now reading The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. I only have to read up to Chapter 25.

[Fedaykin]

Reading a bunch of crap for my Literature and my philosophy classes. Dammit even though a lot of it is good stuff the only thing I want to read right now is A Feast for Crows and I can't cuz of all this school shit. AUGH

[WanderingMind]

Finished Chapter 25, meaning that I'm now done with The Jungle.

[PSRT]

I finally finished Slaughterhouse-Five, and for those who've read it,
is he delusional, and constructing the whole extraterrestrial thing based on his experiences during the war, or did he really get abducted? At first, I figured that he was telling the truth, at least within the book's fiction. But you keep getting introduced to events and circumstances and patterns that point directly to his making shizz up. Man that was a great book...

I finished Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell on my vacation too, so I'm finally getting around to starting No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy.

[WanderingMind]

Started reading Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett

[SnakeEyez]

"The Key" by Junichiro Tanizaki

Pretty neat book. I probably would have enjoyed it much more if it wasn't the topic of a presentation I have to give on Monday. Analyzing a book and marking passages as you go along kind of turns reading into a chore, if you ask me.


I finally finished Slaughterhouse-Five, and for those who've read it,
is he delusional, and constructing the whole extraterrestrial thing based on his experiences during the war, or did he really get abducted? At first, I figured that he was telling the truth, at least within the book's fiction. But you keep getting introduced to events and circumstances and patterns that point directly to his making shizz up. Man that was a great book...

I guess it's up to the reader to decide, but I always preferred to imagine that everything he said was true. I mean, if I were to become unstuck in time, I'd probably view the events of my life with the same aloof and detached attitude that Billy exhibits. If you put yourself in his shoes, everything he says makes perfect sense; if look at his situation through the eyes of an outsider, then you'll just think that he's bonkers. Personally, I give Billy the benefit of the doubt and believe what he says because dismissing him as crazy seems like a bit of a cop-out response. "This doesn't make sense, but it's not worthy of further consideration because he's just crazy anyway." Know what I mean? That kind of takes the fun out of it.
Either way, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[WanderingMind]

^^^^

At least you're not reading a Jane Austen book. I can't stand her as an author.

[ChukoLiang]

Started reading Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett

did you read the previous books in the mort series? I almost bought reaper man, but picked up The Light Fantastic instead. How is it?

Speak has redeemed itself. It's actually a good book, you just have to read it to a certain point as fast as possible before you start to hate it.

[Baberific]

guh, reading some screwed up short stories....INDUSTRIALIZATION???

[WanderingMind]

did you read the previous books in the mort series? I almost bought reaper man, but picked up The Light Fantastic instead. How is it?

Speak has redeemed itself. It's actually a good book, you just have to read it to a certain point as fast as possible before you start to hate it.

Nope. I've only read the first 20 pages, but I really like it so far.

[SnakeEyez]

"Erasure" by Percival Everett

Love this book. I first read it about this time last year, and it was just as good the second time. Now I just have to write a response paper on it and use it as the basis of my presentation on Thursday. No sweat.

---------------------------------

EDIT:

"Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston

Meh.

[LeftyCap]

"Down and Out in Paris and London" - George Orwell

[ChukoLiang]

Still American Gods. Book just got really messed up.

[LeftyCap]

Still American Gods. Book just got really messed up.

My friend got me to read "American Gods." Very good book, and some parts are without a doubt messed up. Enjoy.

[WanderingMind]

Had to read Sister Carrie by Arthur Driesel for class last week.

[The_Edge]

I just finished The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, and am about twenty pages into Atlus Shrugged, also by Ayn Rand. The Fountainhead is an excellent philosophical work, and I have high hopes for Atlus Shrugged based on what I've read so far.

~ Edge

[ChukoLiang]

Finished american gods awhile back. VERY good book.

[WanderingMind]

Someone should rename this thread Now Reading. "Chapter One" is a clever name for a thread, but I think most people won't have a clue that this is where you talk about books you recently read.

That being said, I read 5 books while I was out of town for three weeks.

Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
Desert Solitare - Edward Abbey
Blood and Thunder - Hampton Sides
Sourcery - Terry Pratchett
The First Eagle - Tony Hillerman

Currently Reading:

Fragile Things - Neil Gaiman

[Fedaykin]

Finally finished A Storm of Crows. 1,128 pages. Now on to A Feast for Crows. Only 986 ages :)


Awesome book btw. Seriously all of you should be reading these.

[WanderingMind]

Started Listening Woman by Tony Hillerman.

I'm reading two books at the same time because Fragile Things is a collection of short stories and poems.

[ChukoLiang]

you know, I just remembered a book I thought was awesome years ago. Probably below your guys' reading level, but Silverwing, Sunwing and Firewing (in that order) are awesome books. Kenneth Oppel

[Grand_OoF]

As far as novels go, I'm trying to plow my way through Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet. It's okay. Considering this is two of my favorite authors I feel somewhat let down. It's not as funny as I had hoped. It's still a good book.

Otherwise, I'm mostly just going back and re-reading comics and manga at my disposal. I'm currently going through my X-Men: Fatal Attractions book (Man I miss 90s story writing...sure maybe some of the art sucked but GOD I hate Joss Whedon and his "award winning" run on Astonishing X-Men. F**K YOU JOSS WHEDON!) as well as a number of my manga series (just re-read all of Jing: King of Bandits. Currently re-reading A.I. Love You).

[Fedaykin]

Just finished A Feast For Crows by G.R.R. Martin. Now I can't effing wait for A Dance With Dragons....

Anyway I started American Gods now, I had already read this book a few years ago. Specifically right after I finished The Sandman. But I only read it halfway, don't remember why...

After this I have no idea what to read. Maybe try Neverwhere by Gaiman, or buy the last three Santman issues I don't have and re-read the series again? I never tire of that. I also heard Anansi Boys(also by Gaiman) is good. Thought about reading A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, sounds interesting enough.

You guys have any recommendations?

[Ed209]

Heh, I didn't even know there was a book thread here.

What kind of books do you like Fedaykin?

During my studies I've rarely had a chance to read books for fun. I've been free all summer and I managed to do some reading.

I read Stephen King's "The Stand" for the second time. Still an awesome book.

I read Herbert's "Heretics of Dune" it was good, but a little strange...only one more to go.

I also read the original Frankenstein, which I'm ashamed to say I had never read before. I really liked it, the monster is so different in the book than he is in popular culture.

I'm currently reading Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express", which I've always wanted to read. So far its excellent. I used to watch the Poirot series on Masterpiece Theatre with my dad.

[Fedaykin]

Heh, I didn't even know there was a book thread here.

What kind of books do you like Fedaykin?

During my studies I've rarely had a chance to read books for fun. I've been free all summer and I managed to do some reading.

I read Stephen King's "The Stand" for the second time. Still an awesome book.

I read Herbert's "Heretics of Dune" it was good, but a little strange...only one more to go.

I also read the original Frankenstein, which I'm ashamed to say I had never read before. I really liked it, the monster is so different in the book than he is in popular culture.

I'm currently reading Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express", which I've always wanted to read. So far its excellent. I used to watch the Poirot series on Masterpiece Theatre with my dad.

I read the Dune series in high school, great books, the original is one of my favorite books.

Thanks for reminding me about Frankenstein though, still haven't read that. I also need to read Paradise Lost now that I think of it.

[Grand_OoF]

I read the Dune series in high school, great books, the original is one of my favorite books.

Thanks for reminding me about Frankenstein though, still haven't read that. I also need to read Paradise Lost now that I think of it.

Frankenstein is GENIUS. Excellent, excellent book. Mary Shelly is an amazing author.

I haven't read all of Paradise Lost, but what I have read is good. I should read that myself.

I finished up Sphere by Michael Crichton some time ago...excellent book. And last night I finished reading Star Wars: The Force Unleashed novel. It started off kinda slow (the author wasn't too good at detailing fights...which made up the first part of the story in abundance), but as the story progressed it got far more interesting until I couldn't put it down.

...Almost makes me want to go out and play the game...

[Runepop]

I'm not reading any thing currently but hopefully will be soon.

( I am open to suggestions if any one has any.)

[RedWizard]

I'm not reading any thing currently but hopefully will be soon.

( I am open to suggestions if any one has any.)


If you're not reading anything, why are you posting here? I think that's considered spamming, according to the forum rules. As for suggestions, look at what everyone else is reading. Generally speaking, people wouldn't share their thoughts about these books here if they didn't think they were worth reading.

As for myself, I recently finished Vampire Hunter D Volume 11: Pale Fallen Angel Parts 1 and 2. I have just started a fantasy novel called A Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin.

[GlassAdam]

I'm currently finally reading the 1000+ page epic monstrosity that is Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon. Any of you Stephenson readers out there (Snow Crash, Baroque Cycle, Anathem) know what an undertaking this is...

[CheDuff]

I just finished Zoe's Tale. It was great. Scalzi is such a good writer.

[Scion_of_Life]

Gundam Seed

I found the first four volumes for dirt cheap and only payed a bit more for the fifth one.

[Fedaykin]

If you're not reading anything, why are you posting here? I think that's considered spamming, according to the forum rules. As for suggestions, look at what everyone else is reading. Generally speaking, people wouldn't share their thoughts about these books here if they didn't think they were worth reading.

As for myself, I recently finished Vampire Hunter D Volume 11: Pale Fallen Angel Parts 1 and 2. I have just started a fantasy novel called A Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin.

Yeah I agree on the spamming thing...

And about Game of Thrones, tell me how you like it. A Song of Ice and Fire is my favorite fantasy series/book. heck maybe even my favorite book.

I'm currently finally reading the 1000+ page epic monstrosity that is Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon. Any of you Stephenson readers out there (Snow Crash, Baroque Cycle, Anathem) know what an undertaking this is...

1000+ page book? Try A Song of Ice and Fire, 1000+ page books abound ;)

[GlassAdam]

1000+ page book? Try A Song of Ice and Fire, 1000+ page books abound ;)

Hmmm while I have heard good things about that, I'm generally not into the Fantasy genre. That is fantasy, right? Or am I way off?

[Fedaykin]

Hmmm while I have heard good things about that, I'm generally not into the Fantasy genre. That is fantasy, right? Or am I way off?

Technically yes. But trust me the actual 'fantasy' in it is very very minimal. The series is all about the characters. Read some reviews on it, G.R.R. martin has created some very intriguing characters in a very real, gritty, interesting world. I tis very addictive and the wording especially is fantastic. I highly recommend it, at least give it a try. What are you usually into?

[GlassAdam]

Literary fiction, mostly. But if I go genre, it'll be historical fiction or science fiction.

[Fedaykin]

Literary fiction, mostly. But if I go genre, it'll be historical fiction or science fiction.

Well I can tell you that A Song of Ice and Fire feels more like historical fiction than fantasy 95% of the time. And if you read Cryptonomicon; which is 1000+ and sounds interesting(thx to you I think I'll be buying it in the future), then I think you'll like this. Or at least be able to read through it long enough to see how good it is. Personally it got me interested right in the epilogue of the first book. The story is expansive and rich, the characters have depth and are the most human characters I've read. The writing is excellent. G.R.R. Martin is a master of wordplay, especially in medieval vocabulary(e.g. Three and twenty, not 23 years old, etc.)

I'll stop now, it's just that I think everyone should read this series. As everyone should read Lord of the Rings and Dune IMHO.

[RedWizard]

I'll stop now, it's just that I think everyone should read this series. As everyone should read Lord of the Rings and Dune IMHO.

I read the Lord of the Rings books. I even read The Hobbit! Go me!

I temporarily put A Game of Thrones on hold for the next couple days. I'm forcing myself to read some 2012, as I've had the book for more than two years and haven't gotten too far in it yet.

[Fedaykin]

I read the Lord of the Rings books. I even read The Hobbit! Go me!

I temporarily put A Game of Thrones on hold for the next couple days. I'm forcing myself to read some 2012, as I've had the book for more than two years and haven't gotten too far in it yet.

Game of Thrones is superior :)

I suggest finishing anything else before diving into aSoIaF(A Song of Ice and Fire). It's best to read it alone and unhindered.

[LeftyCap]

Let's see. This past week and a half, I've read The Two Minute Rule, Drama City and Troubleshooter. TMR is a good page-turner. DC is meh. And TS is okay. Right now, I'm reading The Third Policeman. Two chapters in, it's pretty damn interesting.

[Ed209]

I finished Murder on the Orient Express, which was awesome from beginning to end. Ah, Agatha Christie...

I also finished reading the 10 volume Ichi the Killer manga. Its probably the most fucked up manga I've ever read. I can't even say if I enjoyed it or not...its just sick. The live action movies is f'd up as well, but the manga...its much worse.

[Grand_OoF]

I have two novels to finish, but am hesitant to jump back into them, so for now I'm re-reading manga and comics...again. I went through my six mangas of Eyeshield 21 (I gotta pick up more), and then went through my...16 issues of Sentinel (Man, I need to find that other issue, it's the only one I need to complete the series).

[Scion_of_Life]

The Naming by Allison Croggan

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (for Young Adult Lit)

Phoenix Rising by Karen Hesse (also for Young Adult Lit)

Of the three, I find The Naming to be the best. However, Phoenix Rising comes in a close second. It's hard to compare realistic fiction with fantasy fiction.

[Fedaykin]

Added some tags, too many people haven't been able to find this thread, including me at first.

[GlassAdam]

The Naming by Allison Croggan

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (for Young Adult Lit)

Phoenix Rising by Karen Hesse (also for Young Adult Lit)

Of the three, I find The Naming to be the best. However, Phoenix Rising comes in a close second. It's hard to compare realistic fiction with fantasy fiction.

It's easy to group The Catcher in the Rye as 'young adult fiction' but that would, in my opinion, be missing so much of what that book has to offer. On the surface, as a book about a high schooler-- yes, the book obviously appeals to teens-- one would be quick to categorize it as young adult fiction, but that flies in the face of the fact that there are so many nuances, so many themes in that book that nobody but an adult reader or a serious teenaged reader would understand.

[Scion_of_Life]

It's easy to group The Catcher in the Rye as 'young adult fiction' but that would, in my opinion, be missing so much of what that book has to offer. On the surface, as a book about a high schooler-- yes, the book obviously appeals to teens-- one would be quick to categorize it as young adult fiction, but that flies in the face of the fact that there are so many nuances, so many themes in that book that nobody but an adult reader or a serious teenaged reader would understand.

True. I finished Catcher in the Rye and I would have to agree with your statements. I didn't classify the book as just YAL though. I believe I put it down as an adventure book (Urban Adventure/Person vs Society). Some would disagree, that is how I would classify it based upon our readings from our textbook, which I love. There are literally hundreds of book suggestions in there.

Now reading Rumble Fish by S.E. Hinton. This one is considerably shorter than The Outsiders and I enjoy the plot more. I would also classify this one as an Urban Adventure, but it is has shades of person vs self and person vs person.

The book annotations that we are required to do for Young Adult Literature are a bit taxing at first. I really never liked the idea of reading 20 books for one class plus our textbook, but annotating all the books has really gotten me to focus on the details of the book. I find that it is easier to pick up more details when you have to look for them.

[Fedaykin]

Haven't read Cather in the Rye. Another book in my list is Paradise Lost by John Milton. And The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri.

[ChukoLiang]

Hell yes, Divine Comedy. Get a decent translation, though, because some of them are just obnoxious to read.

I want to go back and read Romance of the Three Kingdoms again...1000-1200 pages of AWESOME.

[Fedaykin]

Yes I'll be researching to find the best possible translation..

Also, now I want to re-read Dune...

[GlassAdam]

True. I finished Catcher in the Rye and I would have to agree with your statements. I didn't classify the book as just YAL though. I believe I put it down as an adventure book (Urban Adventure/Person vs Society). Some would disagree, that is how I would classify it based upon our readings from our textbook, which I love. There are literally hundreds of book suggestions in there.

Right. I just wanted to get me 2 cents in there, as I hear a surprising amount of people dismiss that book because they think it's for young'uns! ;)

Anyway, dudez, don't forget-- Last Night In Twisted River by John Irving comes out in 2 weeks! Preorder now!!!

[ChukoLiang]

speaking of books coming out recently, Amazing Ben (Badass of the Week guy) has a book coming out.

[WanderingMind]

Currently reading Job: A Comedy of Justice by Robert Heinlein. Good book so far.

[Heiae]

speaking of books coming out recently, Amazing Ben (Badass of the Week guy) has a book coming out.

What's the book about? Because if it's as hilarious as Badass of the Week, I'm sold.

[DukeBryson]

Finished reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I'll be reading Dune next.

[Scion_of_Life]

Still reading Rumble Fish, though I started reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I enjoyed the movie enough to check out the book. I know understand how much the movies have been cutting out.

[Robobvious]

Finished reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I'll be reading Dune next.

The Road was awesome, and I just started reading Dune, I picked it up at the library earlier.

Paul has taken the gom jabbar.

[Fedaykin]

You're gonna love that book.

[Scion_of_Life]

Fire Bringer by David Clement-Davies

[GlassAdam]

So I'm reading Last Night In Twisted River by my favorite author, John Irving.

[Fedaykin]

Almost finished with American Gods. Gotta get Anansi Boys.

[Scion_of_Life]

Sphinx's Princess by Esther Friesner

[ChukoLiang]

Reading "The Good Earth". So far it's...okay...

Pearl S. Buck, you'd better not let me down.

[Fedaykin]

Reading Anansi Boys. Poor fat bastard...

[DukeBryson]

Reading Anansi Boys. Poor fat bastard...

Anansi Boys is my favorite book. Fat Charlie is such a good character. He just gets shit on for most of the story and the humor stems from that. I'm not gonna ruin it for you, but enjoy the ride.

[WanderingMind]

Reading "The Good Earth". So far it's...okay...

Pearl S. Buck, you'd better not let me down.

I remember reading that book years ago. Best of luck with it.

I need to read more Discworld. I know something has been lacking right now.

[GlassAdam]

I sort've wanna read Stephen King's Under The Dome, because the premise sounds intriguing. I've never read Stephen King before, but I suppose there's a first time for everything.

[Ed209]

I've read several of Stephen King's books and I can say that they are almost always entertaining, but sometimes the ending kinda sucks. The Stand is my favorite book from King.

[Scion_of_Life]

I am still reading Sphinx's Princess, however, I have started reading Magic Kingdom for Sale - Sold! by Terry Brooks.

Also, gonna start reading American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

[Fedaykin]

Bought 1984 and Paradise Lost just now, both on paperback. I'd like to start buying Hardcover, or rather I should. Anyways started reading 1984.

[Scion_of_Life]

I am gonna start reading The Chronicles of Narnia, starting with The Magician's Nephew. Finally, books I don't have to do annotations for...

Also, I am reading the seventh and final Harry Potter book. I hate leaving a series unfinished.

[Fedaykin]

1984. Great so far.

[GlassAdam]

Bought 1984 and Paradise Lost just now, both on paperback. I'd like to start buying Hardcover, or rather I should. Anyways started reading 1984.

Ah yes, I buy all my books in hardcover, because I like to keep my bookcase looking classy.

[Fedaykin]

Ah yes, I buy all my books in hardcover, because I like to keep my bookcase looking classy.

Yeah, I plan on having a full blown huge bookcase in my future home, so I need my books to last.

[Scion_of_Life]

Yeah, I plan on having a full blown huge bookcase in my future home, so I need my books to last.

Top be honest, I don't buy a whole lot of books in hardcover, but I really don't have a lot of problems with paperback either. This one time, I bought a book from Borders and when I opened it, the spine snapped. The bookstore in question was right up the road from where I worked at the time, so it wasn't a big deal...just annoying.

I did finish Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It wasn't the ending I was expecting and the people that were...involved in the plot in the way they were threw me a bit too. I mean, I expected the book to be a bit darker and for some tragic events, but not on that level.

The people that died were:
Mad-Eye Moody, Remus Lupin (the werewolf), Severus Snape, Fred Weasley, Nymphadora Tonks (girl with the changing hair), the Minister of Magic, Belatrix Lestrange, most of the Death Eaters, the house elf Dobby (from book two) Harry Potter (for a bit), more than a few students of Hogwarts (no one major...I guess), and Voldemort (duh!)

Currently Reading: New Moon and The Wizard Heir

[Ed209]

Man, it took all my strength to stop myself from clicking on that Harry Potter spoiler.

I'm reading a classic sci-fi novel called "The Demolished Man". Its about a man trying to get away with murder...in a world filled with psychics *dun-dun-dun*

I just finished reading This Immortal, another sci fi classic.

I'm supposed to be reading stuff for school, but that shit can wait.

[Grand_OoF]

I'm reading a classic sci-fi novel called "The Demolished Man". Its about a man trying to get away with murder...in a world filled with psychics *dun-dun-dun*

Hmmm...this sounds interesting...who's it by? I'm in the market for a new book to read myself.

[Ed209]

Hmmm...this sounds interesting...who's it by? I'm in the market for a new book to read myself.

The author is Alfred Bester.

[Scion_of_Life]

Man, it took all my strength to stop myself from clicking on that Harry Potter spoiler.

Sorry about that. I just figured there might be at least one other person here on Foxkei that finished it. I didn't want to do the shadow thing, because if you even accidentally drag your cursor over it...then you're screwed.

I'm supposed to be reading stuff for school, but that shit can wait.

I am stealing that quote... :)

Thread: Finished reading New Moon and started Eclipse.

[Fedaykin]

Sorry about that. I just figured there might be at least one other person here on Foxkei that finished it. I didn't want to do the shadow thing, because if you even accidentally drag your cursor over it...then you're screwed.



I am stealing that quote... :)

Thread: Finished reading New Moon and started Eclipse.

I finished the Potter series.

/thread

1984 is a very interesting book. Keeping in mind that it was written in the 40s makes it that much better.

[Grand_OoF]

1984 is a very interesting book. Keeping in mind that it was written in the 40s makes it that much better.

It's amazing how frighteningly accurate it is to the issues we encounter in the current world.

[ChukoLiang]

THERE ARE FIVE LIGHTS!

Hahaha. I yelled that at an academic team meet. Everyone looked at me funny.

edit: Wanna know something cool? This guy wrote 1984:

http://www.powells.com/blog/?p=10173

[Fedaykin]

It's amazing how frighteningly accurate it is to the issues we encounter in the current world.

I know.
THERE ARE FIVE LIGHTS!

Hahaha. I yelled that at an academic team meet. Everyone looked at me funny.

edit: Wanna know something cool? This guy wrote 1984:

http://www.powells.com/blog/?p=10173

Whoa. You just made my reading experience of this book 10 times more awesome.

[Scion_of_Life]

Finished Eclipse and I will probably read Breaking Dawn next. I am obsessive compulsive about finishing any series that I start. It's weird, but I am only like that with books.

After Breaking Dawn, I am looking at The Chronicles of Narnia or continuing The Naming by Allison Croggan.

Edit (12/16/09)

Finished Breaking Dawn, but I am now too weary to read anymore for a day or so. Reading four 600+ page books inside of a week is a little much, even for me.

Edit (12/31/09)

Finished The Wayfarer Redemption and Enchanter (both by Sara Douglass). I am currently reading Crusader by the same author.

[DukeBryson]

I'm reading Lost on the Moon currently. It's ok but a bit too Hardy Boys for my taste. In fact, I knew nothing about the book before starting it except that it had a cool sounding title.

I never finished Dune. I'm gonna finish it after this one I think.

[Fedaykin]

I'm reading Lost on the Moon currently. It's ok but a bit too Hardy Boys for my taste. In fact, I knew nothing about the book before starting it except that it had a cool sounding title.

I never finished Dune. I'm gonna finish it after this one I think.

You have to finish Dune man. Best Sci fi book I've read. Which reminds me I gotta read Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy...

[DukeBryson]

You have to finish Dune man. Best Sci fi book I've read. Which reminds me I gotta read Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy...

I hear Hitchhiker's Guide is a good read.

[Fedaykin]

I hear Hitchhiker's Guide is a good read.

Yeah I've only heard great things about it. There's a really nice Hardcover edition that has all the books/stories. There's two editions I found on Ebay, one is a high quality one in black hardcover with gold leaf style title and what not. It's new for $30(it's 800+ pages). Or the same content on a standard hardcover in "Very Good" condition for $6. I don't know which one to get, I can afford the $30 one, but idk. Help.

[Grand_OoF]

Yeah I've only heard great things about it. There's a really nice Hardcover edition that has all the books/stories. There's two editions I found on Ebay, one is a high quality one in black hardcover with gold leaf style title and what not. It's new for $30(it's 800+ pages). Or the same content on a standard hardcover in "Very Good" condition for $6. I don't know which one to get, I can afford the $30 one, but idk. Help.

Dude, you absolutely have to read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It's pure genius, both as a comedy and as a sci-fi movie. I've still only read it and Resteraunt at the End of the Universe (second book). Both are fantastic.

*Edit* Did I say movie? Cause I meant books. Obvious, yes, but even so...

[Fedaykin]

Dude, you absolutely have to read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It's pure genius, both as a comedy and as a sci-fi movie. I've still only read it and Resteraunt at the End of the Universe (second book). Both are fantastic.

Will do. That $30 one looks mighty sexy, think I'm getting it.

*EDIT* Yep, I just bought it on Ebay. Man I suck at saving cash..

[Grand_OoF]

Will do. That $30 one looks mighty sexy, think I'm getting it.

*EDIT* Yep, I just bought it on Ebay. Man I suck at saving cash..

Maybe so, but those books are worth it. You will not be dissapointed.

[Fedaykin]

Maybe so, but those books are worth it. You will not be dissapointed.

Cool. I like me a nice hardcover too :)

[Fedaykin]

Reading The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide.

I'm thinking of subscribing to National Geographic again...

[GlassAdam]

Still reading Last Night in Twisted River. It's slow going because I keep getting distracted by other things. I used to be able to read for hours and hours straight but not anymore for whatever reason.

Next up is either New York: The Novel or A Winter's Tale. I should probably finish The Cryptonomicon, too.

[Grand_OoF]

So I FINALLY sat down and read The Watchmen. And honestly...yeah, I wasn't that impressed.

Don't misunderstand. The book isn't necessarily bad. If nothing else, I found the look at the characters from a personal and psychological aspect fascinating. ...F**ked up but fascinating.

But the rest of the story was really just the sort of typical pompous trash I would expect from Alan Moore.

:neko_057: "GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE CONSPIRACIES! EVIL CONSERVATIVE VALUES! EVERYBODY DOES DRUGS OR RAPES EVERYONE! HUMANITY SUCKS! BWAAAAAAAAAAARGLE! I'm such a genius! Look at my genius!"

...

Meh.

It's not as bad as I expected it to be, and I did enjoy it a little. Plus I have to give it props for opening up the comic medium to new ideas and adult themes. All that having been said however, I'm not terribly impressed.

[Scion_of_Life]

the book of Romans (specifically chapters 6 and 7)

[Grand_OoF]

the book of Romans (specifically chapters 6 and 7)

Any particular passage you were looking for?

[AlucardsFate]

So I FINALLY sat down and read The Watchmen. And honestly...yeah, I wasn't that impressed.

Don't misunderstand. The book isn't necessarily bad. If nothing else, I found the look at the characters from a personal and psychological aspect fascinating. ...F**ked up but fascinating.

But the rest of the story was really just the sort of typical pompous trash I would expect from Alan Moore.

:neko_057: "GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE CONSPIRACIES! EVIL CONSERVATIVE VALUES! EVERYBODY DOES DRUGS OR RAPES EVERYONE! HUMANITY SUCKS! BWAAAAAAAAAAARGLE! I'm such a genius! Look at my genius!"

...

Meh.

It's not as bad as I expected it to be, and I did enjoy it a little. Plus I have to give it props for opening up the comic medium to new ideas and adult themes. All that having been said however, I'm not terribly impressed.

I've never read it...but I do like the movie. I dunno much about Alan Moore though...

Is it weird that no matter how low he goes...or how many times he proves he's the worst piece of human trash ever...I can't help but like The Comedian?

[Fedaykin]

So I FINALLY sat down and read The Watchmen. And honestly...yeah, I wasn't that impressed.

Don't misunderstand. The book isn't necessarily bad. If nothing else, I found the look at the characters from a personal and psychological aspect fascinating. ...F**ked up but fascinating.

But the rest of the story was really just the sort of typical pompous trash I would expect from Alan Moore.

:neko_057: "GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE CONSPIRACIES! EVIL CONSERVATIVE VALUES! EVERYBODY DOES DRUGS OR RAPES EVERYONE! HUMANITY SUCKS! BWAAAAAAAAAAARGLE! I'm such a genius! Look at my genius!"

...

Meh.

It's not as bad as I expected it to be, and I did enjoy it a little. Plus I have to give it props for opening up the comic medium to new ideas and adult themes. All that having been said however, I'm not terribly impressed.

hahaha that's about the best/most accurate Alan Moore rant I've ever read. And I agree, though I still love Watchmen; I just try to forget Moore wrote it.

[SnakeEyez]

Reading "Beowulf" for the...third time? Fourth? It's still a good story. Plus, it feels good to read something besides "In Search of Lost Time" for a change.

[Heiae]

Reading "Beowulf" for the...third time? Fourth? It's still a good story. Plus, it feels good to read something besides "In Search of Lost Time" for a change.

Beowulf is the only acceptable literature for a true man.

Dude's dying and says "Fuck this shit, show me all my loot I got for fucking shit up."

After being like 85 and fighting a damn dragon.

[Scion_of_Life]

Beowulf is the only acceptable literature for a true man.

Dude's dying and says "Fuck this shit, show me all my loot I got for fucking shit up."

After being like 85 and fighting a damn dragon.

He was definitely a manly man.

Thread: Crazy Love by Francis Chan

[DukeBryson]

I'm about 200 pages into Dune. So far, it's enjoyable.

[GlassAdam]

I know a guy who read Dune exclusively on a toilet while ducking outta work at Caterpillar.

[Fedaykin]

I'm about 200 pages into Dune. So far, it's enjoyable.

It's awesome that's what it is.

[FishinForSam]

I'm lookin for something hardcore to read anyone have a suggestion?

[GlassAdam]

Depends on what you mean by "hardcore."

Also, insert joke here.

[FishinForSam]

Depends on what you mean by "hardcore."

Also, insert joke here.

MUST. RESIST. TO. MAKE. JOKE AT MY OWN EXPAENSE!

I'm thinking something that is gripping, has action something along those lines preferably fantasy sci-fi those sort of categories.

[SnakeEyez]

MUST. RESIST. TO. MAKE. JOKE AT MY OWN EXPAENSE!

I'm thinking something that is gripping, has action something along those lines preferably fantasy sci-fi those sort of categories.

Amazon.com: In Search of Lost Time: Proust 6-pack (Proust Complete) (9780812969641): Marcel Proust: Books

[Heiae]

Amazon.com: In Search of Lost Time: Proust 6-pack (Proust Complete) (9780812969641): Marcel Proust: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Search-Lost-Time-Proust-Complete/dp/0812969642/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265341698&sr=1-1)

NO, BRIAN. Just.. NO.

[GlassAdam]

MUST. RESIST. TO. MAKE. JOKE AT MY OWN EXPAENSE!

I'm thinking something that is gripping, has action something along those lines preferably fantasy sci-fi those sort of categories.

So I just took a look at my bookcase and couldn't find a single book that fits that description. Closest would be World War Z, I guess, since it involves guns at points and has some action sequences. Hmm also Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon has some action, and is sometimes described as a cyberpunk techno-thriller/WW2 story... But I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's probably too hardcore and in all the wrong ways.

[Heiae]

I'm lookin for something hardcore to read anyone have a suggestion?

See the book I'm reading in this picture? Buy it.

[Fedaykin]

Amazon.com: In Search of Lost Time: Proust 6-pack (Proust Complete) (9780812969641): Marcel Proust: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Search-Lost-Time-Proust-Complete/dp/0812969642/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265341698&sr=1-1)

You win good sir.

[FishinForSam]

Problems
1. no credit card so I can't use amazon

2. I've read World War Z and of course loved it (not really a problem)

3. I know someone with the BADASS BOOK! but he won't let me barrow it.

Thanks for the suggestions I shall keep an eye open.

[ChukoLiang]

damn right you can't borrow it. Go read American Gods first. I loaned you that for a reason.

After that, you'll have worked your way up to clancy...

[FishinForSam]

damn right you can't borrow it. Go read American Gods first. I loaned you that for a reason.

After that, you'll have worked your way up to clancy...

FINE I WILL! But I kind of have to find it first.

[Scion_of_Life]

FINE I WILL! But I kind of have to find it first.

I wonder how many times I have said that to someone...

Thread: Annie on my Mind

[AlucardsFate]

It's been awhile since I read anything...and since I pretty much just read comic books...(No real books for me! I ain't that bright!) I finally took the plunge and attempted reading something on my computer. Ya know these digital readers are pretty cool...though I still prefer the paper book...

What did I read? Well after reading an article about an upcoming movie in an issue of Wizard Magazine....and finding the concept insanely interesting...I downloaded and read:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/G-Prime/KA2.jpg

Kick-Ass #1

Basically it follows a normal, unremarkable teenager as he decides one day to pick up and become a superhero. He has no powers or talents of any kind...he just really wants to do it, it's the only thing he can see himself doing. Thankfully the book is as entertaining as it's rather interesting premise made me think it would be. And the blood flows gratuitously! ....feels good to read a comic book again...even if it's a digital one...but we can fix that little problem:

I just may go to the comic shop on Friday...it's payday ya know!

[ChukoLiang]

TOTALLY going to read Without Remorse, Tom Clancy's supposed best book I wasn't allowed to read til I was 18. SUCK IT WORLD! IT'LL BE MINE!

[GlassAdam]

TOTALLY going to read Without Remorse, Tom Clancy's supposed best book I wasn't allowed to read til I was 18. SUCK IT WORLD! IT'LL BE MINE!
Who didn't allow you to read this? Your parents... or THE MAN?

[ChukoLiang]

My dad specifically. Apparently it's just that bad in content. I kinda doubt it's too much worse than american gods, though...

[Grand_OoF]

Currently reading Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. It's by the same gentleman who did Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp332/NintendoFB19/abraham-lincoln-vampire-hunter.jpg

Given it's absurd title, I expected it to be more comedic, and much like the movie King of Kong, it still is somewhat comedic in the sense of this bizzare idea is taking itself so seriously. However, also like King of Kong, it turns out it's an excellently crafted story all on its own, and isn't really as humorous (at least thus far) as I had expected it to be.

I called in sick yesterday, so I spent a good period of time reading it. I'm really, REALLY liking it.

[Scion_of_Life]

The Naming by Alison Croggon

I am in chapter 15 entitled "The Hutmoors".

[Ed209]

I've been reading Stephen King's "It". I'm about two hundred pages in, and its really good so far. When I was a kid I watched the made for TV miniseries, and it scared the crap out of me. Stephen King's books are usually good, but fall apart at the end, hopefully this one won't. "They all float."

I also read Agatha Christie's "The Mystery of the Blue Train". Its another Hercule Poirot mystery, and its so damn good. She is so good at giving false clues that keep you guessing. At the end when Poirot explains everything, you realize that all the clues were there in front of you. So good.

[Fedaykin]

Almost done with The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide. Next up is probably Richard Dawkin's The God Delusion.

[Scion_of_Life]

Next up is probably Richard Dawkin's The God Delusion.

Dare I ask what that is about?

Also, I have been reading some of Clive Cussler's Arctic Drift. It's one of the Dirk Pitt novels.

[Fedaykin]

Dare I ask what that is about?

Also, I have been reading some of Clive Cussler's Arctic Drift. It's one of the Dirk Pitt novels.

You wouldn't like it I'm afraid. Richard Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist and an avid critic of Creationism and religion in general, he is an atheist. The God Delusion is his best selling and most controversial book, you can guess why.

[WanderingMind]

Almost done with The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide. Next up is probably Richard Dawkin's The God Delusion.

Nice choice for a follow up. Couldn't ask for a better book to start reading after the Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide.

I've been reading Shogun. It's a long book, and I've only read the first few chapters, but I like it so far.

[Scion_of_Life]

You wouldn't like it I'm afraid. Richard Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist and an avid critic of Creationism and religion in general, he is an atheist. The God Delusion is his best selling and most controversial book, you can guess why.

I see. I don't think I will be reading that one. Thanks for the heads-up.

Thread: I am still reading The Naming by Allison Croggan (Chapter 16)

[Fedaykin]

Nice choice for a follow up. Couldn't ask for a better book to start reading after the Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide.

haha, guess you're right.
I see. I don't think I will be reading that one. Thanks for the heads-up.

Why not?

[KomodoAce]

I've heard about the God Delusion. It'd be an interesting to read to see the points he raises against Christianity.

Been reading Rainbow Six. Haven't read it in 10 years.

[Scion_of_Life]

Why not?

I've heard about the God Delusion. It'd be an interesting to read to see the points he raises against Christianity.

Actually, Komodo may have just answered for me. I have to agree that it would be interesting to see what his points are. Thanks Ace!

Also Fedaykin, when you are done reading the God Delusion, try reading The Case For A Creator by Lee Strobel.

[Fedaykin]

Actually, Komodo may have just answered for me. I have to agree that it would be interesting to see what his points are. Thanks Ace!

Also Fedaykin, when you are done reading the God Delusion, try reading The Case For A Creator by Lee Strobel.

I agree with what Komodo said, kinda what I was gonna say. I wanted to see if you were one of those people who refuse to touch anything that goes against their religion, hell if you're truly devout there shouldn't be a problem right? But I see that's not the case.

As for that book you mentioned, I'll look it up, but I'm afraid I have a pretty big backlog of books to read right now, including such epics(read: not ones to read in a quick manner) as The Divine Comedy and Paradise Lost/Paradise regained. And frankly I wouldn't bump "The Case For a Creator" over those in priority, I've heard every argument and pseudo argument for creationism in the book. I will look it up though, if it seems to offer something worthwhile I'll read it :)

Would be a good conversation starter for the "Speak Your Mind" thread I created here way back. I'm afraid to post in that thread, it's just begging to start some heated arguments, though so far I haven't seen anyone here too close-minded in such a way that they can't have a civil discussion without going bonkers. So far jeje.

/thread


Aaaaaanyways, thread derailment aside, almost done with Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide, only 80 pages left. I've heard the ending of the series and the last book suck, and so far I agree, I have still to find a semblance of a plot in the book; sadly that can be said of the last two books before it as well. This is quite an interesting take in plot management, or lack thereof. Luckily the characterization and writing is spot on, and make for an interesting and sometimes very funny read.

[ChukoLiang]

Komodo, you are hardcore for reading Clancy, good sir.

I'm powering through Without Remorse. John Clark is a BADASS.

[Ed209]

Komodo, you are hardcore for reading Clancy, good sir.

I'm powering through Without Remorse. John Clark is a BADASS.

John Clark is my father's name. No joke.

Im still reading Stephen King's "It". I'm about 45% through it, and very good so far.

[WanderingMind]

haha, guess you're right.

From what I recall, Richard Dawkins and Douglas Adams were good friends.

[Fedaykin]

Finished The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide, last book was Mostly Harmless.

I gotta say, that was the most unsatisfying ending to a series I have ever read. The whole book was a mess plot wise, more so than the others. Excluding this book, I liked the series very much.


Now on to The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. I am also going to be reading Understanding Exposure by Brian Peterson. The latter in .PDF form, as I am poor and this will probably be a one time read. It's considered one of the must read books on photography. The former in actual book form, ugly shiny silver cover and all(actually I take that out).

[Grand_OoF]

Finished reading Vampire Hunter D: Journey to the North Sea part 2...wasn't one of the better ones.

Currently reading Atlantis Found. Gotta love them Dirk Pitt adventures.

[KomodoAce]

Komodo, you are hardcore for reading Clancy, good sir.

I'm powering through Without Remorse. John Clark is a BADASS.

Why thank you Chuko. Clancy writes some awesome novels. One of the few authors I've stuck with through the years.

I am still reading Rainbow Six. Halfway through.

[ChukoLiang]

Finished reading Vampire Hunter D: Journey to the North Sea part 2...wasn't one of the better ones.

Currently reading Atlantis Found. Gotta love them Dirk Pitt adventures.

Damn right. I've read a bunch of Cussler novels so far. Only the ones he ACTUALLY wrote though, none of that "Clive Cussler With..." stuff.

Why thank you Chuko. Clancy writes some awesome novels. One of the few authors I've stuck with through the years.

I am still reading Rainbow Six. Halfway through.

Have you read Rainbow Six before? I'm about 3/8 through Without Remorse.

[KomodoAce]

I've read it before a LOOONG time ago (2001).

There are certain things that I think is out of date in regards to the current war on terror (I hate labeling it like that) but it's interesting to see how radical tree-huggers are the bad guys in Rainbow Six especially with all the focus in the world on going "green".

[ChukoLiang]

I've read it before a LOOONG time ago (2001).

There are certain things that I think is out of date in regards to the current war on terror (I hate labeling it like that) but it's interesting to see how radical tree-huggers are the bad guys in Rainbow Six especially with all the focus in the world on going "green".

Or that one of the most critical "good" guys is a russian. I think he was ex-KGB, too, right?

Definitely a twist in trend from Clancy's earlier books.

[KomodoAce]

Definitely. Last Clancy book I read before this current reading of Rainbow Six was Red Rabbit. That was pretty good.

[ChukoLiang]

Definitely. Last Clancy book I read before this current reading of Rainbow Six was Red Rabbit. That was pretty good.

I liked Red Rabbit. Personally, though, I think my favorite Clancy book was Red Storm Rising, because you DIDN'T know who was going to live or die. It was a one-shot "what if?" book.

In the main Clancy books, you know "X character will ALWAYS survive no matter what". You know? That's the problem with making a series revolving around the same characters.

[Crunkman2000]

Trying to make my way through Horus Rising, a Warhammer 40k book.

As much as I like Dan Abnett (and how he makes Space Marines seem...human, somehow), I can't really bring myself to read it anymore... mainly because at one point, out of nowhere, someone starts yelling "Samus will gnaw on your bones, Samus is the face of death", and all I can think of is Samus Aran gnawing on a femur like a dog.

Dammit. I want to know who "Samus" is! But that image is stuck in my head!

[SnakeEyez]

Marcel Proust's "In Search of Lost Time"

At long last, I have conquered the 4,347 page behemoth. It took four months of nonstop reading, but it's finally over. I feel...well, I can't say I feel relieved quite yet. Ask me again after I've written my end-of-semester essay on it.

[Scion_of_Life]

Marcel Proust's "In Search of Lost Time"

At long last, I have conquered the 4,347 page behemoth. It took four months of nonstop reading, but it's finally over. I feel...well, I can't say I feel relieved quite yet. Ask me again after I've written my end-of-semester essay on it.

Congrats on finishing...and good luck with your essay.

Thread: I am reading several books right now, but Arctic Drift seems to have most of my attention, though I did start reading White Witch, Black Curse.

[ChukoLiang]

Well. Without Remorse was AWESOME.

Now what?

[AlucardsFate]

Marcel Proust's "In Search of Lost Time"

At long last, I have conquered the 4,347 page behemoth. It took four months of nonstop reading, but it's finally over. I feel...well, I can't say I feel relieved quite yet. Ask me again after I've written my end-of-semester essay on it.

How does your brain feel? Smarter?

[KomodoAce]

Finished reading Rainbow Six. Great novel. Something that didn't make sense knowing what I know now is WHY they loaded out with MP5s into the jungle when they would've been better off with an assault rifle (like an M4/silenced). Of course I'm no military expert but still.Need to find a new book to read.

[SnakeEyez]

How does your brain feel? Smarter?

Verily. Also tired. And very perturbed at me for forcing it to read such a long and time-consuming book.

[AlucardsFate]

Verily. Also tired. And very perturbed at me for forcing it to read such a long and time-consuming book.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/G-Prime/42leader.jpg
*Visual approximation of Brian now.

[ChukoLiang]

Finished reading Rainbow Six. Great novel. Something that didn't make sense knowing what I know now is WHY they loaded out with MP5s into the jungle when they would've been better off with an assault rifle (like an M4/silenced). Of course I'm no military expert but still.Need to find a new book to read.

It's pretty simple. Short barrel is better for situations where there's tight quarters, like a jungle. Also, the MP5 with integral silencer is, well, silent. An M4 with a silencer is quiet, but not as quiet.

See my point?

[KomodoAce]

Ah yes indeed. It makes sense now.

EDIT: Went to Goodwill and went looking for new books to read.

I settled on Crichton's "Timeline" and Ludlum's "The Prometheus Deception".

EDIT2: Finished Timeline.

[GlassAdam]

I'm currently reading New York: The Novel, an epic (880 pages!), sprawling historical fiction tale set in, naturally, New York, from the 1600's to present day. It's pretty damned cool. Cameos by famous real peoples of historical significance and whatnot. I'm just about to start a chapter titled "1776," so you know what that means...

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g306/glassadam/n288358.jpg

[ChukoLiang]

Ah yes indeed. It makes sense now.

EDIT: Went to Goodwill and went looking for new books to read.

I settled on Crichton's "Timeline" and Ludlum's "The Prometheus Deception".

EDIT2: Finished Timeline.

timeline was interesting, I won't lie. But I dunno, after reading six or so crichton books, it's just not my type of reading.

[Ed209]

I've been reading "The Girl Who Played With Fire", the second book in the Millenium trilogy. It is so damn riveting, I've only got a hundred pages or so to go. There are 3 murders and one of the main characters is the prime suspect, which leads to a mystery and stuff. Very entertaining.

The film version is coming out in July. The first part, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" is already out at your nearest hippie indy film theatre. Watch it!

[Grand_OoF]

I'm currently reading New York: The Novel, an epic (880 pages!), sprawling historical fiction tale set in, naturally, New York, from the 1600's to present day. It's pretty damned cool. Cameos by famous real peoples of historical significance and whatnot. I'm just about to start a chapter titled "1776," so you know what that means...

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g306/glassadam/n288358.jpg

Sounds like a good read. I'll have to check into that after I finish the other books I'm working on.

Currently back reading Atlantis Found by Clive Cussler. I'm pretty close to finishing it, which I'm okay with, because I'm eager to start reading Red Wall by Brian Jaques, which I picked up a month or so back.

...And yes, I'm aware it's a children's book about mideval talking mice. Quiet. I started reading it in middle school for class and was enjoying it, but I never finished it because I transferred schools in one of my many moves.

[GlassAdam]

So today I finished New York: The Novel. It was pretty damned epic, I can tell ya that. But because it spanned some 400 years in almost 900 pages, it moved pretty swiftly. It was tough to become connected and attached to a character knowing that they would soon be in the past. But it was still a really great read, really neat. If you're a fan of historical fiction, then you'll know the delight of those "aha!" moments that happen when something happens that sheds some light on an event that you might have learned just a bit about in history class, or a famous name you've heard of but never knew much about. That's the kind of fun you get when you read historical fiction, and this book had plenty of that, for sure. Recommended.

Tomorrow, I start The Kindly Ones.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g306/glassadam/kindlyones.jpg

[Scion_of_Life]

I finished reading The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan last week, but now I am reading Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik. This is the second book in a series about Napoleon and his war with Great Britain. However, this one includes an air force for both sides...and their planes are dragons.

[KomodoAce]

I recently got a library card after years of buying books all the time.

I got World War Z and a Memoir of Bono. Looking forward to World War Z.

[GlassAdam]

I recently got a library card after years of buying books all the time.

I got World War Z and a Memoir of Bono. Looking forward to World War Z.

World War Z is really pretty cool. It's sort of haunting, in a way. Some of the stories are just neat.

I don't think I'm allowed in our local library anymore. About 10 years ago when I was still living in the city I got a library card from my hometown and borrowed 2 books (which they had to get on loan from some other libraries). I took them back to the city with me, kept forgetting to bring them back whenever I'd come home for a visit, and long story short-- 10 years later I still have them. :o I feel really bad but I'm too cowardly to return them after all this time.

...But it's cool, I don't wanna borrow/rent books anyway. I'm the kind of person who likes collecting and building up my personal library the same way some folks do with videogames. PS All hardcover, baby!!!!!

[KomodoAce]

I recently discovered the awesomeness of thrift stores because of the one dollar books I could buy there. But the books I couldn't find in those stores (ex: WWZ) I have to borrow.

Then the books I can't get through those means I have to buy.

[Baberific]

Blah, I've been reading a book about a different kind of vampire story (I don't like Twilight at all), It's called Let the right one in
http://beingz.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/n227703.jpg

Creepy, in a odd yet satisfying way.

[KomodoAce]

There's a Swedish movie based on that novel that I hear is VERY good.

Of course Hollywood is remaking it too (ugh).

EDIT: Finished World War Z. Good book. I'm now reading a biography of Bono and I borrowed The Art of War by Sun Tzu.

[DukeBryson]

I just read The Wild Things by Dave Eggers. It's basically the novel version of the movie adaptation of Where The Wild Things Are with some alterations. It was very good. It's well written, descriptive, humorous, touching and, at 285 pages, a quick read.

[LeftyCap]

Picked up Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar.

[Grand_OoF]

Struggling to read Red Wall by Brian Jacques. Not because I don't want to or because it's a difficult read, but because I always forget about it and whenever I do manage to remember to read it, it's usually before bed and I only get a few pages in just before I pass out.

...I need new habits, it seems.

[GlassAdam]

I made the big mistake of starting one book while still reading through another. I've got The Kindly Ones going at work, and I've got Winter's Tale going at home. This unfortunately means I likely won't finish either anytime soon.

[DukeBryson]

[b]His Dark Materials[b]

http://blogs.dixcdn.com/leftofcybercenter/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/dark-materials-omnibus.jpg

This took me a while to get through due to other aspects of life interfering with my free time. However, it was one of the greatest books I've read in a long time (though, technically, it's three books).

The characters are well rounded and the story was epic yet, relatively, simple. It starts with The Golden Compass, which initially put me off because of the stupid movie adaptation (if you ever find yourself in the position of choosing between the book or the movie, go with the book). However, I gave it a shot since the book has been on my shelf for a few years. Boy am I glad I did. The Subtle Knife is part two, which seemed pretty short compared to the Golden Compass and really serves as a set up to The Amber Knife and the conclusion of Lyra and Will's (the two main characters) journey.

The theme of the book is very "religion heavy" but it deals more with corruption within organized religion versus praising any one god or secular belief structure. In fact, most of the Amber Spyglass focuses on a war between mankind and the forces of The Authority (basically, God). Although it sounds like it's biased toward atheism, it really isn't. Phillip Pullman drew a lot of influence from John Milton's Paradise Lost and it definitely shows through in the writing and story structure. It manages to present the issues in a fair way and characters on both sides of the coin never come off as truly wrong. This is because both sides make decisions and perform actions that are questionable in their morality. It's really up to the reader to decide which side they care more for.

I chose Lyra and Will's side.

In any case, I certainly would recommend the book to anyone looking for a good fantasy story.

[Grand_OoF]

His Dark Materials

http://blogs.dixcdn.com/leftofcybercenter/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/dark-materials-omnibus.jpg

This took me a while to get through due to other aspects of life interfering with my free time. However, it was one of the greatest books I've read in a long time (though, technically, it's three books).

The characters are well rounded and the story was epic yet, relatively, simple. It starts with The Golden Compass, which initially put me off because of the stupid movie adaptation (if you ever find yourself in the position of choosing between the book or the movie, go with the book). However, I gave it a shot since the book has been on my shelf for a few years. Boy am I glad I did. The Subtle Knife is part two, which seemed pretty short compared to the Golden Compass and really serves as a set up to The Amber Knife and the conclusion of Lyra and Will's (the two main characters) journey.

The theme of the book is very "religion heavy" but it deals more with corruption within organized religion versus praising any one god or secular belief structure. In fact, most of the Amber Spyglass focuses on a war between mankind and the forces of The Authority (basically, God). Although it sounds like it's biased toward atheism, it really isn't. Phillip Pullman drew a lot of influence from John Milton's Paradise Lost and it definitely shows through in the writing and story structure. It manages to present the issues in a fair way and characters on both sides of the coin never come off as truly wrong. This is because both sides make decisions and perform actions that are questionable in their morality. It's really up to the reader to decide which side they care more for.

I chose Lyra and Will's side.

In any case, I certainly would recommend the book to anyone looking for a good fantasy story.

Hmm...

I've been tempted to give this book a shot for a while, but in truth Pullman has made comments about C.S. Lewis and religion in general (though specifically Christianity) that I have personally found to be off base and very off putting. He specifically wrote the Golden Compass series as, essentially, the secular/atheist answer to The Chronicles of Narnia.

Which he's perfectly entitled to do. I just find those facts very discouraging. But I have heard it's a good series, so I'm willing to give it a chance. Eventually.

[Fedaykin]

Started reading Paradise Lost by John Milton, to be followed by Paradise Regained by same author.

Haven't read poetry in a loooong time.

[Grand_OoF]

I was struggling with mild insomnia last night, so I picked up and read a few more chapters of Red Wall. Pretty good chapters, all things considering.