Cyber Rat Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 I'm reading through Paul Auster's Mr. Vertigo. It's quite engaging so far, although he uses his typical story progression, so kinda saw some things coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFlyingGerbil Posted November 11, 2011 Report Share Posted November 11, 2011 I'm too embarrassed to give the name of the book I'm reading just now. It is pretty damn awful though. The main characters are kind of unlikable and at three quarters through I don't feel they're deserving of the happy ending they'll undoubtedly get. Add to that the enormous number of gay puns (fairy gaymother, regaytionship are two that stick in my mind) and cringe inducing sexual innuendo literally at least half a dozen to the page. I'm sure the author thinks he's being terribly witty and Oscar Wilde-ian but it's just embarrassingly bad. The only similarity is he should be in jail for his (crimes against) homosexuality. It's just the worst stereotypes of gay people - bitchy queens and self-loathing people who'd rather be straight. It's as crass as those seventies shows with blacked-up comedians. Jesus. I can't believe I'm reading it to be honest and I'm kind of pissed off I've given money to the author and I've contributed to its sales total. hmmm, that turned in to more of a rant than I intended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faiblesse Des Sens Posted November 11, 2011 Report Share Posted November 11, 2011 I have no idea what you are reading but I really hope you burn it when you are done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFlyingGerbil Posted November 11, 2011 Report Share Posted November 11, 2011 well, it's on my kindle so I think burning it would be throwing the baby out with the bathwater. I read some more on my lunch break today and it reminded me of another problem - the author continually mixes the names of the two main characters up. so Peter would storm upstairs to his room and Rose would go up and comfort Blake. If the characters are so two dimensional and shallow even the author confuses them it has got to be a sad state of affairs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Heart of Darkness. Jeeeeeebus, it is a tough read. The prose is like wading through treacle. The fact that it is written from the point of view of a guy listening to another guy tell a story doesn't help matters. 90% of the book is in quotation marks to the point where you wonder why the author didn't just say "fuck it" and write it all first person. I'm over half-way through now, so gonna slog on to the end, but man, I think I'm going to have to reward myself with some Stieg Larsson or something after this. Has anyone read the millenium trilogy? Would they recommend it? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P4: Gritty Reboot Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Nearing the halfway point of A Feast for Crows. Good read so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saturnine Tenshi Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 I really need to remember to pick up a library card. Hard to get one here when the wife is working overtime all week. |: Need her to be there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 My libarary card used to be one of my greatest possessions. Haven't picked one up in Middlesbrough yet, I should do the library here is much bigger than any I've had access to before. edit: I tell a lie, forgot about Darlington. Both are beautiful buildings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrainHurtBoy...2 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 I just finished my Lord of the Rings re-read. The ending's kind of melancholy, and has set the mood for my day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madbassman39 Posted November 15, 2011 Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 I'm reading Blood of Elves, the 2nd Wither book (in the States), its pretty good. My Skyrim adventures have me looking for more fantasy novels, are the elder scrolls novels any good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Finally finished Heart of Darkness. That was a hell of a slog. Starting on Girl With the Dragon Tattoo today. Heard good things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasterDex Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 I'm reading through Necronomicon at the moment - it's a collection of some of the more popular H.P Lovecraft stories and it's huge. I'm currently reading Rats in the Walls in it. It can be jarring at times reading through it as the time gap means there's some things you wouldn't find in a book written today - like a cat named nigger-man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrainHurtBoy...2 Posted November 18, 2011 Report Share Posted November 18, 2011 Yeah, HP Lovecraft was a racist. Like, a huge racist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFlyingGerbil Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 (edited) On 11/17/2011 at 11:28 AM, Thursday Next said: Finally finished Heart of Darkness. That was a hell of a slog. Starting on Girl With the Dragon Tattoo today. Heard good things. I've got the books but not read them yet, though I've never known anyone to be disappointed with them. I did just see the trailer in the cinema today and nearly crapped my pants. Pretty intense! Imagine this booming out over the cinema's sound system. Edited November 20, 2011 by TheFlyingGerbil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFlyingGerbil Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Not having much luck with my reading at the moment. Barrel Fever by David Sedaris will not be recommended by me. It's a collection of short stories, but I'm not particularly enjoying the style of it. I'm hoping the non-fiction section at the end of it will live up to the promise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 Not clicking that. Don't want any spoilers. I've skilfully managed to avoid knowing anything about these stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
excel_excel Posted November 22, 2011 Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 Read the first Discworld novel, read the first one as part of a double book, planning to read the second but...I gotta make time, cause I generally read in bed. Great read so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 Is that Colour of Magic / Light Fantastic? There was a pretty good made for TV interpretation recently that you should look up. Also Hogfather and Going Postal. I believe Good Omens is in the works too, though I am not as excited about that one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Reading Snuff by Pratchett. Set in the countryside (Well the Discworld version) so there's some appeal there for me. They've expanded Willikins and Vimes' relationship quite a bit in this one too. I'd recommend you read Thud beforehand because there's quite a bit leaning on it in Snuff (namely certain tattoos). The writing is as top notch as normal, though I wouldn't say it's my top Watch one. (I'm quite a fan of Nightwatch, though Thud is a close contender. I think "Young Sam" has helped develop Vimes quite a lot in recent books) Oh whoever did the emboss design for the front cover chose odd options, the chickens are embossed. Here's hoping that book 40 is "Raising Taxes" though I think I've heard inklings it's something else. btw anyone read any of the Tiffany books, I've not touched any of them, mainly cos I'm not a huge Witches fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faiblesse Des Sens Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 I just finished Choke by Chuck Pahlniuikuklk. It wasn't very good but it had a few funny moments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P4: Gritty Reboot Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 Just finished the first Hunger Games book. It's pretty good for a YA novel, though it had a few issues: Reveal hidden contents - Implausible world: I'm on the fence about this one. I am unsure whether the type of totalitarianism and perpetuation of the Games in the novel's universe would really persist for as long as they have in Panem. You'd think someone in the Capitol would speak out against it, but everyone cheers it on. - Unrealistically selfless heroine: It bothers me that a 16-year-old is portrayed as so selfless for the bulk of the novel, caring only for her family and not ever wanting for herself. That's just not human nature. Near the end this is rectified somewhat as she comes to terms with the Games' brutal rules. At least she is a strong character as compared with someone like Bella from the Twilight series. - The Games' rule change: This only bugs me a little, but I feel the author squirmed out of the position of having to truly force the heroine to choose between love and survival, between her humanity and winning the Games. Yeah, I suppose she "challenged" the authority with her suicide bluff with Peeta, but as a reader I feel baited-and-switched to be told ONLY ONE WILL SURVIVE only to have two survive to prolong the love triangle. Still, afterward the conclusion makes it clear that it won't be without consequences. Looking forward to picking up the next two. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SomTervo Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 (edited) On 11/14/2011 at 3:20 PM, Thursday Next said: Heart of Darkness. Jeeeeeebus, it is a tough read. The prose is like wading through treacle. The fact that it is written from the point of view of a guy listening to another guy tell a story doesn't help matters. 90% of the book is in quotation marks to the point where you wonder why the author didn't just say "fuck it" and write it all first person. I'm over half-way through now, so gonna slog on to the end, but man, I think I'm going to have to reward myself with some Stieg Larsson or something after this. Has anyone read the millenium trilogy? Would they recommend it? Stieg Larsson over Joseph Conrad. Stieg Larsson. Over. Joseph Conrad. What the hell is the world coming to. Larsson's stories are good but his prose sure ain't, where Conrad is one of the most important writers of the 20th century. He invented the framing narrative you mention, which is a massive and since-repeated trope. (Granted, Heart of Darkness is far more compelling when you know a bit about the context. I doubt I'd have enjoyed it anywhere near as much as I did if I hadn't A.) been to a great lecture on it, and B.) read my anthology's introduction to Conrad. One of the best novel(la)'s ever written imho, and it's not even one of my favourites. It's just a masterpiece in what it achieves, though it's incredibly easy to see nothing in it, so easy to underappreciate.) On topic: Doris Lessing's The Grass is Singing. Incredible so far, but seems to be one of those books that is just so well observed in its tragedy that it actually makes you feel very, deeply sad about the human condition and life. Edited December 28, 2011 by kenshi_ryden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faiblesse Des Sens Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 I started Roadside Picnic. It's pretty good so far. I've still yet to play the STALKER games but I have seen the Stalker movie so its familiar in a very good way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madbassman39 Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 On 12/28/2011 at 7:58 PM, P4 (Pentium not Persona) said: Just finished the first Hunger Games book. It's pretty good for a YA novel, though it had a few issues: Reveal hidden contents - Implausible world: I'm on the fence about this one. I am unsure whether the type of totalitarianism and perpetuation of the Games in the novel's universe would really persist for as long as they have in Panem. You'd think someone in the Capitol would speak out against it, but everyone cheers it on. - Unrealistically selfless heroine: It bothers me that a 16-year-old is portrayed as so selfless for the bulk of the novel, caring only for her family and not ever wanting for herself. That's just not human nature. Near the end this is rectified somewhat as she comes to terms with the Games' brutal rules. At least she is a strong character as compared with someone like Bella from the Twilight series. - The Games' rule change: This only bugs me a little, but I feel the author squirmed out of the position of having to truly force the heroine to choose between love and survival, between her humanity and winning the Games. Yeah, I suppose she "challenged" the authority with her suicide bluff with Peeta, but as a reader I feel baited-and-switched to be told ONLY ONE WILL SURVIVE only to have two survive to prolong the love triangle. Still, afterward the conclusion makes it clear that it won't be without consequences. Looking forward to picking up the next two. I just finished Hunger Games as well, my thoughts are very similar to those of yours, although I really enjoyed the book. Reveal hidden contents -As far as the world was, I agree its unrealistic. I found it disgusting the way people cheered for the capitol, but it allowed for the games to exist, so I didn't do much complaining -The selfless hero bothered me too. Like you said, at the end it was almost rectified, but I found it hard to believe that was a 16 year old girl in the book. -Allowing two to survive in the end, I saw that coming from a mile away. I was caught off guard for the short period when the games revoked that rule, but that was revoked again in a matter of seconds. -The ending leading up to the sequel bothered me. I honestly think the story would be better continued as if they were the new trainers and had to train the future tributes, but that is something I may be alone with and can't fault the story with Like you, I am looking forward to picking up 2 and 3. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saturnine Tenshi Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 Sis has me scouring libraries for the series (Hunger Games). Picked up some Neil Gaiman book today. Cannot remember the title. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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