The City & the City is amazing, and this is coming from someone who's hated every other Mieville book he's tried. Just a really great concept which is explored nicely through plot, unlike Mieville's other work which usually ends up feeling like a sourcebook rather than a novel to me.
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What are you reading? (July 2012)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
The City & the City is amazing, and this is coming from someone who's hated every other Mieville book he's tried. Just a really great concept which is explored nicely through plot, unlike Mieville's other work which usually ends up feeling like a sourcebook rather than a novel to me.
Emerson
May contain jokes =>
I wouldn't call it his best work, but it's one of my favorites and one you're unlikely to hear from anyone else:
The Long Walk
Mackenzie 92
Member
Was bored and decided to try out the sample for this:
Finished the sample, and then finished the book a few hours later. Just as good as Wool, if not better. Loved it.
It's only about 200 pages, but for $2.99 it's well worth it.
Finished the sample, and then finished the book a few hours later. Just as good as Wool, if not better. Loved it.
It's only about 200 pages, but for $2.99 it's well worth it.
Yeah, that's a pretty good way to put it. I guess I'll have to try it sometime soon then. Thanks.
sparky2112
Member
Lamel
Banned
Just finished this in the afternoon today. It was always sitting on my bookshelf but I simply ignored it. Really charming book, loved the illustrations. Definitely not just a children's novel.
Man I am on a roll lately. I have been reading so much, instead of watching tv I've replaced that with reading time. Is there such a thing as TOO MUCH?!
My next endeavor...
Cool concept wasted on a mediocre novel.
I consider it an update to The Long Emergency. Not as good as TLE, but still damn good. Makes me laugh, makes me shake my head at our culture and politics, and makes me think about what the future will be like.
Nice choice! If you like that one, you might also like his Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed.
Enlightening.
twisteddeeds
Member
finished
going by good reads 7381 pages so far in my complete malazan read...
Now onto
going by good reads 7381 pages so far in my complete malazan read...
Now onto
teruterubozu
Member
Just finished last night. Speechless.
Finished Hard-Boiled Wonderland and The End of the World. I thought the bone stuff was a little confusing ,then I got to the part where
and that was really bewildering. Overall I would say it was a pretty fun read though.
they meet the Professor underground and he explains to the narrator how he will be trapped in the end of the world
genericsuperhero
Member
I'm trying to work my way through China Mieville's Kraken. I'm a few chapters in, weird things are just starting to happen, and it's already one of the most frustratingly cryptic books I've read so far. The protagonist feels like he's going insane and I feel like I'm right there with him. I loved City and the City and Railsea, but this book is a different beast (lol) than both of them.
This is on the heels of a book that's already on my favorites list, Redshirts by John Scalzi, which was too short (or maybe just seemed that way since I had been waiting so long for it), but was like you took Galaxy Quest and put it in a blender with Stranger than Fiction and added an extra dash of meta-ness to it.
Also read The Islanders by Christopher Priest, which was a strange book about a fictional island chain, which is written sort of like a travel guide, inter-woven with short stories regarding notable events and inhabitants. There's a loose plot that makes it's way through these stories, but ultimately what kept me reading was that it was a book that was entirely about world-building, and each chapter introduced new interesting details about the world.
This is on the heels of a book that's already on my favorites list, Redshirts by John Scalzi, which was too short (or maybe just seemed that way since I had been waiting so long for it), but was like you took Galaxy Quest and put it in a blender with Stranger than Fiction and added an extra dash of meta-ness to it.
Also read The Islanders by Christopher Priest, which was a strange book about a fictional island chain, which is written sort of like a travel guide, inter-woven with short stories regarding notable events and inhabitants. There's a loose plot that makes it's way through these stories, but ultimately what kept me reading was that it was a book that was entirely about world-building, and each chapter introduced new interesting details about the world.
I love Kitties
Member
This book version of True Blood is pretty good so far. It's just like the first episode with a few minor changes. I like!
I'm also reading the Blood Sugar Solution since my job is in alternative medicine.
Just finished last night. Speechless.
Have you read The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia?
It is just as good!
Labombadog
Member
Just finished last night. Speechless.
What makes it so "mind blowing" without revealing too much?
I have read it twice
once as a fantastical explanation about the separation of the two cities, once as a more "normal" explanation
I finished The Marriage Plot, which I adored. And am now reading Hard Times. Good, but ssssllllooooowwww.
Taco_Human
Member
Hmm, someone recommend me a book. Last book I read for fun was A Civil Action, and I loved it. That was over a year ago.
I don't really know what to say I like. Haven't read for myself in a long time.
I don't really know what to say I like. Haven't read for myself in a long time.
ShadyMilkman
Banned
Moved on to
I'm hooked, but damn are these books long.
This was as far as I was able to go. I loved the books, but for whatever reason, I couldn't get through FoH.
Awesome Animals
Member
fantastic imo[/IMG]
good imo. Would be much better if I haven't watched the series. The plot and characters are the main draw, not the style.
I need to read Brasyl. I've heard such good things about it, but it never ends up as the next book I decide to read.
The Horror the horror
Banned
Snowman Prophet of Doom
Member
I read The Left Hand of Darkness. I wouldn't consider it "mind-blowing," though I think that it's definitely a solid-good read. I remember the scenario, as well as some of the prose, but the characters and thematic exploration were a bit lacking in terms of depth. I've heard better things about "The Lathe of Heaven" and maybe a few other Le Guin books.
I just started reading The City & The City and I love how cryptic it is. Page by page you get one or more pieces of the puzzle.
Reminds me of China's short story Reports of Certain Events in London, where you very slowly put together just what the hell he's talking about. Anyone read that?
Reminds me of China's short story Reports of Certain Events in London, where you very slowly put together just what the hell he's talking about. Anyone read that?
Um.
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making
I really enjoyed that last year.
Well...
You might want to invest in the Annotated Edition, in that case.
Salvor.Hardin
Banned
Just finished last night. Speechless.
Saw your post, decided to read up on it, liked what I read and ordered it off Amazon. Here's hoping I enjoy it.
what's everyone's opinion on The Book of the New Sun? I've been reading some of the more well-known science fiction novels lately, such as the Hyperion books, which I've found to be so-so, and I recently started the Foundation series, which, the first book at least, has been great so far. I wasn't really much of a fan of Consider Phlebas (Culture series). Would I enjoy TBotNS?
I would suggest going to the Amazon page for them and reading a bit of the preview, just to see if you like the prose. It's a very dense and baroque (seriously, everyone who describes it will use that to describe it at some point or another) series of almost micro-quests with a not entirely reliable narrator.
I loved it, and I think that most people who read it do, but I can't say about you.
It is very, very, very different from Foundation, though - it almost reads like fantasy, despite the setting. If you enjoy Foundation that much, I would actually rather suggest reading Asimov's Robot books first, if you haven't.
Just finished last night. Speechless.
Oh. I have read Lavinia and am currently reading "the birthday of the world". Will add this one to my list .
Edit: What I read beforehand? This little weird thing
The ending....smh.
sound advise
thanks. I don't really mind if the book(s) strike a different tone than the Foundation series and, considering the setting, I guess some fantasy elements are to be expected. I do fully intend to start reading the Robot novels as well, however.
Lamel
Banned
[IG]http://i.imgur.com/9tA1t.jpg[/IMG]
Just finished last night. Speechless.
Love that feeling when you finish a book. Had that a few days ago with Dorian Gray.
Pfft, what's wrong with annotations?!
Grabbed two books tonight:
heard good things from a friend, so I'm looking forward to it--set in the 60/70's, apparently, a set of novellas centered around a generation of Asian-Americans clustering around a certain hotel in San Francisco.
But for now I started this instead:
I've always heard good things about kearney and it was right there for eight bucks, so . . . been digging it so far. it's the kind of grim shitfaced war-fantasy that i've been missing lately; sometimes you just gotta roll up your sleeves and read about white people killing each other with sharp pointy objects. fun read, i'm about 3/4 of a way through it so far and intend on picking up the other books in the trilogy.
heard good things from a friend, so I'm looking forward to it--set in the 60/70's, apparently, a set of novellas centered around a generation of Asian-Americans clustering around a certain hotel in San Francisco.
But for now I started this instead:
I've always heard good things about kearney and it was right there for eight bucks, so . . . been digging it so far. it's the kind of grim shitfaced war-fantasy that i've been missing lately; sometimes you just gotta roll up your sleeves and read about white people killing each other with sharp pointy objects. fun read, i'm about 3/4 of a way through it so far and intend on picking up the other books in the trilogy.
that's gene wolfe for ya. I remember reading New Sun for the first time in high school, then going online to look at the speculation/theories, which then blew my mind--it's the sort of a series that rewards rereading, which may not sound so appealing considering how dense it can be, but I was fully in love with the text by then.
That was a crazy reveal. Man, Book of the New Sun is insane! So many hidden details about characters and the setting in every chapter. I love it. It's not the easiest thing to pick up, but I think it's worth it.
I've started reading Tigana. I love it so far. Guy Gavriel Kay has this really descriptive and flowery prose that probably turns some people off, but I'm enjoying it so far. The dialogue especially has a nice flair to it and the setting is very detailed.
nakedsushi
Member
^-- Good choice. It warms my heart to see a writer successfully going the indie route.
Nooooooooo
Dammit.
You'll enjoy it. Lolita is such a devilishly charming book, and the French is a part of the appeal!
I said he should get the annotated edition!
It is really impressive, but - and this is the really impressive part - it is also something that takes place at a macro-level throughout the whole series. You'll really enjoy reading The Urth of the New Sun after you finish the quartet, and especially some of the online theorizing when you finish. I liked it more after I finished than while I was actually reading it - which is not to suggest that I did not love it when I was reading it; it just seemed to retroactively become better as I went on.
... I need to read The Book of the Long Sun this year.
I just bought it the other day too because of this thread. Couldn't believe I don't know anyone that's read it after all those crazy goodreads reviews there are. About 20% through now. Feeling kind of ambivalent at this point, we'll see how things go.
Can anyone speak to the quality/translation of the Barnes & Noble version of Crime and Punishment?
As well as their same "Leatherbound Classics" version of The Count of Monte Cristo?
As well as their same "Leatherbound Classics" version of The Count of Monte Cristo?
Constance Garnett is my favourite Russian translater. She met Tolstoy in Russia and it is said that it was then she was inspired to bring the Russian Literary scene to the English speaking world.
Whilst she is my preference, there has been a growing preference, in my reading years, for the husband and wife team: Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky.
They are translating material as we speak, and I'm sure, they have already translated that particular book. Regardless, Garnett, is the most widely read, and most of her work is in the public domain, so you can have a look at the material yourself.
As to the second book, I can't tell whether it is Buss or Chapman & Hall. Buss is the modern update, and I'd personally opt for that; but I think C&H being public domain, might be what barnes&noble went with. It is no great loss.
Despite what my posts in this topic recently might lead one to believe, I have been reading things of my own instead of just commenting on other peoples' posts:
I read the first book in Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series, Soulless, back in August or September of last year, and I am just now getting around to reading the second book in the series, Changeless.
It's basically like a light parody of Victorian era novel set in a steampunk world of vampires, and werewolves, who instead of being hunted or pariahs are incorporated into the society on some level. The main character is "soulless" or preternatural and has the effect of making the aforementioned become mortal when she is in physical contact with them.
It's a bit of light fun reading after the last few books I've read.
I read the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation of Crime and Punishment Ashes mentioned. I have not read the Constance Garnett translation, though of the excerpts comparing the translations go, I preferred the prose in the Pevear & Volokhonsky text. I expect there's something online you can find telling you the pros and cons of each translation.
For The Count of Monte Cristo, the choice is easy. Is it the Robin Buss translation? Get it. Is it not the Robin Buss translation? Go get the Penguin edition.
I read the first book in Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series, Soulless, back in August or September of last year, and I am just now getting around to reading the second book in the series, Changeless.
It's basically like a light parody of Victorian era novel set in a steampunk world of vampires, and werewolves, who instead of being hunted or pariahs are incorporated into the society on some level. The main character is "soulless" or preternatural and has the effect of making the aforementioned become mortal when she is in physical contact with them.
It's a bit of light fun reading after the last few books I've read.
I read the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation of Crime and Punishment Ashes mentioned. I have not read the Constance Garnett translation, though of the excerpts comparing the translations go, I preferred the prose in the Pevear & Volokhonsky text. I expect there's something online you can find telling you the pros and cons of each translation.
For The Count of Monte Cristo, the choice is easy. Is it the Robin Buss translation? Get it. Is it not the Robin Buss translation? Go get the Penguin edition.
Monocle
Member
The difference is night and day. P & V's is the definitive version as far as I'm concerned. The prose is richer, more expressive, zestier than Garnett's, which really helps to convey the humor and intensity of some key scenes, especially Raskolnikov's encounters with Petrovich and Svidrigailov.
That was what I liked better about it. The Garnett translation seemed a bit, well, pedestrian. It didn't really seem to have its own voice.
