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What are you reading (June 2012)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
Has anyone read this?
I saw it in Waterstones with one of their little recommendation things next to it. But considering they also have one next to the Fifty shades garbage...
Have any gaffers read it? Is it worth picking up?
I enjoyed it quite a bit, with some caveats. My review, if you're interested.
I think your review has sold me on it! It sounds like something I could really get into, gonna pick it up soon
Finished reading Pale Fire.... now that was wow, I mean I kind of picked up on that whole reveal in the middle of the book, but seeing the
was one of those "holy shit" moments that made me go in awe of what I just experienced. Loved how they acknowledged that aspect while simultaneously leaving the novel open to a number of interpretations that you could make of the story.
Probably the best book I've read this year next to Moby Dick methinks.
Going start reading Underground by Haruki Murakami today. Been holding it off for years, so I'm really excited to be getting around to it.
commenter go crazy at the end
Probably the best book I've read this year next to Moby Dick methinks.
Going start reading Underground by Haruki Murakami today. Been holding it off for years, so I'm really excited to be getting around to it.
I think your review has sold me on it! It sounds like something I could really get into, gonna pick it up soon
Has anyone read this?
I saw it in Waterstones with one of their little recommendation things next to it. But considering they also have one next to the Fifty shades garbage...
Have any gaffers read it? Is it worth picking up?
I read most of it, but stopped since I really just didnt care about either the world or the characters and I wasnt really all that entertained.
I dont have to like a character to find him interesting or want to hear about his story more. The problem was that I really didnt find the main character all that interesting, and that seems to be the novel's main shtick
Prepare to be devastated.
Wow, I never knew. Sounds very interesting!
And to the guy who's about to read Underground: I read it early this year, and loved it. Some of the people interviewed have gone through and are still going through horrible ordeals, so it can be a heavy read.
EndcatOmega
Unconfirmed Member
Restarted The Book of The New Sun series by Gene Wolfe; I never really gave it a fair shake before, trying to rush through it it to try and make a dent in my backlog of books; not really ever a good idea, but worse with a book with a narrator roughly as reliable as a used car salesman who moonlights as a pyramid scheme seller who is perpetually high, and possibly also on fire.
Finishing up as well Italo Calvino's If on a winter's night a traveler; it's a really wonderful book, extremely playful, especially chapter 1's description of a reader's assault on a bookshop.
Finishing up as well Italo Calvino's If on a winter's night a traveler; it's a really wonderful book, extremely playful, especially chapter 1's description of a reader's assault on a bookshop.
Neffarias_Bredd
Member
Just finished
There are definitely some major flaws in the Malazan series, but good god this book was enjoyable. Each book is better than the previous and I can't wait to read more. I was a little spotty on whether I should continue with the series but this convinced me to keep going. Erikson can sure create an epic story
There are definitely some major flaws in the Malazan series, but good god this book was enjoyable. Each book is better than the previous and I can't wait to read more. I was a little spotty on whether I should continue with the series but this convinced me to keep going. Erikson can sure create an epic story
Yep. The book is gripping. Robert Darnton's work is interesting in a similar way.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
Completely unrelated to the discussion in last month's thread I decided to take another stab at reading Godel, Escher, Bach. I've tried four times in the last six years to get into this book and I always felt like I was floundering among the early concepts and had to put it down. But this time, probably thanks to the programming experience I've gained and the methodical way that its taught me to think, I was actually able to grasp the concepts behind the MIU system and the pq-system. So now I'm three hundred pages in and I still feel like I'm going through a mental wringer in places but man, its really fascinating so far.
Attackthebase
Member
I'm more than halfway through on The Fountainhead. Loving it thus far. I can feel its influence affecting my mind.
I decided that I'll be rereading through the first three novels of The Song of Ice and Fire, then finally read the fourth and fifth novel.
I decided that I'll be rereading through the first three novels of The Song of Ice and Fire, then finally read the fourth and fifth novel.
I love that book. Too bad that is the only Calvino that i actually like
Tried a few of his other ones, but they just didnt do anything for me
Finished:
]
I'm thinking of snagging this on amazon, but there's what looks like an updated "illustrated" version that costs a little more. Any idea if that's worth getting?
You know, I got excited when I saw Piecake (Piecake: Tried Cosmicomics?) had quoted someone reading Italo Calvino. I hardly ever see anyone reading him in these topics, and on top of that it is my favorite Calvino so far? I would have someone to talk to about how clever and wonderful and self-indulgent-in-a-good-way it is.
Then it was just you. :x
I mean we can still do that, I just thought it would be someone new.
But I'm glad you are finishing it up! I had actually forgotten you had started it.
EndcatOmega
Unconfirmed Member
Yeah, I'd heard it was one of a kind compared to his other works. Pity; was going to try some other stuff but maybe I should put it on the back burner.I love that book. Too bad that is the only Calvino that i actually like
i luv yu 2 muemay
I'd forgotten I'd started it until I noticed it staring at me accusingly one day; I'd been busy for a while and hadn't much time for it or New Sun.
I bought Prince of Thorns on my Kindle last night and read the first couple of chapters. I'm enjoying it so far. The author does a good job of making sure you know Jorg is not a good man.
Although some of the methods used are pretty cliche
Although some of the methods used are pretty cliche
you can tell he's bad because he kills his own guy!
dr3upmushroom
Banned
How did you like this? I loved his other two books, but glancing through the Amazon reviews many people are saying that he contradicts himself a lot, and that there are a lot of anecdotes he uses to make points that fall apart under scrutiny. For example one review pointed out that Lehrer states that urban environments are more conducive to creativity since a majority of patents are filed in urban areas, but a better explanation is that most patents are filed by lawyers, who tend to practice in urban areas.
I'm sure I'll still read it at some point but after reading some reviews I went from "Holy shit! New Lehrer book!" to "I guess I'll get around to it."
Hell yeah, the pictures in the illustrated version are great, it makes a great coffee table book. I'm not even an especially visual learner and I thought it was great seeing pictures of the people and concepts being discussed. Definitely worth the ~$9 premium.
Unfortunately, the second Amber series just isn't as good as the first. That said, they're still pretty darn entertaining, even if not quite up to the standards of the first five novels, and are definitely worth reading if you're a fan of the first series.
FnordChan
nakedsushi
Member
I liked Imagine when I read it. His anecdotes are a little too convenient, but some of his points really hit home about how to be creative. I haven't read any of his other books, so I can't tell how this one stacks up.
I'm about halfway through:
Sorry Please Thank You: Stories by Charles Yu
So far the best story is the first one. The others I read were just kind of meh, like a mediocre episode of the Twilight Zone. I don't know if I'm not clever enough to "get it" or what, but so far this reads like Ted Chiang's Stories of Your Life but without the spark.
I'm reading this book:
A fascinating read. It's difficult to imagine that much of France was still undiscovered little over a century ago. These regions were inhabited by hostile tribes who didn't speak French.
Sold. Reading this next thanks to you.
I finished reading Murakami's Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World. I had tried to read it in the past on two separate occasions and had quit both times. The first time I never made it past the elevator. The second time I lost interest at the description of the beasts.
Murakami's narration made me angry because he insisted on describing in excruciating, long winded detail the kind of useless mental chatter that one might imagine occurs in the minds of the very bored or the very tired. Sarcasm/spoiler:
The story is more interesting in the kind of world that it suggests with the Semiotics and Calcutechs, which I consider a bit of a cheat since it's easier to imply an interesting world than to do the work of describing such a world without having to worry about contradicting oneself with the details.
Murakami's narration made me angry because he insisted on describing in excruciating, long winded detail the kind of useless mental chatter that one might imagine occurs in the minds of the very bored or the very tired. Sarcasm/spoiler:
If I suffered from such thoughts all the time, I would obviously need to construct an impenetrable citadel in the mind to keep myself from going insane. It's not clear why the protagonist doesn't realize that.
The story is more interesting in the kind of world that it suggests with the Semiotics and Calcutechs, which I consider a bit of a cheat since it's easier to imply an interesting world than to do the work of describing such a world without having to worry about contradicting oneself with the details.
sparky2112
Member
Yeah, I gave it props earlier in the tread. It's nicely done.
John Blade
Member
easy read, goes by quick. Readin it not and lovin it.
Hmm....is they more novel from this game franchise? Also, is this the first book from Deus EX? Might put on the list of book to try to read after I finish the Doom novel.
Another questions for GAF here, do anyone read the StarCraft novel? I just got myself the three novels from the Starcraft saga (exclude the Ghost) and was wondering what is your take on it.
Maklershed
Member
nakedsushi
Member
Finished:
Sorry Please Thank You: Stories by Charles Yu
It was okay. There were only 3 stories (out of 13) that I enjoyed. The other stories were mediocre.
Sorry Please Thank You: Stories by Charles Yu
It was okay. There were only 3 stories (out of 13) that I enjoyed. The other stories were mediocre.
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami
How does he do it? I have read all his books several times and they just suck me into the world same as they did for the first time. Such an awesome book and really made want to read rest of his books too for one more time, well except his two latest sucky novels.
How does he do it? I have read all his books several times and they just suck me into the world same as they did for the first time. Such an awesome book and really made want to read rest of his books too for one more time, well except his two latest sucky novels.
DieUnbekannte
Member
I've followed the reading threads for a few months now and a lot of really good books have been posted. Some of them I added on my wishlist immediately.
At the moment I'm reading "The Well of Lost Plots" from Jasper Fforde. It's the third book of his Thursday Next Series, which is really good so far.
Before that I read "Fall of Giants" from Ken Follett. It was okay, but I thought it was not as good as his previous books.
At the moment I'm reading "The Well of Lost Plots" from Jasper Fforde. It's the third book of his Thursday Next Series, which is really good so far.
Before that I read "Fall of Giants" from Ken Follett. It was okay, but I thought it was not as good as his previous books.
Hey. I finished it last night. It was pretty good. The first half of the book is about creative individuals and the second half is about creative groups. It begins with stories about people having flashes of insight and then moves on to stories about people fighting for perfection through persistence. Maybe some people found this contradictory. Maybe they read the first two chapters about insights and decided naps and hot showers were the secret to creativity but then moved on to the third chapter about working your ass off and felt betrayed. I don't know. The fourth chapter is about how silencing your inhibitions can open the floodgates of creativity -- he talks about improv comedy/jazz and a brain disease that eats your prefrontal cortex but turns you into an artist. The fifth chapter is about how an outsider or someone on the fringe of a complex field can often see things insiders don't.
The second half of the book, about creative groups, is mostly about Pixar and cities. If you know anything about Pixar, you know their buildings are designed to promote random social encounters among employees of different backgrounds. But the point about the cities wasn't that they're more creative than other places -- although that's certainly a premise -- or even that some cities are more creative than others (although, again, premise). The point was that social collision fosters creativity, and cities are all about social collision.
In the last chapter he talks about the problem of "excess genius" -- why geniuses show up in clusters in certain ages -- but it's sort of flimsy. First, it's all based on geniuses who we know because they wrote stuff or painted stuff. How many geniuses didn't make anything? How many works of genius have we lost to time? He pretty much attributes the works of Shakespeare to (a) lax censorship laws promoting audacity and (b) lax copyright laws allowing Shakespeare to steal ideas from his peers. Which is pretty flimsy. In any case, the Shakespeare stuff did inspire me to read the books he got the biographical stuff from, the semirecent books by Greenblatt and Shapiro.
So yeah: pretty good.
I'm about to wrap up The Surgeon's Mate, the seventh book in the Aubrey/Maturin series, and not only is it pretty great but I can assure you that each of the books so far have had their own thrilling high points. If you enjoyed the first two novels in the series, so far I'd absolutely recommend continuing past Post Captain.
FnordChan
sparky2112
Member
Post Captain was really his nod to Jane Austin, I think, who he sited as a major influence. It's the longest book in the series, and I think it, more than the first book, really, solidifies the series sets up everything to follow. And, man, is there some great stuff to follow. Don't worry. O'Brian doesn't have the readership he does without good reason.
ShadyMilkman
Banned
Got through a few things in the past month or so -
Some Gaffer in a previous months thread mentioned this book and it sounded interesting. I liked it, though it felt like it sort of fell apart at the end. I'd recommend it.
Moved on to this, my 2nd Murakami book (the other being Wind-Up Bird). I dug it.
Then came this. I've only read The Great Gatsby, so I was curious to some of his other stuff. It was good, though Amory got hellllllla preachy and obnoxious at times. I figured that was the point so I can't dock it for that.
And now, this is what I'm currently reading. Sons and Lovers is one of my favorite books ever and I thought Lady Chatterly was great as well. Thankfully, Kindle has all of these classics for free so it looks like I'll be in D.H. Lawrence-land for a while.
Some Gaffer in a previous months thread mentioned this book and it sounded interesting. I liked it, though it felt like it sort of fell apart at the end. I'd recommend it.
Moved on to this, my 2nd Murakami book (the other being Wind-Up Bird). I dug it.
Then came this. I've only read The Great Gatsby, so I was curious to some of his other stuff. It was good, though Amory got hellllllla preachy and obnoxious at times. I figured that was the point so I can't dock it for that.
And now, this is what I'm currently reading. Sons and Lovers is one of my favorite books ever and I thought Lady Chatterly was great as well. Thankfully, Kindle has all of these classics for free so it looks like I'll be in D.H. Lawrence-land for a while.
Yea, ive tried cosmicomics and invisible cities and i couldnt get in to either of them. Its been so long that I honesetly cant remember if I finished them or not. I do remember invisible cities, and that definitely was not my cup of tea. I might try cosmicomics again based on your recommendation and me totally not remembering anything about it
Had to drop Stop-Time by Conroy, for now. Beautifully written but I'm just not in the mood for it.
Started:
Interesting read so far, and Lumet has a nice sense of humor that he peppers the text with.
not necessarily... but they do tend to have the same tone.
You can either hit up Underground (a set of interviews with the survivors/perpetrators of the 1995 Sarin Gas Attacks) for nonfiction, or hit up Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World.
Started:
Interesting read so far, and Lumet has a nice sense of humor that he peppers the text with.
not necessarily... but they do tend to have the same tone.
You can either hit up Underground (a set of interviews with the survivors/perpetrators of the 1995 Sarin Gas Attacks) for nonfiction, or hit up Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World.
Not even close. His other books throw into the mix magic realism and are not coherent as Norweigian Wood. Themes and characters are about the same but be prepared for talking cats, fish rains and other weird things. Kafka on the Shore might be best place to go next. It's a big book but it's really easy to follow, doesn't drag like Wind-Up Bird (it's still his best work) and it has all the usual Murakami traits you will find in his other books as well.
Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World is also great book but has some scifi elements so if you are not into that it might not be best book to start with. Sheep Chase seems to get lot of mixed reviews, some people really love it and some people think it's just starting point of his real style but he does everything better in his later books.
Koroviev
Member
As another poster said, I would read "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World." However, if you're feeling adventurous, then you might try "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle," the novel that gained him fame in the west. It's 600+ pages, but it's great. I think it's better than Hard-Boiled Wonderland.
While I love Kafka on the Shore, it's a little indulgent compared to his earlier works. I think it might be a turn-off for someone not familiar with his brand of magic realism.
From my experience it's other way around
I used to recommend Harboiled and Wind-up bird. With Wonderland people were saying they didn't like the scifi elements nor the detective pulp elements. People loved Wind-up for most part but lost interest when the heavy WWII storys came into the picture. Kafka is much like Wind-up bird but the "boring" parts come in later and it's too late to turn back at that point. Maybe his latest book 1Q84 is good place to go, I find the book awful but seems like many first timers love the book.
Koroviev
Member
From my experience it's other way around
Kafka is much like Wind-up bird but the "boring" parts come in later and it's too late to turn back at that point. Maybe his latest book 1Q84 is good place to go, I find the book awful but seems like many first timers love the book.
Nooooo. That's the only Murakami novel that I started, but didn't finish. I preordered it and everything
And I could see people losing interest during the WWII section. I was finding it kind of dull up until
some guy was skinned alive in graphic detail.
Koroviev
Member
Yep, that's pretty much the definition of magic realism. Told in the same manner as a realistic story, but at the same time containing surreal elements that should draw more attention than they do.
I personally likedNooooo. That's the only Murakami novel that I started, but didn't finish. I preordered it and everything
And I could see people losing interest during the WWII section. I was finding it kind of dull up untilsome guy was skinned alive in graphic detail.
the prison camp and all the parts that took place in Mongolia but parts about Manchuria were rather dull and I really wanted to skip them.