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[Lo-Volt]

I recently re-read Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy, also in anticipation of the film adaptation. It was as wonderful a novel as I'd remembered it, and I've now moved on to re-reading The Honourable Schoolboy, which is off to a fine start.

Are you not interested in the middle book of the Karla trilogy?

FnordChan

I actually am, but I chose those two first because I had seen the miniseries adaptations of both. The Honourable Schoolboy is certainly on my list. And it's true, these Le Carre novel covers are quite good. A few others got the same treatment, like:

But never worry, you can always buy:

 

[demon]

About halfway through this book, about the war in the DRC and the Rwandan genocide that preceded it, and enjoying it but damn it's hard to follow. So much going on and too many factions and wars within wars to follow. I'd probably have to read this book two or three times (which I won't) to fully get what happened.

 

[Kosh]

About 1/3 of the way through this and loving it so far.





Want to start on Discworld after, but have no idea where to start. This chart just confuses me. Any suggestions on where to start?





Also, listening to this while at work.

 

[Kuraudo]

Want to start on Discworld after, but have no idea where to start. This chart just confuses me. Any suggestions on where to start?

Read them in publication order starting with the Colour of Magic. It's the best way to experience the series, seeing all the little plots as they're introduced and evolve as well as the evolution of Pratchett's approach and style.

 

[Zona]

Want to start on Discworld after, but have no idea where to start. This chart just confuses me. Any suggestions on where to start?

Id say go order of publication starting After The Light Fantastic. I like the first two novels but I don’t find them representative of the rest of the series. The first two are straight up parody where as the rest are more satire. If you find you really like a set of characters reading a book you can go back to the chart and follow the line from there. Of course there’s a huge amount of reference and in jokes so for full effect I again say read them all except the first two. Hope its some help.

 

[modulaire]

I will start with Rule 34 by Charles Stross tomorrow. Detective story in the near future as far as I know.

 

[BorkBork]

Cool, I didn't know that. Based on the title, I thought that they were going to be super footprint heavy. Bananas are pretty delicious, but I did read somewhere that the type we eat now has pretty much taken over the world and the world's "natural" varieties of bananas have died out mostly.

Yup the vulnerability of Cavendish monocultures was mentioned in the book as an issue, along with the environmental impacts of nasty chemical inputs into the growing of bananas. For now, fair trade organic bananas, which are still quite affordable in my neck of the woods, are still probably pretty good choices, from carbon, environmental and nutrition perspectives.

One of the things I liked about the book is that the author repeatedly stressed that looking at the carbon footprint of things is only one perspective and shouldn't solely be used to make decisions (again, pick your battles). For example, eggs from pastured chicken probably have higher carbon emissions than eggs from chickens in battery cages, but if you're remotely interested in animal welfare, that's probably something you can live with.

BTW, I really like how you structure your reviews. Detailed, but also with a tl;dr; verison.

Thanks. I've been trying to work on writing in general. Figured books I've read and liked would be a good place to start.

 

[Zona]

I will start with Rule 34 by Charles Stross tomorrow. Detective story in the near future as far as I know.

I liked it but be warned, it and Halting State also by Stross are the only novels I have ever read written in the second person present tense.

 

[Mumei]

Finished Claw of the Conciliator.

It was amazing.

 

[arglebargle]

Cool, I didn't know that. Based on the title, I thought that they were going to be super footprint heavy. Bananas are pretty delicious, but I did read somewhere that the type we eat now has pretty much taken over the world and the world's "natural" varieties of bananas have died out mostly.

BTW, I really like how you structure your reviews. Detailed, but also with a tl;dr; verison.

at risk of derailing: the new yorker did a great article on bananas a while back. as i recall, its not that most bananas have died out (though a few have been completely destroyed by fungal infections) its that its very difficult to get other banana varieties to market. there are plenty of different varieties grown in the various tropical regions of the planet, but in most markets outside of those areas you will only get the standard cavendish.

its not a free article, but this abstract is.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/01/10/110110fa_fact_peed

on topic edit: for pleasure im reading a dance with dragons; for b-school im reading accounting and econ textbooks.

 

[FnordChan]

I actually am, but I chose those two first because I had seen the miniseries adaptations of both. The Honourable Schoolboy is certainly on my list.

The BBC miniseries adaptations of the Karla novels really are astonishingly good. My understanding is that they skipped The Honorable Schoolboy because it was going to be too expensive to film in Hong Kong, and I don't think it hurts at all to go straight to Smiley's People. That said, if you're reading the novels I'd definitely recommend reading all three in order.

Also, while I like the poster design, it's still depressing to see the movie tie-in cover versus those beautiful new Le Carre book covers.

FnordChan

 

[Arment]

Blowing through this series. Stunning worlds. I couldn't recommend it more.

 

[Fury Sense]

 

[Dresden]

need to catch up on Blood Meridian for the book club - the release of Dark Souls really destroyed what time I devoted to reading.

Also picked this up on a whim - it was four bucks, couldn't resist:

In this blood and guts tale of ancient warfare, Oxford lecturer Sidebottom introduces readers to Marcus Clodius Bastilla, a third-century warrior who has risen through the ranks of the Roman army to achieve citizenship and the honorific of Dux Ripea. Charged by the emperors Valerian and Gallienus with the responsibility of defending the empire's eastern borders, Bastilla says good-bye to his new wife and sets sail for the East. Once he arrives at the Syrian city of Arete on the banks of the Euphrates, Bastilla organizes his legionaries to defend against the besieging Sassanid Persian army and hold out until reinforcements can arrive.

Finished Claw of the Conciliator.

It was amazing.

Yep. Gene Wolfe is amazing.

 

[demon]

How do you like it? Have you read anything else by Kerouac? I finished On the Road recently and I didn't think it was all that great.

 

[Mumei]

Yep. Gene Wolfe is amazing.

Yes, yes he is.

And you probably missed my post about it, but I also recently finished the first two omnibus collections of the Vorkosigan Saga, as well.

 

[Maklershed]

Watching I Am Legend again .. whyyyyyy couldn't they have just followed the book? It could've been good.

 

[Aguirre]

heard a bit about it on bbc radio 4, so decided to read it

 

[Maklershed]

Finished Twilight. It's funny, I went in wanting something Cormac McCarthy-esque but now I think I look at it is wanting to read books that are William Gay-esque. I really dug it and highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys No Country for Old Men or Blood Meridian.

Now on to The Devil in the White City. I'm about 35 or so pages in and enjoying it already.


The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson

 

[Smithy C]

Just started this today. Liking it so far.

 

[BanShunsaku]

If you're reading them for the first time, I'm jealous. Those first few books were so good.

Too bad Jordan lost his way so badly later on in the series.

Sanderson is definitely finishing things off well though

Yep I'm reading them for the first time But I'm going into it knowing that there is a drop off in quality after a few books so I know what to expect.

Even though I use a Kindle mostly I've been buying the Tor hardcovers, there is something awesome about reading epic fantasy in hardback. And I know most people hate the covers, I actually find them appealing in a cheesy way.

 

[ymmv]

I just finished reading "The Devil in the White City".

It's a fast read about two fascinating subjects: the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 and HH Holmes, the first American serial killer who set up a "murder castle" where he killed an unknown number of hotel guests and temporary employees.

Despite the wonderful prose (Erik Larson knows how to make a book about 19th century architects a gripping read), I still felt I didn't know enough. The book's biggest problem is that Larson says again and again that the architecture of the World's Fair was a miracle to behold, (it's elegant designs silenced even the harshest NY critics), but there are only 2 photos in the book where you can see what he's talking about. (There's also a drawing plus a photo of a wall that was destroyed by a storm). It's a bit sad that I had to use Google Image Search to look for photos of all the wonders Larson described.

I'm also wondering how truthful Larson's account of HH Holmes is. I found an article from Harper's Magazine that differed substantially from Erik Larson's version. In Larson's version Minnie Williams and her sister were murdered by Holmes on July 5 1893, but according to the Harper's Magazine article (and this article) Minnie actually was Holmes' accomplice by that time, she even was a witness at his wedding with Georgianna Yoke. So who's right?

I'm now reading bits of "The Holmes-Pitezel case" by Frank P. Geyer. He was the detective who discovered the bodies of the Pitezel children after months of detective work, thereby laying the groundwork for for Holmes' death sentence. He wrote a book about the case in 1896 and you can read it here. What makes the book so interesting are the number of original documents Geyer reproduces, like the letter Holmes wrote to claim a Ben Pitezel's life insurance or a number of letters the Pitezel children wrote to their mother while traveling with Holmes before he murdered them.

BTW It's pretty sad that this book from 1896 has more and better illustrations than Larson's book from 2003.

Another BTW. Search on archive.org for "columbian fair" and you'll find a number of contemporary sources about the 1893 World's Fair. The "Souvenir of the World's Fair" has lots of great photos.

 

[Karakand]

They look great, a lot better then the versions on offer at Amazon atm :/ I recently picked up TTSP from Waterstones in anticipation of the film but cheaped out on the crappy film cash in version, kind of regret it seeing those. I am a real sucker for good cover art.

if it was a good deal don't worry about it

(note: a good deal has to be 40% or more off)

This looks like an Evelyn Waugh cover. :jnc

 

[Kammie]

Recently finished reading:

Got it since it was mentioned in a few previous threads here. The best bit was the exposé on Daniel Tammet. Honestly, the whole thing feels like a bit of a gimmick, but four weeks later I'm still able to recall all the items on a shopping list. Of course, I'd rather just write down information I need to remember rather than strain my mind in roundabout ways like this. When I get some time I want to look into the Major system for remembering numbers, though--one of the few practical uses I can probably see getting out of this.

Why am I not surprised this devolved into tentacle porn? Horribly amateurish writing and plot. Maybe it's a little better in the original Japanese, but the fact remains that this plays out like a typical Japanese horror movie... not really my cup of tea. I did like the setting and the focus on the science, senseless as it all was.

Currently reading:

Halfway through it. Pretty interesting, but the style is grating on me a bit, and I'm annoyed by how often he says "You may wonder about so-and-so, and there's a reason, but I prefer not to talk about it in this book." Are there any other good science/biology books for the layman?

 

[sparky2112]

Currently reading:

Halfway through it. Pretty interesting, but the style is grating on me a bit, and I'm annoyed by how often he says "You may wonder about so-and-so, and there's a reason, but I prefer not to talk about it in this book." Are there any other good science/biology books for the layman?

Dawkins, as always, is better heard than read.

 

[Xena]

Can you guys/gals recommend me a fantasy book in which the main character is a strong woman?

 

[Kraftwerk]

Can you guys/gals recommend me a fantasy book in which the main character is a strong woman?

 

[Pollux]

Finally getting around to...

 

[Lissar]

Can you guys/gals recommend me a fantasy book in which the main character is a strong woman?

I know lots of good ones. Is there a particular subgenre that you'd be interested in?

 

[Xena]

Errr... I'd like something more for 25-mid 30s range.

I'm looking more for Xena kinda of strong female... if that makes sense. XD

 

[Karakand]

Can you guys/gals recommend me a fantasy book in which the main character is a strong woman?

 

[Lissar]

Errr... I'd like something more for 25-mid 30s range.

I'm looking more for Xena kinda of strong female... if that makes sense. XD

Ahh, so you're not necessarily looking for a strong woman but a warrior type woman? Mmm... that makes it a bit harder since I tend to avoid high fantasy with warriors. The closest I can think of is The Hero and the Crown, which is still a very feminine book and probably not what you're looking for. The main character slays dragons and evil wizards though :3

 

[_Isaac]

Errr... I'd like something more for 25-mid 30s range.

I'm looking more for Xena kinda of strong female... if that makes sense. XD

It doesn't fall into your range, but maybe The Hunger Games. It's a fun adventure, and she's pretty much a warrior character.

 

[Mumei]

Finished the The Book of the New Sun including the sequel / coda Urth of the New Sun

If I didn't have such a massive backlog, I would want to go back and reread immediately. I'm really looking forward to The Book of the Long Sun, though I won't be reading it next. Actually, Latro in the Mist is going to be my next Gene Wolfe book when I get around to it.

 

[Xena]

@ Lissar and _Isaac: Thanks for the suggestions, I'll look these up!

 

[warpaint]

Right now it is this

 

[faridmon]

Murder at the Savoy by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö

Man, I love thier sense of humor and the story behind those books. I will be a sad panda when I finish all 10 books in the series (this is the 2nd one I have read after The Fire Engine that Dissapeared)

 

[Zalasta]

Toll of the Hounds. A third way through and I have to say it is the first book I really did not enjoy. Hate the POV's and the way it's written. Too much time wasted on seemingly minor characters that I just don't care for. Suppose to pick up soon so here's hoping.

 

[Lasthope106]

waaa...? It still counts as reading.

 

[BobsRevenge]

Alright, I just finished reading Paul Auster's The New York Trilogy.

I enjoyed it, but it left me feeling somewhat confused. Could anyone who's read it please take a moment to explain the connection between the three stories? I understand the common motif they share, but I feel like I'm missing the direct connections between the characters/narrators (if there is any). I don't know, I guess I'm just not used to open-ended stories like these.

They are three attempts to write stories by the same author (the one in the third book is this character). So the collection is sort of a post-modern attempt at revealing what an author might write about under certain circumstances, if that makes sense. The first book was written while he was starting out, and you can see how the author displays anxiety about various aspects of what is revealed in the third book. So, the character who can't speak well sending him off on the case, his lack of confidence in all of it, and in the end, his anxiety about where it might lead. The second book shows anxieties about his identity, the purpose of his investigation, and what it might mean to resolve it. The third book eventually takes a more straight-forward approach at telling a story, and by the end of it he reveals all of what inspired the first two books, and sort of ties it together.

There is a ton of subtlety in all of it though. The New York Trilogy is genius.

 

[ClassyPenguin]

depressing but fascinating stuff

 

[Seanspeed]

Dawkins, as always, is better heard than read.

I've always thought exactly the opposite. He tends to get emotional and irrational when in heated debate, but can articulate himself much better in his books.

He doesn't go into a lot of the 'backstory' in The Selfish Gene because the book would have to be 1,000 pages long and would get side-tracked way too much to keep his main subject in focus. He assumes the reader has a basic understanding of evolutionary theory and goes on to pretty much revolutionize the thinking on the influence of genes. I thought it was a great read. Certainly changed the way I see things.

 

[otake]

Ouliers by Malcolm Gladwell.
A Dance With Dragons by George RR Martin. I'm milking this one, don't want to finish it.

 

[Monroeski]

Finally getting around to...

Just finished that yesterday. Good book, with all the hallmarks of his other novels, but you could tell it was a first outing for him. Several parts had writing that just felt amateur, and the last line stereotypical enough to make me audibly groan.

 

[Tetraeon]

Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon. A captivating and enthralling fiction dealing with identity theft and the concept that from birth we are brought up to believe we are an unchangeable, fixed person. Fantastic page turner with some very startling plot developments. Just finished it, actually!

 

[nakedsushi]

Can you guys/gals recommend me a fantasy book in which the main character is a strong woman?

Here are a few that I've enjoyed:


Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
More-YA, a female protagonist impersonating a male in order to fly in the air-force.


Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Awesome female protagonist who becomes more awesome with super powers.


Soulless by Gail Carriger
Funny, tea-drinking female protagonist who stumbles onto mysteries and solves them. Steampunkish and has werewolves and vampires.



Resenting the Hero by Moira J. Moore
Don't let the horrible cover-art put you off. This is more about a pair of protagonist (one male, one female) and them trying to work together to save the world. They both have complimentary "powers" that can prevent natural disasters. Interesting magic system.

 

[Haly]

For those of you who haven't been keeping track:

Available for order on Amazon or if you're part of the Kindle master race you can begin reading now!

 

[nakedsushi]

Finished this for this month's book club:


Blood Meridian: Or, the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy

I'm glad it got picked and that I forced myself to keep reading it. I definitely liked it more during the last half.

 

[Fjordson]

Hey GAF, I want to check out a Haruki Murakami novel. I've never read anything of his. I know he's a Japanese writer, but I hear him mentioned quite a bit over here in the States, so I'm guessing the English translations that are out are up to snuff.

Which one should it be? I've been eyeing The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World.

Finished this for this month's book club:

*Blood Meridian*

I'm glad it got picked and that I forced myself to keep reading it. I definitely liked it more during the last half.

Loved this one. Not exactly enjoyable in the traditional sense (if that makes sense) but it's pretty memorable.

 

[lobdale]

Hey GAF, I want to check out a Haruki Murakami novel. I've never read anything of his. I know he's a Japanese writer, but I hear him mentioned quite a bit over here in the States, so I'm guessing the English translations that are out are up to snuff.

Which one should it be? I've been eyeing The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World.

Maybe it makes me less of a Murakami fan, but fuck it--I think his less "crazy magic reality" books are the best. I loved Norwegian Wood, and if you can read Underground (stories from people who experienced the sarin gas attacks in 1995), After the Quake (stories somehow related to the Kobe earthquake the same year) or After Dark (some slightly tweaked short stories), I think you'll have a good entry point to some of his other works, which are pretty huge and daunting at first. (He is an excellent short story writer, and I have enjoyed his short stories more than his novels on virtually every occasion.)