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what are you reading?  

post #1 of 1206
6/17/06 at 8:35am
Thread Starter 
I am an avid reader and another forum I used to visit often had a similar thread and I thought this would be a good idea for this site. I'll get things started; I'm currently reading The Awakening by Kate Chopin.

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post #2 of 1206
6/17/06 at 11:01am
I've never been a fan of fiction books. All those sad fiction books that my teachers forced me to read during 6th through 8th grade in Junior High pretty much killed the most remote chances of me liking fiction.

On the other hand, I do like good non-fiction business books. Right now, I'm reading Douglas Brinkley's Wheels for the World. It's a book on how the Ford Motor Company changed transportation as we know it, and an overview on the business aspects of Ford over the years as well.
post #3 of 1206
6/17/06 at 1:52pm
I can't tear myself away from " The Alphabet of Manliness" by Maddox...

anybody else read it?
post #4 of 1206
6/17/06 at 3:25pm
^is that fiction?

I'm working on "Tender is the Night" by Fitzgerald. after reading Gatsby, I just had to read something else by him.

good idea for a thread though.
post #5 of 1206
6/17/06 at 5:42pm
Maurice Edelman Disraeli Rising borrowed from a friend. Our village library is the worst, I have already read there everything there was to read!
post #6 of 1206
6/17/06 at 6:18pm
Fall of Hyperion - Dan Simmons

pulpy scifi, I've got the next two in the series too
post #7 of 1206
6/17/06 at 6:20pm
I'm sure the question isn't only about fiction, it's about what we're currently reading.

I've got my nose deep into reading about capital punishment. Lots of photocopies of law journal articles, some appeals court decisions, but mostly Michael A. Mello's (a former lawyer for death row inmates) book Dead Wrong.
--Chris
post #8 of 1206
6/17/06 at 6:31pm
The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders
post #9 of 1206
6/21/06 at 10:00am
A long way down, By Nick Hornby
post #10 of 1206
6/21/06 at 11:01am
The last book I have read was "Absolute Friends" ,by John Le Carre.
post #11 of 1206
6/21/06 at 4:44pm
I am a little restless at the moment, and therefore altering between three books: Lanark by Alasdair Gray (just started it, and I like it so far), Bob Dylans Chronicles (part 1), and a non-fictous book by a swedish author, about the first generation of english romantic poets, mainly about Coleridge and Wordsworth*.

*Wordsworth in this book, comes across as smug and condescending towards the self critical Coleridge, who in his creepy but excellent marathon poem "the Rime of the Ancient Mariner" IMHO kicks Wordsworths butt big time...
post #12 of 1206
6/21/06 at 9:26pm
a friend just sent me a copy of Albert Camus' The Stranger. I think I'll read this tonight.
post #13 of 1206
6/21/06 at 10:04pm
I'm working on three right now:

1. A Jew In America by Arthur Hetzberg

2. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

3. How To Be Good by Nick Hornsby

Ah, the advantages of working in a bookstore.
post #14 of 1206
6/21/06 at 11:30pm
Introduction to Buddha (finished)

Angels and Demons (finished again)

about to read the Dali Lama books and some more on philosophy
post #15 of 1206
6/22/06 at 6:26pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by DustB

I'm sure the question isn't only about fiction, it's about what we're currently reading.

Exactly, anything you are reading is fair game. Right now I'm reading a memoir, Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch. Great book.
post #16 of 1206
6/30/06 at 10:09am
"Holy Blood, Holy Grail"...The complete works of Friedrich Nietzsche...and for fun, Seinfeld and Philosophy. It takes time, but I have plenty of that. =)
post #17 of 1206
6/30/06 at 10:14am
Hanif Kureishi: My Ear at His Heart
post #18 of 1206
6/30/06 at 10:50am
F. Fukuyama's bridge-burning "America at the Crossroads"
post #19 of 1206
6/30/06 at 11:04am
Hey Joel, that sounds interesting to me...as I have a B.A. in music, but I did minor in Philosophy...I've heard good things about that book...worth picking up a copy?
post #20 of 1206
6/30/06 at 11:05am
I`m reading "Marilyn - a Biography" by Arthur Miller + "Games People Play" by Eric Berne.
post #21 of 1206
6/30/06 at 11:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by PRBRT33

Hey Joel, that sounds interesting to me...as I have a B.A. in music, but I did minor in Philosophy...I've heard good things about that book...worth picking up a copy?

Most certainly. I myself have a BA in Film and German Studies, but I had a minor in Poli Sci, so just like you, Im a decadent liberal arts type who dabbles in realer-world pursuits. I really like Fukuyama, and see his End of History to have been less aligned with conventional neo-conservative theory than people make it out to have been. America at the Crossroads is great, a bold step further from the ranks of hardline NeoCons, and its a very quick read.

hope this post isnt too political for this board...
post #22 of 1206
6/30/06 at 6:25pm
I am going to finish An Open Heart this weekend and then move on to another book based on the Dali Lama's speaches.
post #23 of 1206
6/30/06 at 6:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by radix023

Fall of Hyperion - Dan Simmons

pulpy scifi, I've got the next two in the series too

This was the most amazingly dizzying book I've ever read - without giving anything away - with a 100 pages to go, I was wondering how on earth he was going to wind it up and finish it of as, peeking ahead, there clearly wasn't any sequel. It puts so many other books with limp endings to shame.
Renato
post #24 of 1206
7/1/06 at 6:06am
"The Music Program" by Paul Micou

and

"Scepticism, Inc." by an English author who's name escapes me for the moment.

Both very funny, very off-kilter fiction novels. Grab 'em if you can.
post #25 of 1206
7/14/06 at 12:43am
I'm reading the first volume of Winston Churchill's: "The Second World War " entitled " The Gathering Storm. "

Fan-Freakin-Tastic! Can't put it down.

What a tragedy!--- WW2 could have been stopped so easily. So many wasted chances . . .

"It is difficult to find a parallel to the unwisdom of the British and the weakness of the French Government. "

Referring to the years of 1931 to 1935 as Germany begins to re-arm, while the victors of 'The Great War' commit every imaginable blunder.

If you think the American Gov't subsidizing tobacco growers while at the same time spending millions in advertising to discourage people from smoking is, oh a little weird, it's NOTHING compared to the lunacy he lived through and which he chronicles in this book.

I always knew Churchill was a great orator but I had no idea what a great writer he was. WOW!

Cheers,

Mario
post #26 of 1206
7/14/06 at 12:49am
I'm reading Papillon by Henri Charrière over the last few days. It's magnificent! A real non-fiction story, based on the experiences of a wrongfully accused (and convicted) French guy. You might have seen the movie with Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.
post #27 of 1206
7/14/06 at 5:46am
I've just finished a book of Oscar wilde's tales. Now I'm reading Charles Bukowski, I think the original title is "Ham on rye".
post #28 of 1206
7/14/06 at 9:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adrian

The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders

Neat! I flip through that book almost every day.

Right now I'm reading 'Everything and More' by David Foster Wallace.
post #29 of 1206
7/14/06 at 9:24am
'Shantaram' by Gregory David Roberts

'Vernon Little God' by DBC Pierre

Two well written great reads.
post #30 of 1206
7/14/06 at 9:26am
Boileau-Narcejac: Sueurs froides
(better known as the film version: Hitchcock's Vertigo)
post #31 of 1206
7/14/06 at 11:30am
Playboy. Great stuff, highly recommended.
post #32 of 1206
7/14/06 at 12:29pm
Fucked up Naked Lunch by fucked up William S. Burroughs (orgasms when dying isn't normal isn't it?)
post #33 of 1206
7/14/06 at 1:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dr.creed

Fucked up Naked Lunch by fucked up William S. Burroughs (orgasms when dying isn't normal isn't it?)

Burroughs is overrated. Try Bukowski instead.

post #34 of 1206
7/14/06 at 2:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by greyhueofdoubt

Burroughs is overrated. Try Bukowski instead.


Bukowski always was and identified himself an old pervert and alcoholic. I really liked his novels and short stories, mostly because of the humour and sarcasm. Over the Top of course, but reconstructable. "DISPORT"
post #35 of 1206
7/14/06 at 8:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dr.creed

Bukowski always was and identified himself an old pervert and alcoholic. I really liked his novels and short stories, mostly because of the humour and sarcasm. Over the Top of course, but reconstructable. "DISPORT"

Try: "Ham on Rye" Bukowski's autobiographical (well, they're all . . .) of his childhood. Amazing! Humor AND honesty. Completely f***** up, but perhaps the least pretentious writer ot the 20th century.

Oh Yes, you've all seen his movie " Barfly " with Mickey Rourke and Faye Dunaway? Right? It's what Indie films try to be but hardly ever manage to pull off.

Cheers,

Mario
post #36 of 1206
7/16/06 at 1:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mario Justiniani

Try: "Ham on Rye" Bukowski's autobiographical (well, they're all . . .) of his childhood. Amazing! Humor AND honesty. Completely f***** up, but perhaps the least pretentious writer ot the 20th century.

Oh Yes, you've all seen his movie " Barfly " with Mickey Rourke and Faye Dunaway? Right? It's what Indie films try to be but hardly ever manage to pull off.

Cheers,

Mario

I know "Ham on Rye". Took me some time to find the german name of this book. In german it's called: "Das Schlimmste kommt noch" which means "The worst is yet to come" LOL! Good book, probably the best Bukowski, I agree.

Barfly is awesome! A film I can watch more than one time and enjoy it just the same.
post #37 of 1206
7/16/06 at 1:26pm
Right now Im reading:

"Half a Life" a novel by V.S. Naipaul.
post #38 of 1206
7/16/06 at 10:24pm
I alternate between books on Christian Theology and books on Contemporary
Issues. Today I was reading "Uberpower" by Josef Joffe.
post #39 of 1206
7/16/06 at 11:53pm
The cat in the hat.
post #40 of 1206
7/17/06 at 1:07am
The Dirt by Neil Strauss. Motley Crue's biography - insanely entertaining.

MMM
post #41 of 1206
7/17/06 at 12:21pm
Paul Auster : The New York Trilogy
post #42 of 1206
7/17/06 at 3:15pm
Deadeye Dick by Kurt Vonnegut - extremely boring.............
post #43 of 1206
7/17/06 at 6:36pm
Update... All Souls by Michael Patrick MacDonald
post #44 of 1206
7/18/06 at 5:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mario Justiniani

Try: "Ham on Rye" Bukowski's autobiographical (well, they're all . . .) of his childhood. Amazing! Humor AND honesty. Completely f***** up, but perhaps the least pretentious writer ot the 20th century.

Oh Yes, you've all seen his movie " Barfly " with Mickey Rourke and Faye Dunaway? Right? It's what Indie films try to be but hardly ever manage to pull off.

Cheers,

Mario

I haven't seen Barfly yet but I read "Hollywood" which seems to have been written during the making of the movie. Great book! Bukowski is nice but sometimes he's too hopeless...
post #45 of 1206
7/18/06 at 5:26am
Speaker for the dead - Orson Scott Card
post #46 of 1206
7/18/06 at 5:59pm
I am reading again "The Winter of our Discontent" by John Steinbeck
post #47 of 1206
7/18/06 at 7:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rockford

I am reading again "The Winter of our Discontent" by John Steinbeck

How is that? Steinbeck is hands down my favorite writer, he wrote my favorite book, The Grapes of Wrath. I'm actually reading his East of Eden right now. I'm a third through and it is amazing.

Any other works of his that you reccomend? I've read of Mice and Men as well.
post #48 of 1206
7/18/06 at 8:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by PigeonMurderer

Paul Auster : The New York Trilogy

EXCELLENT CHOICE!!!
post #49 of 1206
7/18/06 at 9:25pm
Jane Mulvagh: Vivienne Westwood - An Unfashionable Life
post #50 of 1206
7/19/06 at 10:42am
I just went through The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut on a flight from San Diego to Pittsburgh. Excellent read, I love Vonnegut.
post #51 of 1206
7/19/06 at 5:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by aubrgene

Right now Im reading:

"Half a Life" a novel by V.S. Naipaul.


I need to read that; so far I have only read the short story collection "Nightwatchman's Occurrance Book". Loved it.

Currently, I am reading "Fortess of Solitude" by Jonathan Lethem
post #52 of 1206
8/2/06 at 1:42am
The Sea by John Banville (Winner of the Man Booker Prize 2005).
post #53 of 1206
8/2/06 at 1:46am
Also, I recommend Milan Kundera works. They are great.
post #54 of 1206
8/2/06 at 3:28am
I`m going through Paul Auster phase : Moon Palace
post #55 of 1206
8/2/06 at 3:58am
My box set of the Chronicles of Narnia just showed up. I read some of them as a child. I'm reading them in published order, not chronologically in the story line.
post #56 of 1206
8/2/06 at 10:09am
Some recent things I've read that are worth checking out:

Brooklyn Follies by Paul Auster...it's pretty good, but the ending is pretty cheesy. Still a decent read, though won't change your life.

The Cheese Monkeys by Chip Kidd...I recommended this at the bookstore I work at, and I recommend to all of you. It's a nihilistic trainwreck, absurdity at its best. Don't read it expecting to change your life or perhaps a writing level at those of the greats; read it if you want something that is funny, irrelevent and a quick read, all while tip toeing around the ever boring college student cliches.

The Great Theft by Khaled M. Abou El Fadl...Want to really know the origins and conflict within Islam and the war against extremists? El Fadl is a leading moderate Muslim scholar, and his book delves into the history of why puritan extremist groups gained power and why they don't add up with Islamic law. Great stuff, though a bit dry, and it reads like a textbook (not that that is a problem for me, I love textbooks). I can't recommend this book more if you want to have a better understanding of Islam.
post #57 of 1206
8/2/06 at 2:16pm
The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks and,
The Witching Hour by Anne Rice... I know, its the equivalent of listening to top 40 radio or wearing designer frags, but I still like it.
post #58 of 1206
8/2/06 at 6:48pm
Night of the Wolf by Alice Borchardt.
post #59 of 1206
8/20/06 at 4:49pm
Thread Starter 
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
post #60 of 1206
8/22/06 at 6:43pm
I'm halfway through 'The Sociopath Next Door' by Martha Straus PhD. I don't know what I expected, but something else. I hope it improves. So far, Dr. Straus seems venting a childlike horror and disbelief that ruthless assholes aren't just in movies. Her point is well taken, however, that 4% of the general population are completely, psychiatrically without conscience--sociopaths. Amoral liars, cheaters, theives, backstabbers, abusers, and more rarely killers, ect. who have absolutely zero guilt about whatever 'game' they are into playing. She says they have absolutely no emotional capability of attachment or love, only 'winning.'


Yes, somebody had to write those snipe programs...
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