*What book are you reading? (part 2)

[DotCommunist]

Anathem. Best Neal Stephenson I've read in ages. His loooong digressions work because he's recounting data/history from the order of monastic scientists that have been around for 3000 years. Santino

 

[Santino]

Anathem. Best Neal Stephenson I've read in ages. His loooong digressions work because he's recounting data/history from the order of monastic scientists that have been around for 3000 years. Santino

Anathem is great idea that either needed condensing into a shorter, snappier book, or expanding into a proper trilogy covering 20 years of story.

Anathem is definitely worth reading. There's one bit that made me go 'Ooohhhhhh' and neatly resolved one of the book's mysteries.

 

[DotCommunist]

I've spotted two analogies of ancient greek philosophical ideas- cave and something else. So there must be loads more I'm missing. It's almost as good as the vinegar strokes when you do that 'i know that you know and I know' moment with fiction

 

[DotCommunist]

I also think the mathic monks have clear tonal links with the Root character and his order in Cryptonomicon

 

[moon]

Not reading, but listening to on audible 'Beloved' by Toni Morrison.. I've read it before..

 

[belboid]

I've spotted two analogies of ancient greek philosophical ideas- cave and something else. So there must be loads more I'm missing.

bugger, I want to read it now (and I already have my next twelve books lined up)

 

[DotCommunist]

bugger, I want to read it now (and I already have my next twelve books lined up)

if you want an epub version of it, PM an email addy

 

[DrJordanov]

The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty - this is my favorite book!

 

[8115]

Graffiti Kings, New York City Mass Transit Art of the 1970s by Jack Stewart. It's great, full of the most geeky detail and amazing pictures.

 

[MrSki]

 

[weltweit]

Thirteen Hours, Deon Meyer

Set in South Africa, a crime thriller, set over thirteen hours, I really rate this book, couldn't put it down!

 

[BoatieBird]

Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It's fantastic.

I've never heard of this book, but I read your post yesterday and today it's appeared in my Amazon recommendations
Spooky!

Just started on Stella Gibbons' Cold Comfort Farm

 

[starfish]

The Sentry by Robert Crais. Another Elvis Cole & Joe Pike novel, ending my apocalyptic story streak.

 

[sojourner]

Almost finished the Ray Mears autobiog now - one chapter left. Read 'The Day I Killed Margaret Thatcher' by Anthony Cartwright while I was off. Moved me to tears on several occasions. He's got to have experienced at least some of that in order to write about it the way he did. Fucking excellent book

 

[MrSki]

Almost finished the Ray Mears autobiog now - one chapter left. Read 'The Day I Killed Margaret Thatcher' by Anthony Cartwright while I was off. Moved me to tears on several occasions. He's got to have experienced at least some of that in order to write about it the way he did. Fucking excellent book

I read that earlier this year & would agree it is a fine book that takes you back in time.

 

[Dillinger4]

I've spotted two analogies of ancient greek philosophical ideas- cave and something else. So there must be loads more I'm missing. It's almost as good as the vinegar strokes when you do that 'i know that you know and I know' moment with fiction

yeh I love that shit

 

[marty21]

just finished Robert Harris - An Officer and a Spy - which I really enjoyed, it is about the Dreyfus affair - now reading more about that, bought 'The Dreyfus Affair' by Piers Paul Read - the novel is a real conspiracy thriller - the truth is also conspiracy-ridden (or is it the truth? )

 

[Saints Alive]

From the Fatherland, With Love by Ryu Murakami. Never heard of this guy before but we were going to Japan on a trip so decided to look up what was recently released which was Japan-based, and came across this. Giving little away, it is set in a slightly dystopian near-future Japan where everything has gone to shit and the North Koreans decide to invade. Given what is happening in the Ukraine, it all feels rather timely, although it was apparently written several years ago.

Witty, entertaining and, by turns, subversive, it is a real doorstop of a book but I've found myself rattling through it.

 

[stereoisomer]

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. It's excellent so far, like all her other books

 

[weltweit]

Norwegian by Night, Derek B. Miller

"Stunningly Good" The Times

 

[jeff_leigh]

Starship Troopers - Robert A. Heinlein

 

[MrSki]

Memoirs of a Geezer the autobiography of Jah Wobble. Enjoying it so far about 120 pages in.

 

[DotCommunist]

about to start 'The New Old World' by Perry Anderson. For a change its not fiction, its a book about the New Left period.

 

[weltweit]

Present Danger, Stella Rimington

The second of her books I read, I found it quite compelling

 

[Orang Utan]

Matilda Tristram - Probably Nothing
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0241004152?pc_redir=1407262163&robot_redir=1
It's a graphic memoir/comic in which the author recounts being diagnosed with colon cancer whilst pregnant.
Except I'm not reading it as my copy is in London and I am in Leeds.
So I'll go to Waterstone's in town and read it, sobbing, as <BLATANT SPAM ALERT> a friend wrote it.
BUY IT NOW!

 

[little_legs]

Currently reading Leaving the Atocha Station by Ben Lerner

Recently finished Letting Go by Philip Roth. It's his first published novel, out of 4 Roth books I've read to date, Letting Go is my favorite. His observations and dialogue is akin to ice burn. Unlike his other books, this one is 600+ long but at no point I felt that he was wasting my time. I could marry him.

 

[Frances Lengel]

From the Fatherland, With Love by Ryu Murakami. Never heard of this guy before but we were going to Japan on a trip so decided to look up what was recently released which was Japan-based, and came across this. Giving little away, it is set in a slightly dystopian near-future Japan where everything has gone to shit and the North Koreans decide to invade. Given what is happening in the Ukraine, it all feels rather timely, although it was apparently written several years ago.

Witty, entertaining and, by turns, subversive, it is a real doorstop of a book but I've found myself rattling through it.

I've only read one of his - In The Miso Soup, which I did really rate.

 

[ringo]

Survivor - Chuck Palahniuk....Second of his I've picked up this year, almost dark enough for the disturbing books thread but funny too, which takes the edge off.

 

[sojourner]

Just started 'From Dictatorship to Democracy' by Gene Sharp.

 

[BoatieBird]

The Motel Life by Willy Vlautin, purchased because marty21 (and others) really seem to rate him.
Enjoying it very much so far