*What book are you reading? (part 2)

[sojourner]

Anil's Ghost, by Michael Ondaatje. A novel about human rights/forensic anthropology investigation into government-sanctioned mass murder in Sri Lanka in late 80s/early 90s

Fucking brilliant, such a great writer. Read half of it last night - he slips massive amounts of research so easily into the story with not so much as a tiny clunk , and manages to write about war atrocities and the contradictory mess of that civil war without a hint of sensationalism or overdoing the pathos.

 

[ringo]

Nine Stories by J. D. Salinger.

 

[ringo]

Anil's Ghost, by Michael Ondaatje. A novel about human rights/forensic anthropology investigation into government-sanctioned mass murder in Sri Lanka in late 80s/early 90s

Fucking brilliant, such a great writer. Read half of it last night - he slips massive amounts of research so easily into the story with not so much as a tiny clunk , and manages to write about war atrocities and the contradictory mess of that civil war without a hint of sensationalism or overdoing the pathos.

Sounds good. Have you read his book about troubled jazz musician Buddy Bolden - Coming Through Slaughter?

I have almost no interest in jazz but this is the best book I've ever read about music.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coming_Through_Slaughter

 

[sojourner]

Sounds good. Have you read his book about troubled jazz musician Buddy Bolden - Coming Through Slaughter?

I have almost no interest in jazz but this is the best book I've ever read about music.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coming_Through_Slaughter

Nah, not read that - will pick it up if i see it though, ta

 

[DotCommunist]

I'm reading 'Making Us Crazy' which is a slagging off of big phatma, the dcm-3 and psychiatric quackery in general.

 

[sojourner]

I'm reading 'Making Us Crazy' which is a slagging off of big phatma, the dcm-3 and psychiatric quackery in general.

who by?

 

[DotCommunist]

Herb Kutchins & Stuart A Kirk

 

[sojourner]

Herb Kutchins & Stuart A Kirk

didn't really want to know, just helping you brush up your bibliography skills

date?

first publication date?

 

[DotCommunist]

Well I thought you've have some info as to their credentials

 

[sojourner]

Well I thought you've have some info as to their credentials

speaking as a parent...why?

 

[Fedayn]

Last exit to Brooklyn - Hubert Selby Jr.

 

[Fictionist]

Islamic Awakening (Between rejection and extremism) - Yusuf al Qaradawi

 

[May Kasahara]

got another Pelecanos on the go - The Turnaround.

 

[El Jefe]

finished the Mark E Smith autobiography, which was fun but quite depressing in some ways.

Now - like everyone else - I'm reading David Simon's Homicide, which presumably will be no fun at all and depressing in every way

 

[Orang Utan]

I dunno, it's quite funny in places.

 

[tufty79]

corporate watch's technofixes report. not quite a book, but bigger than a pamphlet...
*brainfreeze*

 

[sojourner]

Anil's Ghost, by Michael Ondaatje. A novel about human rights/forensic anthropology investigation into government-sanctioned mass murder in Sri Lanka in late 80s/early 90s

Fucking brilliant, such a great writer. Read half of it last night - he slips massive amounts of research so easily into the story with not so much as a tiny clunk , and manages to write about war atrocities and the contradictory mess of that civil war without a hint of sensationalism or overdoing the pathos.

Finished this yesterday, and all I can say is - if you see it, buy it. Seriously. One of the best books I've read in a lonnnng time. Incredibly dense, so many layers, I LOVE how he writes about emotion and relationships, and it's just 100% quality. Couldn't stop thinking about it all night

 

[Barking_Mad]

7 pages of War & Peace to go......

after that i don't know!

 

[Nanker Phelge]

45 - Bill Drummond

 

[Fictionist]

The Hunchback of Notre Dame - Hugo

 

[Dovydaitis]

enslaving anna- giselle lorimer

first one of hers ive read, so far, not too shabby

 

[snackhead]

Just starting Iain Banks - The Steep Approach to Garbadale

 

[henrytheoctopus]

i'm reading the night of the gun by david carr

 

[Dillinger4]

I have just reread The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon, for about the 6th time. I am starting to get obsessed with Pynchon.

 

[ivebeenhigh]

im reading the new malcolm gladwell book.

its a bit meh and reductive.

 

[Fictionist]

What does 'meh' mean? Is that a reductionist term?

 

[snackhead]

What does 'meh' mean? Is that a reductionist term?

It's Simpsonist

LONDON (AP) — At least someone is excited about "meh."

The expression of indifference or boredom has gained a place in the Collins English Dictionary after generating a surprising amount of enthusiasm among lexicographers.

Publisher HarperCollins announced Monday the word had been chosen from terms suggested by the public for inclusion in the dictionary's 30th anniversary edition, to be published next year.

The origins of "meh" are murky, but the term grew in popularity after being used in a 2001 episode of "The Simpsons" in which Homer suggests a day trip to his children Bart and Lisa.

"They both just reply 'meh' and keep watching TV," said Cormac McKeown, head of content at Collins Dictionaries.

The dictionary defines "meh" as an expression of indifference or boredom, or an adjective meaning mediocre or boring. Examples given by the dictionary include "the Canadian election was so meh."

The dictionary's compilers said the word originated in North America, spread through the Internet and was now entering British spoken English.

"This is a new interjection from the U.S. that seems to have inveigled its way into common speech over here," McKeown said. "Internet forums and e-mail are playing a big part in formalizing the spellings of vocal interjections like these.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hyI8ZfLlWGArP3zCmdKxZldyCKAwD94GBL381

 

[ivebeenhigh]

What does 'meh' mean? Is that a reductionist term?

nope its more indifference

English

Etymology

* Popularized by the television show The Simpsons, specifically in the episode titled “Homer's Triple Bypass".

Pronunciation

* IPA: /mɛ/

Adjective

meh (not comparable)

Positive
meh


Comparative
not comparable


Superlative
none (absolute)

1. Mediocre; lackluster; unexceptional; uninspiring.
* 2003, steve-o, Jam On The River Mini-Review [1] in rec.music.phish

They redeemed themselves with this show. The first song or two was meh, but they were on fire after that.

* 2006, Suzanne D., Recaps: Finals Week 8 Performances, 5/2/2006 [2] in alt.tv.american-idol

The voice is excellent as always, but the overall effect was meh until the end, where he became a little bit awesome.

* 2006, FunkyM, Turned on RAW for the first time in forever last night... [3] in rec.sport.pro.wrestling

Nothing that was supposed to be big and exciting came off as such and the rest was meh at best.

2. Apathetic; unenthusiastic.
* 2003, Dana, 10/18/03 Shows [4] in alt.tv.trading-spaces

Both shows left me feeling, meh.

* 2004, jennifer, The FANtasia thing: I don’t get it... [5] in alt.gossib.celebrities

I’m a huge Clay fan, love Ruben’s voice, and have become quite a fan of Kelly’s, as well. Fantasia just leaves me feeling meh.

* 2006, ettie...@hotmail.com, Steve’s impressions on random Genesis games [6] in rec.games.video.sega

I liked it but I wasn’t feeling it for some reason that day, again, I was feeling meh toward video games in general.

Translations
[show ▼]Mediocre; lackluster; unexceptional; uninspiring

[show ▼]Apathetic; unenthusiastic


Interjection

meh

1. (slang) Expressing indifference or lack of enthusiasm.

“What do you want for dinner?” — “Meh. I’m not really hungry.”
“That film was awesome!” — “Meh. I’ve seen better.”

* 1995 March 19, “Lisa’s Wedding”, The Simpsons

Marge: [weaving on a loom] “Hi Bart, I’m weaving on a loom!”
Bart: “Meh”.

2. (slang) Used to express a mild disagreement where the person does not have either the solid foundation to actually argue a point, or does not feel the argument is worth pursuing any further. Due, in most situations, to the argument being opinion based in subject matter.

“The ____ is far better than the ____” — “Meh."

Translations
[show ▼]slang: expressing indifference or lack of enthusiasm

* Finnish: hmm, pah, pyh
* French: bof



* Italian: bah

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

[show ▼]Translations to be checked

 

[Barking_Mad]

Albert Camus - The Plague

 

[Fictionist]

Thank you snackhead and ivebeenhigh