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*What book are you reading? (part 2)

Good man! Was worried I'd started on book 3 wrongly.

The only other Western I've read is Blood Meridian, which I loved. Any others you can recommend?
Blood Meridian is often described as an anti-Western. The Wikipedia page on them is worth checking out.
 
I'm re-reading Islamic Liberation Theology: Resisting the Empire by Hamid Dabashi.

Here's an excerpt from an article I'm involved in writing on the topic of conventional left-wing racism enmeshing existing racist structures which pretty much sums up my views on the work.

And then, to add further insult to injury, we are presented with a book chronicling an approach to an Islamic liberation theology by a left of capital ideologue. You see, we have many old books to read and can’t really make time for new material just to appear hip and trendy in academic circles. This book tells us that muslims must unite and solidarise with the oppressed masses through the prism of democracy and their religion. Indeed, let us talk down to them, like the comprador intellectual we are, whilst shamefacedly dismissing other left of capital intellectuals. We do not know about you, mr. Dabashi., but as people from Islamic backgrounds we have brains and are able to think. If for whatever reason we have rejected democracy, it is because Marxism has so clearly demolished all of its tenets on an epistemological level that we are no longer in need of its bourgeois theological muck, just as we are not in need of the capitulation of Islam to capital. Islam can only serve as a culture and a method of positioning ourselves for us revolutionaries, and thus it must be vigorously defended against islamophobia.


Pretty much
 
Following on from the astoundingly brilliant 'Reading Lolita in Tehran - a memoir in books' by Azar Nafisi, I am now reading Ryszard Kapuściński's 'Shah of Shahs', which is equally as gob-dropping. Wow - sooooo much info in there that I never knew! I can totally see now how fanatical religious revolution was so successful.

There are so many complexities to the history of Iran and Iraq. This is the stuff you won't find out from any Western media outlets. Seriously eye-opening.
Shah of shahs is brilliant. I've got a bunch of his in mobi kindle format if you want them - just pm.
 
You should read some Tom Robbins or something next, dialectician . some kind of unicorn chaser anyway.

I'm reading China Mieville's Un Lun Fun, which has got off to a ripping start. I got that, Railsea and Kraken for my school library in a lame attempt to be subversive.

I have also just read the first pages of Paul Kingsnorth's The Wake and am massively intrigued. I like books written in bastardised English and this is almost a post apocalyptic adventure, in a similar vein to Riddley Walker, but set in the past, during the Norman invasion and colonisation. Fascinated so far, but early days.
The book is interestingly crowdfunded by a publisher that gets contributions online after authors outline their ideas, paying 50% to the authors. Mind you, Kingsnorth is also a founder of the dubious Dark Mountain project. Very curious looking book though.
 
You should read some Tom Robbins or something next, dialectician . some kind of unicorn chaser anyway.

I'm reading Chine Mieville's Un Lun Fun, which is got off to a ripping start. I got that, Railsea and Kraken for my school library in a lame attempt to be subversive.

I have also just read the first pages of Paul Kingsnorth's The Wake and am massively intrigued. I like books written in bastardised English and this is almost a post a apocalyptic adventure, in a similar vein to Riddley Walker, but set in the past, during the Norman invasion and colonisation. Fascinated so far, but early days.
The book is interestingly crowdfunded by a publisher that gets contributions online after authors outline their ideas, paying 50% to the authors. Mind you, Kingsnorth is also a founder of the dubious Dark Mountain project. Very curious looking book though.
its a while since I read Kraken but are the BDSM nazi sorcerers age appropriate? Railsea is YA and Un Lun Dun obvs for da kids- but kraken?
 
You should read some Tom Robbins or something next, dialectician . some kind of unicorn chaser anyway.

I'm reading China Mieville's Un Lun Fun, which has got off to a ripping start. I got that, Railsea and Kraken for my school library in a lame attempt to be subversive.

I have also just read the first pages of Paul Kingsnorth's The Wake and am massively intrigued. I like books written in bastardised English and this is almost a post apocalyptic adventure, in a similar vein to Riddley Walker, but set in the past, during the Norman invasion and colonisation. Fascinated so far, but early days.
The book is interestingly crowdfunded by a publisher that gets contributions online after authors outline their ideas, paying 50% to the authors. Mind you, Kingsnorth is also a founder of the dubious Dark Mountain project. Very curious looking book though.

Does he write like an acerbic communist militant? Otherwise he's not worth my time...
 
its a while since I read Kraken but are the BDSM nazi sorcerers age appropriate? Railsea is YA and Un Lun Dun obvs for da kids- but kraken?
Haven't read it yet. But fuck it. No one cares.
Mind you, i was asked to get Richard Morgan's Altered Carbon by one lad. Glad I decided to grab it myself and read it first. Glad I did, not just for the sexism, but for th fact that Catholics are a weird persecuted cult in it. Withdrawn from circulation. :D
 
Haven't read it yet. But fuck it. No one cares.
Mind you, i was asked to get Richard Morgan's Altered Carbon by one lad. Glad I decided to grab it myself and read it first. Glad I did, not just for the sexism, but for th fact that Catholics are a weird persecuted cult in it. Withdrawn from circulation. :D
Not just sexism in AC but some (badly written but explicit nonetheless- like a posh readers letter to razzle) sex scenes. If ~I'd have stumbled across that gem in the school libray at 12 it would have blown my mind. and wad.

but those were more innocent times, before internet filth.
 
Not just sexism in AC but some (badly written but explicit nonetheless- like a posh readers letter to razzle) sex scenes. If ~I'd have stumbled across that gem in the school libray at 12 it would have blown my mind. and wad.

but those were more innocent times, before internet filth.
"I made a half-hearted attempt to masturbate, mind churning damply through images of Miriam Bancroft's voluptuous curves, but I kept seeing Sarah's pale body turned to wreckage by the Kalashnikov fire instead. And then sleep dragged me under"
 
I'm finally getting round to reading Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventure of Kavalier & Clay.
I've been meaning to read it for ages but the size of it meant that it had to wait until I'd finished my OU studies.
Only a few chapters in but I'm loving it so far.
 
Original Rude Boy: From Borstal To The Specials - Neville Staple with Tony McMahon

Loving this no holds barred tale of a rebellious youth and music fanatic; essential reading for anyone like me who's ten year old world view was formed around The Specials.
 
Deaf sentence by David Lodge. It's the first one of his I've read which has actually seemed funny.
 
Leslie Thomas' autobio "In my wildest dreams". His book dealing exclusively with his time in a Barnado's home, "This time next week" is one of my favourite books, and this has started just as promisingly. He's funny, v. lyrical, I just love his descriptions and he has some fine stories to tell.
 
Don't know where better to put this than here, so has anyone seen the changes to the cover photo on Jilly Cooper's book Riders? In the original a mans hand is resting on a female tush, while in the new cover shot the hand is in a much safer position.

PC gorn mad? what thinks ye?
 
Don't know where better to put this than here, so has anyone seen the changes to the cover photo on Jilly Cooper's book Riders? In the original a mans hand is resting on a female tush, while in the new cover shot the hand is in a much safer position.

PC gorn mad? what thinks ye?

Where's the tush.
 
About here:
Riders_-_Jilly_Cooper.png
 
'Waging Heavy Peace' Neil Young's autobiography. Very enjoyable - not your usual rock biog, this, long sections concern his model train collection. :D
 
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