*What book are you reading? (part 2)

[DotCommunist]

also: orange catholic bible lol

 

[ManchesterBeth]

Read that years ago - it's a good one, alright. The link between the personal and the political was very well done, I thought.

Yeah I find it hard to emotionally follow along with educated characters in some English literature proper but something about Asya really clicked with me. Maybe in part because I can relate to some of the anxieties and contradictions she faces.

 

[Idris2002]

also: orange catholic bible lol

I think that may have been where I stopped reading, the first time I tried to read it.

He does at least try to depict a future that isn't Eisenhower-era AmeriKKKa in space.

 

[DotCommunist]

I think that may have been where I stopped reading, the first time I tried to read it.

He does at least try to depict a future that isn't Eisenhower-era AmeriKKKa in space.

I was startled when I found out how much earlier it was published I had assumed. 80's I thought. Sign of good sci fi imo. There is also Buddislam

 

[Idris2002]

I was startled when I found out how much earlier it was published I had assumed. 80's I thought. Sign of good sci fi imo. There is also Buddislam

There's a 'slipstream' novel by Brian Moore, called Catholics set sometime in this century but written in the 1970s. Anyway, part of the concept is that after the 'fourth Vatican council' the Mother Church started doing weird shit like linking up with the Buddhists.

Our religion teacher in school told us that he'd read it without realising that it was set in the future (or what was the future then, IYSWIM), and got afraid that he'd missed something.

 

[DotCommunist]

There's a 'slipstream' novel by Brian Moore, called Catholics set sometime in this century but written in the 1970s. Anyway, part of the concept is that after the 'fourth Vatican council' the Mother Church started doing weird shit like linking up with the Buddhists.

Our religion teacher in school told us that he'd read it without realising that it was set in the future (or what was the future then, IYSWIM), and got afraid that he'd missed something.

you'd like this. Quite rightly won awards, given to me by my brothers ex. Aliens are found on a planet. governments wring hands and debate. But not the Jesuits, oh no. What do Jesuits do? SEND A MISSION.

The Sparrow (novel) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[stockwelljonny]

The Quiet American - Graham Greene
I love that feeling when you start a classic by one of your favourite authors, one of life's great pleasures.

Yes, Greene does seem to create a unique atmosphere, quite heavy and often unpleasant but compelling. read the Honorary Consul recently and was surprised how much I enjoyed it, as a page turner but also quality bit of writing

 

[stockwelljonny]

Anyway, I'm currently reading Frank Herbert's Dune. I thought I'd read it years ago, but then I realised that I hadn't. It's gripping, and the world building is outstanding (there must be a whole generation of ecologists who were inspired to take up that career by the book) - and this compensates for the fact that the Paul Atreides character has a bad case of the Mary Sue blues.

(a 14 year old political genius and martial arts expert? come on, Frank).

Never read this, putting it on the list ;-)

 

[stockwelljonny]

Pol Pot - History of a Nightmare - Philip Short - just finished this. Chose it as realised that I don't know anything about the khmer rouge or about Cambodia generally. Was worried might be too horrendous but thought it was a really good book, set out cultural and geo political background really well and I learnt a lot. Was not sensationalist at all. Fascinating stuff about role of China/ Mao, US and split between Russia and China which I hadn't appreciated. Ended up with US, Kmer Rouge, China and King of Cambodia effectively on same side. Jesus wept. %-/

 

[weltweit]

Now reading Wilt in nowhere, Tom Sharpe.

 

[krtek a houby]

Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler.

And neither of you wrote/posted much after that

 

[Idris2002]

Kevin Barry - Beatlebone.

It's good. Cornelius O' Grady is my da.

I saw that the last time I was home, and nearly bought it. You may have decided me. . .

 

[Beats & Pieces]

The Ambassadors - Henry James

 

[seventh bullet]

Pol Pot - History of a Nightmare - Philip Short - just finished this. Chose it as realised that I don't know anything about the khmer rouge or about Cambodia generally. Was worried might be too horrendous but thought it was a really good book, set out cultural and geo political background really well and I learnt a lot. Was not sensationalist at all. Fascinating stuff about role of China/ Mao, US and split between Russia and China which I hadn't appreciated. Ended up with US, Kmer Rouge, China and King of Cambodia effectively on same side. Jesus wept. %-/

One of the better non-specialist books from a liberal journalist, but it was criticised by others for concentrating on Communist sources and at times it goes off into speculation about their politics and ideology. He also received opprobrium for stating his belief that they are innocent of genocide, which isn't as controversial as it first appears, considering the academic debate that has been going on for many years.

 

[stockwelljonny]

Interesting. I noticed his treatment of the killings as its obviously very difficult but he did make specific reference/ comparisons to the numbers killed by the French in Algeria and distinguished between deaths by disease and famine and outright murder. Came across to me as very well researched and humane treatment of complicated subject. I liked Phillip Short's style enough to follow on with with his book on Mitterrand, which am enjoying as well. Informative to a general reader and a good page turner, Mitterrand in the resistance then political shenanigans, find Algeria, settlers, De Gaulle etc and impact on France and French politics really interesting. Still going on obviously..

 

[ringo]

Yes, Greene does seem to create a unique atmosphere, quite heavy and often unpleasant but compelling. read the Honorary Consul recently and was surprised how much I enjoyed it, as a page turner but also quality bit of writing

Its the writing I'm into. Some of the stories are incredibly well planned and paced and at times so evocative of the faraway places his characters inhabit they can feel like the best travel writing. At other times the now completed outdated mysoginy and racism of his characters can be quite off putting, but his talent as a writer shines through everything.

 

[stockwelljonny]

Its the writing I'm into. Some of the stories are incredibly well planned and paced and at times so evocative of the faraway places his characters inhabit they can feel like the best travel writing. At other times the now completed outdated mysoginy and racism of his characters can be quite off putting, but his talent as a writer shines through everything

I found this quite interesting

Paris Review - The Art of Fiction No. 3, Graham Greene

 

[Sea Star]

I've just bought "Carol" by Patricia Highsmith to read for a LGBT women's book and film group meeting on Tuesday. Scared to death of going because I don;t know if I'm going to run into objections by being there. But I don;t see why I shouldn't be there!

Then I get an invite to an event about transgender politics on Tuesday and I'm conflicted. will still try to read book by Tuesday though. Been meaning to read Highsmith for about 20 years and never quite got round to it.

 

[ringo]

I found this quite interesting

Paris Review - The Art of Fiction No. 3, Graham Greene

Yes, but not that easy to read, they had a very stiff style of interviewing.

 

[flypanam]

I saw that the last time I was home, and nearly bought it. You may have decided me. . .

Do pick it up, it's a very good story. Really well written and very funny.

 

[belboid]

Do pick it up, it's a very good story. Really well written and very funny.

I'd agree - except for maybe that one chapter that just seems to have no place in the book.

 

[flypanam]

The one where Barry talks about his research? I thought that really good.

 

[belboid]

Fair do's. It didn't work for me, but it didn't ruin the rest of it. Just seemed a bit...odd

 

[Voley]

Just started The Revenant by Michael Punke as recommended by marty21. I like the film and the book is similarly fast-paced and enjoyable so far. Ta for that, marty.

Punke dedicated it to his parents. His Dad's called Butch. Yes, Butch Punke.

 

[Cheesypoof]

Now reading Wilt in nowhere, Tom Sharpe.

I quite liked the first book - having found it from a list of 'Funniest books of all time' where it regularly appears. It's a bit dated now, in a kitsch cool kind of way, like Monty Python is. I didnt know he had written others. Let me know what you think

 

[DotCommunist]

I quite liked the first book - having found it from a list of 'Funniest books of all time' where it regularly appears. It's a bit dated now, in a kitsch cool kind of way, like Monty Python is. I didnt know he had written others. Let me know what you think

Blott on the Landscape. I tell you no lie, its his funniest work. They kicked sharpe out of SA for doing satire on the regime as well. He is very funnyy, its perfect farce writing. The narrative builds and rolls with a few lols till eventually its all gone south and you are cracking up at the sheer dysfuntion of it all. Porterhouse blue also. Here's the one that got him kicked out of apartheid era SA as well. Riotous Assembly.

 

[Sea Star]

Blott on the Landscape. I tell you no lie, its his funniest work. They kicked sharpe out of SA for doing satire on the regime as well. He is very funnyy, its perfect farce writing. The narrative builds and rolls with a few lols till eventually its all gone south and you are cracking up at the sheer dysfuntion of it all. Porterhouse blue also. Here's the one that got him kicked out of apartheid era SA as well. Riotous Assembly.

I read my way through Tom Sharpe in my teens and early twenties. I found them very funny back then. I can imagine that they may have dated some what since though.

 

[weltweit]

I quite liked the first book - having found it from a list of 'Funniest books of all time' where it regularly appears. It's a bit dated now, in a kitsch cool kind of way, like Monty Python is. I didnt know he had written others. Let me know what you think

About half way through, honestly it isn't as funny as I recall others of his books, but it is well readable so I am going on with it.

Blott on the Landscape. I tell you no lie, its his funniest work. They kicked sharpe out of SA for doing satire on the regime as well. He is very funnyy, its perfect farce writing. The narrative builds and rolls with a few lols till eventually its all gone south and you are cracking up at the sheer dysfuntion of it all. Porterhouse blue also. Here's the one that got him kicked out of apartheid era SA as well. Riotous Assembly.

Yes, I think Blott and Riotous Assembly are better than this one.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I, Superorganism - Learning to Love You're Inner Ecosystem. By Jon Turney.

All about our symbiotic passengers.

Apparently the oft-quoted '10-1' ratio of microbial vs. human cells isn't quite right. A 2013 study estimated that there are approximately 37 trillion cells in a typical human, and other studies suggest there are between 30 and 400 trillion microbial cells. Compared to our paltry 24,000 genes, over 10 million microbial genes have been identified so far in humans.

 

[krtek a houby]

Taking a break from the Mievelle book at the moment, just finished The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid. Now I understand why this book is so revered. If you haven't read it, give it a go. You'll probably finish it in one go.