*What book are you reading? (part 2)

[sojourner]

Marley and Me on Saturday. Was okay - was very hungover and after a light read so fitted the bill

Yesterday I read Four Stories, by Alan Bennett - brilliant

Started Through the Narrow Gate by Karen Armstrong, about becoming a nun and her eventual departure - seems okay

 

[pennimania]

Started Through the Narrow Gate by Karen Armstrong, about becoming a nun and her eventual departure - seems okay

I've read that ! I love books about nuns her experiences were horrendous.

 

[sojourner]

I've read that ! I love books about nuns her experiences were horrendous.

Ooo nice one

I've only read one book about nuns - it was called Lesbian Nuns I think. Now THAT was interesting

 

[pennimania]

Ooo nice one

I've only read one book about nuns - it was called Lesbian Nuns I think. Now THAT was interesting

 

[Voley]

Just started 'Generation Kill' by Evan Wright as I enjoyed the TV series so much. Pretty good so far - very much in the Michael Herr 'Dispatches' style. The marines all think the writer's a right wanker.

 

[Lea]

Collected short stories by Vladimir Nabokov.

 

[sojourner]

Collected short stories by Vladimir Nabokov.

Ooo sounds interesting. What are they like?

 

[christonabike]

I need a read

Thinking about Jim Dodge - Not Fade Away

Any good?

Ta

 

[Dirty Martini]

I need a read

Thinking about Jim Dodge - Not Fade Away

Any good?

Ta

It's good fun, but only quite good. It does indeed fade away in the last third.

 

[yield]

I finished Vineland by Thomas Pynchon a few weeks ago. Difficult to describe what it isn't. He has an amazing style. Proper LOL in places.

Got a copy of Gravity's Rainbow and Slow Learner which I looking forward to.

Also read Thirteen/Black Man by Richard Morgan. Main character is a black British supersoldier. Reminds me of Steppenwolf and Bladerunner. Great read.

Now I'm on my third read of Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson. I'm getting a little obsessive about the Malazan books as I'm sure there's something I've missed or forgotten....

Altered Carbon - Bought as a few on here had mentioned it, really enjoyed it and want to read a few more Morgan books now. Which is the next book to read with Kovacs in?

I'd read Broken Angels next and then Woken Furies.

You'll probably like Neal Asher too.

 

[DotCommunist]

Graviy's rainbow is hard work man- I never finished it.


The Malazan books, I only really got the mythic structure after re-reading them all in one marathon.

I'm re-reading Iron Council

 

[QueenOfGoths]

Consider Phlebas - just started it this morning

 

[yield]

Graviy's rainbow is hard work man- I never finished it.

It's got to be done. It can't be harder than Foucault's Pendulum surely?

The Malazan books, I only really got the mythic structure after re-reading them all in one marathon.

Maybe I ought to do that. How long did it take you?

I'm re-reading Iron Council

Excellent book.

Consider Phlebas - just started it this morning

My second favourite Banks sci-fi after Use of Weapons. I hope you enjoy it.

 

[DotCommunist]

It's got to be done. It can't be harder than Foucault's Pendulum surely?

much harder going IMO

Maybe I ought to do that. How long did it take you?

bout two-3 months iirc

 

[ericjarvis]

Just finished reading Altered Carbon. What a fantastic first novel!

Next up is Embers Of Heaven by Alma Alexander. Her first novel, Secrets of Jin Shei, was right up their with Altered Carbon, and my other favourite debut, Humility Garden by Felicity Savage. I gather that in this case it's very much a sequel, and not as good as its predecessor, but Alma's a nice lass so I shall read it anyway.

 

[ChrisC]

The Kings Buccaneer by Raymond E. Feist.

 

[yield]

much harder going IMO

I will give it a go. Feeling daunted now.

bout two-3 months iirc

Not sure if I'm ready to stomach the Bonehunters and Reaper's Gale so soon. Large parts were tedious.

Deadhouse Gates third time around is much less about the Chain of Dogs. Some characters like Fiddler, Kalam and Cutter become more central with knowing about their futures.

 

[rollinder]

recently finished re-reading Ian Banks' The Crow Road
todays reading:Rob Newman - Dependance Day & Chuck Palahniuk - Rant
both fucking wierd but good wierd (I think)

 

[Lea]

Ooo sounds interesting. What are they like?

I've only read 4 stories so far. They are very different from each other. I've never read Nabokov before but I find his vocabulary very rich. He writes like a painter creating a canvas. Lots of subtle details and vivid descriptions.

 

[tufty79]

finished 'last exit to brooklyn' the other day - grim as fuck

just moved onto 'the book of dave' by will self (started it a while ago and then got distracted) and, while it's good, all i can think of is 'you fucker - you're ripping off russell hoban and riddley walker. sort of'.

 

[Fictionist]

The Castle of Otranto - Horace Walpole

 

[Rollem]

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, by Robert Tressell

 

[sojourner]

finished 'last exit to brooklyn' the other day - grim as fuck

Oh god - I remember reading that ooooo 20 ish years ago, and being devastated by it

just moved onto 'the book of dave' by will self (started it a while ago and then got distracted) and, while it's good, all i can think of is 'you fucker - you're ripping off russell hoban and riddley walker. sort of'.

Interestingly, I was on about BoD to a mate a few weeks back. The conversation moved on slightly, and he was describing a story and I stopped him to ask if he was still on about BoD. He wasn't, his summary was actually about A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller. In bare bones structure, it's very similar.

 

[llion]

Mary Webb - Precious Bane. A very magical, mystical read so far. A bit like a much earlier Angela Carter.

 

[tastebud]

i'm reading 'the good women of China' - really good so far!

 

[sojourner]

i'm reading 'the good women of China' - really good so far!

Heartbreaking though, at times

 

[pennimania]

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, by Robert Tressell

I love that book.

 

[ChrisC]

Shadow of a Dark Queen and now Rise of a Merchant Prince both by Raymond E. Feist.

 

[RubyBlue]

7 Days to Live by Nick Yarris - he spent 21 years inside (USA) for a rape / murder he didn't commit - eventually released because DNA evidence proved he didn't commit the crime - he had to virtually do all the legal work himself and tell his so called lawyer what he needed him to do as the public defender assigned to him not only made it clear from the outset he thought he was guilty but was also incompetent

 

[tastebud]

Heartbreaking though, at times

I know. I am now realising this. I did a last minute Christmas present rush buy in Bangkok a few years ago and got it as a Christmas present for my grandma who is actually a feminist but still, she thinks there is nothing bad in the world ever - a very sweet little old lady. Who knows there is bad of course, really - she has lived it - but pretends nevertheless as a way of coping with life. But I hadn't read it and am reading it now, kinda wishing that I had read it before I had got it for her. and then perhaps not done so.