*What book are you reading? (part 2)

[sojourner]

The Gift, by Nabokov

I really really fucking love his writing. Ridiculously clever without being a smart-arse, laugh-out-loud funny on occasion, and just completely 'out there' for want of a better phrase. No one else like him, ever.

 

[Dirty Martini]

without being a smart-arse

Mmm ...

Love his prose though.

 

[sojourner]

Mmm ...

Love his prose though.

Hehe - welllll...but he also takes the piss out of being a smart arse as well though, so it counterbalances it

 

[Mr_Nice]

Wasted - Mark Johnson

awsome

Wasted

 

[Fictionist]

Ilium - Dan Simmons

Starting this today after the recommendation by DC.

 

[big eejit]

I've just finished The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney, which was a rollicking good read. Well written with lots of lovely wry observations, esp from the lead female character.

Now reading Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel, which is very funny but very dark in places. As you might imagine from the title.

 

[Dirty Martini]

Finished my re-read of The Radetzky March, which is, of course, even better the second time round, is one of the great books of the last century and feels like my favourite novel.

Go on, y'all. Read it. Used on Scamazon for 31 new pence.

 

[Pieface]

I reserve judgement at this point........... really enjoying wind up bird. my first of his. How disappointing to avidly a book and then read another that just doesn't catch your attention

I was a bit gutted! I do find him very hit and miss as some of his books can really blow you away (and I think Wind up Bird is one) and others are so flat in comparison I convinced myself it must be for a reason and not because they were just shit

It could be in the translation obviously. I hate the fact I'm not reading the book in the language it was written in as it makes me worry I'm missing out on important subtleties that don't translate very well.

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

I was a bit gutted! I do find him very hit and miss as some of his books can really blow you away (and I think Wind up Bird is one) and others are so flat in comparison I convinced myself it must be for a reason and not because they were just shit

It could be in the translation obviously. I hate the fact I'm not reading the book in the language it was written in as it makes me worry I'm missing out on important subtleties that don't translate very well.

Try Norwegian Wood - it's one of the best things i've ever read. And it might make you revisit Kafka on the Shore (or it might not....)

 

[Orang Utan]

everything i've read of murakami's has been slightly disappointing cos i read wind up bird chronicle first. he's good, but that's his best. i wish i had started with another of his.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

A Tale of a Tub
Jonathan Swift

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

everything i've read of murakami's has been slightly disappointing cos i read wind up bird chronicle first. he's good, but that's his best. i wish i had started with another of his.

but that's why i think norwegian wood is so good as it's so different to wind-up bird chronicle. and so moving at the serious end of the novel that it takes my breath away.

 

[ChrisC]

Zig Zag Zen Buddhism and Psychedelics by Allan Hunt Badiner and Alex Grey.

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

any cop?

 

[Orang Utan]

but that's why i think norwegian wood is so good as it's so different to wind-up bird chronicle. and so moving at the serious end of the novel that it takes my breath away.

i've read that too. can't say i was moved. i think that was the second one i read of his.

 

[Orang Utan]

the gift, by nabokov

i really really fucking love his writing. Ridiculously clever without being a smart-arse, laugh-out-loud funny on occasion, and just completely 'out there' for want of a better phrase. No one else like him, ever.

word. YOU HAVE TO READ LOLITA NOW

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

i've read that too. can't say i was moved. i think that was the second one i read of his.

*SPOLIER ALERT*














the section when he finds out * was suffocatingly affecting. imo.

 

[Orang Utan]

i've already forgotten about that

 

[Bakunin]

Well, after a mamooth session of true crime, and in need of something a tad lighter, I've opted for a spot of Frederick Forsyth's 'The Fourth Protocol.'

I'm not keen on Forsyth's politics (I'm not keen on those of Tom Clancy either) but he does write a really decent potboiler, IMHO.

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

i've already forgotten about that

i'm not sure i shouldn't edit my post to remove that anyhoo. perhaps i will...

 

[El Jefe]

but that's why i think norwegian wood is so good as it's so different to wind-up bird chronicle. and so moving at the serious end of the novel that it takes my breath away.

i think Norwegian Wood is a brilliant, brilliant book.

And I really really didn't like Wind Up Bird.

enough jazz loving cat owning pasta eating people stuck in holes already

 

[ChrisC]

any cop?

Very well written and very interesting.

 

[Orang Utan]

i think Norwegian Wood is a brilliant, brilliant book.

And I really really didn't like Wind Up Bird.

enough jazz loving cat owning pasta eating people stuck in holes already

but which did you read first?

 

[El Jefe]

Wind Up Bird Chronicles. Hated it. Was convinced by pieface to read Norwegian Wood, blew me away.

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

Very well written and very interesting.

might be tempted to have a look for that then

 

[Pieface]

Thing is, Norwegian Wood stands out as different to his other books and it's the one that everyone likes the most

I may read his book on running at some point...

 

[El Jefe]

Thing is, Norwegian Wood stands out as different to his other books and it's the one that everyone likes the most

nah, reckon the most liked is WUBC...

 

[Pieface]

Ah disahgree.

 

[El Jefe]

Ah disahgree.

Ah don't care

 

[fogbat]

Just finished Amsterdam, by Ian McEwan. Entertaining, but disappointingly short.

Currently re-reading What a Carve Up! by Jonathan Coe.