*What book are you reading ?

[Boogie Boy]

Just finished 'We' by Yevgeny Zamyatin, which struck me as being an especially modern novel - despite the fact it was apparently written in the early 1920's. Well worth reading.

BB

 

[red_gordon]

Im reading Anti-Duhring by Engels and Lenin by George Lukacs but really want to read a novel.

Was going to read Enduring love but was advised against it. Might re-read Lord of the Flys.

 

[Grandma Death]

Female Chaunvinist Pigs by Ariel Levy.

 

[The Groke]

Just picked up 1984 for the second time.

Was struck anew - just from the first twenty pages - by what an extraordinary (and prescient) novel it is.

 

[Pie 1]

Jonh Le Carre's new one, The Mission Song.
Interesting & well researched plot etc as usual - it's nice that Le Carre is still passionate - but the narrator (apparently, it's the first he's narrated in the first person) is not getting my sympathy at all - he's a pompous, annoying liitle git who I keep hoping is going to get a well deserved pasting from some bad men

Anyway, nice bit of light relief before starting Richard Ford's The Lay of the Land - Frank Bascombe's 3rd outing - which I'm really looking forward to.

 

[Louloubelle]

An early 19th century impression of Aesop's Fables

It's fascinating to see how people at that time projected various completely wrong character traits onto animals. e.g. wolves are evil and ferocious, lions are evil yet majestic, mules signify the working classes, noble horses the aristorcacy.

Lot's of stories about mules trying to be horses and coming to a bad end because they don't accept their proper place in life, that kind of thing.

A really fascinating insight into the prevalent ideas about class, good and evil, people and animals at the time

 

[Paris Garters]

Iain M. Banks - Excession. space opera meets 2001, I started so I'll finish, though I think I've outgrown the sci fi genre.

Oh, persevere - I loved that. Banks is about the only sci-fi I read. It is an interesting thing about SF though - It's seen as the preserve of teenage boys, geeks and fantasists with no life, but i think at it's best it's a really good genre for exploring socio-political issues, and can be really intelligent and inspiring, eg Ursula le Guin's stuff.

I am reading Peter Ackroyds 'Life of Blake' (ie william). What a loon, man. Really interesting placing his work in the social context of the time.

Also 'Gone with the Wind' by Margaret Mitchell. I found it in a skip the other day, I've never seen the film, but fuck me I'm addicted to it. I'd always assumed it was some cartlandesque romance but it's so much more.
Fascinating, and deeply uncomfortable.

 

[J77]

The Fabric of the Cosmos - Brian Greene

I'm on a science tip at the moment

 

[foamy]

this week i read:

On Beauty - Zadie Smith: easier to read than the autograph man and similar to white teeth, didnt blow me away though.

The Abortionist Daughter - Elisabeth someoneorother: not as good as i was expecting.

The First Casualty - Ben Elton: i know but he does write an entertaining crime novel.

Diary of a Manhatten Call Girl - say no more.

The Sea - John Banville: a good book but i sometimes find it hard to see why these sorts of books win the booker prize cos they're just a bit 'meh'.

A Million Little Pieces - James Frey. Fuck me. it blew me away. the most thought introspective provoking book i've read in a while. it made me cry (and chuckle) and i want everyone i know to read it.

 

[foamy]

Was going to read Enduring love but was advised against it. Might re-read Lord of the Flys.

i'd advise you to read enduring love. much much better than the filum and a very good book (much in the same vein as most of his books)

 

[User 301X/5.1]

I am reading "the elegant universe" by Brian Greene.

Really enjoying it.

 

[J77]

I am reading "the elegant universe" by Brian Greene.

Really enjoying it.

I considered that but just dived straight in with FotC

 

[User 301X/5.1]

I considered that but just dived straight in with FotC

I am really enjoying it - I think I will read the fabric of the cosmos one as soon as I finish this.

 

[J77]

I am really enjoying it - I think I will read the fabric of the cosmos one as soon as I finish this.

Nice - from what I've seen, they don't overlap too much.

I like the way Greene writes - he's good at keeping the flow going, which is hard with physics.

Before, FotC I reread The Emporer's New Mind by Penrose - there's some chapters in there which are very tedious...

 

[Philbc03]

Just polished off Peter Binns, Tony Cliff and Chris Harman's 'Russia: From Workers' State to State Capitalism'. Very interesting I thought.

 

[Boogie Boy]

I've just started reading 'The Discovery Of Heaven' by Harry Mulisch, which is proving quite interesting.

BB

 

[jodal]

Finished reading Lemony Snicket Book 1 which was good. If I was to read more childrens fiction I would deffo be reading this, much better than Harry fucking Potter.

Now I've started reading Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem (reccomended by Dub) and have to say its up there with the best books I've ever read. Mind you I've only read one chapter so far but its a cracking good start.

 

[foamy]

'Essays in Love' - Alain De Botton: check me out reading philosophy on the tube

 

[bang]

am halfway through the Count of Monte Cristo, never thought I'd stick at it to be honest, I seem to have trouble focusing on long books but this one has kept me wrapped up in it all the way through

 

[laptop]

Douglas Hofstadter's next book, I Am a Strange Loop

 

[baldrick]

^

looks fascinating

so many books i want to read on this thread am still reading being and nothingness, the only time of day i can concentrate sufficiently is the half hour bus ride to work

 

[Dubversion]

Now I've started reading Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem (reccomended by Dub) and have to say its up there with the best books I've ever read. Mind you I've only read one chapter so far but its a cracking good start.

ah, cool, chuffed you like it. And it gets better, believe it or not

 

[Dubversion]

A Million Little Pieces - James Frey. Fuck me. it blew me away. the most thought introspective provoking book i've read in a while. it made me cry (and chuckle) and i want everyone i know to read it.

just as long as you know he made most of it up

 

[Biddlybee]

Almost finished Hey Nostradamus... thank you PieEye, I might be visiting your library again

 

[Dubversion]

Almost finished Hey Nostradamus... thank you PieEye, I might be visiting your library again

we do have a BIG fucking library

 

[trashpony]

Now I've started reading Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem (reccomended by Dub) and have to say its up there with the best books I've ever read. Mind you I've only read one chapter so far but its a cracking good start.

We liked it at bookgroup too. It's a great book

 

[Biddlybee]

we do have a BIG fucking library

I have a tiny one you're welcome to peruse (but you probably have all my books)

 

[Orang Utan]

I'm still reading We Need To Talk About Kevin but I'm savouring every word - most impressive book I've read in a long time

 

[Dubversion]

I have a tiny one you're welcome to peruse

fnarr fnarr

 

[Biddlybee]

I need to stop doing that.