*What book are you reading ?

[transparent]

snow falling on cedars: david guterson

interesting times: pratchett

a history of architecture: spiro kosof

realised last night what pyramid song was all about (you all probably know already but i'm a bit thick)

Early egyptian burials consisted of a subterranean room covered by a wooden roof and then surrounded by a vault like building, which had a wooden boat placed in it so that the dead king could sail to the heavens.

Surrounding this monument is a border of graves of his/her family and friends, build in a similar style to the large vault on a smaller scale.

Pyramid Song:

'All my lovers in here with me
All my past and futures
And we all went ot heaven in a little row boat
There was nothing to fear, nothing to doubt'

The last line being concerned with the Egyptians blind faith in the afterlife. If anyone knows what the 'black eyed angels' are all about, please post up.

 

[Soft as Shite]

Originally posted by sonicdancer
*still* reading the epic 5th Jean Auel Novel

"The Shelters of Stone"

Really enjoyed reading about Ayla again- I read it in a week on holiday! After that, I ended up reading "The Mammoth Hunters" and "The Plains of Passage" again- so entranched I was in pre-history.

Are you enjoying it sonicdancer?

 

[shortfatdyke II]

I just got a copy of The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker and I'm reading that at the moment. Really interesting to find out that Pinhead was originally female....

 

[Masseuse]

Halfway through "The Undiscovered Self" by Jung. What a cool bloke. Written years ago but describes today's social climate to a T.

 

[@^+]

Christ. some good choices here.
So many things i need to check out.

I'm reading:

Bad Wisdom by Bill Drummond & Mark Manning, wherein two former pop/rock/dance nutters and their roadie/manager Gimpo set out on a quest to bring a portrait of Elvis to the North Pole. Once planted in the icey wastes, they are convinced that "the devine Presleyesque vibes would slide down the myriad ley lines and dance across the scattered latitudes, transmitting instant love, peace and global understanding".
Hilarity ensues. Along with copious farting, drinking, violence, philosophical ramblings, and Nazi Kung Fu Sex Bitches With Rottweilers.

(must re-read Drummond's 45 as it's genius)

also about to get back into comics, starting with Lazarus Churchyard by Warren Ellis and D'Israeli, along with back issues of Doom Patrol, Invisibles, Shade: The Changing Man, etc..

for anyone interested in reading a comic book that can stand alongside the very best 'serious' literature, check out Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid On Earth by Chris Ware.
Subtle, understated, surreal, emotional, brilliant.

ant out

http://www.tefosav.co.uk
http://photos.yahoo.com/subterrant

 

[Dubversion]

(must re-read Drummond's 45 as it's genius)

the moment i finished it, i just started at the beginning and read it again..

 

[Kidda]

Kirk franklins Autobiography : My Music , My life. Church boy.

really intresting.

and My story : ron kray
im seeing a whole different side to the bloke.

 

[foo]

Originally posted by Tank Girl
How's maribou stork nightmares going foo? I've read it once, and have re-read about half of it now... very twisted and really not all that nice, but a bloody good read.

Don't know about you Tanky but I've put that one away for now - I'll pick it up again when I'm in the mood for twisted

Just finished The Fourth Hand by John Irving. Loved it. He's an excellent storyteller.

About to start A Widow for One Year by the same author.

 

[Stinky Monkey]

I've just finished reading a few books.

Women by Charles Bukowski, which I thought was pretty good. As with most of his books I found it very hard to put down once I started reading it.
I also just read The Monsters in My Tummy and Lenore: Noogies both by Roman Dirge. Both are darkly funny comics. If you have heard of Jonny the Homicidal Maniac and like that sort of thing I'd strongly recommend that you check out Roman Dirge's work.

I am currently reading The Barefoot Doctor's Handbook For The Modern Warrior which, as an introduction to Taoism, I've found to be very accessable. It's nicely written, explains things well and has some good humour in it to keep things flowing along nicely.
I'm also about half way through Charles Bukowski's biography: Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life. It's interesting, but very heavy going and I'm not really in the mood for it at the minute.

In my *to read* pile I've just picked up Post Office and Factotum both by Bukowski and both costing me a measly 3 quid each from a shop in Cambridge who's name I've forgotten.

 

[Hannibal_Smith]

Reading

Just finished 'Dalva' by Jim Harrison - would recommend anything by him; 'The Road Home' and 'Legends of the Fall' stand out. Maybe more the sort of thing blokes would like rather than women but ...
Also just started 'Heart of the Matter' by Graham Greene and a book on Karl Popper.
Also journals and books for my (teaching) course.

 

[basher t]

Originally posted by @^+
I'm reading:

Bad Wisdom by Bill Drummond & Mark Manning, wherein two former pop/rock/dance nutters and their roadie/manager Gimpo set out on a quest to bring a portrait of Elvis to the North Pole. Once planted in the icey wastes, they are convinced that "the devine Presleyesque vibes would slide down the myriad ley lines and dance across the scattered latitudes, transmitting instant love, peace and global understanding".
Hilarity ensues. Along with copious farting, drinking, violence, philosophical ramblings, and Nazi Kung Fu Sex Bitches With Rottweilers.


bad wisdom is a fucking classic.

some chapter titles: teenage virgin supermodels eat shit
the blaspheming cunt of sodom
the road of fear and the tunnel of doom
the blind chainsaw fishermen of finland

half of it's written by zodaic mindwarp in the most wonderful OTT style (example - his ending includes them stroming madonnas hotel, battling it out with her army of chippendales) and the other half by bill drummond. there's meant to be a volume of correspondance between bill and zed out but i've not come across it. if it's anything like bad wisdom or their colums in the idler it's certainly on my xmas list.

 

[Roadkill]

I've just finished re-reading Jurassic Park. I'd forgotten how good it is, especially compared to the film. It really makes you think.

I've started on The Lost World now. It's not as good, but still worth reading.

 

[crashandburn]

just finished Alastair Reynold's 'Redemption Ark'. Not bad, but bit of a shame I couldn't remember much from his first 2 as it builds upon the same characters.

But what to start next ....

reread Trainspotting, then move onto Glue and finally pick up Porno?

take a break and go with Christopher Brookmyre's 'One fine day, in the middle of the night', or

enjoy a bittersweet treat with Douglas Adams 'The Salmon Of Doubt'?

choices, choices ...

 

[foo]

I haven't been able to put Irving's A Widow for One Year down this afternoon....... does anyone else have an opinion on him and his novels? Definitely one of my favorite authors.

 

[Bond]

Recently finished Adrian Mole: From Minor to Major which collects the first 3 books of Secret Diary, Growing Pains and True Confessions by Sue Townsend as well as finishing the next book The Wilderness years. Those books are always a fun read.

Am reading quite a funny travel book at the moment too called McCarthy's Bar by Pete McCarthy in which he shares his adventures in Ireland.

 

[Dubversion]

Originally posted by foo
I haven't been able to put Irving's A Widow for One Year down this afternoon....... does anyone else have an opinion on him and his novels? Definitely one of my favorite authors.

i used to be obsessed with John Irving, read and re-read them all.. then suddenly, and I think it was after Son Of The Circus, i somehow couldn't be arsed anymore. i'm not sure why - maybe they're all a little bit similar in tone and style, and all damn long..

but owen meany and the cider house rules - at the time - were amongst the best books id ever read, and id recommned them to anyone..

for the record, im in one of my insomnia phases and i've read 300 pages of Howard Jacobson's The Mighty Walzer since last night - moving, funny story of a young Jewish table tennis prodigy and compulsive masturbator..

 

[farmerbarleymow]

At the moment, as ever, I've got several on the go:

Emergence - by Steven Johnson. About how self-organising behaviour can emerge from the bottom-up. Interesting stuff - including stuff about internet communities springing up.

The Pankhursts - by Martin Pugh. A family history if you like

The Penguin Companion to Food - by Alan Davidson. A dictionary for foodies. Wonderful!

Fermats Last Theorem - by Simon Singh. Good stuff.

It Must Be Beautiful, Great Equations of Modern Science - Ed. Graham Fermelo. A collection of essays about the great equations.

One book I bought recently but haven't got round to reading yet is The Science of Marijuana, by Leslie L Iverson. It is a detailed anyalysis of all the research surrounding the subject, and goes into great detail about it. Fascinating stuff, although I only have looked at the odd page so far. Just thought a lot of people here might be interested in hearing about this one. Please let me know if you would like the ISBN

Cheers

 

[N2Oboy]

I've just started The Hidden Connections by Fritjof Capra. I've always thought that you can't look at anything in isolation and I'm hoping that this is going to provide me with some cast iron reasons.
I'm also re-reading my 100 Bullets collections, fantastic stuff.

 

[Masseuse]

for anyone interested in reading a comic book that can stand alongside the very best 'serious' literature, check out Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid On Earth by Chris Ware.

I second that @^+. Just read Ghostworld which was pretty cool too.

Half way through Ian Banks "Dead Air". It's ok, but I'm kind of unengaged with it.

However, I'm in the grip of severe Jung mania. "Undiscovered self" was awesome. Now on to "Man and his symbols". Dreams take on a whole new meaning.......

What is "Hidden Connections" N2O boy? Sounds like it's up my strasse.

 

[ck]

I'm now reading "The Answer Is Never" by Jocko Weyland which is a skateboarders look at the history of skateboarding as an art and a sport.

It's a very good read...

 

[N2Oboy]

Originally posted by Masseuse


I second that @^+. Just read Ghostworld which was pretty cool too.

What is "Hidden Connections" N2O boy? Sounds like it's up my strasse.

Hidden Connections uses systems science to take a holistic look at life from the cellular to social levels. I've only read the first two chapters so far (the origins of life and cognitive science) but it's shaping up to be very interesting indeed.
Here's the full lowdown

And if we're talking comics as well, anyone who hasn't read Maus by Art Speigelman should do so as soon as possible.

 

[Lubi]

Im reading ...Soul Music by Terry Pratchett Very Funny..

Keep catching myself laughing out loud on the train.... good fun!

 

[Gary Jarvis]

The Second World War - a short history

Found this book in Barnet libraries and I'm hooked. Finding out a lot of stuff I didn't know about WWII like how a division of French soldiers formed a barrier between the retreating British soldiers to Dunkirk and the advancing Germans. The book's author R A C Parker says this was done to protect the British soldiers on their way back to England.

Also shortly after Churchill became Prime Minister. In order to show Hitler the strength of the Allies, a French vessell was bombed with the loss of 1250 French soldiers. I thought I'd misread that bit.

At Chapter Five The United States enters the war: the origins of the Japanese attack.
What's great about the book is like part of the blurb says 'it examines the causes of the war, how it was won and lost, and its far reaching consequences for humanity.'

 

[jms]

Willy Russel
The wrong boy

 

[basher t]

i am 3/4 of the way through ulysees by james joyce.
amongst other things, it is absolutley filthy.

 

[Iris]

God of small things

I'm reading The God Of Small Things, terrific book. It's a best seller and is basically about the political sitatuions in India, BUT in a form of a story. Wonderful, MUST READ!

 

[Dubversion]

finished Howard jacobson's The Mighty Walzer (made me cry)
and need to finish up Once More With Feeling by Charlie Skelton and Victoria Coren (lightweight but amusing story about their attempts to make an ethical porn film) before trying to read:

a volume about Van Morrison's 'art'.
London Bones my Michael Moorcock
The Master and Margarita by Bulgakov..

all before I start back at Uni in a couple of weeks...

 

[Rollem]

about to start "Down the Highway: The life of Bob Dylan"

 

[Roadkill]

Oooh, Rollem, that's meant to be very good - right up there with Clinton Heylin's biog of Dylan. Can you let me know what you think of it?

I'm reading The Warden, by Anthony Trollope, at the moment. I really like nineteenth century novelists - I like the style, the way they take the piss out of their own characters, and the way they aren't afraid to look critically at their own society.

When i've done with Trollope, I've got E.M.Forster's Maurice lined up to read next. Forster was gay, and Maurice was published posthumously. The main character is a gay man living in Britain about a century ago, who finds eventual happiness in a loving gay relationship. What was all too obvious was that Maurice was meant to represent Forster, and the happiness that he never found. had the book been publiched in 1913, when it was completed (though revised in the 1950s), it would have caused a scandal.

 

[Soft as Shite]

God of small things

Originally posted by Iris
I'm reading The God Of Small Things, terrific book. It's a best seller and is basically about the political sitatuions in India, BUT in a form of a story. Wonderful, MUST READ!

I'll second that. One of my favourite books, so beautifully written from a child's point of view, heartbreakingly beautiful.

Just finished "The Lost Daughter of Happiness" by Geling Yan. Picked it up on one of those 3 for 2 deals at Waterstones.

It's a love story set about 1860 in San Fransisco, following a famous Chinese prostitute called Fusang. At once brutal and erotic, it touches on obsessive love, racism and cultural conflict. Detailed descriptions evoke the historical background to the story, a time that was unsettled and conflicted due to waves of Chinese immigration and cultural change.

The Chinese were viewed as sub-human beings by many Americans, their ability to endure hardship and work for next to nothing disgusted and frightened them, not to mention their diet! The fact that they would eat (what Americans saw as) anything revolted them, but also unsettled them. It meant they could survive and multiply regardless of hardship.

Think this is an important book to read for those interested in Chinese culture and racisim.