Author Topic: What books are we reading at the moment ? (Read 846627 times)

itsbruce · « **Reply #1650 on:** 11 December, 2010, 12:57:08 pm »

Quote from: Clandy on 09 December, 2010, 09:04:13 pm

Revisiting Asimov's Foundation trilogy.

Every time I've done that, I've found it more silly and portentous than ever.

Bledlow · « **Reply #1651 on:** 11 December, 2010, 02:54:53 pm »

The White War by Mark Thompson

History of the Italian participation in WW1. A ghastly farce, which would have been comical if it was not so horrific, with (until the catastrophe of Caporetto made his incompetence too obvious to ignore) a commander who blamed every failure on his troops, sacked officers who refused to order extra-judicial executions of soldiers, & had critics (including officers who suggested changing failing tactics) imprisoned.

her_welshness · « **Reply #1652 on:** 12 December, 2010, 11:17:12 am »

Quote from: Tom B on 10 December, 2010, 04:22:26 pm

'Possession' by A.S. Byatt

Tip for you - ignore completely the Gothic victorian stories in between and then you will be fine

groucho · « **Reply #1653 on:** 15 December, 2010, 11:16:57 am »

Clean Business Cuisine, Now and Z/Yen - Michael Mainelli & Ian Harris.

LindaG · « **Reply #1654 on:** 15 December, 2010, 10:21:04 pm »

Silence and Honey Cakes - Rowan Williams

Rhys W · « **Reply #1655 on:** 16 December, 2010, 09:27:49 am »

God Is Not Great, Christopher Hitchens.

citoyen · « **Reply #1656 on:** 16 December, 2010, 11:09:39 am »

Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut
(hence the question about it in the pop quiz thread)

One of those books I probably should have read years ago but only got around to it this week because of a set of coincidences. First, it was referred to in a discussion on Riddley Walker (probably my favourite book of all time) on the Guardian books website. Then I was at my parents' house at the weekend and I noticed it on the bookshelf, so I picked it up and started reading it. And was very quickly engrossed.

It's completely bonkers but I love it.

d.

Bledlow · « **Reply #1657 on:** 16 December, 2010, 02:19:04 pm »

The Pyramid - William Golding.

Read it long ago, & thought I should re-read it.

LindaG · « **Reply #1658 on:** 16 December, 2010, 10:45:51 pm »

Quote from: citoyen on 16 December, 2010, 11:09:39 am

Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut
(hence the question about it in the pop quiz thread)

One of those books I probably should have read years ago but only got around to it this week because of a set of coincidences. First, it was referred to in a discussion on Riddley Walker (probably my favourite book of all time) on the Guardian books website. Then I was at my parents' house at the weekend and I noticed it on the bookshelf, so I picked it up and started reading it. And was very quickly engrossed.

It's completely bonkers but I love it.

d.

Ditto. I got completely into KVJr in my teens. His use of language and idea is completely fresh. Love him. And still dip into him now and again.

itsbruce · « **Reply #1659 on:** 17 December, 2010, 02:19:50 am »

Quote from: citoyen on 16 December, 2010, 11:09:39 am

It's completely bonkers but I love it.

d.

So it goes.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #1660 on:** 20 December, 2010, 11:58:29 am »

Wonders Of The Solar System ~ Brian Cox. Worth the price of admission just for the pictures.

mattc · « **Reply #1661 on:** 26 December, 2010, 05:56:49 pm »

I've just finished Vonneguts's
Breakfast of Champions, Or Goodbye Blue Monday

It's my least favourite of his (so far!). On the surface it's much less weird than Slaughterhouse5 or Sirens of Titan, but the structure is stranger, and I just didn't relate to any of the main characters. To quote Wiki:

Quote

These structural experiments were continued in Breakfast of Champions (1973), which includes many rough illustrations, lengthy non-sequiturs and an appearance by the author himself, as a deus ex machina.

Now reading: Fight Club - at least as good as the film!

Nightfly · « **Reply #1662 on:** 28 December, 2010, 02:19:31 pm »

Just finished 'Why don't you fly?' Backdoor to Beijing - by Bicycle, Christopher JA Smith.

Clandy · « **Reply #1663 on:** 28 December, 2010, 05:15:59 pm »

The Link: Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestor - Colin Tudge

Unseen Academicals - Terry Pratchett

Examples: The Making Of 40 Photographs - Ansel Adams.

andrewc · « **Reply #1664 on:** 28 December, 2010, 08:15:20 pm »

Mary Ann in Autumn, the latest Tales of the City installment. Also reading The Lucifer Effect, Phillip Zimbardo's account of his Stanford Prison experiment and it's relevance to events such as the Rwandan massacres & Abu Ghraib

Sergeant Pluck · « **Reply #1665 on:** 28 December, 2010, 08:23:45 pm »

Stephen Fry's Moab is My Washpot. Disappointing so far - he does seem to be getting bogged down somewhat (about 1/3 of the way through so far); not as enjoyable nor as informative as S Fry in America.

Next up is Franzen's Freedom.

Quint · « **Reply #1666 on:** 28 December, 2010, 08:37:24 pm »

PJ O'Rourke - Don't vote it only encourages the bastards, quite good so far

Nightfly · « **Reply #1667 on:** 28 December, 2010, 09:30:10 pm »

Quote from: Sergeant Pluck on 28 December, 2010, 08:23:45 pm

Stephen Fry's Moab is My Washpot. Disappointing so far - he does seem to be getting bogged down somewhat (about 1/3 of the way through so far); not as enjoyable nor as informative as S Fry in America.

Next up is Franzen's Freedom.

I think I gave up about a 1/3 of the way through. It was ....... disappointing.

David Martin · « **Reply #1668 on:** 28 December, 2010, 11:50:27 pm »

The Star of The Sea by Joseph O'Connor.

Early Victorianesque style novel (2003) about a sea crossing taking emigrant Irish to the US during which a rich Earl must be murdered by a down on his luck Irish criminal. Lots of back story from different viewpoints, a warts and all view of the great Irish famine, and the murder eventually happens but with a number of twists and turns along the way. This book does not read in a straight line but is tantalysing all the way through.

Sergeant Pluck · « **Reply #1669 on:** 29 December, 2010, 09:12:42 am »

Quote from: Nightfly on 28 December, 2010, 09:30:10 pm

I think I gave up about a 1/3 of the way through. It was ....... disappointing

There's a never-ending excerpt from something by E.M. Forster at about that stage that almost did it for me.

Flying_Monkey · « **Reply #1670 on:** 29 December, 2010, 01:57:31 pm »

Just finally got round to reading Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, which was really rather good, in fact a classic piece - well maybe more of a lump given its size - of whimsical British fantasy, which put me in mind of Mythago Wood, The Anubis Gates or Little, Big, as well as all those William Morris novels of Victorian faerie.

Tom B · « **Reply #1671 on:** 29 December, 2010, 02:03:16 pm »

Quote

Tip for you - ignore completely the Gothic victorian stories in between and then you will be fine

Good advice, HW - many thanks! (nearly at p400 now

)

Bluebottle · « **Reply #1672 on:** 29 December, 2010, 02:31:43 pm »

Having finally finished the thoroughly engrossing trip through the history and philosophy of quantum mechanics Beyond Measure by Jim Baggot, I is now on Estive by Blaise Hofmann. So far it would appear that this is an exploration of Zen and the art of alpine shepherding, naturally.

microphonie · « **Reply #1673 on:** 29 December, 2010, 06:23:55 pm »

Journey To The End Of The Night by Céline.

"a nihilistic novel of savage, exultant misanthropy, combined, however, with cynical humour", apparently.

Rather tedious so far say I.

Xmas cash & vouchers = the following 'to read' list & they can't come soon enough:

Iain Banks - Transition
Ian McDonald - The Dervish House
M. John Harrison - Nova Swing
Richard Dawkins - The Greatest Show On Earth

perpetual dan · « **Reply #1674 on:** 02 January, 2011, 07:58:40 pm »

William Gibson, Zero History. A christmas present.
also on the go Anne Mustoe, Amber Furs and Cockleshells.
Really enjoying both so far.

Author Topic: What books are we reading at the moment ? (Read 846627 times)

LindaG

LindaG

Nightfly

Clandy

Nightfly

Flying_Monkey