I wanted to get this thread back on it's feet. And see what's everyone turning pages to this month? I'm now on the second book of the King Killer Chronicals- 'A Wise Man's Fear' which I'm having a hard time putting down. It's a shame because of the author, Patrick Rothfuss, taking numerous years to release each book. I guess, I'll just have to wait when I finish this book. Ben? How was the "Prince of Thorns?"
I liked it overall. Not a light read at all, in terms of content, and somewhat exhausting at times, but well done. I'll read the next in the set eventually. Rothfuss is a good one. I really liked "Name of the Wind". I enjoyed Wise Man's Fear, too, but not as much overall. It definitely felt like a middle book in a series. But he writes in such a way that it's never hard to read. But I was annoyed with how that series was presented. I usually wait until they're close to finished before starting, but when they announced the first one they went on about how the series was already written and would come out once a year. So I figured I'd break my rule and start reading, since the excerpts were good. It took 4 to get the next one. Just read a little YA duo called "Incarceron" and "Sapphique." I liked the concept a lot (it's about people living in a sentient prison), but the characters and execution weren't there for me. Not bad, but felt like a lot of wasted potential. Just started "What Is the What" by Dave Eggers last night.
I'm reading "Things the Grandchildren Should Know" which is Mark Everett's (of eels fame) autobiography at the moment and it's one of the most gripping books I've ever read. I got the book as a present from a friend without ever really listening to his stuff but his story is so amazing and even though I can't relate to it personally, it is so easy to empathise with him. It made me sad that I would never experience nearly as much in my life as he has but it also made me realise how lucky I am about how easy mine has been. I'm not generally a fan of autobiographies but this is something I would definitely suggest.
I usually read science fiction / science fantasy, and this seems pretty well covered already. I do like Terry Pratchett's Discworld series cause he has a subtle humour under his kind of slapstick humour. Another book I finally finished recently is a book called Catch 22. Ironically I got half way through this book twice over the last ten years or longer but lost the book both times. I read it very quickly this time in case I lost it. Apparently now that I finished it, it is sticking around.
I injured my back last weekend and had to spend a few days on the couch to recover. Finished "What Is the What?" and it's a great book. Really terrifying in a lot of ways, but beautiful too. Read Breakfast of Champions as well, finally. Vonnegut is always pretty solid for me, so no surprise I liked it. Currently read "The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairlyand in a Ship Of Her Own Making" by Catherine Valente. So far, it's great. I really like her writing, and the style is spot on for me.
I've only just picked up this book yesterday and I'm excited to read it. Eggers never let's me down. I've already spoiled a lot of the work up on what you meant by terrifying but reading reviews. I'm glad to know that there are plenty of Eggers readers out there.
Having read pretty much the complete bibliography of Haruki Murakami I now read "What I Loved" by Siri Hustvedt (wife of Paul Auster)
The Valente book was great. If you like stories like Alice In Wonderland, The Last Unicorn, or The Little Prince, definitely give it a read. And I need to read more Murakami. I've read 3 so far, and enjoyed them all. It's likely not spoiled. Much of it is in the telling. Really great book. Made me appreciate some things, that's for sure.
Speaking of alice in wonderland, I'm actually reading Through the Looking Glass at the moment. It's crazy. I love it.
Anybody ever read 'Oil!'? Fantastic book/story. Made me appreciate PT Anderson's adaptation "There Will Be Blood" even more. It's rare that writers are able to make such great social commentary and tell it in such a naturalistic fashion.
Just finished reading Looking For Alaska by John Green - read a bit like a fanfic, but was mostly enjoyable. Has anybody read Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell? I love how it crosses time and space and seems to ignore the boundaries of genre. Good stuff! Has the bonus of having a nice cover.
Just picked up "Memoirs of an Addicted Brain" by Marc Lewis. He is a former drug addict who moved from LSD to Heroin and everything in between. He managed to get beyond his addiction and 34 years later become a neuroscientist. This is a look back at his previous addiction, going into detail about what was specifically going on in his brain throughout his adolescence. Such an interesting read. I love reading these kind of things, giving us an insight into how our brains work.
That sounds really fascinating, Luke. Another one for the list! "The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairlyand in a Ship Of Her Own Making" was great. Really loved that one. Also read some books on the road. "Tranformation" from Carol Berg (loved the beginning, felt mixed about the latter half) and "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern, which overall I enjoyed. I'm gonna start the most recent Dennis Lehane books tonight, "The Given Day". I've liked every other book he's written, so I imagine this will be the same. I hear it's one of his best.
My favorite book is ''Dom Casmurro'', a stunning novel by one of Brazil's greatest writers, Machado de Assis. It explores the themes of marriage and adultery. But what distinguishes Machado's novel from the realism of its contemporaries, and what makes it such a delightful discovery is its eccentric and wildly unpredictable narrative style--a literary genius of the rarest kind.
I haven't read anything from Brazil, I don't think. I'll add it to my list. Thanks. Currently reading "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson. I'm trying to get a good general picture of science, and this seemed like a fun way to do it.
Gary Marcus "Kluge: The Haphazard Construction of the Human Mind". - about the haphazard evolution of the human brain, and its consequence
Alright, random suggestion for a book I read last year, and had forgotten about until I thought about it today on the train. I'm going to go out of my way to name this one because it's a book that isn't exactly going to be getting any publicity anytime soon. The book is The Making of an American, and it's the autobiography of Jacob Riis. I'm not sure how well known Riis is, but he was an influential journalist and social activist during the late 19th century in New York, and one of the founders of flash photography. I learned about him in school when I was younger and didn't really care, then I read one of his books for college and I wasn't too thrilled. But when I read his autobiography, which follows his life as an immigrant trying to make it in America, I was blown away. Mostly because he portrays himself as such a completely insane, impulsive, quirky guy (yet with a great sense of pride, honor, and dignity), who, in his misadventures, does such things as try to get into a fight with a character in a play while accidentally meeting the King of Denmark. And, of course, he goes from a carpenter to a homeless vagrant to a wandering worker to an incidental reporter to one of the most influential activists in the city/country, all while trying to woo his childhood sweetheart from his hometown. It's pretty easy reading, without being as verbose as a lot of the writing (especially bad writing) of the period was. While I'm not going to say that Riis is an amazing writer (and I'm also not going to say I believe the book isn't embellished somewhat) it's tremendous fun, and a really interesting look at just how fun and not entirely serious this historical figure was. And if you're into history, as I am, specifically late 19th century New York history, it offers a really interesting look at how things like the newspaper industry, the police department, employment, poverty, politics, and all sorts of other things were at the time, but in a way that's neither dry, like a history book, nor preachy, like one of Riis's other books. Also, it was published in 1901 so it's totally in public domain.
So, did you read Packing for Mars? Add Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone. It's that book about the Carter Family. The musical one, not the political one.
I still haven't read Packing for Mars. I started it, then got into a sort of book club scenario with my neighbor. But it's next in line again. I definitely recommend "The Given Day". My favorite thing I've read this year, I think. Gonna go pick up some more books this coming week, so keep the recommendations coming if you got 'em. I like having a lot of books ahead of me. It's a kind of comfort.
