what are you reading right now?

[Artanis]

I'm reading "Iphigeneia in Aulis".

Plus I'm trying to read LotR again.

And a bit of HoME 6 in between. :rolleyes:

[Fat middle]

Originally posted by Mercutio
Right now? "Washington Square" by Henry James.

His realistic novels show great insight into the human personality/spirit/ideas.

I liked that one.

I'm now with LOTR again and also with Richard Ford's "The Sportswriter". I'm not sure I'm going to enjoy much of this book though... (I mean the Ford's one)

[ethuiliel]

I'm reading:
Harry Potter 3 (in Dutch)
The Blooding
and maybe something else, but I can't think of any right now.

[zinnite]

"Crash," by J.G. Ballard. Sex and car wrecks--what more can you want?

[Lady Ravyn]

FotR; The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath; and The Diary of a Fat Bride by Laurie Notaro (i just finished her first autobiography: The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club love the title! :D )

[cee2lee2]

The Last Lessons of Summer by Margaret Maron. I really enjoy her mysteries.

[Millane]

hahhahha after the brilliance of Game of Thrones finished i found (for probably the first time in about 5 years:rolleyes: ) that i had nothing lined up to read next, so i have mainly re-read some odd books in my bookshelf (mainly Roald Dahl) but thankfully when mum went to melb on the weekend she returned bearing books for her favorite son :p i just started the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and it sounds amazing, i just love the whole secret society part of it (reminds me of the Stone cutters simpsons episode) and the religious weirdo's in it, talk about queer :eek:

[Earniel]

Originally posted by ethuiliel
I'm reading:
Harry Potter 3 (in Dutch)

I didn't know you knew Dutch, since your location says USA. Interesting. :) Got Dutch roots by any change?

[crickhollow]

Siegfried Sassoon's Collected Poems.

[ethuiliel]

I didn't know you knew Dutch, since your location says USA. Interesting. Got Dutch roots by any change? Yeah, my mom's Dutch. I speak it, but not as well as English, so I read it as a sort of chalenge to myself.

[sun-star]

I'm reading Villette by Charlotte Bronte, but only because I have to. I'm not a Bronte fan - far too emotional for me!

[Earniel]

Originally posted by ethuiliel
Yeah, my mom's Dutch. I speak it, but not as well as English, so I read it as a sort of chalenge to myself.
If you want to practise Dutch, hop over to the Official Language Thread in the GM-forum. :)

(And to stay on topic: ) I'm currently reading LoTR and Terry Pratchett's Night Watch.

[Jonathan]

Originally posted by Nerdanel
I'm reading a book, Tolkien och den svarta magin (roughly: Tolkien and the black magic), by Ã…ke Ohlmarks. Ohlmarks is a Swedish guy, who has translated LotR into Swedish. He has been very critizised for his translations, and in the book I'm reading he has "discovered" the dark side of some Tolkiensocieties: drugs and death!:rolleyes:

Well. I haven't read that much yet, but I'm sure I'll post more when I've read it.:) Yes, I've read a little about Ohlmark's book. As far as I know, he started to hate the Tolkien community after being harassed by some Tolkien freak. So what he did was to write this book, Tolkien and the black magic, in which he distorted facts and made the Tolkien community look like some satanistic cult or similar.

Currently, the Swedish version of LotR is being retranslated. Ohlmark's version was very bad actually, and he had taken quite some freedoms and translated the books a little after his own will. So right now some new translators are working on making the Swedish version of LotR as true to Tolkien as possible.


Oh, and I'm currently reading Orwell's 1984 :D

[Menelvagor]

Originally posted by Millane
i just started the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and it sounds amazing, i just love the whole secret society part of it (reminds me of the Stone cutters simpsons episode) and the religious weirdo's in it, talk about queer :eek:

a very good book. I read it over my winter break. I didn't know much about the subject matter before I read it, but it was still facinating. I love the confluence of art hist. and religion. (not to mention it says exactly what I want it to say about early Christianity :rolleyes: ) I hope you like it.

[Elvengirl]

I recently discoved David Eddings, a fairly good fantasy author. After reading his first series I dived right into the second. Currently I'm on The King of Murgos and also working on The Fellowship simultaneously.

[Mercutio]

Currently: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (by Mark Twain; for term paper)

Going to start: Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde and some mysteries by Agatha Christie.

*Also just finished, Knight's Gambit, by William Faulkner. Great complicated, excellently written short stories (mystery).

[Lady Ravyn]

just finished the bell jar (pretty good; odd, but good)
re-reading The Ring of Five Dragons by Eric Lustbader then I have to re-read The Veil of a Thousand Tears so that i remember everything when i read the book i really want to read, the third in that trilogy: Mistress of the Pearl

[Elvengirl]

William Faulkner?
That name sounds very familiar to me, though I don't think I've heard of any of his books.....hmmm....

[Mercutio]

Originally posted by Elvengirl
William Faulkner?
That name sounds very familiar to me, though I don't think I've heard of any of his books.....hmmm....

He also wrote "As I Lay Dying", another book I read. Its ...different. He's an American author.

[Menelvagor]

Originally posted by Mercutio
He also wrote "As I Lay Dying", another book I read. Its ...different. He's an American author.

American Southern author. :) Have you read "The Sound and the Fury"? It also falls under the catagory of ...different. very cool though.

[Mercutio]

Originally posted by Menelvagor
American Southern author. :) Have you read "The Sound and the Fury"? It also falls under the catagory of ...different. very cool though.

Nope. But I'm pretty sure we have it. I'll work on it after I finish "Picture of Dorian Gray" (I'm about halfway through that.)

[Elvengirl]

I've never read his books but think I've just heard mention of him.

[Shadowfax]

I have been reading so much lately! I read "Of Mice and Men," and started "The Mists of Avalon." For my English class, I am also reading "Things Fall Apart" (by Chinua Achebe). Has anyone read it before? I am enjoying it a lot.:)

[Mercutio]

Originally posted by Shadowfax
I have been reading so much lately! I read "Of Mice and Men," and started "The Mists of Avalon." For my English class, I am also reading "Things Fall Apart" (by Chinua Achebe). Has anyone read it before? I am enjoying it a lot.:)

No--but I read Of Mice and Men last summer. Its another book that falls under the "...different" category (I have so many in that! I'm beginning to wonder what books I don't consider ...different :D )

[Menelvagor]

Originally posted by Shadowfax
I have been reading so much lately! I read "Of Mice and Men," and started "The Mists of Avalon." For my English class, I am also reading "Things Fall Apart" (by Chinua Achebe). Has anyone read it before? I am enjoying it a lot.:)

I just read it for the second time (for the second english class :rolleyes: ). I really liked it too. There are lots of subtleties that are very subtle. How indepth are you going with it?

[Shadowfax]

Originally posted by Menelvagor
I just read it for the second time (for the second english class :rolleyes: ). I really liked it too. There are lots of subtleties that are very subtle. How indepth are you going with it? I don't know how far indepth my teacher is going to discuss it with us; we're talking about it on Thursday I think, and we'll probably spend at least 2 classes on it. It's for my Advanced Placement grade 12 english course, so I'm sure we'll talk about it on a deeper level than other "normal" english classes. I'll tell you more once we've discussed it.:)

[Menelvagor]

That's the class I read it in. :) Hope you enjoy it.

[Caro]

I'm reading Fellowship of the Ring for the first time at the moment. I'm currently reading the chapter ''A Journey in the Dark'' (I'm almost done with that chapter though...).:)

[ethuiliel]

I'm reading His Dark Materials.
I've already read Golden Compass and Subtle Knife, and I'm almost done with Amber Spyglass. (I had a lot of time in the car during my spring break with nothing else to do.;) )

[crickhollow]

Anne of Green Gables
Jacob Have I Loved
A Wrinkle in Time
Willow and Twig
The Princess and the Goblin
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
A Wind in the Willows
and Tom Sawyer

all for my directed study crash-course in Children's Lit.

[Andúril]

I'm about to read The Silm for the third time.

[ethuiliel]

I'm about to read Beowulf.

[Cirdan]

Dune ...you know why:)

[Cirdan]

Originally posted by crickhollow
Anne of Green Gables
Jacob Have I Loved
A Wrinkle in Time
Willow and Twig
The Princess and the Goblin
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
A Wind in the Willows
and Tom Sawyer

all for my directed study crash-course in Children's Lit.

And Holes and Because of Winn-Dixie to supplement those classics.:)

[Nerdanel]

Originally posted by Nerdanel
I'm reading a book, Tolkien och den svarta magin (roughly: Tolkien and the black magic), by Ã…ke Ohlmarks. Ohlmarks is a Swedish guy, who has translated LotR into Swedish. He has been very critizised for his translations, and in the book I'm reading he has "discovered" the dark side of some Tolkiensocieties: drugs and death!:rolleyes:

Well. I haven't read that much yet, but I'm sure I'll post more when I've read it.:)

I've read it now, and I have to say that it wasn't worth it. I really thought Ohlmarks would come with some real arguments, but he only talks sh*t about JRR and Christopher. And the poor braindead young people that cannot see JRR's and Christopher's conspiracy to take over the world.:rolleyes:

Originally I read it, 'cause I wanted to read something about someone else's opinions on Tolkiens books, but Ohlmarks just seems to hate Tolkien as a person.

I don't recommend it. Reading it is just a waste of time.

[Nerdanel]

Now I'm reading Silmarillion and Dude, where's my country? by Michael Moore (I'm reading a translation to Swedish).

[BeardofPants]

After people nagging me to read David Eddings, I'm reading book one of the belgariad series. It's pretty good so far, though a bit formulaic - marks on arms, birthrights, aunts who aren't what they seem, etc.

[crickhollow]

Originally posted by Cirdan
And Holes and Because of Winn-Dixie to supplement those classics.:) I love Holes!

Winn-Dixie is on my list of things to read as soon as May is finished and the last of my undergrad classes are completed, and my degree is in my hand.

Have you read The Tale of Despereaux? It's this year's Newberry Medal winner...:-D I liked it very much.

[Mercutio]

Just finished "Curtain" by Agatha Christie--Hercule Poirot's last and greatest case...(at least some say that).

Now working on "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" by Mark Twain for my term paper (due in three weeks! Ahhhhhhhhh :eek: )

[Cirdan]

Originally posted by crickhollow
Have you read The Tale of Despereaux? It's this year's Newberry Medal winner...:-D I liked it very much.

No, but we've been working our way through the Newbery winners. I'm reading Dealing with Dragons to the boy right now. It's good and even though I think it was written for girls POV he seems to like it. So do I.:o :)

[hectorberlioz]

I'm reading 'Hatchet' by gary paulsen.
I usually dont read teen books anymore, but Gary Paulsen is a very gifted writer:)

[Artanis]

Yesterday I started on "The sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner. It will take a while to finish it, I think. It's not an easy book.

[Nerdanel]

Originally posted by Nerdanel
Now I'm reading Silmarillion and Dude, where's my country? by Michael Moore (I'm reading a translation to Swedish).

I've read Dude, where's my country? now. It was great.:D
Has anyone read it? If you haven't, you should.:p

[Mercutio]

Originally posted by Nerdanel
I've read Dude, where's my country? now. It was great.:D
Has anyone read it? If you haven't, you should.:p

Heard of it but not read it.

[sun-star]

Daniel Deronda - very long, but very good :)

[brownjenkins]

just started dune messiah today... with a few intermixed FoTR chapters to keep up with the discussion ;)

[Falagar]

Just about to start reading the sixth book of Wheel of Time, just finished Pratchett's Thief of Time, still in the middle of The Oddyssey somewhere (just found it after having been lost for some time) and hoping to buy the second book in Steven Erikson's a Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen (Deadhouse Gate I think it's called).

[Count Comfect]

Starting the Confusion by Neil Stephenson. multihundred pages. whee!

[BeardofPants]

almost finished the first book of song of ice and fire by GRR Martin. Made Falagar read Dune, the least I can do is reciprocate. ;) Does it get better as it progresses? Not too much to complain about so far, just can't see it as being 'king of fantasy'.

Originally posted by brownjenkins
just started dune messiah today... with a few intermixed FoTR chapters to keep up with the discussion ;)

G'luck with that one. One of my least favourite dune books. good ending though.

[Tuor of Gondolin]

Just started David McCullough's John Adams. He seems to be trying to make JA more of a "common man", interesting, but the constant effort to include Abigail in the narrative seems a little bit forced, although she's a great example of 'lost potential" in that she would have been so much more an important person in the 20th or 21st century. (I wonder if McCullough had Hilary Clinton or Eleanor Roosevelt in the back of his mind when writing about Abigail)?

[hectorberlioz]

Ahhh...I'v seen alot of his biography books on US presidents, though I confess, I never really waqs interested enough to pick one up:o...perhaps I should one day:D

[brownjenkins]

Originally posted by BeardofPants
G'luck with that one. One of my least favourite dune books. good ending though.

kind of short too... i'm looking forward to getting to book four, as i never got past book three before

i get the feeling that the 'new' books are somewhat questionable, how about 'chapterhouse' though? (i bought the others already, but figured i'd ask first on that one)

[BeardofPants]

Well, I'm probably the wrong person to ask - what, me biased - cos with the exception of Messiah, I loved them all. Chapterhouse was one of my favourites because Miles Teg was so central to the plot (he comes in Heretics).

Edit - Book Four: God Emperor of Dune was a really hard read. The other books I read in days/weeks, but GEoD took a couple of months. I really enjoyed it once I had finished though, but man, was it hard to get into. Kinda like the Silmarillion, hard but rewarding.

[Cirdan]

Originally posted by brownjenkins
just started dune messiah today...

same here the cult is not without its trials.;)

Also reading Thief Lord as review for "the boy". Pleasant enough for juvenile reading.

[Earniel]

Currently reading 'the gate of death' septology (is that a word?) I love the references to Gandalf so far, though I'm very curious how it's feasable to quote Gandalf in seemingly separate fantasy world. Hopefully it gets explained in the later book.

Also reading LoTR for the discussion project and a geology book.

[ethuiliel]

Yeah, I read those. They were pretty good. The references were a little weird though, as you said. It's sort of explained at the end.

[Earniel]

Oh good, I'd hate to find out at the end of book 7 that there is no explanation. :rolleyes: :p

[Shadowfax]

I just finished reading "King Lear" for school, and in my spare time I'm reading "The Mists of Avalon."

[crickhollow]

King Lear is fantastic (depressing, but fantastic). I just ordered Sweeter than all the world by Rudy Wiebe. But I'm not allowed to read it until I finish up all my leftover course-work on May 27...:p

[brownjenkins]

more than halfway through messiah... definitely some very zen-esk musing... i find myself reading a few pages then going back to the beginning of a chapter and reading it again... tough, but rewarding... i'm definitely getting more from it then i did the first time back when i was 11 or 12 :p

[Katt_knome_hobbit]

Just "finished" Fast Food Nation for school.

I just re-read "Feet of Clay" by Terry Pratchett. He is a genious.

[Grey_Wolf]

Am reading Book Two of Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality: Bearing A Hourglass.

[Falagar]

Just started a re-read of Hogfather.

[Cirdan]

Originally posted by Katt_knome_hobbit
Just "finished" Fast Food Nation for school.

How did you like FAst Food NAtion?

[Grey_Wolf]

Am reading Book Three of Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality: With A Tangled Skein.

[Lady Magpie]

Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman; Gnosticism, by Elaine Pagels. And some non-canonical gospels.

[Falagar]

Gaiman's American Gods and A Crown of Swords by R. Jordan.

[Lady Magpie]

Originally posted by Falagar
Gaiman's American Gods

Good book! Good book! Yay! I was reading it again a few days ago, but then I lent it to my friend for the summer, so I probably won't see it 'til August. But good book! :D

[Artanis]

I'm reading Homer's Iliad. Must be prepared for the Troy movie. ;)
And I'm still working with 'The Sound and the Fury'.

[Sicirus]

I just finished my new favorite book, "The Persian Boy" by Mary Renault.
Extremely good book. Worth reading. I fell in love with alexander the Great after reading that book. Its a great book. Ofcourse I forgot to read "Fire from Heaven" first. That was suppose to be the first book but I just started to read the Persian Boy first and couldn 't stop reading it. (Plus I didn't know Fire from Heaven was the first part of the series.

The book is called the Persian boy because its from a eunech(spp) from Persia's point of view after being gevin as a gift to Alexander during his crusade. Its a great book.

Now I am reading the Da Vinci Code. It was lent to me by a teacher so I have to finish it before shcool ends. I am going to read Fire from Heaven after wards.
So far The da Vinci code is great.

[Falagar]

Originally posted by Lady Magpie
Good book! Good book! Yay! I was reading it again a few days ago, but then I lent it to my friend for the summer, so I probably won't see it 'til August. But good book! :D
So far I agree completely. :)
Originally posted by Artanis
I'm reading Homer's Iliad. Must be prepared for the Troy movie. ;)
And I'm still working with 'The Sound and the Fury'.
How far are you into the Iliad? Gotta read fast if you're going to finish it before the premiere on friday. ;)

[Artanis]

Originally posted by Falagar
So far I agree completely. :)

How far are you into the Iliad? Gotta read fast if you're going to finish it before the premiere on friday. ;) I'm on part 10, where it is told about Dolon. I'm not going to the premiere, so I've got plenty of time to finish reading first. :)

[crickhollow]

I'm re-reading Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L'Engle for my Children's Lit. course.

[Falagar]

Finished A Crown of Swords, started Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice. Also reading Ser A. C. Doyle's The Valley of Death (or similar).
Originally posted by Artanis
I'm on part 10, where it is told about Dolon. I'm not going to the premiere, so I've got plenty of time to finish reading first. :)
But the reviews are going to spoil everything. ;)

[Earniel]

I'm currently reading 'The gates of Paradise', last of the 'Mark Stevens' science-fiction series by Felix Thyssens. 30-year old science fiction is fun to read. :)

[Lalaith_Elf]

I'm reading alot and it's all in the name of exams:

The Odyssey - Homer
Electra - Sophocles
Agamemnon - Aeschylus
Oedipus Tyrannus - Sophocles

Peace - Aristophanes
The Wasps - Aristophanes
Acharnians - Aristophanes

Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
The Merchants Tale - Chaucer
Death of a Salesman - Arthur Miller

And there all closed book, apart from Frankenstein. It's alot of memorising.

[Grey_Wolf]

Am reading Book Four of Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality: Wielding A Red Sword.

[hectorberlioz]

I cant believe myself! I've started reading three huge books! Don Quixote, Les Miserables, and The Idiot...and not farther than the first few pages in the latter two...

[Falagar]

Originally posted by Lalaith_Elf
I'm reading alot and it's all in the name of exams:

The Odyssey - Homer
Electra - Sophocles
Agamemnon - Aeschylus
Oedipus Tyrannus - Sophocles

Peace - Aristophanes
The Wasps - Aristophanes
Acharnians - Aristophanes

Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
The Merchants Tale - Chaucer
Death of a Salesman - Arthur Miller

And there all closed book, apart from Frankenstein. It's alot of memorising.
Sounds fun. ;) Good luck with your studying! :)
I cant believe myself! I've started reading three huge books! Don Quixote, Les Miserables, and The Idiot...and not farther than the first few pages in the latter two...
Which reminds me, I was going to start Don Quixote myself but never got around to do it...typical. It'll have to wait now.

[Lalaith_Elf]

Originally posted by Falagar
Sounds fun. ;) Good luck with your studying! :)

Uh, thanks. I think. :o

I love reading but... well this is almost putting me off for life. At least Classical Greek Plays:rolleyes: ;)

I'm going to start reading 'Paridise Lost' if I can get a hold of a copy - and find the time.:)

[Lady Magpie]

Ah, I love the Greek plays. But I suppose having to read all of them at once could be a little off-putting, yes, I can see that. . .:)

By the by, Lalaith, love your avatar :D

[ethuiliel]

I'm reading Wolf Wing. It's good, but has an unusual writing style. I like that, though.

[Lady Ravyn]

finishing the pearl saga by eric lustbader. then i'll FINALLY read the 3 books in the Wayfarer Redemption series by Sara Douglass that i've been waiting to come from england FOREVER! i'm so excited! :D

[Grey_Wolf]

Am reading Book Six of Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality: For Love of Evil.

[Vicky]

If just finished the Riftwar saga from Feist, but the library doesn't continue buying these books, apperently I'm the only one who reads Fantasy over here :(

[Lalaith_Elf]

Originally posted by Lady Magpie
Ah, I love the Greek plays. But I suppose having to read all of them at once could be a little off-putting, yes, I can see that. . .:)

By the by, Lalaith, love your avatar :D

Give me a couple of weeks after my exams and I'll be back on them.:p

And thanks.:)

- I've finished with:

Peace - Aristophanes
The Wasps - Aristophanes
Acharnians - Aristophanes

As I had the 'Comedy' exam on Monday. So only 7 more to re-read.:)

[hectorberlioz]

I just started "Jane Eyre":) not very far yet. I read the intro and the preface and the first chapter so far;)

[Mercutio]

Originally posted by hectorberlioz
I just started "Jane Eyre":) not very far yet. I read the intro and the preface and the first chapter so far;)

Wonderful! A member of the male species buying and reading "Jane Eyre" is a miracle in itself. When you get to the part at St. John River's, it gets a littttttttle long. Just keep at it.

[hectorberlioz]

Dont worry, if I can handle Tolstoy's long rampages about Napoleon in War and Peace (sometimes they extend to about a hundred pages long!), I'm sure I can get through the river parts in Jane Eyre:p

[Lizra]

Hmmm.. I'm reading the sports page...My sponge is full ;)

[Nerdanel]

I'm reading Bokhandleren i Kabul - et familiedrama by Ã…sne Seierstad. I don't know if it's translated into English, at least it's very famous here in Scandinavia.
The book is about Seierstad's experiences in Afghanistan, when she lived there in an Afghan family after the fall of the talibans.

[Artanis]

English translation: The bookseller of Kabul.
I've decided not to read that book, I think the Afghan family should keep their privacy if that's what they wish, and I don't think Seierstad is able to tell me anything new about the society in Afghanistan and how women are treated there

[Lalaith]

I read a great book about the problem of low self esteem of women and so on and so forth.

It's first publishing title was "Let's kill barbie" but now the title is "Wie aus Mädchen tolle Frauen werden" (=> How girls can become awesome women).

A great book. Loved it. There were a lot of interviews with girls and mothers and teachers and some things in our educational system are just stupid.

[Nerdanel]

Originally posted by Artanis
English translation: The bookseller of Kabul.
I've decided not to read that book, I think the Afghan family should keep their privacy if that's what they wish, and I don't think Seierstad is able to tell me anything new about the society in Afghanistan and how women are treated there

That can be a smart thing to do, but I'm reading it anyway. Have you had some kind of discussion about that in Norway?

EDIT: Sounds like a really interesting book, Lalaith! Who has written it?

[cassiopeia]

I'm reading Stalking Darkness by Lynn Flewelling, the second book in her Nightrunner series. It has a great plot, interesting characters and is well-written.

[b.banner]

im reading a book about the flash called the flash stop motion by mark schultz

[Lalaith]

Originally posted by Nerdanel
EDIT: Sounds like a really interesting book, Lalaith! Who has written it?
Have finished it and this was one of the best books I have ever read.
Written by Cheryl Benard and Edit Schlaffer.

Now I'm reading "Beste Freundin, Beste Feindin - Ein Zickengesang auf die Frauenfreundschaft".
Lovely, hilarious, great. (Note: All these books are lying around in our computer room)

English Title: Best Friend, Best Foe - bitch singing about women friendships

[jellyfishannah]

I am reading...

The Silmarillion
Hatchet
The Devils
Journey to Heaven
Byzantium

:( It's terrible! I'll never get through them all! I'll get them all mixed up or something. Don't get me started on the books I'm planning on reading!

[Sono]

At the moment I read Armande the vampir (is that right?) from Anne Rice in german.

It's very cool :D
I love this book. ^^

[BelegS]

Neverwhere, Neil Gaiman.
Guy sure knows how to write.

The Lions of Al-Rassan, GGK.
Okay stuff, nothing special though. GGK is vastly overated IMO.

Will try re-starting Malazan Empire.

[Grey_Wolf]

Michael Baigent's The Messianic Legacy, PD James' A Mind To Murder, Winston Churchill's A History of English Speaking Peoples II: The New World, Michael Tamelander's BISMARK - Kampen om Atlanten.

[Falagar]

Originally posted by BelegS
Neverwhere, Neil Gaiman.
Guy sure knows how to write.

Will try re-starting Malazan Empire.
What do you think of Neverwhere so far? Finished American Gods not long ago and have been considering getting Neverwhere (heard lots of good stuff about it)

And how far did you get into the Malazan-series? Currently on Deadhouse Gates myself, going slowly (finished Hobb's Assassin's Quest without opening Deadhouse Gates once, despite being a few hundred pages into it).

[BelegS]

Finished Neverwhere this afternoon.
This guy sure knows how to write but I don't think he particularly cared spending his considerable talent in the writing of this book.
The story starts off reasonably well [The whole London background and the apparant traversing of the fabric of time reminds me of The Woven Path by Robin Jarvis which concerns time travelling to 2nd World War London] and maintains its reasonability and attention of reader for a while. But once Mayhew gets totally emeshed in the workings of London below, the quality deterorates for me. To much action takes place too quicky, the whole book seems to be written in a sort of a hurry. But like the Korondor novels by Raymond E. Feist which were apparantly based on Video Games. After the first one quarter part the story isn't much different from the multilude of Dr Who stories lying about. It is enjoyable certainly, the humor is dry and crisp, some characters are amusing but under developed. I can understand why many questions are left unanswered in novels, but I felt that Gaiman took things to an extreme here.
It was like watching a good, fastpased, exciting thriller which while providing momentary satisfaction fails to have a lasting impression.

If one is fond of Dr Who types stories then one'd enjoy the story. Other then that I cannot say.

While saying this I will try to start American Gods or Coraline tonight to see if they are any different from Neverwhere.

As for the Malazan Empire series. I got about 50 pages in the first book, felt that I just couldn't get into the story, and didn't particularly care about it much so abandoned it. Later I was admonished by some people to have stopped too-early, and was advised to give it a fair chance. Mainly to oblige these folks I'll read it again, though I am not a great fan of War Fantasy. [And Malazanites seem to be sworn enemies of George R.R. Martin.
:eek: :o ]

[sun-star]

Mary Barton by Mrs Gaskell (all about industrial strikes in 19th century Manchester) and re-reading Measure for Measure, for exam purposes.

[Falagar]

Originally posted by BelegS
Finished Neverwhere this afternoon.
This guy sure knows how to write but I don't think he particularly cared spending his considerable talent in the writing of this book.
The story starts off reasonably well [The whole London background and the apparant traversing of the fabric of time reminds me of The Woven Path by Robin Jarvis which concerns time travelling to 2nd World War London] and maintains its reasonability and attention of reader for a while. But once Mayhew gets totally emeshed in the workings of London below, the quality deterorates for me. To much action takes place too quicky, the whole book seems to be written in a sort of a hurry. But like the Korondor novels by Raymond E. Feist which were apparantly based on Video Games. After the first one quarter part the story isn't much different from the multilude of Dr Who stories lying about. It is enjoyable certainly, the humor is dry and crisp, some characters are amusing but under developed. I can understand why many questions are left unanswered in novels, but I felt that Gaiman took things to an extreme here.
It was like watching a good, fastpased, exciting thriller which while providing momentary satisfaction fails to have a lasting impression.

If one is fond of Dr Who types stories then one'd enjoy the story. Other then that I cannot say.

While saying this I will try to start American Gods or Coraline tonight to see if they are any different from Neverwhere.
Coraline's really nice (childrens' book, but still) and I thought American Gods was good. It didn't leave any lasting impression, no, but it was good.

As for the Malazan Empire series. I got about 50 pages in the first book, felt that I just couldn't get into the story, and didn't particularly care about it much so abandoned it. Later I was admonished by some people to have stopped too-early, and was advised to give it a fair chance. Mainly to oblige these folks I'll read it again, though I am not a great fan of War Fantasy. [And Malazanites seem to be sworn enemies of George R.R. Martin.
:eek: :o ]
You should try visiting the A Song of Ice and Fire -board on EzBoards, lots of Erikson/Martin-fans there...in my experience most Erikson-fans look down on Hobb. :eek: :rolleyes: ;)

[BelegS]

Coraline's really nice (childrens' book, but still) and I thought American Gods was good. It didn't leave any lasting impression, no, but it was good.

Coraline looks promising!

You should try visiting the A Song of Ice and Fire -board on EzBoards, lots of Erikson/Martin-fans there...in my experience most Erikson-fans look down on Hobb.

I visit probably the biggest ASoIaF board on Ezboard but I don't venture often into the other authors forum. On another forum I visit regularly Malazanites and Martinities are often at dagger's drawn.

Looking down upon Hobb should be declared sacrilege! Utter blasphemy. I mean the women is basically the best character fantasy writer ever. How can one dislike Fitz Chivalry and Shrewd and other people! I mean you can hate them, you can detest them, you might even want to kick them but you just can't dislike the characterization! :rolleyes: :mad: :( :eek:

[Falagar]

It seems like most either have a problem with Fitz's so-called whining ( :rolleyes: ) or they didn't like the plot-line.

Right, my reading and to-read list requires a serious examination...

Books I'm reading:

The Odyssey by Homer
Monty Python: The Biographies by Mr. Python
Lennon by Roy Coleman (John Lennon-biography)
To Kill A Mocking Bird by Nelle Harper Lee
Celtic Myths and Legends by T.W. Rolleston
Dying Earth-triology by Jack Vance
Tigrana by Guy Gavriel Kay (the guy who helped C.Tolkien with the Silmarillion)

Books I'm going to read in a not-too-distant-future:

Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson
Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan
Liveshiptrader-triology by Robin Hobb
Tawny Man-triology by Robin Hobb
Hunger by Knut Hamsun
Legends and Legends II with short-stories by among others George R.R. Martin, Robert Jordan, Anne McKaffery, Ursula K. Le Guin, Tad Williams, Terry Pratchett and Feist.


I also have to find and get through Beatles by the Norwegian author Saabye Christensen; and in addition I'm planning to read Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow and Thorn-series, and sooner or later something by Heinlein, King, Goodkind, Eddings, Feist and Brooks...

And I don't really have time for any reading this summer. :eek:

[BelegS]

That's some list out there.....

My reading pile for the next week or so,


Mathew Woodring Stover's Heroes Die [Finished Half]

Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon [Quarter Finished--Great, great book]

Stephen King's Needful Things [Just started]

Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of Dog In the Night-Time


Jack Vance's [I]Last Castle[I]

I will also try to delve again into Erickson. Almost everyone likes his fiction, I just can understand my dislike for it. :(

[Falagar]

Which Erikson-book is it you're trying to read? The first book didn't really get any good before the end, the second one is IMO much better (though it has a few problems).

[BelegS]

I am trying to read Gardens of Moon.

Do you think I should skip right onto the second book? Will I be missing a lot If I do so? I have half a mind to just skim through the book, skip random passages and like.

[Falagar]

You'll miss some, but I'm not sure how much it'll affect the outcome. Deadhouse Gates has a much better plot and better characters, but I can't remember if the writing in itself changed much...

You could try it, at least. It's worth it, if nothing else than for Coltaine and his Chain of Dogs. :) (obscure spoiler ;))

[Earniel]

Currently I'm officially reading nothing, I'm under parental rule not to read books other than schoolbooks as long as the exams are going. :rolleyes: With all the books I got for my birthday I wonder how long before I decide to break that curfew... yet again. :evil: :p

Originally posted by Falagar
Dying Earth-triology by Jack Vance
I've read those. What do you think of it so far?

[Nerdanel]

I've read a philosopical book by Roger-Pol Droit from France. 'm not really into philosophy, but I loved this book.:D It was 101 philosophical experiments you can do in your everyday life. I think it's a "feel-good"book. I recommend it.

Now I'm reading Fakta om Finland by Erlend Loe. This far it seems to be a funny and very interesting book.

[Valandil]

Originally posted by Eärniel
Currently I'm officially reading nothing, I'm under parental rule not to read books other than schoolbooks as long as the exams are going. :rolleyes: With all the books I got for my birthday I wonder how long before I decide to break that curfew... yet again. :evil: :p

Oooo... the old parental edict, huh? Heehee... a couple years ago, this girl in a family I'm friends with was caught reading LotR when she was supposed to be doing Math work. She was being home-schooled and that was 'school time' so her mother forbade her to read it for several weeks or something.

Her 18th birthday came soon after, so I made her a special birthday present. It was a 'jacket' made from brown wrapping paper to go over her hard-back LotR. It was labeled M*A*T*H - which down below was spelled out as "More About Tolkien's Hobbits" in small letters. Then I drew on it, weaving mathematical figures into pictures from the story, for instance - a circle in black marker, but drawn around it more softly, in colored pencil, The One Ring, etc.

Of course, it wasn't meant to fool anyone, but we all got a good laugh. She managed to finish the story and later read ch. 1 of the Silmarillion (that was last I heard - she liked it so much she was afraid the rest would let her down). Anyway - she even joined here, but I don't think she has posted.

[Earniel]

Originally posted by Valandil
It was labeled M*A*T*H - which down below was spelled out as "More About Tolkien's Hobbits" in small letters. .
Neh neh neh, great idea. Too bad I no longer have math or I would be awefully tempted to try that one. Nevertheless I *starts whispering* have broke the rule since I wrote that and read an English anthology of Utopia stories. :D

[Falagar]

Originally posted by Eärniel
Currently I'm officially reading nothing, I'm under parental rule not to read books other than schoolbooks as long as the exams are going. :rolleyes: With all the books I got for my birthday I wonder how long before I decide to break that curfew... yet again. :evil: :p


I've read those. What do you think of it so far?
The story is interesting, but so far (well, I'm only capter 2 :rolleyes: ) the characters have been pretty flat. Have focused on finishing Memories of Ice and Path of Daggers so haven't gotten any further...

[b.banner]

i am reading a indiana jones book

[Beren3000]

I'm currently reading book 4 of the Wheel of Time

[cee2lee2]

Just finished reading The Hobbit for the umpteenth time. And ya know, it's really a wonderful adventure. :)

Think I'll just carry on next with Fellowship of the Ring.

[Rían]

Just finished The Brothers Karamazov - thanks, hector & others, for the recommendation! Great book! My first venture into Russian literature.

[Rían]

Has anyone else read Wilkie Collins? (1824-1889, London). His "The Woman in White" and "The Moonstone" are great!

[Beren3000]

Originally posted by RÃ*an
Just finished The Brothers Karamazov


I've read that book some three years ago. An amazing read!

[sun-star]

Originally posted by RÃ*an
Has anyone else read Wilkie Collins? (1824-1889, London). His "The Woman in White" and "The Moonstone" are great!

I love both of those books :)

[Rían]

Betteredge is so sweet!

[sun-star]

I agree! I love the way "The Moonstone" tells the story from lots of different perspectives - like the woman with all the moral tracts :D

[BeardofPants]

Pride and Prejudice. :)

[Rían]

Oh, are you reading it for the first time, BoP?! I envy you, if you are! What a great book! The opening line is one of the best in all of literature, IMO.


sun-star - yes, hearing the story from the different perspectives was brilliant, IMO - and that odious woman with the tracts is one of the most scathing (and entirely appropriate) condemnations of those types of people.

Oh wait - actually, I got my "obnoxious women with tracts" mixed up - I was thinking of the one in Dickens' "Bleak House", who brags about her kids giving their allowances to her "worthy" causes, when she actually never gives them a choice, and she has pity for children in far-off Africa, while she ignores her own children right next to her :( So sad that it's actually common enough that it's a literary stereotype :( :(

(yes, that Moonstone lady is pretty awful!)

[BeardofPants]

Yes it is. I've never read Austen before, so I'm excited. :)

[Mercutio]

Originally posted by BeardofPants
Yes it is. I've never read Austen before, so I'm excited. :)

You should love her. A good internet board about Austen (rephrase: wonderful) is www.pemberley.com

Rian--I recently started The Brothers Karamazov; I'm taking novel next year in school and the teacher recommended it we read it at least once prior to the class. Who was translator on your copy?

[sun-star]

Great link, Mercutio :)

[Rían]

Originally posted by Mercutio
Rian--I recently started The Brothers Karamazov; I'm taking novel next year in school and the teacher recommended it we read it at least once prior to the class. Who was translator on your copy? Andrew R. MacAndrew, 1970. Published by Bantam Classics.

Interesting translation; not a - don't quite know how to word it - "smooth" English translation, but I liked it. I got the sense that he was more trying to bring out the nuances and connotations than to just make it "smooth" English, which I appreciated.

[Rían]

Originally posted by BeardofPants
Yes it is. I've never read Austen before, so I'm excited. :) You're in for some great books! I can't believe her books are 200 years old - the characters are so vivid it's like it was written yesterday!

[Mercutio]

Originally posted by RÃ*an
Andrew R. MacAndrew, 1970. Published by Bantam Classics.

Interesting translation; not a - don't quite know how to word it - "smooth" English translation, but I liked it. I got the sense that he was more trying to bring out the nuances and connotations than to just make it "smooth" English, which I appreciated.

I have Richard Pevear's and Larissa Volokhonsky's translation. So far its quite good; the only annoying thing is the footnotes aren't footnotes-- they are endnotes, piled up at the back of the book. It makes it harder to quickly glance at, for example, what the French phrase means. Grr. But I love the book!

[Rían]

Halfway thru Dune ...

[b.banner]

i am reading indiana jones and the unicorns legacy

[BeardofPants]

Originally posted by RÃ*an
Halfway thru Dune ...

*huggles Rian's legs* !!!! :) How are you finding it...? :)

And more importantly, is there anyone I haven't bugged to read Dune? :confused: ;)

[Linaewen]

Originally posted by BeardofPants

And more importantly, is there anyone I haven't bugged to read Dune? :confused: ;)
Me. But don't bother bugging me now, I'm engrossed with Northern Lights (His Dark Materials trilogy), I've already read The Subtle Knife & the Amber Spyglass but not this. It's the best.
After that it's Memoirs of a Geisha I think.

[Grey_Wolf]

At the moment I'm diving back into Churchill's A.H.O.E.S.P.-II: The New World (have left it alone for a while, and will now finish it). Same thing with PD James' A Mind To Murder. Will also begin to read Vonda N McIntyre's The Crystal Star (since I've begun again to read my SW-books).

[BeardofPants]

Originally posted by Linaewen
Me. But don't bother bugging me now, I'm engrossed with Northern Lights (His Dark Materials trilogy), I've already read The Subtle Knife & the Amber Spyglass but not this. It's the best.
After that it's Memoirs of a Geisha I think.

Your loss. ::shrug:: Err... any particular reason why you read the series out of order? :confused: And yes, Northern Lights IS the best of the three... I find that they tend to degenerate in quality as the series progresses. Didn't much like the ending of Amber Spyglass (Lyra and Will's 'love').

[brownjenkins]

finally finished children of dune... what a great book!

i have a lot of thoughts on it but too little time :(

picking up the next one this weekend :)

[Rían]

I finished Dune and resurrected a thread on it over in the sci-fi/fantasy book forum ...

[Rían]

Originally posted by BeardofPants
*huggles Rian's legs* !!!! :) How are you finding it...? :) Hey, stay away from my pantses! ;)

I tried, BoP, I tried ... (see Dune thread)



Just picked up Milton's Paradise Lost, etc. - I love the line:

Thrice he assayed, and thrice, in spite of scorn,
Tears, such as Angels weep, burst forth. At last
Words interwove with sighs found out their way:

[Artanis]

Somewhat inspired by Bloomsday, I picked up James Joyce's Ulysses. Second try, first one was more than 10 years ago. I may be able to finish it this time.

[Beren3000]

Originally posted by RÃ*an
Just picked up Milton's Paradise Lost

I love that book, too. My favourite part is (beware of spoiler if you haven't read it before):
when Satan looks at the Garden of Eden and envies man, wishing he could repent and enter again into God's favour but then despairs and resigns to his fate of eternal torture.
I also love the parts where: Adam and Eve discuss their life with each other. I think this parts show great insight into Milton's thoughts of the relationship between men and women in general

Enjoy reading it, RÃ*an. :)

I'm currently reading a novel called Spartan by an italian novelist called Valerio Massimo Manfredi. Anyone heard of that novel?

[Rían]

thanks, Beren :) I read your spoiler- looks interesting!

[Cirdan]

Originally posted by Artanis
Somewhat inspired by Bloomsday, I picked up James Joyce's Ulysses. Second try, first one was more than 10 years ago. I may be able to finish it this time.

That's funny. I picked it up and contempated buying it at the used book store just the other day. I was hoping to finish it too.:)

Just finished the Dune series. Tried Kavalier and Klay but it didn't take.

Has anyone read it? I didn't get past the setting of the opening chapters. Should I press on?

Note: Ten years to finish Ulysses.... Homer would like that. Never finished that Ulysses either.:evil:

[Mercutio]

1/3 of the way through Brothers K. But...Its 782 pages long, so that still means about 500 pages left! :eek: :D

[Cirdan]

nein... Ich bin *Herr* Kartoffelkopf.:D

Just started Cloudsplitter...

[b.banner]

I just read Big Fish by daniel wallace

[Mercutio]

Seabiscuit (on cd in the car)

And still Brothers K.

[Linaewen]

Watching the Tree by Adeline Yen Mah. My friend gave it to me for my birthday in the hope that it would make me reflect on my ancestral roots in China. She also gave me a nice picture book called The Tower. I just love beautiful illustrations like those in picture books.

[sun-star]

The poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins. Wow. I don't read enough poetry, and certainly not enough poetry as good as this.

[Nerdanel]

Världens Sämsta Språk (~ the worst language in the world) by Fredrik Lindström. It's about the Swedish language; I can't say too much, 'cause I haven't read it yet!:)

[BeardofPants]

Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose.

[Linaewen]

Originally posted by Nerdanel
Världens Sämsta Språk (~ the worst language in the world) by Fredrik Lindström. It's about the Swedish language; I can't say too much, 'cause I haven't read it yet!:)
:eek: Read it and tell me about it! I'm guessing the book itself is IN Swedish since the title is. Is it written by a Finn? I am aware of the Swedish-disliking sentiment shared by many Finns.

[Grey_Wolf]

Originally posted by Linaewen
:eek: Read it and tell me about it! I'm guessing the book itself is IN Swedish since the title is. Is it written by a Finn? I am aware of the Swedish-disliking sentiment shared by many Finns.

No, he's a Swede. He had his tv-progam called Värsta Språket which was about the Swedish language. Quite interesting. Gave historical, cultural and dialectial insight into the language.

[Rían]

Just finished "At the Back of the North Wind" by George MacDonald, written late 1800's. Very interesting fairy tale, with some wild and wise one-liners.

[Nerdanel]

Originally posted by Linaewen
:eek: Read it and tell me about it! I'm guessing the book itself is IN Swedish since the title is. Is it written by a Finn? I am aware of the Swedish-disliking sentiment shared by many Finns.

As Grey_Wolf already said, it's written by a Swede, and it's very interesting. The author doesn't think Swedish is the worst language in the world, though:D (så du kan pusta ut, Lin;) )




och tack för din signatur..:o

[Lalaith]

"Auf dem Jakobsweg" written by Paolo Coelho. A great book, but I liked every book that I read writty by Coelho.

[b.banner]

i am reading another indiana jones book

[Grey_Wolf]

Today I began reading Fredrik Lindström's X2 - Världens Dåligaste Språk/Jordens Smartaste Ord.

[Nerdanel]

Originally posted by Grey_Wolf
Today I began reading Fredrik Lindström's X2 - Världens Dåligaste Språk/Jordens Smartaste Ord.

good choice;)

[Grey_Wolf]

Originally posted by Nerdanel
good choice;)

:) Yeah, it's quite interesting, although I don't quite agree with
his opinion on the written language.

[Nerdanel]

I've read it now (Världens dåligaste språk / Fredrik Lindström). It was rather good actually. Not boring at all! Easy to read. Gve some new points of view too.

G_W, he has taken it (the stuff 'bout the written language) as far as possible. In some way he's right, IMO, but he over-reacts to some extent.

At least the book made me understand that Swedish isn't the worst language in the world!:) (men jag måste erkänna att jag inte skulle vilja se 'ba' bli ett ord.:rolleyes: Jag måst vara gammaldags:D )

[katya]

I'm finally reading The Journey to the West! Yay!! I love it! I think I'll go read some now. I stopped a little because they were just talking about the Dragon King or something and I want to know more about Sun Wu-K'ung AKA Seiten Taisei Son Goku!!

[Linaewen]

Originally posted by Nerdanel
I've read it now (Världens dåligaste språk / Fredrik Lindström). It was rather good actually. Not boring at all! Easy to read. Gve some new points of view too.

And now I am also reading Jordens smartaste ord. :p Really interesting.

[cee2lee2]

Re-reading Fellowship fo the Ring. Frodo hasn't left the shire yet.....:)

[Valandil]

Originally posted by cee2lee2
Re-reading Fellowship fo the Ring. Frodo hasn't left the shire yet.....:)

Ooo... you should jump in on the Discussion Project in LOTR books forum! :)

[cee2lee2]

Thanks for the invitation, Valandil. Maybe I'll pop in, but I don't really have the time to be online enough to be a reliable member of a discussion group.

[Valandil]

Popping in is fully acceptable... and there's no implicit commitment to come at regular intervals... just come at your pleasure. :)

[Mercutio]

Finished "Seabiscuit."

Still in "Bro. K"

Started "Monsieur Pamplemous and the Secret Mission" by Michael Bond.

[Nerdanel]

Lin, I'm glad you liked it!:)

I've read 'Istället för Hip Hop', a book full of poetry, by a Swede, Daniel Boyacioglu. Really good at times, really frustrating at times.

Thought-provoking.

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

whilst reading hobbit, fotr, ttt &rotk all at the same time :D
I am also reading Dragon Search, by Patricia C Wrede
(Book 2 in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles)

[Rían]

Trying to re-start Don Quixote - having trouble getting into it...

How are you liking Bros. K, Merc?

[Grey_Wolf]

Am also rereading Johan Tell's England, England - Guiden.
A very funny causerie or book of light articles.

[Nerdanel]

Thanks to my job, I have now finished reading the Silmarillion. A fantastic book, as many of you know.

Actually, I loved the first chapters, though many warned me that it'd be hard getting thru the first chapters. He really had imagination, our dear JRR. He was brilliant.

I believe that it'd be a lot different reading LotR after reading the Sil, than it was before I'd read it.

But I won't start reading LotR immediately. I'll read the Hobbit first.:)

[Mercutio]

Originally posted by RÃ*an
Trying to re-start Don Quixote - having trouble getting into it...

How are you liking Bros. K, Merc?


very much so

And I also started "Greyfriar's Bobby." (Its about a dog in the Scotland Borders).

[Beren3000]

I've recently started Mario Puzo's The Godfather. The first pages are kinda dull, but it's just because it's the inevitable introduction to characters. I'm really looking forward to getting past the introduction! Anyone read it?

[Nerdanel]

Today I've read an interesting book about Greenpeace.

I've also started the Hobbit.:) Seems to differ a lot from the Sil!:)

[Lady Ravyn]

i just started the nameless day by sara douglass which means it'll be even longer 'til i get to the books i got for my b-day and the other ones i've collected over the past few months (i always figure, "oh, well, this library book you can only have for a month or two, but you have the books you bought forever" so library books get first preference lol ;)
i'm also going to start listening to the sil (*dum dum dum dummmm...* :p ) on cd in a few days (something to listen to while i mow the lawn :D ) wish me luck- it'll be the fourth time i've tried reading it :o :p i really want to get through it this time...

[Lalaith]

J.R.R. Tolkien - Letters

Got the book last year and didn't want to read it because it's not a "relaxing" book and too big to carry in my school bag.
But now I'm reading it at work (during the breaks).

[sun-star]

I've been re-reading some of the Jennings books since Anthony Buckeridge died. They're funny :D

[Khamûl]

I'm actually going to read all of the Canterbury Tales. So far I've covered the Prologue, the Knight's Tale, the Miller's Tale, the Reeve's Tale, and the Cook's Tale. It's all so much better when no one is making you read them. :)

[zinnite]

"After the Martian Apocalypse" by Mac Tonnies. It's nonfiction. Check it out.

[Nerdanel]

I've finished the Hobbit! It was very different from the Sil imo, much easier to read (since it's a children's book, I'm very glad it is:) ).
I liked it a lot. It's humoristic (sp?) and exciting.

Next: a book about mammals.:D I have to vary the literature I read.

[Jeeves]

I am currently reading The Return of Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse.

[trolls' bane]

Now I'm reading 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (or 2o,ooo Leagues Under the Sea ;))

My dream has been fulfilled! I have my very own library! And most of the books are classics! I'm very happy now. I'm going to the Teacup Cafe.

DRINKS STILL ON ME!!!!!

:D :) :p ;) :rolleyes: :cool:

[Nerdanel]

I'm reading a book by the Norwegian author Agnar Mykle. I'm reding it in Finnish, but it's original name is Sangen om den Röde Rubin.
It was banned in Finland for a long time (it's written in 1956), but now it's been allowed for some 20 years.
This far it's interesting; written in a kind of brave way. I can really recognise myself.

[Mercutio]

Anybody here read "the Decameron"?

[Beren3000]

I've heard about the "Decameron" as the origin of the short story genre. But unfortunately I couldn't find it :( Can you please tell me the name of the author, Mercutio? Have you read it or are you currently reading it?

EDIT: and has anybody here read The Godfather?

[Falagar]

Right now I'm doing:
Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut
The Stone of Farewell by Tad Williams
Starship Troopers by Heinlein
Edda, when I can get it back

[Rían]

Oh, isn't the Hobbit fun, Nel? I LOVE the opening lines! Some of the best in all literature, IMHO.

I'm almost done with Milton's Paradise Lost. What strong writing!

[Khamûl]

Originally posted by Beren3000
EDIT: and has anybody here read The Godfather? Not I. Sorry.

[BeardofPants]

I have an idea that Iron Parrot read the Godfather, but I could be just remembering funny. :D

[ethuiliel]

Oh, isn't the Hobbit fun, Nel? I LOVE the opening lines! Some of the best in all literature, IMHO. I agree!!! The hobbit has wonderful opening lines...
In a hole in the ground there live a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yeta dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort. :D I wanna live in a hobbit hole...or maybe a human-sized hobbit hole. ;)

[Nerdanel]

Originally posted by RÃ*an
Oh, isn't the Hobbit fun, Nel? I LOVE the opening lines! Some of the best in all literature, IMHO.

Yes, it indeed is.:) I just love Bilbo's 'discussion' with Smaug!:D

[Beren3000]

I'm currently reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. A very good read for Christians and skeptics alike (at least in my opinion).

P.S: Falagar, can you please give me feedback on Slaughter house 5 when you finish it? I had it recommended to me but I don't know if it's really worth it.

[zinnite]

Originally posted by Beren3000
P.S: Falagar, can you please give me feedback on Slaughter house 5 when you finish it? I had it recommended to me but I don't know if it's really worth it.
Not addressed to me, but...

It is absolutely worth it.

[Radagast The Brown]

I'm re-reading LotR (inclueding prologue and peoms, not inclueding the appenixes. Orders from the master...)

Also, reading 'Equal Rites' by Pratchett, and 'Wheel of Time' (I'm on the third in the series) by Robert Jordan.

I was trying to get the second book of Dune - went to the library, positive I could find it, but I took 'Children of Dune', thinking it's the second book. I have already asked from BoP once... and forgot it til now. Can somebody please tell me what is the second book in Dune?

Thanks. :)

[Hawklan]

at this moment in time Im reading the following :

King of the world by David Remnick - its about the rise of Muhammad Ali

Philip Lynott the rocker by Mark Putterford - the story of the greatest ( imho) frontman ever seen or heard !!

[Rían]

I'm currently reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. A very good read for Christians and skeptics alike (at least in my opinion). You should read Till we Have Faces by Lewis - a wild book. I only know a handful of people that have read it. It took me about 20 years to figure out!

[cee2lee2]

You should read Till we Have Faces by Lewis - a wild book. I only know a handful of people that have read it. It took me about 20 years to figure out!


Maybe I'll give it another try. I like Lewis (Narnia, the space trilogy and Mere Xianity), but this one has never been high on my list to read. It's been about 20 years since I first tried it. ;) :)

[BeardofPants]

Right now I'm reading Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey". It took me a while to finish "In the Name of the Rose", but it was good. I'd recommend; not your usual murder-mystery that's for sure.

[Halbarad of the Dunedain]

I just got a huge mythology book in the bargain section at the book store, im reading that and it is really helping me with ideas for my book!(Tolkien's LotR was in some parts heavily based on norse mythology) Im also reading LotR for the second time this year, and trying to finish, or rather start Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. There is another book I just saw at the bookstore the other day but I cant remember the name, I will edit this post when I think of it... "something Leaves".
The title is House of Leaves! finally got it!

Any recomendations on books? im not really looking for sci-fi, or fantasy at the moment so if anyone has read any other genre's let me know!

[Beren3000]

I'm currently reading The Divine Comedy by Dante. Haven't gotten far enough yet to judge it but it sounds really good from the introduction :)

RÃ*an, is this Lewis book a Christian one or no?

RTB, how do you like Wheel of Time so far?

Halbarad, I'd recommend Paradise Lost (RÃ*an can tell you better than me what a thrilling read that is) and I'd recommend The Jester by James Patterson and finally (if you haven't read it) The Godfather by Mario Puzo

[Radagast The Brown]

RTB, how do you like Wheel of Time so far?I like it, really want to read the next book. I won't, probably, get it though, but in a month. *sigh*

There are things that repeats themselves. I heard there are about 20 books in the series? Hmmmm... do you like it?

[Valandil]

Reading something you probably won't find anywhere - Growing up on Orient Road by Rose LeMasters Tate. It's one of those 'vanity runs' with a small circulation.

To give background, for 5 years as a boy we lived in the small Southern Illinois town where my dad was born & raised and where his parents still lived, it's name was Orient. It was a coal-mining town and grandpa was a miner (and local union organizer back in the bad ole days). The author grew up on a farm a mile south of town and watched the place grow... then taught school in the area as a career. She was born in 1907 and this book of her memoirs was published in 1983 ... no idea if she is still alive today. Borrowing the book from my dad.

What's cool (and amazing) is that they just did EVERYTHING for themselves! She says the only things she remembers buying at the store were; coffee, tea, sugar, salt, pepper - maybe 2-3 other things of that nature (I forget her whole list). She gives detailed instructions about how they did everything... grew their own food, how they canned all sorts of things, butchered hogs, gathered honey, how they did the laundry... EVERYTHING was such a major job! I'm just over a third of the way through it. She was 7th of 10 children (but the two youngest, both boys, died in infancy - her mother must've been in her 50's when she had them) - and she lost one older brother in a coal mine collapse and her only older sister in a drowning. Sounds like they had a nice house, at least one hired man and hired girl and a fair amount of land... when she was 5 they had sold the mineral rights (coal has just been discovered) under their previous 200 acre farm for $100 per acre... which paved the way for their later, more well-to-do lifestyle... still a lot of hard work). Orient Mine #1 (where Grandpa worked) became the largest coal mine in the world, until surpassed by Orient Mine #2 - which still holds the record. Those mines are all shut-down now... sulfur content is much higher in the Illinois coal than that in Pennsylvania / West Virginia / Kentucky - and nobody has found a way to make the 'scrubbers' cheap enough that it's worthwhile to mine it on a large scale. (hence the long-depressed southern Illinois economy)

Fascinating account of life less than 100 years ago... especially since it seems 1000 years removed from today, with all our modern conveniences.

[Beren3000]

Originally posted by Radagast The Brown
I like it, really want to read the next book. I won't, probably, get it though, but in a month. *sigh*

There are things that repeats themselves. I heard there are about 20 books in the series? Hmmmm... do you like it?

I really like it. I recently finished book 5. I started on book 6 but found that about 70 pages or so are missing (*does Homer Simpson impression* "lousy cheap books!" ;) ) So I've postponed reading it until I can find a complete edition. I don't know about things that repeat themselves. The only thing I can see repeated through each book is the tricycle: haven-adventure-haven.
Have you found anything else?
The series is gonna be about 13 books long (main sequence books) and 3 prequels, amounting to 15 books in all. Enjoy reading!

Val., I envy you the patience to read such a book. (No offense meant there! :o )

[Valandil]

Val., I envy you the patience to read such a book. (No offense meant there! :o )

None taken... it's easier in this case because both of my parents know the author, and I've read half a dozen personal names and several family names I knew from my own childhood... as well as knowing the places she's talking about. Plus - my grandparents grew quite a bit of THEIR food (in addition to grandpa's mining job) and grandma did lots of canning.

So - this particular book is a 'touchstone' of sorts.

[Rían]

Right now I'm reading Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey". It took me a while to finish "In the Name of the Rose", but it was good. I'd recommend; not your usual murder-mystery that's for sure.
Oh, Northanger is hysterical! IIRC, C. S. Lewis said it was one of his favorite books to read while sick; just pure fun. Some of the guy's (forgot his name) comments are really funny. *looks in bookcase - rats! I must have loaned it out* And one of my favorite comments is made by the girl (double rats! Can't remember her name!) and goes something like (spoken with sincerity) "I don't speak well enough to be unintelligible" :D

[Rían]

Maybe I'll give it another try. I like Lewis (Narnia, the space trilogy and Mere Xianity), but this one has never been high on my list to read. It's been about 20 years since I first tried it. ;) :) I read it in college back in the early 80's and thought it was a waste of time; I picked it up 20 years later and thought "NOW I understand what he's saying! Wow!"

Give it a try again :) and let me know what you think. Really a profound book, IMO.

[Beren3000]

Yeah, when you put it that way it sounds warm and intimate. I guess it'd be an interesting experience to read a book set where you grew up. Enjoy your reading!

[Rían]

RÃ*an, is this Lewis book a Christian one or no?
Hmm, how do I answer that one?

*wanders off on a philosophical rabbit trail*

It's a re-telling of the story of Cupid and Psyche from the POV of the ugly sister of Psyche. In one sense, it's very deeply Christian; on the surface, perhaps not.

(My rabbit trail involved contemplating what I consider to be the misconception of separation of parts of life into "Christian" and "non-Christian". I make what would be called, by some, "Christian" posts in some threads, but in reality, ALL of my posts are "Christian", IMO, even ones on the Quote game, because God is in all my life, if that makes sense. And in the same sense, I would consider ALL of Lewis' books to be Christian, even the ones that aren't specifically about Christianity or God or things like that.)

[Beren3000]

It makes perfect sense, thank you for an enlightening post :)

[Rían]

You're welcome :)



(I made sense! I made sense! :D )

[Lady Ravyn]

just finished the laughing corpse by laurell k. hamilton, now i'm on to the third anita blake book: circus of the damned :D ( my mom has already raised her eybrow at the title a few times... lol)

[Hawklan]

Ok...saturday night and Im about to start "man and boy" by Tony Parsons.
hes actually a columist with a really nasty daily newspaper called "the mirror", but his weekly column is pretty good.

[Jonathan]

Just got started on The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. I've only read the first few chapters but I love the book already. Though that probably has to do with all the descriptions of Paris and the Louvre. I love the Louvre :). But hopefully I'll like the rest of the book as well.

[Nerdanel]

I'm reading a book by the Norwegian author Agnar Mykle. I'm reding it in Finnish, but it's original name is Sangen om den Röde Rubin.
It was banned in Finland for a long time (it's written in 1956), but now it's been allowed for some 20 years.
This far it's interesting; written in a kind of brave way. I can really recognise myself.

it's now finished.:)
it was a very, very good book. it's about a 23-year-old man/boy who has gone to university, but is looking for the meaning of life. he has a lot of girls, but he knows noone of them is a person he could live with. he is searching for Her, and finally finds her. he suffers a lot when he can't tell her, and it only get worse when he understands that he really loves her.
in the end he finds the love of his life, the girl, and they get married. and that's the end; he has a family who loves him, and all that he has lived for earlier; his music and communism, are gone. he understands that love is the lonelyest feeling in the world.

i did recognice myself in this young man's way of thinking and acting. in the ends, my worst fears came true; i hope that won't happen to me.

still reading the mammal-book too.:)

[BeardofPants]

Why was it banned?

[Falagar]

I haven't read it myself, but I believe it was because it contained some graphic sex-scenes. Not very well received back in 1957. ;)

[Nerdanel]

I haven't read it myself, but I believe it was because it contained some graphic sex-scenes. Not very well received back in 1957. ;)

exactly.:)

btw, i recommend it!

[Gulio, Strength of Many]

Hmm, I think I'll be skipping that one. :D

Anywho, I just finished The Crimson Shadow: The Sword of Bedwyr by R.A. Salvatore, and Soon by Jerry Jenkins. I'm starting Shadowmancer by G.P. Taylor today, and it's lookin pretty good. :)

[Falagar]

Right, I'm currently reading:
-Starship Troopers by Heinlein,
-To Green Angel Tower (part 1) by Tad Williams
-Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut
-Servant of the Empire by J. Wurst and R. Feist
-The Science of Discworld by Pterry
-Edda, when I can get it back.

[Hawklan]

tonight I will be mainly reading...."DE NIRO A BIOGRAPHY" by John Baxter,
I really admire De Niro so I hope I still do when finished :confused:

[Meriadoc Brandybuck]

Currently reading:
The Silmarillion-J.R.R. Tolkien
The Amber Spyglass-Phillip Pullman
The Whispering Statue-Carolyn Keene

[Thain Peregrin Took I]

I'm currently reading:
The Book of Lost Tales Part I - J.R.R. Tolkien
The Haunted Bridge - Carolyn Keene

[Mercutio]

tonight I will be mainly reading...."DE NIRO A BIOGRAPHY" by John Baxter,
I really admire De Niro so I hope I still do when finished :confused:

As in Robert De Niro? Ever seen "The Mission"?

[sun-star]

I'm reading the essays of Thomas Carlyle ("Chartism") at the moment - no, it wasn't my choice ;) but they are interesting.

[gollum9630]

As in Robert De Niro? Ever seen "The Mission"?

Twice, both times in my christian ed class. its a pretty good movie.

right now i am reading "The Bourne Identity" by Robert Ludlum

[Grey_Wolf]

Last night when I couldn't go to sleep I began reading Lawrence James' The Rise And Fall of the British Empire. When you're awake in the middle of the night it's a good thing to read awhile and then go back to sleep, which I did. :)

[BeardofPants]

I've finished off Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, and I'm going to start on an amber series compilation by Zelazny.

[trolls' bane]

Last night when I couldn't go to sleep I began reading Lawrence James' The Rise And Fall of the British Empire. When you're awake in the middle of the night it's a good thing to read awhile and then go back to sleep, which I did. :)
One night I read an entire book! Still had enough time to start a new one before I had to get up for school. And I did :D :eek:.

[Grey_Wolf]

One night I read an entire book! Still had enough time to start a new one before I had to get up for school. And I did :D :eek:.

Weren't you half-dead with sleepiness then? :D

[trolls' bane]

Weren't you half-dead with sleepiness then? :D
Nope :D. Stayed awake all night and never got tired. Happens a lot. Either I get no sleep, or I get an way too much sleep (twelve hours? takes away from mooting time ;) :p).
Once I got up and posted on Entmoot all night, or at least a good part of it :D.

[Hawklan]

Mercutio - yes Ive seen the mission, good film.

Still digesting about De Niro....great presence etc but isnt as versatile as a great actor should be, has to become the character, live the the character.
Just my interpretation of acting, dont want to criticise De Niro or his fans, I still think that what he does best, hes the best at...if you see what I mean !

[Lady Ravyn]

almost finished with the 5th anita blake book, bloody bones, and next comes #6- the killing dance :D

[b.banner]

Indiana Jones and the white witch

[Artanis]

I have spent some light moments with one of Ian Rankin's crime novels in between my struggles with James Joyce. Ulysses ... still reading chapter 4 ... :o :rolleyes:

[Beren3000]

Just finished Dante's Inferno. Wow! To quote Forkbeard: "I could not praise it enough!" :) I really recommend it to all of you.
I started on Lord of Chaos, the 6th book of The Wheel of Time.

[Earniel]

Indiana Jones and the white witch
Sounds like you're reading the whole series. :) I liked the white witch a lot better than the rest. Loved the sword-element.

[Hawklan]

Tonight I will be reading....Geof Hurst an autobiography.

Antbody who doesnt know him...only player to score a hatrick ( thats 3 goals you heathens ) in a world cup final - 1966 England

Those famous football words that send a shiver down every Englishmans spine
" theres some fans on the pitch, they think its all over....it is now!" by the late Ken Wolstenholme as Hurst almost burst the net :) :) :) :) :)

[Rûdhaglarien]

I'm reading stuff for school East of Eden by Steinbeck as of now. But, I should be done tomorrow. Then it's onto things like Diplomacy and The European Reformation. :(

[Elanor the Fair]

I've finished off Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, and I'm going to start on an amber series compilation by Zelazny.

I've read that series twice, BoP, and it's good - different, but good! :)

[Beren3000]

Just started on "The Letters" by JRRT, they seem very interesting!

[BeardofPants]

I've read that series twice, BoP, and it's good - different, but good! :)
Whoah, that confused me - I thought you were talking about Jane Austen, lol. :D I've finished the first two books (nine princes, and guns of avalon), and I must say, it's frickin' brilliant! I like that it's different (though I knew that dara was gonna bite corwin in the ass); definitely an enjoyable read. Is the second series worth reading? (not that I can find it in borders:rolleyes: )

[Fat middle]

Finished Paul Auster's The Book of illusions. With this one, he has finally fallen from my list of favourite contemporary athors. :(

It could have been a very good book, but he gets lost in it. I'm begining to think that he only is good for literary fireworks, but that the human depth that he had in Smoke is completely lost :mad:

[Artanis]

Gordy, you cannot give up on Auster, he has a Norwegian wife!!! :D :p (Siri Hustvedt, another author. If you should wonder. :) )
Just started on "The Letters" by JRRT, they seem very interesting!Goody! 'Letters' are great. You'll love it, I'm sure. :)

[Fat middle]

Gordy, you cannot give up on Auster, he has a Norwegian wife!!! :D :p (Siri Hustvedt, another author. If you should wonder. :) )
O, that explains... errrr...

... forget it, forget it :p :D

[Artanis]

Mee-hee.
I never forget. Never. :mad:
:D :p