April Fools and I am reading........

oh, somone´s pretty quick this month.

Interrogating the Real by Slavoj Zizek

and

Cocaine Nights by JG Ballard

Oh and L'Assommoir by Emile Zola.

On the toilet I'm reading 'Live Free or Die' by my man Gardner Goldsmith. Before bed I'm reading The Stranger by Albert Camus, I'm about halfway through, its a quick read.

I'm re-reading Dermaphoria before the intensive.

Plus, I'm anxiously checking the mail everyday for my package from Ireland, but nothing yet.  I accused my neighbor of book theivery today. I have no proof of that of course, but I was hoping to sweat some information out of her. 

Derek, I'm very curious to hear your final comments about The Historian.  I have some thoughts myself, but I'll save them until you're done.

 I'm reading a Canadian book called HA! ... it's great so far, a bit pretentious with constant allusions to Balzac and all those other ball sacks, but I still recommend it.  

almost done with Oracle Night-Paul Auster and I think i'm going to start

What is the What - Dave Eggers

or The Brooklyn Follies-Paul Auster

Just finished The Postman Always Rings Twice.

Now tearing through The Book of Revelation.

Trying to get a head start on this Clevenger intensive.

That'll probably be all the published reading I do for six weeks.

I'm currently reading at the moment
 
Philip K. Dick - The Cosmic Puppets
 
then shortly afterwards in this order
 
Haruki Murakami - Hard Boiled Wonderland And The End Of The World
Michael Chabon - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
Stephen Graham Jones - Demon Theory

I may as well mention that I'm also reading "Introduction to the Reading of Hegel" by Alexandre Kojève, but that's hardly for pleasure. In fact, it's an intellectual skullfuck and I dislike Hegel because he's an incomprehensible dick.

Hemmingway- the sun also rises (should finish tonight)

and then im not sure if i should read hellbound heart by clive barker, siddartha by hesse or alice in wonderland.

I'm still finishing three books from March, but I'd like to pick up some philosophy texts this month.

i just finished amy hempel's collected stories. i'm moving onto the Survival of the Prettiest: the science of beauty by Nancy Etcoff. I came across this book from the TED website.

That's an amazing website by the way with tons of videos about very interesting topics with great speakers. go to www.ted.com. go now. seriously. now.

I'm currently reading All The Beautiful Sinners by Stephen Graham Jones and Hiding Out by Jonathan Messinger (for a class I'm taking).

After A.T.B.S. i think I might be reading A Simple Plan by Scott Smith, but im not sure as of yet... I got a huge stack of books on my shleves that I've yet to read

What is the what what when it comes to a Cult consensus on this Eggers fellow?  My dad's been hovering on the edge of buying it for months now.  If Culties recommend it I think perhaps I'll buy it for him as a gift.  You know, one of those gifts that takes about a month or so to give itself right back to me so I can read it myself.

Stephen King's short stories (I dunno the title in English and the book's in another room, NO, further than that, another dimeshun!!!)

Very good stuff

I've got a whole new perspective since I read On Writing

I'm kinda analysing every short story - I know I should only enjoy them but I can't help it...

The book you sent me.  Thanks Derek!

I'm still going on Shampoo Planet, and I just bought Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman so that is next.

I loved this book. It's not as ironic or borderline annoying as Eggers' other two novels (though I really like both of them too). It's a more straightforward story raised to the level of brilliance by the involvement of Valentino Achek Deng and his unbelievably sad life experiences. Get it for your dad, then nab it back as soon as possible. Then buy him some chocolate, and eat it.

Oh, I'm just finishing Nabokov's Lolita. It's outrageously, scandalously, hilariously brilliant. Probably the best book I've read in the past year.

Im still hurting about not opening the January one but thats my own fault.

That's fantastich, herr Gimp. It's an incredibly witty, clever, strange book.

Im still hurting about not opening the January one but thats my own fault.

[/quote]

sorry, I didn't know I was crossing any etiquette when I started that post.

You're right, it was a good book.  I really enjoyed it.  It was my first Paul Auster novel that I have read.  Someone on Amazon recommended reading that book first if you hadn't read Auster before, I happened to have it and am glad that I did so.  Made me want to read another of his novel right away.  I'll probably start Brooklyn Follies soon.

i've been curious about what is the what.  ive been thinking about picking it up the past two times at the barnes store. 

currently reading red badge of courage.  it's a quick read.  i started it last night and will finish it tonight.  then onto the miracle worker--i bought it because i always thought it was a memoir and only sunday found out it was a play and a play written by fucking badass william gibson.  i dont know after that.  thinking about rereading [i]diary[/i]

intend to read [i]one man's bible[/i] sometime within this month, though

-kabol

..

..

sorry, I didn't know I was crossing any etiquette when I started that post.

hahaha, not at all its funny, I wasnt offended hombre. I was on the piss all Christmas and wasnt capable of my duties. I was just joking earlier.

I'm reading the previously unavailable in the united states; Now available in the united states via derrick, Rage by stephen king. It comes at the perfect time too as I'm cracking my way out of this reading slump. Got ten pages into it plus the 10-12 page little introduction he's got about why he was Bachman.

Not only did I get Rage, but it was a huge book with all FOUR bachman books in it! The Long Walk and Running Man I've already read but now can't wait to read again. Especially Long Walk. But it's also got ROadwork which I haven't read yet. SO It's like I got two new books and two great older ones all in one! Muchos Gracias!

The bible.

APRIL FOOLS!

oh wait, you say that was yesterday?  oh.

Apathy and other small victories- (i cant remember the authors name) So many people on here mentioned it that i googled it and went out to find it. I like it so far.

Very strange like if douglas adams was writing something in the spirit of douglas coupland.

Im starting Northline by Willy Vlautin. I loved his debut novel The Motel Life.

I heard him talking on the radio the other day. He sounds like a really cool guy, and the book sounds great too. I may have to get a copy. Let me know if you liked it!

Will do. He was in Galway for the Literature festival last year but I couldnt make it. Should be finished with it soon.

Classical Budo, by Donn Draeger

An interesting essay on the Japanese martial arts, a bit dated but still inspiring.

I hope youve apologised to your neighbour by now.

As for the Historian I just finished it and I enjoyed it. Nothing special but really not that bad for a debut novel. I thought the first part dragged and I was about to give up but Part 2 was much better. I dont want to include any spoilers for anyone else thinking of reading it. The ending seemed a bit rushed.

i felt that she had a thesis on the history of monks lying around somewhere and made it part of the book. that dragged the sequence of events down for me.

but with that said, i agree it's not bad for a debut and the ending did seem rushed. it's really ambitious to take on the Dracula lore and it didn't measure up to my expectations especially with all the buzz about it when it came out.

My neighbor handed me the package when it arrived, so I just said thank you and have been avoiding her since.

I also felt that the ending of the Historian felt rushed. The first 50 pages hooked me, but then it seemed to drag on forever. Then suddenly, a fast and tidy ending. Supposedly, she wrote it over a period of 10 years, and it seemed like she got sidetracked from the the story somewhere in the middle

But it did have some very interesting concepts and it was huge undertaking for a debut novel. Then again, her advance was $2 Million.  Not a bad payday for a first effort. I just don't think I would read it again and I'm not certain I'd recommend it as a casual read.

I'm reading Blood Meridian, Literary Theory by Terry Eagleton, and Politics of the Veil by Joan Scott.

I almost picked up American Gods.  Someone, is Gaiman worth reading?

Just finished the Film Club by David Gilmour, I'm reading Factsheet Five anthology- a collection of works from underground zines, Peter Blauner- The Intruder.  It's all good.

I finished Northline and it was a really good quick read (6 hours). I wont build it up too much for you but its definitely worth reading. His first novel The Motel Life is just as good if not slightly better.

Im off to bed with The Quick and the Dead by Joy Williams, a book recomended by Chuck so it should be good.

Pick up Neverwhere & American Gods...avoid good omens. Gaiman is very good but i do not like when he is a co writer.

I read Good Omens years ago and I liked it, but I liked Terry Pratchett then, and I don't so much anymore.

Agreed!

I just finished Jennifer Government (which I didn't love) and In a Country of Mothers by A M Homes (courtesy of Wickerkat's Secret Santa gift!). It was brilliant, I can't read enough of her work.

American Gods is a great book, and I second phlegmatics' recommendation of Neverwhere.  I just finished that one last month.  Gaiman's definitely worth reading.

As for the question at hand, I'm reading Black Ships by Jo Graham and Sex With Kings by Eleanor Herman. 

I just started Against the Day by Thomas Pynchon, however, I already thinking about putting it down and picking up House of Leaves

Quiet Days in Clichy-Henry Miller ( a good little read)

Im about to start Forever Odd by Dean Koontz.

I've read Kiss Me, Judas and I'm almost done with Penny Dreadful.  After that I'm gonna read..... Hell's Half Acre.  (Thank you nick)

After THAT I'm gonna start Misery. (Thank you derek)

I've been very busy in study hall.