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

I am about 60 pages into

good book, i like that its not TOO much like the first film even though clive barker wrote the script.

Why would you stop reading Against the Day? It's great.

Re: Damien Mayfair;

"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."

a friend of mine told me to check out ted.com. nice collection of short speakers. definitely worth checking out.

I'll check out Survival of the Prettiest after I'm done with Jeans: A Cultural History of an American Icon by James Sullivan. Seems like a good transition.

Also, reading Positively Fifth Street : murderers, cheetahs, and Binion's World Series of Poker by James McManus.

Ironically, House of Leaves is one of the only books I've wanted to give up on halfway through.

And The Bell Jar.  And Death and the Dervish.  That's all.

I didn't stop yet, I just don't really care for the 1900's era writing style. The never ending sentences, just comma after comma after comma, kind of like how I write but was always yelled at for in English classes.  It's the same reason why I haven't read On the Origin of Species yet. But again, I'm not giving up yet.

You really are a soft, mad child when it comes to reading speed!

Thanks for the recommendation. I've ordered it on Amazon, looking forward to it.

At the mo, I'm reading crazy gibber-boy Jorge Luis Borges's Labyrinths.

Ive eard so much about this book here I just have to read it next, America Gods by Neil Gaiman.

good one! if you're familiar with mythology (norse especially), it makes the story even better. i finished that book (survival of the prettiest) i saw on TED.com. it was an easy read, not technical at all and basically says there's an evolutionary reason for preferring one person over another and probably why.

i'm re-reading Haunted. I felt nostalgic.

I'm currently reading The Kite Runner for school.  Its not to bad.  As soon as I'm done with that, I will start House of Leaves. 

So far so good, he really is a good storyteller.

 The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje.  This is for school, and it's hands down the hardest thing I've had to read for class before. I think it's a little too vague.  I mean, it's very beautiful and all but shit, throw me a line, Mikey, I don't really know what's going on!

The Kite Runner is a great book, I never wanted to put it down. I also hear that his next book is even better, but I haven't gotten around to reading it yet.

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i feel all over the place this month..

started and very nearly finished (have maybe twelve pages of the last story to go, basically one more bathroom break) [i]nine stories[/i] by salinger.  have also cracked [i]angel d u s t apocalypse[/i] by jrj as ive not read it in more than a year now, but that shouldnt take more than a couple of hours, but also, for the night time, in bed but before rest, i'm re-reading [i][color=blue]H[/color]oL[/i], which i've been meaning to wait for halloween this year but really i meant to read it in october of the year last and make a tradition of it or something--as, i believe, i'd originally read it in an october--but something came up last year that forbade my hallow's read so the thought occurred to me, Why wait ?  great night reading.

there was another book i just closed the last page on, but i cant remember the title.  my woman's going nuts, almost maniacally, picking up my fucking clutter.

-kabol

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I am currently reading:

Every Sigh, The End by Jason S. Hornsby

It's pretty good so far, it's a zombie novel, but from what i can tell so far it's pretty different then the rest i've read. i had never even heard about it before finding it on amazon...

Yesterday I read The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad. The day before that I read Lord Jim, also by Conrad. Today I read The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon, at the bequest of Scarecrow Jack.

I love this "Jack" fellow.  Um, if either of you guys ever feel like writing a SUPER FUN ESSAY about that book for me, you can feel free to do so.  I know how much you love showing off, Phil.  What better way than to... uh, do my homework for me?

Sorry, babe, but showing off is only worthwhile when the payoff is greater than just impressing a little Canadian powerpuff girl.

Im lovin American Gods by Neil Gaiman. I feel like saving the rest for a holiday.

it's really a good book. i don't know why though but some parts i can't imagine in my head as well as i think i should, especially towards the latter parts of the book.

he tries his best to describe what's happening but my imagination is just not at par. same thing with Neverwhere (this was the first book i read of his, by the way) but i still enjoyed it.

Anansi Boys, a spin-off of sorts from American Gods, I found easier to digest but it's not as critically-acclaimed.

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xec:

actually..  i've not yet read it, [i]lot 49[/i], though it has been on my shelf for a bit l o n g e r than a mere few months

how about you write a short essay on it, as you write essays pretty impressively (if i remember correctly), and i spend a day and read it and write one as well.  mainly so we can compare notes garnered form one another's essay.  that seems like a good reason to me.   just in spare time, say post our essays wednesday this following ?

the thing is, i've been postponing for a hefty reason to spend a day slowly reading it and i know pretty much nothing about it, and this affronts a cathartic motivation on my part.  whatta ya say ?

-kabol

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That sounds like a fine idea, Kabol. Let's leave it until the end of the month, though, because I have about 20,000 words' worth of essays to write for class, and I need to knock some of that out before I indulge in more essay-writing. Still, you're on.

You'll enjoy the book, it's great.

Then I will steal the better of the two essays, and hand it in.

or, you along with others-maybe, can read the book and join in on the project and up your own essay instead.  now that we are able to freely "attach" word processor documents directly to the threads..

I am finally reading the Gunslinger(thanks derek) and its great so far...It was a little off putting to have characters refferencing the beatles while being in western times (i think they were singing hey jude at a saloon) but if i remember right alot of the darktower series is about time traveling and such, so it works but its just strange since its currently out of context to me.

i just finished demon theory by stephen graham jones. thought it was brilliant. its all i can think about.

now i need to choose between father and son by larry brown, naked lunch by william s burroughs, or moby dick by melville. oddly enough that little attachment that kabol posted makes me think that the collective conscious is shouting moby dick at me.

but lately ive been hearing so much about pynchon that i feel like i need to pick something of his up. he sounds perfect to my liking. so maybe i'll defy pseudo-psychological theories and pick up some pynchon. probably the crying of lot 49.

or maybe i'll just keep reading all the background information ive been collecting and reading all semester for the experiments im conducting on unsuspecting college age students.

I have Demon Theory but I reckon its going to be a tough read. Is it easy to get into?

at first it seemed pretty straight forward to me. but i was greatly mistaken. its a complex book but also super entertaining and readable. its split into three sections (movies). read each section without even thinking about putting it down.

if you know anything about stephen graham jones, which im assuming you do since you think its going to be a tough read, than you should be all right. i loved everything about it.

um...maybe think about it as if house of leaves was done about a horror trilogy and instead of references to nonfiction, sometimes made up, sources, those footnotes are for pop culture topics and horror movies. maybe not a very good explanation...

it was easy for me to get through. not that it was easy, but it was more than worth it. will leave you with some questions which im trying to hammer out and looking to discuss possibilities.

ive become a prolific rambler i think

No ramble on, thats great Im going to check it out sometime when I have a proper weekend off. Thanks for the help.

I'm reading The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings and really enjoying it so far.

I'm reading Conrad's Chance.

 I'm reading part 4 of the Green Mile.  Thanks Derek

And I think someone was supposed to send me HHA, but no one ever ddi.  If anyone has an extra copy lying around SEND IT TO ME NOW!

Kisses!

Im about to finish American Gods (excellent) and next up is The ZeroTrain by Yuri Buida.

Im going to start a book I bought the other day. Its The Omea Force by Rick Moody.

I'm reading Candy Girl by Diablo Cody - i think Bug made the recommendation a while ago.

and Dandy of the Underworld by Sebastien Horsley...thank you Derek

I'm reading The Ice Storm-Rick Moody and

The Peculiar Memories of Thomas Penman- Bruce Robinson

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im sure sgj wouldnt have a problem discussing [i]demon theory[/i] with you over at the velvet.  the biggest difference between the cult and the velvet is this:  the cult is a fan site and the velvet is an author site.  if you havent been there before, here's the rundown:

the cult's webmaster is dennis.  mirka (pronounced meerkah) helps run and maintain the cult.  she was (is, of course) a fan of will christopher baer and clevenger.  denis loved clevenger's first book, [i]the contortionists' handbook[/i] (also known as TCH), and sent it to chuck and chuck blurbed it and championed it, including--later on--sharing readings with clev, and clev got a huge name here at the cult and a surge in fanfare after the chuck blurb.  after a while, one of clev's favorite writers, chris baer, also became a pretty well known name here.  Dennis called baer's writing badass (which, got me to read him initially).  The google search constantly pointing baer’s name this direction probably got baer's attention.  either that or clevenger told him to check out the site, who knows anymore.  his third novel was dubbed [by viking, his previous publisher] a three hundred page suicide note and refused to publish it.  at the same time, the publishing company was being bought out, or something, and they dropped baer's first two books completely.  one day, bam, baer's outta print.  well, clev's publishing house not only pub'd baer's third novel, they bought up the publishing rights to the first two and released it as a set in hard cover for very affordable cover prices.  well, this was incredible news for fans, so dennis mirka kareem and a few others went to making a website for the two authors, a subsidiary of the cult called "The Velvet".  back then the velvet was hosted and sponsored by the cult and i know that den and mirk and kar were really happy to be able to do that for them.  a year and a half later, after sgj was a name constantly being screamed by a few fans of the velvet, it seemed almost cathartic that the cage picked up a collection of short stories by jones titled [i]bleed into me[/i].  it wasnt long after..  the velvet grew from a pair into a trinity and the authors split the bills of the site, to have it hosted and run for them and by them.  the velvet has been completely autonomous since then, run by the good admin of the "fold" as some of us affectionately call it.  it is a great place to discuss books on a serious note.  not as much play, kiddy gloves dont cross over.  no jokes at the authors' expenses, no parody threads or people being so clever as to annoy.  it is an author site.  and a great place to discuss books and learn about upcoming readings and publications.  also plenty of shorts by the authors, including a play and a novella by baer.  the velvet is like a second home to me.   then again, i wouldnt be spending near as much time on this forum or that if the workshops were operational.  cheers to that day-

kabol

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hey, mel.  i can loan you my arc.  but you HAVE to get it back to me.  it was a gift from mirk and is very special to me.  just hit my pm with a mailing.

-kabol

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After several months without any reading in my life, I have started THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS and DEVOURED it on three days, excellent read indeed, now I do understand why derek pushed it to everyone!

Now I have started THE TRIAL by kafka

I checked out Finnegan's Wake, and I really don't understand it.  I thought it was going to be Joyce's easiest, but when I got home I read the little description on the back, "His last and most complex work."

thanks for the very informational post. i am, however, a member over there as well and knew most of that. but its nice to know how willing you are to help people out. ive read their threads on demon theory too and started chatting with a few people about it. the velvet is a great place. much different feel than here. which doesnt mean that this place is not great. i still feel a little intimidated every time stephen posts over there. i'll get over it eventually but some times its just kind of a "holy shit its you!" feeling which leaves me with nothing to say besides "i read your books".

starting father and son today i think. ive decided

Im starting The Sleeping Doll by Jeffrey Deaver, it must be about ten years since I read one of his books.

Darn Nate, I cant remember reading about Babe Ruth being an American god. Wouldnt be surprised if I missed it though, I spend most of my time in the shop reading and them pesky little kids can get in the way. What I can say about the book is it was superb, I know its a cliche but I was hooked from the start and it didnt let up. One of the best books Ive read in a longtime and I will probably reread it at some stage. I bought Stardust straightaway.

if you havent got Neverwhere yet. pick it up straightway. It might be the best of the three.

I read Neverwhere a few years ago and I didnt get it. It was during one of those shitty periods so I may have to give it a go again.

I finished Conrad's Under Western Eyes and I'm now reading Conrad's Victory.

Some kid at school ripped off a sequence from American Gods (which I haven't read, but it was a bit about a scheme involving a violin?) to write his writer's craft short story.  He got an 100% on it and the teacher reads the story aloud to the class every year and credits the boy who wrote it as being some kind of genius or something.  I'm sure there's a kid in every year who's known the story was plaigiarised, but no one really wants to say anything... I mean, how do you bring that up?  This teacher's a little off, she'd probably cry about it, and then refuse to believe it was true, and later give us a Serious Talk about not accusing people of plaigiarism.  Then she'd give us a timed writing assignment that begins with the phrase "'Get out of my apartment, you filthy whore!' said the man in the blue suit, with an erotic flourish..."  God, that woman is weird.

Hahaha

Anyway, I finished the Phineas Poe trilogy a while ago. Baer is kinda great, no wonder everyone drools over him.

I started Misery yesterday, and so far I like it. I'm only about 30 pages in, but I think I'll be nicely creeped out by the end.