February 2010, Valentines and I'm reading...
I'm still less than 200 pages through American Gods and I don't know if I should bother with it. I'm really not interested in that kind of stuff any more, I think because I was a huge Pratchett fan in younger days I've pretty much seen it all before.
So, to anyone who's read it before, should I push on with it? I know a few people around here have read it, were you drawn in immediately or does it pick up part way through the book?
I can not believe I forgot about Imperial Bedrooms. BEE is my favorite author...
Thank you guys for reminding me. I will definitely be getting this when it's released.
Here are some others you might like:
Odd and the Frost Giants
Fragile Things
Graveyard Book
Anansi Boys
Coraline
Was this a reply to my post on the first page on this thread? You should use the quote button so we know who you're talking to, the 'reply' button is pointless.
I went with American Gods in the end but as I said earlier today I'm about a quarter/third of the way through and I'm not really enjoying it that much. To be quite frank, so far it seems like a bit of a rip-off of about half a dozen different discworld books.
Im reading Great Expectations By Charles Dickens
on a side note i picked Shutter Island looks good!
I read 'Don't Cry' by Mary Gaitskill much too quickly. I should have savored and made it last.
Cold Earth by Sarah Moss
Also in preparation for Imperial Bedrooms? I expect a lot of people will be doing this.
Torture the Artist by Joey Goebel
Also in preparation for Imperial Bedrooms? I expect a lot of people will be doing this.
Nope I didnt even know about Imperial Bedrooms until I wqas halfway through Less Than Zero.
Isabelle The Navigator by a fantastic aussie author, Luke Davies
Leaving Las Vegas by John O'Brien, I feckin love this book.
Just started The Sea Captiains Wife By Beth Powning.... So far it is amazing. 
I loved his novel Candy, I have Isabelle the Navigator too but havent gotten round to reading it yet. Let me know what its like.
So, to anyone who's read it before, should I push on with it? I know a few people around here have read it, were you drawn in immediately or does it pick up part way through the book?
I would say that if you don't like it now, you won't like it anymore in another 200 pages. Shame, but I just don't think you'll change your mind.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
The World According to Garp by John Irving.
I'm not sure I've ever used the word genius to describe a book before, but that is the first one that comes to mind about this one. I am in love with this book.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
Well it could just be that I'm not in a reading mood right now. I've got a five hour coach trip tomorrow (then another one back the day after) so I think I'll take it on that and see if I get through it. Unless I happen to find The Player of Games (Iain M Banks) at a secondhand shop tomorrow.
Yes! What do you think of Slaughterhouse? I've been on a Vonnegut kick lately and I am devouring everything that man has written.
I'm not sure I've ever used the word genius to describe a book before, but that is the first one that comes to mind about this one. I am in love with this book.
Is that your first time reading John Irving? GARP is genius, but I think my personal favorite is A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY. I hope it's on that list of yours!
Clandestine by James Ellroy. I've read all his classics, now I'm going through all his earlier ones from Brown's Requiem to the Lloyd Hopkins trilogy.
I'm not sure I've ever used the word genius to describe a book before, but that is the first one that comes to mind about this one. I am in love with this book.
Is that your first time reading John Irving? GARP is genius, but I think my personal favorite is A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY. I hope it's on that list of yours!
It is my second. I read The Cider House Rules not too long ago. I liked that, but I LOVE this. It is on the list and I may just go to B&N tomorrow and pick it up, I am in love with this man.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
Garp is my favorite Irving. I'm not a huge fan overall...I sometimes find his work kind of precious. But I love Garp's mother, Jenny. And for some reason, the month I read that, I coincidentally read three books in which people had their tongues cut out, limbs amputated, or both (one of the other ones was Geek Love but I don't remember the third). Freaky. I had nightmares.
There is hope, but not for us.
Here are some others you might like:
Odd and the Frost Giants
Fragile Things
Graveyard Book
Anansi Boys
Coraline
Was this a reply to my post on the first page on this thread? You should use the quote button so we know who you're talking to, the 'reply' button is pointless.
I went with American Gods in the end but as I said earlier today I'm about a quarter/third of the way through and I'm not really enjoying it that much. To be quite frank, so far it seems like a bit of a rip-off of about half a dozen different discworld books.
yes
and yes neil gaiman seems to like pratchett and nordic myth alot ;i
Unconscious Memory: A Comparison Between The Theory of Doctor Ewald Hering and "The Philosophy of the Unconscious" of Doctor Edward Von Hartman
That's a mouthful!
I can totally see you identifying with Jenny. It makes sense.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
I loved his novel Candy, I have Isabelle the Navigator too but havent gotten round to reading it yet. Let me know what its like.
yes yes yes! Candy was incredible, so incredible. Heartbreakingly good. Have you seen the movie, Derek?
I'll let you know about Isabelle.
I can totally see you identifying with Jenny. It makes sense.
You know I'd cut a dude in a movie theater. I wouldn't even think twice.
There is hope, but not for us.
I loved his novel Candy, I have Isabelle the Navigator too but havent gotten round to reading it yet. Let me know what its like.
yes yes yes! Candy was incredible, so incredible. Heartbreakingly good. Have you seen the movie, Derek?
I'll let you know about Isabelle.
I watche half an hour of the movie and turned it off. I dont know why I just loved the book so much the movie was always going to be a letdown.
I know what you mean, there are a few of his books that are too precious for me. But overall, I am a huge fan. I read some of his books over and over like GARP and OWEN MEANY. UNTIL I FIND YOU is really crazy good, too. I'm trying to find time to tackle his latest: LAST NIGHT IN TWISTED RIVER
The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
I just finished Beat The Reaper and holy fucking fuck, that last scene in the ... well, I won't spoil it. It's just that I kept getting nauseous. It's the first time since Guts that a story made me feel ill and I couldn't stop reading.
But seriously. Holy fuck.
| adj | facebook | an american atheist| warmed and bound |
Actually put Isabelle on hold. I'm now half way through post office by bukowski and I'm a virgin and so far, loving it! I will start Isabelle tonight when I finish this bit sizes bundle of joy.
But seriously. Holy fuck.
All the talk around here about that - and all of Mirkah's pushing it at people made me go out and get this. I read a few excerpts and promptly put it at the top of my pile.
As soon as I'm done with Brightness Falls, I'm starting Beat the Reaper. I'm pretty excited about that.
This is my second-favorite Hardy, after Tess of the d'Urbervilles. Let me know if you like it! It has a very redeeming ending, unlike most of the rest of Hardy's works.
There is hope, but not for us.
This is my second-favorite Hardy, after Tess of the d'Urbervilles. Let me know if you like it! It has a very redeeming ending, unlike most of the rest of Hardy's works.
Thank god. Jude almost killed me. I'll post in my 1001 thread when I finish.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
The Decapitated Chicken and other stories by Horacio Quiroga
The Human Stain by Philip Roth.
There are some passages in it that actually make me feel humbled and awed at the author and at the universe itself. After The Counterlife, this may be my favorite Roth yet.
thanks for sharing.blackhawk tactical pants.
— Spambot
"I could have done worse!" exultantly cried the murderer Lebret, sentenced at Rouen to hard labor for life. — Félix Fénéon
This is my second-favorite Hardy, after Tess of the d'Urbervilles. Let me know if you like it! It has a very redeeming ending, unlike most of the rest of Hardy's works.
Thank god. Jude almost killed me. I'll post in my 1001 thread when I finish.
Mind, the ending of Casterbridge isn't "happy", but you feel that everything basically worked out the way it was supposed to. You know? Well...you'll know when you finish it.
There is hope, but not for us.
This is my second-favorite Hardy, after Tess of the d'Urbervilles. Let me know if you like it! It has a very redeeming ending, unlike most of the rest of Hardy's works.
Thank god. Jude almost killed me. I'll post in my 1001 thread when I finish.
Mind, the ending of Casterbridge isn't "happy", but you feel that everything basically worked out the way it was supposed to. You know? Well...you'll know when you finish it.
i don't mind endings that aren't "happy." But I do mind endings that are... well, demented.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
Yeah, "demented" is a good way to describe the end of Jude. It's just so over-the-top sad. It's like he wrote it on a bet. Great story and all, but Jesus.
There is hope, but not for us.
The Prestige-Christopher Priest
douche
I really like that cover, franc.
douche
Finished Post Office by bukowski and I'm now officially a fan. Started Isabelle, only up to chapter three but so far it's startlingly beautiful. So Derek, pick it up next.
Right now Im reading Freak Show by James St James. Wierd but it has t be done.
Make sure you read the original ending (some editions include it, if yours doesn't find one that does!). The ending that was first published is terrible and ruins the entire story.
"[B]eing good is a fearful occupation; men strain at it and sometimes break in two." - Ray Bradbury
Leaving Las Vegas, John O'Brien. I'm liking the way he's split up the characters first to let us get to know them before they begin their codependency (in the movie we do hang with the alcoholic for a while, but not the hooker like we do here). He does this annoying thing with lots of flashback memories in parentheses, but otherwise I love the language. There's much pain and heartbreak that somehow skillfully feels routine.
money-by martin amis
There are some passages in it that actually make me feel humbled and awed at the author and at the universe itself. After The Counterlife, this may be my favorite Roth yet.
I'd like to read some Roth but don't know where to start. Any recommendations of what's good and maybe what to avoid?
The Graduate by Carles Webb.
Veronica decides to die By paulo coelho