January "2oo5" C.E. - ?What Are You Reading?
Well, here we are: Need New Calendar time...
When I originally suggested breaking the What Are We Reading stuff into a monthly, it was, I think, originally because long-ass threads can be intimidating and if we were trying to be enticing to any new people, a shorter thing may be moreso.
Plus I thought it would act as a nice archive for people to sift back to when maybe looking of some recommendations, as a few times a month a little off-shoot of a semi-conversation ensues.
But I now see that they aren’t being achieved, the threads just kind of die out with time.
Not that it’s big deal, I guess.
Anyway, feel free to suggest *not* maintaining the monthly and just letting the thread go on forever, if you wish.
So:
I finished Haruki Murakami’s _Kafka on the Shore_ (2005) [_Umibe no Kafuka_ (2002) for the Japanese…] and really, really enjoyed it.
Recommended.
Not sure what I’ll move onto (or back into) next…
j(ay)
I can finally read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas now, thanks to a certain someone. Yay! I can't wait.
A Vendetta production. <3
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v651/Vendetta_M/batboy.jpg[/IMG]
[SIZE=1]Sitting like a princess perched in her electric chair[/SIZE]
Concrete Island by J.G. Ballard
An article about this place called The Banana Bar in Amsterdam by Carrie Fisher...woops I'm done.
[QUOTE=fullmetalbrak]I can finally read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas now, thanks to a certain someone. Yay! I can't wait.[/QUOTE]
I still want to pick a copy of that up. Come to think of it, I'm ordering some books from Barnes & Noble online right now (The Contortionist's Handbook and Fugitives & Refugees), so I might order Fear and Loathing along with it. I just wish I could get it without the movie cover on the book (or maybe I can, I'll look into it).
Right now, my main focus is The Rules of Attraction.
[QUOTE=jay]
I finished Haruki Murakami’s _Kafka on the Shore_ (2005) [_Umibe no Kafuka_ (2002) for the Japanese…] and really, really enjoyed it.
[/QUOTE]
How odd. I just started Dance, Dance, Dance. Im waiting for Kafka on the Shore to arrive at my bookstore. Did you get an ARC? Or did you read it in Japanese? If so, can you teach me Japanese?
[CENTER]in a place far away from any one or anywhere, I drifted off for a moment[/CENTER]
After finally getting through the torture of [U]Jane Eyre[/U] sometime in the very early morning of January 1st, I decided that I absolutely [I]must[/I] read something that is guaranteed to be good. And so I am now reading [U]Trainspotting[/U].
Just finished "Hey Nostradamus!" in two sittings over two days.I think I have to go find myself some more Coupland. Starting Diary tonight, should finish it by morning...
[IMG]http://www.chuckpalahniuk.net/fan/workshop/topdogs/Junior_copy_editor_MockyMockins.gif[/IMG][URL=http://chuckpalahniuk.net/community/forumdisplay.php?f=210][IMG]http://img68.exs.cx/img68/5013/stanzasociety6iw.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
"... got this store bought way of saying I'm ok..."
[QUOTE=MockyMockins]Just finished "Hey Nostradamus!" in two sittings over two days.I think I have to go find myself some more Coupland. Starting Diary tonight, should finish it by morning...[/QUOTE]
Coupland's going on tour. Keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well and I'll get to go.
[QUOTE=Undertow]I still want to pick a copy of that up. Come to think of it, I'm ordering some books from Barnes & Noble online right now (The Contortionist's Handbook and Fugitives & Refugees), so I might order Fear and Loathing along with it. I just wish I could get it without the movie cover on the book (or maybe I can, I'll look into it).
Right now, my main focus is The Rules of Attraction.[/QUOTE]
My copy of F&L has the movie on the cover, too. I bet you could find a non-movie version on eBay or better yet, a good used bookstore.
I haven't read Rules, either, but I'd like to read Glamarama first. Anyway, awhile back I posted a rough translation of the journal entry in Rules that's written in French, so when you come to that part, look for my post.
A Vendetta production. <3
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v651/Vendetta_M/batboy.jpg[/IMG]
[SIZE=1]Sitting like a princess perched in her electric chair[/SIZE]
[QUOTE=Proton]Im waiting for Kafka on the Shore to arrive at my bookstore. Did you get an ARC? Or did you read it in Japanese? If so, can you teach me Japanese?[/QUOTE]
No, no Japanese on this end (I don’t have the patience for that).
The Book Gods were good to me and for some reason the English shop here had it out for sale 2 weeks ago (i.e. 5 weeks earlier than they should have).
Adiosu,
j(ay)
[QUOTE=fullmetalbrak]My copy of F&L has the movie on the cover, too. I bet you could find a non-movie version on eBay or better yet, a good used bookstore.
I haven't read Rules, either, but I'd like to read Glamarama first. Anyway, awhile back I posted a rough translation of the journal entry in Rules that's written in French, so when you come to that part, look for my post.[/QUOTE]
Actually, I did read the one entry by Bertrand! I took French years ago but my skills are rusty. I'll look for your post though!
Glamorama is alright. Of the Ellis novels I've read so far (pretty much everything except The Informers), Glamorama is probably my least favorite, but that's not to say it sucks. It's just different than Ellis' other works. For one, it's looooooooong. Two, it actually has a normal sense of plot structure, kind of sort of. You'll see what I mean as you read it.
yeah, I wasn't a big fan of Glanorama either, it seemed uninteresting when I was reading it, it took me forever to read.
Just started Dead Reckoning by Michael Baden. It's interesting.
Reading Kiss me, Judas at the moment.
Just finished Shampoo Planet by Douglas Coupland.
Love them both.
'salems Lot (again, but i can't remember any of it, twas so long ago when i read it before)
The Abolition Of Man - non-fiction preaching by CS Lewis, about values like honor and courage.
... the third book in 'The Giver' series of books - called The Messenger. I like it, but then I have an obsessive love for The Giver, so I would.
Just started reading [I]2001: A Space Odyssey[/I] by Arthur C. Clarke.
Saw the movie and loved it. But this books kind of boring me and I'm only into chapter three or so.
For those who read and saw 2001 -- how does the book compare to the movie?
Hey Brak, I found your post. Thanks for mentioning it! Just curious, did you use Babelfish for it or a different translator? Regardless, I appreciate you taking the effort, however small or large, in posting that.
Undertow: What a coincidence - I'm also reading Rules of Attraction 
It's very cool to see how Bret Easton Ellis always creates different, unique characters...
Claudius : What about my father, who was your son? And Germanicus, who was my brother? Did you poison them?
Livia : No. Your father dies of his wounds, and Placina poisoned Germanicus with out instructions from me. But I had marked them both down for death. They were both infected with that infantile disorder known as 'Republicanism.'
[QUOTE=bboymute]Just started reading [I]2001: A Space Odyssey[/I] by Arthur C. Clarke.
Saw the movie and loved it. But this books kind of boring me and I'm only into chapter three or so.
For those who read and saw 2001 -- how does the book compare to the movie?[/QUOTE]
I haven't seen the movie. I started the book a while ago, reached the half of it and coudn't finish it. Very boring indeed.
[QUOTE=Ballerina]After finally getting through the torture of [U]Jane Eyre[/U] sometime in the very early morning of January 1st, I decided that I absolutely [I]must[/I] read something that is guaranteed to be good. And so I am now reading [U]Trainspotting[/U].[/QUOTE]
here's hoping you get through it faster then i did
good book, but groan is it hard on the old glossies
I'll probably read Rules of Attraction in the next weeks since I have an important German exam and I think that's the best book that I have in German right now...
Right now, I'm not really reading anything.
i just started 'hell's half acre', i'm still reading 'destination: morgue", and i started on some fantasy book too.
[QUOTE=stoyan]I haven't seen the movie. I started the book a while ago, reached the half of it and coudn't finish it. Very boring indeed.[/QUOTE]
Well, movie moves very slowly. If you ever decide to give movie a go make sure you get a good nights rest.
Tomorrow I will be starting "The Contortionist's Handbook" I'm really looking forward to reading this one, I've only heard the best reviews. I've read some interviews with Clevenger, he sounds like a really great guy who puts an insane amount of work into his books (the final print of the Handbook was about the 20th re-write? Crazy!), I really admire anyone who puts that much work into their creations.
Trevor
[QUOTE=Underscore]I really admire anyone who puts that much work into their creations. [/QUOTE]
But sometimes it gets overboard. Not necessarily in Clevenger’s case, but constant reworking doesn’t always result in a great end product.
While typing words and saving drafts have the benefits of going back and sifting through the trash bin, sometimes it’s not a crime to think like a sculpture: too much work and you’re left with dust.
When something is done, don’t finish it.
Trying to clear the pretty dated Middle-of-Reading pile I killed off _Reelin’ in the Years: Steely Dan_ (2000) by Brian Sweet.
A band I was once really in to, I have yet to acknowledge anything from the early 90’s reunion tours or the 2 fairly recent albums. Steely Dan was not just a concept in perfection but also in sheer hatred for touring, interviews, photography, etc. So it’s a bit…odd and dismaying to see the about-face.
The old stuff is still brilliant, though. And Donald Fagen is certainly an interesting character.
j(ay)
who gives a nod to the fact that ‘2001: a Vapid Odyssey’ could very well go in the picture-dictionary for “boring”.
I wasn’t daft enough to try the book…
I've been reading Cruddy for a year, with other books in between; the glitch in the machine of this is that I'm not sure what happened in which of about 5 books........its good not to ever ask me what a book is about cause you might get mis-information.
Finished American Psycho last night at like 4 in the morn. Man, that was an awesome book. Just amazing. There are so many things to think about in that book. So many messages. So many clues as to what might be happening. Just... so much that I will definately have to reread that one.
Today I started reading The Anomalies by Joey Goebel. It's ok so far, but I'm not that far into it.
[QUOTE=PGoutis01]Finished American Psycho last night at like 4 in the morn. Man, that was an awesome book. Just amazing. There are so many things to think about in that book. So many messages. So many clues as to what might be happening. Just... so much that I will definately have to reread that one.
Today I started reading The Anomalies by Joey Goebel. It's ok so far, but I'm not that far into it.[/QUOTE]
American Psycho still stands as my favorite by Ellis. Just amazing. I was halfway through re-reading it, but other books have come along so I might just start again. So, I'd be reading it for the two-and-a-halfth time, I guess.....
Bombed through _Pale Gray For Guilt_ (1968), the 9th Travis Mcgee book by John D. MacDonald.
Consistently good, quick, well written stuff.
j(ay)
[QUOTE=jay]
Trying to clear the pretty dated Middle-of-Reading pile I killed off _Reelin’ in the Years: Steely Dan_ (2000) by Brian Sweet.
A band I was once really in to,
The old stuff is still brilliant, though. And Donald Fagen is certainly an interesting character.
…[/QUOTE]
Ricky Don't Lose that Number!
They were one of the first bands I was into - plundering my dad's record collection when I was a wee nipper. Some great songs those fellas!
Just about to start Will Self's Great Apes. Looks interesting.
Finished The Anomalies the same day I started it - might not be a big deal for you guys, but I don't usually do that. I usually take 2 or 3 days. It wasn't that the book was super awesome, but it was hard to put down...
So, last night I started All The Beautiful Sinners by Stephen Graham Jones.
yesterday morning about 8 i started House of Leaves
just finished it about 20 minutes ago
good god is that book fucked up !
Just finished up Blackbox by Nick Walker, which was solid. Now I'm halfway through Super-Cannes by J.G. Ballard. It's alright.
[IMG]http://www.chuckpalahniuk.net/fan/cw/allstars/ahoffBronze.gif[/IMG]
Finished "Contortionist's" this morning. Wow, Chuck wasn't kidding when he said this is the best book he's read in 5-10 years. Absolutely amazing. I stayed up all night reading it because I couldn't put it down. I'm going to read the last few chapters again when I wake up, just amazing. Then Trainspotting is my next book for January.
Jay, good points, yes putting too much work into something can render it dust, I really like that sculpter quote.
Trevor
Now reading [U]Eleanor Rigby[/U].
Just finished The Rules Of Attraction last night... man, if even half of that stuff happens in real life, it's still pretty screwed up... As for my next book, I really don't know what to read - any recommendations?
Claudius : What about my father, who was your son? And Germanicus, who was my brother? Did you poison them?
Livia : No. Your father dies of his wounds, and Placina poisoned Germanicus with out instructions from me. But I had marked them both down for death. They were both infected with that infantile disorder known as 'Republicanism.'
[QUOTE=Ballerina]Now reading [U]Eleanor Rigby[/U]. :D[/QUOTE]
Is it any good? I wanted to buy it but it was too expensive... I love Coupland's other books (those I've read) so I really wanted to check this one out.
[QUOTE=stoyan]Is it any good? I wanted to buy it but it was too expensive... I love Coupland's other books (those I've read) so I really wanted to check this one out.[/QUOTE]
It is absolutely fucking fantastic! I just finished reading it. I started it last night and then some people came over to watch a movie so that was put on hold for a while, and then I decided to read a bit before going to bed and couldn't put it down. I spent the time between 2am and 4am reading and then decided that I needed some sleep. I got up this morning (or afternoon, as it was past noon), had something to eat, and then went right back to reading. My point is, I love it.
Dug back into Faulkner this month. Had only read a few of them. Sound and the Fury, to this day, has always been my favorite reading experience, hands down. Can't wait to re-read As I Lay because I know I'll get more out of it and I always got so much more outta Fury with each read. In fact, when I'm done with all of them, I'm reading Fury again. That will be number four. Hell, when I first read it, well, it was a challenge as I'd not read reviews or even the back cover: I just took it for what it was. And started reading it. Took me twenty pages to realize what the author was intending. Blew my mind. Re-read those pages. At about the forty or fifty, I promptly closed it and opened it again. To page one. And read through. With a whole new appreciation for reading, and a desire to try things in writing. Have since read it those other two times, just getting lost in his Wonderland and I dont know why by his stream writing just does not confuse me in the slightest. Just amazing. It's time I get back to that homie...
Read Intruder in the Dust and ordered the rest of them within the past week or so ... Into The Wild Palms [Jerusalem] currently, and then will jump directly into Unvanquished ... And I have a full stack to follow those stories throughout the rest of the month and beyond Im sure.
kabol
__________________________________
play hard, like it's work to be done.
[QUOTE=JKabol]Dug back into Faulkner this month. Had only read a few of them. Sound and the Fury, to this day, has always been my favorite reading experience, hands down. Can't wait to re-read As I Lay because I know I'll get more out of it and I always got so much more outta Fury with each read. In fact, when I'm done with all of them, I'm reading Fury again. That will be number four. Hell, when I first read it, well, it was a challenge as I'd not read reviews or even the back cover: I just took it for what it was. And started reading it. Took me twenty pages to realize what the author was intending. Blew my mind. Re-read those pages. At about the forty or fifty, I promptly closed it and opened it again. To page one. And read through. With a whole new appreciation for reading, and a desire to try things in writing. Have since read it those other two times, just getting lost in his Wonderland and I dont know why by his stream writing just does not confuse me in the slightest. Just amazing. It's time I get back to that homie...
Read Intruder in the Dust and ordered the rest of them within the past week or so ... Into The Wild Palms [Jerusalem] currently, and then will jump directly into Unvanquished ... And I have a full stack to follow those stories throughout the rest of the month and beyond Im sure.
kabol[/QUOTE]
I wish I could have appreciated Faulkner that way. I tried reading him throughout high school and college (before I was forced to being an English major) and I never could get by his four page sentences. I'll never dispute that the dude didn't have some serious talent, and talking over the synopsis of his stories always intrigue me with the conflict he created within the stories. But I just never could get into his style at all...
Prince Caspian - C.S. Lewis
It's not easy having a good time.
Even smiling makes my face ache.
Hey, Just.
Was with some friends at a bar in Little Rock—this was about a week ago—and for a moment got onto the subject of lit. Tommy chimed in after Adam mentioned Faulkner's Fury. Tommy smiled. Waved his arms out, up, around. His voice humorous, loud. Extravagant. Pointing out that he must be dumb because he couldn’t for the life of him appreciate or even follow Faulkner's structure writing, though he meant stream writing:
"I know it's just me, and I must be dumb, but I just couldn’t figure out where to stop and go and it was more like a dream and I. Just. Didnt. Get it." (Maybe not a perfect quote—we were drinking—but close.)
I smiled, laughed. Mentioned to him that "It isn’t much different than a regular monologue than say by my friend Tommy and having to follow everything he says but that it isn’t [i]that[/i] difficult to follow because the implied pauses and thought changes aren’t hard to discern and you usually pause when a person pauses during speech—"
He cut me off. Said something to the affect of how he really could comfortably live the rest of his life without ever really enjoying the man's books. I smiled. Told him that I couldn’t, that there is no way in hell I myself could live the rest of my life and not try to breathe in that man's works. He'd gotten up by that point, no longer sitting. Walking, talking. Smoking, listening. Myself, sitting. Conversing. He was behind me then, clapped my shoulder and said "That, my friend, is where we differ. And it's okay, cause it is okay." He smiled. I smiled. Then someone mentioned the Saints. And then the subject of poker came up. Then Domino play. Etc.
Tommy believes that Faulkner isn’t for everyone. Hell, I mean, how often do friends discuss Faulkner like the current movie news or that last game, or Tsunami. Myself, I’m no expert by any means. Just a fan. But. I get a rush out of it and that is not by luck. Yeah, he is talented. But then again. I’ve read and heard about some people complaining about an inability to appreciate Chuck’s one word paragraphs. I don’t look at you any bit of different, Just, if you appreciate or enjoy Faulkner, or not. Least you did read him. So many never will, but will be quick to comment on so much that they have NOT read. My friend Adam being one such person. But. He’s trying. He’s trying Lolita currently. Don’t think that he nor Tommy will go back to Faulkner anytime soon. They are of course still my friends. I’ve just never enjoyed playing poker.
kabol
__________________________________
play hard, like it's work to be done.
I've just finished reading Jorge Luis Borges', "Ficciones".
[QUOTE=stoyan]Is it any good?[/QUOTE]
[_Eleanor Rigby_]
I agree with Ballerina; it’s Coupland’s best methinks.
To me he’s incredibly up and down, some good, some really bad. This one is tops.
Aside from the title, which always triggers that gawdawful song…
[QUOTE=JKabol]Sound and the Fury, to this day, has always been my favorite reading experience, hands down.[/quote]
I’ll side with that.
Nathanael West’s _Miss Lonelyhearts_ would be another.
j(ay)
[QUOTE]I agree with Ballerina; it’s Coupland’s best methinks. [/QUOTE]
Brilliant - I can't wait. Got a beautiful hardcover edition from my Girlfriend for Xmas. Next on my list.
And I agree that he is up and down - but I don't think I've ever read anything of his that is really "bad" - just very disappointing from an author capable of such excellence.
[QUOTE=Riddlegimp]And I agree that he is up and down - but I don't think I've ever read anything of his that is really "bad" - just very disappointing from an author capable of such excellence.[/QUOTE]
I couldn't finish _Generation X_, but he's improved since that horrible first novel.
Although there are still a few of his I need to catch up on…
j(ay)
Have you read Girlfriend in a Coma?
Now reading [U]The Aerialist[/U] by Richard Schmitt. I know just about nothing about it.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
It was alright.
It's not easy having a good time.
Even smiling makes my face ache.