June 2010 Summer is here, well Irish Summer less rain and I am reading...
Tomorrow is Marilyn Monroes Birthday so I'm reading Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates.
Nope Mirka, I havent even heard of it. But since you always recomend good ones its now on my Wishlist!
I'm finally reading 'The Human Stain' by Philip Roth. I've had it on the shelf for a few months. Jack and Phil raved about it so much I got it and then forgot about it!
Nice. I hope you like it.
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
I'm about to start "The Irregulars".
It's about Roald Dahl's spy work during the war. It makes me think of Levi!
There is hope, but not for us.
It's about Roald Dahl's spy work during the war. It makes me think of Levi!
At first, when I saw the book I was like, "Holy crap, they forgot the n in his name!" Then I saw how you spelled it and realized that's his actual name and that he's a different guy.
Currently reading King Rat by China Mieville. Interesting, but there's something strange going on with his writing style in this. I can't pin what it is.
“The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane.” -- Nikola Tesla
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, by Mark Haddon. The narrator is a 15-year-old kid with Autism. It's a fun and interesting read so far.
"There’s no use in denying it: this has been a bad week. I’ve started drinking my own urine." -Patrick Bateman
I loved this book. It's his first one, so it might feel different than his others, as there was a pretty big change between it and Perdido Street Station.
read this on a plane once. loved it. it's really well done.
and Jane!! WTF. I NEED THAT BOOK.
Brentinlouis Wrote: What was that rule about being intentionally annoying?
I just finished Prey by Michael Crichton, but I will be reading the first book recommended to me here.
The bible, go.
Step back. Evaluate. Recognize.
Good book.
I'm reading this:
It's seven kinds of fucked up.
Or will it all end in a big bankiss orgy?
Good book.
I'd comment, but I don't want to spoil the ending.
Step back. Evaluate. Recognize.
Good book.
I'd comment, but I don't want to spoil the ending.
I already read it, scroll to scroll, in like 3 days
Good book.
I'd comment, but I don't want to spoil the ending.
I already read it, scroll to scroll, in like 3 days
You're cheating. You've only gotta read half.
Im reading Invisable Monsters. So far I love it.
Never heard of it. Who's that by?
I read Beat The Reaper a few weeks ago. That was fun. And I just finished the book that Timberly sent me in the May exchange - Kindred. It was awesome. I also just finished a copy of the Best Short Stories of 2008, that I bought at Goodwill for fifty cents. Salman Rushdie is the editor. Very good.
Get on over to my website, young'un! www.subvertfromwithinrecords.blogspot.com
It's about Roald Dahl's spy work during the war. It makes me think of Levi!
What's funny is that I'm reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Dahl right now for an English class!
I'm so glad you liked it! I had to read it for a class and went in with very low expectations, but ended up really enjoying it. I don't give/lend out from my collection often (it's weird, I'm a bookwhore), but this one was definitely worth it. :]
As for what I'm reading, I just finished The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I honestly don't know what took me so long to finally get to this book, but the prose is absolutely wonderful. It's supposed to be depressing, and it is to a certain degree, but the most depressing thing about it is how I felt like she really "got it," you know?
Anyway, there are a ton of passages I loved, but three good ones are:
1. (She's just seen a woman give birth and a man tells her she won't remember anything because of the drugs.)
I thought it sounded just like the sort of drug a man would invent. Here was a woman in terrible pain, obviously feeling every bit of it or she wouldn't groan like that, and she would go straight home and start another baby, because the drug would make her forget how bad the pain had been, when all the time, in some secret part of her, that long, blind, doorless and windowless corridor of pain was waiting to open up and shut her in again.
2. And I knew that in spite of all the roses and kisses and restaurant dinners a man showered on a woman before he married her, what he secretly wanted when the wedding service ended was for her to flatten out underneath his feet like Mrs. Willard's kitchen mat.
3. I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am.
that's a fantastic collection.
Puppy by George Saunders was sooooo good.
It's about Roald Dahl's spy work during the war. It makes me think of Levi!
What's funny is that I'm reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Dahl right now for an English class!
I'm so glad you liked it! I had to read it for a class and went in with very low expectations, but ended up really enjoying it. I don't give/lend out from my collection often (it's weird, I'm a bookwhore), but this one was definitely worth it. :]
As for what I'm reading, I just finished The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I honestly don't know what took me so long to finally get to this book, but the prose is absolutely wonderful. It's supposed to be depressing, and it is to a certain degree, but the most depressing thing about it is how I felt like she really "got it," you know?
Anyway, there are a ton of passages I loved, but three good ones are:
1. (She's just seen a woman give birth and a man tells her she won't remember anything because of the drugs.)
I thought it sounded just like the sort of drug a man would invent. Here was a woman in terrible pain, obviously feeling every bit of it or she wouldn't groan like that, and she would go straight home and start another baby, because the drug would make her forget how bad the pain had been, when all the time, in some secret part of her, that long, blind, doorless and windowless corridor of pain was waiting to open up and shut her in again.
2. And I knew that in spite of all the roses and kisses and restaurant dinners a man showered on a woman before he married her, what he secretly wanted when the wedding service ended was for her to flatten out underneath his feet like Mrs. Willard's kitchen mat.
3. I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am.
The Bell Jar is so awesome!
Margaret Atwood's new book, Year of the Flood, has been on my reading list since it came out. Hell, I've owned it since it came out. I'm definitely reading it this month once classes end.
Ham on Rye. My second Bukowski book.
Kockroach by Tyler Knox.
The Manual of Detection by Jebediah Berry. Absolutely loving it so far. He's got a very procedural, polite, highly-detailed style full of protocol and polish that suits the character well. Lots of metaphorical and dual-meaning wordsmithing. And he incorporates some clever metafictional elements with the book/manual itself, toying with the reader a bit, which anyone who's read my own work knows I enjoy.
Still plowing though Under the Dome, but took a break and read the first Dexter book because I didn't want to carry that tome with me.
Under the Dome is pretty good so far, fairly standard Steven King. As for the Dexter book, I liked the first season of the show much more.
Think for yourself. Question Authority.
Apart from The Devil Rides Out, which is an incredibly amusing book (albeit, I suspect, an unintentionally amusing book), I'm reading the essays of Czeslaw Milosz. I don't like saying things are "eye-opening" but this man had a gift for opening people's eyes.
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
I'm finally reading 'The Human Stain' by Philip Roth. I've had it on the shelf for a few months. Jack and Phil raved about it so much I got it and then forgot about it!
Nice. I hope you like it.
Wow. I finished it at 3:00 AM this morning. I had a hard time getting through the first 50 pages, but after that I couldn't put it down. What an amazing book. I found his style really dry at parts, but the story and the characters were incredibly compelling. What should I pick up next?
I'm finally reading 'The Human Stain' by Philip Roth. I've had it on the shelf for a few months. Jack and Phil raved about it so much I got it and then forgot about it!
Nice. I hope you like it.
Wow. I finished it at 3:00 AM this morning. I had a hard time getting through the first 50 pages, but after that I couldn't put it down. What an amazing book. I found his style really dry at parts, but the story and the characters were incredibly compelling. What should I pick up next?
Didn't that also get made into a movie with Wentworth Miller?
Yes.
I'm finally reading 'The Human Stain' by Philip Roth. I've had it on the shelf for a few months. Jack and Phil raved about it so much I got it and then forgot about it!
Nice. I hope you like it.
Wow. I finished it at 3:00 AM this morning. I had a hard time getting through the first 50 pages, but after that I couldn't put it down. What an amazing book. I found his style really dry at parts, but the story and the characters were incredibly compelling. What should I pick up next?
Hooray!
I'm surprised you found his style dry. It is one of maybe two or three books that, as soon as I'd read a passage, I had to reread it to see how the author had done it. I'm thinking in particular of the long stream of consciousness parts involving the Nam veteran. Roth is well known for his incredible prose, and I agree with the assessment, so I'm curious as to why you found it dry... Is it just a matter of you not liking his kind of direct, occasionally preachy voice, or is there something else that bothers you about it?
For me, although The Human Stain is more perfectly constructed, it's American Pastoral that should rank as Roth's most moving book. I know people who LOVE it and others who just cannot see the big deal. If you read that one, please let me know.
As for what you should read next... I really, really almost cried (in a good way) when I read Patrimony. It's the story of Roth's old, ill father's last days. It's so unsentimental and yet tender that I found great comfort in it when my mother died.
If you want a different read, I would recommend The Plot Against America, which isn't perfect but has moments of genius, as well as really likeable characters based on Roth's own family.
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
I'm finally reading 'The Human Stain' by Philip Roth. I've had it on the shelf for a few months. Jack and Phil raved about it so much I got it and then forgot about it!
Nice. I hope you like it.
Wow. I finished it at 3:00 AM this morning. I had a hard time getting through the first 50 pages, but after that I couldn't put it down. What an amazing book. I found his style really dry at parts, but the story and the characters were incredibly compelling. What should I pick up next?
Hooray!
I'm surprised you found his style dry. It is one of maybe two or three books that, as soon as I'd read a passage, I had to reread it to see how the author had done it. I'm thinking in particular of the long stream of consciousness parts involving the Nam veteran. Roth is well known for his incredible prose, and I agree with the assessment, so I'm curious as to why you found it dry... Is it just a matter of you not liking his kind of direct, occasionally preachy voice, or is there something else that bothers you about it?
For me, although The Human Stain is more perfectly constructed, it's American Pastoral that should rank as Roth's most moving book. I know people who LOVE it and others who just cannot see the big deal. If you read that one, please let me know.
As for what you should read next... I really, really almost cried (in a good way) when I read Patrimony. It's the story of Roth's old, ill father's last days. It's so unsentimental and yet tender that I found great comfort in it when my mother died.
If you want a different read, I would recommend The Plot Against America, which isn't perfect but has moments of genius, as well as really likeable characters based on Roth's own family.
Les was an amazing character, that scene in the Chinese restaurant made me feel extremely emotional. There was something about the support and decency of everyone involved in getting that soup down that had me in tears. It was so decent and hopeless with the vets jumping up to get the food from the waiter, and the owner explaining quietly to the other patrons and Les struggling and feeling such enormous hatred. I'm getting teary just thinking about it.
The dryness for me was the narrative and how things were introduced and explained which read as fussy and overwritten to me. The stuff about Zuckerman's cancer, Coleman's boxing, the two men dancing, I was tempted to skim parts like that.
The description of Fuania on page 49 went on forever to me, and it wasn't until page 51, that I felt hope that there might be something to the book. I think you can guess what line I mean..."four months later", and as horrible as that sounds it quickened my interest after suffering through that description of her!
It was a great book though, incredibly insightful, respectful and moving. I also like that the "twist" was introduced early on and examined so fully instead of being used as a twist in the end.
I LOVED the end.
I'm finally reading 'The Human Stain' by Philip Roth. I've had it on the shelf for a few months. Jack and Phil raved about it so much I got it and then forgot about it!
Nice. I hope you like it.
Wow. I finished it at 3:00 AM this morning. I had a hard time getting through the first 50 pages, but after that I couldn't put it down. What an amazing book. I found his style really dry at parts, but the story and the characters were incredibly compelling. What should I pick up next?
Hooray!
I'm surprised you found his style dry. It is one of maybe two or three books that, as soon as I'd read a passage, I had to reread it to see how the author had done it. I'm thinking in particular of the long stream of consciousness parts involving the Nam veteran. Roth is well known for his incredible prose, and I agree with the assessment, so I'm curious as to why you found it dry... Is it just a matter of you not liking his kind of direct, occasionally preachy voice, or is there something else that bothers you about it?
For me, although The Human Stain is more perfectly constructed, it's American Pastoral that should rank as Roth's most moving book. I know people who LOVE it and others who just cannot see the big deal. If you read that one, please let me know.
As for what you should read next... I really, really almost cried (in a good way) when I read Patrimony. It's the story of Roth's old, ill father's last days. It's so unsentimental and yet tender that I found great comfort in it when my mother died.
If you want a different read, I would recommend The Plot Against America, which isn't perfect but has moments of genius, as well as really likeable characters based on Roth's own family.
Les was an amazing character, that scene in the Chinese restaurant made me feel extremely emotional. There was something about the support and decency of everyone involved in getting that soup down that had me in tears. It was so decent and hopeless with the vets jumping up to get the food from the waiter, and the owner explaining quietly to the other patrons and Les struggling and feeling such enormous hatred. I'm getting teary just thinking about it.
The dryness for me was the narrative and how things were introduced and explained which read as fussy and overwritten to me. The stuff about Zuckerman's cancer, Coleman's boxing, the two men dancing, I was tempted to skim parts like that.
The description of Fuania on page 49 went on forever to me, and it wasn't until page 51, that I felt hope that there might be something to the book. I think you can guess what line I mean..."four months later", and as horrible as that sounds it quickened my interest after suffering through that description of her!
It was a great book though, incredibly insightful, respectful and moving. I also like that the "twist" was introduced early on and examined so fully instead of being used as a twist in the end.
I LOVED the end.
I hadn't even thought about how Zuckerman's career might bore those who haven't been following him from The Ghost Writer onward. The Human Stain is part of a second Zuckerman trilogy, and by then you kind of get to know a lot about him. But if you only read that second trilogy, which is much more serious than many other Zuckerman books, you're right: it seems completely superfluous...
Regardless, I'm happy we've agreed on a book to like together 
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
Under the Dome is pretty good so far, fairly standard Steven King. As for the Dexter book, I liked the first season of the show much more.
With the Dexter books, keep in mind that only the first season of the show followed the book. So you might like the others more.
"There’s no use in denying it: this has been a bad week. I’ve started drinking my own urine." -Patrick Bateman
The Breast by Philip Roth
I just finished this. It's not bad.
I'm almost through with Bloodsucking Fiends (thanks to Brent!). I'm really enjoying it and there plenty of laugh out loud moments I love. I think I'll start American Psycho next.
"We're developing a new citizenry. One that will be very selective about cereals and automobiles, but won't be able to think."
— Rod Serling
"Chuck calls Noah fortnightly on his bakelite rotary phone and gives him publisher's insider information and stock tips."- Tuffy
For me, although The Human Stain is more perfectly constructed, it's American Pastoral that should rank as Roth's most moving book. I know people who LOVE it and others who just cannot see the big deal. If you read that one, please let me know.
Yes, American Pastoral is simply amazing. The last 50-100 pages or so - the dinner party stuff - blew my fucking socks off. The only part of that book that I didn't like was the 50 pages of information on glove-making. Now that was dry; it read like a textbook. I get why it was in there, but I think he could've done the same thing in about 10 pgs. But who the hell am I? He's the one that one the goddam Pulitzer for that book.
Also, Our Gang is laugh-out-loud hilarious.
For me, although The Human Stain is more perfectly constructed, it's American Pastoral that should rank as Roth's most moving book. I know people who LOVE it and others who just cannot see the big deal. If you read that one, please let me know.
Yes, American Pastoral is simply amazing. The last 50-100 pages or so - the dinner party stuff - blew my fucking socks off. The only part of that book that I didn't like was the 50 pages of information on glove-making. Now that was dry; it read like a textbook. I get why it was in there, but I think he could've done the same thing in about 10 pgs. But who the hell am I? He's the one that one the goddam Pulitzer for that book.
Also, Our Gang is laugh-out-loud hilarious.
See, I liked the glovemaking bits. It's a bit like the whaling sections in Moby Dick, though: you can either find the whole thing dull and silly, or get absorbed.
Our Gang is a really funny book indeed.
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
Slaughter-House Five- Vonnegut
Deathbird Stories- Harlan Ellison
Night Shift- Stephen King
No One Here Gets Out Alive- Biography of Jim Morrison
FUBU and KFC have anounced their move to combine forces and fullyn focus on targeting more 'ethnic' audiences. In other news, McDonalds, Starbucks and Wal-Mart have combined to become The United Corporate of America. Moving on...
For me, although The Human Stain is more perfectly constructed, it's American Pastoral that should rank as Roth's most moving book. I know people who LOVE it and others who just cannot see the big deal. If you read that one, please let me know.
Yes, American Pastoral is simply amazing. The last 50-100 pages or so - the dinner party stuff - blew my fucking socks off. The only part of that book that I didn't like was the 50 pages of information on glove-making. Now that was dry; it read like a textbook. I get why it was in there, but I think he could've done the same thing in about 10 pgs. But who the hell am I? He's the one that one the goddam Pulitzer for that book.
Also, Our Gang is laugh-out-loud hilarious.
See, I liked the glovemaking bits. It's a bit like the whaling sections in Moby Dick, though: you can either find the whole thing dull and silly, or get absorbed.
Our Gang is a really funny book indeed.
Is there anything Roth has written that you don't like? And I'm not being snarky - just wondering. I thought The Humbling was pretty bad.
Moving on to All the Beautiful Sinners sometime this week.
For me, although The Human Stain is more perfectly constructed, it's American Pastoral that should rank as Roth's most moving book. I know people who LOVE it and others who just cannot see the big deal. If you read that one, please let me know.
Yes, American Pastoral is simply amazing. The last 50-100 pages or so - the dinner party stuff - blew my fucking socks off. The only part of that book that I didn't like was the 50 pages of information on glove-making. Now that was dry; it read like a textbook. I get why it was in there, but I think he could've done the same thing in about 10 pgs. But who the hell am I? He's the one that one the goddam Pulitzer for that book.
Also, Our Gang is laugh-out-loud hilarious.
See, I liked the glovemaking bits. It's a bit like the whaling sections in Moby Dick, though: you can either find the whole thing dull and silly, or get absorbed.
Our Gang is a really funny book indeed.
Is there anything Roth has written that you don't like? And I'm not being snarky - just wondering. I thought The Humbling was pretty bad.
Have you seen my review of The Humbling in the Review section? I didn't like that book very much either!
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
When I finish Practical Demonkeeping I'm going to start Big Machine by Victor Lavalle
You're a brighter little soul than all of the jaded people here. Never take them seriously. NEVER.
I think we talked about this already, but, even though I love this book to death, I'd recommend reading it in as big of chunks as you can manage, because the sense of time and place can get even more disorienting if you set it down too long.
I think we talked about this already, but, even though I love this book to death, I'd recommend reading it in as big of chunks as you can manage, because the sense of time and place can get even more disorienting if you set it down too long.
Yeah, I think you told me that at JP Winebar or something. I'll have to set aside a weekend for it so I can really pour through it.
Speaking of JP Winebar, we need to get together again sometime soon.
I love this book. It's so dark and everything is just perfect about it. One of my favorites. I've been meaning to reread this one day.
Wait Until Spring, Bandini by John Fante
I have The Bandini Quartet but will probably only read one story every couple of months.
Derek, have you read 'Burial of the Dead' by Michael Hogan? I think you'd really like it.
I'm finally reading 'The Human Stain' by Philip Roth. I've had it on the shelf for a few months. Jack and Phil raved about it so much I got it and then forgot about it!