What You're Reading
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by XChuck [/i]
[B]When I saw the movies, the thought never crossed my mind that Sonny was hiding a pole in his pants. [/B][/QUOTE]
That's why I couldn't get through the first 50 pages. Fucking freak Puzo mentiond every 3 pages that Sonny had a big dick. Closet-issues, anyone?
It's not easy having a good time.
Even smiling makes my face ache.
way to overpost janemonte
i thought everyone loved triple posts??
Fuuuuccckk. The internet got all slow all of a sudden, ok? I'll fix it.
There is hope, but not for us.
QUOTE][i]Originally posted by jane s. [/i]
[B]That's dead on how I feel about Robbins as well. I thought I was the only one in the whole fucking universe that felt that way too. [/B][/QUOTE]
I get the feeling that he goes out of his way to pack each and every sentence with a pun or a clever simile. I picked up "Still Life With Woodpecker" because a few of my friends wouldn't stop raving about it. Reading it was like craving a big, fat, juicy prime rib steak, but being force-fed pound after pound of chocolate-covered cherries instead. (clever simile intended)
If you haven't read "Still Life..." yet and don't want it ruined, don't read this next part:
Besides his writing style, there were a few other things that prevented me from enjoying that book. First off, from the very beginning, the "movie-in-my-mind" had instantly cast Michael Jeter in the role of Bernard the "Outlaw", and I couldn't shake that goofy picture. Second, the female "Princess" character seemed to be a thinly-disguised attempt at writing a gay male protagonist, sort of "politically-corrected" into a female character for mass consumption. I don't know if Tom Robbins is gay or not, and it doesn't really matter. One way or the other, it was either poorly written or he just didn't have the balls to make his main character homosexual.
chemical pink
I mean, a male chauvinist pig isn't born, he's made, and more and more of them are being made by women
Great Gasbty- Fitzgerald
The Names- Don Delillo
Ravelstein- Saul Bellow
The Witching Hour- Anne Rice
Anna Karenina- Tolstoy
I just finished "The Contortionist Handbook" Awesome book.
And Invisble Monsters. The only chuck book im not to crazy about.
She had a firm handshake like that of a virgin who knew more than she should.
Right now im reading The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler, its cool.
im real glad someone else has read Raymond Carver (way back) hes an amazing writer and murakami has blatently tryed to nick his style, rather unsuscefully.
my top 5 books (not in order)
Midnights Children Salman rushdie
if this is a man, the truce Primo Levi
an evil cradling Brian Keenan
Illusions Richard Bach
The god of small things Arundati Roy
and loads of others, but these will do for now.
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by evolver [/i]
[...I don't know if Tom Robbins is gay or not, and it doesn't really matter. One way or the other, it was either poorly written or he just didn't have the balls to make his main character homosexual. [/B][/QUOTE]
actually, even cowgirls get the blues is about a bi-sexual woman.
OK, I gave up on Jitterbug Perfume again. At first while reading it and looking at the dialog I thought to myself "Wow! This is Great Writing!"--- then after awhile with every other line spoken by every other character something utterly profound just HAD to be mentioned (on Love, Life, Death, Religion, etc.)-- Which just flat-out got annoying after 100 or so pages. --- hopefully I will be able to finish the book some day. I really want to read Robbins based on the plot outlines alone but I don't think I may actually ever get into him---- but that's just me.
Anyways, I've moved onto A.M. Homes' The Saftey of Objects--- So far some pretty awesome short stories.
"Excuse me sir, Did you wash your hands after you took that big heaping dump. You know that sign, that sign says ALL employees MUST wash their hands after using the restroom, What part of that do you not understand?"- Malcom X
"Would you care to lick my sweaty baulz after they have been dipped in the finest venerial juices and sauteed in my own ass-sweat, madam?"- Winston Churchill
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by moe.ron [/i]
[B]actually, even cowgirls get the blues is about a bi-sexual woman. [/B][/QUOTE]
I'm not pretending to know about all of his books, but your quote above actually affirms what I was already thinking. "Still Life..." was my first and only Robbins, but I've read the back covers of most of the others. It seems all of his main characters are female, but he's not writing them for the sake of exploring a feminine perspective...he's writing them more as a vehicle for a male homosexual character within the "safe" shell of a woman, to be read by a wider audience.
Anyway, that's how "Still Life..." struck me. But really, that whole thing is a minor issue...one I could easily ignore. The way he writes gets on my nerves a lot more - that "pack something cleverly profound" into each sentence style, just like Fetus said in the post above. And he apparently enjoys puns. I hate puns. Both good and bad ones. I imagine Tom Robbins to be the kind of person who thinks Rip Taylor is a comedic genius.
Having said all that, I'll admit that I just checked out "Jitterbug Perfume" from the library yesterday. I want to give Robbins another chance, since so many of my friends like him. I'm on page 3 and he's already annoying me...but I'm going to keep plogging through it. I've got P.K. Dick's "The Man in the High Castle" next in line, and I'll probably wind up reading both at the same time in order to take Robbins in smaller doses.
tom robbinz is rulzorz
im read
william s burroughs cities of the red night, taking me a while, been busy reading elsewheres
viktor e frankl mans search for meaning
are you experienced? william sutcliffe (after reading it, being a 'backpacker' never felt the same. it has ruined lots of holiday trips;) i like william sutcliffe!
a confederacy of dunces - john kennedy toole (hilarious! one of the few books that make me laugh out loud)
the dice man - luke rhinehart (great book on free will & obeying the dice)
kl0pper, Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" is one of my all-time favorite books. I'd love to hear what you think of it when you're done. It'd be a great book club pick, too, for a whole bunch of reasons. Mostly because it's nonfiction, and I can't really get too much into all the "Chuck-esque" picks so far. Also that the whole logotherapy idea kind of ties in with CP's themes, but it's different enough that we could actually talk about it.
So, yeah. I hope you'll offer your opinion of it when you're done. 
You said the dice man was a grest book, i have read it and it was fun and a little crazy. have you read the next one, cant remember what its called? i thought a follow on would be pants so i left it wall alone.
This robbins guy, ive never heard of him, and francly from what your saying it sounds a bit pants too, so naturally i want to check it out, and suggestions for a first read.
well Marlowe has just turned up at joe brodys house, this is getting exiting...
the diceman is pretty cool.
willyschnapps, id be delighted to.
Could you explain your use of the word "pants"? Heh...
Anyway, "Still Life With Woodpecker" is the only one I've read. It was recommended to me as my first Robbins, so I guess that's as good a place to start as any.
What do i need to explain about Pants? let me guess, your from America?
well ill have a look but is Robbins any good?
and how come im just a junior member, im not any junior!
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Enid [/i]
[B]What do i need to explain about Pants? let me guess, your from America? [/B][/QUOTE]
Oh, I see, it's one of those cultural differences. Like, for instance, here in America we say "great" instead of "grest". And we say "well alone" instead of "wall alone"... "frankly" instead of "francly". And our country doesn't have a shortage of periods and apostrophes, as seems to be the case in whatever part of the world you are living in. 
stop! do not pass go!! put down jitterbug perfume!!! i have a feeling this book is not going to endear you to the TR experience; however, fierce invalids home from hot climates just might.
moe - I already gave up on it
I made it to page 4, where Priscilla lays down on her sofa (alone) and some coins fall out of her pocket. As a dime rolls towards the door, she says "Is this what they mean by runaway inflation?"
Actually, I read another 30 pages after that, but I never fully recovered from that horrible joke. That kind of humor just really bugs me. I'm still willing to try "Fierce Invalids..." though. If it hooks me early on, I can ignore things like that.
dammit, I've been reading "the lord of the rings, fellowship..." for the past month. I think chewing glass is more entertaining...no disrespect to the "True fans"...i guess you could say I'm one of those sharpie-nail polish-wearing-musicians or something that found chuck and has become a born-again reader.
i'm reading the first dune book by frank herbert, godel escher bach: an eternal golden braid by douglas r hofstadter, and eyescream by henry rollins
(SpacedOut_Fetus - i like your mr bungle icon)
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by evolver [/i]
[B]moe - I already gave up on it
I made it to page 4, where Priscilla lays down on her sofa (alone) and some coins fall out of her pocket. As a dime rolls towards the door, she says "Is this what they mean by runaway inflation?"
Actually, I read another 30 pages after that, but I never fully recovered from that horrible joke. That kind of humor just really bugs me. I'm still willing to try "Fierce Invalids..." though. If it hooks me early on, I can ignore things like that. [/B][/QUOTE]
i'll admit, i love TR's sense of humor, and i think i might hold the title of "number one fan" (at least on this site). i'll also admit, his writing's not for everyone, especially those who enjoy a "minimalist" approach. however, i applaud your efforts to at least give it the ol' college try, not tossing in the towel after the first failed attempt. maybe that just makes you a sucker for punishment...
anyway, in find your insights on his female characterizations very interesting, and i'd love to hear how your theory fits into the women of fierce invalids. if the possibility to wax intellectual isn't reason enough to read a book, i don't know what is!
p.s. i wanted to private message this to you, as not to clutter up the "what are you reading" thread, but i see you've disabled that option. sorry to everyone who's read all of this for no reason.
I just finished reading Imortals by Tracy hickman
[img]http://pic6.picturetrail.com/VOL158/1577042/3017665/37560843.jpg[/img]
I was drawn by your gentle song...
Your pure white tears flow away with the wind
And cut time in two.
I'm reading 'The Society of the Spectacle', by Guy Debord. Its basically about making trouble. Kind of boring, I make myself read it on the toilet in the morning, this is how I read books that I think I need to read, but don't really want to.
Firstly Evolver, i was not trying to insult anyone from America, i was commenting on how i have noticed people from America just dont get Pants.
Secondly i thought we were talking about books rather than my ability to spell.
There are more inportant things in life to spelling, and if i could change the fact that im dyslexic and dont understand grammer very well i would.
Thankyou.
I'm still reading The Fountainhead. I'm almost done though, only 200 pages left. It's not all that great, not a favorite or anything. I just have to get through it, maybe something interesting will happen. 
The problem with it is, I keep running into so many books I want to read, but I can't because I have to force myself through this one.
"Everything and More..." by David Foster Wallace
"Pattern Recognition" by William Gibson
I just started The Contortionists Handbook yesterday. There's lots of detail in this book. So far I really like it.
Right now I'm trying to juggle...
Atlas Shrugged
The Manchurian Candidate
Choke (my first Chuck novel)
Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man
The New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnotism
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][i]Originally posted by Ozymandias [/i]
[B]That's why I couldn't get through the first 50 pages. Fucking freak Puzo mentiond every 3 pages that Sonny had a big dick. Closet-issues, anyone? [/B][/QUOTE]
It made me laugh. Throughout the entire book it seemed really obvious to me that Puzo just thought the story was really funny. He has a whole bunch of useless sex stories and such that you can tell (or at least I can) Puzo thought was funny.
Half way through "Exquisite Corpse" by Poppy Z. Brite.
...holy damn...
[center][img]http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/940/flaggggghtlb8.gif[/img][/center]
Currently reading: Kiss Me, Judas by Will Christopher Baer.
After I plan to read: Different Seasons (the Stephen King book of 4 short stories, 3 became movies (Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil, and Stand By Me))
After THAT, I'm thinking Neuromancer by William Gibson. But I may not finish Diff. Seasons, because I despise Stephen King
"Do you have 846 pounds of zinc? I don't!" -- The Laz.
"I was almost Six On Tha Dot. What a mistake that would have been." -- Six On The Dot
Ha ha, you're reading Stephen King. You're my puppet, Adam.
There is hope, but not for us.
you know that little moving picture of that girl, who is it?
now I gots "The End of Alice" by A.M. HOMES---- Hot Damn this chick is screwy!... but she is also now one of my favorite writers.
"Excuse me sir, Did you wash your hands after you took that big heaping dump. You know that sign, that sign says ALL employees MUST wash their hands after using the restroom, What part of that do you not understand?"- Malcom X
"Would you care to lick my sweaty baulz after they have been dipped in the finest venerial juices and sauteed in my own ass-sweat, madam?"- Winston Churchill
I just started 'In the hand of Dante' by Nick Tosches. Anybody read his stuff.
nothing wrong with stephen king, just whatever makes you happy
[url]http://chuckpalahniuk.net/community/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6621[/url]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/Lazlosdead/completeLazloSig.jpg[/IMG]
I'm almost done with Jennifer Government and I love it. Does anyboy know if Max Barry's other book Syrup is as good? Also I'm interested in Amy Hempel. Which book of hers is better, Reasons to Live or At the Gates of the Animal Kingdom?
You will never be famous.
I finished The Contortionist's Handbook. It was really good. I try to read each book as itself, even books by the same author. It's really hard to justify a comparison between books, so I just don't do it.
So now I'm reading parts of a Washington Irvine short story collection. Finished Matilda.
I got a book from the library today, called Angus. It's written from a dog's point of view, and is a pretty cute idea so far. I'm only on chapter 3 (VERY short chapters too) so I dunno about the writing or story.
I got the new book club selection from the library too, so hopefully I can read two books at once (which I don't normally like to do) and get started on that one too. I hope it's good.
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by moe.ron [/i]
[B]i think i might hold the title of "number one fan" (at least on this site).[/B][/QUOTE] then id be #2
im reading william s burroughs place of dead roads
i finished cities of the red night and reread kerouac's dharma bums last weekend
dharma bums is the shit. i just got finished with big sur. god he goes crazy.
i love the man but i only have on the road, dharma bums and visions of cody (which i havent read yet)
finished Killing Pablo by Mark Bowden (awesome!)
started Old Man And THe Sea yesterday.
after that I'm trying to decide between catch 22, 1984, or Crime and punishment
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/Lazlosdead/completeLazloSig.jpg[/IMG]
oooh swallow that dostoesvky
[url=http://smithandstephenson.net]Another LitBlog[/url]
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe. So far its great. Unfortunetly I haven't been able to devote much time to it since finals are coming up next week. I'll deffinetly put it down the days right after winter break starts.
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by drew [/i]
[B]The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe. So far its great. Unfortunetly I haven't been able to devote much time to it since finals are coming up next week. I'll deffinetly put it down the days right after winter break starts. [/B][/QUOTE]
oh that's a great book , hope you enjoy it, sadly though after i read it and learned all about Ken Kesey, i tried to read him and it just didn't work, i guess Tom Wolfe told me all I wanted to know about him
That's dead on how I feel about Robbins as well. I thought I was the only one in the whole fucking universe that felt that way too. Most people think his wretched dialogue and unrealistic characters are the cat's pajamas, and for the life of me, I can't figure out why.
There is hope, but not for us.