blurt wrote:DukeofNuke wrote:justine wrote:DukeofNuke wrote:Everyone should read "Under The Roofs Of Paris", aka "Opus Pistorum" by Henry Miller.
Why?
Have you read it ? (I should have mentioned it is "Adults Only" )
It is a rare combination of literature by pornography. It's also a great party game.
Ask someone to open to any page and begin reading aloud . Embarrassment and hilarity ensues .
I'd like to go to one of your parties. I'd definitely bring the SO. She's shameless.
My kinda' woman
DEyncourt wrote:At the moment I'm about at the middle of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell which is an alternate history of Great Britain at the time of the Napoleonic Wars in which magic takes place as created by the two title characters. I think the author meant to mimic a style of English literature of that period (but I'm not an English major so this is only a guess). The first part of the book is somewhat stilted in that it is written with the assumption that the reader would have a schoolboy's knowledge of the history of magic in Britain up until the start of the book in 1808, so I'm sure that there are bits and pieces at the start of the novel that would make more sense to me now that I have that schoolboy's knowledge, partially supplied by the copious footnotes.
My paperback edition is 1006 pages so I expect to be at this book for a while (though I might pick up something a bit breezier in a couple of weeks if I haven't finished it by then). While it has won a number of science fiction/fantasy awards, I can only recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading alternate histories because this is particularly detailed.
I've finished it. While somewhat dissatisfied with the ending because in some ways the author doesn't really end the story, there were other aspects of the ending which I won't detail which did work for me. I do recommend it but only for people who like alternate histories.
I understand that there is a companion anthology of short stories and novelettes by Susanna Clarke taking place in this same universe. I think I will pick that up but it might be a while before I get to it.
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I was ill yesterday so I practically gobbled down in a couple of hours John Scalzi's Fuzzy Nation which is a "reboot" of H. Beam Piper's "Little Fuzzy" (to paraphrase Scalzi: sort of like Abrams' "reboot" of Star Trek but with better science). I've not read the original Piper novel but now I want to. Basically Scalzi started this book as a personal project with no intention of publishing it, but after showing it to his agent who said that it was pretty good, Scalzi (or his agent) then approached the estate of Piper and negotiated an agreement to allow Scalzi to publish it.
It's a fun and quick and enjoyable read, but it is an example of a Scalzi characteristic: to borrow the Dungeons and Dragons term, all of his main characters are lawful types or under the control of one of them. They might be lawful-good or lawful-evil or maybe lawful-chaotic, and some aren't above pushing and bending the rules to the point that others might consider them broken, but generally they follow the rules. While this enables his stories to be wrapped up, it is sometimes rather simplistic. Still, I recommend it.
Just finished "Assimilation", the story of how the Rock Machine biker gang joined with The Bandidos, and how the war between the Rock Machine and the Hell's Angels in Quebec played out in the 90s.
If Bike gangs are your thing then the book probably offers insights in the lives of "1%ers".
If Bike gangs are your thing then the book probably offers insights in the lives of "1%ers".
I just picked up a copy of Moby Dick. (this edition has some nice Rockwell Kent Illustrations throughout)
I got interested in the idea of reading it last Summer, but never got around to getting a copy.
I am terrible about reading fiction. I hardly ever read it.
But once I do, I get very, very absorbed.
I got interested in the idea of reading it last Summer, but never got around to getting a copy.
I am terrible about reading fiction. I hardly ever read it.
But once I do, I get very, very absorbed.
I am re-reading The Hobbit for the first time since I was a teen and I'm loving it.
I was never able to wade through the Trilogy, I found it too verbose and hard to follow at that age, but am going to give it another shot.
I was never able to wade through the Trilogy, I found it too verbose and hard to follow at that age, but am going to give it another shot.
I recently finished A Stolen Life by Jacycee Dugard. I can only imagine what the guy has done that we don't know about. Good thing he'll never get out of prison.
Just finished the latest dresden book. Need more now.
mmaverick wrote:Just finished the latest dresden book. Need more now.
I have some of those i need to get to.
The lost world
I am reading 'Freedom' at the moment.
I'm now in the middle of re-reading Game of Thrones and am definitely enjoying it more this time. I probably will continue with the series.
I just picked up less than an hour ago Zero Day by Mark Russinovich from the local library.
It is a cyber-thriller type novel that has gotten rave reviews from the tech news crowd.
Though I would give it a shot.
It is a cyber-thriller type novel that has gotten rave reviews from the tech news crowd.
Though I would give it a shot.
I've started Britain in the Middle Ages: An Archaeological History by Francis Pryor.
Very interesting, if you're into that sort of thing.
Very interesting, if you're into that sort of thing.
Snow Crash
I just finished the first of a series of 4 by Charlaine Harris. The book is called Grave Sight. Now i'm reading Grave Surprise.
I'm going back and rereading all of the "Ender" books. I may reread the Bean series after, or something else, depends if I get all carded out or not.
Rather languidly working through L.A. Noire on the ol' iPad. An incredibly fascinating read.
It's also sharing time with 1915: The Death of Innocence by Lyn Macdonald. Horribly tragic, but it's Macdonald so it's infinitely readable.
After I'm done these ones I might delve into the Faulkner collection I recently acquired.
It's also sharing time with 1915: The Death of Innocence by Lyn Macdonald. Horribly tragic, but it's Macdonald so it's infinitely readable.
After I'm done these ones I might delve into the Faulkner collection I recently acquired.
Round Ireland With A Fridge by Tony Hawks
True story about a British guy who makes a drunken bet to see if he can manage to hitchhike around Leprechaun Land while toting a small refrigerator. A bit of Adams in the humor, but sometimes he tries too hard.
True story about a British guy who makes a drunken bet to see if he can manage to hitchhike around Leprechaun Land while toting a small refrigerator. A bit of Adams in the humor, but sometimes he tries too hard.
My Life Full of Cars by Paul Frere
Paul Frere writes about almost all the cars in his life. He went to school as an engineer, but focused on journalism so he could participate in racing. After doing everything from road rallies to F1 to winning the Le Mans 24, he kept on writing and road testing cars for magazines, even becoming a consultant for car makers. It's quite a read as he also gives a history and interesting technical details of the cars he's driven.
Paul Frere writes about almost all the cars in his life. He went to school as an engineer, but focused on journalism so he could participate in racing. After doing everything from road rallies to F1 to winning the Le Mans 24, he kept on writing and road testing cars for magazines, even becoming a consultant for car makers. It's quite a read as he also gives a history and interesting technical details of the cars he's driven.
j_tso wrote:My Life Full of Cars by Paul Frere
Paul Frere writes about almost all the cars in his life. He went to school as an engineer, but focused on journalism so he could participate in racing. After doing everything from road rallies to F1 to winning the Le Mans 24, he kept on writing and road testing cars for magazines, even becoming a consultant for car makers. It's quite a read as he also gives a history and interesting technical details of the cars he's driven.
That sounds really interesting.
If you liked that, check out Go Like Hell. It's a fantastic read, all about the competition between Ford and Ferrari in the 60s. But it's about so much else, including the rise of Caroll Shelby. It also looks at how mind-bogglingly dangerous auto racing was in those days (no season was complete without a bunch of deaths). Really readable stuff.
Shnicky-Poo wrote:
If you liked that, check out Go Like Hell. It's a fantastic read, all about the competition between Ford and Ferrari in the 60s. But it's about so much else, including the rise of Caroll Shelby.
I'll add that to my list. The Ford GT40 and Ferrari P3 are awesome racers. Frere's book also talks about his meetings with Enzo Ferrari, and he won Le Mans in a factory supported Ferrari.
Quote:It also looks at how mind-bogglingly dangerous auto racing was in those days (no season was complete without a bunch of deaths). Really readable stuff.
I found an original 1962 edition of Frere's performance driving book Sports Car and Competition Driving, and he actually says seat belts are kind of optional because most race cars aren't made to protect the driver. Even cars with a roof didn't have roll over protection, so a driver had a better chance by being ejected from the car.
Reamde, and a whole mess of philosophy books.
Sense of inadequacy ... rising ...
I finished Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy today. I watched the movies last year and really enjoyed them. As is often the case, a lot was cut out of the books to make the movies manageable. In some places the movies were more polished while the books made some stuff more clear. Both end up at the same place yet are different enough that it is worthwhile to read the books even if you've seen the movies and vice versa.
I started reading Shop Class as Soulcraft by Matthew B. Crawford. My brother recommended it so I'll give it an honest effort but part way through the first chapter I have to say it is like watching somebody eat belly-button lint.
I started reading Shop Class as Soulcraft by Matthew B. Crawford. My brother recommended it so I'll give it an honest effort but part way through the first chapter I have to say it is like watching somebody eat belly-button lint.
I just finished Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen. Really good book. Right before that, i finished the 4 book Harper Connolly series by Charlaine Harris.
Up to chapter 4 of On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
About halfway through A Clash of Kings and picked up A Storm of Swords, Pratchett's Snuff and the DVD of Going Postal today.
I just started reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and i don't know if i can force myself thru it. The grammar is killing me.
If Tom Sawyer's dialect is too thick for you then definitely don't read Smokey Yunick's Best Damn Garage In Town; 1,100 pages of Southern Racer English is a tough slog even if you're reasonably conversant.
Quote:Smokey was a one-man Greatest Generation whose World War II adventures seem divided between hot planes and hot nurses. -- The New York Times, Robert Lipsyte
Just finished The Lovely Bones. Enjoyed immensely.
Just re-read "The Anatomist". The semi factual history of the identification of the clitoris and how this greatly upset the catholic Church. A dark and moody book at times.
Currently finishing off Neil Sheehan's "A Bright Shining Lie". A definitive account of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam with particular reference to Lt. Col. John Paul Vann's experiences, triumphs and failures.
Currently finishing off Neil Sheehan's "A Bright Shining Lie". A definitive account of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam with particular reference to Lt. Col. John Paul Vann's experiences, triumphs and failures.
Ribtor wrote:Currently finishing off Neil Sheehan's "A Bright Shining Lie". A definitive account of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam with particular reference to Lt. Col. John Paul Vann's experiences, triumphs and failures.
Great book. He later wrote a sequel that was less good (visiting Vietnam after the war was over).
They actually made a movie out of A Bright Shining Lie that wasn't half bad. Bill Paxton as Vann.
The film barely scraped the surface of the extent of the Saigon corruption and the incompetence the early effort. (Gen. Harkin et al).
I recently re-watched Michael McLear's "The Ten Thousand Day War". Seen it many times and it too really doesn't delve nearly deeply enough into the incompetence and corruption of the Saigon regime.
I recently re-watched Michael McLear's "The Ten Thousand Day War". Seen it many times and it too really doesn't delve nearly deeply enough into the incompetence and corruption of the Saigon regime.
Well, there's only so much one can do with TV and film. And of course anything done that relies on the American perspective is going to be really slanted. For instance not only does the gross corruption of the Saigon regime get glossed over, but so does the unbelievable scale of destruction. Watching these things, one gets the sense that the Americans and Vietnamese suffered equally. Or that the hearts of the Americans were in the right place. The whole war was an incredibly savage crime against humanity.
Shnicky-Poo wrote:Bill Paxton as Vann.
Quote:Well that's great, that's just fuckin' great, man. Now what the fiddlesticks are we supposed to do? We're in some real pretty human waste now man...