What are you reading?

futureling · Post by **futureling** » Wed Oct 09, 2013 4:35 am

Not really reading right now, mostly packing up my life into boxes.

But I'm looking forward to reading a book coming in the post called "You Can't Catch A Death"--a memoir of a daughter about her father's suicide. Father was a famous hippie writer, Richard Brautigan.

chronical · Post by **chronical** » Wed Oct 09, 2013 9:40 am

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas.

MAXIMUS MISCHIEF · Post by **MAXIMUS MISCHIEF** » Thu Oct 10, 2013 12:20 am

THE CHRONACLES OF NARNIA

rainier · Post by **rainier** » Wed Oct 30, 2013 9:27 pm

I just finished Dr. Sleep. I liked but didn't love it. I always enjoy reading SK books though, even the more mediocre ones. I've been reading his books since I was basically a child and his voice is familiar and comforting to me.

Last year vulture did a ranking of all his books, I thought it was a pretty good list even though I disagree on a few.
http://www.vulture.com/2012/04/ranking-all-62-stephen-king-books.html

WeHadNormality · Post by **WeHadNormality** » Sat Dec 14, 2013 6:07 pm

Really tried Gravity's Rainbow a few times and something just wasn't clicking with me and had to put it down. Will try it again some other time maybe.
In the mean time I've read Cormac McCarthy's debut novel: The Orchard Keeper. Like all his other books, it''s a masterpiece.
The Harper review on the back cover puts it better than I ever could:

The feeling for the land and and seasons is so intense as to be part of the story and there are scenes one will never forget... A complicated and evocative exposition of the transience of life

futureling wrote:But I'm looking forward to reading a book coming in the post called "You Can't Catch A Death"--a memoir of a daughter about her father's suicide. Father was a famous hippie writer, Richard Brautigan.

Think I'm gonna have to get this. I've read Richard Brauhtigan's - Trount Fishing In America and Revenge Of The Lawn. Loved them both.

Just started reading James Fey's - The Final Testament.

chronical · Post by **chronical** » Sat Dec 14, 2013 6:27 pm

On The Road by Jack Kerouac.

Great book. Drags you deep into the feeling of hitchhiking and crazy people.

WeHadNormality · Post by **WeHadNormality** » Sat Dec 14, 2013 6:36 pm

chronical wrote:On The Road by Jack Kerouac.

Not to sound too cliched, but that book changed my life. Which version are you reading? The Original Scroll or the standard edited version?

The Dharma Bums is probably my favorite Kerouac book and Big Sur is heartbreaking.

tymeworkbeats · Post by **tymeworkbeats** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 6:18 pm

A People's History - Howard Zinn

Mexicola · Post by **Mexicola** » Thu Jan 09, 2014 9:46 pm

Just finished the sadly much too short 'Mortality' by Christopher Hitchens.

Rarely has a book affected me so profoundly. Was moved to tears, quite literally.

saurus · Post by **saurus** » Fri Jan 10, 2014 9:48 am

Reading the Trial by Kafka, mostly to understand what the concept to be 'Kafka-esque' means. It's a good book, he really fills out his protagonist's characture and nature well.

Snufkin · Post by **Snufkin** » Fri Jan 10, 2014 5:48 pm

Re-reading 'Cities of the Red Night' by William S. Burroughs, part of his 'Western Lands' trilogy (the best he ever wrote, in my experience).

This is my first re-reading after a few years away form Burroughs, and already it has a different feel (I find that the best artworks feel different at different stages in our lives, because they are 'open' enough to reveal new aspects about ourselfs as we progress in transience).

Also reading 'Zapatistas: the Chiapas Rebellion and what it means for Radical Politics' by Mihalis Mentinis.

-Snuf

Mexicola · Post by **Mexicola** » Fri Jan 10, 2014 6:37 pm

WeHadNormality wrote:Really tried Gravity's Rainbow a few times and something just wasn't clicking with me and had to put it down. Will try it again some other time maybe...

Thank goodness! I thought it was just me

rushfan82 · Post by **rushfan82** » Sat Jan 11, 2014 7:34 am

1984 by George Orwell

WeHadNormality · Post by **WeHadNormality** » Sat Jan 11, 2014 5:50 pm

Snufkin wrote:Re-reading 'Cities of the Red Night' by William S. Burroughs, part of his 'Western Lands' trilogy (the best he ever wrote, in my experience).

Great book, great trilogy, but I'd have to say that 'The Place Of Dead Roads' was my favorite of the trilogy, and probably my favorite Burroughs novel full stop.

saurus wrote:Reading the Trial by Kafka, mostly to understand what the concept to be 'Kafka-esque' means. It's a good book, he really fills out his protagonist's characture and nature well.

Just read Kafka's Metamorphosis. Incredible. Got The Trial sat on my shelf, will give it a go once I've finished the few in my backlog of novels I want to read.

Mexicola wrote:
WeHadNormality wrote:Really tried Gravity's Rainbow a few times and something just wasn't clicking with me and had to put it down. Will try it again some other time maybe...
Thank goodness! I thought it was just me

Yep. Found it pretty uninteresting (and a little intimidating considering how many pages that beast has got) tbf. I found myself getting distracted from it really easily which is usually good sign I'm not feeling it. Oh well... I think I've spoiled my self after reading all the Cormac McCarthy novels over the last year.

Just started Catcher In Rye after a writer friend of mine nearly slapped me when I told him I'd never read it. Only a couple of chapters in atm but I think I'm going to dig it.

Snufkin · Post by **Snufkin** » Sat Jan 11, 2014 10:01 pm

WeHadNormality wrote:
Snufkin wrote:Re-reading 'Cities of the Red Night' by William S. Burroughs, part of his 'Western Lands' trilogy (the best he ever wrote, in my experience).
Great book, great trilogy, but I'd have to say that 'The Place Of Dead Roads' was my favorite of the trilogy, and probably my favorite Burroughs novel full stop.

I enjoyed the Place of Dead Roads on first reading, but my favourite of the trilogy was Western Lands. I remember that book really struck a chord with me... so keen to see how the trilogy will affect me when I read it this time around.

Perch · Post by **Perch** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 8:38 am

Just got back into John Varley. I loved "Titan" but never finished the trilogy. I recommend it for anyone who wants some really refreshing science fiction to dig into. I'd also say to try and find the older books with illustrations:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e ... _Titan.jpg

I'm a bit biased in this regard, but I definitely think that they give a much stronger sense of that 70's sort of tone/imagery. Love that stuff. But don't take my word for it....

A_Northern_Soul · Post by **A_Northern_Soul** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 5:03 pm

John Robb's book on the Stone Roses. Really enjoying it so far.

I've really fallen out of love with fiction...

rainier · Post by **rainier** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 3:59 pm

I go through periods where I have no interest in reading fiction, which is weird because that's all I used to read.

Right now I'm reading this book called "Between Women: Friendship, Desire and Marriage in Victorian England". I wouldn't say it's exactly about lesbianism as we define it today, but that's sort of what it's about. I've been fascinated with Victorian England since I was a little kid for some reason.

I've totally become my father's daughter reading pretty dry history books.

fujee · Post by **fujee** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 5:19 pm

I now religiously read in a pattern of fiction, then non fiction, then fiction, then non etc...

I swear by it. Works so much better for both type of books.

naicob · Post by **naicob** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 5:32 pm

fujee wrote:I now religiously read in a pattern of fiction, then non fiction, then fiction, then non etc...

I swear by it. Works so much better for both type of books.

Seems like a good system.

Currently reading a book of Schopenhauer's essays and aphorisms. Great philosophy, fantastic prose. He is noted for having been the ultimate pessimist, but I can't help but see a lot of concern for humanity in his writings which I equate with positivity.