Michael Crichton: Jurassic #####Just finished Michael Crichton's Next.
Twice as preachy as the last book without all the hastle of a coherent plot.
Couldn't disagree more.While I really like the movie, the music and pop-culture geekery comes off much more effectively as written word. Also, Barry is a bit different, the London setting adds something, and there's another girl on the list, whose omission in the film, although not that big of a loss, makes a few things less understandable.Read a few the past couple of weeks.
High Fidelity- Anyways this book is not worth reading if you've seen the movie.
That was on purpose. She didn't write realistic characters. She explains why in her non-fiction book, The Romantic Manifesto.After hearing references to "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand all my life I finally picked up a used copy awhile back. I finished it the other day and still don't realize what all the fuss was about. The characters in that book are so over the top it's ridiculous.
They're pretty similar. The movie is well done; I'd suggest watching that instead of reading the book.Maybe "The Fountainhead" is better. Haven't read it yet.
Excellent book!Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
I always heard that if you had to explain what you wrote than you didn't write it that well. FWIW, I haven't read any Ayn Rand.That was on purpose. She didn't write realistic characters. She explains why in her non-fiction book, The Romantic Manifesto.After hearing references to "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand all my life I finally picked up a used copy awhile back. I finished it the other day and still don't realize what all the fuss was about. The characters in that book are so over the top it's ridiculous.They're pretty similar. The movie is well done; I'd suggest watching that instead of reading the book.Maybe "The Fountainhead" is better. Haven't read it yet.
Rand's best book is Anthem because it's the shortest and therefore least preachy.I always heard that if you had to explain what you wrote than you didn't write it that well. FWIW, I haven't read any Ayn Rand.That was on purpose. She didn't write realistic characters. She explains why in her non-fiction book, The Romantic Manifesto.After hearing references to "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand all my life I finally picked up a used copy awhile back. I finished it the other day and still don't realize what all the fuss was about. The characters in that book are so over the top it's ridiculous.They're pretty similar. The movie is well done; I'd suggest watching that instead of reading the book.Maybe "The Fountainhead" is better. Haven't read it yet.
I thought this was supposed to be some classic masterpiece of apocalyptic fiction.Just starting On the Beach by Nevil Shute.
While I didn't think American Gods was anything special, I'm about 100 pages into Neverwhere and love it.American Gods was probably my least favorite gaiman. You really need to read the sandman comics (released in graphic novels). We actually read them in a college course if that gives you any idea how well respected they are. I liked Neverwhere much better than AG. Also if you are in the mood for some great comedy I would recommend Gaiman and Pratchet's Good Omens. One of the funniest books I've read.Ironically, given the recent discussion, I also just finished Ender's Game. In a word ... meh. OK, no where near as good as expected (given the hype).
Now reading "The Collector" by John Fowles. Good book so far.
Neverwhere is next on my list. And I agree with the earlier poster that Good Omens is hilarious. Pratchett and Gaiman make a great team.While I didn't think American Gods was anything special, I'm about 100 pages into Neverwhere and love it.American Gods was probably my least favorite gaiman. You really need to read the sandman comics (released in graphic novels). We actually read them in a college course if that gives you any idea how well respected they are. I liked Neverwhere much better than AG. Also if you are in the mood for some great comedy I would recommend Gaiman and Pratchet's Good Omens. One of the funniest books I've read.Ironically, given the recent discussion, I also just finished Ender's Game. In a word ... meh. OK, no where near as good as expected (given the hype).
Now reading "The Collector" by John Fowles. Good book so far.
Finally finished "Mason & Dixon" by Thomas Pynchon. VERY .
Just glad to be through it so I can start reading for pleasure again.
Hope you are enjoying it. I'm about halfway through.Found this Recognitions Guide on-line and have been reviewing their take on the chapters (synopses) as I get through some chapters. Very helpful. I'm catching a lot of the connections and references, but there's plenty I've missed (the Bosch table's history) which is nice to know moving forward.Tonight, I start The Recognitions
we had non religious wedding - justice of the peaceat any rate, my sister in law read several passages from the prophet at our weddingI'm reading a VERY cool little book right now. It's only 93 pages and IMO should probably be in the "5 books to read before you die" thread. Lot of life lessons in this one, and written in a somewhat poetic manner.
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
The Prophet is a book of 26 poetic essays written in 1923 by the Lebanese-born American artist, philosopher and writer Khalil Gibran. In the book, the prophet Almustafa, who has lived in the foreign city of Orphalese for 12 years, is about to board a ship which will carry him home. He is stopped by a group of people, with whom he discusses many issues of life and the human condition, including issues such as love, marriage, and work. One of Gibran's best known works, he followed it with Garden of Prophet, and was due to produce a third part when he died.
The book's popularity among adherents of 1960s counterculture inspired a parody, The Profit by "Kehlog Albran", which furnished a number of quotations for the Unix fortune program.
I just finished Wildfire, and it's pretty good. I've liked Demille since The General's Daughter and Plum Island. While Wildfire is a good read, I still like The Lion's Gate and NightFall better.Just started The Cell by Stephen King. It's not bad...but it's something to read right now.On hold at the library, Wildfire by Nelson Demille - I started reading his books with Charm School and have been hooked ever since. Demille is one of my favorite suspense writers.
Finished Wildfire last week and enjoyed it for the most part. I found myself chuckling quite a bit at the smart alec comments/thoughts of Detective Corey.I'm about halfway through Hannibal Rising and I've really enjoyed it so far. Compared to Harris' other novels, this is considerably different (so far), but I'm really enjoying it. I think that it is more cerebral (maybe) than Red Dragon & Hannibal (I've not read Silence...). It's not what I expected but enjoyable none-the-lessI just finished Wildfire, and it's pretty good. I've liked Demille since The General's Daughter and Plum Island. While Wildfire is a good read, I still like The Lion's Gate and NightFall better.Just started The Cell by Stephen King. It's not bad...but it's something to read right now.On hold at the library, Wildfire by Nelson Demille - I started reading his books with Charm School and have been hooked ever since. Demille is one of my favorite suspense writers.
Finished The Recognitions. I can see why it is referred to as a prelude to postmodernism. Also some very black humor in the book.But its no JR.Hope you are enjoying it. I'm about halfway through.Found this Recognitions Guide on-line and have been reviewing their take on the chapters (synopses) as I get through some chapters. Very helpful. I'm catching a lot of the connections and references, but there's plenty I've missed (the Bosch table's history) which is nice to know moving forward.Tonight, I start The Recognitions