Whatcha readin now? (book, books, reading, read) (8 Viewers)

[Sabertooth]

I got about 8 chapters into Angels and Demons a few years ago but didn't finish it cuz I only had it in eBook format. Now, with the movie coming out, I want to read it again.

Don't bother. It's awful.

Is there anything mainstream that is cool enough for you?

 

[Socrates11]

Just about done with The Voyage by Philip Caputo. Pretty cool book. Slow in some spots, riveting in others. Excellent writing. I'd give it a 3.5/5.

From Library Journal

Caputo, author of the Vietnam classic Rumors of War, has crafted a compelling novel that offers both rousing adventure and penetrating insight into the mystery that is family. At the turn of the 19th century, a flinty New Englander suddenly orders his three sons, the oldest of whom is 16, to sail away from the Maine coast and stay away until September. "Where are we supposed to go?" they ask. "Don't much care," he answers. So off they sail to face the series of adventures that make up most of the book, all the while trying to understand their seeming abandonment. Their story is reconstructed by one son's granddaughter, herself haunted by the mystery. Determined to unravel the secret behind her great-grandfather's behavior, she is able to put together major pieces of the puzzle using both hard facts and a lot of imagination, which "is not an unreliable sextant, if you're trying to get a fix on the truth." That, of course, is exactly what all good novels do. This book should appeal to a wide audience, including older teenagers. Highly recommended for all public and most academic libraries.

-ADavid W. Henderson, Eckerd Coll. Lib., St. Petersburg, FL

 

[igbomb]

Next up: Bagombo Snuff Box by Kurt Vonnegut. A collection of previously unreleased short stories. Probably one of only a few Vonnegut books I haven't read.

Almost done, and can't wait to be. Most of this stuff is from his very early days writing for magazines like the Saturday Evening Post. Nothing too edgy and not much with a sci-fi slant. There's a reason all these stories were passed over when Welcome to the Monkey House was compiled.

Trying to figure out what to read next. This is 3 or 4 underwhelming reads in a row.

Here's a sample of what I have on my shelf unread. Any suggestions welcome:

Wiseguy - Nicholas Pileggi

Everville - Clive Barker

The Postman - David Brin

A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving

The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

Only Begotten Daughter - James Morrow

Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood

Alas, Babylon - Pat Frank

Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein

Altered States - Paddy Chayefsky

Childhood's End - Arthur C. Clarke

I've only read the three that I bolded from that list. I liked both Alas, Babylon and Oryx and Crake but did not like The Handmaid's Tale. But if I had to choose I'd take Oryx and Crake.

 

[Standing Hampton]

The Galloping Ghost, Red Grange an American football legend.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Next up: Bagombo Snuff Box by Kurt Vonnegut. A collection of previously unreleased short stories. Probably one of only a few Vonnegut books I haven't read.

Almost done, and can't wait to be. Most of this stuff is from his very early days writing for magazines like the Saturday Evening Post. Nothing too edgy and not much with a sci-fi slant. There's a reason all these stories were passed over when Welcome to the Monkey House was compiled.

Trying to figure out what to read next. This is 3 or 4 underwhelming reads in a row.

Here's a sample of what I have on my shelf unread. Any suggestions welcome:

Wiseguy - Nicholas Pileggi

Everville - Clive Barker

The Postman - David Brin

A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving

The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

Only Begotten Daughter - James Morrow

Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood

Alas, Babylon - Pat Frank

Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein

Altered States - Paddy Chayefsky

Childhood's End - Arthur C. Clarke

Shuke, have you read either of Dan Simmons' last two? The Terror & Drood? I'd recommend either.

 

[oso diablo]

just finished Down River by John Hart. Great, great mystery/legal thriller. Perfect for the summer.

a la Turow, Grisham, Raymond Chandler

That IS a great book. So is his first, "The King of Lies". I just read his newest one, "The Last Child". Picked it up and didn't put it down till I was finished.

if you bought Last Child, i'll swap you for it. Anything on my swap list

 

[Kendall]

Next up: Bagombo Snuff Box by Kurt Vonnegut. A collection of previously unreleased short stories. Probably one of only a few Vonnegut books I haven't read.

Almost done, and can't wait to be. Most of this stuff is from his very early days writing for magazines like the Saturday Evening Post. Nothing too edgy and not much with a sci-fi slant. There's a reason all these stories were passed over when Welcome to the Monkey House was compiled.

Trying to figure out what to read next. This is 3 or 4 underwhelming reads in a row.

Here's a sample of what I have on my shelf unread. Any suggestions welcome:

Wiseguy - Nicholas Pileggi

Everville - Clive Barker

The Postman - David Brin

A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving

The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

Only Begotten Daughter - James Morrow

Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood

Alas, Babylon - Pat Frank

Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein

Altered States - Paddy Chayefsky

Childhood's End - Arthur C. Clarke

I really liked Oryx and Crake and A Prayer for Owen Meany. The Handmaid's Tale was a good read. Those are the only three from your list that I have read.

 

[shuke]

The Stand is one of my favorite books, just love it. Any recommendations on post-apocalyptic themed books?

Definitely Swan Song. I also liked Lucifer's Hammer, The Road, Dark Advent, I Am Legend. I also really liked World War Z, although I don't know if that counts.This looks like a great resource for other ideas.

 

[shuke]

Shuke, have you read either of Dan Simmons' last two? The Terror & Drood? I'd recommend either.

Haven't read either of them, but will keep an eye out for them, thanks.

 

[shuke]

Just a reminder, 20% off today through Monday.

 

[kupcho1]

To anybody who has read 2666 by Roberto Bolano...I am totally and completely bored by the endless descriptions of the murders in Mexico that stretch for like 400 pages. Tell me there's a payoff or tell me to skip them or tell me something to prevent me from putting the book away.

:( I'm assuming you liked the first few parts (since you're in the middle now). I don't think it's the strongest section of the work. I wouldn't skip it, but if you hate it so much you'd quit reading entirely, skip that volume.

I feel bad skipping 300 pages. The first parts were ok...not great, but interesting enough. This middle section seems pointless. After the 3rd murder description, I felt like the point was made and it was getting old. I'm, literally, on murder description number 21 or something...and there are 250 pages to go in the section. Just wanting some reiteration that the time is well spent here.

It is the worst section by far and I was very tempted to skip ahead. I didn't. I'm glad I didn't because it did seem (in some way) to add to the overall effect of the novel.

However, that said, you could easily read the first 50 pages of Book 4, then skip ahead to Book 5.....which, btw, is PHENOMENAL.

Wait - 2666 check - Was the story of the incarcerated German computer tech in Mexico told in Book Four? If so, you need to read it.

Yes

 

[Tough As Nails]

Wait - 2666 check - Was the story of the incarcerated German computer tech in Mexico told in Book Four? If so, you need to read it.

Yes

Klaus Haas. His name pops up about every 10th page and there was about 6 pages worth of his story in the middle. I'm almost through that part of the book. About 100 pages to go. I have a lot of thoughts about why it was written and what the intention of going on and on is...but I'll wait until tomorrow (hopefully) to share as commenting with 100 pages left in the section seems premature.

 

[5Rings]

The Stand is one of my favorite books, just love it. Any recommendations on post-apocalyptic themed books?

Definitely Swan Song. I also liked Lucifer's Hammer, The Road, Dark Advent, I Am Legend. I also really liked World War Z, although I don't know if that counts.This looks like a great resource for other ideas.

awesome--thanks Shuke

 

[mr. furley]

are these Malcolm Gladwell books any good or is it all hype?

 

[kupcho1]

are these Malcolm Gladwell books any good or is it all hype?

They're entertaining and somewhat thought provoking. There are, of course given his celebrity, naysayers. One day there may be contests for Gladwellian writing. Here's Chotiner's

In the winter of 1963, Hakeem Olajuwon was born to the owners of a cement business in Lagos, Nigeria. "They taught us to be honest, work hard, respect our elders, believe in ourselves," Olajuwon once said of his parents. In his middle-class childhood, Olajuwon played handball and soccer, but it was not until the age of fifteen that he was exposed to basketball. After entering his first tournament, he realized that he was remarkably skilled at the sport. Within two years he had arrived in Texas, where he played for three seasons at the University of Houston. In 1983, he won the NCAA Tournament Player of the Year Award; he also led the Houston Cougars to two straight NCAA championship games. As the number one pick in the NBA draft in 1984, he could boast of being chosen two spots ahead of Michael Jordan. NBA analysts now consider him to be one of the twenty best players in the history of professional basketball.

Olajuwon is just over 6'10." He perfectly exemplifies what might be called the Height Trumps Experience Rule, which I have just coined. This rule stipulates that people who are at least a foot taller than the average height will excel at a chosen sport, especially when height is an advantage in that sport. The rule also obtains when the individual in question discovered the game relatively late in life, and spent little time practicing during his or her youth. It sheds light on a variety of hitherto unexplained phenomena. I hope to be recognized for it.

 

[pantagrapher]

are these Malcolm Gladwell books any good or is it all hype?

They're entertaining and somewhat thought provoking. There are, of course given his celebrity, naysayers. One day there may be contests for Gladwellian writing. Here's Chotiner's

In the winter of 1963, Hakeem Olajuwon was born to the owners of a cement business in Lagos, Nigeria. "They taught us to be honest, work hard, respect our elders, believe in ourselves," Olajuwon once said of his parents. In his middle-class childhood, Olajuwon played handball and soccer, but it was not until the age of fifteen that he was exposed to basketball. After entering his first tournament, he realized that he was remarkably skilled at the sport. Within two years he had arrived in Texas, where he played for three seasons at the University of Houston. In 1983, he won the NCAA Tournament Player of the Year Award; he also led the Houston Cougars to two straight NCAA championship games. As the number one pick in the NBA draft in 1984, he could boast of being chosen two spots ahead of Michael Jordan. NBA analysts now consider him to be one of the twenty best players in the history of professional basketball.

Olajuwon is just over 6'10." He perfectly exemplifies what might be called the Height Trumps Experience Rule, which I have just coined. This rule stipulates that people who are at least a foot taller than the average height will excel at a chosen sport, especially when height is an advantage in that sport. The rule also obtains when the individual in question discovered the game relatively late in life, and spent little time practicing during his or her youth. It sheds light on a variety of hitherto unexplained phenomena. I hope to be recognized for it.

I found Tipping Point pretty lame, but it might have been doomed by my high expectations. ETA: All that crap about mavens and whatnot seemed tailored to ensure Gladwell high-paying gigs as a featured speaker at corporate retreats.

 

[ODoyleRules]

are these Malcolm Gladwell books any good or is it all hype?

They're entertaining and somewhat thought provoking.

I agree with this. I don't think Gladwell's talent is coming up with new ideas, but I think he is very talented at packaging some interesting ideas in entertaining, well organized, books. Despite that he frequently only shows one side of an argument to make a point, I'm still a fan.

 

[flysack]

The Stand is one of my favorite books, just love it. Any recommendations on post-apocalyptic themed books?

Definitely Swan Song. I also liked Lucifer's Hammer, The Road, Dark Advent, I Am Legend. I also really liked World War Z, although I don't know if that counts.This looks like a great resource for other ideas.

awesome--thanks Shuke

Another book you may dig is A Canticle for Liebowitz.It puts a cyclical history twist on the post-apocalyptic genre. Good read.

 

[oso diablo]

reading MY book, or at least the book that contains a story i submitted. no great shakes, but my first published work. Book is an anthology about Sports in the Carolinas. My story is about the 1942 Rose Bowl, the only one ever played "on the road". In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, the game was almost canceled, but ultimately moved to Durham, NC.

 

[facook]

Bad Things by Michael Marshall. Doesn't measure up to the Straw Men trilogy or The Invaders. It's ok, but I'm looking forward to finishing it off so I can get on to The Secret Speech, Tom Rob Smith's follow-up to Child 44.

 

[igbomb]

Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child

The newest Reacher novel just came out last Tuesday. This one was far better than Nothing to Lose (his last one and the only bad one in the series). I still don't think I'd rank it near his best. It started uncharacteristically slow, and had one scene in particular that was rather hard to read.

But all in all good, and Reacher is still a bad***.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I am about 1/3 through Columbine. Hell of a good book so far - really getting into it.

 

[Jiggyonthehut]

Any post-college must-reads? I need to sharpen the few brain cells I still have.

 

[Native]

Finally getting around to reading The Road.

 

[SierraKiloBravo]

The Stand is one of my favorite books, just love it. Any recommendations on post-apocalyptic themed books?

Definitely Swan Song. I also liked Lucifer's Hammer, The Road, Dark Advent, I Am Legend. I also really liked World War Z, although I don't know if that counts.This looks like a great resource for other ideas.

awesome--thanks Shuke

Another book you may dig is A Canticle for Liebowitz.It puts a cyclical history twist on the post-apocalyptic genre. Good read.

Rings, if I were you, I'd start with Leibowitz, then read The Road, then read Alas, Babylon, then read The Postman, then read World War Z.

Just finished Lucifer's Hammer. Enjoyed it, particularly the end.

 

[perry147]

The Stand is one of my favorite books, just love it. Any recommendations on post-apocalyptic themed books?

Definitely Swan Song. I also liked Lucifer's Hammer, The Road, Dark Advent, I Am Legend. I also really liked World War Z, although I don't know if that counts.This looks like a great resource for other ideas.

awesome--thanks Shuke

Another book you may dig is A Canticle for Liebowitz.It puts a cyclical history twist on the post-apocalyptic genre. Good read.

Rings, if I were you, I'd start with Leibowitz, then read The Road, then read Alas, Babylon, then read The Postman, then read World War Z.

Just finished Lucifer's Hammer. Enjoyed it, particularly the end.

One you guys might not have heard of "Journal of Albion Moonlight", it is the most unusual book I have ever read.

 

[SierraKiloBravo]

Eternity Road by Jack McDevitt. So far, so good.

 

[RedZone]

Currently reading a couple (what can I say, literary ADHD).

Barry Eisler's most recent title released is "Fault Line" the first (that I am aware of, and yes, I am using parentheses too much) outside of his Rain series. For those of you who have not read the John Rain series which follows a Japanese-American assassin through escapades in Tokyo and other locations, it is a great read.

Other book is William Dietrich's "The Rosetta Key" - a great historical fiction. Not on the level of Umberto Eco, but entertaining and I learn about places and times that would have bored me to tears in school.

Sadly, some of the recommended titles aren't at my local library. I will have to look through some of the used book stores.

 

[pantagrapher]

Any post-college must-reads? I need to sharpen the few brain cells I still have.

"Infinite Jest" by David Foster Wallace is essential post-college reading. I'd also recommend "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance."

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Moved onto The Lies Of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch after about a zillion recommendations. I'm only about 1/4 of the way in, but it reminds me of a cross between Perdido Street Station (for the unique world-building) & TV's "Mission Impossible" (for the intrigue). I guess it's classified as "fantasy" since it takes place in a fictional, sorta-medieval setting but so far I haven't run across any dragons, elves, or wizards. Although there's plenty of action, I have a feeling the setting is a red herring & that the plot isn't dependent on a fantasy backdrop (like LOTR and it's descendents). Anyway, I'm enjoying it so far - Lynch writes well & I like the characters he's introduced.

I finished this one up over the weekend. Fun read, but not deep or life-changing. Lynch writes well, his world-building skills are very good, and he's above average at characterization. Ironically, the character who seems the least fleshed out is Locke himself. It may be on purpose; I'm not sure. Anyway, I've read the movie rights have already been sold for it & it shouldn't be hard to translate to film as Lynch has written it in a sort of cinematic/episodic way.I've got the sequel in hand & am trying to decide on that one next or Careless Love (about Elvis, post-army) which I had just started but put down last year.

 

[facook]

Bad Things by Michael Marshall. Doesn't measure up to the Straw Men trilogy or The Invaders. It's ok, but I'm looking forward to finishing it off so I can get on to The Secret Speech, Tom Rob Smith's follow-up to Child 44.

Can't recommend Bad Things. Just not interesting. Actually read The Talbot Conspiracy by Nelson Demille over the last 10 days on a business trip (didn't want to lug a hardback library book across the country). Older Demillle, and not on par with his Sean Drummon series, but a good read anyway. It starts pretty slow as Demille builds the characters, but once they are established the book is very good. A nice Cold War spy thriller, pretty unique really: the Russians are going to end American civilization using EMP, which at the time of writing (1984) was apparently a fairly cutting-edge idea.Finally onto The Secret Speech and already love it. If you haven't yet read Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith, read it. Then read this one.

 

[Sundays Rule]

Been getting through the Dresden books by Jim Butcher, simple summer reads that appeal to the fantasy geek in me. Up to the third one, Grave Peril which I find to be the best so far.

 

[Rounder]

The Power of Positive Confrontation

Blink

Tipping Point

The Language of Emotional Intelligence

What in the World is Going on Today

A Handwriting Analysis Book

What Every Body is Saying

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Based on my thread about the top 100 books, I've been hitting many of the top selections. I've just finished,

Confederacy of Dunces - hated it. I really did. I really don't have one good thing to say about it. I don't question others that may have loved it, but I could never recommend that book to anyone.

Breakfast of Champions - not very good either. Slaughterhouse Five was lightyears better. This one felt too much like he tried to hard to be all over the place instead of actually telling some kind of story. And in the end, anti-American diatribes for page after page usually do nothing for me.

Working on Catch-22 now. I'm lukewarm. Yossarian as a character is great, but I find much of the rest to be too silly.

I have Life of Pi to hit next.

 

[Tough As Nails]

Based on my thread about the top 100 books, I've been hitting many of the top selections. I've just finished,

Confederacy of Dunces - hated it. I really did. I really don't have one good thing to say about it. I don't question others that may have loved it, but I could never recommend that book to anyone.

Breakfast of Champions - not very good either. Slaughterhouse Five was lightyears better. This one felt too much like he tried to hard to be all over the place instead of actually telling some kind of story. And in the end, anti-American diatribes for page after page usually do nothing for me.

Working on Catch-22 now. I'm lukewarm. Yossarian as a character is great, but I find much of the rest to be too silly.

I have Life of Pi to hit next.

Based on what I know of your opinions and attitudes (which is, admittedly, not much)...this does not surprise me one bit. I have tons of friends who I would never recommend this to...but I loved it and have other friends who I know would think it's great. Not liking Catch-22 is sacrilege.

 

[D_House]

Been getting through the Dresden books by Jim Butcher, simple summer reads that appeal to the fantasy geek in me. Up to the third one, Grave Peril which I find to be the best so far.

Read the first Dresden book, Storm Front on the beach during my honeymoon last week. Good summer read, but there wasn't anything there that makes me want to invest in reading the rest of the series. Too many cliched characters and plot devices, and Dresden himself isn't all that interesting. Plus I figured out the mystery pretty early on.I also read an old John MacDonald book in the Travis McGee series, Purple Place of Dying. Another good summer read, I've read 2 previous McGee books, and so far they are all worthwhile. He's a great character and MacDonald writes very well for a genre guy.

I'm working on Neil Gaiman's American Gods now. I like this a lot more than Storm Front, it's a much more inventive work of fantasy and I'm still not quite sure what's going on in terms of the central story/mystery.

 

[Sundays Rule]

Been getting through the Dresden books by Jim Butcher, simple summer reads that appeal to the fantasy geek in me. Up to the third one, Grave Peril which I find to be the best so far.

Read the first Dresden book, Storm Front on the beach during my honeymoon last week. Good summer read, but there wasn't anything there that makes me want to invest in reading the rest of the series. Too many cliched characters and plot devices, and Dresden himself isn't all that interesting. Plus I figured out the mystery pretty early on.I also read an old John MacDonald book in the Travis McGee series, Purple Place of Dying. Another good summer read, I've read 2 previous McGee books, and so far they are all worthwhile. He's a great character and MacDonald writes very well for a genre guy.

I'm working on Neil Gaiman's American Gods now. I like this a lot more than Storm Front, it's a much more inventive work of fantasy and I'm still not quite sure what's going on in terms of the central story/mystery.

Storm Front was ok. I find them getting gradually better. Cliché? 100 percent, but fun reads. American Gods was really good too.

 

[Habeeby]

Any post-college must-reads? I need to sharpen the few brain cells I still have.

"Infinite Jest" by David Foster Wallace is essential post-college reading. I'd also recommend "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance."

Anything else anyone recommends??

 

[Saints-Man]

Based on my thread about the top 100 books, I've been hitting many of the top selections. I've just finished,

Confederacy of Dunces - hated it. I really did. I really don't have one good thing to say about it. I don't question others that may have loved it, but I could never recommend that book to anyone.

Breakfast of Champions - not very good either. Slaughterhouse Five was lightyears better. This one felt too much like he tried to hard to be all over the place instead of actually telling some kind of story. And in the end, anti-American diatribes for page after page usually do nothing for me.

Working on Catch-22 now. I'm lukewarm. Yossarian as a character is great, but I find much of the rest to be too silly.

I have Life of Pi to hit next.

Based on what I know of your opinions and attitudes (which is, admittedly, not much)...this does not surprise me one bit. I have tons of friends who I would never recommend this to...but I loved it and have other friends who I know would think it's great. Not liking Catch-22 is sacrilege.

Confederacy of Dunces is popular in New Orleans a lot to due with it being set there. The scenes are all very familiar.However, I too thought the book just did not live up to the hype. I read the book twice, many years apart, and thought it was just okay.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Based on my thread about the top 100 books, I've been hitting many of the top selections. I've just finished,

Confederacy of Dunces - hated it. I really did. I really don't have one good thing to say about it. I don't question others that may have loved it, but I could never recommend that book to anyone.

Breakfast of Champions - not very good either. Slaughterhouse Five was lightyears better. This one felt too much like he tried to hard to be all over the place instead of actually telling some kind of story. And in the end, anti-American diatribes for page after page usually do nothing for me.

Working on Catch-22 now. I'm lukewarm. Yossarian as a character is great, but I find much of the rest to be too silly.

I have Life of Pi to hit next.

Based on what I know of your opinions and attitudes (which is, admittedly, not much)...this does not surprise me one bit. I have tons of friends who I would never recommend this to...but I loved it and have other friends who I know would think it's great. Not liking Catch-22 is sacrilege.

I wanted to like CoD. Ignatius could have been a great character had there been some level of pause there on occaison. But it got to the point where it was so over the top it wasn't enjoyable but rather grating and tired. To me. As for Catch-22 I finished it last night. My problem with it was the complete lunacy of every single person in the military. Some of it was funny. But it got to be unbelievable as well. And the ending didn't do it for me. I wouldn't grade it bad, I just don't think it's one of the best I've ever read.

Started Life of Pi. Good so far.

 

[flysack]

Any post-college must-reads? I need to sharpen the few brain cells I still have.

"Infinite Jest" by David Foster Wallace is essential post-college reading. I'd also recommend "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance."

Anything else anyone recommends??

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "post-college," but if Infinite Jest fits that definition, then I guess you mean "literary fiction written after 1996" ?Try these on -

The Intuitionist - Colson Whitehead (very accessible. Whitehead has been called a "post-black" writer, meaning he's part of the current wave of young black intellectuals and artists who grew up in the suburbs, went to elite colleges, weren't subject to massive discrimination but are haunted by their parents' struggles with it, etc.)

Underworld - Don Delillo (this is a monster at 700+ pages, but is amazing, and reads more fluidly than Infinite Jest).

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell. Massive novel made up a series of loosely interrelated storylines spanning from the late 19th century to the distant future. Incredible work of fiction. Mitchell captures each age he writes in perfectly.

2666 - Roberto Bolano. The English translation just came out this year. Do a search on this thread for commentary. Several people here read it.

 

[oso diablo]

The Intuitionist - Colson Whitehead (very accessible. Whitehead has been called a "post-black" writer, meaning he's part of the current wave of young black intellectuals and artists who grew up in the suburbs, went to elite colleges, weren't subject to massive discrimination but are haunted by their parents' struggles with it, etc.)

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell. Massive novel made up a series of loosely interrelated storylines spanning from the late 19th century to the distant future. Incredible work of fiction. Mitchell captures each age he writes in perfectly.

two great suggestions. I think Whitehead's John Henry Days is even (much) better than The Intuitionist.

 

[igbomb]

Any post-college must-reads? I need to sharpen the few brain cells I still have.

"Infinite Jest" by David Foster Wallace is essential post-college reading. I'd also recommend "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance."

Anything else anyone recommends??

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell. Massive novel made up a series of loosely interrelated storylines spanning from the late 19th century to the distant future. Incredible work of fiction. Mitchell captures each age he writes in perfectly.

David Mitchell is phenomenal. I'll read everything he writes (short of a book of poetry). His next novel is tentatively titled Nagasaki and is due next year.

 

[pantagrapher]

Any post-college must-reads? I need to sharpen the few brain cells I still have.

"Infinite Jest" by David Foster Wallace is essential post-college reading. I'd also recommend "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance."

Anything else anyone recommends??

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "post-college," but if Infinite Jest fits that definition, then I guess you mean "literary fiction written after 1996" ?

Infinite Jest was published in '96. Also, it's Infinite Summer.

 

[igbomb]

Perhaps only fantasy geeks will recognize the name, but apparently David Eddings has passed away. He was one of the biggest names in fantasy over the last 20+ years.

David Eddings, Dead at 77

 

[kupcho1]

Based on my thread about the top 100 books, I've been hitting many of the top selections. I've just finished,

Confederacy of Dunces - hated it. I really did. I really don't have one good thing to say about it. I don't question others that may have loved it, but I could never recommend that book to anyone.

Breakfast of Champions - not very good either. Slaughterhouse Five was lightyears better. This one felt too much like he tried to hard to be all over the place instead of actually telling some kind of story. And in the end, anti-American diatribes for page after page usually do nothing for me.

Working on Catch-22 now. I'm lukewarm. Yossarian as a character is great, but I find much of the rest to be too silly.

I have Life of Pi to hit next.

Based on what I know of your opinions and attitudes (which is, admittedly, not much)...this does not surprise me one bit. I have tons of friends who I would never recommend this to...but I loved it and have other friends who I know would think it's great. Not liking Catch-22 is sacrilege.

I wanted to like CoD. Ignatius could have been a great character had there been some level of pause there on occaison. But it got to the point where it was so over the top it wasn't enjoyable but rather grating and tired. To me. As for Catch-22 I finished it last night. My problem with it was the complete lunacy of every single person in the military. Some of it was funny. But it got to be unbelievable as well. And the ending didn't do it for me. I wouldn't grade it bad, I just don't think it's one of the best I've ever read.

Started Life of Pi. Good so far.

I'm so angry and disappointed you did not like Confederacy of Dunces I'm tempted to ruin the ending of Life of Pi for you. Definitely not kidding.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

I'm so angry and disappointed you did not like Confederacy of Dunces I'm tempted to ruin the ending of Life of Pi for you. Definitely not kidding.

Sorry. I'm beginning to wonder if fiction just isn't my thing. Since I did my FFA 100 books list, I've read from that list:#5 Slaughterhouse Five. I'm still not sure how I feel about this book. I enjoyed the story, but I don't feel like it was great. I can't put my finger on it. Maybe as I read more Vonnegut it will grow on me. Maybe I need to read it again, but I wouldn't rank it #5 for my tastes.

#6 Enders Game - this was fantasic. I can't praise this book enough. I couldn't put it down. Blown away with how good it was.

#7 Faranheit 451. A good book. It wasn't special to me, and I felt like it was missing a little more meat to the reasons and events.

#9 Conferacy of Dunces. Like I said, I really hated this book. I forced myself to read it because it was so highly recommended. I figured that it would get better at some point, but it never did. I can see the potential in Ignatius' character, but I don't feel that it was realized at all.

#16 Brothers Karamazov. I never liked his work so it's no suprise that I didn't love this. I can see how many people would, but it's just not me. I wouldn't bash it, though. I just didn't love it.

#19 Catch-22. It didn't move me. It wasn't great. Yossarian was a very interesting and entertaining character. The rest didn't do anything for me and the overkill of sillyness became a bore after awhile.

#25 Breakfast of Champions. I really didn't like this one that much. It makes Slaughterhouse Five look like the greatest book in history. I just didn't feel like I was reading a story at all. It was too much Vonnegut, and I know that will make no sense to some.

So, since April 28 when I started that thread I've read these 7 books because of the recommendations, and am on Life of Pi now. Of the 7, the best to me was Enders Game, and second place isn't close. CoD was definately the bottom of the group. The themes and stories are all different, so it isn't one particular genre that I don't like - on the contrary I enjoy dystopian stuff, comedy, and all the rest. I can do without 400 pages of anti-American our culture is crap self loathing that Vonnegut pulled in Breakfast but other then that......

 

[Kendall]

I started Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo about a week and a half ago. I've gotten a little busy and haven't been able to read much more of it recently. I'm probably going to restart and finish it this weekend. I've really enjoyed what I had read so far, but I have no background in economics.

Took me a little longer to finish than I would have liked, but my schedule has been pretty hectic lately.I liked the book for the ideas it introduced as a lot of it I just hadn't ever thought about. That being said, it felt lacking. The book did a good idea for introducting problems and some of their causes, but was a little short after that. Or maybe I'm just a big dummy and know absolutely nothing about economics.

 

[shuke]

Any post-college must-reads? I need to sharpen the few brain cells I still have.

"Infinite Jest" by David Foster Wallace is essential post-college reading. I'd also recommend "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance."

Anything else anyone recommends??

Hint: you're in a 61 page thread with book recommendations.

 

[Chiwawa]

#6 Enders Game - this was fantasic. I can't praise this book enough. I couldn't put it down. Blown away with how good it was.

Excellent book. You must read Ender's Shadow.