Does anyone read books?

[zoltanspawn]

I agree Wicked is grim. I never felt Maguire exploited hopelessness to a maudlin end, though, and Elphaba is heroic in spite of her trials. That she is something else really pleases me.

 

[NomineDetracto]

A few years ago I read Cat's Cradle and decided to read some more books by Kurt Vonnegut. I'm currently reading Player Piano. It's making me paranoid that my job/career will eventually be replaced by a machine or robot. I read Vonnegut's The Sirens of Titan earlier this year also, really random story line but very enjoyable. Anyone else a fan?


I also read Genome by Matt Ridley this year, one of the best non-fiction books I've read in a long time. I really recommend it.

i love everything about Vonnegut! he's a genius. my favorites are Cat's Cradle, Breakfast Of Champions and Player Piano. Ed Finnerty is one of my favorite characters. he wrote an amazing short story called Long Walk To Forever that is one of the most romantic/sweet stories i've ever read and very un-Vonnegut, which goes to show what a great writer & story-teller he is. it's in the collection Welcome To The Monkeyhouse. Slaughterhouse 5 is pretty great too. and Slapstick. i need to read them all again.

 

[arpeggi]

I'm starting Dostevesky's The Idiot over again. I was enjoying it a year ago, but stopped half-way through for some reason I can't recall.

 

[strangepoetry]

They're not memorable. I read that Smoke and Mirrors anthology as well and I'll be damned if I can't remember one of them. Did enjoy Stardust though.

But what I'm really anticipating is the third book of the Abarat, by Clive Barker.

Clive Barker is one of my all-time favorites. Top 10 definitely.

If you like him, please read LOST SOULS and/or DRAWING BLOOD by Poppy Z. Brite.

If you like dark fantasy, they'll become your favorite books. And they're completely GAY!

 

[Irish Queer]

Finished reading The Bone Collector (Finally lol). I'm now reading Dexter in the Dark.

 

[stevie402]

Currently reading Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert. Not quite as action packed as Dune but a fascinating read non the less. Will be reading Children of Dune next.

 

[stevie402]

Currently reading Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert. Not as action oriented as Dune but very fascinating non the less. I will be reading Children of Dune next. I have never read the Dune series before but always loved the Lynch movie and the Sci-Fi mini-series.

 

[stadiumlove]

I highly recommend Augusten Burroughs! He wrote 'Running With Scissors', as well as many collections of short stories. My favourites are "possible side effects" and "magical thinking"

 

[zoltanspawn]

I read Logicomix last night. I think I appreciated the subject matter, Bertrand Russell's intellectual searching, more than the way the story was told. But because the graphic novel is so readable, no regrets.

 

[Ninja108]

I buy Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Books every year.
So much amazing trivia and facts in them, strongly recommend people buy one, it's worth the $$$

 

[Rubber Rat]

I read Junkie this past fall. I liked it. I've been meaning to pick up a copy of Patti Smith's book.

I'm currently reading Neon Angel by Cherie Currie. I've been a fan of The Runaways since age 13.[


I'm finishing the Patti Smith, and I highly recommend it....Any choices you'd think I'd appreciate? Always interested in other's favorite books....

A Low Life In High Heels by Holly Woodlawn is cool. Woodlawn was part of the late 1960s/early 1970s Warhol scene.

 

[NomineDetracto]

I read Logicomix last night. I think I appreciated the subject matter, Bertrand Russell's intellectual searching, more than the way the story was told. But because the graphic novel is so readable, no regrets.

i read this last summer and really enjoyed it! glad to see more people reading it... i feel like it's an odd combination of interests that only a few would enjoy. i had read some of Russell's philosophical stuff before, so i didn't know much about his studies on math, but still found it very interesting. i also enjoyed that it was very simple, so a non-math head like me could still follow.

 

[mattgigs]

Reading a short stories collection by F Scott Fitzgerald right now

next should be the Brothers Karamasav, which I figure is going to take a long time.

 

[zoltanspawn]

i read this last summer and really enjoyed it! glad to see more people reading it... i feel like it's an odd combination of interests that only a few would enjoy. i had read some of Russell's philosophical stuff before, so i didn't know much about his studies on math, but still found it very interesting. i also enjoyed that it was very simple, so a non-math head like me could still follow.

Yeah, it's really a story about Russell and his brittle ambition. It'd be a shame if the aura of mathematics turned anyone off. The meta-story struck me as indulgent, but that's not much of a gripe. Another approachable, and good book on the era and its characters I mentioned somewhere upthread: Wittgenstein's Poker.

 

[miaedu]

I'm going to tackle re-reading Genet: A Biography by Edmund White. Soon.

 

[heroesnhunks]

I expected Gregory Maguire's Wicked to be a lark, and probably sappy. It's not. It has a calm, melancholy substance and Maguire's gifted with description.

I read it before i saw the musical and was severely disappointed in the musical. I thought the book did a brilliant job of taking a classic villainess and turning her into the misunderstood hero. The musical was just so much pablum.

I buy Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Books every year.
So much amazing trivia and facts in them, strongly recommend people buy one, it's worth the $$$

LOVE Uncle John's Bathroom readers - I keep the hardcover collection on a shelf in there.

Aside from reading 10-15 comics a week, I usually have a book or 2 going. just finished Under the Dome and the most recent Sookie Stackhouse guilty pleasure. Before that was a series by David Hewson about Italian detective Nic Costa. Now reading Steven King story collection Full Dark No Stars... and SNOBS by
Julian Fellows. Going to finally get around to The Lost Symbol next.

Running with Scissors was better book than a movie (but i DID like the movie - some great moments captured well.) - I need to read more Augusten Burroughs (and David Sedaris too) - any specific MUST READ recommendations?

I also like historical fiction a lot... the very best that I've come across are Devil and the White City and The Amazing Adventures of Kavelier and Clay (latter of which as a great gay subplot AND won a Pulitzer). Anyone have anything to recommend in that genre?

 

[Ninja108]

I read the Uncle John Bathroom Reader's series. Lots of fun facts and trivia to read about on so many subjects.

 

[Bent-On]

Currently reading:

Bauchelain and Korbal Broach: Three Short Novels of the Malazan Empire, Volume One (Malazan Empire Novels) from Steven Erikson.

After which I'm going to read 'A Single Man' from Christopher Isherwood. Seen the movie, didn't realize that there was a novel.

 

[pat grimshaw]

Sometimes I feel as though I'm the only person with virtually no interest in sci-fi or fantasy as genres .....

I, also, have no interest in those genres.

They're for people who can't cope with the reality of their own existence.

They're easier for the author to manipulate the reader.

 

[Bent-On]

That's a rather blinkered view on two entire genres. It's all contingent on the authors and their respective works.