Maybe there’s already a thread here somewhere, but I couldn’t find one in about the last three or four pages. What about books?
Anybody reading anything good? Personally, I’ve been transfixed by John Barth’s novels for the past five or six months. I’m about to start Giles Goat Boy, but am reading a couple of works on mythology first to hopefully get more out of it and his subsequent novels, which tend to refer heavily back to the classical myths, with which I am not familiar.
Also, I’m about to finish Thomas Pynchon’s novel V. I’d like to begin his second after that, but I have a feeling that V. might leave me spent for a little while.
I’m also reading a bit of philosophy. I’m not very knowledgeable, but am enjoying it.
Anyway, I’d love to hear what other members are reading.
Im a Star Wars nut so thats what I read. I have been reading the new 9 part series Legacy of the Force. Jason Solo (Han and Leia’s oldest son) has stepped into his Grandfathers shoes and is tearing the galaxy apart. The 9th and last book is due out May 19 cant wait to read it.
I’m reading “Mana from Heaven”–a collection of short stories by Roger Zelazny. I started on the stories in the second half because they are a continuation of his Amber novels. So far, though, I’m not too impressed. His works from the later years seem kind of hurried and thrown together.
I just finished The Afghan Campaign by Steven Pressfield, about Alexander the Great’s campaign through Afghanistan on his way to India. Pressfield is my favorite author, by a mile. His new book Killing Rommel comes out today! Woo hoo!
[quote]Himora22 wrote:
Im a Star Wars nut so thats what I read. I have been reading the new 9 part series Legacy of the Force. Jason Solo (Han and Leia’s oldest son) has stepped into his Grandfathers shoes and is tearing the galaxy apart. The 9th and last book is due out May 19 cant wait to read it.[/quote]
Have you read any of the Star Wars books by John Whitman? If so, which do you prefer? I’m taking a krav maga seminar with Whitman in June & thought it would be fun to read a couple of his novels beforehand. He’s an amazing martial artist, by the way.
I know it’s cheesy to say it but I have really been trying to reevaluate my life after reading this book. Watching the lecture was moving enough but the book at times is just hard. I regret not knowing my grandfather better, he died from pancreatic cancer 2 years ago.
I recently finished reading “My Name is Red” by Orhan Pamuk. It’s beautiful! And currently am reading “The Black Book” by Pamuk, and some plays of Samuel Beckett (Endgame, Waiting for Godot).
[quote]Backlash79 wrote:
Iron Dwarf wrote:
Just finished “Beautiful Boy”, about a father’s struggle with his meth addict son. Non-fiction.
Now I’m halfway through his son’s book “Tweak”, which reveals a time period in the life of the addict himself.
I have both of those on hold at the library. What did you think of the first one?
[/quote]
Backlash
Being a Dad (as you are as well), that book really hits home. You can see the errors the father made in raising his son, and the guilt he experienced as a result of his son’s downward spiral. I don’t want to give anything away, but you can expect moments of deep sorrow as you read. I was moved to tears often.
“The Shock Doctrine” by Naomi Klein. Discusses the history of disaster capitalism, which is how a country (USA) infiltrates another country (Iraq) when they are at their lowest in order to impose their capitalist system and make money for its corporations. Touches on the conflict/corruption that is our current administration.
[quote]reshumate wrote:
“The Shock Doctrine” by Naomi Klein. Discusses the history of disaster capitalism, which is how a country (USA) infiltrates another country (Iraq) when they are at their lowest in order to impose their capitalist system and make money for its corporations. Touches on the conflict/corruption that is our current administration.
Neo-conservatives need not apply.[/quote]
Can you say Hallibuton, Carlyle, Bechtel, Aegis…etc?
[quote]reshumate wrote:
“The Shock Doctrine” by Naomi Klein. Discusses the history of disaster capitalism, which is how a country (USA) infiltrates another country (Iraq) when they are at their lowest in order to impose their capitalist system and make money for its corporations. Touches on the conflict/corruption that is our current administration.
Neo-conservatives need not apply.[/quote]
My head would probably exploded if I read that tripe.
Starship Troopers, by Robert Heinlein, which is now one of my favorite books. I am also most of the way through Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy, but I’m not really liking the plot very much. Also, I’m rereading the Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis, cause they are good books and they kind of remind me of my childhood.
The Plague, by Albert Camus.
I don’t often enjoy classics, but I’ve had this one long enough I figure I should have gotten to it by now anyways. I’m liking the perspective of the narrator, even though I’m finding the plot startlingly devoid of action.