Jump to content
IGNORED

What are you reading at the moment?

ChrisN

By ChrisN
in Arts & Literature

 Share

Recommended Posts

Chosty

Chosty

Posted
Posted

Great write-up on The Full Circle, Neg.

So I am about 3/4 of the way through Lolita.

I loved the language at first but after the half way point I am finding it quite dull. The whole time on the road trip has been a little dull frankly and I am hoping there is some excitement towards the end. I still think the writing style is interesting enough.

Finding it a little uncomfortable to read in places as well. I think it's probably just the modern day attitude to what is essentially a story about a predatory pedophile. I'm probably not reading enough into it.

Yeah, it's supposed to make you a feel a bit uncomfortable in that Humbert seems quite reasonable and sympathetic, but remember that he's a classic example of an unreliable narrator.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Jambo

Jambo

Posted
Posted

I'm currently reading a trashy forensics/detective book at work on my lunch break: Kathy Reichs - Cross Bones.

I've read a couple of her books before and I think I prefer her style to that of Patricia Cornwall.

I'm trying to get myself back into the habit of reading novels because somewhere along the line I sort of fell out of love with it, which is a huge shame. Picked up 'Never Let Me Go from my local indie cinema for £2 so I've got that to look forward to next.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Yiggy

Yiggy

Posted
Posted

So I am about 3/4 of the way through Lolita.

I loved the language at first but after the half way point I am finding it quite dull. The whole time on the road trip has been a little dull frankly and I am hoping there is some excitement towards the end. I still think the writing style is interesting enough.

Finding it a little uncomfortable to read in places as well. I think it's probably just the modern day attitude to what is essentially a story about a predatory pedophile. I'm probably not reading enough into it.

The final 3rd pircked right up. Loved the ending. I felt the language and style was driving it for the middle third of the book then the story got good at the end. I can see why it is considered a masterpiece for sure especially when you read about some of the history behind its original release and its controversy.

A reccomended read if you fancy a modern classic.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Yasawas

Yasawas

Posted
Posted

The Long Walk, by Stephen King/Richard Bachman. Easy to read and pleasingly short having come off a Dark Tower binge where I read the last three back to back. Only about 20% in and there's been a lot of walking so far, interested how he manages to fill out a book this length.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Yiggy

Yiggy

Posted
Posted

The Long Walk, by Stephen King/Richard Bachman. Easy to read and pleasingly short having come off a Dark Tower binge where I read the last three back to back. Only about 20% in and there's been a lot of walking so far, interested how he manages to fill out a book this length.

Shit man I read that about 20 years ago and thought it was awesome. It was in the collection of the 4 Bachman books, one being the running man. I cant remember what the other 2 were. The running man is definitely worth a read if you haven't read it. Its quite different from the film.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Danster

Danster

Posted
Posted

Shit man I read that about 20 years ago and thought it was awesome. It was in the collection of the 4 Bachman books, one being the running man. I cant remember what the other 2 were. The running man is definitely worth a read if you haven't read it. Its quite different from the film.

Roadwork and Rage

Very teenage writing (he was very young when he wrote them) but all worth a re-read. I found the four book collection at a car boot not so long ago and blasted through them all. The Long Walk is still ace but the Running Man is the best of all! Time for a film re-make of that one methinks, sans Arnie and the stupid underground TV Studio...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Flub

Flub

Posted
Posted

I've just finished reading the first two books in the Solar Clipper series by Nathan Lowell. Sadly the rest of the series is currently only available as audiobooks meaning according to Nathan's schedule I'm not going to get to read the final book until 2012 :( They're bloody ace too. I'd glady have bought the entire series at once by the time I was part way through the first one.

The first two are called Quarter Share and Half Share

The Golden Age of Sail has Returned -- in the Year 2352

When his mother dies in a flitter crash, eighteen-year-old Ishmael Horatio Wang must find a job with the planet company or leave the system--and NerisCo isn't hiring. With credits running low, and prospects limited, he has just one hope...to enlist for two years with a deep space commercial freighter. Ishmael, who only rarely visited the Neris Orbital, and has never been off-planet alone before, finds himself part of an eclectic crew sailing a deep space leviathan between the stars.

Join the crew of the SC Lois McKendrick, a Manchester built clipper as she sets solar sails in search of profit for her company and a crew each entitled to a share equal to their rating.

They've got a very golden age feel. Very early Heinlein but the best word I can use to describe them is "nice"

I've just started Starfish by Peter Watts. Free on Feedbooks. First part of a trilogy. All free

A huge international corporation has developed a facility along the Juan de Fuca Ridge at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean to exploit geothermal power. They send a bio-engineered crew--people who have been altered to withstand the pressure and breathe the seawater--down to live and work in this weird, fertile undersea darkness.

Unfortunately the only people suitable for long-term employment in these experimental power stations are crazy, some of them in unpleasant ways. How many of them can survive, or will be allowed to survive, while worldwide disaster approaches from below?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Art Vandelay

Art Vandelay

Posted
Posted

I'm reading One Hundred Years of Solitude now as it's one of the books being used for a design brief for Penguin so thought I'd get acquainted. I'm only about three chapters in but holy shit, I've never read anything like this before. Vast periods of time are summarised in a stroke so lyrically and succinctly with a style more similar to a poet than a novelist it's incredible. Plus it looks like there's a paedo about to be introduced which should spice things up a bit.

I'd been told it's difficult to keep track of all the names as everyone seems to have a variation of the same name, but haven't needed to consult the family tree at the back yet. There's still another 90 years left I'm guessing so plenty of time to get lost yet. Definitely one you can't put down.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Chosty

Chosty

Posted
Posted

I'm reading One Hundred Years of Solitude now as it's one of the books being used for a design brief for Penguin so thought I'd get acquainted. I'm only about three chapters in but holy shit, I've never read anything like this before. Vast periods of time are summarised in a stroke so lyrically and succinctly with a style more similar to a poet than a novelist it's incredible. Plus it looks like there's a paedo about to be introduced which should spice things up a bit.

I'd been told it's difficult to keep track of all the names as everyone seems to have a variation of the same name, but haven't needed to consult the family tree at the back yet. There's still another 90 years left I'm guessing so plenty of time to get lost yet. Definitely one you can't put down.

I must go back to that but will have to start from the beginning. I got about halfway through then got sidetracked and by the time I came back I'd forgotten who and what about everything. IIRC, it does get more confusing regarding characters, as sons are named after their fathers. I remember flicking back to the family tree quite often.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
moosegrinder

moosegrinder

Posted
Posted

Reading Retribution Falls and so far it's right up my street EXCEPT for the odd need to jump forwards in time to a completely different location with each chapter. The missus made a good point that it cuts out all the shitty travelling that a lot of fantasy deals out but it's a bit jarring.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Miner Willy

Miner Willy

Posted
Posted

Finished Bounce by Matt Syed - really, really interesting insight into sports training, and the merits of practice as opposed to pure talent when it comes to achievement. Highly recommended.

Then moved onto Killing Floor by Lee Child, which I thought was awful. Recommended to me by my gf's Dad, who once bought me The Count of Monte Cristo, so I thought he couldn't possibly be wrong. He was. Predictable and dull story; one dimensional characters; and I found the writing pretty painful at times. Glad I'm through that.

Just started World War Z. I love zombies films, but have never read a zombie book. Not far in, but it's started well. Not sure about the structure though (a series of short accounts of individuals in different locations): I'm a bit concerned I won't find any characters to become really attached to.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Danster

Danster

Posted
Posted

Am reading Vellum....

Like what the f*ck is going on guy? :mellow::unsure:

Having said that:

I do kinda get it, so the world (nay the universe) is like a single tiny bit of print on an all encompasing book of Vellum (hence the title) or a scroll, or Map... And one guy manages to find a key book that guides him through the Vellum and is attempting to reach an exit of some sort. While that is happening a brother/sister combo are trying to escape the war that's beginning amongst the Unkin (humans that have been touched by the words of the Vellum?) who in most cases take on the form of Angels or Demons and are fighting the "end-times" of the current set of Gods (old Unkin) ... and so this bro and sis are fleeing through multiple times and places (because time is immaterial) and hiding our in pockets of time and whatnot...

Is that right?

I'm about halfway through :wacko:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Scribblor

Scribblor

Posted
Posted

I think you're right, yes. More or less. I read and really enjoyed Vellum years ago, then bought the follow-up, (Ink?), all excited. I got through about 50 pages and put it down, never to go back to it. Not sure why really.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Flub

Flub

Posted
Posted

Just started World War Z. I love zombies films, but have never read a zombie book. Not far in, but it's started well. Not sure about the structure though (a series of short accounts of individuals in different locations): I'm a bit concerned I won't find any characters to become really attached to.

I loved World War Z. It's essentially a set of short stories all set in the same storyworld.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Kingpin

Kingpin

Posted
Posted

I finished A Confederacy of Dunces last week. It was enjoyable enough, a few laughs here and there, a great character in Ignatius but it just rambled on really, much of the humour is repeated over and over ("My valve" etc). Found it slow going in the middle and was ultimately disappointed after all its hype.

Currently at the half-way point of Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. It's ok so far but surprisingly after 400 or so pages, not a great deal has happened... Everything I've read so far is in the synopsis - guy escapes prison in Australia, travels to India, finds a love, gets down with the slum dwellers, falls in with a bad crowd etc. I hope it kicks off soon. I've lived in Bombay (as it was then) and to be fair, it is a good depiction, but that's probably the only thing that's keeping me going.

What's also annoying is that for a 'true' story, the main character seems to only ever have deep, meaningful conversations with everyone and is really a top, top bloke despite being a convicted junkie armed robber. I just can't get it out of my head that most of what I'm reading is a huge steaming pile of self-gratifying bullshit. We'll see how it goes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
toythatkills

toythatkills

Posted
Posted

Just read The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moshin Hamid over the last few hours. It's a story about a Pakistani guy who goes to university in America, falls in love, and what happens next. It's nicely told, the whole thing is as if the narrator is recounting his life to an American tourist in a small café in Pakistan, and aside from a number of clumsy occasions in which Hamid tries to express the American's voice, it's really nicely done. I'm not sure it's totally convincing in making me believe that the person narrating is the same person that he's narrating about, but it's still very readable.

Unfortunately, the ending reads as if it's what the author felt he should write, rather than what he might have wanted to write. It's terribly frustrating.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Bushtopher

Bushtopher

Posted
Posted

Started Cloud Atlas this morning on the train.

I loved Cloud Atlas when I read it - but pretty much everyone I recommended it to disliked it, and in some cases couldn't even finsh it :(

Just finished 'Never Let Me Go', which was disappointing. Now started 'Dirk Gently' - as a fan of HHGTTG, am hoping for good stuff :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
El Pibe

El Pibe

Posted
Posted

I have just finished One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Wow.

I absolutely adored it from start to finish. I wasn't ready to leave Macondo and I wish there was more.

I think it's the best book I've ever read and I'm tempted to start it again tonight!

It's also made me want to go back to Colombia even more than I already did.

I wish Garcia Marquez was younger so that we could await more books from him.

1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
DeadRussian

DeadRussian

Posted
Posted

I have just finished One Hundred Years of Solitude.

A book I keep meaning to read. Your glowing review means it's going to be my next pick. Good work!

I'm currently near the end of 'In Cold Blood' by Capote. Although he does talk about the country, I'd have enjoyed a few more Steinbeck-esque ramblings about the mid-west's landscape, and of the deserted Mexican roads. His portrayal of the two murderers, Hickock and Smith are brilliant though. Even though we know what's going to happen...

The butler did it

...and despite his tendency to overuse his artistic license (though I believe that's still debatable), it's still thoroughly gripping. Good work, Truman.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Danster

Danster

Posted
Posted

Okay so, I finished Vellum. I kind of get it... I think. will definitely be getting the next one from the library later, that and Joe Hill's latest (I read Heart Shaped Box... last year I think... and enjoyed it) which I have on order. :)

Currently reading some shorts by Ray Bradbury.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. Use of this website is subject to our Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and Guidelines.

  I accept