|
Post by peggs on Feb 1, 2015 2:09:41 GMT
The new forum needs a new name for the library. Hence, The Bookcase.
I just started Christopher Moore's new novel, The Serpent of Venice. In classic Moore fashion it promises to be silly, outlandish, outrageous, vulgar and inappropriate.
Full of the Bard's favorite characters along with a few of Moore's own creations; Jeff, the pet monkey and a lovesick sea serpent to name two.
Three chapters in and I've already nearly spit out my tea on more than one occassion.
What are you reading? Do share....
|
|
|
Post by Finntrovertigo on Feb 1, 2015 2:21:18 GMT
I am reading Play On! Power Pop Heroes, the first in a planned three-part series about the history of power pop, written by musician Ken Sharp. It is an interesting book--basically a compilation of interviews with various musicians, producers, engineers, etc. I just finished the new James Ellroy novel, Perfidia. I liked the book, but it feels like Ellroy is trying too hard to connect some of his previous works. Apparently everybody in 1940s-1950s Los Angeles knew each other, when I barely know anybody in my hometown of five thousand people. Maybe I just need to get out more.
|
|
|
Post by lostjockey on Feb 2, 2015 16:02:24 GMT
I'm being very lazy at the moment and re-reading John Irving. So far Garp, Until I Find You, Cider House and, currently, A Widow for One Year. He's far from flawless but I love him. After this I've got a PG Wodehouse and Mark Kermode's book on The Exorcist to go for.
|
|
|
Post by cicadashell on Feb 4, 2015 21:02:01 GMT
i love john irving, in part because you don't actually need to reread anything, you can just pick up the latest. in that spirit i can recommend both "last night in twisted river" and "in one person".
currently i am reading "the gulag archipelago" although it is a bit daunting, and i am also catching up on some technical literature (i have some conference papers i need to write as well). i read an abridged version of this some years ago and just blew though it, so easily that i figured i should read the entire work sometime. recently cicadashell jr. the elder gave me a copy of "the master and margarita" and reading that may have put me in a russian frame of mind as it were.
for fiction last year i have to confess that i thoroughly enjoyed "the goldfinch" by donna tartt. i know it was a best seller and possibly looked down on by some, but i was really taken by her writing. the dialogue was amazing; her characters had unique voices, in many cases whenever they spoke it was never just words on a page, i could always hear them talking somewhere. that is difficult to do well, and she did it extremely well.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Tein on Feb 6, 2015 10:16:06 GMT
Just read HOW MUSIC WORKS by DAVID BYRNE.
if you thought you udnerstand why music is like it it then this book will enlighten you. Sometimes its a bit like chewing on rubber to read but looks at all aspects of music. Starts off with How venues shape composition and musical style.
Wortha read...
|
|
|
Post by Dr Hugbine on Feb 12, 2015 18:33:04 GMT
I always have the incredible and much missed Ian MacDonald's "Revolution In The Head: The Beatles' Records And The Sixties" by my bedside (the one book I've given away more than any other; I keep having to buy new copies for myself. I don't feel bad about this because I read carefully and never break the spine), but I'm currently simultaneously finishing George Orwell's "Decline Of The English Murder" (incredibly prescient and relevant essays), and as I forgot to take my iPad on a train trip yesterday I started "A Colder War" by Charles Cumming - fine and spy-ey so far...
|
|
|
Post by Finntrovertigo on Feb 12, 2015 22:46:52 GMT
Here is a book you might be interested in. I mentioned a series on the history of power pop in a previous post. Volume Two is now available for order, and XTC is one of the bands featured. The first book was made up of interviews by author Ken Sharp, so I assume the same format will used in this book. If you are interested, here is a link with information for ordering the book from Bruce Brodeen (he ran the now defunct Not Lame Records and now runs a site called Pop Geek Heaven which is selling the book). www.goodmusicguy.com/play-on-power-pop-heroes-volume-2/
|
|
|
Post by peggs on Feb 14, 2015 1:29:35 GMT
I'm in the early pages of David Ingnatius' new novel, The Director. Ingnatious is a columnist for the Washington Post who writes about the Middle East and the CIA. All of his novels are present day thrillers and the back story and history he brings to the story lines is impressive. The Director deals with cyber-terrorism and the CIA's ability (or not) to react to an ever and fast changing high tech world.
|
|
|
Post by peggs on Mar 22, 2015 1:51:10 GMT
As expected, The Director was a first rate thriller by a master storyteller. If you're a fan of political thriller genre give it a read, you won't be disappointed. Being a fan also of Neil Gaiman, I was delighted to see The Truth Is A Cave In The Black Mountains at the library. It's a fairytale for grownups, beautifully illustrated by Eddie Campbell. The paintings match the dark mood of the story perfectly. Neil Gaiman's novels and short stories, no matter what age group he's writing for, are genius. It's now on to (or back to) and old favorite. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. It's been a few years since I last read it and am quickly getting caught up again in the amazing world of astrophysics, cosmology and quantum mechanics. Much of what I like about Bryson's writing style is his excellent sense of overview. While not delving deep into any one topic or area, he explains individual concepts or events very well while also providing references to expert sources should you wish to read further. He's also funny as all get out at times.
|
|
|
Post by lostjockey on Mar 24, 2015 17:33:31 GMT
I read an article in The Guardian about alternative history novels which recommended The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick. I've only ever read his short fiction previously and I'm about half way through the novel and it's a hard slog. The situation is well described and plausible but the characters seem lifeless to me and the plot, such as it is, confuses my tiny brain. I hate not finishing books so I'll labour on but if anyone read it and enjoyed it could you enlighten me?
|
|
|
Post by miles on Mar 27, 2015 0:25:02 GMT
I read an article in The Guardian about alternative history novels which recommended The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick. I've only ever read his short fiction previously and I'm about half way through the novel and it's a hard slog. The situation is well described and plausible but the characters seem lifeless to me and the plot, such as it is, confuses my tiny brain. I hate not finishing books so I'll labour on but if anyone read it and enjoyed it could you enlighten me? Dick is one of my favorite authors, but he has difficulty with characterization and his plots are often confused. This may be because he wrote most of his novels very quickly for poor payment, while wired on speed. It is usually his vision and concepts that are so original, and make his books cult classics. The Man in the High Castle is highly regarded and I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't say it is a favorite. Because the alternative history plot is less about space travel, androids and aliens, than most classic SF, it crossed over more smoothly to mainstream fiction than most of his other novels (he also wrote several non-science fiction novels that were less popular or unpublished until after his death.) It remains highly influential as an early example of alt history. As for novels I would recommend if you decide to give him another chance: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (basis of the film Bladerunner) Martian Time Slip Ubik (very bizarre book about life after death) Dr Bloodmoney (post-apocalyptic naturalism in Northern California) I'm not saying that you will find the characters in these well written, he is particularly weak on women characters. But he has a unique pov that keeps him relevant, after many of his peers seem anachronistic. Once you get hooked ...
|
|
|
Post by anothersatellite on Apr 2, 2015 15:05:04 GMT
RAYMOND CHANDLER IN HIS OWN WORDS. Fascinating stuff.
|
|
|
Post by Finntrovertigo on Apr 11, 2015 20:42:54 GMT
Play On! Power Pop Heroes Vol. 2 by Ken Sharp. Skipped ahead and started with the chapter about XTC. Illuminating interview with Andy, who had some nice things to say about Colin's songwriting.
|
|
|
Post by keltik on Apr 17, 2015 9:18:54 GMT
My brother, who is retired, reads enormous amounts, and when we catch up with each other after a few months I get the books he's finished. This makes me a little guilty, as it's a bit of a one-way traffic, so I bought a few books that interested me to lend to him. One was The Italian Boy, by Sarah Wise. It starts in an almost novelistic fashion, and it's not until you dip into the references that you realise that the scenes she is describing are actually bona fide accounts from newspapers of the time. It is a true story of the London bodysnatching trade of the mid-to-late 1800's, a trade fostered by the power of the surgeons of the day, and quite horrifically fascinating in its detail. I thoroughly recommend it.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Tein on Apr 17, 2015 11:31:19 GMT
I have just read The Dark Charisma of Adolf HitlerPaperback – by Laurence Rees.
We tend to look back on Hitler as a monster without ever reviweing how he went from being a non entity to gain. through democratic means absolute pwoer in germany and taking in many non germans.
Although intensly researched and annoted this is not a "dull" laborious read and puts a lot of insight into how Hitler suceeded. Chiilingly, many of the techniques and strategies seem to be being utilised by our Mr farage!
A great read and enlightening...
|
|