Reading List Thread
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La Rocque
I am that I am
La Rocque aka the HP virgin has started reading the HP saga 
just finished an other Jimi Hendrix biography 'Room Full of Mirrors' by Charles R Cross -
to quote Hendrix
'I used to live in a room full of mirrors,
All I could see was me."
just finished an other Jimi Hendrix biography 'Room Full of Mirrors' by Charles R Cross -
to quote Hendrix
'I used to live in a room full of mirrors,
All I could see was me."
Dark_Silence
Member
King Chaos
Pomeo Osoponeor
I went on holiday and took some books with me.
Kurt Vonnegut - Cats Cradel.
Loved it. It had a similar innovative quirkiness to his other stuff. Another amazing religion is made up in it, and the characters are just superb. I really really enjoyed this book. Every sentence is just brilliant.
Aldous Huxley - Brave new world.
Ooer. I enjoyed this one too. Couldn't get properly into it for some reason. the concept was crazy and I liked the way it never really settled whether the new world was advantageous over how we live now, even though the idea is preposterous. It was a sci fi that at the time was advanced, but Aldous had no idea how far technology was going to come I don't think. They use tapes still and it's supposed to be like 2467. can't knock it too much on that, although I just felt like it was a bunch of 1930s characters surrounded by 1980's technology and so I never properly invisioned the entire design.
Chuck Palahniuk - fight club.
YESSS!!! It's one of those books that you finish in a day. I love the film and the book is better. Got really into it, and I was really happy to see it wasn't as like the film as alot of people said. I think the ending is way different, but it totally confirmed my side of this argument that me and my bro are often having about the film's ending. The violence is glorious. My only issue is his actual linguistic style reminds me of how I try to write, and I don't really like what I write very much, so there were times when I thought "I'd have done it like that" and then I cringe ... But it's redeemed by the immensity of the plot and the philosophies and the argument and the instructions on bomb making. Light bulb bombs sound cool.
And finally
Hubert Selby Jr - Last Exit to Brooklyn.
The paper back edition I got has an introduction and some history about the book at the beginning. The introduction was pretty good, Hubert says all the same things he says in the Requiem for a dream interview (off the DVD). All the stuff about how it got banned, and the details of the court case and how the prosecution approached censoring the book was fascinating though. It got me thinking "Is this going to be too much?"... thats violence wise... and yes... it is. It's the bleakest thing I've ever set eyes on. And it evokes too many dark thoughts. Its painful, but I've found things out about myself that make me squirm. I feel most people get that feeling from reading it though. And I must say it's depraved and I wouldn't reccommend it, even though it's one of the best books I've read, if that makes sense... Like, if I told you to go read it, you might hate me.
Hey everyone, I guess I'm back
Kurt Vonnegut - Cats Cradel.
Loved it. It had a similar innovative quirkiness to his other stuff. Another amazing religion is made up in it, and the characters are just superb. I really really enjoyed this book. Every sentence is just brilliant.
Aldous Huxley - Brave new world.
Ooer. I enjoyed this one too. Couldn't get properly into it for some reason. the concept was crazy and I liked the way it never really settled whether the new world was advantageous over how we live now, even though the idea is preposterous. It was a sci fi that at the time was advanced, but Aldous had no idea how far technology was going to come I don't think. They use tapes still and it's supposed to be like 2467. can't knock it too much on that, although I just felt like it was a bunch of 1930s characters surrounded by 1980's technology and so I never properly invisioned the entire design.
Chuck Palahniuk - fight club.
YESSS!!! It's one of those books that you finish in a day
. I love the film and the book is better. Got really into it, and I was really happy to see it wasn't as like the film as alot of people said. I think the ending is way different, but it totally confirmed my side of this argument that me and my bro are often having about the film's ending. The violence is glorious. My only issue is his actual linguistic style reminds me of how I try to write, and I don't really like what I write very much, so there were times when I thought "I'd have done it like that" and then I cringe ... But it's redeemed by the immensity of the plot and the philosophies and the argument and the instructions on bomb making. Light bulb bombs sound cool.And finally
Hubert Selby Jr - Last Exit to Brooklyn.
The paper back edition I got has an introduction and some history about the book at the beginning. The introduction was pretty good, Hubert says all the same things he says in the Requiem for a dream interview (off the DVD). All the stuff about how it got banned, and the details of the court case and how the prosecution approached censoring the book was fascinating though. It got me thinking "Is this going to be too much?"... thats violence wise... and yes... it is. It's the bleakest thing I've ever set eyes on. And it evokes too many dark thoughts. Its painful, but I've found things out about myself that make me squirm. I feel most people get that feeling from reading it though. And I must say it's depraved and I wouldn't reccommend it, even though it's one of the best books I've read, if that makes sense... Like, if I told you to go read it, you might hate me
. Hey everyone, I guess I'm back
during my stay in sweden i went through a (decent) book by some young italian author, and then i attacked pride and prejudice. i was hooked up - it's like reading fanfiction. while i know there is not much merit in the book per se, it's a fun read and i have now to read the last 30 or so pages.
while it's not as good as Wuthering Heights by Brontë (one of my favorite books), I think it definitely does have merit besides the "awww" gushing effect... Austen's sense of irony is unparalleled, really, and i like how she portrays class conflict and the pressure of society on young women etc
sense & sensibility > pride & prejudice
last week I had to read Julio Cortázar's "Rayuela" (Hopscotch). What an incredible waste of time. I'd heard sooooo much about it, so many good critics, and it's so well respected in the literature world, but wow. It's so incredibly pedantic and pretentious.
books in my list to read: Invisible Monsters by Palahniuk, which will have to wait because of the usual school list
sense & sensibility > pride & prejudice
last week I had to read Julio Cortázar's "Rayuela" (Hopscotch). What an incredible waste of time. I'd heard sooooo much about it, so many good critics, and it's so well respected in the literature world, but wow. It's so incredibly pedantic and pretentious.
books in my list to read: Invisible Monsters by Palahniuk, which will have to wait because of the usual school list
La Rocque
I am that I am
Finished the first Harry Potter book a while back. To clear my head of that read 'The Family' by Ed Saunders. A Charles Manson read. Manson is one of the infamous people I read everything written. Charley don't surf.
Now I'm reading two books at the same time(usually do not do this)
'Poe' by James M Hutchisson of course a biography of Edgar Allan Poe (I know I read everything he ever wrote). I read a few chapters, still in his childhood, something interesting Poe never used the name Edgar Allan Poe in his life time. Allan was Poe's foster father and they never formed any kind of bond.
The other book is 'Caravaggio' by John Gash. Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi, 1571-1610) is one of my all favorite artist and a revolutionary one at the time he lived. His paintings of the boy toys of the Pope are like all his work outstanding. He led an unusual life, he killed at least one person and he was probably stomped to death over a gambling debt.
Back in my college days I wrote a paper titled "Caravaggio and His Use of Light"
After these books I'll read a few others then Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets -
Now I'm reading two books at the same time(usually do not do this)
'Poe' by James M Hutchisson of course a biography of Edgar Allan Poe (I know I read everything he ever wrote). I read a few chapters, still in his childhood, something interesting Poe never used the name Edgar Allan Poe in his life time. Allan was Poe's foster father and they never formed any kind of bond.
The other book is 'Caravaggio' by John Gash. Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi, 1571-1610) is one of my all favorite artist and a revolutionary one at the time he lived. His paintings of the boy toys of the Pope are like all his work outstanding. He led an unusual life, he killed at least one person and he was probably stomped to death over a gambling debt.
Back in my college days I wrote a paper titled "Caravaggio and His Use of Light"
After these books I'll read a few others then Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets -
King Chaos
Pomeo Osoponeor
I just read 'Perfume' by Patrick Suskind. It was difficult understanding the german, but I managed... by reading the translated version instead.
I agree and disagree with everyone about how good it is. It's a masterful concept, and it really attacks one sense (the sense of smell). The way it describes things you actually feel the olfactory value. But with it being translated form german I felt some of the magic may have been lost. the phrasing doesn't flow, its like, staggered.
but yes, very european and engulfing. It has moments of beauty aswell of moments of repulsion. I'd recommend it, but say it's not the 5 star masterpiece people say. It's a 4 star good read. Excellent concept, but story waffles. Grenouille isn't the most likeable protagonist ever.
Now I'm reading Hubert Selby Jr - The Room. So far it's immense. but Last exit had a good opening and lost its way towards the end, so I don't know what to think.
I agree and disagree with everyone about how good it is. It's a masterful concept, and it really attacks one sense (the sense of smell). The way it describes things you actually feel the olfactory value. But with it being translated form german I felt some of the magic may have been lost. the phrasing doesn't flow, its like, staggered.
but yes, very european and engulfing. It has moments of beauty aswell of moments of repulsion. I'd recommend it, but say it's not the 5 star masterpiece people say. It's a 4 star good read. Excellent concept, but story waffles. Grenouille isn't the most likeable protagonist ever.
Now I'm reading Hubert Selby Jr - The Room. So far it's immense. but Last exit had a good opening and lost its way towards the end, so I don't know what to think.
marduk1507
Member
I recommend some of the shorter stuff from Suskind, Contrabas and The Pigeon are totally amazing, Mr Sommer is a very good novella, too. Perfume struck me deeply when I was reading it some 6-7 years ago, the translation may have destroyed some of its magic indeed.
King Chaos
Pomeo Osoponeor
I'll definately try and check it out, but I'm not sure how much of his stuff has been translated, and The only other book I've seen in the UK was Pigeon. Just found out Perfume won some cool bookers prize the year I was born.marduk1507 said:
Dark_Silence
Member
perfume... i had to read it for school 3 years ago but in french. was ok, but i don't remember very well. i usually tend to forget really fast the books i was obliged to read for school.
i finished harry potter and the half blood prince but i didnt think it was as good as the previous ones. this one was kinda boring for half the book (too much childish love stories) but the end was as good as the others (i mean for suspens and lots of things happening)
i finished harry potter and the half blood prince but i didnt think it was as good as the previous ones. this one was kinda boring for half the book (too much childish love stories) but the end was as good as the others (i mean for suspens and lots of things happening)
I liked the Perfume, couldn't stop concentrating on odours for weeks afterwards. Never read anything else by him though.
@Dark Silence
I agree the last HP book is the worst one, style-wise, but childish love stories?! how dare you? jk
I'm 3/4 done with "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel" by Susanna Clark. It's also about british magicians but it's sort of the opposite from HP so far, as in, it's extremely well written but the characters aren't likeable and the story isn't that interesting so far. I hope it improves.
@Dark Silence
I agree the last HP book is the worst one, style-wise, but childish love stories?! how dare you?
jkI'm 3/4 done with "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel" by Susanna Clark. It's also about british magicians but it's sort of the opposite from HP so far, as in, it's extremely well written but the characters aren't likeable and the story isn't that interesting so far. I hope it improves.
La Rocque
I am that I am
La Rocque
I am that I am
Read: "I, Shithead a life in punk" by Joey Keithley aka Joey Shithead who founded the punk-rock band D.O.A. -
Now Reading: "expletive deleted, a good look at bad language" by Ruth Wajnryb , a serious work that is a laugh riot. Here are some of the chapters, Where the fuck?, Shit Happens, In the name of God, Son of a bitch.
Now Reading: "expletive deleted, a good look at bad language" by Ruth Wajnryb , a serious work that is a laugh riot. Here are some of the chapters, Where the fuck?, Shit Happens, In the name of God, Son of a bitch.
Magrathean
worldbuilder
Ensayo sobre la ceguera by José Saramago (portuguese writer, i believe): Even though it's called "essay", it's one of my two favorite novels. Metaphorically, it's about how blind humanity in general is and about how the few exceptions there are can save us. Literally, it's about an infectious "white" blindness that starts from a single man and spreads to a whole city. It's very crude and very graphic (not recommended for little girls ) and even features a scene about a "massive" rape.
El túnel by Ernesto Sábato (argentinean writer): This is my other favorite novel, and it's by my favorite writer. Very pessimistic, very depressive, very obsessive. It's about a painter who meets a girl who seems to be the only person who actually sees the true essence of his paintings and starts to get obsessed with her. It's about everything he feels and thinks during the relationship. It's about how seemingly impossible it is to build a bridge between two persons. It's not recommended for little girls either, since it's extremely obsessive and even has a chapter about suicide (the guy doesn't actually kill himself, but he starts talking about suicide in a beautiful --and strikingly true-- way), which is, in fact, my favorite chapter in the book.
Sobre héroes y tumbas by Ernesto Sábato: Haven't finished reading this novel, but i'm halfway through it and i can already say i'm liking it a lot. Take the "depressiveness" and the obsessiveness from "El túnel" and multiply them by 58479680370587360376 and you'll get a general idea of this book. It's about a totally fucked up relationship between an innocent and somewhat stupid boy and a dark and suicidal girl (who actually commits suicide). It's so obsessive that even i, who am the official most obsessive person in the universe, have gotten tired of it and put it down several times (which doesn't mean that it's boring, but rather that it's not an easy reading).
And, of course, Cervantes's "Don Quixote" and Verne's "20,000 leagues of underwater travel" (or whatever that's called) are wonderful.
I absolutely hated Süskind's "Perfume", but that's just me.
) and even features a scene about a "massive" rape.El túnel by Ernesto Sábato (argentinean writer): This is my other favorite novel, and it's by my favorite writer. Very pessimistic, very depressive, very obsessive. It's about a painter who meets a girl who seems to be the only person who actually sees the true essence of his paintings and starts to get obsessed with her. It's about everything he feels and thinks during the relationship. It's about how seemingly impossible it is to build a bridge between two persons. It's not recommended for little girls either, since it's extremely obsessive and even has a chapter about suicide (the guy doesn't actually kill himself, but he starts talking about suicide in a beautiful --and strikingly true-- way), which is, in fact, my favorite chapter in the book.
Sobre héroes y tumbas by Ernesto Sábato: Haven't finished reading this novel, but i'm halfway through it and i can already say i'm liking it a lot. Take the "depressiveness" and the obsessiveness from "El túnel" and multiply them by 58479680370587360376 and you'll get a general idea of this book. It's about a totally fucked up relationship between an innocent and somewhat stupid boy and a dark and suicidal girl (who actually commits suicide). It's so obsessive that even i, who am the official most obsessive person in the universe, have gotten tired of it and put it down several times (which doesn't mean that it's boring, but rather that it's not an easy reading).
And, of course, Cervantes's "Don Quixote" and Verne's "20,000 leagues of underwater travel" (or whatever that's called) are wonderful.
I absolutely hated Süskind's "Perfume", but that's just me.
La Rocque
I am that I am
"The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge" by Carlos Castaneda
I've read this book several times over the years
and get a different take about these writings each time.
a question: What is real, what is imagined ?
I've read this book several times over the years
and get a different take about these writings each time.
a question: What is real, what is imagined ?
Magrathean
worldbuilder
Watch "eXistenZ". It's a movie in which reality becomes confused with fantasy and in the end you don't know which is which anymore.La Rocque said:
