Bibliophiles R' Us

[HelloKaty37]

Currently: Re-reading Good Omens

On Deck: Can't Teach an Old Demon New Tricks by Cara Lockwood.

Thus far, I have managed to avoid the Twilight books, but I think the movies are works of comic genius. I mean, the body glitter part in the first movie had me in tears I was laughing so hard, and now the trailer for the third one... it has to be meant as a comedy!

[mudgean]

1) I read Twilight and enjoyed it, but it was like a giant wad of cotton candy. Besides, I don't need a twisted metaphor for sex. Just do it already.

2) I've been reading the short stories and the profile pieces in The New Yorker. I read that Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy was influential to Paul Krugman, so now I'm curious about that.

3) Laurie Moore's new book The Gate at the stairs. She is an amazing writer, but I think better in the short story format.

4) I finally read Great Expectations. Kind of a strange story when you think about it.

[BionicKris]

Wait...where are all the science geeks? I took a gander at some of the degree concentrations listed here and I don't believe I saw any of my fellow science geeks. Tear! I'm thinking this thread is my alter ego's thinly veiled way of saying - do the creative writing program already! All in time, my precious (too much Lord of the Rings, anyone?).

Mudgean: I totally agree with the nike approach that you've taken with twilight. I know it was a book for tweens, teens and everything in between, but come on! I've been meaning to read Asimov for years. I keep passing by his work in BN and saying to myself "Ah. Not this time." But one day, I'll conquer my procrastinating. Obviously, not today.

I read Great Expectations in high school (I think) and it was okay. I think it would've been better if not for my teacher. He saw symbolism in every single word. It got to the point where it ceased to be a story and became more a clichéd lesson in less is more.

HelloKaty: Yes. The Glitter was hilarious. I don't think any self-respecting female, infatuated with vampires or otherwise, would find herself attracted to a man covered in glitter. If that's not a sign, I'm not sure what is.

Infinite Monkeys: I thought the same thing about Lamb. I even read the foreword (afterword? I'm not sure) and I never do that. The amount of time and effort Moore put into ensuring that he captured the history was phenomenal. I think the most important thing that he did was capture how human Jesus was. What if more people believed that Jesus faced temptation and walked away from it just as we have to every day? As opposed to believing that he did all of these amazing things, but was somehow above it all? I'm not a religious person, though I do believe in God, but reading that book gave me a greater sense of my faith. I can only wonder if Moore knew or hoped that his novel would have that effect on people? I mention that book to every person I know because people can sometimes take their religion too seriously and it's nice to just go with flow and relax. Good luck with being trapped with the Type A's. I'm trying to divorce myself from my Type A-ness but, if I don't do it - who will? LOL.

Anxious Applicant: It all makes sense now. A Philosophy major. I took an ethics course in college that really got me interested in Kant's theories but my brain is so muddled with answering the scientific questions of the world that I haven't gotten around to really reading his work. Maybe I'll try Keirkagaard as well. Any suggestions as to where an extreme novice like myself should start?

Sparky: Thank's for the info. I'm heading to BN now. I don't know why I don't just deposit my paychecks there...

Edited April 4, 2010 by BionicKris

[Phyl]

Ha! Someone else that endured the twilight! And I agree, I was completely underwhelmed by the last installment. I glance at Chuck Palahniuk (how do you even pronounce that?) whenever I visit Barnes and Noble. I haven't read anything by him yet. Where do you suggest I start. I can see now that my reading list is going to be long this year.

Has anyone read Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie? It's an enticing story of revenge and political intrigue set in a fictional, seemingly European, land.

Happy Reading!

I'm a big Palahniuk fan (I've heard it pronounced Pal - a - nook) I started with Fight Club the movie is pretty close to the book although the book adds more. I've also read Choke which I saw the movie after reading the book and preferred the book. I also really liked Haunted. The thing I really like about his books is that every time you read them you get something new out of them, it just makes more and more sense the more times you read it.

Anyone read the Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris? It's what the HBO show True Blood is based on. I need some short, quick, beach reads. I do like the show but it might be all the southern accents.

My beef with Twilight is that it glorifies a relationship where a girl gives up absolutely everything for a guy who's essentially dangerous and predatory. I wasn't so vehemently against it until I was talking with 3 of my little female cousins who were in the target age range who thought it was all acceptable and expected to meet a guy to take care of you and end up barefoot and pregnant. They don't have many positive female role models and the attitude is mostly a product of that but it was upsetting to hear.

[metasyntactic]

Wait...where are all the science geeks?  I took a gander at some of the degree concentrations listed here and I don't believe I saw any of my fellow science geeks.  Tear!  I'm thinking this thread is my alter ego's thinly veiled way of saying - do the creative writing program already! All in time, my precious (too much Lord of the Rings, anyone?).  

Whoa there, I'm in Computer Science and UnlikelyGrad is in Geochemistry. You're not alone, geekwise.  I have considered doing a Philosophy or English minor though. Alas, not enough time.

Edited April 4, 2010 by metasyntactic

[wordslinger]

Anyone read the Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris? It's what the HBO show True Blood is based on. I need some short, quick, beach reads. I do like the show but it might be all the southern accents.

I've read the whole series and like it very much. It's definitely light, but Sookie is a strong female character. And unlike the TV series, it's not soft core porn. I actually like Harris's non-paranormal mystery series about Lily Bard even better. Another "beach read" in the mystery genre is J.A. Jance's Joanna Brady series, which I thoroughly enjoy.

[anxiousapplicant]

Anxious Applicant: It all makes sense now. A Philosophy major. I took an ethics course in college that really got me interested in Kant's theories but my brain is so muddled with answering the scientific questions of the world that I haven't gotten around to really reading his work. Maybe I'll try Keirkagaard as well. Any suggestions as to where an extreme novice like myself should start?

Although you are a "novice" to philosophy, you might still be interested in The Critique of Pure Reason by Kant. It is notoriously difficult, but majoring in philosophy doesn't make it easier anyway, so it's worth it just to jump in and fight your way through. It is hard, but rewarding, and will set you up well for the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals which you may have been introduced to in your ethics course. For a scientific, logical mind, Kant is a good philosopher. I think he himself discovered some things in physics, though I don't recall what exactly. Kierkegaard is a little less heavy on the rationality stuff in comparison to Kant. Either/Or is a fascinating comparison of the aesthetic life and the married life; you could try an abridged version, because it is two volumes long. I highly recommend Kant though.

[BionicKris]

Anyone read the Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris? It's what the HBO show True Blood is based on. I need some short, quick, beach reads. I do like the show but it might be all the southern accents.

My beef with Twilight is that it glorifies a relationship where a girl gives up absolutely everything for a guy who's essentially dangerous and predatory. I wasn't so vehemently against it until I was talking with 3 of my little female cousins who were in the target age range who thought it was all acceptable and expected to meet a guy to take care of you and end up barefoot and pregnant. They don't have many positive female role models and the attitude is mostly a product of that but it was upsetting to hear.

Yes, I've read all of Miss Sookie's stories. The show takes some liberties with the storyline, but I think you'll enjoy the books. The last one was a bit of a let down, but authors can't be great all the time can they?

I understand your beef with Twilight. Taking it at face value it's a story of love. When you really break it down and examine the female - male relationships within the story it does seem as if Bella was more than ready to give up her life to be a wife and mother. Now that I think about it, Meyer didn't even seem to give Bella a life outside of ol' Ed. We don't know anything about her hopes and dreams for the future outside of being a wife to Edward. That aspect of the story, to put it shortly, sucks.

[rising_star]

Christopher Moore is an excellent choice. I haven't finished Lamb yet, but thoroughly enjoyed Fluke and Practical Demonkeeping.

Am I the only Terry Pratchett fan?

[BionicKris]

Whoa there, I'm in Computer Science and UnlikelyGrad is in Geochemistry. You're not alone, geekwise. I have considered doing a Philosophy or English minor though. Alas, not enough time.

Okay. I feel better. Thank you for setting my mind at ease. That was a close one.

[BionicKris]

Christopher Moore is an excellent choice. I haven't finished Lamb yet, but thoroughly enjoyed Fluke and Practical Demonkeeping.

Am I the only Terry Pratchett fan?

I can honestly say that I have never read anything by Pratchett. I think I've gotten a little too attached to sci-fi/fantasy but the books are so good. I think I love the stories so much because most of them are in series format. I was always the kid in English class that wanted to know where the story went. I hate endings and I love that with (most) sci-fi fantasy I can always find out where my characters lives will go next. I have yet to read Fluke or Practical Demonkeeping. I'm working my way backwards apparently. I started the Fool (a splendid take on King Lear, I think you'll find the footnotes especially hilarious) and worked back to A Dirty Job, Lamb, and the You Suck duo. I also read I Love You Beth Cooper which was way funnier than the movie. Trust me. My boyfriend was on the verge of telling me to put a sock in it I was laughing so hard.

I'm off to stay up all night reading so that I my book monster can be satisfied.

[rising_star]

I can honestly say that I have never read anything by Pratchett. I think I've gotten a little too attached to sci-fi/fantasy but the books are so good. I think I love the stories so much because most of them are in series format.

All of this is a reason to start reading the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett immediately. Go and get Colour of Magic!!!

[oldlady]

Wait...where are all the science geeks? I took a gander at some of the degree concentrations listed here and I don't believe I saw any of my fellow science geeks. Tear! I'm thinking this thread is my alter ego's thinly veiled way of saying - do the creative writing program already! All in time, my precious (too much Lord of the Rings, anyone?).

I'm a business person, but I love reading trade books about science. Just finished NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson, and before that, I devoured The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. So I guess that makes me a pseudo wannabe science geek...

[kinjal]

Did you really just ask us that? LOL. I'm sure that the issue Kierkagaard as a writer, philosopher or whatever. I believe the issue, and I'm just spit-balling here, is that fact that you read his work for pleasure. What do you read when you're working!? I don't know what you are getting your PhD in but whatever it is, I'm sure they are really going to appreciate you!

In other news, I'm currently compiling my list of classics to read for the summer, so far Jane Austen's made the list and one Sir Wilde. Any other suggestions? (Please, no Russians. Authors. Not people )

If you like the Austen book (and I say, read them all ) then I would suggest Virginia Woolf and George Eliot.

Also, is no one reading Gerald Durrell or P.G. Wodehouse? So much fun!

[breakfast]

Am I the only Terry Pratchett fan?

I love the Discworld series. I read a lot of them a few months ago, but right now I'm taking a break from the series.

I'm currently reading the Autobiography of Malcolm X. Next up I'm planning on finishing The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon. After that I'm probably going to read some Chomsky (haven't decided what book yet), then I might finally get back into the Discworld series.

[UnlikelyGrad]

If you like the Austen book (and I say, read them all ) then I would suggest Virginia Woolf and George Eliot.

Also, is no one reading Gerald Durrell or P.G. Wodehouse? So much fun!

I went on a P.G. Wodehouse streak about 5 years ago. Maybe I should re-read his stuff; I could use a few laughs about now.

[BionicKris]

I'm a business person, but I love reading trade books about science. Just finished NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson, and before that, I devoured The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. So I guess that makes me a pseudo wannabe science geek...

It's never too late to come over to the dark side! We'll welcome you with open arms. Just let me know when you're crossing over so I can get your welcome basket together - complete with pocket pens, white tape for your black, wire-rimmed glasses, suspenders and wedgie deterrent.

I've never read either of those books or heard of either of those authors, though after reading the background on each, my interest is throughly piqued. It would be nice if more schools made it a point to require students to take courses based on the ethics of science and include books such as The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. I think there's a lot of history regarding the unethical treatment of experimental subjects that goes untaught. I know many schools focus on the Tuskeegee experiments, but I didn't know about Ms. Lacks or that in NC about 30 or 40 years back it was common practice to sterilize young Black girls who'd been raped. Many of them didn't find out until they were ready to have children. Thank you "oldlady," you've gotten the old mechanical gears rotating. My plan is to become a prof when I'm all done with my education, and thanks to your post I've got a plan brewing for what I hope amounts to be a very intriguing course.

[oldlady]

It's never too late to come over to the dark side! We'll welcome you with open arms. Just let me know when you're crossing over so I can get your welcome basket together - complete with pocket pens, white tape for your black, wire-rimmed glasses, suspenders and wedgie deterrent.

I've never read either of those books or heard of either of those authors, though after reading the background on each, my interest is throughly piqued. It would be nice if more schools made it a point to require students to take courses based on the ethics of science and include books such as The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. I think there's a lot of history regarding the unethical treatment of experimental subjects that goes untaught. I know many schools focus on the Tuskeegee experiments, but I didn't know about Ms. Lacks or that in NC about 30 or 40 years back it was common practice to sterilize young Black girls who'd been raped. Many of them didn't find out until they were ready to have children. Thank you "oldlady," you've gotten the old mechanical gears rotating. My plan is to become a prof when I'm all done with my education, and thanks to your post I've got a plan brewing for what I hope amounts to be a very intriguing course.

As it is, I'm getting a big kick out of telling my husband that I am going to be a social scientist -- at least, it has the word, "scientist", in it!

I'm so glad that my post was a catalyst for you! The ...Henrietta Lacks book was really compelling -- even though it's non-fiction, it almost reads like a novel -- the writing is excellent. (I, too, am interested in ethics, but on the business side -- where there is no end to the examples of unethical behavior!) I think you have a great idea for a course (and perhaps some research???) Best of luck!

[psycholinguist]

I read a lot, but not as much as I'd like to. * laughs * Mostly into fiction, sci-fi, biographies/memoirs, and (to the surprise of absolutely no one) pretty much anything to do with linguistics and psychology. I also read a lot of YA books** because I'm very interested in writing for that age-group.)

Very fond of offbeat character-studies. I just finished My Abandonment by Peter Rock*, which is the compelling story of a young woman who lives with her father in a forest adjacent to suburbia, and how they are forced to adapt to civilisation after they are discovered by a lone jogger and turned over to the local police. The novel doesn't have the most satisfying ending in the world, but it's fascinating all the same.

Also recently read Seeing Voices by Oliver Sacks, which is an early-90s book on sign-languages and the culture of deaf (or 'Deaf', as some prefer) society. Very interesting, though it's a little dated by now, and I found the middle bit a little dense even with my background. Still worthwhile, though!

Haven't picked the next book to start on. Looking forward to doing that.

* Is it just me, or is his name redundant?

** No interest in vampires, though.

[UnlikelyGrad]

I read a lot, but not as much as I'd like to. * laughs * Mostly into fiction, sci-fi, biographies/memoirs, and (to the surprise of absolutely no one) pretty much anything to do with linguistics and psychology. I also read a lot of YA books** because I'm very interested in writing for that age-group.)

I read a lot of YA books when I had toddlers--it was just easier to find things in the children's room w/o disturbing other people!! Most of what I read was fantasy though. Lloyd Alexander is awesome!

I have a fantasy YA novel in the works. But it's been half-finished for oh, five years now...and I'm not sure when it will be finished.

[oldlady]

* Is it just me, or is his name redundant?

psycholinguist, you completely crack me up!

[psycholinguist]

I read a lot of YA books when I had toddlers--it was just easier to find things in the children's room w/o disturbing other people!! Most of what I read was fantasy though. Lloyd Alexander is awesome!

I have a fantasy YA novel in the works. But it's been half-finished for oh, five years now...and I'm not sure when it will be finished.

Nifty. Could be anytime, you know! Wait for it!

psycholinguist, you completely crack me up!

Aww, thanks! * laughs also * I feel very lucky to be in the company of people who find things like that funny.

[wordslinger]

I read a lot of YA books when I had toddlers--it was just easier to find things in the children's room w/o disturbing other people!! Most of what I read was fantasy though. Lloyd Alexander is awesome!

I just attended a really interesting lecture on the dystopian trend in YA literature. I've read The Giver, but I didn't realize there were so many others in the genre.

[BionicKris]

Okay fellow literature-o-philes:

I'm about 75% of the way through Butcher's latest Dresden novel Changes and I have to vent. He's putting my character through some crazy b.s. As my SO so eloquently (and rather snidely) pointed out to me, I guess that's why it's called Changes. I don't know if anyone else out there reads the Dresden Files, so I won't ruin the story - but don't you just hate it when a favorite characters is forced to endure all manner of atrocities before he comes out on the other side. And then doesn't? It's frustrating, and, yes, I know it's just a book, but I've come to count on Dresden for a good read and now it seems like Butcher is trying to end it all. I'm sincerely hoping this isn't the case, but anything could happen.

In short, I guess I'm trying to say - don't you just hate it when you have genuinely good reading material on your hands and in the blink of an eye, your author comes along and snuffs it from existence?

[bibliophile222]

I know this thread is ancient but I can't resist (see name).

I read mostly historical fiction, classics (tons of 19th century fare), books that are in some way about books, libraries, creative play with language, etc.

I've read a good deal of extremely bizarre (Naked Lunch) or ponderous (The Tale of Genji) books just because I was curious and wanted a challenge, which is partly why I don't read as many books as some other people I know who devour vast quantities of frothier fare. My favorite part of reading is getting to learn more about another time or place, which is why I love old/historical/world literature.

I just finished reading Baudolino by Umberto Eco: medieval historical fiction with pseudo-Biblical fantasy (maybe--the  narrator/protagonist is a shameless liar). Umberto Eco is always a good choice. I think Jane Austen's Persuasion is next on the agenda.

I really hope I can still do some pleasure reading when I start my program. I currently work more than full time and do school online, so I have dedicated my lunch breaks to pleasure reading.

I could talk about books for hours but I should probably stop...

Edited April 11, 2018 by bibliophile222