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What are you reading at the moment?

ChrisN

By ChrisN
in Arts & Literature

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Guitar Heroine

Guitar Heroine

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I'm reading On The Origin Of Species, but I'm not convinced I'm going to make it to the end. I'm probably 3/4 of the way through and flagging, he's on all that stuff about geographical distribution and I might actually just skip to the next chapter. Still, the earlier sections were interesting enough, worth having had a go at it I think.

Next up is either a book of Daphne Du Maurier short stories, Iain M Banks' Matter, or the second of the Arthur C Clarke / Stephen Baxter books, Sunstorm (3 for 2 offer in Borders :lol:)

Thats a good book, chapter 4 is quite funny in places I thought with the plums and stuff. I havent finished it though, I got bored.

I've just started Bill Brysons A Short History of Nearly Everything. Sounds good so far.

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Cosmic_Guru

Cosmic_Guru

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Just started Child 44 last night, and certainly enjoyed the opening. I'm certainly in need of something a touch more 'mature' after my recent Discworld binge, so fingers crossed this one's the way to go. It's been highly recommended so I'm optimistic.

This novel is built on a really interesting premise - looking at the implications of investigating ordinary (i.e non political) crime in Soviet Russia. Ultimately I thought it suffered a bit from First Novel syndrome of having a Big Reveal which wasn't really necessary, but it's still a cracking read.

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Ben

Ben

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Started The Damned Utd which I found at a jumble sale for 20p, excellent so far (about 6 days into Clough's reign). Love the style and structure, very original.

Also listening to an audiobook of Kafka's Metamorphosis in the car, great stuff. Never read it before and not far in yet (Gregor has just been sent back to his room by his father) but enjoying it immensely, it's so beautifully absurd how he's not concerned about his bodily change at all.

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Ravern

Ravern

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In Search of Lost Time aka Remembrance of Things Past then. Any good? :(

Looking for something meaty with lots of volumes and since I've generally been on a fantasy/weird book binge lately I thought I'd break things up a bit with something different.

In French or English?

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Danster

Danster

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Read The Gunslinger over the weekend. Looking forward to the other six now! It's been about 10-15 years since I read the first three and then stopped with the series.

Have started on Bryson's Brief history of just about everything (or whatever the title is), which has started in a bright way; like most Bryson's books. After that I've got Light by M John Harrison lined up (as recommended by the Guardian's 100 sci-fi books you should read) cos I liked the sound of it.

Ye gads this library joining has done wonders for my throughput. I haven't played on the DS for a week!

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TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap

TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap

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I'm reading 'They Called It Passchendaele' by Lyn MacDonald with the tagline "The Story of the Third Battle of Ypres and of the men who fought in it" which sums it up nicely. Very good read about World War I, although probably a bit too narrow / specialised if you haven't got an idea of the big picture of World War I on the western front and/or the Ypres Salient.

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Monkeyboy

Monkeyboy

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I picked up "Tarzan of the Apes" today. Never realised Burroughs wrote 22 more Tarzan books, including the possibly awesome "Tarzan at the Earth's Core".

I think I'm probably going to buy the Mars stuff he did as well... starting with "Princess of Mars."

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LittleJoe

LittleJoe

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Finished A Short History of Nearly Everything yesterday, great read. The breadth of science that the book dealt with meant that, naturally, some parts were far more engrossing and readable than others, but for the most part I found it very enjoyable, eye-opening and more often than not, funny. Top book.

Started One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest last night, and will most probably be re-reading a large selection of Shakespeare plays over the next few weeks for end of year exams.

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Chosty

Chosty

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I've just finished reading 'Gormenghast'.

I can't decide yet whether I prefer it to 'Titus Groan', which I thought was astounding. There are certain sections in the book that were incredible. The way the author describes the ancient, maze-like corridors and the darkly-lit halls and basements of the castle is simply wonderful. It's like some kind of literary cousin to Kubrick's Overlook Hotel in 'The Shining'. I'm a sucker for that kind of setting.

Notable highlights:

- The slow, horrific demise of Cora and Clarice - I found that really chilling

- The return of Flay to the castle, and his dark existence in the miles of underground passageways

- Steerpike's continuing transition from selfish schemer to evil murderer

- The flooding of the castle and the hunting of Steerpike

- And, to contrast with all that gothic fantasy, the amusing sub-plot of Irma and Bellgrove

- Poor Fuschia! ;)

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neoELITE

neoELITE

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Just finished reading Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy - what an astonishing peice of literature it is. I was a little sceptical about reading a western but it's quite simply amazing. In three words it's Biblical, horrific and epic.

I've just ordered another McCarthy book, Child of God, and that's my third of his this year so I'm becoming a big fan.

I really want to read Autumn by David Moody but I'm not paying £40.00 on Ebay for a book (all four books in the series are available for a bargain £299). It's apparently awful in places but I'd like to read it before the film is released.

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Kingpin

Kingpin

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Just finished reading Game Boys by Michael Kane. Picked it up after Shawn Elliott was talking about it on GFW months ago (still miss it), just got round to it this week. It's pretty much the Karate Kid set in the world of professional counterstrike. Nothing too shocking (except for the snorting of ADD drugs) but it's a quick and interesting read. I never played any Counterstrike so I'm sure it will be very rudimentary for anyone who's spent any time with it or is into that scene in general. Made me want to check out CS vids on YouTube, if not pick up the game.

Now reading the Secret Life of Trees which I'm sure has been mentioned in here before. Only a few pages in but I imagine it will spark my regrets that I work and live in a city when I should be back home in the country to enjoy the natural bounty :(

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earlymodernsteve

earlymodernsteve

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I really want to read Autumn by David Moody but I'm not paying £40.00 on Ebay for a book (all four books in the series are available for a bargain £299). It's apparently awful in places but I'd like to read it before the film is released.

Ebook only but probably readable as a PDF: go here:

http://manybooks.net/titles/moodydother05Autumn.html

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Ben

Ben

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Just finished reading Game Boys by Michael Kane. Picked it up after Shawn Elliott was talking about it on GFW months ago (still miss it), just got round to it this week. It's pretty much the Karate Kid set in the world of professional counterstrike. Nothing too shocking (except for the snorting of ADD drugs) but it's a quick and interesting read. I never played any Counterstrike so I'm sure it will be very rudimentary for anyone who's spent any time with it or is into that scene in general. Made me want to check out CS vids on YouTube, if not pick up the game.

Remember them talking about that; it was added to my mental list but must have fell off the end. Will have to try and pick it up.

Started Obama's The Audacity of Hope last night, he's got such a warm and welcoming writing style - looking forward to working through, it feels like one of his stirring speeches in book form.

Working through Freakonomics in the car too after finishing Metamorphosis (recommended!), not quite as innovative as I was expecting from all the hype (it's not too dissimilar to other pop.economics books I've read) but it's certainly interesting stuff and they pick some leftfield case studies.

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pocket frenzy

pocket frenzy

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Monday night I read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Didn't like it: predictable, didn't cry at all.

Tonight I got halfway through Goodnight Mister Tom. Tear stains still on my cheeks, I adore it.

I'm also reading The Book of Fish, which I'm struggling to differentiate from House of Leaves.

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