What Are You Reading?

[Bloo]

what do you think so far, I thought the first 2 books were good, but they feel self containted, about book 3 is where I think the whole mythology really starts to kick in

Yeah, I'd have to agree that with Club Dead (book 3) things really start to pick up with the storyline and introduction of new characters and different mythical creatures. I must say I really enjoyed all the stuff with Eric and Sookie...FINALLY.... and now Eric can't remember a bloody thing of their rendezvous...geez! I find it interesting that the shifters at Hotshot are inbred and even more interesting that Jason is now a were-panther.

FYI: I saw that Charlaine Harris is at Comic-Con today signing books, as well there is a True Blood panel tomorrow night. Oh well.

one of these years I'm going to go to comic-con--but it'll probably be long after it's cool to go to comic con (when Twilight is done?)

[Maui]

one of these years I'm going to go to comic-con--but it'll probably be long after it's cool to go to comic con (when Twilight is done?)

I plan on going next year with a group of friends. Yeah long lineups and not getting in to see your favourite panel.

[Raziel]

Patricia Cornwell's Jack The Ripper - Case Closed. Very interesting, but she seems to jump to conclusions a little bit occasionally, in charging artist Walter Sickert with the Ripper's crimes.

[Bloo]

Patricia Cornwell's Jack The Ripper - Case Closed. Very interesting, but she seems to jump to conclusions a little bit occasionally, in charging artist Walter Sickert with the Ripper's crimes.

my roommate has that book I need to read it sometime, it always looked interesting

[Maui]

I've finished all 7 books from the Southern Vampire Series box set. I now need to pick up the last two: From Dead To Worse (book 8) and Dead and Gone (book 9).

I have some minor nits with the author's writing style but overall these are fun whodunnits.

[Bloo]

I've finished all 7 books from the Southern Vampire Series box set. I now need to pick up the last two: From Dead To Worse (book 8) and Dead and Gone (book 9).

I have some minor nits with the author's writing style but overall these are fun whodunnits.

yeah her style isn't the greatest but I like the ideas she introduces and her mythology...that and for awhile it seems like Sookie was falling into the solutions to the mysteries rather then solving them

[Raziel]

my roommate has that book I need to read it sometime, it always looked interesting

Yeah, it's a good read so far. I'm just a little skeptical of some of her analysis!

[MadCapsule]

I just finished The Zombie Survival Guide. That was a fun read. I loved the anti-mullet illustration!

Just started Narcissus and Goldmund by Herman Hesse. Holy homo-erotica, Batman!

[Maui]

I finished reading The Rum Diary by Hunter S. Thompson, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also finished Philip Roth's Kepesh series which consists of: The Breast, The Professor of Desire, and The Dying Animal. What can I say that hasn't already been said about Philip Roth, his writing is simply brilliant. He is one of my favourite authors.

I plan on starting All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy in the next day or so.

[caruso_stalker217]

I forgot that I bought Public Enemies. I should probably get around to reading that. After I'm done with Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy. And Get Shorty. And that Dean Koontz book. And Just After Sunset. And Duma Key. And that Zombie Survival Guide thing.

[Bloo]

Elmore Leonard PAGAN BABIES

[stereosforgeeks]

Just finished up Heinlein's Time Enough For Love and Stanislaw Lem's The Cyberiad just in time for INHERENT VICE!

Ive been able to do a lot more reading since I now am on the train 2 hours a day commuting to work.

[minstrel]

Just finished up Heinlein's Time Enough For Love and Stanislaw Lem's The Cyberiad just in time for INHERENT VICE!

Ive been able to do a lot more reading since I now am on the train 2 hours a day commuting to work.

What did you think of Time Enough For Love? I tried to read that when I was a teenager (and a major Heinlein fan!) and couldn't stomach it. It seemed to me that Alzheimer's was setting in to Mr. Heinlein. I threw the damn book into the damn fireplace and burned it. I've only done that to maybe two books in my life! (The other was some sort of Doc Savage pulp shit ... don't ask.)

[stereosforgeeks]

Just finished up Heinlein's Time Enough For Love and Stanislaw Lem's The Cyberiad just in time for INHERENT VICE!

Ive been able to do a lot more reading since I now am on the train 2 hours a day commuting to work.

What did you think of Time Enough For Love? I tried to read that when I was a teenager (and a major Heinlein fan!) and couldn't stomach it. It seemed to me that Alzheimer's was setting in to Mr. Heinlein. I threw the damn book into the damn fireplace and burned it. I've only done that to maybe two books in my life! (The other was some sort of Doc Savage pulp shit ... don't ask.)

Heinlein is a bit too long winded/verbose in some of his stories in the book but overall i felt it was a good way for him to lay out lots of his thoughts/ideals.

Ive read lots of old reviews where lots of people have dismissed it due to the frank and odd sexual behavior in the book (according to our values) but i never found it to be anything that didnt make sense in the world Heinlein created.

It is definitely not a book for a teenager. I definitely wouldnt have liked it then but now that I am older I can appreciate what Heinlein was attempting.

[Maui]

Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. It's an extremely well written book that mixes both history and fiction.

1972 Pulitzer winner.

[TheButcher]

Get Shorty is really good, and the sequel is good too, Be Cool--a lot better then the movie

I liked both versions of Get Shorty.

I'm reading The Strain.

[Fievel]

Elmore Leonard PAGAN BABIES

I heart Elmore Leonard.
I thought Pagan Babies was decent - nothing that rocked my world but I enjoyed the time I spent with it.
But I also listened to the audiobook that Steven Buscemi read, so I had that going for (against?) me.

[Bloo]

Elmore Leonard PAGAN BABIES

I heart Elmore Leonard.
I thought Pagan Babies was decent - nothing that rocked my world but I enjoyed the time I spent with it.
But I also listened to the audiobook that Steven Buscemi read, so I had that going for (against?) me.

I heart Elmore Leonard too

I hadn't read it in awhile and when I first read it I wasn't feeling it but this 2nd reading i'm picking up more and more...I don't know it almost seems more sublte in some places

[Bloo]

Maui, heads up Charlene Harris' latest Sookie book is the short story collection "A Touch of Dead" releasing on Oct. 6th

Amazon sent me a notification about it

[caruso_stalker217]

Picked up Pride and Prejudice and Zombies which I should be able to read quickly. I feel like a fucking fraud for not having read the actual Pride and Prejudice though.

[Maui]

Maui, heads up Charlene Harris' latest Sookie book is the short story collection "A Touch of Dead" releasing on Oct. 6th

Amazon sent me a notification about it

Ah, well done Bloo. Thanks for the heads up!

I want to know which vampire Niall (her great grandfather/fairy) preferred, Eric or Bill. Talk about a maddening way to end book 9.

[Bloo]

Maui, heads up Charlene Harris' latest Sookie book is the short story collection "A Touch of Dead" releasing on Oct. 6th

Amazon sent me a notification about it

Ah, well done Bloo. Thanks for the heads up!

I want to know which vampire Niall (her great grandfather/fairy) preferred, Eric or Bill. Talk about a maddening way to end book 9.

I KNOW! me too...but part of me keeps hoping Sookie and Sam end up togather, or that someone good comes into Sam's life

and no problem and the heads up, I've got it on my wish list already and thought you'd want to know

[MadCapsule]

I'm currently reading Stephen King's Wizard and Glass. I thought it might be a little tedious because I have already read the graphic novel adaptation of it, but there's obviously so much more detail in the original book that I hardly even notice the fact that I know how it ends.

[Maui]

I just finished Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. I don't often read autobiographies but this memoir is both fascinating and heart-wrenching.

Everyman by Philip Roth. I really enjoyed this book and even recommended it to my Mom (which she loved btw). She told me the other day that it so accurately captures getting old, illness, family ties, and marriage in a very thoughtful and heartfelt way. One thing that Roth excels at is examining the human nature. Some may consider this book a downer but it's life.

My book club selection for September is Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, which I've just started.

[Maui]

Just finished reading Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This is my very first PKD book and certainly won't be my last. Any recommendations on any of his other writings?

Amsterdam, a Booker Prize winner by Ian McEwan. This book is both funny and lethal.

I've also started another of McEwan's books, On Chesil Beach.

[Bloo]

Just finished reading Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This is my very first PKD book and certainly won't be my last. Any recommendations on any of his other writings?

Amsterdam, a Booker Prize winner by Ian McEwan. This book is both funny and lethal.

I've also started another of McEwan's books, On Chesil Beach.

the PKD short story collection I really enjoyed was the one with MINORITY REPORT, which I picked up right before the movie was released and have subsequently lost

[Maui]

Just finished reading Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This is my very first PKD book and certainly won't be my last. Any recommendations on any of his other writings?

Amsterdam, a Booker Prize winner by Ian McEwan. This book is both funny and lethal.

I've also started another of McEwan's books, On Chesil Beach.

the PKD short story collection I really enjoyed was the one with MINORITY REPORT, which I picked up right before the movie was released and have subsequently lost

Cool. I'll check this out at the library. I don't buy books anymore. I ran out of shelving.

[Pacino86845]

Just finished reading Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This is my very first PKD book and certainly won't be my last. Any recommendations on any of his other writings?

Amsterdam, a Booker Prize winner by Ian McEwan. This book is both funny and lethal.

I've also started another of McEwan's books, On Chesil Beach.

the PKD short story collection I really enjoyed was the one with MINORITY REPORT, which I picked up right before the movie was released and have subsequently lost

Cool. I'll check this out at the library. I don't buy books anymore. I ran out of shelving.

A Scanner Darkly is brilliant IMO, so is the film in case you haven't seen it yet.

Otherwise you can't really go wrong with The Man in the High Castle.

I can also recommend VALIS, but with a disclaimer: that book is a proper head-fuck, but interesting as all hell.

I haven't read Androids yet, but I think I'll get to it after I'm done with The Alchemist (which is what I'm reading right now, damn this is a quick read, and brilliant book).

I was stuck on Neal Stephenson's Quicksilver (the first three books of the Baroque Cycle) for a while now... the first book was easy enough to get through, the second one (King of Vagabonds or something) a bit less so, but I've nearly completely lost interest by the time I started Odalisque... so I think I am coming off my Neal Stephenson kick, which had started with Cryptonomicon and continued with Snow Crash. I'm not sure I'll even finish Quicksilver at this point.

Not long ago I started Children of the Alley by Naguib Mahfouz, but I was reading it at the same time as Quicksilver so somewhere along the line I put it down without finishing it. I'll probably pick it up again soon to get through it, the stories inside it are only loosely related... essentially it is a reimagining of some biblical stories set in Egyptian slums. Very interesting take on religious myths without being insulting IMO.

[stereosforgeeks]

I can also recommend VALIS, but with a disclaimer: that book is a proper head-fuck, but interesting as all hell.

I LOVE VALIS. I definitely plan on re-reading many times. I am sure with each reading I will gain greater insight into the book.

[Pacino86845]

I would like to see some of the research PKD did for the material in Valis... or a comprehensive version of the Exegesis with references or something.

And I just discovered this interesting little item... one of my favorite comic artists (Crumb) does a mini-biography of one of my favorite writers (Dick)

[Maui]

A Scanner Darkly is brilliant IMO, so is the film in case you haven't seen it yet.

Otherwise you can't really go wrong with The Man in the High Castle.

I can also recommend VALIS, but with a disclaimer: that book is a proper head-fuck, but interesting as all hell.

I haven't read Androids yet, but I think I'll get to it after I'm done with The Alchemist (which is what I'm reading right now, damn this is a quick read, and brilliant book).

I was stuck on Neal Stephenson's Quicksilver (the first three books of the Baroque Cycle) for a while now... the first book was easy enough to get through, the second one (King of Vagabonds or something) a bit less so, but I've nearly completely lost interest by the time I started Odalisque... so I think I am coming off my Neal Stephenson kick, which had started with Cryptonomicon and continued with Snow Crash. I'm not sure I'll even finish Quicksilver at this point.

Thanks for the PKD recommendations. The library only had Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said, so I grabbed that. I've got the other 3 on hold. Going through a bit of a SciFi binge at the moment. I'd also be interested in hearing your recommendations on William Gibson. I've yet to read any of his stuff and I probably should.


I finished reading Ian McEwan's On Chesil Beach. A very sad tale of a newlywed couple (both virgins) on their wedding night. Needless to say, it didn't go so well. Beautifully written, McEwan delves into the lives of Florence and Edward, their upbringing, how they met, their longingness for each other and the very difficult emotional obstacles for Florence, that prevent their marriage from becoming a success. A superb read.

I've started Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth. It's hilarious. I don't recall a book making me laugh out loud this much. Roth has a very comedic approach to sexual desire and frustration.

[stereosforgeeks]

A Scanner Darkly is brilliant IMO, so is the film in case you haven't seen it yet.

Otherwise you can't really go wrong with The Man in the High Castle.

I can also recommend VALIS, but with a disclaimer: that book is a proper head-fuck, but interesting as all hell.

I haven't read Androids yet, but I think I'll get to it after I'm done with The Alchemist (which is what I'm reading right now, damn this is a quick read, and brilliant book).

I was stuck on Neal Stephenson's Quicksilver (the first three books of the Baroque Cycle) for a while now... the first book was easy enough to get through, the second one (King of Vagabonds or something) a bit less so, but I've nearly completely lost interest by the time I started Odalisque... so I think I am coming off my Neal Stephenson kick, which had started with Cryptonomicon and continued with Snow Crash. I'm not sure I'll even finish Quicksilver at this point.

Thanks for the PKD recommendations. The library only had Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said, so I grabbed that. I've got the other 3 on hold. Going through a bit of a SciFi binge at the moment. I'd also be interested in hearing your recommendations on William Gibson. I've yet to read any of his stuff and I probably should.


I finished reading Ian McEwan's On Chesil Beach. A very sad tale of a newlywed couple (both virgins) on their wedding night. Needless to say, it didn't go so well. Beautifully written, McEwan delves into the lives of Florence and Edward, their upbringing, how they met, their longingness for each other and the very difficult emotional obstacles for Florence, that prevent their marriage from becoming a success. A superb read.

I've started Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth. It's hilarious. I don't recall a book making me laugh out loud this much. Roth has a very comedic approach to sexual desire and frustration.

The best way to start with Gibson is probably his short story collection Burning Chrome and then onto Neuromancer.

[Maui]

The best way to start with Gibson is probably his short story collection Burning Chrome and then onto Neuromancer.

Yeah, I was thinking of Neuromancer as a good start. Thx SFG!

[stereosforgeeks]

The best way to start with Gibson is probably his short story collection Burning Chrome and then onto Neuromancer.

Yeah, I was thinking of Neuromancer as a good start. Thx SFG!

Those are the only two Gibsons I have read actually. People tend to either love or hate his cyberpunk tales.

I should finish Underworld next week and then I am not sure what will be next.

[Pacino86845]

I am not yet versed in William Gibson, but Neuromancer is certainly on the long long list of books I want to read.

Right now I am reading Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea and Games and Decisions, which is a lightly mathematical introduction to Game Theory (it's an old book, apparently John Nash used it to teach his class at MIT).

[Leckomaniac]

I am currently revisiting some of my favorite Dickens books.

I just finished A Tale of Two Cities and have begun Great Expectations.

When I finish that, I have a Russian tour lines up: Lolita, Pale Fire, and Crime & Punishment.

[Bob Samonkey]

I have run out of books here and am too lazy to go to the library so I have raided my 13 year old daughters room. So I am reading the Pretties series by Scott Westerfeld. Yeah yeah. I know...

[Tyrone_Shoelaces]

I've got the second John Carter book on the nightstand with Jeffrey Eugenides' Middlesex lined up to be next. I enjoyed The Virgin Suicides like few other books and am really looking forward to it.

[Leckomaniac]

I've got the second John Carter book on the nightstand with Jeffrey Eugenides' Middlesex lined up to be next. I enjoyed The Virgin Suicides like few other books and am really looking forward to it.

I was rather bored with Middlesex. Finishing that book was such a labor.

[Al Shut]

Started my umpteenth try to read Barkers Imajica.

20o pages or so in and I have the suspicion this one won't last long either.

[Tyrone_Shoelaces]

Started my umpteenth try to read Barkers Imajica.

20o pages or so in and I have the suspicion this one won't last long either.

A friend of mine couldn't get through that book either and was amazed that I had. I'm guessing you lose interest about the time they walk through the mountains. The middle of that book is the toughest part. Get through that and the end picks up and moves rather briskly.

[Bloo]

THE MIRACLE OF ST. ANTHONY-Adrian Wojnarowski

THE SUNSET LIMITED- Cormac McCarthy

[Maui]

A Scanner Darkly is brilliant IMO, so is the film in case you haven't seen it yet.

Indeed, I thought the book was excellent and Linklater's animated film is an impressive adaptation. It certainly picked up the vibe from the book.

[Pacino86845]

Holy crap you don't waste any time do you!?

I'm glad you liked it! Based on the dedication in the book, you get the feeling that it was a very personal work for PKD, and it's exemplified all throughout. Poor Bob Arctor... I saw the movie first and the end made me wanna weep!

[Al Shut]

Started my umpteenth try to read Barkers Imajica.

20o pages or so in and I have the suspicion this one won't last long either.

A friend of mine couldn't get through that book either and was amazed that I had. I'm guessing you lose interest about the time they walk through the mountains. The middle of that book is the toughest part. Get through that and the end picks up and moves rather briskly.

Very true, but i seem to remeber vaguely that I got past the mountains and interest didn't come back. I'll see how it will turn out this time.

[Maui]

Holy crap you don't waste any time do you!?

I'm glad you liked it! Based on the dedication in the book, you get the feeling that it was a very personal work for PKD, and it's exemplified all throughout. Poor Bob Arctor... I saw the movie first and the end made me wanna weep!

I watched the film the same day I finished the book. The ending did make me weep. For sure the story is very near and dear to PKD's heart - he includes his friends (and himself) affected by the establishment and drug abuse both at the end of the book and at the end of the film. I was really impressed with the film. RDJ was amazing as Barris and as much as I'm not too keen on Reeves, he did a decent job of portraying Bob/Fred/Bruce. The opening scene with Freck and the aphids - perfect. The scramble suits - I had an idea of what I envisioned them looking like but I really dug how the suits continually morphed into different people. The final scene where we see Bruce in the field - extremely powerful.

Anyways, awesome recommendation. I loved the book, I've read 3 PKD books so far and this is my favourite.

[The Vicar]

I'll get some shit for saying it, but I loves me some Dick.
Would have loved to have met the man.

[DennisMM]

The book I was reading was taken away from me by the library! Someone else needed it, and I'd had it for six months without doing more than cracking it, so I had to give it up. That was The Lolita Effect, about the sexualization of young girls. It's of particular interest given the way I've seen my seven-year-old niece dress and act, both of which are considered perfectly normal today.

I'm nursing my wounds with some easy reading, The Outer Limits Companion. Boy, were the producers of that program full of themselves. They thought they were creating great, philosophical drama rather than middling-to-intriguing sf and horror. It was a good program, but let's not overthink it!

Next "real" book is probably Barbara Ehrenreich's Bait and Switch, about how middle-class America has been facing downward mobility since the beginning of the Bush years (and, to an extent, before then).

[Bloo]

that LOLITA EFFECT book sounds interesting I may have to check it out thanks for the tip

I just finished THE MIRACLE OF ST. ANTHONY which I found very readable, probably my 2nd favorite book about sports after IT'S NOT ABOUT THE TRUTH...which I haven't read in awhile, might have to crack that one open again

[Al Shut]

So Imajica really got better to the point where I could finish the book but not enough to make me like it. Not enough real world for my taste.