What Are You Reading?

[Obiwanshinobi]

Reading Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth, a comic book about Bertrand Russell and his quest. Reminds me of historical novels by Jaan Kross.

[mesh control]

Wait Until Spring, Bandini by John Fante

I'm still reading this.

lulz.

[xris]

goodreads doesn't auto suggest, browse for a good group, and check out some of the voting lists. You'll find plenty of suggestions and books you never knew about in a short time, trust me.
edit: I had to switch browsers on my phone, I hate not having the real internet at the moment.
Anyway, goodreads is a really great meta-tracker. It's when you really start poking around is when you find that it is a HUGE host for lots of forums based on specific genres, with a ton of knowledgable, friendly, and helpful readers. I've had the chance to commnicate with authors I've read, as well as many new ones. It has a better review system than amazon, and the listopia lists are many and varied. A robust book exchange system, as well as the occasional ebook that is availble directly from the book page.
It's when you get a few other profiles attached to your friend list that you really start getting good suggestions, you may want to start fallowing the reviews of a couple of people, some read a ton of varied stuff.

[CMoon]

Finished Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder last night (not much to say here unless you are a fan of the Museum of Jurassic technology). My reading list keeps getting deeper. Decided to deviate off the course a bit and read LeGuin's Left Hand of Darkness.

[mouser]

Does anyone else read Star Wars novels? Serialized fiction is not high literature by any means, but it is a guilty pleasure of mine.

Once read Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter. It was one of the worst novels I've ever read in my entire life....right next to Spider-man: the Venom Factor. I now avoid anything SW Expanded Universe like the plague. I might someday read George Lucas' original Star Wars novel if I can ever find it lying around at a used book store though.

[MX7]

Just finished Keep The Aspidistra Flying by George Orwell and Pyongyang by Guy Desisle.

Now reading Down and Out in Paris and London, which is yet another stupidly famous book that I've never got round to reading.

[greg]

Once read Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter. It was one of the worst novels I've ever read in my entire life....right next to Spider-man: the Venom Factor. I now avoid anything SW Expanded Universe like the plague. I might someday read George Lucas' original Star Wars novel if I can ever find it lying around at a used book store though.

I don't read prequel books because I'm not very interested in the prequel continuity. I did read Outbound Flight by Timothy Zahn, however, which featured Obi-Wan and Anakin, taking place between the first and second movies. It ties in directly to his Heir to the Empire trilogy. I encourage you to at least read those books, as they capture the spirit of the original trilogy and the character personalities rather well.

BTW, the original "A New Hope" novel was actually written by Alan Dean Foster. Lucas didn't really write that book.

Oh yeah, and the old Han Solo trilogy by Brian Daley were good reads. I read those when I was a kid.

[Obiwanshinobi]

The novels about Rogue Squadron by Michael A. Stackpole were decent. One Star Wars book by R. A. Salvatore was very bad.

[CMoon]

Read the first quarter of Left Hand of Darkness (completely soaking up its slow pace). My copy of House of Leaves arrived in the mail today. Probably read that next.

[mouser]

I don't read prequel books because I'm not very interested in the prequel continuity. I did read Outbound Flight by Timothy Zahn, however, which featured Obi-Wan and Anakin, taking place between the first and second movies. It ties in directly to his Heir to the Empire trilogy. I encourage you to at least read those books, as they capture the spirit of the original trilogy and the character personalities rather well.

BTW, the original "A New Hope" novel was actually written by Alan Dean Foster. Lucas didn't really write that book.

Oh yeah, and the old Han Solo trilogy by Brian Daley were good reads. I read those when I was a kid.

Guess I could give Outbound Flight a shot. I hope Obi-wan acts more like the Obi-wan from the original trilogy...he acted like such a dick in the prequels.

Truthfully, when I watch the movie prequels, I'm only interested in Darth Maul, and Ian McDiarmid's Palpatine. I loved watching his machinations to become Emperor. The rest is pretty much filler (to me). Even the Jedi parts are boring!

[sjewkestheloon]

Read the first quarter of Left Hand of Darkness (completely soaking up its slow pace). My copy of House of Leaves arrived in the mail today. Probably read that next.

Yes, passages of House of Leaves have stayed with me for the 11 or so years since reading it. I must pick up another copy at some point for a revisit to see if it holds up. Certainly a formative text for me.

Edit: Oh and please take the religious talk elsewhere (not you CMoon) as I really do not want this thread to get locked and/or derailed by 'sum1 iz wrong on the internetz!' blabber.

[NZA]

Unfortunately, I'm not much of a reader. The only thing I can say is Swamp Thing #1 just arrived in the mail today.

[mesh control]

SWAMP THING.
YES!

[CMoon]

Finished Left Hand of Darkness last night. This was the book that convinced me LeGuin is never gonna be a 5/5 author for me. Apparently LHoD is considered by many (including some of my friends) her best book, and it may well be. I certainly enjoyed it, but was always wanting it to go somewhere else, try something a bit more adventurous. What direction this would have taken, I'm not sure. I'm not going to pretend like I know how to make it better, and it certainly was a good book. Rather, I feel LeGuin is often hitting 5/5 for an audience different than me. I will get back to reading her books (3rd Earthsea book, Lathe of Heaven, etc.), but I'm gonna take a break from her for a while. So much else to read.

Just started reading House of Leaves today. Like the Lovecraft vibe, but hope the writing matures a little bit (may be its intentionally this way, dunno.)

[RNGmaster]

Just started reading House of Leaves today. Like the Lovecraft vibe, but hope the writing matures a little bit (maybe it's intentionally this way, dunno.)

Not all of House is from Truant's point of view. That's all I'll say.

It's a great book with some nice storytelling techniques and some genuinely affecting moments. That said, it can get artsy at times.

[CMoon]

It's a great book with some nice storytelling techniques and some genuinely affecting moments. That said, it can get artsy at times.

Definitely feeling both some love and hate for this book (house of leaves) right now. When it works, it works really well, but some parts (yes, even the Zampano parts) can feel very amateurish, especially when Danielewski is doing one of his artsy swoons (which IMO often fall flat). Its too early for me to say much, but I'm not 100% sure I'll finish the book at this point. Depends on how much Danielewski decides to fag it up.

[NZA]

SWAMP THING.
YES!

Also, this new Animal Man is great.

[parade]

I have recently opened Yanush Leon Vishnevskyj for myself. He is a writer from Poland. SO, now I want to read all his books...

[CMoon]

Finished the 'book' portion of House of Leaves. There's still an appendix that I may or may not read. I'll give it a shot. As soon as it gets noodley though I'm finished with this book.

I agree with what some others have said--there are some really great parts here. The fact I've already posted about this damn book three times shows there is something noteworthy here, and that's actually a great accomplishment. The problem is that the frustration with this book is about equal to what is great about it. That and seriously I found the resolution of both stories (or are there more than two stories?) rather unsatisfying.

So here's the dilemma: there's no doubt in my mind that this should not have been Danielewski's first book, but I also think as he matures as an author, he'd probably not take the risk on a book like this. It really makes books like Moby Dick all the more amazing where you have a mature author taking huge risks. That said, some images in House of Leaves will stick with me, but it isn't a book I'm going to revisit.

12 hour edit later: Just thought back on RNGmaster's post and want to make clear that I disagree with the assessment that this is a good story. I don't really think it is. It has good moments that never gel into a story. As much as it feels like it needs editing, greater clarity and focus will kill it--what Danielewski has created is the illusion of a good story, but is really a 700+ page love affair with his own writing.

[RNGmaster]

12 hour edit later: Just thought back on RNGmaster's post and want to make clear that I disagree with the assessment that this is a good story. I don't really think it is. It has good moments that never gel into a story. As much as it feels like it needs editing, greater clarity and focus will kill it--what Danielewski has created is the illusion of a good story, but is really a 700+ page love affair with his own writing.

He's wanking the entire time, but it's not a uniformly terrible wank. And while he might not do that many nice things with the design philosophy, the idea of a piece of media where you have to track down the plot actively is really compelling to me. Hey, it's what I liked about Hellsinker.

[Randorama]

what Danielewski has created is the illusion of a good story, but is really a 700+ page love affair with his own writing.

...welcome to post-modernism!

[xris]

I'm doing my usual pouring through reading material, but what I'm reading now has been really standout!
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, set in the near dystopic future, a very large virtual world has taken the place of the net and gaming in general. Created by a guy who was obsessed by 80's pop culture that has died, his vast fortune is up for grabs if it can be found by fulfilling the biggest easter egg hunt in gaming ever created. Filling to the brim with 80's nerdom and gaming in general, with a huge focus on referencing movies, tv, music, D&D, arcade classics, it goes on.. This had gotten some great reviews when it came out this summer, and has exceeded the hype for me. As someone who lived through the 80's and is familiar with all the dumb trivia that is being tossed out this has been so fun for me to read. I'm about half way through, and it's one of those books that I just don't want to stop reading. Highly suggested for the nerdy 35 year old and older crowd, or if you just love you some classic gaming and movies!

[CMoon]

Dark Souls has eaten all my reading time. I will hopefully be reading again by sometime in December.

[kid aphex]

Nothingness: The Science of Empty Space, Henning Genz

[greg]

I recently finished Lost Japan by Alex Kerr. Interesting, but with plenty of posturing and hyperbolating.

I'm now reading A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge. It's rather mind-bending SF space opera. It gives you concepts and you have to just go with them, even if it doesn't take the time to explain. Very interesting and imaginative.

[Arcade Legends 3]

Recently have read a book of D. Koontz, two novels of H. P. Lovecraft and a few stories of R. E. Howard. In the last two months I am in mood for fiction. That is why posting intensively, for me, in the forum.

[Daigohji]

I'm reading A Princess of Mars in anticipation of next year's John Carter movie. It's a refreshingly pure adventure after finishing Game of Thrones recently. No quadruple crossing nobles, no children being serial raped atop a pile of corpses, just two-fisted Martian punching action. John Carter is truly the Chuck Norris of Mars.

[CMoon]

two novels of H. P. Lovecraft and a few stories of R. E. Howard. In the last two months I am in mood for fiction. That is why posting intensively, for me, in the forum.

All great stuff.

'm reading A Princess of Mars in anticipation of next year's John Carter movie. It's a refreshingly pure adventure after finishing Game of Thrones recently. No quadruple crossing nobles, no children being serial raped atop a pile of corpses, just two-fisted Martian punching action. John Carter is truly the Chuck Norris of Mars.

Yeah, the first three John Carter books are where it's at. They got compiled into one volume by the University of Nebraska press (Bison books) for some goddamn reason. Nice to have a respectable looking copy. If you're just doing the most insane of the ERB books, also consider Beasts of Tarzan. I think its the second or third Tarzan book and it is absolutely, completely, fucking-out-of-control. Probably the most bonkers adrenaline-fueled pulp I've ever read.

[Daigohji]

If you're just doing the most insane of the ERB books, also consider Beasts of Tarzan. I think its the second or third Tarzan book and it is absolutely, completely, fucking-out-of-control. Probably the most bonkers adrenaline-fueled pulp I've ever read.

Sounds good. The sample chapter is downloading to my Kindle as I type.

Are all the John Carter books worth reading, or just the first three?

[CMoon]

Are all the John Carter books worth reading, or just the first three?

I only read part of the fourth and stopped because it seemed like it had really switched gears. The third book wraps up the john carter of mars plotline, and I guess I didn't feel like I needed more Mars.