ot: what are you reading?
by operation carrot on Jan 4, 2012 6:14 AM PST
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I just got a kindle fire for christmas and am looking for some ideas on how best to fill it up
You guys are maybe the best read sports blog on the planet so trust you can help me out
a few specific questions
I am very interested in reading Stephen King's Under the Dome and his other new one about the JFK assassination. Has anyone here read them? I don't read much King and I don't want to commit to books that big if there is no pay off.
My second question is that I've been thinking about reading comics again for the first time since junior high. Has anyone here checked out the DC reboot? Which books are good from that?
Beyond that as far as recommendations from myself I suggest you guys check out His Dark Materials, The wheel of time (final book comes out this year!), and for a lesser known book A Painted House by John Grisham was something I recently read and really enjoyed
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Just finished Visit from the Goon Squad and am finally starting on Kavalier and Clay. And I think next on the list is Blood’s a Rover which I need to read before I forget everything that happened in The Cold 6,000. I also have a resolution this year of finally tackling Infinite Jest. Also, periodicially dipping through Peter Schjeldahl’s Let’s See.
How’d you like Goon Squad, Roger? I really enjoyed it. And the world is ending in a year, you better read Infinite Jest!
I’m reading The Magician King, sequel to The Magicians, by Lev Grossman. It’s entertaining.
Just play a Brandon or two, come on!
I can't speak for Roger
But I really enjoyed A Visit From the Goon Squad. I mean, it was about San Francisco, New York, and punk rock: how could I not like it?
Glad to have the World Series win, but still waiting on my Kim Batiste bobblehead. GET OFF YOUR HANDS, GIANTS BRASS!!!!
Adopted Giant: Dave Dravecky, starting pitcher of the greatest regular-season game I've ever attended.
I think I had a complicated response to Goon Squad. I loved the writing throughout but I haven’t figured out quite yet how I feel about it overall. I think I loved it as a group of short stories, but as a novel: 1) I think there’s some bit of a cheat going on where she avoided full character development by moving sideways and backwards through more and more ancilliary characters; and 2) that future world in the final two chapters with its insubstantial hints of devastation really fell flat for me. I wasn’t sure how or why we had arrived there or what it meant and I kind of didn’t care.
So I both really liked and yet was somewhat harshly criticizing it at the same time. I’ll be interested in seeing what exactly she makes of this material in its HBO incarnation.
I’ve heard mixed things from friends about The Magicians. You dug it?
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 4, 2012 10:18 AM PST up reply actions
Man, I loved Kavalier and Clay.
As for Infinite Jest, personally I would recommend taking breaks from it, perhaps with short stories or shorter novels. Otherwise the combination of obvious brilliance and equally obvious self-importance can become overwhelming.
by BestHyperboleEver on Jan 4, 2012 7:40 AM PST up reply actions
Kavalier and Clay is on my list for this year, after too many years on the shelf. I’m also just getting into DFW, but haven’t convinced myself that I can reasonably add Infinite Jest to the bookshelf just yet. You can interpret that as literally as you want.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 4, 2012 10:17 AM PST up reply actions
I started Kavalier and Clay years ago and put it down never to be restarted. Maybe soon.
Another book I put down—even though it opens on 10/3/51 with the “shot heard ’round the world”—is Underworld by Don DeLillo. We were donating books to a reseller, and the wife came across it and read it. So it’s in the hole for me now.
One way or another, this darkness got to give.
Underworld is sitting on my coffee table, waiting for me to be ready for it.
Another one I’ve had on my shelf too long and plan to finally put down this year is A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, though I have read the copyright page multiple times. Oh, and Fortress of Solitude.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 4, 2012 10:29 AM PST up reply actions
Oh, Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius was sitting in my short list stack all last year and I never called it’s name. Maybe 2012.
I didn’t like Underworld as much as some others, but I thought the Prologue (originally published in the Atlantic as “Pafko at the Wall”) was brilliant. I still think Libra is his best work. I’m actually going to pick up his short story collection with one of my Christmas presents, along with 1Q84.
My first introduction to DeLillo was White Noise, and I wasn’t really a big fan. I was convinced to give Underworld a proper chance, and I’m really looking forward to it, actually. It’s just such a commitment and the semester is about to start again.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 4, 2012 11:26 AM PST up reply actions
Oh! Oh! Oh!
It’s really good! A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, I mean. I didn’t want to like it, but it’s really quite remarkable. Don’t let the self indulgent forward throw you. I’d just skip the forward and dive straight into the meat of the the thing. Then go back to the forward.
Andre Ethier: Gross-o-Matic 5000
-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler
Couldn't finish Kavalier and Clay
Got about halfway through.
I just finished The Catch, a book covering the Niners and Cowboys from that point forward a decade or so. It was surprisingly informative and even-handed. I learned lots of stuff I didn’t know, and I’ve read most books on the Walsh-era Niners.
"Your curses do not compare to those of Houston fans or Detroit fans, and especially not to those of fans from the northside of Chicago. You are not Hamlet. You are Valerie Bertinelli. Your victim act is schlocky, and totally unconvincing. You fancy yourself tormented. You are merely insecure."
-- Scott Burton to Red Sox fans, 6/12/02
http://espn.go.com/magazine/burton_20020612.html
"Kavalier and Clay"
I read that about 18 months ago. Very interesting novel and a good read.
"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner
I’m a big fan of Kavalier & Clay, but Yiddish Policeman’s Union is still my favorite Chabon. It’s just so much fun. I re-read it every year or so and I can’t stop smiling the whole way through. The characters are just so fantastic and the world he creates is so incredibly realized.
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
Proud parent of Javier Lopez: southpaw, poltergeist, haunter of dreams.
I just finished Heroes by Joe Abercrombie, which I enjoyed quite a bit. I will be reading his other work in the future. Currently reading Ratio by Michael Ruhlman.
2010 World Series Champions!
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
I'm about 425 pages into 11/22/63 (no spoilers, please).
I’m hoping to finish it this weekend. It’s been enjoyable so far.
I got a couple of books for Christmas (2030 by Albert Brooks and David Crockett: Lion of the West by Michael Wallis) that I’ll probably read next. I started reading A Clash of Kings but put it down for a little bit, I’d like to get back into that book.
Ask me about my blog.
I got that for Xmas. I’m looking forward to it.
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU (AGAIN) [now with theme song]
I tweet (and occasionally blarg) | Your San Francisco Giants: "Together We're Broken!"
by can of corn on Jan 4, 2012 8:29 AM PST via Android app up reply actions
Tinkers by Paul Harding. A relatively short novel that has taken me over a year to finish thanks to my 16-month-old daughter and, now, 10 week old puppy.
by BestHyperboleEver on Jan 4, 2012 7:42 AM PST reply actions
I'm re-reading (i.e. more carefully than the first time) The Color of America Has Changed
It’s a historical monograph about various civil rights movements and multiracial coalitions (mostly focusing on Mexican American, black, and Japanese) in California from the 1940s through the 1970s.
After this, I’m probably going to have to start reading for my courses this semester. Yay?/!
Don't think he can cut it in the bigs? Brock Bond will be the bigger man and walk walk walk away.
That sounds interesting. Why are you going back to it?
Bye Travis and thanks for 2010! Good luck with the Brewers!
I’m re-reading it because one of my areas of specialization is California history, so I figured I should get a better grasp of the book.
Don't think he can cut it in the bigs? Brock Bond will be the bigger man and walk walk walk away.
Here is my reading list for the upcoming two/three months:
The Windup Girl – Paul Bacigalupi (about 1/2 way through it. Reading it because I was burning myself out with difficult literature. All in all it’s an entertaining read, though I think a bit sloppy in the way its written)
Neverwhere – Neil Gaiman
Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
Tinkers – Paul Harding
The Brief History of the Dead – Kevin Brockmeier
A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich – Alexander Solzenitsyn
Mr. Flibble is very cross.
Hey, Never Let Me Go is probably the next book I’m going to read.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 4, 2012 10:20 AM PST up reply actions
Never Let Me Go
is a fantastic read. Love the concept, and the writing is sublime
My two favorite teams are the Giants, and whomever is playing the Dodgers!
by World Series or Bust on Jan 4, 2012 10:31 AM PST up reply actions
I decided it’s going to have to wait. I’m on the home stretch with my thesis (a novel), and I found that reading The Things They Carried, while extraordinarily worth my time, totally fucked with my fantasy-novel-writing roll. That said, I think I need to spend some time with a big, beautiful fantasy novel that features a great deal of trees (as this also describes what I’m trying to do).
With that in mind, I’m re-reading Little, Big. I was oddly lukewarm on it when I went in the first time three-ish years ago, but I think I’m a lot more prepared as a reader, and probably as a person, now than I was then to really be able to pick up what it’s putting down. Plus, hey, many trees.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 13, 2012 12:23 AM PST up reply actions
I’m over him. He always does unreliable narrator and it’s always kind of the same wistful blahdity blah. I did love Remains of the Day, tho.
Just play a Brandon or two, come on!
He wrote a novel called The Unconsoled (which seems to be his least known book) which I think is one of the best Kafka-influenced books I’ve ever read.
And I like Orphans and Never Let Me Go.
Remains of the Day is awesome. Also, he went to the same Creative Writing program that I attended.
Andre Ethier: Gross-o-Matic 5000
-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler
when my kids find a home...
Let me know what you think of wind up girl after you finish it.
I published it. :)
Yes! I DO have Nate's number tattoed on my ass. It's a long story.
http://www.leftymalo.com/2011/08/the_number_twelve.php
by jeremy.lassen on Jan 4, 2012 9:10 PM PST up reply actions
Neverwhere is my favorite Neil Gaiman novel.
Andre Ethier: Gross-o-Matic 5000
-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler
I read it about 6 months ago and enjoyed it very much. What other Gaiman books do you recommend?
"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner
That's a very, very good book.
11 01 10
Veni Vidi Vixi
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Jan 15, 2012 1:17 AM PST up reply actions
Just finished reading Life by Keith Richards. Enjoyed it a ton.
I’m about halfway through Love Goes to Buildings on Fire by Will Hermes. It’s a fantastic account of the New York music scene done in a very interesting “timeline” from new years day 1973 through NYE 77.
Obviously you have the birth of punk in there but also the rise of minimalism, loft jazz, latin/salsa, disco, and the birth of hip-hop. Throw in some performance art, graffiti art, the blackout of 77, the Son of Sam killings, and everything else important going on, it’s an amazing—and insanely well researched—document of five uber-important years in our creative culture.
Simply a brilliant read.
Also received Retromania – Pop Culture’s Addiction to It’s Own Past by Simon Reynolds for xMas. Wife’s reading it right now, but it’s on deck for me.
One way or another, this darkness got to give.
Man, bgunn
I read Keith Richards’ autobio last year too. Man, we gotta hang out.
"Your curses do not compare to those of Houston fans or Detroit fans, and especially not to those of fans from the northside of Chicago. You are not Hamlet. You are Valerie Bertinelli. Your victim act is schlocky, and totally unconvincing. You fancy yourself tormented. You are merely insecure."
-- Scott Burton to Red Sox fans, 6/12/02
http://espn.go.com/magazine/burton_20020612.html
yes Keith R gave us a real fun read.
Marvin Barrios, come on I'll show you your bedroom. Don't stay on the phone too long to Panama, please.
I got a fuckton of books for Christmas (which is how I like it). I just finished Replay by Ken Grimwood. I highly recommend it. I just started Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. Also now in the stack (in no particular order):
The Graveyard Book (Neil Gaiman)
The Night Circus (Erin Morgenstern)
The Art of Fielding (Chad Harbach)
IQ84 (Haruki Murakami)
11/22/63 (Stephen King)
I also need to work Game of Thrones in there, plus I’ll be reading bits of Against All Things Ending (Stephen R. Donaldson) in between. Reading Donaldson always teaches me new words. I don’t usually read it all at once because keeping track of timelines and characters takes some doing.
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU (AGAIN) [now with theme song]
I tweet (and occasionally blarg) | Your San Francisco Giants: "Together We're Broken!"
It’s not a popular choice, but Anansi Boys was one of my favorite Gaiman novels when I read it all those years ago.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 4, 2012 10:30 AM PST up reply actions
I haven’t read any Gaiman—can anyone recommend a starter? Oddly enough I’m more versed in his wife’s work (Amanda Palmer/Dresden Dolls).
One way or another, this darkness got to give.
Sandman is the obvious place to start, but it may depend on what you’re looking for. I started with Stardust, but I think his most well liked novel is generally American Gods.
The stuff for the younger set is probably where his prose quality has been the highest, though, if you like books for younger folks. Coraline or Graveyard Book will do you fine, though I think the latter has a bit of an unsettled ending.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 4, 2012 10:40 AM PST up reply actions
I’m about a third of the way through American Gods right now (my first Gaiman book). Pretty good stuff so far.
by TakeTheBlack on Jan 4, 2012 12:32 PM PST up reply actions
Under the Dome
is not bad, but not anywhere near his best, and the ending is quaint, but left me wanting more. I see it as a poor man’s The Stand, which is my favorite King book to date.
If you liked Grisham’s Painted House, I would also recommend Baldacci’s, “Wish You Were Here”, which I thought was a superior book.
My two favorite teams are the Giants, and whomever is playing the Dodgers!
by World Series or Bust on Jan 4, 2012 10:34 AM PST reply actions
I’ve been listening to Under the dome on audio tape. That was my Xmas sf-to-San-Diego-drive-to-see-the-parents-audio-book. there and back, I’m about half way through Dome. Loving it so far.
Also, I got to the point where the (Newspaper editor?) makes the observation about her town going crazy, and how she never thought she would see that because basically, they are good people — and realized that UNDER THE DOME is Stephen King’s 9/11 book. Bush is big Jim, etc etc. It’s a microcosm-reflection of Post 9/11 America. begins with the tragic tail of a bunch of innocent people dying for no good reason, in a completely unexpected way, and then watches town go crazy. Anyway, I haven’t finished yet, so I could be way off base. But that’s my thought so far.
Yes! I DO have Nate's number tattoed on my ass. It's a long story.
http://www.leftymalo.com/2011/08/the_number_twelve.php
by jeremy.lassen on Jan 4, 2012 9:04 PM PST up reply actions
Pretty good thought.
It definitely had those themes in it. It veers away from that at the end (which I was a bit disappointed by), but it was well worth the read overall.
I’m finally reading The Things They Carried in its entirety, which is cool, because it’s really, really great. I’m also in a book club that’s reading The Hunger Games, which I understand is not well liked by a few people here, but has been mostly okay through five chapters.
I just finished The Girl Who Fell from the Sky, which was pretty good
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
If you can hang through a little more than an hour of You Tube video, Tim O’Brien’s talk at our Central Library last year was an incredibly moving evening.
I’ll be watching it a bit at a time, I think.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 4, 2012 11:29 AM PST up reply actions
I read The Things They Carried in college and loved it. Which stands out because, as a slow reading Lit major, I didn’t really have time to linger upon/really love anything if I wanted to get my assignments done.
by BestHyperboleEver on Jan 4, 2012 11:42 AM PST up reply actions
I thought Hunger Games was fine for what it is — teenage fiction. Enough entertainment and suspense for guys our age.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Jan 4, 2012 11:46 AM PST up reply actions
I thought that the Hunger Games series was a fun read. Not high art, but who says everything you read has to be? I read the entire trilogy in just over a week – it was a great story.
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU (AGAIN) [now with theme song]
I tweet (and occasionally blarg) | Your San Francisco Giants: "Together We're Broken!"
I liked the series, although the author never matched the level of the first book. There’s also a huge disconnect in how the regime handled the protagonists after the first book. The author needs to go back and see how totalatarian regimes handled dissent and revolution throughout human history.
"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner
With the exception of one chapter (or story, whichever you prefer), The Things They Carried Was one of the best things I read in High School.
"I see these guys walking around with rings on, and I want one. That's what it's all about." -Ryan Vogelsong
I’ll once again go on record as saying that The Things They Carried is a fantastic piece of literature.
Andre Ethier: Gross-o-Matic 5000
-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler
Finished it recently and, suffice it to say, my perfectly high expectations were met.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 13, 2012 12:17 AM PST up reply actions
Love these book threads
Just started The Help last night. Think I read a third of it.
I’m also a bit into Cities and Climate Change.
Bye Travis and thanks for 2010! Good luck with the Brewers!
Thoughts
First, I’m fresh off of the Dark Tower series. If you’re like me and not a speed reader, it’ll take up a good quarter to half a year to complete, but it’s excellent reading. The ending, like many King books, upsets some people, but I really really enjoyed the series as a whole. I also want to read 11/22/63, so if anyone ends up finishing it let me know if it’s worth a read too.
Also just got through another Star Wars EU series…it’s not great fiction but fun to read if you like Star Wars.
After spending a lot of time with those series, I’m heading out to nonfiction for a bit. I’m partway through Michael Lewis’ The Big Short and I’ll knock out his Liar’s Poker after that.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
my step dad said dark tower is really good
its on my eventual to do list and will one of the additions to my kindle fire.
Sometimes you just have to look death in the face and say whatever man
Proud parent of Jeff Keppinger's better half
by operation carrot on Jan 4, 2012 11:58 AM PST up reply actions
as for The Big Short
Reading about the crap that went on in the mortgage bond market is just appalling.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Jan 4, 2012 1:01 PM PST up reply actions
Liar’s Poker is remarkable in that Lewis basically nails everything that is to come roughly 20 years before it actually does.
Andre Ethier: Gross-o-Matic 5000
-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler
I am a Tower Junkie.
I can’t get enough of it. I’ve re-read the entire series four times so far. Without giving aways spoilers, I agree with King’s statement about the ending. It was really the only ending the book could have had.
An eighth DT novel is slated for release in the spring. It’s called “A Wind Through the Keyhole” and is apparently a sort of Dark Tower 4.5. It fits in between then end of Wizard and Glass and the ka tet arriving in the Calla.
I’m about a quarter of the way through 11/22/63 right now and it’s really good so far. Nice twist on the old time travel themes. It already ties into the DT universe through IT as well and if King goes where I think he’s going with the rest of the story it would really have some cool implications for how I would view the DT stories and especially the ending of that series.
Has anyone read the terrygood kind sword of truth series?
people swear its the best fantasy out there but im not so sure
non fiction wise Desert Solitude by Edward Abbey is amazin
Sometimes you just have to look death in the face and say whatever man
Proud parent of Jeff Keppinger's better half
by operation carrot on Jan 4, 2012 12:00 PM PST reply actions
As an aside, my favorite Edward Abbey quote is one I came across while researching for some ad copy.
"There is science, logic, reason; there is thought verified by experience. And then there is California."
by BestHyperboleEver on Jan 4, 2012 12:03 PM PST up reply actions
Nah, didn’t like it too much. I’m an advocate of David Gemmell for crumby fantasy.
Andre Ethier: Gross-o-Matic 5000
-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler
Reading for class. This time around I have some interesting stuff, mostly for my seminar on the US’s role as a declining superpower in a multi-polar system. We’re reading Great Powers: America and the World After Bush by Thomas P.M. Barnett, and That Used to Be Us by Thomas Friedman. I’ve read some of Friedman’s stuff and thought it was pretty good, like The World is Flat. Maybe someday I’ll have the attention span to read for leisure.
READ MY BLOG(S)!
Baseballin' on a Budget, Bay City Ball, and assorted California League goodness.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jan 4, 2012 12:30 PM PST reply actions
Great Powers: America and the World After Bush
Chapter 1: Spend $$ on stimulus
Chapter 2: Profit?
Prologue: Implosion of the 2012 Republican party.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Jan 4, 2012 1:00 PM PST up reply actions
I liked Anansi Boys a lot, never got to any other Gaiman.
Just finished “When the Killing’s Done” by T. C. Boyle, real good. I like all his stuff, some of it extremely so, like Drop City and Riven Rock. Tortilla Curtain also good. He is an Observer of Modern California for sure.
Now skimming “Shelters of Stone” in the Cave Bear series. It repeats so dang much—cries out for ruthless editing—but there is an occasional good idea.
I think “the big short” is coming soon in the mail.
Marvin Barrios, come on I'll show you your bedroom. Don't stay on the phone too long to Panama, please.
I’m the reverse—not enough happens in the short stories.
The novels tend to be about difficult, extreme people. Kinsey, the sex researcher (Inner Circle); a bunch of acid heads on a commune who move to alaska (Drop City). A rich guy who has a psychotic break and is treated by incompetent methods around 1905 (Riven Rock). A tree hugger and his family, now and a few decades from now, as the climate goes crazy (Friend of the Earth). An illegal immigrant couple living poor in the woods near a smug, comfortable “ecological” San Diego guy married to a high end realtor (Tortilla Curtain). An Irish lad who explores Africa, and a London con man sent there as a prisoner (Water Music)
Marvin Barrios, come on I'll show you your bedroom. Don't stay on the phone too long to Panama, please.
Im reading Storm of Swords right now
Great series so far.
"I dont always hit home runs, but when I do, I prefer World Series winning home runs"
I just started into this series 2 nights ago. I’m about 150 pages into Game of Thrones. It’s good so far, although I’m having a bit of trouble keeping track of all of the characters and names and the past history of the realm.
"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner
Yeah, that was a particular concern.
It was helpful to track back and re-read certain parts of Dany’s chapters when they touched upon the history in the Stark chapters.
Finally finished one of the 4 books I’ve started. David Bowie biography by Marc Spitz. More informative than anything. Good overall detail of his career & personal life.
/finds Cracked Actor on ipod
/turns up volume
Giants Baseball: Hope like hell™
Proud father of the man in charge of taking your hard-earned cash.
Remember if you are cheap and don’t mind “horrible” olde tyme public domain books, there’s freekindlebooks.org
I’m not reading anything anybody would be interested in. I just finished:
Starting Small:Teaching Tolerance
Behind the Playdough Curtain
Going Solo [part 2 of Roald Dahl’s autobio]
and
Q’s Legacy
Most of my reading is limited to what I can pick up at the 2nd hand store for 99¢ and what I can hold in one hand while on the elliptical x-trainer dealie.
Adopted Giant: Eddie I Have It Grant.
TSFGWTWS DESPITE Botchy, not BECAUSE of him.
So many wonderful ‘collected writings of’.
Andre Ethier: Gross-o-Matic 5000
-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
I’m only about a third of the way through, and it currently seems a little bit Calvino-lite, but still pretty fun and quintessentially “rollicking”.
Am also midway through Follow Me Down by Kio Stark, which alternates between being a beautiful meditation on Brooklyn and time and lost things, and an almost unbearably irritating meditation on the pains of being an emotionally crippled hot chick.
My son is Madison Bumgarner, the Bipolar Stuffed Sheep of pitching prospects. My other son is a Porsche.
Cloud Atlas is one of my favorite books of all time!
I prefer Mitchell to Calvino, but I can see the argument for Calvino’s superiority.
Mr. Flibble is very cross.
Well, I haven't hit the part where the stories turn around again...
…but I suspect Mitchell’s not quite as willing to leave you staring into the narrative abyss as Calvino is. My guess is that If On a Winter’s Night a Traveler built the engine, but Cloud Atlas actually drove the car somewhere.
So it’s really hard to say which one is superior. But Calvino’s a lot more streamlined, which works better with my Adderall-addled brain.
My son is Madison Bumgarner, the Bipolar Stuffed Sheep of pitching prospects. My other son is a Porsche.
Although If On a Winter’s Night was itself heavily influenced by Nabakov (particularly Pale Fire) and Boccaccio’s Decameron, so I don’t know if built the engine or just refined it a bit.
I’ve always had a tremendous fondness for Calvino’s The Baron in the Trees, personally.
I hate these threads so much. Now I have to read Pale Fire and Decameron.
by Grant Brisbee on Jan 6, 2012 1:43 PM PST up reply actions
True, true ...
Looking at my bookshelf stresses me out. I should probably find a different hobby.
by Grant Brisbee on Jan 8, 2012 9:46 PM PST up reply actions
Lots of Non-Fiction Lately
1) You Are Not So Smart by David McRaney
2) Letters to a Young Contrarian by Christopher Hitchens
3) California: A History by Kevin Starr
4) At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson
All recommended. Numbers 1, 3, and 4 are well-documented but still written in engaging prose. Number 2 is Hitch going off, which can be alternately fun, insightful, and at times boorish. One of his more concise works, though, so very digestable.
Hitting 74 on the radar gun but hitting my spots.
by VidaWantsYourCar on Jan 4, 2012 3:19 PM PST reply actions
I read Bryson’s
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
interesting.
Adopted Giant: Eddie I Have It Grant.
TSFGWTWS DESPITE Botchy, not BECAUSE of him.
Hey, rope...
Happened to see that you’re reading Dahl’s autobio…I once read a piece about his life in some erudite magazine (which one I can’t recall); is his personal take on his own life as depressing as the author’s I read?
Hitting 74 on the radar gun but hitting my spots.
by VidaWantsYourCar on Jan 4, 2012 4:07 PM PST up reply actions
it didn’t seem overly depressing to me.
It’s not exactly a standard autobiography, he explains that he is going to write about the memorable events in his life, and that’s what he does.
Adopted Giant: Eddie I Have It Grant.
TSFGWTWS DESPITE Botchy, not BECAUSE of him.
Sabean’s Folly recommends Bryson. I haven’t really looked into his stuff, though.
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU (AGAIN) [now with theme song]
I tweet (and occasionally blarg) | Your San Francisco Giants: "Together We're Broken!"
I also reccomend
especially Made in America, the Mother Tongue and In a Sunburned Country
Mark DeRosa , he had his moments.
Bryson is great fun.
He has also written about Australia, Shakespeare, and The House.
He is the world's most annoying rooster.
by gallo del cielo on Jan 15, 2012 6:12 PM PST up reply actions
Hey, Kevin Starr's California history book
Something I have to get around to reading sooner or later
Don't think he can cut it in the bigs? Brock Bond will be the bigger man and walk walk walk away.
A few weeks ago, I finished "Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN".
It’s a long book, but it’s a quick, fun read, and I highly recommend it. I haven’t read any of the books in the DC reboot, but I’ve heard good things about the new Aquaman and Batman books.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take"-Wayne Gretzky"-Michael Scott.
by SharksFanEst.1994 on Jan 4, 2012 7:13 PM PST reply actions
Currently:
Beyond The Game by Gary Smith
How Soccer Shaped The World by Franklin Foer
And this charming hardcover.
My son, so I'm told. And this stalwart young lad (Hi, free f.p. #14!).
Good stuff
but I trend towards SF and Fantasy:
Seed by Rob Ziegler.
It’s a near future dystopian/apoclyptic SF novel.
The Emperors Knife by Mazarkis Williams
Epic fantasy. Kingdoms, murders, magic.
I’m also sneaking in a re-read of Steven Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen series. (Gardens of the Moon, Dead House Gates, Memories of Ice, etc)
I read this series one book at a time as it came out. amazing stuff. Some of the best epic fantasy ever written. Think George Martin, except complicated, and larger scale. And it actually came out one book a year, and lasted as long as was promised when book 1 was published. Awesome. Steven Erikson is what made me forget about GRRM, during the four years between book 3 and 4 of fire and ice… so much so that I didn’t bother reading book 4 of fire and ice.
Yes! I DO have Nate's number tattoed on my ass. It's a long story.
http://www.leftymalo.com/2011/08/the_number_twelve.php
Think George Martin, except complicated, and larger scale.
??!!
Andre Ethier: Gross-o-Matic 5000
-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler
yes
yeah. that’s what I mean. Scale of world building in the Malazan series is CRAZY. Author was an archeologist in his day job, and spent a lot of time constructing a variety of human and pre human civilizations,with a time line that is HUGE. Think DUNE style world building. It’s pretty crazy – the mount Everest of fantasy fiction, IMO. — It’s not for everybody, but i loved it.
I always ask people: Did you LIKE the fact that GRRM had a dozen or so POV characters, and jumped around a lot, or did that bug you. If it bugged you, Malazan isn’t for you, because it’s like that, but MORE.
Yes! I DO have Nate's number tattoed on my ass. It's a long story.
http://www.leftymalo.com/2011/08/the_number_twelve.php
by jeremy.lassen on Jan 5, 2012 7:05 AM PST up reply actions
Think George Martin, except complicated, and larger scale.
??!!
Andre Ethier: Gross-o-Matic 5000
-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler
Got a few going
Dreams From my Father, Obama.
In My Father’s Name, Mark Arax, a reread. (I don’t have issues, dammit)
Life of Pi, slowly but surely. It just started to pick up. He’s on the boat with animals and such.
I was charging through Shiloh but left it at a friend’s house while we were doing a film shoot. I’m bitter but will retain the book in due time. He had Blood Meridian, and I will liberate that as my price for his transgression.
Andre Ethier: Gross-o-Matic 5000
-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler
I switched back from reading a lot to watching a lot of TV. Now that I've watched every episode of every series ever, I'll probably start reading again.
The last few things I read:
Catch-22: Great, great, great book.
Slaughterhouse 5: I’m really awful at picking up on symbolism or whatever this book was supposed to contain, but I didn’t love it.
Kite Runner: Sad, but I did enjoy it.
Carter Jurica!
"Has anyone really been for even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?"
I also spent a year getting myself up to speed on the single hackiest fantasy epic ever.
Yep, all eleventy billion words of the Wheel of Time.
Incredibly fucking tedious for large stretches… Kind of turned me off reading anything but my RSS feed for a while. And yet, and yet… get the lead out and type, Sanderson.
My son is Madison Bumgarner, the Bipolar Stuffed Sheep of pitching prospects. My other son is a Porsche.
yeah i know what you mean
Books 1 through 5 is prolly the best stretch of fantasy ever written. But 6 through ten gets a little tough. Specially book ten where almost nothing happens. But luckily 11 was good and sanderson while much different from Jordan has been great. Cant wait for MoL
Sometimes you just have to look death in the face and say whatever man
Proud parent of Jeff Keppinger's better half
by operation carrot on Jan 5, 2012 9:09 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
My favorite awful bits are the parts where he writes about Elayne avoiding meetings.
Not even attending meetings. About her efforts to not have them.
Sanderson has done more character development in two books than in 6 through 10 combined. Also, keeping one eye on the boards helped a lot—the proper fanboys are able to point out that the long stretches of tedium in 6-10 are chock full of hints that pay out in the final three.
My son is Madison Bumgarner, the Bipolar Stuffed Sheep of pitching prospects. My other son is a Porsche.
theories for mol?
Personally I think the bit about rands death is in relation to the part of him that is the dragon. He will burn out and lose the ability to channel/ lews therrin and will finally get to be a farmer. Did you ever hear that if Jordan survived he was going to write about mat and tuons adventures after the final battle
Sometimes you just have to look death in the face and say whatever man
Proud parent of Jeff Keppinger's better half
by operation carrot on Jan 5, 2012 8:36 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
New King is the first I've read from him in almost 15 or 20 years ...
But I liked it a lot. Quick and filling, like tacos from an expert taco truck.
Just picked up Breakfast of Champions. Gonna give Vonnegut another shot.
Carter Jurica!
"Has anyone really been for even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?"
Oh?
Carter Jurica!
"Has anyone really been for even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?"
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 5, 2012 9:20 PM PST up reply actions
Sure.
Carter Jurica!
"Has anyone really been for even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?"
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 6, 2012 2:44 PM PST up reply actions
lol
Don't think he can cut it in the bigs? Brock Bond will be the bigger man and walk walk walk away.
I was trying to figure out a clever way to tell you I got this reference, but then I decided I should just call you an asshole.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
Yup
Just got to this part.
Carter Jurica!
"Has anyone really been for even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?"
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 6, 2012 6:13 PM PST up reply actions
Reading
The Information Diet — Clay Johnson
I love those kinds of info-wonky things.
And
Annals of a Former World — John McPhee
Because I love McPhee, but this one is a little hard to get into so far.
Still backing Notgardo, wheresoever he may wander. (Don't forget to wriiiite!)
John McPhee is awesome.
"I see these guys walking around with rings on, and I want one. That's what it's all about." -Ryan Vogelsong
You know what is a good book to read if youre feeling depressed about your job or lack there of
The Ax by Donald Westlake
Its basically about this guy who gets fired from his old job
a job opening that he is perfect for appears in the classifieds
he kills off all his competition so that he is the only applicant
its pretty hilarious and well done
Sometimes you just have to look death in the face and say whatever man
Proud parent of Jeff Keppinger's better half
by operation carrot on Jan 6, 2012 6:58 AM PST reply actions
don’t give me any ideas
I have an interview this morning…and woke up with the Mr’s disease [which was recently rediagnosed as pneumonia and bronchitis]
Adopted Giant: Eddie I Have It Grant.
TSFGWTWS DESPITE Botchy, not BECAUSE of him.
That’s an extremely not-fun way to be sick.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 6, 2012 9:18 AM PST up reply actions
Currently reading The Magicians and really digging it. I’m a huge fan of writers who can advance plot while being concise and beautiful at the same time. One of my favorite authors like that is Martin Cruz-Smith, though that’s really plot-driven stuff.
I’m currently in a phase where I can’t stop buying books, and it’s killing me. So many booooooks. I’ve bought the following books in the past four months, and there’s no way I’m going to read them all:
Blind Assassin – Margaret Atwood
The Catcher Was A Spy
Einstein’s Dreams – Alan Lightman
The Worst Hard Time – Timothy Egan
The Lost City of Z
The Path Between the Seas/John Adams – David McCullough
Zeitoun – David Eggers
Ficciones – Borges
The Singularity is Near – Kurzwell
Based on how quickly I finished all the GOT and the last Stephen King, I should probably just stick to well-written popcorn.
Have you ever read Ficciones before? Borges is awesome, in English or in Spanish. The Garden of Forking Paths (El jardin de los senderos que se bifurcan) is probably one of my favorite stories from any writer.
Nope. But I'm a check if it's on Netflix right now.
…..and it is. Sweet.
by Grant Brisbee on Jan 8, 2012 9:45 PM PST up reply actions
I love Cruz-Smith and have read all of his novels. His recent stuff (especially in the Arkady Renko series) has been very below-par, IMO.
"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner
I really liked Wolves Eat Dogs, if that’s one of the ones you’re referring to. But he’s a total badass writer.
by Grant Brisbee on Jan 8, 2012 9:43 PM PST up reply actions
will look for Wolves. On the Renko series—I liked Polar Star a lot. Must have been another thread, I was saying Five Stations has big gaps. Havana Bay some excellent parts.
In non-Renko MC Smith, Rose is awesome, riveting, could be an excellent and juicy film. Stallion Gate, which has Robert Oppenheimer as a character, is lots of fun.
Marvin Barrios, come on I'll show you your bedroom. Don't stay on the phone too long to Panama, please.
by foothillsfan on Jan 11, 2012 10:17 AM PST up reply actions
I finally finished Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet
Epic. I liked Follet way before I heard Oprah made this specific book her Book of the Month thingy.
Follet has awesome style, easy to read, fast paced. This book happens to be exceptional.
Currently I am working on Bill Clinton’s newest book, something like getting back to work. Fascinating look on government and economy. He takes the complex issues head on, communicates them like nobody else on this earth ever can (seems like), and gives concrete examples. That man is awesome, and is a good read going into 2012 election.
Blerg
And I need to read POTE too, dammit.
Need to win the lottery, move to Hawaii, and just read all day.
by Grant Brisbee on Jan 6, 2012 2:01 PM PST up reply actions
I walked away for half a year
Same with night over water by Follet, 2 of his bigger books. Anything over 400-500 pp I get fatigued with.
Blerg
Ah yes,
the Goofus plan.
"I see these guys walking around with rings on, and I want one. That's what it's all about." -Ryan Vogelsong
I bought The Pale King today. Posthumous works can be despressing, but then again, it’s DFW, so I have no choice.
Just play a Brandon or two, come on!
I hate that airport.
2010 World Series Champions!
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Jan 7, 2012 8:26 AM PST up reply actions
we should do a book in common thing
I like book in common more than calling it a book club
anyways would there be interest in doing that?
not per month cuz we are all pretty busy but maybe a book every other month
Sometimes you just have to look death in the face and say whatever man
Proud parent of Jeff Keppinger's better half
by operation carrot on Jan 7, 2012 1:08 PM PST via Android app reply actions
count me in.
Marvin Barrios, come on I'll show you your bedroom. Don't stay on the phone too long to Panama, please.
Color me intrigued.
Though I can’t say I read nearly as much as I should.
"I see these guys walking around with rings on, and I want one. That's what it's all about." -Ryan Vogelsong
Got a Kindle for Christmas
First two books: Ulysses and War & Peace.
W&P is awesome, love it. Ulysses is an impenetrable, incomprehensible pile of crap.
These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx
Speaking of well loved incomprehensible books, I read The Sound and the Fury recently.
I was not a fan.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
by groug on Jan 7, 2012 8:05 PM PST via Android app up reply actions
That’s another book that’s good to read with assistance (preferably in a class), though I think it’s easier to put together without any. Only the Benjy and Quentin sections are really tough.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 7, 2012 8:50 PM PST up reply actions
I read the plot summary on Wikipedia after I was done.
I had no idea most of that happened.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
They did WHAT to Benjy? Down WHERE?
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 13, 2012 12:15 AM PST up reply actions
Really? Like what? I remember reading hat the first time the summer before my masters program, and having just finished Under the Volcano I actually didn’t find it that difficult.
The great thing about Sound and the Fury (I mean besides it general fun and wonderful ness) is that you can see the beginnings of several of his other great works. The Quentin chapter is pure ur-absalom absalom, the Jason chapter is pre-Snopes (and The Hamlet is really a criminally overlooked comic masterpiece), and the final chapter is Go Down Moses. Then the wonder that is the Benji chapter — well a splendid time is guaranteed for all IMO.
Originally Faulkner wanted the Benji chapter to be printed in motion-colored ink, with the colors changing with each new associated thought, but of course hat was prohibitively expensive. Still I found the use of italics to be enough clue to point me in the right direction.
Right.
He is the world's most annoying rooster.
by gallo del cielo on Jan 15, 2012 6:17 PM PST up reply actions
It took me two reads to figure out what had happened and then the third read to actually start to enjoy it.
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
Proud parent of Javier Lopez: southpaw, poltergeist, haunter of dreams.
Hint:
There’s two of them. I remember the first time I read it, maybe in high school, I figured this out about half way through and then went back to the beginning immediately.
2012 is going to be awesome!
Shoot, it took me most of Lord of the Flies
to figure out that Samneric was not one person with a really odd name.
11 01 10
Veni Vidi Vixi
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Jan 17, 2012 7:22 AM PST up reply actions
If you want to read Ulysses, you really should read it with a companion book. The Bloomsday Book is a good one for accessibility and usefulness.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 7, 2012 8:46 PM PST up reply actions
I understand that
But a novel really ought not to require a commentary to enjoy it thoroughly. I don’t mind dense, difficult reads (looking at you, James Fenimore Cooper) but Ulysses may as well be written in something other than English.
These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx
Long portions of it essentially are!
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 8, 2012 10:29 AM PST up reply actions
Just finished ‘Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer: A Road Trip Into the Heart of Fan Mania’ by Warren St. John (I’d also recommend ‘Outcasts United,’ which he also wrote). It’s basically an ethnography disguised as a sports book, and as a college football fan I found it both fascinating and hilarious.
Just started ‘Inverting the Pyramid: A History of Football Tactics’ by Jonathan Wilson. I don’t know how much I’m into soccer tactics, but so far the book has been solid purely as an introductory to soccer history.
Also working on ‘Sirens of Titan’ by Vonnegut.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
Steppenwolf, but it’s kind of depressing
go rowand
by lincypoo i wuv u on Jan 8, 2012 8:19 PM PST reply actions
Fables?
Anyone read the Vertigo comic “Fables” by Willingham? I’m into the 4th trade paperback and enjoying it, but I’m curious if it holds up. I think there are 15 books to the regular series so far, and a bunch of spin-offs.
"Man, you just can't beat a good bowl of gumbo." ~ William Nuschler Clark
Finished "The Magicians"
Holy shit, that was a fantastic book. There was a Gauntlet reference. There was a Gauntlet reference. Also the writing was top-notch. Can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel.
Gauntlet as in, “Man, that was a real gauntlet,” or Gauntlet as in, “Blue wizard is about to die”?
"I see these guys walking around with rings on, and I want one. That's what it's all about." -Ryan Vogelsong
Great Science Fiction and Fantasy
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
(above appreciation by Lev Grossman, for all you fans of The Magicians)
The Postmortal by Drew Magary
Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow
The Boneshaker by Kate Milford
(not Boneshaker by Cherie Priest, which kinda sucked)
The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry
Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold (which doesn’t actually fit the category but is great)
As you can see, I’m a big fan of world-building.
11 01 10
Veni Vidi Vixi
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Jan 12, 2012 9:33 PM PST reply actions
I finally gave up on The Art of Fielding. It’s just dreadful. Don’t let me stop any of you from reading it, tho, apparently I’m in a small (yet vocal, at least on amazon) minority.
I’m trying to decide if I’m ready to dive into The Pale King yet, or I might try Colson Whitehead’s zombie novel, Zone One.
Just play a Brandon or two, come on!
Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72
thought it would be appropriate to read a chapter a month over the course of this year, though I may get bored and plow through it all at once at any point between now and the election.
“In other words, the weight of the evidence filtering down seems to say we’re all fucked. [Romney] is a bonehead who steals his best lines from old [Bush] speeches. [Huntsman] is doomed because everybody who knows him has so much respect for the man that they can’t bring themselves to degrade the poor bastard by making him run for President… [Rick Perry] is a dunce, [Ron Paul] is crazy, [Gingrich] is doomed and useless, [Santorum] should have stayed in bed… and, well, that just about wraps up the trip, right?”
[names inserted replaced Muskie, Nixon, McGovern, John Lindsay, Gene McCarthy, Humphrey, and Scoop Jackson respectively.]
by Royce Clayton as Miguel Tejada on Jan 13, 2012 5:43 PM PST reply actions
Harrison’s Internal Medicine and Miller’s Anesthesia.
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
Proud parent of Javier Lopez: southpaw, poltergeist, haunter of dreams.
What am I NOT reading?
The Nook Color given me last year.
Looks like I landed on the Betamax/Laserdisc side of that showdown.
11 01 10
Veni Vidi Vixi
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Jan 17, 2012 8:05 AM PST reply actions
I just finished the newest Abarat book (Clive Barker). I’m about as happy as I was after the first book (which was very happy), which is always good news mid-series.
Otherwise…I think most of what I’m reading has already been mentioned….ASOIAF, 1Q84, umm…oh! And I’m reading Tamora Pierce’s latest Beka Cooper book because I am apparently still 12 years old.
Vroom. Walks. Five positions. Justin Christian
I've been fully suckered into the Twitterverse. Oops.
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