What are you reading?
 

I'm reading The Sound and the Fury!

shit is fucked up; I had to keep flipping back and forth in the first chapter to understand what is going on. Highly recommended!

I also just got done with Steinbeck's Travels with Charley. He's writing about a roadtrip he took with Charley (his dog), as told in little anecdotes or short, discrete events. Not that there isn't a running thread in the narrative, but I really liked that, because I could read a chapter or two before going to bed and not feel like I'm reading the book wrong. I actually found myself reading more slowly near the end, drawing out the experience... kind of in love with Steinbeck's voice now.

Man, I love Steinbeck. Travels with Charley was a ton of fun, though he did get a little bit BACK IN MY DAY in some parts of the book (even though I've driven across the country three times I'd still love to do it on all back roads because of him).

My parents got me a Kindle Touch for Christmas and I've really been enjoying it a lot. I raided the Kindle store and got a bunch of free books. So far I've gone through a handful of books, and enjoyed all of them but one thoroughly. Trying to figure out what I want to read next, so I guess I'll give an update when I figure that out.

One of the things I read was Jonathan Swift's essay, "A Modest Proposal." Man, that is epic trolling from the early eighteenth century.

I tried reading things on my husband's kindle and I just didn't like it. I have a feeling I'll never feel comfortable reading things on it :( It's sort of the same thing with library books - for one I don't like going to the library and I enjoy having a copy of the book myself. Strange likes and dislikes.

Right now I'm re-reading Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle for the 50th time over. Favorite book ever, besides Catch 22. Always gets me laughing.

I think after this I'm going to delve into more JD Salinger stuff, since I still need to read Catcher and the Rye (sadly enough, for some reason I got through high school without HAVING to read it...and I regret not doing so). I fell in love with his writing style with Nine Stories and I really want to read more about the Glass family, so I think I may read Franny and Zooey before that. We'll see.

Lord of the Rings because I've never read it...

I know. I know.

As dorky as it sounds, I've been reading D&D Dungeon Master Handbook, the PLayer's Handbook and the monster manual. I know it doesn't count as real reading but I'm trying to run my first campaign as a DM.

As for real reading, I'm re-reading SlaughterHouse 5 for the 20th time.

I'm a few chapters into The Ancestor's Tale by Richard Dawkins, and I also started rereading The Trial by Franz Kafka to test-drive the kindle for leisure reading since it's useless at converting research papers from pdf (not bad, though I imagine a more refined kindle touch model would feel more intuitive).

There are a few books I'd like to get started with. I was bought My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell last year, I've also got Wild by Jay Griffiths, I'd like to reread The Outsider by Albert Camus, I've been highly recommended The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby, not to mention I'd like to buy 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. It also occurs to me that I've not read any Vonnegut since I was 15. I just need to drag myself away from consoles and Minecraft for long enough to actually read them!

Every now and then I glimpse at Epictetus' Enchiridion and Aurelius' Meditations. Should get started at Machiavelli's The Prince soon.

I finished the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo last year and got half way in The Girl who played with Fire.

Wut. You thought I don't read? LOL, trouble is with all of that gaming time though, I just barely get the interest in them. I barely keep up even with graphic novels and manga.

Maybe the single most overrated fiction in history. (in before Paco says the bible) Certainly the most overrated protagonist ever. Just an insufferable read, start to finish.

I've got a couple books on the go right now. Reading More's Utopia, re-reading Lord of the Rings, currently halfway through two towers, the Hagakure and a collection of Foucault's essays on de Sade.

Then it sounds like I'll start with Franny and Zooey instead :S

I thought Catcher in the Rye was still an enjoyable read, you just have to take it for what it is. Some dude bitching about how everything else sucks, and he's better than everyone else because he can swear a lot.

I recently finished Murder on the Orient Express and am currently reading through a compilation of Miss Marple novels, of which, I have completed The Mirror Crack'd.

I have Salinger's nine short stories, haven't read it though. The way they needed to remind us on the cover that this is from the author of Catcher in the Rye (also haven't read) kinda made me back off... Plus, I've never been too fond of short stories, either you get shit character development or you get great development that gets you itching for something larger. I'll get to it some day.

Last Steinbeck book I read was Grapes of Wrath, well worth it.

Currently I'm rereading The Story of Buddhism: A Concise Guide to its History and Teachings. Read it about a year before getting to Guatemala. I just need to read something that can make existence seem a bit more comforting... Also a way to not let the environment around me get to me so much. Plus it has some material that would make you think that the experiences/imaginary places being described come from someone's acid trip. I'll probably read it again in a few years.

The last wonderful book I read was Dostoyevsky's The Idiot. Would love to get my hands on Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov. Just about anything by him really.

An LOTR/Hobbit reread is in order!

A friend of mine just recently let me borrow "Invisible Monsters" by Chuck Palahniuk. I haven't started yet but I've been told that I would enjoy the shit out of this book.

Having finally read Neuromancer, I'm on a Gibson tour right now. Currently going through the collection of his short stories, Burning Chrome.

After that I have Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive waiting.

I also finally got around to ordering Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun series, though I don't know when I'll be actually reading them.

I've been reading Steven Eriskon's Malazan: Book of the Fallen series. I like fantasy books and these are probably some of the best i've read. There is an incredible amount of history creation in this series. I'm currently on book five "Midnight Tides". It had a slow start but it's really rolling now, and this series continues to grow on me.

Before starting that one i took a break from M:BotF to read Neal Stephenson's Cyrptonomicon last month. It's a two part story. One half being a WWII fiction piece about allied code breakers and a conspiracy they unearth/become involved in, and the other half about the descendants of those involved WWII vets uncovering the story as it is presented to the readers. Fun read, but it's a tome, and will take you a while if you're not a fast reader.

Currently on a Knut Hamsun marathon. He's a late 19th / early 20th century Norwegian author, that is mostly known for his first book "Hunger", which apparently was a revolution back then.

I am personally most found of his later work, which portrays the death of the rural, traditional, down-to-earth Norwegian society and the rise of modernity and the many changes it brought. He is definitely super reactionary and anti-modernity, but still so full of nuances and unpredictable that it is impossible to simply label him as such.

His book Growth of the Soil played a very important role in my decision to leave the city for the countryside, and has become one of my all time favorite books.

Currently, a lot of children's books.

PSYREN manga.

I'm more of a visual person :).

Does this count as a bump yet? Cause bump.

Inspired by some lists I'd seen online I made my own of 50 books I'd like to read this year. I've made great strides since uni finished and I don't feel harrowing guilt every time I look at something other than a textbook or a research paper. Here are the ones I have finished so far.

I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell by Tucker Max - I didn't intend to read this, but knowing some quite laddish guys I ended up with a borrowed copy. It's ridiculous, I laughed out of incredulity for the most part.

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami - It was enjoyable to read, the third book moreso than the others, but I felt it came together too quickly and too neat at the end, and it took a while to get where it needed to be.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac - I heard this book was supposed to define the beat generation so I came away a bit confused by what it was trying to say. After reading that Kerouac wasn't trying to glorify the lifestyle it came together a bit easier. Correct me if I'm wrong, I can't remember where I read that. It synced up nicely with my recent forays into jazz as well.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean Dominique Bauby - this was really lovely and poignant. Massive amounts of life perspective.

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov - not that I had much love for the film anyway but goddamn I understand the whole "pissing on Asimov's grave" comments now. I'd not read any of his work at all before this, it's great.

Currently on Heart of Darkness and I'm listening to an audio book of Moby Dick. Though to begin with I found it hard to take the latter seriously because the narrator (presumerably) unwittingly puts on an almost perfect Terrance and/or Philip voice when voicing Peter Coffin...

If you liked I, Robot you should give the Foundation series a shot. Look up a list with the order he actually wrote the books since there's, like, two prequels and two sequels after the trilogy ends which weren't necessarily written in an order that makes a lot of sense.

Oh yeah man that's definitely on the cards, that's my boyfriend's favourite book series~ He's the one who insisted I drop everything and read some Asimov.

I hated 1Q84. Too long, too much attempts at exposure and character development that led to nothing and an unsatisfying and predictable ending (which is the worst thing you can expect from a Murakami book) are to me proof that he overstepped all the things that made his book unique. It was just too much, it could have done with a lot less pages, the second book is almost all filler, and it just felt too boring. I have his new book, but am hesitating to start it. I am grateful though that it is only one volume this time around, with the exception of Kafka on the Shore I find that his stories work best in shorter form.

There was certainly way too much dross, and I definitely agree that the ending was completely unsatisfying.



Kafka on the Shore has been my favourite novel so far; I've only read the Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman collection as far as shorts go but there's definitely something in a short story that is complementary to his style. Considering his dreamlike, non-sequitur style, less is more? I'd love to hear what you think of his new book when you get round to it, I'm feeling a bit tentative myself now (besides, if you have it now I assume you read Japanese!).

After the Quake is another good collection of short pieces. Nothing in it quite tops "New York Mining Disaster", but it works well as a whole.

The third book was written only after the first two had been out for some time already, imagine that it had ended at the end of book two. Just like with the Mockingbird Chronicles, you can sense the difference in style and storytelling, and it is for the better. It always felt like he had started writing a story but could not quite figure out how to end it.

Kafka on the Shore was brilliant in my opinion. It was the first Murakami novel that I read, so that may have had some influence but the pacing, the characters, the amount of actual events made this a thrilling read. A lot of people generally complain about the lack of a real resolution or an answer to all questions, but I simply loved it and thought that there was little need for a satisfying resolution. I do have high hopes for Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, but it will have to wait as I just started Tale of the Genji. I read excerpts before in class but could never muster up the time to work my way through the entire works.

I have just finished The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet by David Mitchell. It took me weeks to get through the first 150-200 pages where it seemed like nothing was really happening or going on, but it was a great read later on when the focus became broader to include other characters.

Just finished Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver. Currently wading into The Forever War by Joe Haldeman.

I'm reading this right now, actually. I'm on the second book and things are starting to drag a bit, but I'm still enjoying it overall.

Cool beans man, let us know what you thought of it!

Capo, I'll put that at the top of the Murakami list~

Peter, I get what you mean. Kafka on the Shore wasn't the first I read (that'd be Hard Boiled Wonderland) but there was something I found really compelling about it over the others. It's been a good few years since I read it but I've got a lot of warm feelings about it.

I just recently finished Mother of Winter and Icefalcon's Quest, post-trilogy sequels to Barbara Hambly's Darwath Trilogy. I read the original novels seven years ago, reread them last month and then continued on to the sequels. Despite being written over the course of a decade-or-so after the originals were done (with other, unrelated novels sandwiched in between), they didn't feel like they were especially disjointed tone-wise. <3

Starting this again cause I got a bone to pick!

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Man, who would have thought mass market lit would be entertaining (read: distracting) drivel.

I haven't been reading as much as I'd like, but I recently finished The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Junot Diaz has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I don't speak Spanish so a big part of it is probably lost on me, but the guy has a way of matter-of-factly blending in obscure LOTR references alongside the history of the Dominican Republic that just works. Not that I'm the kind of person who's wooed by LOTR references as I'm not even particularly a fan, but it's an interesting style. More than anything, he captures that second-generation immigrant experience so well, that even as a Indian guy with no ties to the Caribbean, I feel like I get it and can relate.

This Is How You Lose Her is also a great collection of short stories, and very accessible. Highly recommended.

Yeah I did kind of bring this on myself, but I was caught off-guard! Someone I value the opinion of told me they were really good books and I thought, you know, not everything that is popular is bad right? :(

But I mean asides from being drivel, I actually find them borderline offensive. The whole thing reads like some poor abuse survivor's Mary Sue - if the author weren't male and needlessly sexualised Lisbeth I'd be inclined to think it really was. I was under the impression the books were meant to discuss and empower victims of sexual violence, yet I fail to see what is helpful about creating a 5 foot nothing "anorexically thin" abuse survivor who is essentially superhuman and able to fend off or actually beat sensless even the most ridiculously invincible attacker imaginable. That's actually really harmful stuff to be churning out.

I'd be inclined to say thought on the level you are speaking of was not intended for the readers of said series of books.

Hopefully what they don't see won't hurt them!

talk about belated response

Just finished reading Flowers for Algernon. Incredibly eloquent, some absolutely wonderfully phrased thoughts. Also, this book is chuffing sad. I really enjoyed it.

The Jack Ford Story: Newfoundland's POW in Nagasaki

This is an interesting book, as I never knew my home-province had a soldier who became a POW held in Nagasaki. I always assumed Newfoundland had sent soldiers only to the European Theatre in World War II.

I'm reading Pedagogy of the Oppressed. It's a great read about subverting power structures and non-violent practices for empowering disenfranchised groups. It's really reinforcing my beliefs as an educator and secular humanist.

Prior to that, I read Pornland: How pornography hijacked our sexuality and Sex at dawn. I enjoyed both reads. Pornland focuses primarily on the porn industry. Sex at dawn is a book that Dan Savage mentions quite often on his podcast so I thought I would give that a read.

Just finished re-reading "The Fog" by James Herbert, had the inclination to read it again after a lot of heavy fog made it's way into town and after seeing some impressive artwork for it.
Next on the reading list is "Warsaw Anagrams" by Richard Zimler.

Finished Casino Royale. Fleming isn't a great writer - it comes off as a travelogue - but it picks-up half way through. Noticed a couple nice touches from the film that they lifted from the book.

Currently reading Moonraker - which has nothing to do with the movie of the same name.

I have a stack of books almost as tall as I am next to my recliner. I don't even bother watching TV anymore (except when BBC America runs marathons of TNG and Kitchen Nightmares.)

I have so many things to read. Yesterday I finally got around to reading the two volumes of Rosario+Vampire that I got while moving/being in AL! Legit one of my favorite in-progress manga.

Finally managed to survive the tome that is James Herbert's "Shrine" - if you like really long and drawn out stories, this one is for you. Not his best but not his worst either.

Not sure what to read next, thinking I might reread "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" by Hunter S. Thompson. :)

Light Novels
 

I've been on a bit of a Japanese light novel binge recently; they are basically short novels you can read in about 4-6 hours with several manga-like images interspersed throughout the novel. A lot of anime these days are adapted from them.

I just finished reading all 12 of the Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai novels. I enjoyed them right until the last novel which sort of made me regret spending all the time reading the previous novels.

I am also eagerly waiting for someone to finish translating volume 23 of Maria-sama ga Miteru after tremendously enjoying the story so far; nothing is more enjoyable than all girls school shoujo ai goodness. It is sort of annoying though because volumes 23-26 are untranslated then 27-33 are translated. I am seriously contemplating skipping to the translated ones seeing as how long it is taking for 23 to get done.

I've been trying to get back into Zero no Tsukaima (on volume 4) and I sort of stalled on Log horizon after 2 volumes. I am also stalled on Toradora! on Volume 8; I have really liked that one so far but for some reason I am finding it difficult to finish the last few volumes.

I also have been using a text to speech software to convert the Toaru Majutsu no Index novels into makeshift audiobooks which I have been listening to as I go running. I think I have been listening to them for almost a year now and am currently near the end of volume 18.

I also have been enjoying two non-Japanese light novels The Legend of Sun Knight and The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor. Moonlight Sculptor was the novel I use to make audiobooks out of (to listening to when running) before I changed to Toaru. I think I caught up to where the translators were on it and sort of forgot about it for a while there. It is one of my favorites as well as Sun Knight and I am hoping to resume reading both of those one of these days.

There are several others that I have read one volume or several chapters of, but those are the main ones I have been reading recently. If any of you still reading this post enjoy anime I recommend you google baka tsuki and check out some of the light novels that are being translated there. If you have a kindle or other electronic reader search for baka tsuki epub generator and check out the first site that pops up. They create epubs for most of the series being translated on Baka-Tsuki.

As for "serious" novels I have The Complete Conan Saga by Robert E. Howard sitting on my kindle but I haven't been able to motivate myself to start it. Maybe when I run out of light novels I will pick that up and several other fantasy novels I have sitting on my kindle as well.

Mistborn Saga - came highly recommended by friends. I certainly enjoyed it but there was something forced in the writing style that didn't sit well with me.

Way of Kings - Part One - I've only just started this but I'm finding it better than the Mistborn books - whatever was stuck in Sanderson's craw seems to be gone this time around.

A Song of Ice and Fire - Powered through these at the behest of a few friends so they could talk about the books and fan theories with me. Not to say I didn't enjoy them - I found them very readable, contrary to what others had said about A Game of Thrones in particular being too slow and dense, but then I like detailed high fantasy thick enough to be a murder weapon - but they are by no means perfect. Martin has a disgustingly good way with words in places.

Catch 22 - I started this between Mistborn and Way of Kings but got fed up being needled about not reading the latter by friends. A shame, because it's a very funny book.

I just recently finished the three-volume Japanese in MangaLand, which has a very weeb title and appearance but is actually really good at teaching basic Japanese grammar. My favorite part is how it doesn't assume I remember grammar terms that I learned when I was 7. :V what the fuck is a gerund

It does have a slight typo infestation, and some odd errors that I can only assume are carry-overs from being translated from (spain) Spanish, but as long as you maintain basic awareness they're really easy to notice

I KNOW BASIC GRAMMAR NOW this is exciting!

I bought a box of Stargate SG1 novels that will last me for the next four years.

Provided we survive that.