Books The BOOK thread

[SteveJ]

There's a decent plot summary without major spoilers here, mate:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cold_Six_Thousand

Yeah, it's funny how even minor pieces of Tabloid stay with you; for example: I've a poor memory, yet I'll never forget lines like the ones written when Ward looks at himself in the mirror. Short, sharp & brilliant.

 

[R.N7]

I acquired The Brothers Karamazov recently, gonna start reading it on the train tomorrow.

 

[forevrared]

There's a decent plot summary without major spoilers here, mate:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cold_Six_Thousand

Yeah, it's funny how even minor pieces of Tabloid stay with you; for example: I've a poor memory, yet I'll never forget lines like the ones written when Ward looks at himself in the mirror. Short, sharp & brilliant.

Ah, cheers. I'm always hesitant to Google stuff like that for fear of stumbling into a spoiler. I'll definitely come back to that book and read it again, which I don't do often.

 

[Stick]

Phasing out is understandable given it's a big bastard of a book. I know I did as well. I'm looking forward to reading it again soon though I hope. Hopefully to get more of it to stick this time.

That's a whole issue unto itself. I've read a roomful of books, mostly non-fiction, but who can tell how much of it stays with you. After I'm done with one, I reckon most of it's already floated away, but then in a conversation a year later I'm plucking related fachts out of nowhere. I wish I could quantify it better. I've just read a Chemistry textbook, and have sworn I will come back to it in a year and take the exercises again, just to see if I've managed to stow any of it away.

Yeah I know what you mean. I find that rereading books is great as you find things you missed the first time. Mind you I've just started the first book in the Game Of Thrones series so I don't think I'll be able to leave the pages of this one for a while. Got all 7 books so far too. Figured I'd immerse myself in it!

 

[brad-dyrak]

I acquired The Brothers Karamazov recently, gonna start reading it on the train tomorrow.

Still my favorite book. I'm surprised at how often its come up in this thread really. What translation you reading?

 

[brad-dyrak]

Speaking of our man Fyodor, just a couple of weeks ago whilst looking for old pulp art, I happened upon the strangest thing:

Spoiler

A bewildering take on Crime and Punishment starring none other than Batman. I suppose it was an attempt to popularize the book or something, but the way they work him and (and particularly wtf transgendering Robin) does my head in. It's really worth a look. You can give it a quick 5 minute read here - http://www.againwiththecomics.com/2007/08/batman-by-dostoyevsky.html

I don't know where any of this leaves me really. Still good to know those were strange times as well.

 

[onesaf]

Just read Lee Child's latest Jack Reacher novel 'A Wanted Man' not as good as previous books in the series in my opinion, started well with Jack hitching a lift from two men and a woman and he quickly realises that things aren't what they seem, the plot seems to lose it's way at times although it finishes strongly as Reacher steps in to one man army mode. Fans of Reacher will like it, for me it was ok, just not as good as previous books.

 

[Pscholes18]

Currently reading No Easy Day...have about forty pages left. Anyone else reading this book?

 

[forevrared]

Going to start it next week. Pretty excited.

 

[Werewolf]

I acquired The Brothers Karamazov recently, gonna start reading it on the train tomorrow.

One of the best novels I have ever read, my first Dostoievski too. I have recently begun reading Demons and will save it for my plane trip in two days.

 

[Pscholes18]

Going to start it next week. Pretty excited.

Finished it yesterday. It was definitely a good read. Don't believe all the media bullshit about him putting future Seal missions in jeaopardy, it's all bs. You'll enjoy it.

 

[MTF]

Currently reading No Easy Day...have about forty pages left. Anyone else reading this book?

Read it on tuesday, when it came out. A solid read, no great surprises though. I was only actually surprised about how hairy the extraction seems to have been.

More intrigued about why Bisonette decided to write it, besides a paycheck. I've also read there was some bad blood about his leaving the Navy.

There's some great SOF literature out there, especally covering events since 2001. This adds to it. I'm always impressed to see how well they're using technology nowadays, and really giving the guys on the ground real-time information, without trying to micromanage. Like the part when a drone is illuminating fleeing Taliban fighters with an IR Laser, so the SEALs can track them.

 

[Pscholes18]

Read it on tuesday, when it came out. A solid read, no great surprises though. I was only actually surprised about how hairy the extraction seems to have been.

More intrigued about why Bisonette decided to write it, besides a paycheck. I've also read there was some bad blood about his leaving the Navy.

There's some great SOF literature out there, especally covering events since 2001. This adds to it. I'm always impressed to see how well they're using technology nowadays, and really giving the guys on the ground real-time information, without trying to micromanage. Like the part when a drone is illuminating fleeing Taliban fighters with an IR Laser, so the SEALs can track them.

Yeah they were cutting it pretty close. Even the infiltration seemed to all go to hell. Not so much as them running around not knowing what to do, just nothing seemed to go as planned until his team made it to the guest house. But that is what contingencies are for and they way they handled themselves in that situation just goes to show how experience, training and talent pays off.

Good point about their equip and intel they had available. It see no expense is spared when it comes to the Seal teams.

I've heard there were some issues regarding him leaving as well. I'm sure it will come out sooner or later. He suppose to be interviewed on 60 Minutes tomorrow or maybe it already aired last week. You can see a clip of it on youtube, he is in heavy disguise.

 

[Pscholes18]

Also, I wanted to know why the chopper went down. He never mentioned the exact reason for it other than the pilot had trouble keeping it hovered over the rope down point.

 

[SteveJ]

Blurb: 'Mary Shelley's 1818 novel, "Frankenstein", introduced readers around the world to the concept of raising the dead through scientific procedures. Those who read the book were thrilled by this incredible Gothic adventure. Few, however, realised that Shelley's story had a basis in fact...'

Not a bad book about early experiments with electricity & the like, but it led me to far more interesting stuff (articles claiming that Percy Shelley wrote Frankenstein, feminist reactions to that theory etc etc):

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/apr/09/gender.books
http://paganpressbooks.com/PAGLIA.HTM

The Writing of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus:

'I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life, and stir with an uneasy, half vital motion...'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein

 

[onesaf]

Out of curiosity how often do you guys read? I must admit that I am a real bookworm and read on average 3 books per week, to date I have read 106 books this year (including SteveJ's masterpiece), no I'm not anal by counting the books I read, I just happen to be taking part in the Goodread challenge so it keeps me up to date with what I have read. http://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/387011

 

[SteveJ]

106!! Blimey.

I read every night.

 

[brad-dyrak]

Definitely a bookworm by most measures and read every night, even if it's just while I walk the cats. Certainly haven't read 106 this year though. It usually takes me a good while to plow through non-fiction, but can batter through a good bit of fiction on a plane ride. I've gotten less tolerant of fiction though of late, and find myself reading more non-fiction (science, history, philosophy usually).

SteveJ, your book is sadly laying dead on my Kindle. I rolled over on it whilst camping. Still, I will get to it.

 

[brad-dyrak]

Just finished this one - http://www.amazon.com/Slavery-World...=UTF8&qid=1347318543&sr=1-11&keywords=slavery .

I've read a lot on the subject (mostly in the "peculiar institution" years in the USA) and I'd say this was a straightforward, unvarnished look at the entire history of slavery. It's quite the tome, but even at that, with it covering all history it actually felt a bit rushed. Anyway, well written, comprehensive, and not overly emotive (not easily done given the topic). Interesting reading at the end about the still existing forms of slavery today.

Humans really do suck.

 

[thepolice123]

Just finished Blood Meridian. One sentence to describe the book is that it is so beautifully nihilistic that there's nothing like it. It’s both mentally and emotionally exhausting to read it. We see deaths in every chapter, animals mercilessly butchered, and the characters find no salvation in their nightmare odyssey. The thing that particularly gets under my skin is that there is no benevolent god-like figure to counter the Judge. He pervades the entire novel and gives us probably the bleakest ending to a novel.

But IMO brilliance of McCarthy lies not in his creation of the Judge, or his dread-filled prose, or the highly graphic details of the deaths, it is in his seemingly effortless ability to utilise the Western landscapes, the environment, to create a hellish atmosphere which augments the horrors in the book.

Then again, this can be a mighty difficult book to read. So many words in there which I don't know and paragraphs that are utterly confusing. There are times where I'll be like "I haven't have a clue whats going on but I'm just going to continue reading because it is all too wonderful."

 

[brad-dyrak]

That's a good write up. I really liked it as well. He does an exhausted sort of savagery and dread really well. In "Blood Meridian" it was in sun baked slow motion. In "The Road", cold and emaciated. Great books. One of these days I need to read "All the Pretty Horses" which I think is his and isn't so steeped in dread.

The brutality set against a bleak beauty reminded me of "The Painted Bird" from a whole other time and place.

BTW, I recently read a book about the history of the Commanche wars. You can put any thoughts that the violence in "Blood Meridian" was gratuitous to bed.

 

[Stick]

Out of curiosity how often do you guys read? I must admit that I am a real bookworm and read on average 3 books per week, to date I have read 106 books this year (including SteveJ's masterpiece), no I'm not anal by counting the books I read, I just happen to be taking part in the Goodread challenge so it keeps me up to date with what I have read. http://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/387011

2 or 3 a month. Sometimes when I travel i get a good few read. If I hit a bad book I can stop reading for a good while though!

 

[Adzzz]

Not a bad book about early experiments with electricity & the like, but it led me to far more interesting stuff (articles claiming that Percy Shelley wrote Frankenstein, feminist reactions to that theory etc etc):

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/apr/09/gender.books
http://paganpressbooks.com/PAGLIA.HTM

The Writing of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus:



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein

I studied Frankenstein and there is a train of thought that Shelley wrote the novel because how educated would Wollstonecraft have been being a main argument.

Which is a touch silly because it wasn't unusual for young ladies to sit down and write when they had little else to do, notably Austen, the Brontes and Barton. So I think academics still think Wollstonecraft wrote the novel, but Shelley probably heavily edited it. Also, there is some confusion on the ending and an alternative edition with a differing ending, but that's that I suppose.

 

[SteveJ]

Mary certainly had the prose skills to write the novel (her journals testify to that). I did wonder, at first, if Percy had helped with the science details...but there's not a great deal of science in the book - much is left vague, even the bringing-to-life of the creature. And Camille Paglia - normally an astute and perceptive literary critic - strangely thinks that John Lauritsen has an oh-so-special insight into Frankenstein & its composition purely because he's a gay scholar who's scornful of mainstream academe...rather like Paglia herself. This line of thinking seems idiotic to me.

 

[Adzzz]

Mary certainly had the prose skills to write the novel (her journals testify to that). I did wonder, at first, if Percy had helped with the science details...but there's not a great deal of science in the book - much is left vague, even the bringing-to-life of the creature. And Camille Paglia - normally an astute and perceptive literary critic - strangely thinks that John Lauritsen has an oh-so-special insight into Frankenstein & its composition purely because he's a gay scholar who's scornful of mainstream academe...rather like Paglia herself. This line of thinking seems idiotic to me.

Indeed - and a note on the science, well, it doesn't surprise me because if she could have worked out a feasible scientific method well then it wouldn't be science fiction anymore! Shelley may have helped darken the tone, especially when they were all sat around with Byron, because I imagine the conversations took a pretty dark turn when Mary said she had this idea for a novel about a freakish abomination that roams the swiss countryside killing children when it feels ashamed.

 

[Adzzz]

Still doesn't seem a patch on Heathcliff mind.

 

[thepolice123]

Out of curiosity how often do you guys read? I must admit that I am a real bookworm and read on average 3 books per week, to date I have read 106 books this year (including SteveJ's masterpiece), no I'm not anal by counting the books I read, I just happen to be taking part in the Goodread challenge so it keeps me up to date with what I have read. http://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/387011

All of them are thriller novels, you cheater.

In all seriousness, well in mate.

 

[Adzzz]

Also currently reading the Leopard. Which is actually really brilliant. Sicilian aristocratic/noble life set against the backdrop of political revolution in Italy via General Garibaldi.

 

[iSparky]

Currently on this

Its a great read and its not solely about Apple it looks at the entire growth of technology out of silicon valley and the key players at the time. Great book.

 

[onesaf]

All of them are thriller novels, you cheater.

In all seriousness, well in mate.

I likes me thrillers Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch and Jeffrey Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme books are great reads, I also really enjoyed Scott Mariani's Ben Hope series. Bosch, Hope and Jack Reacher could win any war by themselves we wouldn't need any armed services

 

[forevrared]

Also, I wanted to know why the chopper went down. He never mentioned the exact reason for it other than the pilot had trouble keeping it hovered over the rope down point.

It was speculated at the time that the practice facility didn't mimic exactly the effect the concrete walls would have on the rotor wash and ability to hover in it.

Finished it just now, read it over 4 days or so but it's the type I could've easily done in a day. I enjoyed it. Whether or not he should've written it is another story, but I didn't feel like it revealed too much that wasn't already known. The most interesting to me was the insight into how the teams functioned and lived away from battle.

 

[Heardy]

Always wonder the extent to which stories like these draw from fantasy as well as fact.

Certainly wouldn't have wanted to mess with the guy - it amazes me how someone can lack any emotion in certain situations.

Worth a read if you're into true crime books mind you.

 

[Stick]

Just finished A Game of Thrones. Great read now for the Clash of Kings!

 

[Solius]

The first book took me a week to read, and I wasn't exactly slow either. Big ones those first two.

 

[R.N7]

Still my favorite book. I'm surprised at how often its come up in this thread really. What translation you reading?

Pevear and Volokhonsky, apparently it's the best one.

Also currently reading the Leopard. Which is actually really brilliant. Sicilian aristocratic/noble life set against the backdrop of political revolution in Italy via General Garibaldi.

Luchino Visconti did a decent film adaptation of it.

 

[Revan]

Just finished A Game of Thrones. Great read now for the Clash of Kings!

A Storm of Swords is without a doubt the best in the franchise and IMO ine of the best ever.

 

[brad-dyrak]

Pevear and Volokhonsky, apparently it's the best one.

That was definitely my favorite. I read Constance Garnet first, and then P&V's a couple of times.

 

[M'n'M]

Out of curiosity how often do you guys read? I must admit that I am a real bookworm and read on average 3 books per week, to date I have read 106 books this year (including SteveJ's masterpiece), no I'm not anal by counting the books I read, I just happen to be taking part in the Goodread challenge so it keeps me up to date with what I have read. http://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/387011

106 books and not one Greg Iles. Do yourself a favour. Dead Sleep and Mortal Fear in particular.

 

[onesaf]

106 books and not one Greg Iles. Do yourself a favour. Dead Sleep and Mortal Fear in particular.

Cheers will check them out

 

[Stick]

The first book took me a week to read, and I wasn't exactly slow either. Big ones those first two.

Yeah I am flying through them. Only reading them at night but they are seriously depriving me of sleep!