Books The BOOK thread

Luffy said:
My resolution for next year is to read only books that have at least 1000 pages. I'm fascinated by this restrictive penchant.
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I am just glad if I have one book read during a year with more than 1 000 pages.

Have you already some titles you want to read?

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I have resumed My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk. I am not sure how to pace myself reading it. It is really different from what I usually read.
 
celia said:
I am just glad if I have one book read during a year with more than 1 000 pages.

Have you already some titles you want to read?

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I have resumed My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk. I am not sure how to pace myself reading it. It is really different from what I usually read.
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I really enjoyed My Name is Red, certainly paints a vivid picture of the time, and the characters are all so awful and conniving. I should read more Pamuk.
 
United58 said:
Haven't read them; I really liked the first movie and hated the second. I'm generally fairly meh about those kind of thrillers - I enjoy them, but prefer ones with a heavy psychological input (Sphere, Hannibal, Shutter Island etc.)
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Have you tried the Millenium trilogy?
 
celia said:
I am just glad if I have one book read during a year with more than 1 000 pages.

Have you already some titles you want to read?

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I have resumed My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk. I am not sure how to pace myself reading it. It is really different from what I usually read.
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I have some 1000 paged books in e-book form, about which I've heard some praise. My first book of 2020 will be 'Black Lamb and Grey Falcon'. Also, 'The Deed of Paksenarrion'. And I'm toying with the decision to read Churchill's biography. I shall also read some omnibuses.
 
Any recommendations for what Stephen King book to read? I read 11.22.63 earlier in the year, which I really enjoyed, so am looking for what of his to read next.
 
A mix of e-books and physical copies. I'm more of the opinion if we can read long news articles on a computer, we can read on e-readers. I have an old epub reader (it can read many other formats).

E-readers are quite convenient when reading while eating since you only need one hand to use the e-reader. You can also increase the size of the font or light the screen. And you can put many books on an e-reader. A pity though kindles gave up the text-to-speech.

But some people don't like to read or can't bear to read on e-readers, so maybe try one few minutes?
 
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DWelbz19 said:
I've been blitzing through a lot of Russian Literature recently -- Dostoevsky has cemented his place in my top 2 whilst The Master and Margarita became one of my favourite books ever -- but then came Tolstoy.

War and Peace: I mean, I can't say it's bad, can I? It's objectively held as a near masterpiece in literature. And there are aspects that are fantastic -- Prince Andrei's transition from lamenting nihilist to man with purpose; Tolstoy’s scrupulous depiction of 19th century War etc etc. It was just good storytelling. But, there was something missing. This is War and Peace? The 'classic?' Tolstoy's pacifist pontificating got stale after the second ramble, and just wouldn't stop. And that ending was just dodgy, weren't it? When it got really dry, my mind just kept racing with "it's no Brothers Karamazov".

Is Anna Karenina much better (assuming you've read War and Peace?) I feel I owe it to Tolstoy to pick that up at some point, to allow him to redeem himself in my eyes.
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Dostoyevsky is out on his own imo. Genius
 
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Cheesy said:
What did you think of Mao II? Considering reading some DeLilo again soon, intrigued by it.
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Sorry Cheesy missed your post.

Mao II was alright. I found the plot kind of gave way to 'themes' towards the end, but it's worth a read. And Delillo was eerily on the money in terms of the impact of terrorism on society. I far preferred White Noise.
 
National Book Award Winners for 2019
I am stoked my man Krasznahorkai won!

  1. Fiction: Susan Choi for ( Trust Exercise )
  2. Nonfiction: Sarah M. Broom for ( The Yellow House )
  3. Poetry: Arthur Sze for ( Sight Lines )
  4. Translated literature: Baron Wenckheim's Homecoming, by László Krasznahorkai and translator Ottilie Mulzet
  5. Young people's literature: Martin W. Sandler for ( 1919: The Year That Changed America )
 
BD said:
Any recommendations for what Stephen King book to read? I read 11.22.63 earlier in the year, which I really enjoyed, so am looking for what of his to read next.
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IT is probably the best Stephen King book I've read. The Stand and Misery I also enjoyed.
 
Currently reading The Trial by Franz Kafka. Will probably start Tolstoy's Anna Karenina next, see what the hype is all about.
 
Suv666 said:
Currently reading The Trial by Franz Kafka. Will probably start Tolstoy's Anna Karenina next, see what the hype is all about.
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The Trial is one of my favourites.
Anna Karenina is great too, liked it much more than I thought I would.
 
Freak said:
Do you guys read your books on a kindle or physical copies? Just asking as I’m thinking of getting a kindle on Black Friday and want to know how it is.
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Throwaway novels on the kindle. Proper books, cook books and kids books i buy on paper.

Kindles aren’t as nice as paper to read, but they have a lot of pros - lots of books in one device, backlit to read in dark places, easy to read one handed, easy to read lying down, etc. Well worth picking one up in my opinion.
 
You can also get free lot of the books in the public domain. And even get free some given by publishing houses, authors or online shops.

E-readers are nice for novels or anything that is text-only, mostly used to read just once. Also great when traveling.

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I know I said I should stop reading Haruki Murakami but I have just finished Novelist as a profession. I felt the first essays lack concision and style but overall it was quite interesting.

I'm still debating if I should drop or not the Starless Sea, it is more interesting at 30% but still not really good.
 
United58 said:
Anyone have any recommendations along the lines of the crime/serial killer genre? Just finished a re-read of Hannibal, it was absolutely outstanding. Love the Hannibal Lecter character, looking for more books with characters like him
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I haven't read Ripley's Game and am only familiar with the film starring the great John Malkovich but Tom Ripley might be the kind of cultured psychopath you're seeking.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripley's_Game
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripley's_Game_(film)
 
SteveJ said:
I haven't read Ripley's Game and am only familiar with the film starring the great John Malkovich but Tom Ripley might be the kind of cultured psychopath you're seeking.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripley's_Game
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripley's_Game_(film)
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I'll add that series to my list too, thanks :)

@oneniltothearsenal I'm about a fifth of the way through The Killer Inside Me so far, enjoying it. I've rarely read this far back (1952) so it's really interesting seeing how it's written and how the world is portrayed
 
United58 said:
I'll add that series to my list too, thanks :)

@oneniltothearsenal I'm about a fifth of the way through The Killer Inside Me so far, enjoying it. I've rarely read this far back (1952) so it's really interesting seeing how it's written and how the world is portrayed
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Awesome! Thompson definitely has a great voice for twisted characters. I have a few of his
 
DWelbz19 said:
Is Anna Karenina much better (assuming you've read War and Peace?) I feel I owe it to Tolstoy to pick that up at some point, to allow him to redeem himself in my eyes.
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Entirely possible to love it even if War & Peace wasn’t your jam. It’s a different flavor of greatness.
 
Suv666 said:
Currently reading The Trial by Franz Kafka. Will probably start Tolstoy's Anna Karenina next, see what the hype is all about.
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The Trial is great. It's a shame that most of Kafka's work was unfinished. Check The Castle by Kafka also -- I think that's actually my favourite Kafka novel.
Organic Potatoes said:
Entirely possible to love it even if War & Peace wasn’t your jam. It’s a different flavor of greatness.
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It'll be the first book I open 2020 with.
 
Freak said:
Do you guys read your books on a kindle or physical copies? Just asking as I’m thinking of getting a kindle on Black Friday and want to know how it is.
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Go for a kindle, provided it is e-ink. For troubleshooting advice and pro e-book camaraderie, I strongly urge you to join mobileread.com.
 
Anyone read Westwind by Ian Rankin? I'd never heard of it it's been out of print for 30 years but has come back out now.
 
DWelbz19 said:
The Trial is great. It's a shame that most of Kafka's work was unfinished. Check The Castle by Kafka also -- I think that's actually my favourite Kafka novel.
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Do you have an advisable translation for The Castle at all? Downloaded a couple on my Kindle but one seemed off grammatically and the other had some typos. And I've heard different translations of the book can give it a very different feel - some are perhaps more lyrical but thus lose Kafka's writing style a little bit.
 
BD said:
Any recommendations for what Stephen King book to read? I read 11.22.63 earlier in the year, which I really enjoyed, so am looking for what of his to read next.
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My favourite Stephen King book is 'The Stand', just finished the latest 'The Institute' which okay but not as good as '11.22.63'.
 
Cheesy said:
Do you have an advisable translation for The Castle at all? Downloaded a couple on my Kindle but one seemed off grammatically and the other had some typos. And I've heard different translations of the book can give it a very different feel - some are perhaps more lyrical but thus lose Kafka's writing style a little bit.
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I picked up a Wordsworth Classics translated by John R Williams. It's called 'The Essential Kafka' and has his main stories + some of his shorts. The translation is pretty economic when it needs to be to allow for fluency, but maintains enough integrity to some of Kafka's more lengthier passages. Grammar is pretty solid, I can't recall too many issue with typos.
 
Been excited to post here for a while, was patiently waiting my full membership. Avid reeader in mainly epic fantasy and the occasional detective story.

One question I have, has anybody read The realm of the Elderlings (ROTE) by Robin Hobb? Never fell inlove with a story or collection of characters as i did travelling through Fitz's life. But for over a year im at a loss as towhat to read next, so after learning ROTL had 6 seperate books linked to the main series, i jumped straight in, but have failed to get through thefirst book of the liveship traders and have questions if anyone could possibly help.

Mainly;
1. After completing Fitz life and knowing the ending to how the characters from liveship turn out, is there much to gain, story wise or lore wise that i wouldnt already know?
2. I cant connect with certain characters, knowing what I know from the main series, ie, a certain sexual abusive pirate. Will my opinions change on character reading this?
3.and finally, obviously there is conections in the final Fitz trilogy to the liveships and dragon traders, but the the other 2 trilogies link in to Fitz story whilst reading them?

Thanks for your help in advance and i look forward to getting to know people here more, always open to new suggestions to.

Call me Tio.....trustin ole haha
 
Since I have only read the two first trilogies (and it includes Liveships), my insight is probably limited.
1 You should try to read Liveship Traders for its own merits. I think it is a great story with interesting characters. But if you aren't interested after giving it another try, don't force yourself.
2 Well, I am still baffled about him. Because this seemed to come out of nowhere. I don't know if I have missed some hints.

You may have more replies in the fantasy thread.
 
I am reading 5 books at once, which I'm not used to. I intend to commit to Murder on the Links first. Then the Weight of our Souls, a promising book by a humble author. I also have M is for Malice, and Outgrowing God.
 
Luffy said:
I am reading 5 books at once, which I'm not used to. I intend to commit to Murder on the Links first. Then the Weight of our Souls, a promising book by a humble author. I also have M is for Malice, and Outgrowing God.
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M is for your Mum. When you read too many at once one always gets left bottom of the pile and takes ages to read.

Speaking of which, I finally read Flatland. It's different, funny at times and Edwin Abbott has a nice flow to his writing. I am a big fan of Victorian era writing though.
 
Never thought to check this thread, when a thread is stickied I just forget they exist.

Anyways I'm in a bookclub with some mates and we do one book a month and I'm up next. We cover a whole swathe of topics from literary classics to specific niches (history of the cod). Currently we're reading an Icelandic autobiography which is quite the depressing read and before that we did a Kafka double (Castle and Hunger Artists) which was preceded by the long, dry and repetitive I Am a Strange Loop. I had been compiling a list of books and was interested in The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin. It's an intriguing premise and I want to read it but from the non-spoiler reviews I've read it's devoid of humour so maybe not the best follow-up after these books and the season we're about to enter.

Another book I'm considering is So You've Been Publicly Shamed. Anyone read that one? Any good?

I'm open for suggestions. The only stipulation we have is that a book should preferably not be part of a long series unless it stands on its own and not be overly long although there are exceptions (we have done The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay).
 
Jippy said:
M is for your Mum. When you read too many at once one always gets left bottom of the pile and takes ages to read.

Speaking of which, I finally read Flatland. It's different, funny at times and Edwin Abbott has a nice flow to his writing. I am a big fan of Victorian era writing though.
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Rubbish theory. I'm doing very well. Read 119 books this year. One more and I'll have completed my yearly Goodreads challenge.
 
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