Seek the Fair Land, by Walter Macken. Part of a trilogy. Bit gut-wrenching because it's dealing with facts. Might have been a few hundred years ago, but still hard to think about how people suffered.
Books The BOOK thread
- Thread starter Livvie
- Start date
He sort of has 2 styles that he writes in. The real life, as it happens sort of style being the first, like "Grapes of Wrath" and "In Dubious Battle", etc. The other style is one that's sort of a simplified, pedagogical writing that's almost more like a parable. I'd put "Tortilla Flats" and "The Moon is Down" in that latter style. Given the choice, I prefer the former, but like I said, I've enjoyed all his works.
The Accidental Theorist - Paul Krugman
Great writer. I don't know that much about economics, and I fear he's doomed to little more than middling influence in the IT'S EITHER A OR B PICK YOUR SIDE AND MAKE YOUR STAND landscape of the US, but he's a great example of a member of the elite who will not stoop to disrespect the general public by watering down complex concepts/issues towards potential personal gain. He does his best to emphasize creativity and flexibility over doctrine and he hates the snake-oil salesmanship that plagues all areas of our daily lives.
On Directing Film - David Mamet
Documented exercise in ego-flexing. Although he does own up to it in the foreword.
Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq - Thomas E. Ricks
Great read. Perhaps ultimately pointless, as it's basically a description of a car-wreck. (Best of luck sorting out that responsibility split) But if you want a painfully detailed account of what the general atmosphere is within the US military (the Iraqi side of the story is not covered) then this is your book. May be particularly useful for otherwise intelligent persons who have strong opinions on the war one way or the other without actually knowing some of the potentially opinion-swinging minutiae.
Ghost Wars - Steve Coll
Haven't started it yet. Might not read it.
The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film - JW Rinzler
A bit revisionist, especially if you believe all the stories about just how much Lucas' allegedly wacky 'original vision' differs from all the changes his friends (Coppola, Speilberg, Kurtz, etc) urged him to make. But it's worth the hour or two in the library if you have some time to kill.
Great writer. I don't know that much about economics, and I fear he's doomed to little more than middling influence in the IT'S EITHER A OR B PICK YOUR SIDE AND MAKE YOUR STAND landscape of the US, but he's a great example of a member of the elite who will not stoop to disrespect the general public by watering down complex concepts/issues towards potential personal gain. He does his best to emphasize creativity and flexibility over doctrine and he hates the snake-oil salesmanship that plagues all areas of our daily lives.
On Directing Film - David Mamet
Documented exercise in ego-flexing. Although he does own up to it in the foreword.
Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq - Thomas E. Ricks
Great read. Perhaps ultimately pointless, as it's basically a description of a car-wreck. (Best of luck sorting out that responsibility split) But if you want a painfully detailed account of what the general atmosphere is within the US military (the Iraqi side of the story is not covered) then this is your book. May be particularly useful for otherwise intelligent persons who have strong opinions on the war one way or the other without actually knowing some of the potentially opinion-swinging minutiae.
Ghost Wars - Steve Coll
Haven't started it yet. Might not read it.
The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film - JW Rinzler
A bit revisionist, especially if you believe all the stories about just how much Lucas' allegedly wacky 'original vision' differs from all the changes his friends (Coppola, Speilberg, Kurtz, etc) urged him to make. But it's worth the hour or two in the library if you have some time to kill.
I object to my 'What are you reading at the moment thread being locked in the General.
https://www.redcafe.net/f8/what-you-reading-moment-299938/
It was supposed to be a what are you reading right now (some had already included magazines & text books) and was supposed to be a change from all those 'I found a piece of fluff in my belly button this morning...discuss' threads that you get on there.
This thread is a bit more highbrow, whereas my thread was going to be more lighthearted and inclusive.
Considering the number of nonsense threads around and endless duplication, having 2 book threads in different areas of the Forum hardly seems excessive.
https://www.redcafe.net/f8/what-you-reading-moment-299938/
It was supposed to be a what are you reading right now (some had already included magazines & text books) and was supposed to be a change from all those 'I found a piece of fluff in my belly button this morning...discuss' threads that you get on there.
This thread is a bit more highbrow, whereas my thread was going to be more lighthearted and inclusive.
Considering the number of nonsense threads around and endless duplication, having 2 book threads in different areas of the Forum hardly seems excessive.
To be fair, someone posted the fecking Argos catalogue, what did you expect? This thread is fine, and not nearly active enough.
Nothing wrong with a bit of humour...surely better on a thread in the general than potentially hijacking this one?
Have you read this Colin?
There are many many books on the subject, none of which I have read, but one of the best is considered to be:
Anyone read 'The Behaviour of Moths'? Heard good things, picked it up yesterday but doubt its my kind of book.
Haven't read it but bloody big one flew out of my fridge last night.
Finished the Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons and then quickly followed that with Alfred Bester's classic - 'The Demolished Man'. Now reading Legend by David Gemell.
Im surprised no one has read any H P Lovecraft, asked earlier in the thread an nobody answered. Oh well. Ive been reading Lovecraft flat out the last few months time for a change, I ordered a few new ones the other day-
Behold The Man - Michael Moorcock
Fahrenheit 452 - Ray Bradbury
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley.
Read a book a while back called Quarantine by Greg Egan, really interesting sci-fi. It starts off with our whole solar system being quarantined inside a ‘Bubble’ 50 years previously, so the sky at night now has no stars. Nobody knows why it happened or who did it, thought that was a really good idea, basically theres proof of more intelligent life but the human race will never get to meet them. Cool story, starts off kinda noir with a private detective and delves into philosophy and theoretical physics.
Behold The Man - Michael Moorcock
Fahrenheit 452 - Ray Bradbury
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley.
Read a book a while back called Quarantine by Greg Egan, really interesting sci-fi. It starts off with our whole solar system being quarantined inside a ‘Bubble’ 50 years previously, so the sky at night now has no stars. Nobody knows why it happened or who did it, thought that was a really good idea, basically theres proof of more intelligent life but the human race will never get to meet them. Cool story, starts off kinda noir with a private detective and delves into philosophy and theoretical physics.
Brave New World bored me, and I love the genre of a dystopia novel.
I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to books, but i've been told to buy World War Z by Max Brooks. Opinions?
Im the same, love anything Dystopian or Post-Apocalyptic. I'll see how it goes. I'll be honest i read The Man in the High Castle last year and that bored the balls off me. For a supposed classic nothing really happened.
Its about Zombies, why wouldn't you buy it?
I read it on the back of 1984, so I suppose the bar had been raised to an extreme height and this may have affected my judgement. It just doesn't compete IMHO.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is excellent as well if you haven't read it already.
From what i've read Brave New World influenced a lot of 1984, i haven't read it in about 10 years so i might read it again after i finish this now.
Yeah i have Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Philip K Dick is a great writer, some of his short stories are excellent. There's a very good one called The Fourth Variety that i'd recommend checking out.
Nice one, he certainly is a great writer. I'll check it out.
Everything I've heard points to library rental. Then again I find that very few books that come out these days are actually worth owning.
Anyone read ' I kill '. Great book.
Library? Is that the building with old women being very quiet and trying to solve crosswords?
Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada is simply amazing. Not sure if amazing is that right word to use since it's about Nazi Germany but it is. He wrote it in 1947 only taking six or seven months to complete it.
You haven't been to a library lately, have you. The global "Yes-we-are-actually-this-desperate-to-try-and-make-learning-sexy-so-we-can-compete-with-all-the-trash-in-the-media" act of 2008 meant wholesale changes to library construction. To begin with, all those old librarians are now all nubile blondes in catholic school uniforms. First floors are now nightclubs with open bar. Floor two is the stacks, where your personal librarian helps you find a book - any book - that you're not actually looking for. Floor three, well, you don't want to go up to three unless you've had a good night's sleep and don't mind being naked in an air-conditioned facility.
feckin ell, no wonder my Dad fecks off to the Library now and then. Dirty bastard!
Do you guys or gals read comics?
Gambit does.
I recently had another dip into Wilbur Smith (ooh-err) and I have to say he is one of the best. If you want to read a good old rip-roaring, page turning adventure then he's your man. Everything from lions to pirates, fighting with cutlass or rooting the nubile sixteen year old Miss Caroline, his books have got it. He is a master at introducing characters so you have an affinity with each and every one. I cannot recommened highly enough. What's more, he's tonnes of books so, if like me you read one and like it you've opened up a whole new avenue. One suggestion though, try and read them in order.
Nearly right nuskool libraries don't actually have books at all.
Anyone been to The Works? - Discount Books, Art Materials, Gift, Toys, Games, Audio Visual
Usually a bunch of shit, but went in there today and picked up 10 books for about £3. Most I will never read but helpful to build a decent collection. They often have rubbish, but a few gems in there. Bought a couple of Dickens novels for 10p each, well worth it. Looks like you can order online too.
Usually a bunch of shit, but went in there today and picked up 10 books for about £3. Most I will never read but helpful to build a decent collection. They often have rubbish, but a few gems in there. Bought a couple of Dickens novels for 10p each, well worth it. Looks like you can order online too.
This has surprised me. I bought it for 50p in a charity shop (which, might I add, are very underrated for books - they often have some great novels in there) based purely on the good reviews I'd heard of it. I can't stress enough how it isn't really my type of book - it's told by a woman who meets her sister again for the first time in 47 years; her sister being the polar opposite to her reclusive nature. I'm only halfway through it, but it's brilliantly written in my opinion. The synopsis promises 'dark secrets' but I haven't got that far yet. It might also be worth noting this is a debut novel.
Bought this on Amazon after it was recommended: Nothing to Envy: Real Lives in North Korea: Amazon.co.uk: Barbara Demick: Books
It's thoroughly engrossing and incredibly depressing to think what is going on in North Korea. It really makes one think how lucky we really are to not be in North Korea. And it only touches the surface - the book doesn't discuss the worst of the labour/"reeducation" camps in North Korea - simply because very few indeed escape. It's a life sentence there.
It's thoroughly engrossing and incredibly depressing to think what is going on in North Korea. It really makes one think how lucky we really are to not be in North Korea. And it only touches the surface - the book doesn't discuss the worst of the labour/"reeducation" camps in North Korea - simply because very few indeed escape. It's a life sentence there.
When I read Last post: Xbox42 I knew it had to be about something Asian!
Any decent pics in the book....?
Oh, and btw, anyone know anything about Martin's Song of Ice and Fire, when does the lazy bastard plan to publish fifth book???
This has surprised me. I bought it for 50p in a charity shop (which, might I add, are very underrated for books - they often have some great novels in there) based purely on the good reviews I'd heard of it. I can't stress enough how it isn't really my type of book - it's told by a woman who meets her sister again for the first time in 47 years; her sister being the polar opposite to her reclusive nature. I'm only halfway through it, but it's brilliantly written in my opinion. The synopsis promises 'dark secrets' but I haven't got that far yet. It might also be worth noting this is a debut novel.
Just finished this, read half in a day. Really recommend it.
A couple of months ago in a fit of nostalgia I read the entire collection of Ace Truckers and Co, which was one of my childhood favourites, and then Johnny Nemo, for the same reason. I enjoyed it.
Would love to get my hands on a collection of old Freak Brothers comics as well.
IN the last few days been reading Why England Lose - by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski. Basically the Freakonomics of football. Only 50 pages in but I am enjoying it.
Mostly landscapes, monuments and images from the Korean War, but there's a few about reunification and starving children.When I read Last post: Xbox42 I knew it had to be about something Asian!
Any decent pics in the book....?
I get the feeling this isn't what you're talking about...
Still reading classic hard boiled fiction, The Hunter by Richard Stark at the moment (fiilmed as Point Blank and Payback)
Orwell believed BNR was based on We by Zamyatin which I bought but not read yet We (novel) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I’ve been meaning to pick that up, I know theres two versions now one which was a pretty bad translation and one which is supposed to be much better. It sounds pretty interesting, im actually just starting Brave New World now. Finshed Behold the Man last night, pretty good book although it seemed a bit rushed toward the end. Definitely going to get more Moorcock stuff though ive heard good things about The Dancers at the End of Time.
Didn't see your earlier post. I've read loads of Lovecraft. Not really sure why as I don't think the writing is that great. I think it's just that it's so "of a time and place", and if you happen to like that, then you're set. Anyway, I've got 4 of the compendiums (much of which were later written by his publisher). Good stuff.
Quarantine sounds a good read. I'll have a look at that. Cheers.
Read "The Terror" by Simmons while traveling in Antarctica last year. Perfect setting, and a good read. He's a top author and I need to get back to the Hyperion stuff (only read the first).