What book are you currently reading?

[Guest Rob]

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[Alg]

Trumpet by Jackie Kay. Halfway through it. Pleasantly surprised by this class's required reading so far.

 

Wheel of Time progress:

The Fires of Heaven. ~250 pages into it.

[Guest Rob]

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[Crocefisso]

Just starting to read the "Shahnameh" - a 1,000 page long history of Persia written in verse. As you might be able to tell, I've been in need of a challenge. :mrgreen:

[Omar]

I just read The Rebel Sell: Why the Culture Can't Be Jammed by Andrew Heath and Joseph Potter. It's about countercultures and why they're useless and generally exacerbate the problems they denounce (some of which are not problems at all). Very interesting. I just started Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Nietzsche and I have not a single clue what he's going on about, save for the basics; I'll probably try to find one of his works that isn't all metaphors. My friend is lending me Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevsky.

[Crocefisso]

^ I find the Zarathustra a typically 19th century piece of nonsense, and though it is understandable, it doesn't communicate Nietzsche's philosophy as well as his other books. I recommend starting with Twilight of the Idols, a 90 page quick overview of his philosophy (written by Nietzsche), which is by far the best book of his. Beyond Good and Evil is a good place to go from there.

[nine naked men]

Picked up Blood Meridian, The Road, and No Country For Old Men, all by Cormac McCarthy. I've seen the movie adaptations of the last two, so I started with Blood Meridian. I thought they looked like they'd be kinda short, but I was wrong. I wouldn't say that it's hard to read, but it's certainly an involved process. Really enjoying it so far, insomuch as it can be 'enjoyed'.

 

It's probably only the second or third time I've picked up good literature for purposes outside of school or university. Well worth it.

[tripsis]

just rereading The Amber Spyglass right now but I have these books on order:

 

1. Lord of the Silver Bow

2. Gladiatrix

3. Roma Victrix

4. Pillage

5. Shiver

6. The Scorpio Races

7. The Accidental Billionaires

[Omar]

^ I find the Zarathustra a typically 19th century piece of nonsense, and though it is understandable, it doesn't communicate Nietzsche's philosophy as well as his other books. I recommend starting with Twilight of the Idols, a 90 page quick overview of his philosophy (written by Nietzsche), which is by far the best book of his. Beyond Good and Evil is a good place to go from there.

Thanks, that's helpful. :thumbup:

[tripsis]

just rereading The Amber Spyglass right now but I have these books on order:

 

1. Lord of the Silver Bow

2. Gladiatrix

3. Roma Victrix

4. Pillage

5. Shiver

6. The Scorpio Races

7. The Accidental Billionaires

The Accidental Billionaires arrived first so I'm reading that now, but I'll probably finish it today!

[tripsis]

I finished The Accidental Billionaires. I wrote a review about it here: http://booknook.me/the-accidental-billionaires-by-ben-mezrich/ (yes I randomly started a book blog!). It wasn't anything amazing but it was an enjoyable read.

 

Next up: The Throne of Fire. This has actually been sitting on my bookshelf for at least like a year.. but the third book is coming out May 1st so I'm finally going to read it!

[enfield]

The Throne of Fire

 

that sounds like its part of the ice and fire song, etc. series - is it? I just read the wikipedia page of that series - had never heard of it before - and was completely astounded and engrossed for a few hours. it sounds like fantasy writing at its best.

 

==

 

right now one of the books i'm reading is The Spirit of Saint Louis - a memoir by charles lindbergh, whos trans-atalantic flight marked a paradigm shift in aviation.

[Aeon_]

The Throne of Fire

 

that sounds like its part of the ice and fire song, etc. series - is it? I just read the wikipedia page of that series - had never heard of it before - and was completely astounded and engrossed for a few hours. it sounds like fantasy writing at its best.

No, it's not in ASoI&F. It goes Game of Thrones, Clash of Kings, Storm of Swords (I think), A Feast of Crows and finally A Dance Of Dragons, with another few to be released in a few years. :thumbup:

[Omar]

Picked up Blood Meridian, The Road, and No Country For Old Men, all by Cormac McCarthy. I've seen the movie adaptations of the last two, so I started with Blood Meridian. I thought they looked like they'd be kinda short, but I was wrong. I wouldn't say that it's hard to read, but it's certainly an involved process. Really enjoying it so far, insomuch as it can be 'enjoyed'.

 

It's probably only the second or third time I've picked up good literature for purposes outside of school or university. Well worth it.

This album is influenced by Blood Meridian. Not sure how, since I haven't read it and considering it's all instrumental, but I figured I'd let you know.

[tripsis]

The Throne of Fire

 

that sounds like its part of the ice and fire song, etc. series - is it? I just read the wikipedia page of that series - had never heard of it before - and was completely astounded and engrossed for a few hours. it sounds like fantasy writing at its best.

It's part of a series called The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan (also author of Percy Jackson & The Olympians).

[Ouchy]

Read Killing Floor by Lee Child. My god that was an interesting book. Would recommend it, and any book from the Jack Reacher series to anyone.

[proton]

I recently finished reading Catching Fire, it was a nice short read for me. It made me get more excited by the trilogy, but I fear the lack of descriptions of everything makes it more boring for me. I was a bit lost at the start.

 

Now I will continue to read "Under the Dome". However, my grandfather wants me to read "El Quijote de la Mancha" . They're both a long read, but I think I can manage atleast one until I finish school. By the way, I will read the second book in spanish as I need to read more in my native language.

[Cow]

Watchmen (for fun) and A Farewell to Arms (for an English class). Last weekend I finished The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson.

I'm still working on Wheel of Time; I've had a hard time getting into it twice before.

[TTanT]

Read "Waiting for Godot" for AP English and am now memorizing Lucky's speech.

 

Holy crap is that work fun.

[Lose No Hope]

Started reading "Biggest Brother" which is focused on Major Dick Winters who is well known for his leadership in the U.S.'s European Theater during WWII. After I finish that, I will move back into reading "The Pacific War."

[Guest jrhairychest]

Im probably very behind the times here, but just finished 'Return to Canafis'. Really enjoyed it. Really enjoy TS Church's writing style. :thumbup:

[tripsis]

I'm reading The Scorpio Races. I'm not that far into it yet but I have high hopes :P

 

I mean.. evil, killer horses? Awesome.

[Crocefisso]

Just started reading the old (19th century) translation of the One Thousand and One Nights. I wish I'd known how old the translation was before I bought it, but otherwise it's fine.

[Omar]

Someone in the street gave me a copy of the Bhagavad Gita. Anyone read this? I'm not much of a spiritual person.

[Edit] It doesn't help that this quote was placed on the back cover:

In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonal philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita, in comparison with which our modern world and its literature seem puny and trivial.

Thoreau spent two years "roughing it out" in a cabin in the woods. His mother brought him regular meals and did his laundry.

[Crocefisso]

Someone in the street gave me a copy of the Bhagavad Gita. Anyone read this? I'm not much of a spiritual person.

[Edit] It doesn't help that this quote was placed on the back cover:

In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonal philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita, in comparison with which our modern world and its literature seem puny and trivial.

Thoreau spent two years "roughing it out" in a cabin in the woods. His mother brought him regular meals and did his laundry.

I read the Upanishads a month ago, and on the surface they were very easy to read, but the 'real' message often required some degree of concentration. Generally, though, they are far easier than any western philosophy. I see no reason why the Bhagavad Gita should be any different. I would write off the comment by Thoreau as being just another part of his pretentious atavism.