What are you reading right now? - Page 19

Hippocampus · #**271** 10-08-2005, 03:16 AM

I've just finished John Steinbeck's "Sweet Thursday". Great, great read.

Almost finished with "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl.

Everyone around me was talking about it in the wake of the movie so I had to see what the fuss was about.

Jyqm · #**272** 10-08-2005, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moony

Also, Ulysses by James Joyce. I'm not enjoying it.

!!! I'm sorry. Can I suggest that the reason you may not be enjoying it is because you're reading three other books at the same time? Ulysses really demands full attention, and book of annotations or at least a guide through the schemata never hurts the first time around. It's not a book that necessarily can or should be read the way you read most other books, and it can definitely be a very unenjoyable experience if you're not totally clear on what's going on in each chapter. How far along are you?

As for me, I just started a book called The 13 1/2 Lives of Cap'n Blue Bear, which so far is very entertaining and funny, and kind of an adult-children's adventure the way Harry Potter is. It's German, but I think it's being published in English, at least in the US, next week.

Moony · #**273** 03-14-2006, 08:25 AM

Just interested to know what books people are into right now...

I'm currently reading Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. Has anyone read it before? It's quite verbose and has a quirky narrative style. The book is interesting to say the least. Kind of tedious, though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jyqm

!!! I'm sorry. Can I suggest that the reason you may not be enjoying it is because you're reading three other books at the same time? Ulysses really demands full attention, and book of annotations or at least a guide through the schemata never hurts the first time around. It's not a book that necessarily can or should be read the way you read most other books, and it can definitely be a very unenjoyable experience if you're not totally clear on what's going on in each chapter. How far along are you?

Oh, sorry I never responded to this! I actually did not get very far into Ulyses. I believe I only finished the first hundred pages or so before, out of either boredom, ADD, or distraction, I just quit reading and returned it to the library. However, I have been thinking of picking it up again. We shall see.

elie · #**274** 03-14-2006, 08:45 AM

I just finished the "Corrections" by Jonathan Franzen. As I wrote in another thread, I liked it a lot and I would highly recommend it . I 'm guessing it's very well known in the US.

Before that, I read the "Atonement" by Ian McEwan, which was very good and it had a really good and moving ending. I was surprised I liked it, because I didn't care much for "Amsterdam", by the same author.

Now I 'm reading "The Green Knight" by Iris Murdoch and I 'm horrified: I 'm running out of Iris Murdoch books!!

Miss Vicky · #**275** 03-14-2006, 09:16 AM

Top Ten a somewhat fictionalized (unpublished) autobiography by a certain musician whose work I've lately become obsessed with.

Lots of FM mentions. Look for either excerpts of it or the full thing serialized on my website in the near future.

cliffdweller · #**276** 03-14-2006, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jyqm

!!! I'm sorry. Can I suggest that the reason you may not be enjoying it is because you're reading three other books at the same time? Ulysses really demands full attention, and book of annotations or at least a guide through the schemata never hurts the first time around. It's not a book that necessarily can or should be read the way you read most other books, and it can definitely be a very unenjoyable experience if you're not totally clear on what's going on in each chapter. How far along are you?

Sorry if this has been posted already but I think Ulysses was intended to be read in 24 hours---ya know since the book takes place in a 24 hour period?
Of course you don't have to read it in 24 hours but I think that was Joyce's metatextual intended purpose.

I'm reading Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

It's quite possibly the bloodiest, most violent novel I've ever read.

carrie721 · #**277** 03-14-2006, 10:56 AM

this morning i am finishing herman hesse's demian, and then i am faced with a dilemma: narcissus and goldmund or ayn rand's atlas shrugged? any suggestions from the ledgies?

oh yeah, and i'm supposed to be reading some textbooks or something. ugh.

chiliD · #**278** 03-14-2006, 11:03 AM

Quote:

What are you reading right now?

The User's Guide to my new LG VX5200 cell phone.

carrie721 · #**279** 03-14-2006, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiliD

The User's Guide to my new LG VX5200 cell phone.

for some reason i get great enjoyment out of reading user guides ... don't know why!

SuzeQuze · #**280** 03-14-2006, 12:17 PM

Lasher by Anne Rice and I'm almost done. Next I'll be reading something about organizing or finances or something. Resolutions.

I also ready Triad around Christmastime and found it entertaining. It was too short though, the end seemed to crash in on you, like the story wasn't completely told yet. Also, Stevie is not as prophetic as she'd like to believe, when you read Triad, you do get a feel for the myth of Rhiannon.

Ghost_Tracker · #**281** 03-14-2006, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moony

I was just curious to see what my fellow bookworms were into right now.

I've just finished Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. It's a very strange but interesting book about two English magicians in the last century. A very long read, but it was engaging and enjoyable.

I've just started in on Jonathon Strange & MN and I think it looks wonderful! I like the illustrations, too. Also just started Odd Thomas -I received that as a Christmas present more than a YEAR ago! Guess I'd better get STARTED with that!

There's a sequel to Odd Thomas b t w - I forget the title at the moment - Forever Odd?

There's a REALLY wonderful book I read awhile back called Beach House by Pat Conroy - absolutely first-rate writing, i.m.o., and the story's kinda deep and told in a really heartfelt, sincere way.