What have you been reading lately?

[Mr_Wolf]

Right now I'm working on Sea of Glory by Nathaniel Philbrick. And a friend yesterday gave me a copy of The Complete Peanuts, dailies & Sundays from 1950 to 1952 by Charles Schulz. It contains every strip, in order, from 1950-52.

I also try to re-read The Old Man and the Sea every winter. I just enjoy it. (I have a Hemi Classic SG this year to have with it!!)

Plus I have about 600 paperbacks that I've bought over the years that I'm working on reading through during my lunch breaks. Currently reading Star Trek TNG from the beginning.



Any Deathlands or The Survivalist fans here?

 

[bilder]

Right Wing, Wrong Bird, by Joel C. Hunter.

 

[Mark Twain]

I don't think that death has a cause and effect relationship on whether or not an author is "good". Many authors didn't do well during their lifetimes and are now considered great, but some did. Also, it takes time for a work to reach enough people to have a societal opinion formed which skews the odds of a great author being dead.

You’re right AVB, death has no "cause and effect relationship" on a writer or their work being “good,” but critical evaluation of an author’s work after they are dead is the only real meter to judge if their work can survive the test of time.

 

[skrgrl74]

Does the Captain Underpants series count???? :laugh:
How about The Dragon Slayers' Academy???? :0

Actually, when I'm not indulging my son, I am reading the 2nd book of a trilogy by Edward Rutherfurd-Rebels of Ireland. The 1st novel- Princes of Ireland- was excellent and this one isn't bad either. I pretty much read whatever I can get my hands on....

 

[insight]

Recently I have been reading primarily academic political science and international relations books while finishing my M.A.

As far as lighter reading goes, I recently finished Hell's Angels by Hunter S. Thompson, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami, and A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffett. Currently reading Freakanomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner

Edited because I suck at bbcode

 

[stevehawk]

Seeing the type of books you’ve been reading, may I humbly suggest that you take a look at this short list of written works.

The list is incomplete, but I have a feeling that each of you can find something that is enjoyable to read and has more longevity than novels by Dan Brown, Tom Clancy, Stephen King, or John Grisham.

LMAO!

I gave it only a cursory scan, but recognized a dozen or so on that list that I've read. If I were a career student, I might be required to read a few more of them. Fortunately, I'm a full-grown adult and, as such, am able to select my own reading material.

:laugh:

This is not required reading, this is the type of reading one does after they realize the difference between Melville, Twain, Faulkner, and Hemingway opposed to Brown, Clancy, King, or Grisham. Very few living writers are a part of that list I linked. The only way a writer can truly be part of the Literary Canon is after they’re dead.

I don’t think many people will read books by Brown, Clancy, King, or Grisham after they’re dead because they are plot driven novels that follow a set formula designed to sell the most books. I don’t waste my time reading these books because they just become redundant over time. I find it much quicker to watch a bad movie as entertainment than to read bad fiction. A bad movie is over in a couple of hours; a bad book will take you much longer to finish.

I look at a "bad" book as one that does not capture and hold my attention after the first hundred or so pages. Similar to a bad cigar, if I don't find it pleasing to my own personal palate, I put it down and pick up another. This holds true regardless of whether the author is dead or alive, Twain or Clancy.

I'm going to try not to take it as an insult to my intellect because you think some of the books I enjoy are "bad fiction".

Besides, just because you may not have enjoyed a particular read or author does not make it a bad book. To each his own, just please try not to insult the rest of us because you don't like it.

I do not insult your intellect, the point I'm trying to make is that there is a difference between reading the canon and reading the books that you listed. A "good" book IMO is a book that is still read after the author is dead. A "bad" book will not be read after an author dies. I don't think people will be reading most of the books written today 100 years from now.

You most certainly do insult our intellect, whether it is intentional or otherwise. To state that our reading material is not as "good" as that which you prefer is condescending. To state that it is "bad" simply because the authors are still alive is ludicrous.

Now, having said all of the above, I'm gonna give you a raspberry and be about my way. I've got the third book in the "Edenbon" series calling my name.

 

[Matty_Vegas]

Penthouse Letters. :whistling:

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

I have almost no time to read recreationally aside from cigar magazines, and the popular and natural science magazines at the newsstand.

I read to my daughter every night and I cycle through my comic book collection. Presently I'm working through the box of underground comix from the mid-late 1970's. Damn, they sure don't write stuff like that anymore. Anyone remember Kitchen Sink Press? ???

Wilkey

Isn't that Hart D. Fischers comic company??? or was that Slave Labour graphics???

Anyway, I just finished Swastika by Michael Slade and the original (translated) version of Battle Royale.

My tastes tend to be more "Pulpy" than most...I recently discovered Jack Ketchum and Richard Laymon to name a few. I found a place where I can get Italian Giallo paperback in english, and am going through a stack of those.

 

[Mark Twain]

You most certainly do insult our intellect, whether it is intentional or otherwise.

Steve, I never insulted your or anyone else’s intellect. Your taste in books, not your intellect, is what you claim I’m insulting which is a big difference. If you read closely to what I said in my post you’ll see that I never once said you had bad taste in books or questioned your intellect. I simply said there was a difference in the books listed in the canon compared to the books you preferred to read. I think the problem here is that everyone reads books for different reasons. Some people read primarily for entertainment and that’s fine.

My opinion on what makes a “good” book verses a “bad” book is not meant to be condescending to you or anyone else. I apologize if my example does not make sense to you or if you feel insulted by it in anyway.

I look at a "bad" book as one that does not capture and hold my attention after the first hundred or so pages. Similar to a bad cigar, if I don't find it pleasing to my own personal palate, I put it down and pick up another. This holds true regardless of whether the author is dead or alive, Twain or Clancy.

Your definition of what makes a “bad” book, or a bad cigar for that matter is very different than mine. I would not call a cigar “bad” simply because it didn’t grab my attention early on because I know that the flavor profile in a cigar often changes as you smoke it to reveal much of its character that you don’t receive during the first moments of a smoke. When I read a book from the canon that doesn’t grab my attention I take it upon myself to search out what makes that book great, I don’t expect it to be waiting for me on the surface.

 

[CoventryCat86]

Macanoodles are bad cigars. Anyone wanna argue with me?

 

[Mike33]

Macanoodles are bad cigars. Anyone wanna argue with me?

I would second that.

Mark is what I refer to as a literary snob :laugh: !! I don't know if anyone has already copyrighted that, but I think I might look into that.

I don't feel he's insulting anyone here, he just has different standards for books than most of us (myself included) read. I enjoy many "mainstream" fiction novels (Brown, Grisham, Clancy) and we have had many conversations on these and some of the great novelist like Twain and Faulkner. My point is that we all have different taste (Duh) and that his are very specific with regards to novels.

By the way, I'm currently reading "Alexander II" which is a fantastic novel for anyone interested in pre-commie Russia.

 

[fenian'98]

Any book that can hold its reader's attention like a vice is a good book in my opinion. Be it Clancy and Crichton, or Twain and Hemingway, everyone will view things different. If you think the book is good, then it's good for you. I won't go so far as to say someone is a "great" author and someone else isn't, because IMHO literature has changed over time. I read books in the past by some classic authors, and didn't care for them at the time. I'm sure if I re-read them now I would have a better appreciation for them- just like your pallate's (sp?) grows I believe your taste in literature does as well. Marc, I see the point you make about the books you mentioned, but I can also see where the others see you coming across as insulting. I personally didn't take offense (I love Clancy and Vince Flynn), but it could be taken far from what you intended. Maybe I should go back to some of those classics I snoozed through when it was mandatory reading. Just a Sierra Nevada induced rambling.


Great thread by the way.

 

[LilBastage]

This is every book that I've read for entertainment in the last 2 years with the exception of a couple of the 2006 books I haven't gotten to.

Book List

As you can tell, I like to read an author's entire body of work if possible. In an effort to appreciate the author's development, I also try to read the works in published (or written if it differs) order.

I don't recommend some of what's on that list as a few of these books are complete shart. However, most of it is pretty entertaining and decent, quick reading. Some of it is excellent.

I've read a lot of what is considered "Literary Canon" and have since left that behind. I like to use my reading as an escape these days and prefer not to work to figure out why a book is considered "great" by those who decide what is or is not. If that's what floats your pontoon, go for it. It's not for everyone, however, and does not warrant condescension or the characterization of a novel as "bad fiction".

Just like one should smoke the cigars that he enjoys (no matter the opinions of others), one should read the types of works he enjoys.

There's something out there for everyone, the fun is in the finding...

 

[Gonz]

I spent the night reading the back of the Blue Label bottle!!!


Ha Ha, yes I did! Open bar at the wife's x-mas party, gotta love it! Myself and one of the surgeons polished off about 3/4 of a bottle (freshly opened for us) tonight!

 

[cuppajack]

I spent the night reading the back of the Blue Label bottle!!!

Awesome.

I'm going to bring this thread back from the dead. I'm bored after getting my ass-kicked at work all day.

I try to balance my reading list so I get nonfiction, essays, pulp, and "heavy" stuff. I'm currently hopelessly backlogged...

I just finished "the Prestige" which was my favorite film from last year and a very interesting novel that served to increase my appreciation for Chris Nolan's cinematic adaptation.

I just started "The Nasty Bits" which is a collection of essays and magazine pieces by gonzo-celeb-chef Anthony Bourdain.

I've got the graphic-novel adaptation of Darren Arronofsky's "The Fountain" and HST's "Hey Rube" on-deck.

Then I've got to tackle Pynchon... What should I start with?

 

[tone-ny]

Page Six, NY Post!

 

[davidr2340]

I'm in the process of reading, The New Joy of Homebrewing, by Charles Papazian. Thanks again Mark, for your generosity in gettting me this book!!!

 

[Baron Porthos]

I found a 1923 copy of The Three Musketeers on Ebay. If this obsession doesn't settle down soon I will be looking for a signed copy from Alexandre Dumas himself.

Baron

 

[Mr Peat]

Been reading stuff on how to learn the Russian Language for starters. I have many other projects running at the same time. Like a ton of plays and other literature from the 12th to 17th Authors. Like Shakespeare, Chaucer, and Milton for starters. Sad thing is i have done a paper on pretty much every Shakespeare play he wrote or have studied them all. My last count is I have about 40 different books I'm currently reading at the same time. Most of it from a academic stand point due to the fact I studied English Literature when I decided to move from my Biochemistry degree I was working towards. One of the few Token books I never read was Lord of the Rings. I have a collectors edition that I have been meaning to read for many years and never have. I may have to pop that one open and give it another try. Basically, just too many I've opened and never finished. One novel that has always stuck with me is Pillars of the Earth. I started that when i was a Senior in High School and never finished it. I revisited that novel many years later when I had grown up a lot and finished it. I recommend that novel to any one that likes medieval stuff. :thumbs:

 

[Swifty]

I actually just finished re-reading Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code after watching the movie. Now I'm waiting on Godfather's - Revenge by Mark Winegardner. Huge Godfather fan here. Just picked one up on ebay and should be here any day now.

I here Dan Brown is coming out with another in '07. I look forward to that as well.

I'm a huge Godfather fan as well -- did you actually enjoy Godfather Returns? I was so disappointed.

I didn't finish it Zeebra. I was somewhat dissappointed from what I read. I may have read a 100pages a few months back and never got around to it again. It just didn't do much for me. That's why I'm hoping 'Revenge' is better but I do plan on giving 'Returns' another try. I thought maybe it was because I didn't read the original Godfather so more than likely that will be my next book after Revenge. Kind of working backwards here.

Oh man, do yourself a favour and go read the original Godfather! Then read The Sicilian by Puzo and then you can read The Last Don and Omerta if you're into mafia books

I love Puzo. I started Fools Die a long time ago. I got about half way through and misplaced the book. I'll get back to it one of these days when I get around to finding the book. I am currently reading Island of the Sequined Love Nun by Christopher Moore.

 

[Gonz]

I've been reading through Ludlum's Bourne series. I'm just about finished with Bourne Ultimatum, which is currently being shot as the next movie in the series. Then I'll read Bourne Legacy, although Ludlum did not write that one. Honestly I don't really care for the writing style or the plot, it's as if he tried too hard to squeeze a ton of ideas into one book. And it's interesting how the movies do not follow the book plotlines at all.