What'cha reading?

[urstwile]

I recently finished "Ladies and Gentlemen The Bronx is Burning". About New York City in 1977 (the time period that was filmed for the movie "Summer of Sam").

I'm getting ready to start "Pandora's Breeches: Women, Science and Power in the Enlightenment".

I also regularly read The Nation, Mother Jones, Photoshop User, Macworld, Layers Magazine, and HOW.

You?

[EC]

Nothin', I just sent all my books to G-Man. heehee

Just a little light summer reading for me, Dom Scripting. Thinking about reading some fiction, it's been awhile. I've got a few things on my list thanks to Greyghost.

[Ghastly]

This thread (& my reply as I write it) ;) ...3D world (but not right now), and textbooks...as for fiction...read 'Catch 22' a while ago, great book!...tried the sequel, not great...1984 is another great book though, and some of Orwell's other stuff is pretty cool too.

[Jeizzavelle]

I am currently gettting ready to finish Dance of Death by DOuglas Preston/Lincoln CHild and am in the start of Ice Limit by them. I am also listening to Survivor in Death by JD Robb and have listened to Crown Jewel by Fern Michaels and Memoirs of a Geisha and Cell by Stephen King this week. Oh, and A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King. I will finish Dance of Death tonight and Ice limit probably by Monday. THen I'll read the next book in the Mary Russell series (O' Jeruselm?) by Laurie R King.

[nyc_skater]

The last great thing I read was a graphic novel called It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken. by Seth (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/189659770X/104-6239295-3115926?v=glance&n=283155)

It was so good I started it in the bookstore and sat there and read it til i was finished...just really good "real life" graphic novel stuff :)

[Overlord]

Just finished reading the Labrynth, which is amazing, and also the historian, a slightly strange book about vampires, that takes an interesting take on the whole thing. Im a bit of and Anne Rice man, so reading another authors take on vampires is cool.

Oh also Ghengis Khan, cos i read Attila the Hun bu John Mann on holiday, and it was really interesting

[Drorain]

reading the sword of shannara right now, and going to be picking up the crown of swords series again next.

[nyc_skater]

reading the sword of shannara right now

I read the first book in that series..I love his writing style, how he goes into al the little details and descriptions, someday I'll read all the other books in that series. :eek:

[jimking]

I'm reading a book called " The Devil in the White City". A true story about a serial killer killing woman in Chicago just before and during the Chicago's worlds Fair back in the 1890s. The guy was worse than jack the ripper.

[Drorain]

World's Fair...dont know why those ever stopped they looked like so much fun

sounds like a good book

Nyc, Shannara is awesome, I've only read the first book as well before, and I am going to read another series once I finish this, but I plan on coming back to it at some point

[Jason Fraker]

Last month, I started listening to Stephen King's Dark Tower saga. Right now, I'm on book 5. I'd always heard that reading the DT books would "open up" his other work, and that is very true. Can't wait to see how it ends.

I've also recently read The Historian, listened to Anne Rice's new book about the boy Jesus, a little David Sedaris, Billy Collins, and "The Sound and the Fury" by Faulkner.

As for work stuff, I subscribe to Photoshop User and Layers, and I usually catch How, CMYK & Print at the bookstore. I also love Steve Caplin's "How to Cheat at Photoshop" books, and anything by Scott Kelby and Deke McLelland. Dave Cross isn't half bad either.

[nyc_skater]

I'm reading a book called " The Devil in the White City". A true story about a serial killer killing woman in Chicago just before and during the Chicago's worlds Fair back in the 1890s. The guy was worse than jack the ripper.

You might also like James Ellroy, he wrote Killer on the road and The Black Dahlia..gruesome stuff!

[jimking]

The World's Fair I think became very expensive to host. And most of the strutures built were temporary. The Eiffel Tower was built for the Paris World's Fair in the 1880s and was to be temporary but became so popular they kept it. The Farris wheel was introduced at the Chicago World's Fair.

[Drorain]

yah it's to bad though really, a tradition I'd love to see revived

[Overlord]

What are they about,

[Overlord]

sounds like they might be worth a read?

[mac.FINN]

Last month, I started listening to Stephen King's Dark Tower saga. Right now, I'm on book 5. I'd always heard that reading the DT books would "open up" his other work, and that is very true. Can't wait to see how it ends.

Me too - actually I started a while ago and I'm midway through six and seven's on my shelf.

But in between books I reread Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker Trilogy.

[Kool]

I am currently gettting ready to finish Dance of Death by DOuglas Preston/Lincoln CHild and am in the start of Ice Limit by them.
Great series, have you read the rest of the Pendergrast books?

Jason, at last somebody else is reading the Dark Tower series, well listening anyway. I would love to discuss the final ending of the final book with you when you get there. Edit: You too Mac.

I just re-read "Lucifer's Hammer" by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle. http://home.comcast.net/~rnick9/koolsmiley.gif

[Drorain]

oh I also want to pick up memoirs of a geisha now that I watched the movie....Thanks for the tip EC =) it was an awesome flick!

[reuber1]

I'm wrapping up the Alphabet of Manliness, done by Maddox (http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net), which is possibly the most hilarious book I've read in a long time.

[Kool]

Maddox is one funny dude. http://home.comcast.net/~rnick9/koolsmiley.gif

[G-Man79]

Nothin', I just sent all my books to G-Man. heehee
w00zah! I am currently enjoying Creative Utopia. Thanks again, EC!

[Drorain]

EC a little bird told me they wanted to get you into the Wheel of time....Doooooo ittt!

this series is awesome, and the world is HUGE!

[Jeizzavelle]

Great series, have you read the rest of the Pendergrast books?
http://home.comcast.net/%7Ernick9/koolsmiley.gif
I have read Cabinet of Curiosities and Relic but am planning on reading the entire series, hopefully before the end of the summer. I have a secret crush on Pendegrast! :o
Oh, and DRORIAN- Memoirs of a Geisha is a beautiful book. Very well written and moving.

[Kool]

They're all good, Relic got me started on them. You need to read "Brimstone" which is the first of the current trilogy with "Dance Of Death" being the middle one and the just released "The Book Of The Dead" being the last one. I have that one on hold at the library.

[Drorain]

...Memoirs of a Geisha is a beautiful book. Very well written and moving.

Awesome to hear that, because the movie...was perhaps one of the best I've ever seen

[Jeizzavelle]

Thanks, Kool. Do you know the order of the entire series by chance?
Drorian. Yes, that was a wonderful movie. I was, well, for lack of better words, extremely moved.

[DivineDesign]

Da Vinci Code :) Almost done so I can go see the movie!!!!

[Kool]

Thanks, Kool. Do you know the order of the entire series by chance?

Here ya go. http://home.comcast.net/~rnick9/koolsmiley.gif

Pendergast Novels (in chronological order)

RELIC
Reliquary
Cabinet of Curiosities
Still Life with Crows
Brimstone - Part One of the Pendergast Trilogy
Dance of Death - Part Two of the Pendergast Trilogy
Book of the Dead - Part Three of the Pendergast Trilogy

Other Novels:

Mount Dragon
Riptide
Thunderhead
The Ice Limit

[Drorain]

I was too jeizz...it's almost sad how a war could change everything practically over night.

I just finished Chronicles of Narnia last December, plowed through the whole series in a matter of days...really amazed by CS Lewis, hes ranked among my favorite authors.

[TheBluePanda]

Not reading anything. I'm not really a reader. More of a 'stare at screen' type of person.

[colonel5]

Professional CSS & Cash: The autobiography of Johnny Cash

[Jeizzavelle]

Tanks Kool! Tanks? I meant thanks.
Drorian...It was a shame about what happened durning the war but I am glad he used it. I feel like it added to the power of the story.

[Jason Fraker]

Divine: I read TDC soon after it came out and before the explosion of buzz and controversy. Brown's a great story teller, eh?

[Jason Fraker]

Kool: I'm curious. Did you like the DT ending or not? I've heard that it's pretty much 50/50 among DT fans.
Edit: Don't spoil it or anything as I haven't finished yet. Just tell me if you liked it.

[prewe]

I'm currently reading Amagansett by Mark Mills. Finished off another book yesterday, can't remember the name of it though..

[Jeizzavelle]

Kool. Relic is what got me started also. I then read Riptide and Cabinet of Curiosities, and am in the process of reading The Ice Limit. Is that a good one cause it has been slow to start compared to their other works.

[Kool]

Kool: I'm curious. Did you like the DT ending or not? I've heard that it's pretty much 50/50 among DT fans.
Edit: Don't spoil it or anything as I haven't finished yet. Just tell me if you liked it.

I' really rather wait until you read it before commenting on it. :p


Jeizz, I can't really remember the Ice Limit, was that the one about the meteor?

[Jeizzavelle]

Yes. THe guy dies and his ex partner is called in to investigate his death or something.

[Kool]

It must not have impressed me too much since I can't remember a thing about it except it has a meteor LOL.

[LeftBrain Artist]

Just finished "Silverheart" (A novel of the multiverse by Storm Constantine and Michael Moorcock). Pretty good if you like Moorcock's stuff.

Waiting for A Sword from Red Ice (J.V. Jones) and Phantom (Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series).

[Drorain]

Just finished "Silverheart" (A novel of the multiverse by Storm Constantine and Michael Moorcock). Pretty good if you like Moorcock's stuff.

Waiting for A Sword from Red Ice (J.V. Jones) and Phantom (Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series).

so you like books about kinky S&M/torture?

Just joking, I read the first two sword of truth novels, and well...he gets a little graphic

[doubting_thomas]

I just read Old Man's War by John Scalzi. Great sci-fi war story and mind bender.
Sort of like The Forever War and Starship Troopers (the book not the movie),
put together, but not really...

[morea]

Currently Re-reading The Mists of Avalon

[Gromit801]

Currently: Shattered Sword by Jonathan Parshall and Anthony Tully

A fairly scholarly work about the Battle of Midway from the Japanese side.

[urstwile]

Currently Re-reading The Mists of Avalon

Oooh, that's one of my favorites to reread. My copy is well-thumbed, I think I've reread it three times. One of the best Arthurian legend retellings I've read, especially because it speaks from a woman's and a witch's point of view.

You might also like Confessions of a Pagan Nun (Kate Horsley), or maybe you've read it already. It covers some similar ground as Mists (pagan to Christian transition), but in a very different way.

[urstwile]

Working, by Studs Terkel. Good one!

[BrentonMailman]

Dan Brown. Dan Brown Dan Brown.

Da vinci code movie was pretty good. Angels and demons book (prequel) was AMAZING.

now reading his Decpeion Point. AMAZING

next reading his Digital Fortress. (which will probably be amazing.) :)

[cornfed]

The best book I've ever read was "The Three Christs of Ypsilante" It's set in Ypsilante state hospital in New York. They got three schizophrenics who firmly believed they were Jesus Christ and put them in group therapy together to see what their minds would do and how they would manage being confronted by two other people who felt they were Jesus. It was really interesting. Psychological ethics and such today would never allow such a case study, but back when this book was written, ethics weren't the primary concern.

Another favorite of mine is Puddin' Head Wilson by Mark Twain (I think).
I also like Anne Tylers books for the most part.
I just read Running With Scissors. It is a memoir. I like memoirs.

I got this book a few years ago titled Nothing So Strange. It's a really old book based on the binding. The title made me want to read it. I've been reading it for several years and just can't get into it. I'll read a few chapters and put it away for months. Nothing strange has happened in it yet, but I'm holding out hope that it will before this book ends.

The best short story I ever read was "Death By Vending Machine." I have only seen it in the Kenyon Review from 1990. I think it was written by Alice Miller, not sure maybe Alice Walker. I've looked for it online but haven't ever had any luck. But its a seriously intense short story that I found myself able to identify with a lot.

[Red Kittie Kat]

last book I read was about 6 months ago ..... Dan Brown - DaVinci Code

[reuber1]

I'm reading GDF posts.

[Red Kittie Kat]

lmao Reuber ;) ....... it does make for hours of good reading :)

[Samakimoto Graphics]

Currently Re-reading The Mists of Avalon

I read the Pendragon Series (Taliesin, Merlin and Arthur) a while back. Interesting legends...thin line between truth and fiction.

I've recently developed a short concentration span to handle long readers, am into short stories at the moment; I'm reading books from the Short Stories International (SSI) collection and the New Writing series.

I paticularly like the SSI books as they are directly translated, unabriged versions of original stories written in various languages (Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Mongolian, Czec, Zulu, KiSwahili (NOT! :D), Afrikaans, etc), so you get the essence of how the actual language is spoken, but in English!:)

[urstwile]

Sama, that SSI series sounds very interesting, I'll have to look for it. And Cornfed, The Three Christs of Ypsilante sounds fascinating, I'll have to look for that one too. I love psychological studies like that.

Sama, I'm also a sucker for things Arthurian, which is why I've read Mists of Avalon at least four times. The Once and Future King is also a good one, but if you're in a short story phase, it's probably too long for your current attention span. I've always wanted to read A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain, just haven't gotten around to it yet.

I'm actually in between books right now, going through a magazine phase. Not sure what I want to pick up next. I have a bunch of stuff wishlisted on Powell's, I'm going to have to pick one. And yeah, GDF takes a lot of my time in terms of reading, I have to admit. That and keeping up with the news online.

[cornfed]

Good luck finding it Urst! It's out of print. But a library near you should have it.

I also love Confederacy of Dunces.

[urstwile]

Yeah I just searched it out on Powell's, but couldn't find it, I'll try the library database next.

I loved Confederacy of Dunces.

Say, if you like books like that, you might really like some of Oliver Saks stuff, specifically The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. It's one of my favorite books. It's all neurological case studies, but he writes with such a generous tone about what these people are going through, it reads almost like a collection of short stories.

[cornfed]

Here's some info Urst! It also includes some excepts.

http://www.fortunecity.com/roswell/callanish/39/3christs/3christs.htm

[urstwile]

Cool! I just searched my library database and they've got it, in storage.

[urstwile]

Bump! And/or resurrection. :D

Right now, reading a cool book, called Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman. I'm really digging it, I'm reading the library copy but this one might need to go into my permanent collection, I feel a re-read, there's lots of cool symbolism. :)

[sierng]

I read whatever they make me read at uni.

[urstwile]

That's a sorry reply to my bump, sierng. :D

[morea]

I just finished "Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon. My mom loves the series, and brought me a copy when she came to visit. It was an interesting read.

[Drazan]

Nice thing about being a Proof Editor for a couple of professional writers, is that I see books before they are published. Ok, well only a few. But still...


So I have two books that I'm reading through right now for a couple writers who will be submitting them to the big houses in a few months.

Can't say who or what, but definitely interesting reads. :)

Jade

[PrintDriver]

Does Harry Potter count as a book?

[drawingguy]

I read some of this thread...

[Drorain]

The Dangerous Book for Boys

[GoM]

A couple at the moment..

My bedside book = Harry Potter 7
My bedside book-to-be = 1066, by David Howarth
My backpack-for-when-in-transit book = American Gods by Neil Gaiman
My backpack-for-when-in-transit-book-to-be = The Great and Secret Show by Clive Barker

[hewligan]

I'm re-reading Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_(novel)) by Gregory Maguire. Love that book so much. In fact, my Mac's hostname is Elphaba and all my drives are named after characters from that book. *nerd*

[Rizz]

Current Book: Pattern Recognition by William Gibson

Current Mags: MAKE and WIRED

[Rizz]

I'm re-reading Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_%28novel%29) by Gregory Maguire. Love that book so much. In fact, my Mac's hostname is Elphaba and all my drives are named after characters from that book. *nerd*

Have you seen the play based on that book?

[hewligan]

Have you seen the play based on that book?

No, it's never come to New Zealand.

I'm not really a big fan of musicals, but I'd make an exception fro that one.

And, so long as someone's brought up plays, last night I saw King Lear performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company and starring Sir Ian McKellen as Lear. So, so awesome! :)

[CamarotaDesign]

Going to start Desert Solitaire (thanks Tulip!) after I finish "The Power Of Your Subconcious Mind"

[tuliptree]

Going to start Desert Solitaire (thanks Tulip!) after I finish "The Power Of Your Subconcious Mind"

You're welcome Cam!! I had to return the favor. I am rereading Desert Solitaire right now, and will be moving on to Slaughterhouse 5 (again, thanks to Cam!!) After that my sister wants me to read "Man's Search For Meaning" by Viktor Frankel, which I shall do. I have a good book queue set up right now! :)

[Ben Kessler]

Hewligan, that's really cool. That production is coming to NYC in the fall but is completely sold out. I have never seen that play performed. What was it like?

[Jason Fraker]

In the past few months, I've read Water for Elephants, Slaughterhouse Five, The first three Dark Tower books again (working on 4 now), Assassination Vacation, The Book of Air and Shadows, In Cold Blood, American Gods, Darkly Dreaming Dexter, On the Road, The Memory of Running, Fieldwork, Lisey's Story, No Country for Old Men, A Short History of Nearly Everyting, A Walk in the Woods and Welcome to the Monkey House.

[tuliptree]

JF--I've read both Bryson books you mentioned as well, good reads!

[hewligan]

Hewligan, that's really cool. That production is coming to NYC in the fall but is completely sold out. I have never seen that play performed. What was it like?

Well, Lear's hardly my favourite of Shakespeare's plays, but that was more than made up for by an amazing set, great lighting, brilliant costumes and excellent performances by the cast. I especially loved seeing Sylvestor McCoy (a former Dr Who) playing the fool. He played the spoons :D

[frankster]

That sounds great Hewligan. I blagged to go and see the RSC production of King Lear in 1993 for my 15th birthday present. Me and three of my mates caught the train down to Stratford and stayed in a youth hostel to go and see it. Robert Stephens was Lear and David Calder was Kent. It was fanbloodytastic. Saw the RSC Merchant of Venice with Calder as Shylock earlier in 1993 as well. My parents thought I was a bit of an oddity as a teenager. I'd love to see the latest king lear.
http://www.rsc.org.uk/searcharchives/component/image?id=5241&zoom=2

[PrintDriver]

Lear is not a favorite of mine either but if it came to Boston I'd go. As long as it's traditional costumes and setting. I hate updates.
Saw Christopher Plummer in 'the scottish play' a few years ago. Midsummer's Night Dream and Richard III are other favorites I'd see in an instant.

[morea]

I love Shakespeare. I've seen A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, The Merry Wives of Windsor, All's Well That Ends Well, Richard III, Twelfth Night, Cymbeline, Measure for Measure and The Tempest as played by my local amateur Shakespeare troupe.

They put on Love's Labour's Lost, King John, and Taming of the Shrew, and a few others before I started working with them.

I've also read Othello, Julius Caesar, and Romeo and Juliet. MacBeth is on my reading list.

[Ben Kessler]

I don't have a favorite Shakespeare play, but King Lear is one of the texts I keep returning to. In fact, my friend Mike and I have a running joke that Morrissey (one of my favorite pop performers) should start one of his songs with: "I read Lear/Five times a year..."

[ellie_25]

Im reading The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins,
also reading Freakanomics - cos the Dawkins is fairly hard going - so its a bit of a brain-break!

[tuliptree]

Cool ellie! Let me know how the Dawkins book is, will ya? :)

[Samakimoto Graphics]

"To Kill A Mocking Bird" by Harper Lee.

First published in 1960 - it is one of many literary attempts of the time at tackling race relations, justice, class struggles in the heat of the Depression in the US.
Came across it a small second-hand books stand for the equivalent of USD2.50!! Still as good as new!

"When We Ruled: The Ancient and Medieval History of Black Civilizations" by Robin Walker

This was a farewell gift from my colleagues at my last job. Will probably take me three months to read.

The first book on the history of Africa that has made great strides in linking the Egytian civilization to it's African (Nubian) origins with evidence from archeological finds and evidence from what remains in modern day Sudan and Egypt of the ancient kingdom. Much of this is corraborated (sp) by the great Greek historian Herodotus and other ancient scholars, even from Shakespearean writings - all these are quoted in the book.

A collectors item no doubt.

[captain spanky]

i want to read Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett again but i never seem to have enough time to look at the cover never mind the insides! :(

[Eraser Nubbin]

Just finished the Gunslinger and am impatiently waiting on Amazon to send me the Drawing of the Three.

[sierng]

newspaper. The herald. :)

[Jackimalyn]

For school:
"The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces"
"Consumer Behavior"

I just finished
"Built to Last - Successful habits of visionary companies"
I definately recommend this book, very interesting
Built to Last identifies 18 "visionary" companies and sets out to determine what's special about them. To get on the list, a company had to be world famous, have a stellar brand image, and be at least 50 years old. We're talking about companies that even a layperson knows to be, well, different: the Disneys, the Wal-Marts, the Mercks.

[Kool]

Just finished the Gunslinger and am impatiently waiting on Amazon to send me the Drawing of the Three.

You'll love "The Drawing of the Three" best book in the series in my opinion.

[Mynock]

Into the Wild (1996) by Jon Krakauer for the second time. Go see the movie if it's in your area very good.

[balou]

Recently picked up "Nine Horses" by Billy Collins (poetry) and just finished listening to the unabridged audiobook "Around the World in 80 Days" by Jules Verne. I love audiobooks - throw them on my iPod and I work around the yard and house while "reading."

The voice of the reader can make or break an audiobook though. Jim Dale read this last one. He has a wonderful character voice. He's also the voice behind the Harry Potter series of audiobooks and he's made his debut on TV recently as the narrator voice on "Pushing up Daisies."

[urstwile]

"To Kill A Mocking Bird" by Harper Lee.

First published in 1960 - it is one of many literary attempts of the time at tackling race relations, justice, class struggles in the heat of the Depression in the US.
Came across it a small second-hand books stand for the equivalent of USD2.50!! Still as good as new!

One of my favorites. :) The movie is also really good as well.


"When We Ruled: The Ancient and Medieval History of Black Civilizations" by Robin Walker

This was a farewell gift from my colleagues at my last job. Will probably take me three months to read.

The first book on the history of Africa that has made great strides in linking the Egytian civilization to it's African (Nubian) origins with evidence from archeological finds and evidence from what remains in modern day Sudan and Egypt of the ancient kingdom. Much of this is corraborated (sp) by the great Greek historian Herodotus and other ancient scholars, even from Shakespearean writings - all these are quoted in the book.

A collectors item no doubt.

This one sounds really interesting, Sama, I'm gonna make a note of it, although they don't have it at Powell's, apparently (I keep a wishlist on the site that I use to help me remember what I want to read on my next library trip :)

I just finished "London 1945: Life in the Debris of War" by Maureen Waller. Very good read (non-fiction), subject matter just as the title suggests. The interesting part is how much of an impact that period had on subsequent social improvements and changes that are in place in London to this day.

[tuliptree]

Into the Wild (1996) by Jon Krakauer for the second time. Go see the movie if it's in your area very good.

I caught Sean Penn's interview on Charlie Rose (I LOVE Charlie Rose's show!) and have put that on my "to see asap" list. Great interview too. I have a deepend appreciation for Sean Penn because of this interview, that and "Sweet and Lowdown."


Reading: Timequake (Vonnegut). Just finished Slaughterhouse Five (If you're reading this: I did it Cam, lost book and all! :) ) Also, still reading "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl, and various gd books from my most recent library raid.