Othello is kicking my ass. Tried watching a play production of it that is mostly word for word and that made it better. Going to just make some shit up for my discussion posts for the class and start on Frankenstein for next week.
Othello is kicking my ass. Tried watching a play production of it that is mostly word for word and that made it better. Going to just make some shit up for my discussion posts for the class and start on Frankenstein for next week.
Loved Othello. Iago is one of my favorite characters ever.
Finished this. First 2/3 was great, last 1/3 was not. Not a fan of people whining about being junkies.Originally Posted by BigAle
Iago is an interesting character. I will say that but just not digging this play.
Hated Frankenstein, by the way. Read it twice, once in high school and once again in college. Couldn't stand it. I should probably give it another read, but I first read Othello in college and loved it, so what do I know.
I just read The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker for the first time. The movie was better. Scarlet Gospels was better too.
Before that I read A Dirty Job and Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore.
Shakespeare can be hit and miss. I have enjoyed other plays. I need to get started on Frankenstein. Professor ended up giving us another week to finish discussing Othello and Much Ado About Nothing so delayed starting it but I need to get to it. We shall see how that goes.
In high school one year we read Frankenstein, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and Night by Elie Wiesel one right after the other and I was begging the teacher for something to read that wasn't depressing as hell.
In my senior year, English class, the only shit we ever read were headlines about Elian Gonzalez or whatever that kid's name was. I remember one time raising my hand and asking if I could just pull out a copy of Raw magazine so I didn't have to talk about politics in my English class. Consider we were required to take a class simply called "Government", so why this rabbit bitch wanted me to give my thoughts on immigration is beyond me. Needless to say I passed.
We did something similar my junior year in high school. It was like 5 books in a row that ended in death or suicide.
Always lucked out in high school with a good balance.
I enjoyed Much Ado, we did Serjeant Musgraves Dance for English Lit, that's a damn depressing play if you've never come across it.Shakespeare can be hit and miss. I have enjoyed other plays. I need to get started on Frankenstein. Professor ended up giving us another week to finish discussing Othello and Much Ado About Nothing so delayed starting it but I need to get to it. We shall see how that goes.
Currently reading Invisible Man. I have had a tough time doing all the reading and what not for class this semester with everything going on. Half assing it most of the time when it comes to the discussions and what not.
The Blue Tattoo - The Life of Olive Oatman
Going quite well roughly halfway through. Starts off immediately with a grizzly depiction of the capture of the Oatman family by the Yavapais, then gets a solid backstory of how they found themselves in such a spot. Now getting into Olive and her sisters' day-to-day lives as captives, their brother's story of survival, and her integration with the Mohave.
Digging the straightforward retelling of such hardship and tragedy the westward emigrants faced as well as the cultural show and tell (like sharing their ideas on their religions/afterlife, farming, sexual practices, etc.) that took place between Olive and her captors.
At this point I've no idea how this tale hasn't taken on a well invested big screen portrayal.
Reading currently, Life's Golden Ticket and Lone Star Ice & Fire. Moved a little slow with the latter but picking up. Both going well. Didn't know much about Life's Golden Ticket but it seems to have a deeper meaning as told by the author than the way I was expecting it.
I got the new Stephen & Owen King novel for Christmas. I wonder if I'll ever open it
You can do it!
Just recently got the Fire 7 tablet now I have surrounded myself with electronics on every side and a book. TV and book in front of me, laptop to one side, tablet on the other. So I'm able to watch wrestling or hockey and Netflix all at the same time. It's ridiculous.
Do you/can you read e-books on the Fire 7?
I prefer paper copies personally but yes it's an option. There's a selection of free stuff available for Prime members, seems both books and magazines. It's a lot like a smartphone, comes preloaded with Amazon-specific apps and such.
Gotcha.
You should check this book out:
https://www.amazon.com/Domestic-Thre...a.+orien+avery
Great read if you like action/thrillers.
I'm currently reading PRETTY DEADLY
Boys Will Be Boys, by Jeff Pearlman. The story of the Dallas Cowboys dynasty of the 90s. I'm about 20% through and it's been very good so far.
Next up is Killers of the Flower Moon, about the birth of the FBI.
I've got a heck of a lot of books at home. At this very moment in time, 9:02 AM, I am stating for the record that I will start reading today. My goal is at least a chapter today.
I have so many books that I've started but never finished. I will let this thread know what book I will start with this evening when I get home from work.
Currently reading "Turtle All The Way Down", needed something light for the flight home.
Well?! What did you start reading?!
I'm about half way through "The subtle art of not giving a fuck". I know the book club didn't get much traction in terms of discussion, but I feel like this could drive a bit of debate. Has anyone read it?
I never started unfortunately. Once I get over the hurdle of starting...
Great book.
YES MELLY!
Anything in the book you didn't particularly agree with?
I read it a while ago, not so fresh in my mind, but I remember just thinking it was pretty right on about almost everything.
Anyone do the Goodreads challenge? You choose how many books you want to read in a year. My goal this year is 50. I did 59 in 2017!
I'm reading The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus. It's a short read about life being devoid of meaning. It's a real feel good, pick-me-up for the new year!
Mess with the bulls....and get the horn!
A Civil War: Army vs Navy by John Feinstein. Been a good read so far. Been in and out of it over Winter Break here.
Finished Mystery Man by Colin Bateman. A light-hearted and very Northern Irish crime thriller - took a little while to get used to the man with no name’s neuroses, but I ended up really enjoying it.
Recently finished Lee Child’s Without Fail which I thought was excellent. Moving on to Persuader. Love a bit of Jack Reacher.
Just finished The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson. Very enjoyable, easy to read, a good overview on over-diagnosing and categorization of mental illnesses, while also splicing it with slightly morbid yet somehow funny serial killer anecdotes.
For those who prefer a physical copy, my book is now available as a paperback:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1976790891...=a+orien+avery
Seeing it for sale on the Kindle was cool, but actually holding one in my hand was great.
Bloody marvelous BigAle. I'm set to get my amazon points tomorrow, so I'll look to order this.
Looked into this Melly, I put 60 down for myself....I have yet to start though
You have lots of time!Looked into this Melly, I put 60 down for myself....I have yet to start though
I'm about 3/4 of the way through Tom Petty's biography, titled Petty. Awesome, awesome read. I've always been fascinated by people who can create great songs in a matter of minutes and this book is filled with stories like that. For instance he wrote Don't Come Around Here No More for Stevie Nicks in an hour and then recorded it, but she thought she couldn't do it better so she passed on the song. Or that his co-writer wrote the music for Boys of Summer and Petty passed on it. I can't put it down.
I'm reading the Dark Knight Returns.
Here we are in July haven't even started reading a single thing this year. And then I'm moving in a month so might not have the time to. Once I'm settled in the new house, maybe, by that time it will be the fall and cooler weather, sounds perfect to read in.
Sounds good! I am reading "The Power" for bookclub, I like it.
What is this GoodReads? I'm drawing a blank and I don't want to cheat by searching Google.
Right now I'm reading Console Wars, which I've been reading over a month now. Splitting time between that and The Island of Beyond, which may interest someone here. The former is about the battle between Sega and Nintendo, and the latter more like a young-adult type book. I read a lot of stuff like this. Plus I found a used bookstore about a year ago here I can always buy a bunch of stuff to add to the collection.
How was this? I wasn't a big fan of annihilation. Will I like this one?
I read it a little while ago. Really enjoyed it.
The Game Bird.
It's a nautical fantasy novel by an Australian author. Cost a few bucks on Amazon and would definitely recommend it.
I'm in the middle of 'A partial history of lost causes'. It's been good so far, if not a little choppy. I'm thinking it's a book that ties together more as you get deeper into it.
Just started 'Springfield Confidential: Jokes, Secrets, and Outright Lies from a Lifetime Writing for The Simpsons' by Mike Reiss. Obviously if you are/were a fan of the show, I'd recommend you give it a go.
I'm about 3/4 the way through King's latest The Outsider. It's...OK. I'm enjoying it but I'm ready to finish it so I can get back to Natchez Burning.
The Natchez Burning trilogy is amazing. I couldn’t put them down. The third one is an absolutely breathtaking work of fiction.
I think it might of been you that got me started. I saw someone post about it on here. I was really enjoying the first one but being a huge Stephen King nerd I had to start his newest as soon as it came out.
I'm going to say no.
This has got my interest, but it doesn't look easy to find in North America.
I've only got the Kindle version because it's stupidly expensive to get it sent to Australia... and I had assumed that's because Amazon was shipping from US?
https://www.amazon.com/Game-Bird-Aid.../dp/B07BWBH244
Yeah, it appears the American Amazon has stock
By North America, I obviously meant Canada. Which as I re-check, now seems to have it.
Kindle version is currently $1Yeah, it appears the American Amazon has stock
By North America, I obviously meant Canada. Which as I re-check, now seems to have it.
It'll be next on my list.
Currently reading The Power. Chose it as my book club selection based on people liking it in here. Got about 1/4 left but it has me gripped. How it ends will make the difference between good and great I think.
I'm looking to start reading again, and am going to set up a reading nook in the house. Right now I have all the books in boxes, without a bookcase to put them in. Does anyone know where I can find an affordable bookcase, preferably one that goes horizontal rather than vertical, for my books? I looked on Amazon but nothing seems to stand out.
The Power is my bookclub choice this last month and I couldn't finish it either. I read maybe half. Let me know what you think if you finish it.
Currently reading "Every Note Played", pretty good. I have a love/hate relationship with the author's books.
It’s pretty easy to build one with better wood than anything made with cheap particle board you’ll get online.
I really enjoyed it. A few small issues throughout, but overall quite good. I'm not sure it'll get you back on board if you didn't take to the first half, though.
Part of me wants to give it another go, but we'll see.
Recent books I've finished:
I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt: pretty good read. I think most of it is probably BS, at least in regards to Frank Sheeran's claims about killing Jimmy Hoffa. Despite that, it's still a worth reading. With the movie coming out I wanted to see if the book was any good. It definitely is. And the way Sheeran talks about killing people like it's nothing is chilling. I enjoyed it.
18 & Life on Skid Row by Sebastian Bach: eh. Let me boil this down to you in one sentence: Sebastian Bach spent a good part of the 80s and 90s doing coke, drinking whisky, and banging groupies. That's pretty much all I got out of this.
The Rooster Bar by John Grisham - one of the better Grisham books I've read in probably 5 or 6 years, and timely in regards to the student loan debt issue in America right now. Likable characters struggling to with whether it's ethical to do something criminal to unethical people.
Set myself a little challenge to read 50 books this year. On around 25 so need to pick up the pace.
Currently reading Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - the story of Nike and it's beginnings. Very good so far and a great tale of taking a startup business to crazy heights and dealing with shit along the way - as well as talking about Knights utter love of running, sports and competition in general driving him. Very easy read.
Best books I've read this year have been the Joel Dicker novels 'The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair' and 'The Baltimore Boys'. I just absolutely love his writing style and both books are utter page turners. Can't recommend them enough.
A good decade late but read the Steig Larrson original trilogy too and loved them.
Non-Fiction wise, would really recommend Sapiens - about the history of humanity and the stories behind culture and behaviors you wouldn't give a second thought normally - and The Future of Humanity, which is all about predicting where we might go with AI, Space Travel in the coming decades etc. Both really interesting stuff.
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Shoe Dog is on my Kindle. Looking forward to reading it.
The Marrow Thieves.
Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston. The latest non-fiction offering by one of my favorite fiction authors. Decent enough book about a decades long attempt to find a legendary city in the Honduras rain forest. If nothing else, it solidified in my mind how one of my worst nightmares would be to have to walk in the rain forest. Between the bugs and snakes, nope. I also made the mistake of Googling the skin disease Preston picked up from a big bite. Not sure I can unsee those pictures.
Reading a couple young adult books at the moment.
Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie and Swindle, the latter by Gordon Korman who has written several books I've read and have others to go. Both very entertaining, easy reads. Helps to have fiction stuff to take me away from the real world.
My current list is now;
- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (half way through)
- Prisoners of Geography - non-fiction about the development of geopolitics and how landforms shaped 'countries' and politics. Fairly dry but interesting stuff(dipping in and out of chapters)
Next up;
- The Wolf Of Wall Street
- Catch me if you Can
Love both films and fancy fleshing them out a little
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Wolf of Wall Street was a good read. If I remember correctly there's a lot of differences from the movie.
I've started the Dark Tower series. Always wanted to get into it but I haven't read much fiction in years and I never wanted to start back when it looked like King may never finish them.
Finished part 1 and about a quarter into the second. Just amazing so far.
I read devil in the white city and it was good
Just finished The Whistler by John Grisham. Decent book, definitely mindless fiction more than anything else. Like so many of his books it would make a great movie, probably a better movie than the book. Interesting criminal-conspiracy plot, lots of characters and moving parts.
I have barely had time to read anything in so long.
I started reading the Lorien Legacies series which is a YA series. First book is I am Number 4 which was made into a movie. My son is blowing through them but I have only managed a few. They are good books. Just not enough time.
About to do some reading though as I start back to school in a couple weeks. They will just be some books for a history class I am taking but hoping they are not a bore.
Currently reading:
"Love Your Life Not Theirs" by Rachel Cruze.
"Educated" by Tara Westwood.
Still reading Dark Tower. Reading the Wind Through the Keyhole which is like book 4.5 in the series.
Getting there.
I can't remember which book I got part of the way through but I just could never finish the Dark Tower stuff. I really liked The Gunslinger but not much after that. My wife loved it and read it all.
The Devil in the White City. Just about finished with it. It's good, the World's Fair was very interesting. I think about how back then, you couldn't just google a country and see what it's like, this fair was a chance to actually learn things about other cultures that are otherwise inaccessible to you (at least visually). World fairs must have been so incredible given that even photographs were still in their infancy at that time.
I feel like the book kind of lures you in with the serial killer story and then the bulk of it is about the architecture/planning of the fair - I was expecting more of an even split. Although now I'm into the last 50 pages which seem to be purely about the investigation of Holmes so it's finally juicy on that portion of the story.
That's a great book, I couldn't put it down. Erik Larson is a great author and his books are usually great. I hope DiCaprio and Scorsese can finally turn that into a movie as has been rumored for a while.
Devil in the White City was probably the book I've read the fastest in the last five years. Great read, would recommend to anybody. Larson's other books are also really good.
I started reading Carrie by Stephen King a couple of days ago. First time in a long time I had a book in my hands. It felt really good.
'Frankenstein: A Cultural History'
A lively history of the Frankenstein myth, tracing its evolution from a Romantic nightmare to its prominence in today's imaginative landscape.
Frankenstein began as the nightmare of an unwed teenage mother in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1816. At a time when the moral universe was shifting and advances in scientific knowledge promised humans dominion over that which had been God's alone, Mary Shelley envisioned a story of human presumption and its misbegotten consequences. Two centuries later, that story is still constantly retold and reinterpreted, from Halloween cartoons to ominous allusions in the public debate, capturing and conveying meaning central to our consciousness today and our concerns for tomorrow. From Victorian musical theater to Boris Karloff with neck bolts, to invocations at the President's Council on Bioethics, the monster and his myth have inspired everyone from cultural critics to comic book addicts. This is a lively and eclectic cultural history, illuminated with dozens of pictures and illustrations, and told with skill and humor. Susan Tyler Hitchcock uses film, literature, history, science, and even punk music to help us understand the meaning of this monster made by man. 68 illustrations
I got really stuck for a while on the 4th book. 90 percent of it is done in a long story about Roland's past and at first I just wast interested in the tale.
It's funny, by the end I was so into it that I didn't want that part to end.
Just finished The Chris Farley Show. It's a biography written mainly by one of his brothers and features extensive interviews with those who knew Chris the best. Very sad as you can probably imagine. Chris had a lot of demons, a lot of self esteem issues that he just couldn't work out. It seemed like he was never really comfortable doing his schtick of being the overweight guy doing physical comedy. Also, if the stories in the book are true, he had a tremendous heart. Lots of issues with his dad and pretty much his entire family had addiction issues.
Fun fact I learned while reading it: Chris was the original voice of Shrek and had recorded about 85% of his lines before he died. His version was much sadder than Mike Myer's version.
Last edited by BigAl; January 28th, 2019 at 12:02 PM.
Read that a few years back. Very interesting book, definitely one that I would read again. Still working on reading through 99: Stories of the game. Fantastic history on hockey told from Gretzky's perspective, knowledge and own experiences, as well as The Final Day at Westfield Arcade. Probably the slowest I've read two books I've been so interested in, because they each offer something different and really enjoying them. The latter is more a nostalgia trip through the height of popularity for arcades, or the period where they began to die off, but this is a fictional story.
Currently: The Not So Subtle Art Of Being A Fat Girl: Loving The Skin You're In - Tess Holliday.
The Death and Life of Superman by Roger Stern
a novelization of the Death of Superman comic arc and everything that followed. A few chapters in an I love it. I’ve read the comic several times, but the little details and backstory that get added from the story being novelized are very cool. Highly recommend.
Wolves of the Calla.
These Dark Tower Books go on forever. Love them though.
finally got around to learning correct middle english pronunciation to read chaucer properly.
I almost bought that at a sidewalk sale but thanks to having second thoughts about it someone beat me to it.
"Station Eleven" - Emily St John Mandel.
Just read
"Atomic Habits" by John Clear. It was a great book!
Did he write it with someone, or was it all Clear?
I grabbed this copy for fifty cents at Goodwill. I’m really enjoying it and I’m sure you could find it somewhere cheap or at the library if it still catches your interest.
Reading a lot of Sandra Boynton's Little Pookie series, plus lots of lift the flap books. I think I've read "Where Did Baby Go" about 300 times but I'll gladly read it 300 more if it instills a love of reading in my daughter.
I just downloaded Don Winslow's "The Border" which is the final part of his epic Mexican cartel series, which spans about 40 years in the books. Awesome reads. The first two were very, very long but also very, very well written and extremely violent. The total series is about 2200 pages long but well worth reading.
So I've really been on a "fantasy series" run for the past few years that has been accelerated by my commute to works and using Audible so I guess i'm not "reading" but I'm listening to audiobooks.
I did Wheel of Time a while back. Then about a year to two years ago did the Malazan book of the Fallen which is when I started using audiobooks. Did the first two of the Kingkiller chronicle (foolish decision as god only knows when the next real book will come out). And recently finished up the Broken Earth trilogy.
Now I need a new series so any suggestions? Can be sci-fi as well, I do enjoy spec fiction books (I'm fully caught up with The Expanse series), they're quite good for my commute.
Read two books on vacation.
The first was the most recent entry into James Rollins' Sigma Force series. It's a sci-tech military thriller series. I think it's 10 or 12 books deep now, maybe more. This one, called 'The Demon Crown' was really quite good. I couldn't put it down despite how it gave me the chills. Let's just say it involved a genetically engineered parasitic wasp that was 3-4 inches long and they swarmed over people. And the queen wasp was the size of a puppy. Nightmare inducing for sure.
The second was Gregg Allman's autobiography. Very interesting read, but I'm a sucker for memoirs and a big Allman Brothers fan.
I used to read all the time as a wee lad, but now I can't find myself reading. I want to read, but I'm distracted by TV, phone, internet etc. etc. Does anyone have any tips to get the reading bug again?
Usually a good way to get back in is to read a fun biography or maybe a book based on a film you've already seen.
As for me, Dark Tower 7 just came in the mail. The ending of the saga. It's changed the entire Stephen King universe for me.
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