Bouvre Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 This is a "What Are You Reading?" thread with an extra dynamic: What makes the book you're reading interesting to you? I just finished James M. Cain's Double Indemnity, and was interested by the complete absence of dialogue tags (he said, she said after spoken lines). It mostly worked and failed occasionally. I also liked the structure, which allowed this sort of order/chaos format to rest on the story's major crime, which took place in the near-exact middle of the book. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 I am reading the John Jakes Bicentennial series (on book two) from the 70s. it's not stylish, the story and characters are very basic. But they're my Mom's books. And when I read them, a lot of times I'm reading them and sort of wondering how she read them and what she thought as she read them, how she felt about certain characters and passages and things like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouvre Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 That's really sweet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuggnificent Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 i just finished The Winners Kiss (last of a trilogy) by marie rutkoski. simply amazing. every paragraph was truly just...artful. shes incredible. reading anne rices new book now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouvre Posted January 5, 2017 Author Share Posted January 5, 2017 i just finished The Winners Kiss (last of a trilogy) by marie rutkoski. simply amazing. every paragraph was truly just...artful. shes incredible. reading anne rices new book now What's she write? And I didn't know Anne Rice had a new book out, but good to know she seems to have no plans on stopping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naraku4656 Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 Atlus Shrugged so i can look down on you poor pathetic souls. just kidding, i don't read books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouvre Posted January 5, 2017 Author Share Posted January 5, 2017 Atlus Shrugged so i can look down on you poor pathetic souls. just kidding, i don't read books To be honest, I often feel like not reading is better than reading Ayn Rand. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naraku4656 Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 To be honest, I often feel like not reading is better than reading Ayn Rand. is she really that terrible of an author honestly. or is it that it's a 1200 page jerk off to capitalism? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouvre Posted January 7, 2017 Author Share Posted January 7, 2017 is she really that terrible of an author honestly. or is it that it's a 1200 page jerk off to capitalism? The dialogue was what killed it for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mthor Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 The Whole Death Catalog by Harold Schechter. I love his books about historical serial killers (I found the quote in my sig in his book about Albert Fish), and death has always been interesting to me - after all, it' is the great equalizer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouvre Posted April 30, 2017 Author Share Posted April 30, 2017 The Whole Death Catalog by Harold Schechter. I love his books about historical serial killers (I found the quote in my sig in his book about Albert Fish), and death has always been interesting to me - after all, it' is the great equalizer. What a great title, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opium Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 I recently finished Yasunari Kawabata's Snow Country and am now reading through his collection of short stories under The Dancing Girl of Izu. I'm also reading (slowly, of course) Karl Ove Knausgaard's My Struggle: Book 2 and Juan Rulfo's Pedro Paramo. Also J.A. Baker's The Peregrine. Also a number of Cormac McCarthy books. I usually start reading books then splinter off and read another then juggle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mthor Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 Spooks of the Valley, by Louis C Jones, and The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster. Spooks is a collection of ghost stories from the Hudson Valley, with a modern day story wrapped around them, and The Phantom Tollbooth is about a bored child named Milo and his adventures in the Lands Beyond. Yeah, they're both kids' books - I read them the first time when I was about 9 - but when I'm feeling overwhelmed, books that I read in simpler times are very soothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouvre Posted June 8, 2017 Author Share Posted June 8, 2017 I recently finished Yasunari Kawabata's Snow Country and am now reading through his collection of short stories under The Dancing Girl of Izu. I'm also reading (slowly, of course) Karl Ove Knausgaard's My Struggle: Book 2 and Juan Rulfo's Pedro Paramo. Also J.A. Baker's The Peregrine. Also a number of Cormac McCarthy books. I usually start reading books then splinter off and read another then juggle. I love Snow Country so much, and Kawabata's palm-of-the-hand stories (known more commonly now as flash fiction). If you get a chance, read Kawabata's final piece, in which he condenses Snow Country into a mere few pages. It's interesting to be able to compare the strengths and weaknesses of both forms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouvre Posted June 8, 2017 Author Share Posted June 8, 2017 Spooks of the Valley, by Louis C Jones, and The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster. Spooks is a collection of ghost stories from the Hudson Valley, with a modern day story wrapped around them, and The Phantom Tollbooth is about a bored child named Milo and his adventures in the Lands Beyond. Yeah, they're both kids' books - I read them the first time when I was about 9 - but when I'm feeling overwhelmed, books that I read in simpler times are very soothing. I reread The Phantom Tollbooth and immediately gifted my copy to my niece(s). I'm hoping they really get into it. <3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mthor Posted June 9, 2017 Share Posted June 9, 2017 I reread The Phantom Tollbooth and immediately gifted my copy to my niece(s). I'm hoping they really get into it. <3 Thanks for reminding me - my granddaughter just turned 7, and I have to make sure that my daughter still has her copy. It may be a couple of years, but it's best to be prepared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mochi Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 I'm not reading it yet but I'm tempted to buy and read a book I saw in a list of gay novels recently called "The Beauty's brother" it's apparently a gay fairy tale loosely based on the Beauty and the Beast it also interests me because it is VERY similar to the earliest draft of a Gay fairy tale I had been writing that I ultimately scrapped because I could not come up with a good ending Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouvre Posted July 25, 2017 Author Share Posted July 25, 2017 I'm not reading it yet but I'm tempted to buy and read a book I saw in a list of gay novels recently called "The Beauty's brother" it's apparently a gay fairy tale loosely based on the Beauty and the Beast it also interests me because it is VERY similar to the earliest draft of a Gay fairy tale I had been writing that I ultimately scrapped because I could not come up with a good ending You scrapped it because of only the ending? Endings are tough but they come along eventually, and if that's the only thing holding you back, that's a minimal number of problems. Writing and making stuff up is difficult. Give it its time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mochi Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 You scrapped it because of only the ending? Endings are tough but they come along eventually, and if that's the only thing holding you back, that's a minimal number of problems. Writing and making stuff up is difficult. Give it its time. the story was bit too similar to Princess Tutu as well, I shelved it to make it more original, then ultimately just thought it was not good because I was trying too hard to write a Gay Disney Prince story...which is basically a contradiction in and of itself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouvre Posted July 25, 2017 Author Share Posted July 25, 2017 the story was bit too similar to Princess Tutu as well, I shelved it to make it more original, then ultimately just thought it was not good because I was trying too hard to write a Gay Disney Prince story...which is basically a contradiction in and of itself Lots of great work is inhabited by contradiction. That's how some work finds its tension. Feels like you're trying too hard? Try harder. Make it obvious. Finish it before you fix it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Posted July 29, 2017 Share Posted July 29, 2017 Just started Gormenghast again for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Posted July 29, 2017 Share Posted July 29, 2017 basically what I like about Gormenghast is just the general freakish vibe mixed with kind of a gray quality. The characters are also very sort of like larger than life masquerade/festival type characters almost. The writing is interesting. Like how he chooses to relay information and through which characters. Just started it, and right away - the very first dialogue is between Rottcodd and Mister Flay, neither of whom seem much skilled in communication, nor do they seem particularly interested in communicating. yet there they are. The purpose of the exchange story-wise, is to announce the birth of the Earl's heir, but it also sets up a number of other things. And I love that Flay has no idea why he decided to visit Rottcodd. And just from beginning to end, the exchange is full of the tiny little neuroses of both characters. it's fantastically obtuse and uncomfortable. And then as the book progresses, business picks up in terms of intrigue and manipulation, as Steerpike begins to spread his wings and fly. But it's been a long time (like probably over a decade) since I've read it. So long enough that I don't remember some of it. Certainly not the smaller details. Though I do remember how and when a lot of the characters die, which doesn't matter so much with this, because the situations are so interesting and odd and sometimes funny, even with the deaths, that it's still entertaining even when I remember what's coming. I like it because it's sort of grand and overstated like an opera. But also humorously fixated, cantankerous and self-deprecating. It's oddly light and heavy at the same time. It's funny, but also very well considered and presented, and can be moving. It's got a moral center to it, even though a lot of the characters are morally bankrupt, or missing parts of their emotional selves. I've only read it like twice I think. A long time ago. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mochi Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 Lots of great work is inhabited by contradiction. That's how some work finds its tension. Feels like you're trying too hard? Try harder. Make it obvious. Finish it before you fix it. I decided to start writing it again because of your feedback still kinda just doing it for myself though, I still think we're about 50 years away from ever getting a Gay disney movie...if not longer than that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mthor Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 I'm redoing my banned books list at the library (last week of September, people!) and I'm finding so much stuff - just finished Tobacco Road and God's Little Acre0 (both by Erskine Caldwell). Right now, I've got Claude Brown's Manchild in the Promised Land in the living room, Huckleberry Finn (annual re-read) in the kitchen, and Sir Richard Francis Burton's translation of the Arabian Nights in the bedroom (tbh, no way am I getting through it - it's good, but it's also 6 volumes.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuggnificent Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 On 1/4/2017 at 1:25 PM, Bouvre said: This is a "What Are You Reading?" thread with an extra dynamic: What makes the book you're reading interesting to you? I just finished James M. Cain's Double Indemnity, and was interested by the complete absence of dialogue tags (he said, she said after spoken lines). It mostly worked and failed occasionally. I also liked the structure, which allowed this sort of order/chaos format to rest on the story's major crime, which took place in the near-exact middle of the book. The Gender War another dystopian young adult novel its not too bad, i guess its a 7 book series though. i have 3 more books in the series to read after this one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiemarie90 Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 (edited) These days I have to focused on required reading, but doesn't mean the books are bad. Currently starting off Nisei Daughter by Monica Sone. A little easier read than other novels, this one is a true story of Japanese American little girl growing up with her immigrant family in Seattle after WW1 and it's eventually going into Japanese Internment. We are only a third of the way through, it's really cute to hear her describe the delicious food her family makes, and the other traditions she was forced to attend or do. There were already stories of bigotry with the police trying to take advantage of her father. Edited March 7, 2018 by jackiemarie90 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroCreep Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 On 1/20/2018 at 9:40 AM, mthor said: The Art of War and The Book of Five Rings. I require clarity. The Art of War is a great book. Right now I'm reading Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson and Silent Warrior by Charles Henderson. The former is the third Stormlight Archive book and the latter is an account of the career of a Marine sniper named Carlos Hathcock. He was with a scout/sniper unit in the Vietnam war. Oathbringer is great, if you like Sanderson. Or fantasy books in general. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiemarie90 Posted April 21, 2018 Share Posted April 21, 2018 So I finished Nisei Daughter, it accounted her families story in the internment camps. But she had a surprisingly positive outlook at the end of the story. It was really tame and her religious belief helped her get through the experiences. Now I'm 12 chapters in Lakota Woman. A far more intense book of a young Sioux Woman living through the American Indian Movement in the 1970s and has participated in the biggest protests during that time. Far more historically intriguing for me because I'm learning about a bunch of Native American civil rights movements I hadn't been educated on before. Lots of crime, drinking, fights with police and racist locals, and also interesting stories of peyote trips and old native traditions, a new favorite for me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuggnificent Posted April 28, 2018 Share Posted April 28, 2018 @Bouvre Listening to Zane in the car. Reading the Gender Game books. On book 6 out of 7 Reading teen fiction book "Antisocial", too. Teen fiction is my favorite genre! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostrek Posted April 29, 2018 Share Posted April 29, 2018 the hunt for red october 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouvre Posted May 13, 2018 Author Share Posted May 13, 2018 On 4/29/2018 at 3:01 PM, ghostrek said: the hunt for red october Tell me about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouvre Posted May 13, 2018 Author Share Posted May 13, 2018 On 4/27/2018 at 10:17 PM, fuggnificent said: @Bouvre Listening to Zane in the car. Reading the Gender Game books. On book 6 out of 7 Reading teen fiction book "Antisocial", too. Teen fiction is my favorite genre! Is teen fic different from YA? I know of children books, middle grade, and YA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouvre Posted May 13, 2018 Author Share Posted May 13, 2018 On 4/21/2018 at 12:49 AM, jackiemarie90 said: So I finished Nisei Daughter, it accounted her families story in the internment camps. But she had a surprisingly positive outlook at the end of the story. It was really tame and her religious belief helped her get through the experiences. Now I'm 12 chapters in Lakota Woman. A far more intense book of a young Sioux Woman living through the American Indian Movement in the 1970s and has participated in the biggest protests during that time. Far more historically intriguing for me because I'm learning about a bunch of Native American civil rights movements I hadn't been educated on before. Lots of crime, drinking, fights with police and racist locals, and also interesting stories of peyote trips and old native traditions, a new favorite for me. This sounds rad! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouvre Posted May 13, 2018 Author Share Posted May 13, 2018 On 3/21/2018 at 11:24 AM, mthor said: Reading Rex Stout again. I've been thinking about my dad a lot lately - he died 8 years ago right around this time of year, and I remember the first summer I came back home, he and I would spend evenings on the porch reading the adventures of Nero Wolfe. Seems like the right thing to be reading right now. Thank you 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostrek Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 10 hours ago, Bouvre said: Tell me about it realy it been out sinice 1984 it about a sovite submarine captain defecting to the usa and taking his missle submarine with him and us cia anlayist try contact him befor it is to late it is classic 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouvre Posted May 13, 2018 Author Share Posted May 13, 2018 Currently reading "Where'd You Go, Bernadette?" which is delightful and fun and comedically well-observed. I'm partial to the ensemble of voices throughout and the mostly epistolary form, which so far allows for very fun reveals. I'm so far reading it far quickly than I imagined I would. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostrek Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 1 hour ago, Bouvre said: Currently reading "Where'd You Go, Bernadette?" which is delightful and fun and comedically well-observed. I'm partial to the ensemble of voices throughout and the mostly epistolary form, which so far allows for very fun reveals. I'm so far reading it far quickly than I imagined I would. sounds like a fun book Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouvre Posted May 15, 2018 Author Share Posted May 15, 2018 On 5/13/2018 at 6:23 PM, ghostrek said: sounds like a fun book It's pure reading pleasure. Likely to become a favorite of mine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouvre Posted May 16, 2018 Author Share Posted May 16, 2018 21 hours ago, Bouvre said: It's pure reading pleasure. Likely to become a favorite of mine. Yeah, I truly enjoyed this book. Adventurous, funny, and vibrantly orchestrated. Likely going to be one of my best books read this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mix Posted May 17, 2018 Share Posted May 17, 2018 Dorian Grey....again >.> 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouvre Posted May 17, 2018 Author Share Posted May 17, 2018 19 hours ago, Mix said: Dorian Grey....again >.> What brings you back to it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mix Posted May 17, 2018 Share Posted May 17, 2018 29 minutes ago, Bouvre said: What brings you back to it? nostalgia 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroCreep Posted June 5, 2018 Share Posted June 5, 2018 (edited) Well, I'm reading a book called The Exile about OBL. It's interesting, I've read books by his family members and US Military, but this has info from a number of sources I've never heard from. Lot's of Religious supporters, financial supporters, etc. I'm also reading a book called King Rat by James Clavell. Excellent book. He wrote a whole series of books about Asia. one other famous one was Samurai. I can't recommend his books enough. I'm also reading a book call The Seascape Tattoo, it's written by two authors, so I have little hope, but I needed something sci fi or fantasy to read at the time. And finally, I'm reading Fart Proudly, by Benjamin Franklin. Yes, that Ben Franklin. It's fucking awesome. The man was not only a genius, he was a visionary. Edited June 5, 2018 by AstroCreep 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiemarie90 Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Vagabonding: An uncommon guide to the art of long-term world travel By Rolf Potts Only 40 pages in, it discusses things like like learning to be ok with quitting a job for a short while to travel, to not consume material possessions to save money, and early planning. I've been wanting to travel more for awhile now, Italy was beautiful, but I'm interested in solo back packing travelling. Its not realistic for people with children, but I am finding myself with a few months free after the fall semester, and I'm thinking of investing in the amazing experience. Also anyone else just look up book pdfs online to read for free? >_> It's habit I've picked up from students using pdf textbooks for classes and it's easier for me to read random books online. Plus I have one of those folding tablet laptops now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiemarie90 Posted August 9, 2018 Share Posted August 9, 2018 I finished Vagabonding by Rolf Potts. It's a short read about 190 pages but found myself distracted towards the end. I had to force myself to finish it so I could move on to other projects. After explaining basics like saving money, health and safety, the later half of the book focuses on the experiences and connections made while travelling. There are chapters on your expectations and being more open, spirituality, volunteer work etc. It's an easy read, one of the best part of the books if you are interested in certain travel chapters he has a list of books for that chapter at the end of each one. As well as a little history on some famous travel writers throughout time. For now, I'm going to focus on a Math guide book to help me prepare for Pre Calculus in the fall. It's the College Panda SAT math as it is a well reviewed one. More just practice problems but there is some reading into getting techniques done. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.M. Matthews Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 Arrived from Amazon Today:: The Paranormal Dictionary by Chad Stambough Finishing What You Start by Peter Hollins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.M. Matthews Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 On 5/17/2018 at 5:24 PM, Bouvre said: What brings you back to it? Credit Cards and Money to put on them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molarbear Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 It takes place in Maine and Dude's daughter's cat just got ran over and they buried it in an old Native American graveyard ...I'm reading Pet Sematary 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codename: Jackass Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 I was rereading The Stand because I was bored. I am just like Larry Underwood except I'm not a one hit wonder. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouvre Posted August 27, 2018 Author Share Posted August 27, 2018 On 8/9/2018 at 9:52 PM, molarbear said: It takes place in Maine and Dude's daughter's cat just got ran over and they buried it in an old Native American graveyard ...I'm reading Pet Sematary I haven't read nearly enough King but I imagine this being one I use to get into his work. That and Misery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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