What are you currently reading?

[SimonNZ]

Superb. An oral history of the Russians' hopes of realising a better form of socialism in the early 90s, and their crushing disappointment at ending up with the worst aspects of capitalism and the creation of the oligarchy.

[Ken B]

Kotkin convincingly portrays Stalin as a rational (and ruthless) ideologue rather than some sort of deranged psychopath.  All he did was obstinately apply Leninist ideology, refusing any concessions or compromise.

So does Ulam, though he does not underplay the paranoia.
Stalin, when he had to be, was impressively capable and competent. It was only when he could that he indulged his paranoia. He impressed men not easily impressed, like FDR and Churchill. Montefiore's book is outstanding.

[Florestan]

Kotkin convincingly portrays Stalin as a rational (and ruthless) ideologue rather than some sort of deranged psychopath.  All he did was obstinately apply Leninist ideology, refusing any concessions or compromise.

But, but... anyone who rigidly and ruthlessly tries to force a whole society to conform to an ideology is ipso facto a deranged sociopath.

Anyway, so much for all those who still think in terms of "the good Lenin" against "the bad Stalin". The former was no less rigid and ruthless than the later.

[Ken B]

But, but... anyone who rigidly and ruthlessly tries to force a whole society to conform to an ideology is ipso facto a deranged sociopath.

Anyway, so much for all those who still think in terms of "the good Lenin" against "the bad Stalin". The former was no less rigid and ruthless than the later.

True.

[Artem]

Superb. An oral history of the Russians' hopes of realising a better form of socialism in the early 90s, and their crushing disappointment at ending up with the worst aspects of capitalism and the creation of the oligarchy.

Her book about women that participated in the WW2 is heartbreaking.

[SimonNZ]

Her book about women that participated in the WW2 is heartbreaking.

Of the four of her books that are available in English that's the one I don't have. I got the ones on Chernobyl and on the Afganistan War lined up to be read very soon.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Starting my first Christopher Marlowe play, the controversial "The Jew of Malta".

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Also finished another Elizabethan-era play, Shakespeare's As You Like It (did I write about it already in this thread?). Mixed feelings about this one. There were plenty of fine insights and observational lines made by the characters but the execution of the plot was beyond clumsy (Oliver's and Duke Frederick's heel face turns were way too sudden and unbelievable, for example). I know it was the standard of the comedies of the time to have these last minute-conversions (hell, Shylock's forceful conversion to Christianity in The Mechant of Venice was probably supposed to be a "happy ending" for him, merciful Christians, my ass), but I'd expect from a writer of Shakespeare's calibre to do better than that.

[milk]

I've been interested in science fiction the last few years but I have to admit I haven't liked 90% of the popular novels I've picked up. Hyperion is one exception but, like most work in the genre these days, it was followed by two more (in a series) that weren't worth the read. Oryx and Crake suffered the same fate. Same with Three Body Problem (on Obama's list  ). There's some new law that science fiction books have to be trilogies. Anyway, the only really reliable writer, that I've come across, of a series is Ursula Le Guin. She's a serious writer, in command of the language, and she's after interesting, important and moving themes.

[Daverz]

I've been interested in science fiction the last few years but I have to admit I haven't liked 90% of the popular novels I've picked up. Hyperion is one exception but, like most work in the genre these days, it was followed by two more (in a series) that weren't worth the read. Oryx and Crake suffered the same fate. Same with Three Body Problem (on Obama's list  ). There's some new law that science fiction books have to be trilogies. Anyway, the only really reliable writer, that I've come across, of a series is Ursula Le Guin. She's a serious writer, in command of the language, and she's after interesting, important and moving themes.

Yes, it seems nearly all SF these days only comes as massive series.  The days of the tight 50,000 word novel are long gone.

[milk]

Yes, it seems nearly all SF these days only comes as massive series.  The days of the tight 50,000 word novel are long gone.

I guess it's all about the cash. And they all want to be Tolkien. Ever tried to read Game of Thrones? Good T.V. show but (IMO) terrible books. There's only one Tolkien!

[Crudblud]

The thing Tolkien has going for him is the worldbuilding, which is rich and extensive. However, what's been taken from his example is the model of writing epic multi-book series, not the foundation that made the Baggins saga actually sustainable for 1500 pages. I wouldn't be surprised if George R.R. Martin, who it seems nears or bests 1000 pages in a single book, is making his Ice and Fire series up as he goes along—although the TV show, which I think has now caught up to him, probably throws a spanner into the works there. But the vast amount of money the franchise has made is bait for both authors and studios, who will be trying to write and looking for the next big fantasy series respectively. It will probably blow up like the cinematic universe craze in Hollywood, there's already a Witcher series in the works for Netflix, I expect more will be hopping on the bandwagon in the coming years.

[milk]

The thing Tolkien has going for him is the worldbuilding, which is rich and extensive. However, what's been taken from his example is the model of writing epic multi-book series, not the foundation that made the Baggins saga actually sustainable for 1500 pages. I wouldn't be surprised if George R.R. Martin, who it seems nears or bests 1000 pages in a single book, is making his Ice and Fire series up as he goes along—although the TV show, which I think has now caught up to him, probably throws a spanner into the works there. But the vast amount of money the franchise has made is bait for both authors and studios, who will be trying to write and looking for the next big fantasy series respectively. It will probably blow up like the cinematic universe craze in Hollywood, there's already a Witcher series in the works for Netflix, I expect more will be hopping on the bandwagon in the coming years.

I think so. But even when some of them try to focus on the details of world building, they just aren't as adept with language or their worlds aren't as interesting as they think they are. A Tolstoy or a Tolkien is so very rare. It takes a lot of gumption to think readers want a thousand pages from you in one book. It's another reason why I admire Le Guin. She's very economical. I think SHE thinks, "how can I say this with clarity and brevity?" Martin obviously has something going for him but I think the harsh limit of TV does him a service that he can't do for himself. I think Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars series is similar in that it would make a good TV series whereas the books are windy and ponderous. He's another guy who thinks every word he types is golden. I crave science fiction these days but most of it isn't very good.   

[Karl Henning]

I think so. But even when some of them try to focus on the details of world building, they just aren't as adept with language or their worlds aren't as interesting as they think they are. A Tolstoy or a Tolkien is so very rare. It takes a lot of gumption to think readers want a thousand pages from you in one book. It's another reason why I admire Le Guin. She's very economical. I think SHE thinks, "how can I say this with clarity and brevity?"

I need to re-read Earthsea.

[Judith]

Reading a novel biography at the moment

Trio
Boman Desai

About Brahms involvement with the Schumanns, the very subject I'm interested in.

Nearly finished it.  Up to the part where Brahms is ill.

[Judith]

Sounds like a very interesting book.  What is your sense of how much is fiction and how much fact?

Think by checking facts, that the book is accurate.  Just told in novel form.  Starts off with Brahms performing in seedy bars, Claras marriage to Robert against her father and the court case, Roberts illness and death, Brahms loving Clara, falling out with Joachim and now Brahms being ill.

[bwv 1080]

Yes, it seems nearly all SF these days only comes as massive series.  The days of the tight 50,000 word novel are long gone.

Sf or fantasy?  Sf still does the stand alone novel well - witness Alastair Reynolds.

The franchise 10000 page epic is more of a fantasy thing.

[Daverz]

Sf or fantasy?  Sf still does the stand alone novel well - witness Alastair Reynolds.

The franchise 10000 page epic is more of a fantasy thing.

I was exaggerating, but note that most of Reynolds's novels are in his Revelation Space and Poseidon's Children series and it looks like he has a third one going.

[Ken B]

Dead Man's Blues
Ray Celestin

A crime novel set in the Jazz world of Chicago, 1928.

[milk]

I need to re-read Earthsea.

Are those books good from beginning to end (of the series)? I've never read them. I go more for science fiction than fantasy but I like her so much it might be worth a try.