What are you currently reading?

[San Antone]

After watching an excellent two-part dramatized documentary (made by Ric Burns on PBS) about Dante Alighieri I began re-reading the Divine Comedy translated by John Ciardi.

[SimonNZ]

After watching an excellent two-part dramatized documentary (made by Ric Burns on PBS) about Dante Alighieri I began re-reading the Divine Comedy translated by John Ciardi.

Where/how did you see this?

[San Antone]

Where/how did you see this?

Here's the link to my PBS network (yours may be different) - https://www.pbs.org/show/dante-inferno-to-paradise/

DANTE: Inferno to Paradise is a two-part, four-hour documentary film chronicling the life, work and legacy of the great 14th century Florentine poet, Dante Alighieri, and his epic masterpiece, The Divine Comedy, one of the greatest achievements in the history of Western Literature.

[SimonNZ]

Here's the link to my PBS network (yours may be different) - https://www.pbs.org/show/dante-inferno-to-paradise/

While over-the-air broadcasts reach beyond U.S. borders, online video is subject to geo-filtering, which restricts the areas that can view PBS content. PBS is legally obligated to ensure each show does not exceed its granted rights, which unfortunately eliminates international streaming ability for some PBS shows outside the U.S.

We regret not being able to offer our supporters all of our online content.

 

[Mandryka]

After watching an excellent two-part dramatized documentary (made by Ric Burns on PBS) about Dante Alighieri I began re-reading the Divine Comedy translated by John Ciardi.

One of Samuel Beckett's favourites. I think he liked all the torture in Inferno.

[Florestan]

The amount of bullshit contained in this book regarding historical and contemporary Spain would certainly make @ritter 's brain explode. I wonder whether the authors have ever seen a map of Spain, let alone read anything at all about its history. Dan Brown's level, maybe even below. 

[Crudblud]

Zola - Au Bonheur des Dames ("The Ladies' Paradise", trans. Nelson, Oxford Classics)

Hume - An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding

Peter Smith - Introduction to Formal Logic (university "fun" )

[Ganondorf]

Zola - Au Bonheur des Dames ("The Ladies' Paradise", trans. Nelson, Oxford Classics)

I read that Zola work some time ago. Zola is a magnificent evocative writer to be sure but I must also say that his male protagonists tend to be swines. If Zola even half-heartedly agrees with the kind of treatment his female characters receive in his books, then he must be the ultimate sexist.

[DavidW]

The amount of bullshit contained in this book regarding historical and contemporary Spain would certainly make @ritter 's brain explode. I wonder whether the authors have ever seen a map of Spain, let alone read anything at all about its history. Dan Brown's level, maybe even below. 

My mind is blown that you would even want to read that, and where did you find it?

Since you mentioned Dan Brown, I didn't want to hurt the feelings of whoever posted about on this thread, but check out this hilarious parody of him, complete with a great imitation of his terrible prose!

https://onehundredpages.wordpress.com/2013/06/12/dont-make-fun-of-renowned-dan-brown/

As for me, something funny, quirky, strange and naughty:

[Florestan]

My mind is blown that you would even want to read that,

I thought that I could use something light --- and I stumbled upon something stupid. 

and where did you find it?

In my own library, but as an inheritance, not a purchase. 

Since you mentioned Dan Brown, I didn't want to hurt the feelings of whoever posted about on this thread, but check out this hilarious parody of him, complete with a great imitation of his terrible prose!

https://onehundredpages.wordpress.com/2013/06/12/dont-make-fun-of-renowned-dan-brown/

Hilarious indeed! Thanks a lot for that. 

[Brian]

Don't know what "Big Swiss" is but that cover design is attention-getting!

[LKB]

Don't know what "Big Swiss" is but that cover design is attention-getting!

Indeed. Dunno if I'm interested in the book, but that cover is downright inspiring. 

[Iota]

Since you mentioned Dan Brown, I didn't want to hurt the feelings of whoever posted about on this thread, but check out this hilarious parody of him, complete with a great imitation of his terrible prose!

https://onehundredpages.wordpress.com/2013/06/12/dont-make-fun-of-renowned-dan-brown/

Excellent!

[AnotherSpin]

Arthur Koestler's book on India and Japan.

[Crudblud]

I read that Zola work some time ago. Zola is a magnificent evocative writer to be sure but I must also say that his male protagonists tend to be swines. If Zola even half-heartedly agrees with the kind of treatment his female characters receive in his books, then he must be the ultimate sexist.

Entirely possible. I would only counter by saying that my impression of the four or five Zola novels I've read is that he tends to give his men enough rope to hang themselves. Without attempting to psychoanalyse someone long dead, it seems to me that Zola doesn't depict characters like Mouret as noble, only as having the cunning to succeed in a society which generally is shown to be rotten and inhospitable.

[hopefullytrusting]

Have a cache of pulp arriving soon:

Crichton: Congo
Cussler: Spartan Gold
McDermott: The Hunt for Atlantis
McDevitt: Ancient Shores & Polaris
Preston/Child: The Relic
Reilly: Seven Deadly Wonders
Rollins: Excavation
Stevenson: Treasure Island

[vers la flamme]

Just finished Kazuo Ishiguro's The Unconsoled. I'm sorry I don't quite recall who here recently urged me to read it (I think it was Iota) but whoever it was, thank you for the recommendation. As I ought to have expected by now, having read some three or four of Ishiguro's other books, The Unconsoled was absolutely devastating–especially the last few chapters–and profoundly unsettling throughout. A good read, and not as challenging as I expected it to be. The whole thing felt like a disturbing dream.

[DavidW]

@hopefullytrusting Thumbs up on Polaris and Treasure Island!  McDevitt is great about writing mystery novels in an sf setting and he has good payoffs.  And of course Treasure Island is great fun!

[hopefullytrusting]

@hopefullytrusting Thumbs up on Polaris and Treasure Island!  McDevitt is great about writing mystery novels in an sf setting and he has good payoffs.  And of course Treasure Island is great fun!

I've been watching someone play Uncharted 4, and recalled my live of Indiana Jones, so I wanted to pick up a slate of books reminiscent of that feeling of action-adventure.

[DavidW]

I've been watching someone play Uncharted 4, and recalled my live of Indiana Jones, so I wanted to pick up a slate of books reminiscent of that feeling of action-adventure.

I love Uncharted 4.  I've played it twice and it is one of my favorite games of last gen.  It is a shame that Naughty Dog has recently been sidetracked with remasters.  Last gen we had Uncharted 4, Lost Legacy and Last of Us 2.  We're half way through the current gen and they have not released a new game yet, just remasters.