What are you currently reading?

[Lethevich]

Danke, Florestan and Renfield - I hadn't heard of it, but I'm not a big reader of the genre.

[greg]

How is it? That's one I plan on reading...

[greg]

Sun Tzu- The Art of War

Probably my favorite one:
"The skillfull tactician may be likened to the shuai-jin. Now the shuai-jin is a snake that can be found in the Ch'ang mountains. Strike at it's head, and you will be attacted by its tail; strike at its tail and you will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both." 

[karlhenning]

A fascinating, no-nonsense critical bio of Evelyn Waugh.

[Harpo]

Bright-Sided by Barbara Ehrenreich, about how "positive thinking" can mask the recognition of real problems in society. Boo to Oprah, Dr. Phil, et al



Shadow Tag by Louise Erdrich, a semi-autobiographical novel about a married couple (part Native American, as Erdrich is) whose family is falling apart. Well-written, full of pain.

[Renfield]

Sun Tzu- The Art of War

Probably my favorite one:
"The skillfull tactician may be likened to the shuai-jin. Now the shuai-jin is a snake that can be found in the Ch'ang mountains. Strike at it's head, and you will be attacted by its tail; strike at its tail and you will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both." 

Of all the things that have been formative to the development of my personality, such as it is, none (of my choosing) has had a more profound influence than that book. Though I guess it's also made me that much more unpleasant!

(People don't like things that bite on both ends. )

Edit: Oh, and you're welcome Lethe. It's a great novel for the detail-conscious.

[greg]

Of all the things that have been formative to the development of my personality, such as it is, none (of my choosing) has had a more profound influence than that book. Though I guess it's also made me that much more unpleasant!

(People don't like things that bite on both ends. )

Do I even want to know how you apply that to real life?... 

[Harpo]

Just finished this one. It's quite good, actually.

I'm about to start it, since my book club is reading it next month.

[CD]

[Renfield]

Do I even want to know how you apply that to real life?... 

No, not really.

[Scarpia]

The Elegance of the Hedgehog, a very popular book in France which has been translated into English.  The story of a typical French concierge who is, improbably, an extremely erudite and intelligent woman.  She feels she has to hide her talents from the wealthy people she works for because of difficult experiences growing up in a poor rural village.  A somewhat sentimental, predictable tale, but well executed.

[DavidRoss]

Interesting.  I've never read him and did not realize he'd written the books on which all those notable films were based.  How is it?

My own reading last night: Malcolm Muggeridge's Conversion.  Yes, it's good.

[Scarpia]

Interesting.  I've never read him and did not realize he'd written the books on which all those notable films were based.  How is it?

Crime novels are perhaps one one uniquely American literary genre.  The Library of America has en extensive series




http://www.loa.org/volume.jsp?RequestID=1
http://www.loa.org/volume.jsp?RequestID=2

When you read these novels you feel like you are watching an old movie.

[Bogey]

How is it? That's one I plan on reading...

Sorry I took so long to post on this Greg.  Please accept my apology as I wanted to get into the book a bit before throwing something back at you (just finished Chapter 3 tonight). 

A great read with some incredible lines.  What has made this even more enjoyable is that I have a copy that a friend lent me and it has all his favorite lines underlined in red.  With his permission I am underlining mine in pencil.  Every now and then I share with him my underlines.  Funny thing is, that only a couple of times so far have they crossed over.  The only part I do not care for is the repeated line of "So it goes."  Just does not work for me, though I know it is a classic part of this book.  Let me know what you think. 

[greg]

Sorry I took so long to post on this Greg.  Please accept my apology as I wanted to get into the book a bit before throwing something back at you (just finished Chapter 3 tonight). 

A great read with some incredible lines.  What has made this even more enjoyable is that I have a copy that a friend lent me and it has all his favorite lines underlined in red.  With his permission I am underlining mine in pencil.  Every now and then I share with him my underlines.  Funny thing is, that only a couple of times so far have they crossed over.  The only part I do not care for is the repeated line of "So it goes."  Just does not work for me, though I know it is a classic part of this book.  Let me know what you think.

Excellent. Just now checking out the plot summary, and it sounds fascinating.
I did read "The Big Trip Up Yonder" and "2 B R O 2 B" recently, so coming from that, looks like a real treat. 

[CD]

Interesting.  I've never read him and did not realize he'd written the books on which all those notable films were based.  How is it?

It's good. None too prolix, as I'd expected, but the writing is beautiful even though the characters and their desires are not.

[greg]

Anyone here who is a speed reader? I would like to be able to read super fast but actually comprehend what I'm reading at the same time. Of course, it's easy to move your eyes fast, but forming a visual picture isn't easy at a quick pace. How do I go about this? 

[Bogey]

Excellent. Just now checking out the plot summary, and it sounds fascinating.
I did read "The Big Trip Up Yonder" and "2 B R O 2 B" recently, so coming from that, looks like a real treat. 

The book is beginning to get a "bit thin" now, Greg.  The quotable lines seem to be drying up a bit and I am having a couple other issues with it.  However, I will not be specific and see what you think after reading it.

[greg]

The book is beginning to get a "bit thin" now, Greg.  The quotable lines seem to be drying up a bit and I am having a couple other issues with it.  However, I will not be specific and see what you think after reading it.

Gladly. 

[karlhenning]

Sorry I took so long to post on this Greg.  Please accept my apology as I wanted to get into the book a bit before throwing something back at you (just finished Chapter 3 tonight). 

A great read with some incredible lines.  What has made this even more enjoyable is that I have a copy that a friend lent me and it has all his favorite lines underlined in red.  With his permission I am underlining mine in pencil.  Every now and then I share with him my underlines.  Funny thing is, that only a couple of times so far have they crossed over.  The only part I do not care for is the repeated line of "So it goes."  Just does not work for me, though I know it is a classic part of this book.  Let me know what you think. 

I missed part of the discussion, so it was only when you got to the over-repetition of and so it goes that I knew what book you are talking about, Bill.  In large agreement, on all counts (strong start; and so it goes doesn't work as so heavily-rotated a ritornello; thins off disappointingly after so strong a start.)  I want to like Vonnegut better than I do; but it's not enough to have the occasional bright idea.  It's all about execution.