What are you currently reading?

[Brian]

Picked this up randomly. Had very low expectations (in fact, I thought it would be reactionary and preachy), but it's very interesting, insightful and well written (so far).

I just finished that book last month, and thought it very good indeed. A lot of material is dated (1990s), but the message continues to resonate.

[Drasko]

Grandville - British comic series by Brian Talbot. Antropomorphic victorian alternate history steampunk Sherlock Holmes James Bond cross. Very decently written. Four books so far, I've read first two.

[Ken B]

Picked this up randomly. Had very low expectations (in fact, I thought it would be reactionary and preachy), but it's very interesting, insightful and well written (so far).

[asin]0465031463[/asin]

I just finished that book last month, and thought it very good indeed. A lot of material is dated (1990s), but the message continues to resonate.

It's nice that you guys give your opinion but a link would be better.

[NikF]

So pleased to find this in one of the (sadly, few remaining) local used bookstores, because I've been wanting to read some Marcel Ayme for a long time.

[lisa needs braces]

The Kindle version of Swafford's Beethoven: Anguish and Triumph Kindle edition is $2.99 just now. Typical price is $22.49.

[asin]B00E78IB3E[/asin]

Thanks. Though I strongly prefer physical books, I picked this up as my copy is a library loan with multiple reserves!

[kishnevi]

Bought at Barnes and Noble last night. 


A bilingual edition of selected poems.

[kishnevi]

Can't say I ever liked Lattimore. Certainly not his Homer. Fitzgerald. I have read some very fine versions of Homer and Ovid by Lombardo, who is sort of an anti-Lattimore, emphasizing swiftness and directness. Fagles still awaits.

Read through some of Fagles last night at B&N.  Struck me as brutal and very nonpoetic in its meter.  Well, that is to say, it didn't see to have any meter.
Also Fitzgerald,  who does seem to remember he is translating poetry, but I did not find the grace of sound that Lattimore achieved.   Fitzgerald seemed to overemphasize the swiftness and directness.  For me, Lattimore achieved the correct balance.

[Karl Henning]

British Airways fire: Why you shouldn't escape with carry-on luggage

. . . but my moment, or my belongings, are more important than the next guy's physical safety.

[Ken B]

British Airways fire: Why you shouldn't escape with carry-on luggage

. . . but my moment, or my belongings, are more important than the next guy's physical safety.

You can be charged for disobeying the orders of a flight attendant. Seems a good time to deploy this law.

[SimonNZ]

Superb.

[Karl Henning]

How FBI foiled a 9/11 anniversary terror plot

[kishnevi]

How FBI foiled a 9/11 anniversary terror plot

counterpoint

[Ken B]

counterpoint

This is hilarious, in a bad way. Knapp asserts there was no conspiracy while admitting Goldberg assumed the bomb would go off and wanted to assist in a bombing. That's a strange definition of "non-existent".

[kishnevi]

This is hilarious, in a bad way. Knapp asserts there was no conspiracy while admitting Goldberg assumed the bomb would go off and wanted to assist in a bombing. That's a strange definition of "non-existent".

You are missing the point.
To have a conspiracy, you need at least two people with a common intent.

[Ken B]

You are missing the point.
To have a conspiracy, you need at least two people with a common intent.

Oh come on. You had one guy and the cop who caught him by pretending. The guy had serious intent and belief. if I get you to plot with me to murder Karl and then arrest you are you seriously going to say "No plot here!"

[kishnevi]

Oh come on. You had one guy and the cop who caught him by pretending. The guy had serious intent and belief. if I get you to plot with me to murder Karl and then arrest you are you seriously going to say "No plot here!"

The usual term for that is entrapment.

[Ken B]

The usual term for that is entrapment.

That requires that the cop induce you to commit a crime you were not previously inclined to commit. Evidence of that here?

[Ken B]

Nick Cohen is unhappy. http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9637452/why-ive-finally-given-up-on-the-left/

[SimonNZ]

On the bus:



At home:

[Artem]

I haven't read this specific collection, but I love reading Carver, even though his stories are almost always devastating.