What are you currently reading?

[greg]

I  must admit that until now I have never even heard the term "visual novel".

Oh, if I asked 10 people on the street what it is, probably 8 or 9 would have absolutely no idea. 

Technically they've been around since the early '80s, but doesn't help that they are rarely produced outside of Japan. 

[greg]

Finished this last week. It's an all-in-one manga (harcover, 752 pages).

It's about this girl who seduces men into murdering and cutting up her body, so she can regenerate into multiple versions of herself. Fun stuff. 

[Jo498]

what's the difference between a graphic and a visual novel? When I was a kid in the 80s they were all called comic books And sneered at by adults and regarded as trash (except maybe Asterix because one learned history and Latin there).

[greg]

what's the difference between a graphic and a visual novel? When I was a kid in the 80s they were all called comic books And sneered at by adults and regarded as trash (except maybe Asterix because one learned history and Latin there).

Visual novel example of Umineko:

(just flip through it for a few seconds to get the idea, better to show than to describe in detail).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaIXt4qVJWU&list=PLdyU6Nd-103adhYebWb_yha3RNuadQ0Om&index=3

VN's are either PC programs or sometimes on game consoles. But if they have any game elements at all, it's going to be just a branching storyline based on dialogue choices (like the Choose Your Own Adventure books).

The first VN, interestingly, was made back in 1982 and was based on the book Lolita.

And sneered at by adults and regarded as trash (except maybe Asterix because one learned history and Latin there).

Given my general impression of American graphic novels, I might tend to agree... but surely I'd find at least a few to like if I consciously started looking.

Problem is, I've never gotten a good impression of American comics in general. No, I'm not excited about the rehash of same superhero movies based on the same stories again and again... absolutely no creativity.

That's why I mainly stick to the Japanese side of things. I'd rather see a story about kids that are raised peacefully in what they think is an "orphanage" but is actually a human farm, where they are sold to and eaten by monsters when they turn a certain age. Interesting plots like that, not just superheroes until my eyes bleed. 

Trying not to get ranty, just something I've felt more strongly about over time. 

[SimonNZ]

Finished:



First read, but wont be the last. While only 150-ish pages its more insightful than most books three times that length, and ranks at least among the best of Didions reportage. The couple of things I picked up after this seemed weak in comparison, so I'm not sure what comes next.

I dont actually have the cover above, I've got it in the big fat Everyman collection of her nonfiction "We Tell Ourselves Stories In Order To Live"

[Ken B]

Just finished tonight The Butchering Art by Fitzharris. Joseph Lister and antisepsis. A very well written book.

Waiting For Sunrise, William Boyd. A novel set in Vienna and England 1914. My 4th or 5th novel by Boyd over a span of 30 years but so far I am a bit undecided.

The Seeds of Life, Dolnick. The history of understanding conception and birth.

I have abandoned several books lately. Maybe we should have a thread for that.

[Mandryka]

Julien Gracq. I borrowed Tome 2 of the Pléiade edition, first time I've held one of them,  and I've become completely addicted -- especially Lettrines 2 and La Forme d'une Ville. Initially I was put off by the format of the Pléiade  -- it's small, with pretty small print,  like an old fashioned bible, bound in leather with the feel of luxury -- but now I love the idea of getting to know an author's complete works like that. I like the way the books open flat and aren't too heavy, and they fit nicely in your hand.  I think I'm going to buy it for myself.

[aligreto]

Julien Gracq. I borrowed Tome 2 of the Pléiade edition, first time I've held one of them,  and I've become completely addicted -- especially Lettrines 2 and La Forme d'une Ville. Initially I was put off by the format of the Pléiade  -- it's small, with pretty small print,  like an old fashioned bible, bound in leather with the feel of luxury -- but now I love the idea of getting to know an author's complete works like that. I like the way the books open flat and aren't too heavy, and they fit nicely in your hand.  I think I'm going to buy it for myself.

I can understand what you describe: there is something special in the tactile feel of a well presented book. Go for the purchase I say.

[ritter]

Julien Gracq. I borrowed Tome 2 of the Pléiade edition, first time I've held one of them,  and I've become completely addicted -- especially Lettrines 2 and La Forme d'une Ville. Initially I was put off by the format of the Pléiade  -- it's small, with pretty small print,  like an old fashioned bible, bound in leather with the feel of luxury -- but now I love the idea of getting to know an author's complete works like that. I like the way the books open flat and aren't too heavy, and they fit nicely in your hand.  I think I'm going to buy it for myself.

Haven't read any Gracq, but have been an admirer of the Pléiade tomes for decades. The wealth of information they contain on the authors and the works, and the quality of the presentation (despite the—as you point out—slightly old-fashioned format) make for a unique and most enjoyable reading experience. I've collected 46 volumes over the years (mostly 20th century French authors), and they take prides of place in my library. A publishing feat of the highest order...

[aligreto]

Joseph Brodsky: Watermark





This is not a travelogue but rather a protracted Essay on Venice and Life.

[greg]

Just started this massive undertaking- the legendary, one and only, Umineko no Naku Koro ni (it's a visual novel in the mystery genre).

I say massive, because if it were a book, it would be over 3600 pages! Expecting to take about 2 months to finish this.

What led me to pick it up were: 1) it's related to Higurashi When They Cry, which I love, and 2) the reviews of some people make it sound like this was some sort of life-altering experience that it's so good.

Ok, I will be finishing chapter one tonight. Out of 8 chapters. It's been two weeks and I've been fairly consistent! 

So considering how long it takes and the fact that I want to read/play/whatever you call experiencing a visual novel, this will be a long-term project for me. Will just pick up and put down every few months, maybe. So might take a long time... also wanting to experience the new Ciconia When They Cry and also Higurashi When They Cry.

But is it great? Yep! I'd say feeling like a 9/10 for now, even if it at this point there are so many unanswered questions (it is called the "Questions" Arc for a reason).

[Ken B]

JBS mentioned he liked Thomas B Costain. Several of his books are 99 cents in Kindle today.

[Moonfish]

Joseph Brodsky: Watermark





This is not a travelogue but rather a protracted Essay on Venice and Life.

Aligreto,
That sounds like a great combination. I need to read more of his works - in particular the essays..... 
Thanks for bringing him up in the thread!

[SimonNZ]

various things on the go:





the Tharoor is whetting my appetite for Dalrymple's new book on the East India Company

[j winter]

Finished volume 1, moving on to volume 2.  After several aborted attempts over 30 years, I seem to have finally cracked this.  Very enjoyable, as a writer Gibbon's prose style is astoundingly good.  And not to be too cliched, but reading it in light of today's political environment, the parallels are many....

[aligreto]

Aligreto,
That sounds like a great combination. I need to read more of his works - in particular the essays..... 
Thanks for bringing him up in the thread!

Cheers. I must admit that it is the only work of his that I have read but I would certainly be encouraged to read more of Brodsky's writings.
Recommendations in this regard would be welcomed after you have immersed yourself further.

[Ken B]

Hammett The Glass Key. 4th time for this.

Freeman A. D. 381  A follow up to his excellent book on the Christianization of the Roman Empire, The Closing of the Western Mind. This is alas gets much more into the theological weeds, which I have read a lot about, and which is not his strength. However it will annoy both believers and Dawkins fans, which is a plus. 

The Club. Leo Damrosch on Boswell, Johnson, Adam Smith, David Garrick, Sheridan, Joshua Reynolds and a few others friends who constituted The Club.

Still periodically reading a bit of Bleak House.

[JBS]

Finished volume 1, moving on to volume 2.  After several aborted attempts over 30 years, I seem to have finally cracked this.  Very enjoyable, as a writer Gibbon's prose style is astoundingly good.  And not to be too cliched, but reading it in light of today's political environment, the parallels are many....

I read it and reread it several times over the years, but finally gave away my copy last year. It is great to read, as a matter of literature, but a lot of things 18th century scholarship was, in light of modern scholarship, wrong about, and his obvious prejudices got annoying the more I read them.

One serious fault doesn't show up until the last third of the work. He seriously underrated the importance of Byzantine history after Justinian, and compressed it accordingly compared to earlier eras he wrote about.
Try reading Lord Norwich's history of Byzantium, which has its own faults but in style and breadth may be the closest a modern historian has approached Gibbon's level.

[j winter]

I read it and reread it several times over the years, but finally gave away my copy last year. It is great to read, as a matter of literature, but a lot of things 18th century scholarship was, in light of modern scholarship, wrong about, and his obvious prejudices got annoying the more I read them.

One serious fault doesn't show up until the last third of the work. He seriously underrated the importance of Byzantine history after Justinian, and compressed it accordingly compared to earlier eras he wrote about.
Try reading Lord Norwich's history of Byzantium, which has its own faults but in style and breadth may be the closest a modern historian has approached Gibbon's level.

Thanks for pointing that out.  I actually just picked up Norwich's Byzantium trilogy in a used bookshop a couple of weeks ago, I've been wanting to read a good history on that subject.  That's next on my list.

I think what got me over the hump with Gibbon this time was a lot of reading up on Roman history prior to trying it again, both to get in the mood and also to refresh on some of the basics (I read a lot of history, but generally not ancient history). I read Mary Beard, a couple from Adrian Goldsworthy, and some Livy, Tacitus, etc. 


I agree that he's got some issues by modern standards; I love the style of it more than anything...

[Ken B]

Rarely have I seen the complaint that Gibbon's book is too short.