Misty
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Post by Misty on Jul 26, 2013 5:11:17 GMT -8
When discussion in the random thread gets unrandomized, it's time to create a theme thread. So I started this for book discussions.
I'm currently re-reading Wicked (McGuire), mostly so I can get to the second book, Son of a Witch, and if it's any good. I'll decide whether to read the rest of the series at that point.
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Misty
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Post by Misty on Jul 26, 2013 5:40:21 GMT -8
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Leif
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Post by Leif on Jul 26, 2013 6:03:25 GMT -8
I totally posted a review in the random thread. I'm going to echo praise for Murakami here and hope to get another novel by him soon.
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Misty
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Post by Misty on Jul 26, 2013 6:14:44 GMT -8
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Leif
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Post by Leif on Jul 26, 2013 6:58:37 GMT -8
I'm curious about Anthony Bourdain's recommendations. I'll probably try and pick up a couple soon.
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Furare
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Post by Furare on Jul 26, 2013 7:02:52 GMT -8
Only thing I have to contribute at the moment is that I thoroughly second Riku's recommendation from the other thread. Good Omens is pretty fantastic.
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Post by Aethera on Jul 26, 2013 8:25:53 GMT -8
I've read 22 of those, though I shouldn't count Dorian Grey, as I only read enough of it to help my sister grade coursework related to it.
Nice to see that the list has a few modern books.
I almost never read fiction, so I'm unlikely to improve my total much. I don't manage much of anything, these days.
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Post by Aethera on Jul 26, 2013 8:39:56 GMT -8
To recommend a couple of books that I have read: The Disappearing Spoon (http://www.amazon.com/The-Disappearing-Spoon-Periodic-Elements/dp/0316051632/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374856114&sr=8-1&keywords=disappearing+spoon)
Need to grab the sequel, which is about DNA. Love science-history things. Slows down a bit at the end, but really interesting stuff.
Assassination Vacation (http://www.amazon.com/Assassination-Vacation-Sarah-Vowell/dp/074326004X) and all the other books Sarah Vowell writes. This one is my favorite. She reads them well, so audio books are a good option.
Lastly, the books of Mary Roach, for starters Packing for Mars (http://www.amazon.com/Packing-Mars-Curious-Science-Life/dp/B00AR2BCLW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374856732&sr=1-1&keywords=packing+for+mars). She examines the quirky side of things, including outer space, sex, death, eating and ghosts. She's a great writer.
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Post by DementedDuck on Jul 26, 2013 22:38:49 GMT -8
I've read a whopping six of the fifty must-reads. I haven't read much of anything for years, now, I stopped finding books I really enjoyed, and I don't finish books I can't get into. Really, the only series I've read since Harry Potter was this one (which I heartily recommend to everyone with an interest in fantasy). I'm impatiently waiting to see if she'll add to the series. I've also only read six of the hundred teen books, and was disappointed to see The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole didn't make the cut. I loved that book. This thread makes me realise I need to start reading again.
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Post by Jolyma on Jul 27, 2013 7:01:19 GMT -8
21 of the must read before you die list. I absolutely LOVED The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. It was a fantastically written book.
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Post by AhoyLindsay on Jul 27, 2013 7:29:53 GMT -8
20 of the must-reads, though that's counting as one total that I've read part of the Bible, part of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and part of Moby Dick (reading it right now) (I like giving myself partial credit on these things). But I highly dispute that anyone 'must read' the Grapes of Wrath. Apart from Moby Dick, I'm currently reading the second book in the Name of the Wind series. I read the first one last year and it's hands-down some of the best fantasy I've ever read. Earlier this summer I read Absurdistan, which was strange, satirical, and weirdly compelling. It's by Gary Shteyngart, and the Name of the Wind books are by Patrick Rothfuss. P.S. Misty, can we talk about the fact that you put a book down 1 1/2 pages from the end?!
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Post by Bunnylaroo on Jul 27, 2013 15:54:33 GMT -8
22 of the must-reads for me. Although I must say if you haven't trudged through it already, save Ulysses for the end, because I nearly died trying to get through that one. Here's something I did enjoy while reading it though: thattherepaul.com/features/uford.htmlI've read 29 of the best books for kids, ha! And am thrilled that The Phantom Tollbooth made that list, as it was and is one of my favorites. I'm currently reading any cheesy public domain mystery I'm able to download for free on my kindle. Ah, summer.
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Post by firebolt153 on Jul 27, 2013 19:36:31 GMT -8
11 of the 50 books before you die, which surprised me. And pleased me, as I don't feel so uncultured now. 31 of the teen books (though I don't think anyone's surprised by that if they read my babblings about them before). I have a stack that is literally 15 high on my window ledge of backed up books to read (in progress: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell and Horns by Joe Hill) that I blame my Buffy marathons on (just finished season 3 ALL OF MY FEELS OMG). Also my genealogy research, but that's another thread.
I was bad and because I don't have enough reading to do, I bought Steve Berry's latest (The King's Deception) the other day because I work in a bookstore and there is only SO MUCH self control I have.
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Post by Crazy Mg on Jul 28, 2013 17:30:50 GMT -8
From the 50 books, I have managed to read 2.5ish. I don't plan on making that a full number any time either, having to read books at school and tear them apart completely ruins all enjoyment for me. At least 8 are on my To Read List though.
Looking at the 100 makes me feels bad though, years ago a heartie wanted me to read the Eragon series, I put them on my to read list, he sent me PDFs of the books to make them higher on the list and they're still sitting on my computer pretty much untouched.
Maybe with my lovely 4 hour gaps this semester I can finally remove some things from my To Read List. And my To Watch List will start growing as I spend more time reading and less time watching TV shows. I need to give up sleep in order to accomplish everything.
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Post by Aethera on Jul 30, 2013 10:14:06 GMT -8
I've only managed 12 of the Teen books, but a lot of these have come out since I actually was a teen, so I don't feel so bad. I'm sad that the Lloyd Alexander books and the Narnia books aren't on there.
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Post by wrecker15 on Aug 1, 2013 15:59:13 GMT -8
11 of the teen books. Good grief. I thought I read a lot. I did actually skip most of the more hyped up ones (COUGHTWILIGHTCOUGH) though. 8 of the top 25 Fantasy books, which makes me feel just a little better 16/50 of the must read before you die... This is addictive. 25/100 of the big reads. Why do all these lists overlap so much? How did Artemis Fowl not make the teen list? Yeesh. Random other stuff: I've actually played 25 of the top 50 best selling video games. I'm kind of horrified. =P
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Post by Jolyma on Aug 4, 2013 12:14:48 GMT -8
I just finished Artemis Fowl. I'd have chosen that above Twilight. I imagine that it's based primarily on sales numbers, and so, better books are passed up for 'omg that movie guy is HOT I musst buy the books too, so I can droll over it!'
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Post by firebolt153 on Aug 5, 2013 22:53:49 GMT -8
Everything should be chosen above Twilight. My cat could waltz across my keyboard and write a better story than Twilight
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Post by Riku on Aug 9, 2013 20:01:32 GMT -8
Reading Dune. This is seriously the coolest thing ever.
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Post by firebolt153 on Aug 9, 2013 21:25:23 GMT -8
I've been told to read that. Guess I should add it to the list? (My to-read list is starting to get seriously out of control)
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Leif
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Post by Leif on Aug 12, 2013 6:20:13 GMT -8
Dune is good. I've heard the series gets bad after book 3, so I've never proceeded beyond Dune itself.
Just started reading The City and The City. Looking forward to this.
I read Huck Finn last week. Re-read, I'd say, but the one I read was AGES ago, and possibly abridged in some fashion. It's pretty enjoyable.
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Leif
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Posts: 600
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Post by Leif on Aug 12, 2013 11:17:17 GMT -8
Why I sometimes get angry at Mieville:
Dammit China!
He's a great idea guy, but every now and again, some lever trips and you just get a paragraph of strung together polysyllables. Like 4 chapters in and there's no indication that the character thinking this actually talks or thinks this way. Just suddenly the word processor got stuck on "thesaurus" or something.
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Furare
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Post by Furare on Aug 12, 2013 11:53:43 GMT -8
LOOK AT ME I KNOW LOTS OF LONG AND/OR OBSCURE WORDS.
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Post by firebolt153 on Aug 12, 2013 16:20:44 GMT -8
If that was an actual sentence in the book, this does not bode well for me if I ever get to reading it
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Post by AhoyLindsay on Aug 12, 2013 17:11:08 GMT -8
Most of it's not like that! But yeah, thanks to that book I now know what polysemic means... Though I can't say it's come up frequently in conversation.
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Post by Jolyma on Aug 12, 2013 21:00:40 GMT -8
Ugh, yeah, that would turn me off. I mean, I don't mind the odd word I have to look up now and then, but that is just so awkward. I liked the last sentence in the quote. That made me chuckle. Could have done without the rest of it, it's very...pompous.
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Furare
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Post by Furare on Aug 13, 2013 5:23:32 GMT -8
I thought the last sentence was especially terrible. The meaning is kind of amusing, sure, but not even my mother talks like that.
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Leif
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Post by Leif on Aug 13, 2013 5:37:54 GMT -8
Most of it's not like that! But yeah, thanks to that book I now know what polysemic means... Though I can't say it's come up frequently in conversation. Yeah, this. I'm like 90 pages in and that's the only fraction of a paragraph where he does that. That's part of why it sticks out.
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Leif
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Post by Leif on Aug 15, 2013 10:41:07 GMT -8
I got sick and took the day of yesterday which allowed me to finish The City and The City. It was good. The central conceit of interlocking but not interacting cities is really interesting and it plays well in the book. Would recommend.
I moved on to True Grit, which a couple chapters in is a quick, fun read.
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Post by firebolt153 on Aug 15, 2013 17:57:17 GMT -8
I discovered there was a recently-published sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, so that's what I'm on right now. Slightly annoyed that the voice changed from first person in the first one to third person in this one.
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