Books you're currently reading??? - Page 49

Perry Winkle · 03-02-2007, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clark. Got a hardback copy for $5 at Half Price Books, and so far it's enjoyable. The style of writing is kind of mock-Dickens, so it doesn't exactly let you get lost in the story, but it definitely succeeds at being amusing.

I'm still struggling with this book off and on. I feel that if I'm going to be bored with footnotes I'd rather read Eco, or a textbook. Pratchett can keep me interested in his footnotes because they're so short and usually a bit funny.

I don't know why, but it reminds me more of Jane Austen (which I can't penetrate at all) than Dickens.

I really want to like JS&MN, just like I really want to like Eco's The Island of the Day Before.

Urbane Guerrilla · 03-27-2007, 02:49 AM

I just finished John McPhee's latest: Uncommon Carriers. It's a McPhee go-there-and-explore look at the business of commercial transportation, and a slice of the lives of the people who make their livings at it: owner-operators of eighteen-wheelers, river towboats (which actually are push boats) -- you know, navigation gets interesting when the river is narrower than your barge string is long -- a digression into a canoe trip replicating more or less the trip Thoreau and his older brother (who died young of septicemia) took; a coal train out of Wyoming taking low-sulfur coal to Georgia. As is usual with McPhee when he writes about this kind of thing, you get a lot of I-never-knew-that tidbits.

This may not be the titanic work Annals of the Former World was -- anyone who enjoys geology should read that -- but it upholds McPhee's reputation.

BethL · 05-07-2008, 08:59 PM

Charlie Wilson's War by George Crile

It's a really good read (despite the poor proofreading job).

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky

Stasiland by Anna Funder

I actually read that one a while ago, but it is just extraordinary. If you were intrigued by the historical aspects of the film The Lives of Others, you will appreciate this book. It looks at the affects of the Stasi on a selection of former East Germans. It's engrossing and heartbreaking.

wolf · 03-04-2007, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clark. Got a hardback copy for $5 at Half Price Books, and so far it's enjoyable. The style of writing is kind of mock-Dickens, so it doesn't exactly let you get lost in the story, but it definitely succeeds at being amusing.

The first chapter hooked me, then a lot of the middle bored me. It's a heck of a project to read through!

I thought it was more faux-Austen than mock-Dickens ... overblown comedy of manners style and all, I loved the footnotes.

There are a lot of interesting little bits in this book, it's just unfortunately inconsistent.

Sundae · 03-01-2007, 10:42 AM

Funny - I saw that in the 2nd hand bookshop this morning and was convinced I'd read it. Having checked out the precis via the link I definitely haven't. I'll pop in tomorrow and pick it up!

03-02-2007, 05:23 PM

I want the new Potter book.

Cloud · 03-02-2007, 05:33 PM

well, you're just going to have to wait, like all the rest of us.

(drums fingers impatiently)

Cloud · 03-02-2007, 05:34 PM

or, you could be a total PotterNerd, and buy the book that's come out . . . about what's going to be in the book!

03-02-2007, 05:39 PM

um...no.
I thought it was out already... when then?

WabUfvot5 · 03-02-2007, 08:16 PM

Started the Heimskringla from the beginning again. This time a published (as opposed to downloaded) version. Has more copious footnotes and is a bit easier to follow - although I miss some of the terser language from the previous translation.

SteveDallas · 03-02-2007, 08:54 PM

Listening to Prozac

Fast Company's Greatest Hits

Practical C++ Programming

Cloud · 03-02-2007, 10:37 PM

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," Book 7, is slated to be released July 21.

bluecuracao · 03-03-2007, 08:36 PM

Cloud, your name wouldn't be Miranda Priestly now, hmmmmm?

(I am currently reading The Devil Wears Prada.)

Kagen4o4 · 03-04-2007, 12:29 AM

i am reading "the elegant universe" by brian greene.

suncrafter · 03-04-2007, 02:35 AM

I'm re-reading "The Hobbit" - can't wait for them to make a movie!

03-27-2007, 02:49 AM	#2
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	I just finished John McPhee's latest: Uncommon Carriers. It's a McPhee go-there-and-explore look at the business of commercial transportation, and a slice of the lives of the people who make their livings at it: owner-operators of eighteen-wheelers, river towboats (which actually are push boats) -- you know, navigation gets interesting when the river is narrower than your barge string is long -- a digression into a canoe trip replicating more or less the trip Thoreau and his older brother (who died young of septicemia) took; a coal train out of Wyoming taking low-sulfur coal to Georgia. As is usual with McPhee when he writes about this kind of thing, you get a lot of I-never-knew-that tidbits. This may not be the titanic work Annals of the Former World was -- anyone who enjoys geology should read that -- but it upholds McPhee's reputation. __________________ Wanna stop school shootings? End Gun-Free Zones, of course.

03-01-2007, 10:42 AM	#5
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Funny - I saw that in the 2nd hand bookshop this morning and was convinced I'd read it. Having checked out the precis via the link I definitely haven't. I'll pop in tomorrow and pick it up! __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

03-02-2007, 05:33 PM	#7
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	well, you're just going to have to wait, like all the rest of us. (drums fingers impatiently) __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

03-02-2007, 05:34 PM	#8
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	or, you could be a total PotterNerd, and buy the book that's come out . . . about what's going to be in the book! __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

03-02-2007, 08:16 PM	#10
WabUfvot5 Operations Operative Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 634	Started the Heimskringla from the beginning again. This time a published (as opposed to downloaded) version. Has more copious footnotes and is a bit easier to follow - although I miss some of the terser language from the previous translation. Last edited by WabUfvot5; 03-02-2007 at 08:55 PM. Reason: typo

05-07-2008, 08:59 PM	#3
BethL Recruit or Something Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4	Charlie Wilson's War by George Crile It's a really good read (despite the poor proofreading job). Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky Stasiland by Anna Funder I actually read that one a while ago, but it is just extraordinary. If you were intrigued by the historical aspects of the film The Lives of Others, you will appreciate this book. It looks at the affects of the Stasi on a selection of former East Germans. It's engrossing and heartbreaking.

03-02-2007, 05:23 PM	#6
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	I want the new Potter book.

03-02-2007, 05:39 PM	#9
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	um...no. I thought it was out already... when then?

03-02-2007, 08:54 PM	#11
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	Listening to Prozac Fast Company's Greatest Hits Practical C++ Programming

03-02-2007, 10:37 PM	#12
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," Book 7, is slated to be released July 21. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

03-03-2007, 08:36 PM	#13
bluecuracao in a mood, not cupcake Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 3,034	Cloud, your name wouldn't be Miranda Priestly now, hmmmmm? (I am currently reading The Devil Wears Prada.)

03-04-2007, 12:29 AM	#14
Kagen4o4 The Sheriff of Nothingland Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Melbourne, Aus Posts: 1,794	i am reading "the elegant universe" by brian greene. __________________ something we both can enjoy??

03-04-2007, 02:35 AM	#15
suncrafter Violator of Customs Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 49	I'm re-reading "The Hobbit" - can't wait for them to make a movie!

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