Official Book Thread

by **jvcc** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 3:24 pm

This is the official book thread that is meant to stay alive forever.

You can discuss a book you're reading/have read, ask about a book you're interested in, give reviews, discuss authors (who you'd like to meet if you could, etc.), or anything else book-involved.

Begin!

by **PonderThis** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 3:45 pm

Too many books! I'm constantly in the middle of several books. There's usually one on the front burner, then others in various states ...

Right now, I'm into Matter by Iain M. Banks, while on the other side of the scale I must have started The Sixth Extinction ten years ago, gotten to like the second chapter or so, and it's been waaaay at the back burner ever since. I keep meaning to get back to it, really!

by **James** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 3:56 pm

Officially endorsed by the Office of Books.

Anyway, I'm reading Making Money, which is a Discworld book, and Fermat's Last Theorem, which is MATHS but in an easily-digestible format. I recently finished Crime and Punishment, which was a book. I was also given The Kite Runner for my birthday, which I guess I'll read after the other two, and I was given The Ode Less Travelled for Christmas, which I might never read, because it's about how to write poetry or something, and I have no intention of doing that. Unless I just do the opposite of what it says. It is by Stephen Fry, though.

by **MysticalDescent** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 4:11 pm

'Stalingrad' by Anthony Beevor. It's a good book, I'm quite enjoying it. It's kind of half-novel, half-historical, but it works well.

I'm also reading Sebastian Faulks' 'Birdsong', but I'm not fond of it. The bits in WWI are excellent (if some parts are a bit clichÃ©d) but Part 1 seems to be aimed at middle aged spinsters waiting to be whisked away by a mysterious foreign stranger.

by **James** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 4:49 pm

MysticalDescent wrote:'Stalingrad' by Anthony Beevor.

Is that the one Mark in Peep Show is reading in series one? Those kids have literally no idea what it was like in Stalingrad.

by **katzenkoenig** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 5:08 pm

I really enjoyed "The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare" by G. K. Chesterton.

Go download it, it's free and only 99 pages!

by **Portals** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 5:30 pm

I'm starting Neal Stephenson's 'Cryptonomicon' book, but I've been busy and haven't been able to get past the third chapter yet. His books seem really good; I've read Zodiac, Snow Crash, and The Diamond Age by him. My favorite so far is Snow Crash.

I'm also reading some books on Python.

by **EvilJekyll** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:56 pm

I just finished The World Without Us about a week ago. Good book, a little bland in some parts, but very interesting nonetheless.

by **Gelatine Cow** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 7:53 pm

Who has time for reading BOOKS? Seriously, I have NO LIFE and still couldn't fit books in unless I actually tried and then it would probably be easy.

by **sum yun gai** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:47 pm

cryptonomicon is a good read.

right now i'm starting on CCNA Official Exam Certification Guide 2nd Edition by Cisco Press. it's a little dull so far, i'm hoping it picks up towards the end

by **chrismachine** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:56 am

I picked up my complete works of Oscar Wilde anthology and read the importance of being Earnest again... I still get a lot of pleasure out of that play, and it only takes a few hours to read.

by **James** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:04 am

Gelatine Cow wrote:Who has time for reading BOOKS? Seriously, I have NO LIFE and still couldn't fit books in unless I actually tried and then it would probably be easy.

I pretty much only read when I'm forced to sit down without a screen or meal in front of me. So on the train and on the toilet.

by **kupo** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:20 pm

I don't know what I'm reading. I have books lying around the house, and I pick them up and read them. I misplace books I'm in the middle of reading. Re-reading "The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury. Just started "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" by Hunter S. Thompson for the second time. Lost both of those. Where did they go? God only knows.

The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers is something I'm currently reading. I pick it up and randomly open to page and read. Many serial killers like to rape and undress their victims.

by **Zombie Protestor** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:24 pm

They went, respectively, to Mars and Las Vegas. Buh!

by **kupo** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:28 pm

Zombie Protestor wrote:They went, respectively, to Mars and Las Vegas. Buh!

Pssh, spoilers.

by **PonderThis** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:37 pm

sum yun gai wrote:right now i'm starting on CCNA Official Exam Certification Guide 2nd Edition by Cisco Press. it's a little dull so far, i'm hoping it picks up towards the end

Keep at it, I heard it has a twist. A pair of them, in fact.

Sorry.

by **Gelatine Cow** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:54 pm

James wrote:
Gelatine Cow wrote:Who has time for reading BOOKS? Seriously, I have NO LIFE and still couldn't fit books in unless I actually tried and then it would probably be easy.

I pretty much only read when I'm forced to sit down without a screen or meal in front of me. So on the train and on the toilet.

I never understood that idea. Firstly, I'm, err, busy. Secondly, I don't actually spend long enough in there to get any reading done, and don't think it's the most comfortable place to linger while I finish a chapter or anything.

About the only time I don't have a computer screen in front of me is the walk to and from work. I should probably watch the roads rather than read though.

by **EsBe** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:04 pm

PortalsAreAwesome wrote:I'm starting Neal Stephenson's 'Cryptonomicon' book, but I've been busy and haven't been able to get past the third chapter yet.

That's my favorite book, pretty much ever. His Baroque Cycle books are pretty good too, though not as "nerd hilarious" as some of his others are known for.

I just read The Philosopher's Apprentice by James Morrow. It is basically a tale of love, eccentric billionaires, and mad science. Especially the mad science.

by **James** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:38 pm

Gelatine Cow wrote:I never understood that idea. Firstly, I'm, err, busy.

I've had quite a lot of practice. I'm able to do it and something else at once. You could call me something of an expert.

Gelatine Cow wrote:Secondly, I don't actually spend long enough in there to get any reading done

Well it does sometimes lead me to spend way too long in there, but whatever. LEAVE MY HAVEN ALONE.

Gelatine Cow wrote:and don't think it's the most comfortable place to linger while I finish a chapter or anything.

I wouldn't say it's uncomfortable, although it's a bit tricky to find a good place for the book itself. But I get fidgety wherever I sit to read, so it's not much worse.

Gelatine Cow wrote:About the only time I don't have a computer screen in front of me is the walk to and from work. I should probably watch the roads rather than read though.

I've occasionally tried reading while walking, but it's not a great idea.

by **MysticalDescent** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:40 pm

I don't watch Peep Show, so I wouldn't know if it was on it or not.

by **kupo** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 7:58 pm

I feel comfort in a bathroom.

by **jvcc** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:34 am

James wrote:I recently finished Crime and Punishment, which was a book.

I just finished that and it is one of my favorites!

I love Dostoevsky.

I also just finished "The Translator" by Daoud Hari. It's pretty much an autobiography about his life in Darfur. It's very informative and inspiring, and I love his writing style. He's very intelligent and creative.

If I could meet any author, I think I'd meet Charlotte Bronte, author of my favorite book "Jane Eyre." Apparently she had a crippling shyness, but I think we have a lot of the same ideals and similar personalities. MY second choice would be Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. His son said he could analyze people like Holmes did, so I'd love to just sit and people watch with him.

by **loofah** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 1:54 am

jvcc wrote:This is the official book thread that is meant to stay alive forever.

Creepy!
I'm currently reading The Boy Detective Fails, and am enjoying it muchly.

by **Watery_tart** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:25 am

I'm reading Wuthering Heights, but it's kind of pissing me of.

Have ordered Good Omens and Darkly Dreaming Dexter to take on holiday with me.

by **PonderThis** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:19 am

Watery_tart wrote:I'm reading Wuthering Heights, but it's kind of pissing me of.

Had to read it in high school. fork I hate that book. It's just a god durned soap opera disguised as literature.

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