Which book are you currently reading?

[TouringDevotee]

I had been reading Brave New World, but right now, the concepts aren't saving my mind from the effects of the dry writing, so I'm putting it aside for a rainy day and opening up In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead by James Lee Burke.

I'm currently reading Fevre Dream, by George RR Martin, a novel concerning vampires!

I was just thinking of grabbing Fevre Dream, how do you like it?

 

[BobK]

Just got my copy of Early US Jet Fighters: Proposals, Projects and Prototypes in the mail yesterday.

 

[Dotini]

I was just thinking of grabbing Fevre Dream, how do you like it?

I'm an older person who never thought much of reading horror stories and stories about vampires and such. Though I've read some Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft, that genre just wasn't my main thing.

However, I totally fell in love with the sheer storytelling abilities of George RR Martin. I read all the ASOIAF series, and the Dunk and Egg short stories avidly, and reread them to absorb all the detail, clues and prefiguration.

So I confidently dived into Martin's tale of vampirism knowing it would at least be a great, riveting story. And it is! What's more, I'm learning in depth about a culturally popular meme as well as steamboating on the Mississippi.

I firmly believe Martin is one of the greatest-ever innate storytellers, excelling in every genre from sci-fi to horror to epic fantasy to rustic short story. You cannot go wrong for sheer entertainment, but you can be tempted to read too fast. If Martin has a quirk, it is his consistent penchant for favoring the underdog. He afflicts the comfortable and comforts the afflicted.

 

[Zona]

I'm not 100% sure I'm liking this book to be honest with you. But it's a nice break from spess mehreens and the Horus Heresy.

 

[nk4e]

I'm currently reading the fan translation of the Suprise of Haruhi Suzumiya (don't judge me)
I have to find the official translations for the first 9, because the fan translation I read was kinda wonky to me with the wording.

*judging*

 

[Badasp5.0]

Just got my copy of Early US Jet Fighters: Proposals, Projects and Prototypes in the mail yesterday.

That looks great

 

[Antonisbob]

Dracula, the 1897 novel.

 

[dhandeh]

Ed Macy - Apache

Certainly a better book than others in the genre.

 

[TouringDevotee]

I'm an older person who never thought much of reading horror stories and stories about vampires and such. Though I've read some Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft, that genre just wasn't my main thing.

However, I totally fell in love with the sheer storytelling abilities of George RR Martin. I read all the ASOIAF series, and the Dunk and Egg short stories avidly, and reread them to absorb all the detail, clues and prefiguration.

So I confidently dived into Martin's tale of vampirism knowing it would at least be a great, riveting story. And it is! What's more, I'm learning in depth about a culturally popular meme as well as steamboating on the Mississippi.

I firmly believe Martin is one of the greatest-ever innate storytellers, excelling in every genre from sci-fi to horror to epic fantasy to rustic short story. You cannot go wrong for sheer entertainment, but you can be tempted to read too fast. If Martin has a quirk, it is his consistent penchant for favoring the underdog. He afflicts the comfortable and comforts the afflicted.

I appreciate your taking the time to reply, and now you've got me interested in the author himself, as well as his Song of Ice and Fire series.

You'd think that would be reversed, but I wasn't very familiar with Martin's works, having only happened upon Fevre Dream in a book shop.

 

[Northstar]

Just finished Clash of Kings, very good book, although the battle scenes could have been better.

Now reading this.

 

[Yukon]

I recently finished reading Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner, by Dean Karnazes.

Simply put, it's incredible. From start to finish, it was one of the best books I've ever read - and not just because I'm interested in running. It's so funny, so painful to imagine what he's going through and so, so damn awesome all at once. Dean is such a brilliant guy, he's humble and takes adversity in his stride(excuse the pun). I've never wanted a book to just continue, keep the stories poring out, keep going and going and going. It was excellent. I knew a lot about Dean before I had read the book, but not in the depth and personal reach that Ultramarathon Man reveals. You don't have to be interested in running, let alone for further than the equivalent of more than eight consecutive marathons to appreciate just how good this book is.

It's a keeper. I'll be reading this again for sure.

 

[35mm]

Finally finished this:

George R. R. Martin - A Dance With Dragons​

And now started this:

Haruki Murakami - Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World​

I missed Murakami.

 

[axletramp]

Not one for the easily offended… in fact, not one for anyone who get's moderately offended!

Typical Boyle stuff to have you laughing out loud but unable to tell anyone why. The opening introduction had me in tears laughing and probably had a number of people complaining to the publisher, but that says more about them than Frankie Boyle.

Brilliant stuff!

 

[Shaun]

The missus picked this up for me at an op shop for $2.
Pretty good read especially if you enjoy cycling.

 

[35mm]

Started this:

Bram Stoker - The Jewel Of Seven Stars​

Not sure what will come out of it.

 

[kikie]

I'm still reading this never ending 'book' called: GTP12.

Heard of it?

 

[TouringDevotee]

Just finished George RR Martin's Game of Thrones, and I can't wait to begin the next volume, but I'm going to have to pace myself.

I hate when I come to the end of a good thing and even put off the final volume of a book or episodes of a favorite show for years.

 

[Badasp5.0]

Very interesting to see the Iraqi side of the war. All from captured documents and interviews done after OIF in 2003.

 

[photonrider]

Can't put it down. Unstoppable force.

 

[35mm]

^ The whole Millennium series is great. 👍

 

[OnlyMe]

Right now I'm reading the second book in Stephen King's The Dark Tower-cycle. It's the fourth time I'm going through the whole thing. Only this time around, it's eight books in stead of seven Haven't read the new one yet

 

[BobK]

Currently working my way though Early US Jet Fighters: Proposals, Projects and Prototypes by Tony Buttler, and Lockheed Aircraft since 1913 by René J Francillon.

 

[TouringDevotee]

Can't put it down. Unstoppable force.

^ The whole Millennium series is great. 👍

I couldn't agree more. For me, the Millennium series has such a lively and addictive quality with great moments of suspense, history, and security services' naughtiness mixed in.

Very interesting to see the Iraqi side of the war. All from captured documents and interviews done after OIF in 2003.

I always enjoyed the earlier names for the war. Operation Enduring Freedom (damn that freedom) and —see Ari Fleischer's Press Briefings of March 24, 2003 and April 1, 2003,— Operation Iraqi Liberation (OIL).

I just finished Jim Butcher's, Grave Peril and started Tolkien's, The Two Towers. With Tolkien, I can't tell which is more entertaining, trying to get a feel for the allegory(ies) within, or running across that certain breed of fan(atic) who emphatically denounces any idea of allegory in the books. ... no allegory, no allegory, no allegory!

And yes, I am aware that Tolkien wrote "I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations..."

 

[35mm]

Started this:

Duff McKagan - It's So Easy: and other lies​

 

[DOUQA]

Just finished George RR Martin's Game of Thrones, and I can't wait to begin the next volume, but I'm going to have to pace myself.

I hate when I come to the end of a good thing and even put off the final volume of a book or episodes of a favorite show for years.

It's not your pace that will be the problem, it's Martins. He's still writing the next book 'The Winds of Winter' and says he "hopes" to wrap it up in 'A Dream of Spring', which should follow TWOW.
I bought the boxset of seven books and it was only when I was halfway through the seventh that I realised there was no way it could finish in half a book, Googled it and realised he's still writing. Doh!

So now I'm reading through them again, which is actually ok as there is so much depth.

 

[photonrider]

^ The whole Millennium series is great. 👍

I couldn't agree more. For me, the Millennium series has such a lively and addictive quality with great moments of suspense, history, and security services' naughtiness mixed in.

It has been quite some time since Fiction pulled me in again. With me it's usually one giant reference book after another.

Just getting into 'The Girl that Kicked the Hornet's Nest.'

I'm captivated.

I need to go shopping for smoked herring and aquavit.

 

[TouringDevotee]

It's not your pace that will be the problem, it's Martins. He's still writing the next book 'The Winds of Winter' and says he "hopes" to wrap it up in 'A Dream of Spring', which should follow TWOW. I bought the boxset of seven books and it was only when I was halfway through the seventh that I realised there was no way it could finish in half a book, Googled it and realised he's still writing. Doh! So now I'm reading through them again, which is actually ok as there is so much depth.

Well that is fantastic news, I appreciate the info, as I'm definitely in the mood for more Tyrion Lannister.

But first, I need to put down the sword (Tolkien has done a number on me) and sit back with a fedora and Dashiell Hammet's The Thin Man.

It has been quite some time since Fiction pulled me in again. With me it's usually one giant reference book after another. Just getting into 'The Girl that Kicked the Hornet's Nest.' I'm captivated. I need to go shopping for smoked herring and aquavit.

That is really a wonderful book, and a nice political intrigue and even more socially conscious follow up to the murder mystery of the first book.

Aquavit, mmmm. I should buy a bottle for the holidays, it'll be a nice accompaniment to the sweet, spiced ham that I plan for Christmas.

Enjoy the ending.

 

[photonrider]

I put it away after a chapter, TouringDevotee - I Think I had better read Book 2 before plunging into Three.

Meanwhile till Book 2 comes my way I'm occupied with one of the funniest books ever:

The Guinea Pig Diaries - My Life as an Experiment (A. J. Jacobs, Simon & Schuster)

Absolutely hilarious. A must read for the 21st century human who wants to know what it's like to impersonate a beautiful woman. Or outsource everything - from getting your kids read bedtime stories to arguing with your wife.

 

[35mm]

Ken Follett - World Without End​

I loved "The pillars of the Earth". This should be good.

 

[FoolKiller]

So, because I'm a glutton for punishment, but lover of epic tales, I am listening to Stephen King's 'The Dark Tower' series on Audible (on 'The Wastelands) and am reading the 5-book boxed set of George R.R. Martin's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' on my Kindle (near the end of 'Game of Thrones').

So, yeah....

I'll not be reading anything else for a while, but I'm doing two at a time.