What are you reading right now?

~~Sansa Stark~~ · 07-21-2011, 01:46 PM

Oryx and Crake is definitely one of the most accessible and engaging of them all, I think. I finally got my boyfriend to read on a regular basis and this was the book he started on, and he loved it

Paedantic Basterd · 07-21-2011, 01:50 PM

Hated Heart of Darkness. I was one of the only students who actually read it too, instead of just watching Apocalypse Now and bullshitting.

Mrd00d · 07-21-2011, 01:55 PM

That's a shame, hopefully the teacher wasn't stupid enough to fall for that?

I feel a re-read of Heart of Darkness is in order. I delved so deep into the book, digging out all the tropes and meanings and unintended meanings I should hate it... but I don't, I love it. Similar to Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man. Killed it, but still like it a lot.

We watched Apocalypse Now after we finished the book completely and tested past it. I remember the book more than the movie.

Paedantic Basterd · 07-21-2011, 01:57 PM

It was agonizingly dull to my 12th grade self. I wonder if I'd have the patience for it now.

**Janszoon** · 07-21-2011, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrd00d

Didn't discover Atwood's Oryx and Crake until after college. I can't imagine it being a high school text. Seems like a (amazing) children's book...well middle school. I read it in one sitting.

Yeah, nothing screams "children's book" like the end of the world, child prostitution and people getting their throat slit.

Mrd00d · 07-21-2011, 02:25 PM

My buddy had trouble with that too. You don't think that's what the future has in store? The writing style and my feelings on those topics go hand in hand. I brushed right through all that stuff with a shrug. And so did the author.

Your saying kids can't learn about dystopia before high school? All I meant by it was the reading skill level of the book was middle school worthy, but the story is great for anyone. No hard words, no difficult concepts, a fairly engaging premise, can sit down and read it in less than a day. 1984 took me a week to finish, for example.

**Janszoon** · 07-21-2011, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrd00d

My buddy had trouble with that too. You don't think that's what the future has in store? The writing style and my feelings on those topics go hand in hand. I brushed right through all that stuff with a shrug. And so did the author.

I didn't have trouble with those things, I'm just saying they're hardly hallmarks of children's literature.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrd00d

Your saying kids can't learn about dystopia before high school?

Nope, just saying it's not what I'd describe as a children's book. I myself read On the Beach and Johnny Got His Gun in junior high (on my own, not for class) and loved both of them. I still wouldn't describe either of them as children's literature.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrd00d

All I meant by it was the reading skill level of the book was middle school worthy, but the story is great for anyone. No hard words, no difficult concepts, a fairly engaging premise, can sit down and read it in less than a day. 1984 took me a week to finish, for example.

To be honest I found Oryx and Crake kind of hard to get through. Not because it was difficult to read, just because most of it was kind of dull. I liked the premise but I thought it could have been better executed.

~~Sansa Stark~~ · 07-21-2011, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

To be honest I found Oryx and Crake kind of hard to get through. Not because it was difficult to read, just because most of it was kind of dull. I liked the premise but I thought it could have been better executed.

Have you read Year of the Flood? It's apparently the prequel, same kind of story but I found it much more compelling than Oryx and Crake.

TheCunningStunt · 07-22-2011, 01:40 AM

Oryx and Crake will be my next book after 1984. How good is it? I'm quite fond of Dystopian stuff.

Either that, or The Stranger by Albert Camus or something by Charles Bukowski. Hmm.

Orimi · 07-22-2011, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Tickle

Just read Breakfast of Champions. Still undecided about if I liked it or not....

and Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell I'm re-reading as it is excellent.

Difficult to dislike that book. Vonnegut in general really.

07-21-2011, 01:55 PM	#3613 (permalink)
Mrd00d Stoned and Jammin' Out Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Northern California; Eugene, OR; mobile Posts: 1,602	That's a shame, hopefully the teacher wasn't stupid enough to fall for that? I feel a re-read of Heart of Darkness is in order. I delved so deep into the book, digging out all the tropes and meanings and unintended meanings I should hate it... but I don't, I love it. Similar to Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man. Killed it, but still like it a lot. We watched Apocalypse Now after we finished the book completely and tested past it. I remember the book more than the movie. __________________ Mrd00d's Last.fm

07-21-2011, 02:25 PM	#3616 (permalink)
Mrd00d Stoned and Jammin' Out Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Northern California; Eugene, OR; mobile Posts: 1,602	My buddy had trouble with that too. You don't think that's what the future has in store? The writing style and my feelings on those topics go hand in hand. I brushed right through all that stuff with a shrug. And so did the author. Your saying kids can't learn about dystopia before high school? All I meant by it was the reading skill level of the book was middle school worthy, but the story is great for anyone. No hard words, no difficult concepts, a fairly engaging premise, can sit down and read it in less than a day. 1984 took me a week to finish, for example. __________________ Mrd00d's Last.fm

07-22-2011, 01:40 AM	#3619 (permalink)
TheCunningStunt love will tear you apart Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 5,107	Oryx and Crake will be my next book after 1984. How good is it? I'm quite fond of Dystopian stuff. Either that, or The Stranger by Albert Camus or something by Charles Bukowski. Hmm. __________________ I don't feel and I feel great. Last FM Last edited by TheCunningStunt; 07-22-2011 at 01:46 AM.

07-21-2011, 01:46 PM	#3611 (permalink)
~~Sansa Stark~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Eyrie, Vale of Arryn, Westeros Posts: 3,234	Oryx and Crake is definitely one of the most accessible and engaging of them all, I think. I finally got my boyfriend to read on a regular basis and this was the book he started on, and he loved it

07-21-2011, 01:50 PM	#3612 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	Hated Heart of Darkness. I was one of the only students who actually read it too, instead of just watching Apocalypse Now and bullshitting.

07-21-2011, 01:57 PM	#3614 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	It was agonizingly dull to my 12th grade self. I wonder if I'd have the patience for it now.