What are you reading right now?

grindy · 02-15-2021, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

I read that ages ago but isn’t it his bread and butter to rub everyone’s nose in it? Not saying you have to like it but I am saying he wasn’t on the DL about it.

Yeah, sure. I knew what I was getting into.
Still, this whole schtick can be fine when it's just one or two smug quotes you read somewhere. But at a higher density it gets a bit tedious and often quite noticeable that it isn't as clever as it wants to be. I have this issue with a lot of humorous literature though, for example the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy series.

OccultHawk · 02-15-2021, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grindy

Yeah, sure. I knew what I was getting into.
Still, this whole schtick can be fine when it's just one or two smug quotes you read somewhere. But at a higher density it gets a bit tedious and often quite noticeable that it isn't as clever as it wants to be. I have this issue with a lot of humorous literature though, for example the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy series.

That’s a left field comparison but it makes sense.

adidasss · 02-15-2021, 06:17 AM

Kurt Vonnegut - Breakfast of champions

Re-reading some of Vonnegut's best of.

Trollheart · 02-17-2021, 06:28 AM

Finished A Tale of Two Cities. As our friend Hawk would say, unassailable: both the most famous and powerful opening and closing lines in any book ever. Superb. The way he came down neither on the side of the aristocrats nor the poor who almost became them, the reflection at the end, the casual cruelty of Monsignor, so many Jacques - words can't describe. Edging close to my favourite Dickens now.

Began Little Dorrit yesterday; great description of Marseilles sweltering in the summer sun already and some dark comedy by one of the (so far) main characters.

Edit: Great to see you back grindy, even if it's only now and then. You bookworm.

**Frownland** · 02-19-2021, 08:34 AM

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

The themes here about memory, perception, and aging are handled really excellently, but the story arc was underwhelming and the style was straight up dull. Crafts an unreliable narrator well but not in a way that stands out. I feel like this could've been a powerful essay instead.

elphenor · Today, 04:41 PM

800 pg. Joe Strummer biography lol

**Exo** · Today, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

The beginning is really intense.

Yeah. I kinda skimmed the end where they gave updates on where the six survivors were at the time the book was written. Great first half though.

My favorite non fiction author. Breezed through 100 pages last night. Now I can REALLY talk about cancel culture with the old farts that come into the shop.

Trollheart · Today, 08:46 PM

Fiction: Little Dorrit (Charles Dickens)

Non-Fiction: Corporal Hitler and the Great War 1914-1918 (John F. Williams)
Herman Goering - Fighter Ace: The World War I Career of Germany's Most Infamous Airman (Peter Kilduff)
Heinrich Himmler: A Life (Peter Lungerich)

02-15-2021, 06:17 AM	#7243 (permalink)
adidasss The Gay Police Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 7,308	Kurt Vonnegut - Breakfast of champions Re-reading some of Vonnegut's best of. __________________ “Think of what a paradise this world would be if men were kind and wise.” - Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle. Last.fm \| Goodreads \| Letterboxd

02-17-2021, 06:28 AM	#7244 (permalink)
Trollheart I'm back, baby! Again. Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Staring out my window at a world that has changed fundamentally Posts: 22,878	Finished A Tale of Two Cities. As our friend Hawk would say, unassailable: both the most famous and powerful opening and closing lines in any book ever. Superb. The way he came down neither on the side of the aristocrats nor the poor who almost became them, the reflection at the end, the casual cruelty of Monsignor, so many Jacques - words can't describe. Edging close to my favourite Dickens now. Began Little Dorrit yesterday; great description of Marseilles sweltering in the summer sun already and some dark comedy by one of the (so far) main characters. Edit: Great to see you back grindy, even if it's only now and then. You bookworm. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018 Last edited by Trollheart; 02-17-2021 at 10:13 AM.

02-19-2021, 08:34 AM	#7245 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 34,363	The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes The themes here about memory, perception, and aging are handled really excellently, but the story arc was underwhelming and the style was straight up dull. Crafts an unreliable narrator well but not in a way that stands out. I feel like this could've been a powerful essay instead. __________________ At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed. d e a f b o x

Today, 08:46 PM	#7248 (permalink)
Trollheart I'm back, baby! Again. Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Staring out my window at a world that has changed fundamentally Posts: 22,878	Fiction: Little Dorrit (Charles Dickens) Non-Fiction: Corporal Hitler and the Great War 1914-1918 (John F. Williams) Herman Goering - Fighter Ace: The World War I Career of Germany's Most Infamous Airman (Peter Kilduff) Heinrich Himmler: A Life (Peter Lungerich) __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

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