What are you reading right now?

ThePhanastasio · 10-08-2010, 07:40 AM

I was browsing Goodwill, and found this extremely old book of plays, published in the 1930s, which contains something like 30 plays. I would have purchased the book regardless, as there were a handful of plays I've never read or even heard of, and the vast majority of the plays within are in the public domain - which means material for showcases and such without having to pay royalties when I'm broke.

The major perk to this book, however, is that the original owner of the book made extensive notes throughout, on every single play and wrote her name inside the front cover. I've been reading through, reading her faded, ancient pencil writing in the margins and enjoying it thoroughly.

adidasss · 10-08-2010, 09:14 AM

Wow, that's really interesting...(:

cardboard adolescent · 10-08-2010, 11:26 AM

there are two pages randomly filled with notes in a used book i got recently, some scribbles i found:

woman: one slow big
man: fast small many

Hegel had the illeg child of his la
(right under which it says)
You look like my mom

Schopenhauer -domineering mom-rebel

criteria for being a punk--
against authority
rebel
comf with self
prankster
make people laugh so you can connect people (and get last laugh, last gasp of air)

techn. or humans?

-neonazi
-
-

Owl - owl of minerva
Tigger
Piglet
Pooh
Eyore

i thought they were pretty marvelously random

LoathsomePete · 10-10-2010, 12:18 PM

My first piece of fiction in quite some time, as well as my first Clive Barker book. It's a pretty interesting and unique piece for a number of reasons. First off the book is a piece of metafiction that starts off breaking the 4th wall encouraging the reader to burn the book so it reads like a diary. As you read on you find out it's a demon writing the piece, and that it somehow involves Johannes Gutenberg. There's also quite a production that went into it, with all the pages using a special type of paper, designed to look like a very old book, something I'm sure did not come cheap to the publishers. I'm just about finished with it, I'll probably finish it this afternoon, so it's very short, but there's a neat little story wrapped up in it that I think will prove to be worth the read. I'm not sure if this would be the best book to get someone into Clive Barker, but it's certainly a good piece by itself.

NSW · 10-11-2010, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adidasss

Finished Annie Proulx's Fine just the way it is....I'm definitely visiting Wyoming one day, but even if I don't I feel like I've been there and know its people. Amazing collection of short stories. Definitely one of the best modern American writers.

Moving on to:

You'll have to let me know how you enjoy this one...I've bought it on someones recommendation but not read it yet.

Right now, I'm still reading Stephen Kings Wizard and Glass, but also picked up these two:

emby · 10-13-2010, 06:59 PM

The Whiskey Rebels- David Liss

Historical fiction is my favorite.

MusicLovingDutchman · 10-14-2010, 01:46 AM

Unni Lindell - Rouwmantel

TheBig3 · 10-14-2010, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engine

I'm going to break up your post to respond. I know some people don't like that (the post fragmenting responses) but you've got a couple interesting points / allegations in there that I want to address and this stuff is highly interesting to me:
I'm seriously interested. Depending on your response I may read the book.

On topic: I'm still reading Infinite Jest and probably won't be done until like November but I have a feeling that I'll be craving some good ol' fashioned US History at that point. Maybe I'll read Wood's book - that's why I bothered with this.

I do hate when people break up posts because it has only ever ended up in snarky retorts that come down to responses like...

"yeah that's really intelligent"

We're a long way off from that, but I'm still weary of engaging in debates like that.

Jefferson is a prick because he sold out his own ideals. When you double back on your beliefs, it means you've either not thought long enough, or you're taking your football and going home.

His complete 180 in his later years on most of his positions, because of a realization that he'd miscalculated humanity and their trajectory toward "enlightenment", smacks of either the death grip of senior insanity or that in the face of the honesty of people, he realized that we'd never be a nation of dandy fops drinking tea and bantering about Adam Smith.

When people attack the society and the actions of a person some 200 years ago, I find it a little ridiculous, but I think that philosophic visions are always up for discussion. Jefferson was plenty of things: American Sphinx, Perennial Optimist, Consummate Virginian...but he was also someone I think who gave up on his beliefs because he didn't like the ignorant masses and their relation to him.

bugsy2301 · 10-14-2010, 04:35 PM

'War and Peace'.

I'm on the third book at the moment. I slightly regret undertaking this. The language is so tautological: I'm not sure if it's the translation barrier, but I do find myself quite frustrated with the pace sometimes. That said, it's quite amazing how so many characters are introduced and yet have very clear pictures in my mind.

rondo · 10-16-2010, 11:30 PM

Never read it nor have I seen any movie/cartoon rendition of it before. Amazon seems to suggest this particular translation. I'm beginning to think that the introduction alone might be worth its price. Looking forward to the world of heroes, demons, dragons, treasures and all that other jazz.

10-08-2010, 09:14 AM	#2942 (permalink)
adidasss Slavic gay sauce Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Abu Dhabi Posts: 7,993	Wow, that's really interesting...(: __________________ “Think of what a paradise this world would be if men were kind and wise.” - Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle. Last.fm

10-14-2010, 01:46 AM	#2947 (permalink)
MusicLovingDutchman Groupie Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Groningen Posts: 13	Unni Lindell - Rouwmantel __________________

10-14-2010, 04:35 PM	#2949 (permalink)
bugsy2301 Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Torquay, UK Posts: 54	'War and Peace'. I'm on the third book at the moment. I slightly regret undertaking this. The language is so tautological: I'm not sure if it's the translation barrier, but I do find myself quite frustrated with the pace sometimes. That said, it's quite amazing how so many characters are introduced and yet have very clear pictures in my mind. __________________ She's not sure if you're a boy or a girl... Le Last.FM

10-16-2010, 11:30 PM	#2950 (permalink)
rondo Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 71	Never read it nor have I seen any movie/cartoon rendition of it before. Amazon seems to suggest this particular translation. I'm beginning to think that the introduction alone might be worth its price. Looking forward to the world of heroes, demons, dragons, treasures and all that other jazz. __________________ I came to Berlin looking for love and success, but I decided to settle for sex, drugs and rock and roll.

10-08-2010, 07:40 AM	#2941 (permalink)
ThePhanastasio Killed Laura Palmer Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ashland, KY Posts: 1,679	I was browsing Goodwill, and found this extremely old book of plays, published in the 1930s, which contains something like 30 plays. I would have purchased the book regardless, as there were a handful of plays I've never read or even heard of, and the vast majority of the plays within are in the public domain - which means material for showcases and such without having to pay royalties when I'm broke. The major perk to this book, however, is that the original owner of the book made extensive notes throughout, on every single play and wrote her name inside the front cover. I've been reading through, reading her faded, ancient pencil writing in the margins and enjoying it thoroughly.

10-08-2010, 11:26 AM	#2943 (permalink)
cardboard adolescent ;) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Posts: 3,503	there are two pages randomly filled with notes in a used book i got recently, some scribbles i found: woman: one slow big man: fast small many Hegel had the illeg child of his la (right under which it says) You look like my mom Schopenhauer -domineering mom-rebel criteria for being a punk-- against authority rebel comf with self prankster make people laugh so you can connect people (and get last laugh, last gasp of air) techn. or humans? -neonazi - - Owl - owl of minerva Tigger Piglet Pooh Eyore i thought they were pretty marvelously random

10-10-2010, 12:18 PM	#2944 (permalink)
LoathsomePete Cardboard Box Realtor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hobb's End Posts: 7,648	My first piece of fiction in quite some time, as well as my first Clive Barker book. It's a pretty interesting and unique piece for a number of reasons. First off the book is a piece of metafiction that starts off breaking the 4th wall encouraging the reader to burn the book so it reads like a diary. As you read on you find out it's a demon writing the piece, and that it somehow involves Johannes Gutenberg. There's also quite a production that went into it, with all the pages using a special type of paper, designed to look like a very old book, something I'm sure did not come cheap to the publishers. I'm just about finished with it, I'll probably finish it this afternoon, so it's very short, but there's a neat little story wrapped up in it that I think will prove to be worth the read. I'm not sure if this would be the best book to get someone into Clive Barker, but it's certainly a good piece by itself.

10-13-2010, 06:59 PM	#2946 (permalink)
emby Groupie Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 25	The Whiskey Rebels- David Liss Historical fiction is my favorite.