The Syndicate

Also. The Imperfectionists. So good. You might like if you are fans of either Franzen's work or A Visit from the Goon Squad.


//We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town, beep beep!//

I'm sad to say, I didn't get to meet him. My BFF found out about the signing too late for me to get the time off for it. He procured me a signed copy of it though because he is awesome. Said BFF said he was quite engaging though and was very nice in offering writing advice.

I actually started reading Franzen because my BFF is an aspiring writer and said that Franzen was quickly becoming one of his influences (and I can see it coming out in his writing. It's funny, I can read what he's working on and think "here's where Franzen comes in, here's where Roth comes in, here's where Wolfe comes in, here's the bit of Irving, here's the bit of Vonnegut....")

My only other signed book is Diane De Prima's Memoirs of a Beatnik - which also was a gift. The sweetie has a signed copy of one of the Simpsons books as well.

I finished The Cuckoo's Calling, overall it was a good book.

I re-started The Etruscan. I read several pages a few years ago, and then abandoned it because I suppose didn't find it as exciting as The Egyptian or The Dark Angel.

I'm reading Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her

Cloud Atlas (I really will finish it k)

Re-reading The Elegance of the Hedgehog, one of my favorite books ever <3

Dune

First time ever.

Epignosis wrote:Dune

First time ever.

I wish I could read Dune for the first time again.

A Person wrote:Cloud Atlas (I really will finish it k)

And I really did.

Now I'm reading Kafka on the Shore and The Haunting of Hill House.

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest

I'm about 3/4 of the way through, so spoilers up to that point.

Oh boy. At the end of Dragon Tattoo, Blomkvist was one of the characters I liked the most, but over the course of the second and third book, I slowly began to despise him. He's a blatant Marty Stu who can do no wrong, bangs every single female character, and has this air about him, not really arrogance, or cockiness, but pure smug superiority. Don't get me fucking started on Erika Berger. Not even Robin Wright could save that character. Luckily Lisbeth hasn't changed very much, though there's only so much she can do trapped in a hospital room, Palm or no Palm. Her wrestler buddy, who I imagined as Mike Tyson, led to some of the most ludicrous moments in the series. The only character who isn't a strict black or white, good or bad guy, is Lisbeth. This can lead to some insufferably bland characters such as the couple working on the sex trafficking story, and Figuerola. Figuerola takes the cake for most boring bland character. She's apparently a super strong, smart, sexy, Sapo agent, with the character dimensions of a playing card. And her and Blomkvist bang for no discernible reason, most likely for Steig Larrson to masturbate to. I do get the sense her character is leading somewhere, most likely a third act death. If nothing fucking happens with her character, I'm going to be very angry! I may post things on the Internet!

The reason I'm still reading other than Lisbeth is the plot, which is still quite good, I have to admit. The parts are in place for some kind of climax, the only thing is, I don't know if I care about those who are involved.

Initiation into Hermetics by Franz Bardon. Probably the most practically useful book I've read so far.

You SHOULD be reading Vomps' Diary: https://www.facebook.com/vompsdiary

A Person wrote:

A Person wrote:Cloud Atlas (I really will finish it k)

And I really did.

Now I'm reading Kafka on the Shore and The Haunting of Hill House.

I took a break to read The Stranger, I liked it.

Just finished - Where is Joe Merchant by Jimmy Buffet.

I just finished the little-known Herman Melville novel "Pierre." Possibly the weirdest book I've ever read, including House of Leaves.

thellama73 wrote:I just finished the little-known Herman Melville novel "Pierre." Possibly the weirdest book I've ever read, including House of Leaves.

I'm not sure I'm man enough for Melville that's not Billy Budd.

Just being totally honest.

Also- house of leaves is weird.


also - aslo - I have a copy of a twain sci-fi book. I gave it to the hubster as a dating gift. I tried to read it but only got like 4 pages in before I had to give it to him. I thought I'd read everything twain put out - but this - I"d never seen till the bookstore owner put that print in my hands.

I am going to be starting the Book of the New Sun series by Gene Wolfe later this week. Anyone read it? I am kind of surprised I never have before.

I finished The Silkworm yesterday, I liked it enough to want to read the next book in the series when it comes out.

We watched Divergent this weekend, so I decided to finish reading the trilogy and find out what happens. I just finished this evening. WTF Veronica Roth, you fail. The movie wasn't super good either. :/

Hedgeowl wrote:We watched Divergent this weekend, so I decided to finish reading the trilogy and find out what happens. I just finished this evening. WTF Veronica Roth, you fail. The movie wasn't super good either. :/

I haven't read any of it, but I rarely put my faith in trilogies written by a young 20-somethings.

My favorite book is Popco by Scarlett Thomas.

I am currently reading The End of Mr Y, also by Scarlett Thomas.

Epignosis wrote:

Hedgeowl wrote:We watched Divergent this weekend, so I decided to finish reading the trilogy and find out what happens. I just finished this evening. WTF Veronica Roth, you fail. The movie wasn't super good either. :/

I haven't read any of it, but I rarely put my faith in trilogies written by a young 20-somethings.

I should not expect too much, but I am a sucker for YA fantasy. On the plus side she actually has a degree in writing and can spell, unlike that Twilight author.

Next up, the Archived...

I'm for real finishing Kafka on the Shore now, I've read 100 pages per day for the past 3 days.

A Person wrote:I'm for real finishing Kafka on the Shore now, I've read 100 pages per day for the past 3 days.

I for real did it. Now I don't know what to read next.

In this moment I am reading the Corpus Hermeticum. Also read the first book of the first book of the Illuminatus trilogy. Also halfway through rereading the Artaud Anthology.

A Person wrote:I'm for real finishing Kafka on the Shore now, I've read 100 pages per day for the past 3 days.

I read that book. I really liked it.

Metalmarsh89 wrote:

A Person wrote:I'm for real finishing Kafka on the Shore now, I've read 100 pages per day for the past 3 days.

I read that book. I really liked it.

Me too, I really need to read more Murakami.

A Person wrote:

Metalmarsh89 wrote:

A Person wrote:I'm for real finishing Kafka on the Shore now, I've read 100 pages per day for the past 3 days.

I read that book. I really liked it.

Me too, I really need to read more Murakami.

I read another auto-biography he wrote on his running. I found it enjoyable, and unique compared to other such books I have read. But I don't know how it would appeal if you don't like running.

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is supposed to be good, and I'm planning on reading that one sometime.

Metalmarsh89 wrote:

A Person wrote:

Metalmarsh89 wrote:

A Person wrote:I'm for real finishing Kafka on the Shore now, I've read 100 pages per day for the past 3 days.

I read that book. I really liked it.

Me too, I really need to read more Murakami.

I read another auto-biography he wrote on his running. I found it enjoyable, and unique compared to other such books I have read. But I don't know how it would appeal if you don't like running.

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is supposed to be good, and I'm planning on reading that one sometime.

I don't have much interest in running but given his writing style I could possibly enjoy it.

I plan on reading The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle next, supposedly it is his best.

Currently, I'm reading The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell.

I am currently reading Game of Thrones. I don't plan on watching the TV series, but the book has been good so far.

Last year I started a quest to read every single book that my wife and I own. I'm still working on the first book:

Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary- Tenth Edition (1996)

I may have bit off more than I can chew.

G-Man wrote:Last year I started a quest to read every single book that my wife and I own. I'm still working on the first book:

Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary- Tenth Edition (1996)

I may have bit off more than I can chew.

lol, maybe just a little.

I'm doing the same thing G-man! but luckily for me moving to a different country weeded out books like that. I left all the boring manuals of geriatrics and other reference books back in NY

Crime and Punishment

I adore Dostoyevsky. I must read him again soon.

Epignosis wrote:I adore Dostoyevsky. I must read him again soon.

do you have a preference for translation? I was reading online and I heard people saying things like "oh this translation of Dostoyevsky is the best" and I guess I just never considered who translated it when picking out a copy. I was just curious if you have noticed any differences in your reading

fingersplints wrote:

Epignosis wrote:I adore Dostoyevsky. I must read him again soon.

do you have a preference for translation? I was reading online and I heard people saying things like "oh this translation of Dostoyevsky is the best" and I guess I just never considered who translated it when picking out a copy. I was just curious if you have noticed any differences in your reading

Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky.

fingersplints wrote:I'm doing the same thing G-man! but luckily for me moving to a different country weeded out books like that. I left all the boring manuals of geriatrics and other reference books back in NY

Crime and Punishment

I tried to read that novel a few years ago. Every so often I used to go after a long book for the sake of reading a long book. I gave up after 20 pages. Maybe it's because I had no context to go on nor any prior experience with Russian literature. Something just wasn't clicking with me and it seems really mundane and hyper-detail oriented. Seeing you guys suggesting the importance of the translator, I wonder if that was part of the problem too.

Finished:

Patty Smith, Just Kids
John Fante, Dreams from Bunker Hill

Reading Peter Hobbs, In the Orchard, the Swallows

Struggling to even pick up Alex Shteyngart's Absurdistan the past weeks. I only ever failed to finish a few books in my life, but maybe I should reconsider in this case and read some Rimbaud instead.

I just finished Dune this week (too me a year. I is slow. )

I'm reading The Way of Kings by Sanderson, and I'm also reading the awesome web serial Worm

Epignosis wrote:I just finished Dune this week (too me a year. I is slow. )

That's my favorite book ever. The sequels are shit, but the original is the absolute best.

I avidly read all six books when I was young, but I now hardly remember anything. I liked them up to the Children, but after that, especially the last (official) one, they were pretty dire indeed.

I need help, Syndicate! I just got back from a wonderful two week vacation during which I did no reading at all. Before I left, I had just finished book 6 of Paradise Lost. While I was on vacation, however, I found in a book store "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" by JRR Tolkien, and obscure piece of nerdity that I've been wanting to get my hands on for a number of years. It's a lovely day outside and something needs to be read. Do I continue with Milton, or do I indulge in my Tolkien excitement?

Sloonei wrote:I need help, Syndicate! I just got back from a wonderful two week vacation during which I did no reading at all. Before I left, I had just finished book 6 of Paradise Lost. While I was on vacation, however, I found in a book store "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" by JRR Tolkien, and obscure piece of nerdity that I've been wanting to get my hands on for a number of years. It's a lovely day outside and something needs to be read. Do I continue with Milton, or do I indulge in my Tolkien excitement?

Finish Milton first. The Adventures of Tom Bombadll is okay, but it is far from Tolkien's most interesting work. Personally, I regard Paradise Lost as the finest poem in the English language.

you're the mod!

I'm pleased to see you have such excellent taste in literature.

I like a good story
I'm reading Paradise Lost mainly because i'm about to graduate college with a degree in English, but i've gone my entire academic career without reading it, one of the biggest fixtures in the English canon. It did not feel right. I have enjoyed it so far.

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami