The 2nd "What are you reading now" thread

[Allan Shorty]

Couple of short story books. John Cheever and Raymond Carver.

Really enjoying them so far.

Some of carvers stories stay with you. 'Are these actual miles' and 'what's in Alaska?' Are my favourites. The key was his editor apparently. He was Also a very fine poet.

Cheever feels dated to me.

 

[Allan Shorty]

I'm reading Wallace Stegner 'the big rock candy mountain'. Not bad but not a patch on 'crossing to safety' - one of the great novels of the last century.

 

[WALDENPOND]

Some of carvers stories stay with you. 'Are these actual miles' and 'what's in Alaska?' Are my favourites. The key was his editor apparently. He was Also a very fine poet.

Cheever feels dated to me.

I haven't read much of Cheever yet. But I really liked 'Are These Actual Miles' by Carver.

 

[WALDENPOND]

I'm reading Wallace Stegner 'the big rock candy mountain'. Not bad but not a patch on 'crossing to safety' - one of the great novels of the last century.

Have you read 'Angle of Repose'?

 

[Palmer Stoat]

Have you read 'Angle of Repose'?

I've read this. Enjoyed it a lot.

 

[WALDENPOND]

I'm sort of in a book club and the next book is Moby Dick, I know it's a classic but is that good?

 

[Palmer Stoat]

I'm sort of in a book club and the next book is Moby Dick, I know it's a classic but is that good?

I read 80% of it -- and found it to be eyeball-glazing toil. Still annoyed that after slogging my way through so much of it I gave up within sight of the finishing line. Same experience with Ulysses.

And I say that as someone who quite enjoyed some of Melville's shorter fiction. Billy Budd and Benito Cereno being two that come to mind.

 

[WALDENPOND]

I read 80% of it -- and found it to be eyeball-glazing toil. Still annoyed that after slogging my way through so much of it I gave up within sight of the finishing line. Same experience with Ulysses.

And I say that as someone who quite enjoyed some of Melville's shorter fiction. Billy Budd and Benito Cereno being two that come to mind.

Interesting. Thanks becuase it just has to be a Melville book and I could not think of anything apart from Moby Dick.

Plus it's Cormac McCarthys favourite novel.

 

[Palmer Stoat]

Interesting. Thanks becuase it just has to be a Melville book and I could not think of anything apart from Moby Dick.

Plus it's Cormac McCarthys favourite novel.

Well, if McCarthy thinks it's great, that's good enough for me. They both love their metaphysics.

 

[Allan Shorty]

Have you read 'Angle of Repose'?

No but I will next I think.

 

[WALDENPOND]

No but I will next I think.

I really recommend it. 'Crossing to Safety' is on my list of books to read, which is getting quite long thankfully.

 

[WALDENPOND]

metaphysics.

Oh yeah, he loves it, donated $254,500 to Santa Fe Institute.



You probably already know this but I think it's great.

 

[Allan Shorty]

Oh yeah, he loves it, donated $254,500 to Santa Fe Institute.



You probably already know this but I think it's great.
View attachment 157380

Jesus what a story.

 

[LanceRomance]

I am reading Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy.

The most violent book I have ever read (that includes American Psycho)

 

[Palmer Stoat]

I am reading Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy.

The most violent book I have ever read (that includes American Psycho)

His best book, IMO, though not his most lovable.

 

[ChubbMuff]

Finished Fall of Hyperion - loved it too.

Starting Foundation by Asimov.

 

[WALDENPOND]

An elderly man waiting in a bakery I was at put a book on the table so he could go and put his bread/rolls etc in a bag. I noticed him reading it while drinking a coffee in said bakery just earlier. He seemed like an approachable fella so I asked him about it. He said it was 'One Hundred Years Of Solitude' and that it was his favourite book that he as read "a few times". Anyway, got my hand on a copy and I looking forward to start it soon.

 

[Palmer Stoat]

An elderly man waiting in a bakery I was at put a book on the table so he could go and put his bread/rolls etc in a bag. I noticed him reading it while drinking a coffee in said bakery just earlier. He seemed like an approachable fella so I asked him about it. He said it was 'One Hundred Years Of Solitude' and that it was his favourite book that he as read "a few times". Anyway, got my hand on a copy and I looking forward to start it soon.

One of my all-time faves. The first magical-realist novel I read, and the best.

 

[ChubbMuff]

One of my all-time faves. The first magical-realist novel I read, and the best.

I'll second that, you are in for a treat.

 

[WALDENPOND]

One of my all-time faves. The first magical-realist novel I read, and the best.

Good to hear.

 

[WALDENPOND]

A collection of short stories by Samuel Beckett.

 

[Ocha905]

His best book, IMO, though not his most lovable.

Next book on the to read list is 'All the Pretty Horses'. First I will read- is it one of his better ones?

Finished Fall of Hyperion - loved it too.

Starting Foundation by Asimov.

Read the first two of the (original) series. I like it but when I recommended it to a mate he couldn't finish it citing the episodic nature of the book and inability to empathise with the characters. I can see his point but find the series (so far) unique to anything else.

One of my all-time faves. The first magical-realist novel I read, and the best.

Ordered it today along with 'Don Quixote', 'The Rights of Man', 'Second Foundation' and 'Vagabonding'. Thanks to everyone who brought it to my attention sounds incredible.

Anyway on topic I'm currently reading 'The Diary of a Madman and selected stories by Nikolay Gogol. Awesome so far. Never liked short stories before reading two of Tolstoys and need to make up for lost time.

 

[Palmer Stoat]

Next book on the to read list is 'All the Pretty Horses'. First I will read- is it one of his better ones?

It was the first McCarthy I read, and I loved it. Even so, there are at least two, maybe three, that I prefer.

 

[Allan Shorty]

Next book on the to read list is 'All the Pretty Horses'. First I will read- is it one of his better ones?

Read the first two of the (original) series. I like it but when I recommended it to a mate he couldn't finish it citing the episodic nature of the book and inability to empathise with the characters. I can see his point but find the series (so far) unique to anything else.

Ordered it today along with 'Don Quixote', 'The Rights of Man', 'Second Foundation' and 'Vagabonding'. Thanks to everyone who brought it to my attention sounds incredible.

Anyway on topic I'm currently reading 'The Diary of a Madman and selected stories by Nikolay Gogol. Awesome so far. Never liked short stories before reading two of Tolstoys and need to make up for lost time.

What's vagabonding about ? Old?

 

[Ocha905]

What's vagabonding about ? Old?

It was published in 2002, its about the possibility of travel regardless of age, time or financial pressures.

Here's a link for a more detailed explanation-
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/100247.Vagabonding