The 2nd "What are you reading now" thread

[Severe]

Anyone read the latest Franzen novel?

 

[Severe]

'How to Sharpen Pencils: A Practical & Theoretical Treatise on the Artisanal Craft of Pencil Sharpening for Writers, Artists, Contractors, Flange Turners, Anglesmiths, & Civil Servants' by David Rees.

 

[chugginon]

Looking for some help Awhile ago, on here, I think ( and I may be wrong. It has happened before : ) Was someone reading a Wilbur Smith book that was the first in a trilogy? or can any help with the name of that? Apparantly good . Am just getting into his books and was going to try and find those three.

 

[chugginon]

Personally I recommend 'The Double' by Dostoyevsky. But I know a lot of people say 'The Idiot' by Dostoyevsky is a great starting point.

I will take these two on board as well . Have wanted to get into the Russian writers for awhile

 

[Allan Shorty]

'How to Sharpen Pencils: A Practical & Theoretical Treatise on the Artisanal Craft of Pencil Sharpening for Writers, Artists, Contractors, Flange Turners, Anglesmiths, & Civil Servants' by David Rees.

Ok so give it to me. This is for real ? And is it any good ?

 

[Severe]

Ok so give it to me. This is for real ? And is it any good ?

It's real. It's slightly amusing but you get the impression the writer really is serious about the art of sharpening pencils. And is it good? From what I've read I like it, but I guess it's an acquired taste.

 

[Jesse Custer]

PANZER COMMANDER - The memoirs of Colonel Hans Von Luck

 

[ChubbMuff]

Just finished The Maze Runner. Don't know why I felt the urge to give teen fiction a try again but it happened. Slightly more annoying characters than The Hunger Games and a story that began telegraphing from very early on. Might have to cave in and do Twilight next.

 

[Teriyakicat]

Just finished The Maze Runner. Don't know why I felt the urge to give teen fiction a try again but it happened. Slightly more annoying characters than The Hunger Games and a story that began telegraphing from very early on. Might have to cave in and do Twilight next.

Did you read all 3 books in the series? Sounds very much like you are trending downhill if MR is worse than the HG But by all means, carry on.

I don't mind teen fiction but really am not into reading any of that vampire stuff.

I'm currently reading Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch. Enjoyable, light, humourous. Don't know why on earth I picked it up- it wasn't even on a special and it's not my usual fantasy read but I am quite enjoying it.

 

[ChubbMuff]

Did you read all 3 books in the series?

I finished the HG series but just found Katniss to be really annoying - but then I'm not 14. I can promise you 100% I'll never read Twilight.

 

[Teriyakicat]

I finished the HG series but just found Katniss to be really annoying - but then I'm not 14. I can promise you 100% I'll never read Twilight.

Haha. I am not going to read any of those series you mentioned either.
I don't mind nicking my kids' books on the odd occasion- really loved the Rangers Apprentice series, and Tamora Pierce is good as well, but not so much the stuff mentioned above.

 

[haden1999]

Running with scissors... A memoir by Augusten Burroughs

I loved it but others i know found it a very uncomfortable read. There's also controversy around how true it is. I recommend it though.

 

[Teriyakicat]

Running with scissors... A memoir by Augusten Burroughs

I loved it but others i know found it a very uncomfortable read. There's also controversy around how true it is. I recommend it though.

I thought it was a bit strange- but readable. What's the controversy regarding how true it is?

I got onto Running With Scissors after reading the memoirs of his older brother, John Elder Robison, on his (JER's) life with Asperger's- a book that I really enjoyed. It's called "Look Me In the Eye". Anyone who has kids with Asperger's, or knows people who have kids with Asperger's, might see these kids in this book.

 

[haden1999]

I thought it was a bit strange- but readable. What's the controversy regarding how true it is?

http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/01/burroughs200701

 

[Teriyakicat]

http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/01/burroughs200701

Wow! That got pretty nasty, didn't it?
So he claims that he told the truth because he wrote notes in a book?
Hmm!

 

[haden1999]

Wow! That got pretty nasty, didn't it?
So he claims that he told the truth because he wrote notes in a book?
Hmm!

I reckon the truth is somewhere in the middle.

Some links that may be of interest.....

Interview with Margaret Robinson aka Deirdre Burroughs

http://www.npr.org/2006/10/08/6209286/augusten-burroughs-mother-speaks-out

Margaret Robinson's website (includes poetry and pictures of her sons when they were young) - http://www.margaretrobison.com/home.htm

Web archive of Dr Rudolph Turcotte site aka Dr Finch http://web.archive.org/web/20080731095416/http://www.rhturcottemd.com/

 

[Teriyakicat]

I reckon the truth is somewhere in the middle.

Some links that may be of interest.....

Interview with Margaret Robinson aka Deirdre Burroughs

http://www.npr.org/2006/10/08/6209286/augusten-burroughs-mother-speaks-out

Margaret Robinson's website (includes poetry and pictures of her sons when they were young) - http://www.margaretrobison.com/home.htm

Web archive of Dr Rudolph Turcotte site aka Dr Finch http://web.archive.org/web/20080731095416/http://www.rhturcottemd.com/

I agree with you.
Thanks for the links- I've just read the first and a bit of the third. Will finish them off later on. Ta.

 

[ChubbMuff]

Starting Geomancer by Ian Irvine. Decided to try an some Australian fantasy. OI OI OI!

 

[LanceRomance]

just finished reading Lolita.

Extraordinary book. Confronting for much of it and beautifully qritten.

 

[Teriyakicat]

Starting Geomancer by Ian Irvine. Decided to try an some Australian fantasy. OI OI OI!

I read that quite a few years ago- (5+) and remember enjoying it but not what it was about.

I have the second book- Tetrarch- as well.

Never realised that he was an Aussie, though.
I'm glad I read this thread- I learn new stuff all the time!

 

[Teriyakicat]

I read the first Guardians of Ga'Hoole book (Kathryn Lasky) last night- The Capture. Really enjoyed it, so put aside the housework this afternoon and started on Book 2- The Journey.

 

[BEaston]

Starting Geomancer by Ian Irvine. Decided to try an some Australian fantasy. OI OI OI!

Ian is my gfs uncle. I should probably read some of his stuff haha.

 

[Teriyakicat]

Ian is my gfs uncle. I should probably read some of his stuff haha.

So that makes you famous by association?
He's written a few books, hasn't he? Has your gf read them all or don't they appeal to her?

 

[BEaston]

Yeah he's written a heap of books. Very prolific.

I'm not sure if she's read any but fantasy isn't her genre at all. They would be more up my alley but for whatever reason I'd just never read any of his stuff.

 

[Teriyakicat]

Yeah he's written a heap of books. Very prolific.

I'm not sure if she's read any but fantasy isn't her genre at all. They would be more up my alley but for whatever reason I'd just never read any of his stuff.

I guess there are so many authors around these days that you would tend to stick to finishing off trilogies, etc. once you'd started something and, if you particularly liked that author, you'd continue buying the rest of whatever they wrote. That doesn't leave a lot of room for new authors, sometimes- life's too busy to read everything being published.