What's everyone reading at the moment?

[mattsterbenz]

I just finished up a class titled "19th Century British Fiction" in addition to all of my art studio classes (and an art history). Haven't read this much stuff in a long time.

Here's what we read this semester:

"Mansfield Park" by Jane Austen (so-so. not my cup of tea)

"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte (Very good. I know now why it's considered a classic)

"Bleak House" by Charles Dickens (Wrote a 10 page thesis on the symbolism in this one. Brilliant. The recent BBC series was excellent and I'd recommend watching it. Very true to the book)

"Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins (Collins was one of Dickens' colleagues and the Woman in White is one of the pioneer romance/mystery novels. Very good read)

"She" by H. Rider Haggard (very good and a quick read. This novel was a big influence on the adventure genre, leading up to our favorite Tolkien)

and finally "Dracula" by Bram Stoker (Goes without saying. Outstanding.)

Good selection of titles. I liked all of them. I've taken a liking to Charles Dickens in particular so I think I will start reading some more of his work (I picked up a Tale of Two Cities from my dad's place, I think that will be first to tackle over Christmas break).

-Matt

 

[breadhead]

"The Blade Itself" by Joe Abercrombie

I really enjoyed that, and the second book "Before they are Hanged" was great too.
In fact your post just reminded me this series existed and it's time to buy the last book!


I just finished Eric by Terry Pratchett, I'm on a bit of a Pratchett roll at the moment having read Carpe Jugulum (hilarious) and Guards! Guards! before that.

I don't know what to read now, I started trying to read Grapes of Wrath but don't seem to be in the right frame of mind to continue with it at the moment. Probably just crack on with some more Pratchett. Although I think I'm getting Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson this weekend for 'fake Xmas' so maybe I'll start that

 

[freakinacage]

i am currently stuck in a fit of gw books

just finished the emperors wrath with was a pretty good read

just started cadian blood. not amazing so far but i t has given me an idea for a gduk diorama...ack

then i have dan abnetts new book waiting in the wings. oh and a cool wok cook book

 

[cheelfy]

I'm actually reading Artemis Fowl 6: The time paradox, from Eoin Colfer and Groosham Grange and The Unholy grail; both from Anthony Horowitz.

 

[ScottRadom]

So you must have the rare unsigned copies.
Robert Sawyer frequents our shop and alway signs every copy we have. He does that at every shop he enters. Nice guy to talk to, So is Ed Greenwood, very down to earth.

Got any reccomendations from either of them?

I didn't mind the Sawyer books, written fairly well. It just seemed he paced out his story for about 8 novels and wrapped it up in 3. I hate that.

 

[Dragonsreach]

:
"Mansfield Park" by Jane Austen (so-so. not my cup of tea)

I have to agree not her best work, so please don't judge Her by that one alone.
Nice to see some good old "Classic" authors being featured in a class. Also congratulations on completing the Wilkie Collins "Woman in White" not an easy read by any means, especially in comparison with more modern writers.

 

[lizcam]

is that a book of history you think is stupid or book called stupid history

A book called Stupid American History. I figured he needed some ammunition against us while he was here. I kind of created a monster though. He quotes from it every night to show just how silly having seperated ourselve from the British Empire really was. I can't seem to convince him that the English have got to have as many silly bits in their history as we do. probably more having been around far longer.

and that's the prod I needed to finally get around to reading A christmas carol

Ta Lizcam!

Marc

Your welcome. "A Christmas Carol" is a quick read but frustratingly full of plot holes. Not his best work but still fun this time a year.

 

[cassar]

i started into the classics i just finished hamlet and am about to start macbeth hope somebody makes it out alive in this one !!!

 

[Ebonbuddha]

I am reading Pride and Predjudice and Zombies. Then I will read Tales of Heresy and Fallen Angels.

 

[Rugne]

i started into the classics i just finished hamlet and am about to start macbeth hope somebody makes it out alive in this one !!!

Don't hold your breath! It's a bit like a game of Cthulu, pretty much everyone ends up dead or insane or dead and insane

Marc

 

[Trevor]

I'm working my way through the discworld novels by Terry Pratchet again, I just finished The Fifth Elephant. I also have a couple of Horus Heresy novels and I'm waiting on some more Judge Dredd Complete Case Files. Should keep me busy over xmas.

What I should be reading is Waves, Tides and Sedimentary Processes... for lectures I'm giving next year.

 

[Ritual]

Waves, Tides and Sedimentary Processes

That sounds truly exciting! :silly!:

 

[Chrome]

I think I saw the screen adaptation of that book once... 'Watch the waves eat away the rocks' It was a bit hard to grasp the first couple of hours but later it became truly hypnotizing! :rotfl:

 

[Sand Rat]

Forgot one - I Could Never Be So Lucky Again by Jimmy Doolittle.

 

[supervike]

Just finished ENDERS SHADOW, which is kind of a complimentary book to ENDERS GAME.

Good stuff.

Now, I'm reading the Rulebook for AE-WW2 from Darkson Designs.

 

[waghorn41]

Just started: "The Dwarves" by Markus Heitz,javascript:doAuthorSearch('"Markus Heitz"');Finding it a bit hard going.
But just finished "Spirit" By Gwynneth Jones.
Been having a conversation with the Author about it as it's a re-visitation of "The Count of Monte Cristo" one of my favourite classics.

However Listening to (Audio books) Jane Eyre when working in the server rooms as it helps to kill off the "white noise" of the air-conditioning that seems to make my tinnitus worse.

Gwynneth's books are good, very readable. Met her when she was our guest at Newcon3

I'm currently reading Snow Crash (don't know the author, my son lent it to me)

 

[BPI]

My reading stalled in the summer Thought I'd keep things light to warm back up & have been ploughing through the Pratchetts again (I don't seem to be alone there) whilst on the bus, I must have done more than 10 now though so really ought to try something new! Sat on the shelf unread & still of interest (and purchased recently otherwise the list would be like my mini WIP mountain) I have...

Criminal Vol 4: Bad Night - by Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips. The first three were great fun crime romps, Ed Brubaker's a good genre writer & I've loved Phillip's work since Crisis. No urge to pull it off the shelf though.

Pocket Full Of Rain - by Jason. Latest anthology of his work for the English reading market. I have one of his panels as my avatar for heavens sakes. Christmas perhaps

The Gum Thief - by Douglas Coupland. I've read all his other novels & while his earlier work is still my favourite I haven't even cracked this one open. Must not allow collector's urge to buy his latest kick in until this one's been read!

Chambers Arts Library: 19th Century French Art 1848-1905 - I really want to spend more time with this one, a gift from my grandmother for my Birthday (now there's a woman with an art library to drool over). Next year's hobby resolution may involve painting a mini in the style/scheme of a specific painting so as to stretch myself

Two Treatises Of Government and A Letter Concerning Toleration - by John Locke. From the worthy pile I'll get there...

Cheers all, B.

 

[kxtrey]

I've been on a bit of an apocalyptic kick lately, and just finished "Dies the Fire" by S.M. Sterling. A bit heavy on wiccan fluff, but otherwise a great novel.

Just before that I finished "Way of the Wolf" by E.E. Knight. The 1st book in the Vampire Earth Chronicles.

Before that I read, "Mistborn" by Brandon Sanderson. I wanted to check him out cause he is the author finishing the "WOT" series by Robert Jordan. A series I'm totally in love with. I've read all dozen books at least three times through..

I was really impressed with Sanderson, I will finish the Mistborn Trillogy, I thought he had some very interesting and unique ideas, expanding the fantasy genre.

I have been forbidden to buy anything for myself till after Christmas though so.. at the moment I'm reading absolutely nothing.

All of these books focused on some form of post apocalyptic survival or setting.

 

[squig hunter]

Dipping in and out of two books at the moment, Alan Bennets 'Writing Home' and Bertrand Russels 'Complete history of Western Philosophy'

Squig

 

[matty1001]

Distant voices by John Pilger. Some good investigative journalism. Got No Logo by Naomi Klien after that one.

Peace and love...