[QUOTE=AmberSparks]Neil Gaiman wrote Good Omens with Terry Pratchett, right? That book was hilarious.[QUOTE]
Yes, and in my opinion, Gaiman should stick to graphic novels and comic books. Oh, don't get me wrong, Good Omens is one of my favorite books but I give credit to Pratchett for that (I do love Pratchett!). However, most of Gaiman's books (excluding his children's books) are great on the premise and suck on the execution. I love his Sandman series.
Has anyone else read George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series? The first book is A Game of Thrones. I LOVE these books. Addictive!!!!
AmberSparks – keep the faith! There will come days with cheating, weight loss, and interesting books too!!!
And thanks for the reading tips - I’ll check them out.
Neil Gaiman. I *so* love his writing. And yes, I agree with Goddess Jessica that his graphic novels are very, very good – and not necessarily all of his other books. I don’t think I even got through American Gods. But then there’s the wonderful Smoke and Mirrors – full of these wonderful short stories. Which I enjoyed very much. So maybe he should stick to graphic novels, comic books, and short stories?
Last edited by mette; 07-12-2004 at 03:10 PM.
Reason: I can't spell
I read some of Smoke and Mirrors too. I especially liked the one with wedding gift. Maybe Gaiman just isn't capable of long story execution on his own? Dunno.
Thanks for the support, btw. Today is just a sucky day, but it'll be over by tomorrow. And I have tennis league tonight, so that always cheers me up.
So no one is posting on the summer reading thread anymore. What are you reading now? I'm still stuck on Hawaii (I'm half way now).
Yeah, I'm still reading Huxley too. It hasn't been enough nice weather so that I could sit under a tree in the park and read for hours and hours.
I read this book 10 years ago - long before I ever studied psychology. What is striking this time is that it's completely behaviorism and Watson! It's great to see actually. The first chapter lines out how they're making children in this brave new world, and the conditioning of children - to get them off books and flowers? It is pure Watson and his experiment on poor little Albert and the rat! Wonderful!
I also note that gender is not one of Huxley's concerns. The book is written in 1931 or something, and it feels old fashion to read because all the professors and students are men and the nurses are women.
That's me so far. How is everybody else's reading going?
I feel dumb because I can't get into The Catcher in the Rye. I mean it's an easy read, but I guess I'm not interested because I'm not identifying with the character. I understand that he is a teenager, and I probably should have read this years ago. Of course, I wasn't a reader in my younger days, so now I am catching up on books I should have read then. Anyway, the character jumps around with his memories and like to use the word "gd", and is a slacker with an "I don't care attitude", I really don't think I could have identified with him even when I was a teen. So, that's is where I'm at right now...still in chapter 3 so hopefully I can wade through it.
Good old Holden. Long time since Catcher in the Rye, but I think Holden has almost just become a symbol of teen angst.
Started "On Writing" by Stephen King tonight and I am over half through. Its awesome. VERY VERY insightful and funny.
Recent Books:
The Dance by Ophelia Mountain Dreamer-4 stars- This is a must read for anyone struggling with the physical, mental, and spiritual connection
What Would Buddha Do?-- 3 stars
Becgris, don't feel dumb. I'm with Jessica... I read it years ago and loved it, but I think some books are meant to be read at certain times in our life. There are a lot of books that are there with a message for us. We're to get some sort of revelation from them.
I've read a number of books in the last few years that I should have read years ago (when I was less mature), and although I know they're excellent books, they leave me cold. As we get older and more well-read, all we can think is, "Been there, done that."
Try looking it up on-line and reading some thoughts from other people. I think that the way you're feeling about the book, the best thing you can do is appreciate it for when it was written and for its message.
This is a good link if you're interested... http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/catcher/
Right now I'm under a lot of stress, so I'm reading a stash of very light mysteries. I won't bother giving you the titles, girls.
Becgris, how are you doing with “Catcher in the rye”? Is it still boring?
Goddess Jessica, so glad we agree on giving Neil Gaiman permission to write short stories! I’m sure he’s very relieved too…
Chris, I’ve heard really good things about "On Writing" by King. Do you think a non-King-reader would like it too?
ellis, very light mysteries? Sounds like perfect beachblanket books!
I’ve finished with Huxley’s Brave New World, and have just started on Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-four. I’m not sure why I loved Brave New World so much when I read it ten years ago – I didn’t find it all that interesting this time around. It’s smart and clever, full of good ideas and philosophies – but I’m not so sure it’s good fiction or a good story.
I liked the discussions about free will etc at the end of the book between John the savage (he grew up outside civilization) and the Controller – one of the top leaders. But for a book that wanted to be revolutionary (written in 1931), and that wrote about abolishing family (people are grown and conditioned by the state), monogamy and passion (to keep society stable and free of change), it was very modest and conventional. Yes, they did take drugs (soma) to feel happy. But even the promiscuities were polite and almost conservative – the couples dated and slept over at each other’s apartments – sex only took place in beds. No wild sex-parties or anything like that. And no alternative sex or sexualities either.
The gender-thing bothered me the most. All the women in the book were girls and very young. They talked only about feelings and clothes. They were only nurses and operators of some sort. While the men were leaders/doctors/specialists/etc, of all ages, talked about the important stuff, etc etc. And when I first had noticed these things – it became impossible to not see it constantly and everywhere.
Ah, well. On to Orwell - hoping he’s not so dated. I have only vague memories of the book; it’s more than 15 years since I read it last.
I read Catcher in the Rye when I was in high school but still found it boring - I couldn't understand why such a fuss had been made over this book I "got it" but didn't really find it that appealing a book personally. Then again I had grown up reading some really heavy books on religion, philosopy,and history and was really into science fiction because these were the types of books my parents had in our house. I never got into stuff like Judy Blume and other "teenage" books either. While my friends were reading that type of stuff I was reading Breakfast of Champions, Slaughterhouse Five and Farenheit 451.
One "teen" series I did enjoy was The Outsiders, That Was Then This is Now and Rumblefish by S.E. Hinton. I think I read those when I was in grade 7.
I enjoyed Brave New World and 1984 both of which I read in high school English Lit class. I think my favorites in school were Shakespeare (yeah, you read that right - ) and A Tale of Two Cities.
A few years ago I read Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell which wasn't bad but a bit of a slow read.
I just bought Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman from the discount bookstore up the street. Awesome deal - It retailed at $21.95 CD and I got it for $7.99 CD. I also bought a book on aromatherapy for $4.99.
Mette, that's so bizarre about Brave New World. I felt the same way the second time around. Ditto with 1984. Are you enjoying it? We read it and Animal Farm in high school, and I remember thinking at the time that Animal Farm was "deeper".
What discount store, Mauvais!?
I'm reading The Joy Luck Club for the first time. I haven't seen the movie, either. So far, it's great!
The one in L' Esplenade Laurier. It is just shelves and tables full of books - lots of fiction ones there too! I spent an hour there on Friday after work and I didn't even get to go through everything - I will have to go back next week - I want to pick up a biography on Winston Churchill that I saw there.
mauvaisroux, you really have impressive reading habits! Hope you enjoy Neverwhere.
ellis, really? that's so cool! And I’m glad to hear it’s not just me! I haven’t gotten very far on 1984 yet, so the jury is still out on that one.
I think I want to read Animal Farm and Lord of the Flies again too. I can remember they made quite an impression on me when I read them, but my memory might need an update!
And The Joy Luck Club – I remember I loved that. Happy reading!
While my friends were reading that type of stuff I was reading Breakfast of Champions, Slaughterhouse Five and Farenheit 451.
I am going to start Breakfast of Champions tonight. I bought it a few months ago, but I am finally going to start it. Hopefully it will catch my interest. I have been having a hard time reading lately. I have read all of my "light & fluffy" books, but I am not quite back into reading the epics I have yet.
Well, I'm still going with Catcher in the Rye. It's going a little faster now that I've gotten used to it, but it's still not one of those books that I can't put down. A few months ago, I was reading one and just couldn't let go...I read the whole thing in one day. My eyes were really hurting the following day.
The Joy Luck Club was really good, and the movie was very well done too.
Ugh
I "got it" but didn't really find it that appealing a book personally. Then again I had grown up reading some really heavy books on religion, philosopy,and history and was really into science fiction because these were the types of books my parents had in our house. I never got into stuff like Judy Blume and other "teenage" books either. While my friends were reading that type of stuff I was reading Breakfast of Champions, Slaughterhouse Five and Farenheit 451.
) and A Tale of Two Cities.
I also bought a book on aromatherapy for $4.99.
