What are you reading?

Rogue Keeper on 27/5/2009 at 07:10

Father Goriot from Honore de Balzac, which I planned for years.

He's considered to be the founder of European realist literature, but since he lived and wrote his works in the first half of 19th century, I think it's still heavily Romantic. Or is it just me, having more naturalist concepts of what literary realism should be. Maybe it's caused by the point of view of the central character, a young and naive law student. Well it's true I didn't read anything else from him, but I think this would be a good example of his style. Balzac surely has talent for detailed description of environment and characters, but the amount of detail he puts into description of environment is pretty boring for me at times. 175 pages so far and most of them were filled with incredibly dull description of manners, facades, high-school like romantic plots and corruption of French aristocracy. The intended contrast between the high class and the poor is notable, but not deep enough so far, I think. Well, I make qualified judgement after I finish it...

jay pettitt on 27/5/2009 at 07:55

(http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9781846140396,00.html) The Spirit Level - Why Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better. That book is a bit wow.

Shakey-Lo on 27/5/2009 at 08:12

Currently reading (http://www.amazon.com/Einstein-Life-Universe-Walter-Isaacson/dp/0743264746/) Einstein: His Life and Universe, which I picked up after reading (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1607298,00.html) this article which was taken from the book.

Prior to that I read Charlie Chaplin's autobiography which was a great read.

The last fiction I read was Siddhartha by Herman Hesse.

Vivian on 27/5/2009 at 08:58

Just read The Great Gatsby - it's really good! Now I'm reading Alexander's classic 'Principles of Animal Locomotion', because its about time I did, quite frankly. Probably more in keeping with local tastes, I also read Ian M Banks latest, 'Matter' recently. Fully recommend it, great imaginative work and one of the most savage endings I can remember in a sci-fi book. Basically, if you like sci-fi and haven't read any Ian M Banks, you are missing out on probably the best modern sci-fi author.

quinch on 27/5/2009 at 10:21

Cool camping - France. Lots of nice pictures.

snowcap21 on 27/5/2009 at 10:32

Shirley by Charlotte Bronte. I'm not sure what to think about it, the two main topics, problems of the working people at the beginning of the industrialization and problems of women to find their place in society not only through marriage aren't uninteresting, but I cant feel a personal interest in the fate of the characters. Still there's something that makes me return to it, only I can't say what.

Sudelbuecher by Georg Christoph Lichtenberg. A collection of aphorisms, ideas and concepts, of which some are really fun to read due to a biting wit and a fine way of using language. At first I tried to read it like a normal book and failed miserably, but now I hop from one part of the book to another and only read what catches my interest.

Maybe I'm also reading Joseph by Thomas Mann, but I seem to take a quite long break between the first volume and the next. Good book and I like the style of Thomas Mann very much, but you have to take your time to read it and concentrate.

SubJeff on 27/5/2009 at 10:41

Quote Posted by Vivian

Just read The Great Gatsby

Must dig out my copy and read it again. I've totally forgotten it.

Quote:

if you like sci-fi and haven't read any Ian M Banks, you are missing out on probably the best modern sci-fi author.

I read Consider Phlebas and hated it. In his Ian Banks incarnation he also quite meh imho. Complicity was dull, Crow Road - no had to put it down booooring and I don't get what the raving is about him. Perhaps I have to read more. The Wasp Factory was great though, but I figured 1/4 makes it the fluke.

rachel on 27/5/2009 at 10:46

Quote Posted by Rogue Keeper

Balzac surely has talent for detailed description of environment and characters, but the amount of detail he puts into description of environment is pretty boring for me at times. 175 pages so far and most of them were filled with incredibly dull description of manners, facades, high-school like romantic plots and corruption of French aristocracy.

Quoted for absolute fucking truth. Balzac is a pain in the ass to read, I could never stand his style. The guy would describe every single piece of furniture in a room and then proceed to the character's clothing, before beginning a dialogue...
Well, that, and I also found the story pathetic to begin with, though to be fair, the fact I was forced to read it as a school assignment probably had a lot to do with that.

I always preferred Hugo. Romantic > Realist in my book ;)

Vivian on 27/5/2009 at 11:39

Quote Posted by Subjective Effect

I read Consider Phlebas and hated it.

Really? I loved that book. What didn't you like about it? I mean, it's unapologetically space opera rather than cerebral 'science' science fiction, but I thought it was a great read - had enough intelligence and wit behind it to allow me to suspend my disbelief.
Unless you're totally put off him now, I reckon you should read 'The Player of Games' before you make your mind up finally. That's probably his best SF book. I hear what you're saying about his no-M stuff though, it can get a bit tedious. 'Walking on Glass' was pretty good, but it was also pretty short. I think he tends to repeat the sorts of personal stories that happen in his sci-fi books, but as they're not set on giant revolving shell-worlds or billion kilometre air-spheres it tends to sound less impressive.

Scots Taffer on 27/5/2009 at 11:49

A script with some promise.