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What is on your reading list???

post #1 of 21
1/9/02 at 7:08pm
Thread Starter 
I don't get to read as much as I used to. Having a new baby in the house takes up a great deal of time. However, I am in the middle of The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. I will need to finish it before fully forming an opinion but so far I am depressed. This is one screwed up family.

Before that I read Dreamcatcher by King. I found it to be very graphic and disturbing. This author almost never fails to creep me out. I dug the concept and enjoyed the book.

Next on my list is One Door Away from Heaven from Koontz and The Pillars of Creation from Terry Goodkind.

I love Koontz - my favorite story from him is Ticktock. The story cracked me up and I love supernatural love stories with a monster curse thrown in for good measure.

What are you reading?
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post #2 of 21
1/9/02 at 7:43pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Poxy Von Sinister:
I'm reading What If? and What If? 2, two volumes of essays on alternate history edited by Robert Cowley.
That sounds interesting. I tend to play that game with my life. Is there a particular scenario that has jumped out at you?
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post #3 of 21
1/9/02 at 8:56pm
I am currently reading American Gods by Neil Gaimen and next up is The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis.

American Gods is so-so (see the other thread in this forum) and I am hoping to finish it tonight. I am actually really excited to be finally getting to read Rules of Attraction. I am a big fan of Ellis and everytime I have thought about picking up ROA something has gotten in the way.

[This message has been edited by hesterthe13th (edited 01-09-2002).]
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post #4 of 21
1/9/02 at 10:12pm
Quote:
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Poxy Von Sinister:
I'm reading What If? and What If? 2, two volumes of essays on alternate history edited by Robert Cowley.
If you like alternate history, I recommend the Hitler Options by Kenneth Macksey. It's a whole collection of essays on possible WWII scenarios, interesting reading. I'd like to pick up How Hitler Could Have Won World War II by Bevin Alexander. Also S-Day, I can't remember who wrote it, is a good read about Hitler going ahead with Operation Sea Lion.

Right now, I'm reading Censored 2000: The Year's Top 25 Censored News Stories, which is a collection of, well, I suppose it's self-explanatory. Despite it's obvious leaning to the left side of the political spectrum, it's still an informative read, but I just wish they would have more information on each subject. At least they give you links to places where you can do more research.

After that I think I'll go back to reading a Bright Shining Lie.

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Oh God. Did you eat all this acid?
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post #5 of 21
1/9/02 at 10:40pm
Cripes, I've got reading material on the backburner up until next year. I'm currently reading Coldheart Canyon (love it), and will follow that up with Damnation Game, and Barker's first 3 series of the Book of Blood set. After that, I'll be taking up Clive Cussler's newest book, Valhalla Rising, and then his Night Probe!, and Cyclops. Then, a rereading of Alienist and Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr will be on order, followed by an attempt at some Dostoevsky. And if I still manage to find time after that, I might try picking up the LOTR trilogy (my attempt at reading Hobbit was attrocious), and some stuff by Terry Brooks, and Peter Straub.

Also, for some strange reason, my dad got me The Last Convertible for x-mas. While I don't beleive I'd ever even heard of the novel, he says it's pretty damn good, and his choices are usually on target.

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And Mojo was hurt and I would have kissed his little boo boo but then I realized he was a BAD monkey so I KICKED HIM IN HIS FACE!
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post #6 of 21
1/9/02 at 11:20pm
I am actually in the middle of a great book called 'The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay' by Michael Chabon (he also wrote 'Wonder Boys', which as you movie fans know, was turned into a movie). Anyway, it's an excellent book that I had been putting off reading for some reason. A few folks around these parts were hot on it awhile back, especially Poxy, if I remember correctly.

Very simply put, it's about two cousins living in New York in the early 40s that happen upon (and are skilled enough for) a career in the comic books. It's a masterful book - Chabon details the plots of the comics the boys write, all the while painting their lives in a very episodic/comic book way. Pretty much should be required reading for any folks that poke their heads in the Sewer.
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post #7 of 21
1/10/02 at 2:27am
Kavalier and Klay is great.

I've been picking away at the Silmarillion for a while now, but I don't expect to pick it up again for another month or two. Aldous Huxley's Island is also a nearly finished side project, which despite being both boring and bizarre, manages to keep me reading.

The last book I ripped through was Douglas Coupland's Microserfs, which I'd rank somewhere between Shampoo Planet and the obscure Generation X, with the former being my favored read. Which irrelevant, because you should consume all of his books(though I disliked Life After God).

Next week I have my eyes set on Hocus Pocus by Kurt Vonnegut, but only if I finish Island -- though I expect to pinned to my seat by a riveting copy of "The History of Psychology" before the 12th.

That is my current reading list.
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post #8 of 21
1/10/02 at 9:10am
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalies & Clay is a fine book indeed.

I'm finishing up The Year's Best SF, Eighteenth Annual Edition, edited by Gardner Dozois. It's my first real introduction to SF short stories and a pleasant one.

I don't know yet what I'll read next. Waiting for me on my shelf are The Gormenghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peake, Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks, The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides, The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick, The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson and The Barrytown Trilogy (The Commitments, The Snapper, The Van) by Roddy Doyle.
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post #9 of 21
1/10/02 at 12:43pm
Ugh. I'm still trying to finish Michael Crichton's "Timeline". Yeah, I know it came out like 2 years ago, but I haven't had much time to read. I'm about 3/4 of the way through.

Gossamer13 just got the LOTR set in the mail, so I think I'll start "The Two Towers" next.

[This message has been edited by Martianman (edited 01-10-2002).]
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post #10 of 21
1/10/02 at 6:21pm
Quote:
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Mark Gerrits:
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalies & Clay is a fine book indeed.

I'm finishing up The Year's Best SF, Eighteenth Annual Edition, edited by Gardner Dozois. It's my first real introduction to SF short stories and a pleasant one.

I don't know yet what I'll read next. Waiting for me on my shelf are The Gormenghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peake, Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks, The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides, The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick, The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson and The Barrytown Trilogy (The Commitments, The Snapper, The Van) by Roddy Doyle.
Great list! Have you read any Banks before? If not, you picked a good starting point. I'm about 1/3 into "The Bridge", also by Banks. I'm liking it, it has kind of a Twilight Zone vibe.

I'm also about 30 pages into "The Void Captain's Tale" by Norman Spinrad. It's okay, if a bit dense. Maybe it gets better, but it hasn't really hooked me yet.

Next up:

Buckaroo Banzai, by Earl Mac Rauch. I've had this (rare) paperback for years, and I've never cracked it open.

Doomsday Book, by Connie Willis. Loved "To Say Nothing of the Dog," my introduction to Willis. I hope this is good too.

Pirates of The Universe, by Terry Bisson. I should have a good time with this one.

And finally, the most daunting looking of them all, Dhalgren, by Samuel R. Delany. I've heard both "masterpiece" and "pretentious, overwrought shit" about this one. I'm looking forward to anything so divisive.
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post #11 of 21
1/10/02 at 6:29pm
I'm in the middle of To Say Nothing of the Dog now, too! What a kick it is.

Prior to mailing it off to a friend to read, I'm in the middle of A Matter For Men -- Book 1 of The War of the Chtorr by David Gerrold. It's been a while since I read this series. What a great thing these books are!

I'm slogging through Wizards First Rule, and find it interesting, but overlong.

I'm also reading a few non-fiction, industry texts, broadening my knowledge ... and all that.
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post #12 of 21
1/10/02 at 7:42pm
Quote:
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by eyeball kid:
Great list! Have you read any Banks before? If not, you picked a good starting point. I'm about 1/3 into "The Bridge", also by Banks. I'm liking it, it has kind of a Twilight Zone vibe.
I read three of his non-SF books: Whit, The Bridge and The Crow Road. I gotta admit that The Bridge is my least favourite of those (while Banks considers it his best book I believe). But yeah, Banks is a great writer!
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post #13 of 21
1/10/02 at 7:55pm
I just finished a walk to remember by that guy who wrote...nick sparks. It was so sappy but I wound up falling in love with it. It was the kind of romantic shit I wish would happen to me.

Next up is finishing LOTR and then Les Mis.

Someone needs to option K&C for a movie now.

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Fame has a 15 minute half-life. Infamy lasts a little longer.
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post #14 of 21
1/10/02 at 8:05pm
Quote:
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by RathBandu:
Someone needs to option K&C for a movie now.
It's already been optioned I believe. I read something about it quite a long time ago, long before I read the book.
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post #15 of 21
1/10/02 at 9:42pm
re reading the LOTR trilogy...about 2/3 through the two towers with the rules of attraction to follow...i had no idea it was going to be a movie till' i found CHUD! i hope to finish it before the movie comes out.
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post #16 of 21
1/11/02 at 4:56pm
Quote:
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Mark Gerrits:
It's already been optioned I believe. I read something about it quite a long time ago, long before I read the book.
Well, then, they need to make it.



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Fame has a 15 minute half-life. Infamy lasts a little longer.
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post #17 of 21
1/11/02 at 5:34pm
You are indeed a hero. I too have tried to read House of Leaves several times. I absolutly love the concept/backstory behind it and find parts of it to be some of the most disturbing and unnerving material I have ever read. It's brilliant, but I need to finish it.

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Fame has a 15 minute half-life. Infamy lasts a little longer.
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post #18 of 21
1/14/02 at 3:55pm
house of leaves!!! an old friend of mine who's away at college recommended this to me and now, again due to chud helping me jog my memory as to its title, i can seek it out! thanks again.
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post #19 of 21
1/14/02 at 3:56pm
house of leaves!!! an old friend of mine who's away at college recommended this to me and now, again due to chud helping me jog my memory as to its title, i can seek it out! thanks again.
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post #20 of 21
1/14/02 at 5:10pm
Just started Larry: The Stooge in the Middle. When I get through with that, I'll tackle Do What Thou Wilt: A Life of Aleister Crowley, which I got for Christmas but was promptly stolen by my wife.
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post #21 of 21
1/16/02 at 2:26pm
Just cracked open a brand new paperback copy of Elmore Leonard's Pagan Babies last night.
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