Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?

[Scepticalscribe]

Had to look that one up. I think the problem most people face when reading new authors is they rely too much on the word of others. They feel as if they should like the book, and when they don't, they feel they're broken or not intelligent enough. I also question whether so many people like a certain author's work or they truly love that author's work. To reiterate, does the former consist of people who simply read to fit with the crowd of people who enjoy that author or not?

With the advent of the internet, you can read a sample of your intended purchase and see if it's for you. You can still do it in stores, but you save yourself from being bombarded by a green-behind-the-ears employee who's far too enthused to help you. Smaller, independent bookshops allow you to peruse without feeling the urge to strangle a stranger.

Well, re Tolkien, when I needed a break from my studies - as a student, approaching finals, and then, when doing postgrad work, thus, it was a few kind male friends who persuaded me to read, firstly, The Hobbit (which I thought thoroughly enjoyable - I liked Bilbo), and then, TLOTR, which, yes, was excellent and brilliant - but, to my mind, also fundamentally flawed at times.

And, in that wonderful male way of wilful and sometimes blind and uncritical enthusiasm, they then pressed the other stuff (Silmarillion, et all) on me, and I baulked. Such is life.

 

[0388631]

Picked this beauty up today in hardcover for five under retail price.

I've wanted a physical copy ever since I read reviews about the book. Not to mention the eye-catching cover.

A third of the way through. Cracking read so far. I used to be fairly well versed in the river and its affects on inhabitants in my youth. I had a keen interest in Native American culture then.

 

[pachyderm]

Well, re Tolkien, when I needed a break from my studies - as a student, approaching finals, and then, when doing postgrad work, thus, it was a few kind male friends who persuaded me to read, firstly, The Hobbit (which I thought thoroughly enjoyable - I liked Bilbo), and then, TLOTR, which, yes, was excellent and brilliant - but, to my mind, also fundamentally flawed at times.

And, in that wonderful male way of wilful and sometimes blind and uncritical enthusiasm, they then pressed the other stuff (Silmarillion, et all) on me, and I baulked. Such is life.

yup. I've read the trilogy and I enjoyed it, especially when I finished it! But was a chore to read. The Hobbit I can re-read in a few days. The other stuff I tried but I was not enjoying.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Is anyone here a fan of steam-punk? Done well (Scott Lynch is first class) it can be brilliant.
[doublepost=1493550843][/doublepost]

yup. I've the trilogy and I enjoyed it, especially when I finished it! But was a chore to read. The Hobbit I can re-read in a few days. The other stuff I tried but I was not enjoying.

A chore....

A bit of a chore, agreed.

Several years ago, I had some sort of flu, or cold - anyway, I was in bed for the best part of a week, and just wanted to read escapist stuff; thus, I re-read TLOTR - from cover to cover - for the third time. And, when I had finished, I replaced the books on my book shelves and promised myself that I will never again re-visit them for the rest of my life.

 

[pachyderm]

lol

 

[0388631]

It would be awfully amusing (though not to you) if your brother brought you the audiobook version of the trilogy the next time you become bedridden with a cold. It's a hair over 54 hours in total for the trilogy at a daunting pace.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

It would be awfully amusing (though not to you) if your brother brought you the audiobook version of the trilogy the next time you become bedridden with a cold. It's a hair over 54 hours in total for the trilogy at a daunting pace.

That won't happen, as I don't do audiobooks; I like the physical experience of reading.

Actually, I don't even like Kindles and such, I like books, real books, preferably fat hard backs, as the production values are better, things with covers, pages, attractive fonts - and , best of all, marvellous stories you can lose yourself in.

Besides, none of my family even get my liking for fantasy, - they find it strange - and I read fantasy for relaxation, as history, politics, cultural-socio-economic stuff, and related matters tend to comprise the majority of my serious reading. And science, too.

Nobody would dream of buying me a book I hadn't asked for.

 

[0388631]

That won't happen, as I don't do audiobooks; I like the physical experience of reading.

Actually, I don't even like Kindles and such, I like books, real books, preferably fat hard backs, as the production values are better, things with covers, pages, attractive fonts - and , best of all, marvellous stories you can lose yourself in.

Oh, fine then. The complete works of James Patterson! Though I suspect brother would end up with a half-full mug of Ethiopian thrown straight at his head.

These days I stick with Kindles unless it's a book I really see the value of buying in paper or hard back form. It would be hard to find room for a few thousand books in physical format.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Oh, fine then. The complete works of James Patterson! Though I suspect brother would end up with a half-full mug of Ethiopian thrown straight at his head.

These days I stick with Kindles unless it's a book I really see the value of buying in paper or hard back form. It would be hard to find room for a few thousand books in physical format.

This week-end, brother did produce a Scandic-Noir book - given to him by a colleague to give to me as idle reading material; that is fine. I'll read it.

A half full mug of Ethiopian coffee hurled at my brother, hm; would I waste half a mug of Ethiopian coffee in such a way, do you think?

 

[AVBeatMan]

The best thing about Kindles is that you can increase the size of the font to your liking. They are also small and light and can be read in the dark (as in bed). As I have recently experienced with Albert Speer, His Battle with Truth by Gitta Sereny. I first bought the paperback but found the font too small. I then bought the hard cover but find it heavy and awkward to handle so ended up buying it on my kindle where it is much more manageable.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The best thing about Kindles is that you can increase the size of the font to your liking. They are also small and light and can be read in the dark (as in bed). As I have recently experienced with Albert Speer, His Battle with Truth by Gitta Sereny. I first bought the paperback but found the font too small. I then bought the hard cover but find it heavy and awkward to handle so ended up buying it on my kindle where it is much more manageable.

How did you find the book itself?

 

[AVBeatMan]

How did you find the book itself?

I'm still reading it. I'm really enjoying it. I didn't know anything about Albert Speer and so far cannot work out if he was a decent man or did in fact know what was going on. The book itself is extremely well written and researched. My Kindle tells me I'm 30% into it.

I've found myself in the position of having 3 books on the go at once, something I don't usually do. But so far so good.

 

[arkitect]

That won't happen, as I don't do audiobooks; I like the physical experience of reading.

I agree the physical experience is paramount.

But… as ever in my life there are exceptions.

I sometimes do listen to audiobooks — lectures or such while I am drawing. There is something very pleasant about listening to a well modulated voice reading to me while I am making my little marks on paper or canvas. While absorbing at the same time new information.

Sometimes music (which is what usually accompanies my work) just isn't what I crave.

Luckily I work by myself, so I don't have to crave others' indulgence or have to put up with someone else's tastes…

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I agree the physical experience is paramount.

But… as ever in my life there are exceptions.

I sometimes do listen to audiobooks — lectures or such while I am drawing. There is something very pleasant about listening to a well modulated voice reading to me while I am making my little marks on paper or canvas. While absorbing at the same time new information.

Sometimes music (which is what usually accompanies my work) just isn't what I crave.

Luckily I work by myself, so I don't have to crave others' indulgence or have to put up with someone else's tastes…

I can see where you are coming from but I find the human voice distracting, and something that demands attention - which, if mine is focussed elsewhere - I am not willing to give.

Actually, when I am cooking, or writing, I want music. (Or silence).

Not commentary, talk-shows, or news, or the sound of the human voice in any shape or form.

 

[arkitect]

One thing I cannot do though is listen to the radio!

The amount of sheer crap and nonsense these radio "hosts" talk is astonishing.

All so very clever and oh so bloody mind numbing…

 

[Scepticalscribe]

One thing I cannot do though is listen to the radio!

The amount of sheer rap and nonsense these radio "hosts" talk is astonishing.

All so very clever and oh so bloody mind numbing…

Classical music radio stations are fine, though........but agreed, - completely - about the self-satisfied sound of those who like to hear the reverberating sound of their own voices. Very tedious, and, as you say, utterly mind-numbing.

 

[ThisBougieLife]

I enjoy classical radio stations (though our local one has a weak signal and often doesn't come in well), but I also really enjoy NPR. Though I often listen to my favorite NPR segments (like Fresh Air and PRI's The World) separately as podcasts.

 

[T Coma]

The older I get, the more clearly I understand how little I know. Lots of great insight here, for me, so this one will get multiple reads.

 

[willmtaylor]

Ideas Have Consequences by Richard Weaver

Erasing Hell by Chan & Sprinkle

 

[AustinIllini]

About halfway through It. It's been a slow go of it, but that book is terrifying. Really good, but terrifying.

 

[JamesMike]

Starting 'A Man Called Ove: A Novel' by Fredrik Backman.

 

[AVBeatMan]

I've read 9 of them.

http://flip.it/gmpx9D

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I have been revisiting "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett (easily the best thing by far - in terms of an excellent plot, extremely well told, credible characters - and excellent character development - and solidly rooted in sound historical research - that he has written) this week-end.

 

[0388631]

Finishing up that Colorado river book I posted earlier.

Starting 'A Man Called Ove: A Novel' by Fredrik Backman.

Pick up the new novel by Backman? I've got the hardcover on order as of an hour ago.

 

[arkitect]

I must ask: have you read Barbara Tuchman's The Guns of August?

Last night as I was searching for something to watch, (After my Kenneth Clark Civilisation marathon) I came across this 1965 Documentary based on The Guns of August. A bit dated, but a decent use of lots of archival footage that I had never seen before.
Worth a look.