Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?

[Scepticalscribe]

Forgot to post this yesterday… Bloomsday, June 16th 1904

The final chapter of Joyce's Ulysses… aka, Molly Bloom's Soliloquy is surely one of the glories of the English language. It sweeps me along. Probing dark corners, peers in — and under — the bed, and finally surfaces in an amazing gasp of pure lusty love.

Yes.

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Yes, agreed; it is quite magnificent, isn't it? - and for Joyce to have depicted that (the wonderful internal monologue of a woman, alive to life and lusty love) so beautifully and so insightfully at that time is a splendid treat, and, as you say, one of the absolute glories of the modern English language.

 

[yaxomoxay]

The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer (1990) by Jennifer Lynch.

As I am preparing for my Twin Peaks The Return experience (watching the entire 18-hour long movie in a single session), scheduled for July 6th, I re-read the (in)famous Secret Diary of Laura Palmer. I have read this book three or four times (first time in the 1990's), but this is the first time that I read it after the release of the amazing Twin Peaks The Return, in 2017. Originally, The Secret Diary was released between Season 1 and Season 2, and it provided some clues to figure out who actually killed Laura Palmer (which is sadly revealed in Season 2; one of the most awful decisions by a television network).
More importantly, this is a book about a girl being sexualized, raped, used, abused, and even tortured. This is a book about a small local community abandoning its prom queen to the evil degeneration of its powerful and disgusting people. This book is a view inside the dark journey that might lead to the nightmares that might then lead a "perfect girl" to a desperate addiction for drug and much more. This is a journey towards a liberating, yet extremely violent death.
Those who know what happened from the series or the movie Fire Walk With Me will probably appreciate it. Is it a good book? It's certainly not Hemingway or Melville, and the style is that of a teen's diary, but it's incredibly upsetting and interesting nonetheless. The knowledge of the events narrated in the series make this book even more disturbing.

 

[Huntn]

His Robot Girlfriend: Charity (2015)- I enjoy this author’s writing, but his stories are short, and once you get used to the android aspect, very routine almost like observing someone’s real life. And his stories give hints of something greater and when you think you are getter to the intriguing part, they end, leaving you hanging especially in this book. He launches a monumental teaser at the end of this story, then it’s over. As such, I view this author (so far) as a casual writer, not willing to take on a challenging plot.

​

One thing he does well is paint a world where android companions are a norm, where they fulfill many roles in society, clerks, nanny, law enforcement, intimate companion, artificial family. After navigating marriage for 39 years, I could easily imagine people developing relationships with androids when the technology and AI get good enough.

 

[Huntn]

The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer (1990) by Jennifer Lynch.

As I am preparing for my Twin Peaks The Return experience (watching the entire 18-hour long movie in a single session), scheduled for July 6th, I re-read the (in)famous Secret Diary of Laura Palmer. I have read this book three or four times (first time in the 1990's), but this is the first time that I read it after the release of the amazing Twin Peaks The Return, in 2017. Originally, The Secret Diary was released between Season 1 and Season 2, and it provided some clues to figure out who actually killed Laura Palmer (which is sadly revealed in Season 2; one of the most awful decisions by a television network).
More importantly, this is a book about a girl being sexualized, raped, used, abused, and even tortured. This is a book about a small local community abandoning its prom queen to the evil degeneration of its powerful and disgusting people. This book is a view inside the dark journey that might lead to the nightmares that might then lead a "perfect girl" to a desperate addiction for drug and much more. This is a journey towards a liberating, yet extremely violent death.
Those who know what happened from the series or the movie Fire Walk With Me will probably appreciate it. Is it a good book? It's certainly not Hemingway or Melville, and the style is that of a teen's diary, but it's incredibly upsetting and interesting nonetheless. The knowledge of the events narrated in the series make this book even more disturbing.

I really liked the original Twin Peaks! Hope you enjoy your experience.
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Just collected Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian today (in a bricks-and-mortar bookstore or bookshop) and am looking forward to losing myself in it presently.

Did you see the movie? If so how do they compare?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I really liked the original Twin Peaks! Hope you enjoy your experience.
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Did you see the movie? If so how do they compare?

No, I didn't see the movie; I rarely watch movie adaptations (although I have read that this one is actually quite good) of works I have enjoyed.

 

[Huntn]

No, I didn't see the movie; I rarely watch movie adaptations (although I have read that this one is actually quite good) of works I have enjoyed.

The movie was ok, although they spent a bit too much time showing life onboard ship, although I suppose in a book would work better at that.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The movie was ok, although they spent a bit too much time showing life onboard ship, although I suppose in a book would work better at that.

I've been impressed by the book.

Although I like - indeed, sometimes, love - historical fiction, as someone who taught history at university, and adores history, I'm pretty demanding and intolerant re historical fiction - i.e. historically, it must be absolutely accurate as history and credible as a story.

Fantasy (which I also love) gets a pass, because, while it can claim to be influenced and informed by historical fact (and I like a fantasy writer who understands history and can use it intelligently) it doesn't need to be constrained by the facts of history - it can reimagine such facts creatively if that works narratively - after all, it is fiction, not fact.

 

[AVBeatMan]

Some good book recommendations here including Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy;

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Some good book recommendations here including Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy;

I've read the Mistborn trilogy and thought them excellent, especially the first book, which is really exceptionally good.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Finished Master & Commander (by Patrick O'Brian) this morning, while reading in bed.

Have ordered the next in the series, Post Captain.

 

[scubachap]

I guess one could say that the film compared to the book is the lesser of two weevils...

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Finished Master & Commander (by Patrick O'Brian) this morning, while reading in bed.

Have ordered the next in the series, Post Captain.

Actually, for someone who loves historical fiction, this was a blast.

Think Jane Austen meets C. S Forrester's (but far better than Forrester) Horatio Hornblower for a sense of the flavour - excellent grasp of history, (interwoven intelligently into the tale), terrific characters, superb knowledge of maritime and naval matters, wonderful rendition of naval battles, a subtle awareness of how the British class system worked, and a scathing and biting wit at times.

 

[LizKat]

Every summer, or most summers, I try do some deep dive in my reading to keep from getting entirely lazy with beach reads in the season. So usually I opt for either a re-read of some American author I had skimmed through in school, or else assemble a selection of writings from some particular region or country.

Haven't quite decided how this summer's reading adventures will shape up. I'm half-inclined to spend some more time with either Caribbean or South Asian fiction, both of which I really enjoy.

Meanwhile I ran into this volume of poetry the other day: Ink Knows No Borders -- and now can't put it down. It's poetry by young immigrants about their experiences, leaving the hardships and familiar touchstones of one life to begin another elsewhere. It may end up the perfect point from which to springboard my summer reading decision.

 

[pachyderm]

Meanwhile I ran into this volume of poetry the other day: Ink Knows No Borders -- and now can't put it down. It's poetry by young immigrants about their experiences, leaving the hardships and familiar touchstones of one life to begin another elsewhere. It may end up the perfect point from which to springboard my summer reading decision.

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I don't really care much for poetry but I bet that might be pretty interesting...

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Every summer, or most summers, I try do some deep dive in my reading to keep from getting entirely lazy with beach reads in the season. So usually I opt for either a re-read of some American author I had skimmed through in school, or else assemble a selection of writings from some particular region or country.

Haven't quite decided how this summer's reading adventures will shape up. I'm half-inclined to spend some more time with either Caribbean or South Asian fiction, both of which I really enjoy.

Meanwhile I ran into this volume of poetry the other day: Ink Knows No Borders -- and now can't put it down. It's poetry by young immigrants about their experiences, leaving the hardships and familiar touchstones of one life to begin another elsewhere. It may end up the perfect point from which to springboard my summer reading decision.

View attachment 844516​

Sounds fascinating - must take a look.

I don't really care much for poetry but I bet that might be pretty interesting...

Sometimes, only poetry can say - or express - what you need to have said or hear said; there are times when poetry (and only poetry) hits the spot perfectly (I read quite a bit of poetry after my mother passed away), and yes, there are other times, most of the time, when you find that you just prefer prose.

 

[LizKat]

I don't really care much for poetry but I bet that might be pretty interesting...

My interest in poetry waxes and wanes for no discernible reason, so I must attribute that to general mood, or perhaps just to susceptibility to some turn of phrase that lights up the "how poetic!" button in my brain. I find myself immersed in poetry anew sometimes just because of some reference in a piece of fiction (an epigraph, for instance) or some news article.

But... I can definitely remember rolling my eyes at some of the classic poetry we were required to read in school. I should probably go back to more of them now, having revisited only a few from time to time. Some of them, which shall remain nameless here, have only confirmed to my adult-opinionated self that I was "right the first time."

 

[Scepticalscribe]

My interest in poetry waxes and wanes for no discernible reason, so I must attribute that to general mood, or perhaps just to susceptibility to some turn of phrase that lights up the "how poetic!" button in my brain. I find myself immersed in poetry anew sometimes just because of some reference in a piece of fiction (an epigraph, for instance) or some news article.

But... I can definitely remember rolling my eyes at some of the classic poetry we were required to read in school. I should probably go back to more of them now, having revisited only a few from time to time. Some of them, which shall remain nameless here, have only confirmed to my adult-opinionated self that I was "right the first time."

But, even as children, there are some that grab you: As a child, I adored the haunting and ambiguous ambience of "The Listeners" by Walter de la Mare, and committed it to memory.

And, as a teenager, romance held little attraction for me, but I did thrill to "The Terrible People" by Ogden Nash (discovered when I was reading stuff in the poetry text book while the rest of the class were supposed to be looking at something else somewhere else in the same poetry book), and again, committed it to memory.

Percy Shelly with the gripping "Ozymandias" was another personal firm favourite - I thought it brilliant. And still do.

But yes, there was self-indulgent stuff, too, and material I didn't care much for.

I tend to agree with you that - were I to revisit those texts now, many years later - there would remain some poems at which I would still roll my eyes, but rather suspect that I would come to others with the fresh eyes of adult knowledge and experience and perhaps understanding.

 

[yaxomoxay]

The Ideal Team Player (2016) by Patrick Lencioni. Quite an enjoyable business book that deals with recognizing three elements, and their relative weight, within individuals in a team. The three elements are:

• Humility
• Hunger
• Smartness

According to the book, the ideal team-player is quite strong in all three elements. I particularly enjoyed that most of it is basically in the form of a simple novel.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Just received "Post Captain" (my next door neighbour dropped it in last night as it had been delivered to her by mistake, although the parcel did have my name and address), by Patrick O'Brian, the second book in the Master and Commander series.

Looking forward to losing myself in it.

 

[RootBeerMan]

Just started "For We Are Many", by Dennis E. Taylor. It's the 2nd book in the "Bobiverse" trilogy. It's extremely well done space opera. The characters and story are top notch and the series, so far is really enjoyable! I highly recommend the books for any SF lover.

 

[JamesMike]

Reading the Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz, so far a good read.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Reading the Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz, so far a good read.

Anthony Horowitz, if memory serves, was also the person who wrote (and researched) Foyle's War (a superb series).

 

[JamesMike]

Anthony Horowitz, if memory serves, was also the person who wrote (and researched) Foyle's War (a superb series).

Yes, he was, and I understand he has worked on a Sherlock Holmes series and a James Bond book.

 

[Sword86]

Scapegoat by Emilio Corsetti
About TWA Flight 841 back in the late 70s.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Scapegoat by Emilio Corsetti
About TWA Flight 841 back in the late 70s.

Just wikipedia'd TWA 841. This sounds incredibly interesting. Let me know if it's a good read.