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Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?
- Thread starter Huntn
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I am reading more books by Elizabeth Moon: space operas, with female protagonists - what is there not to like?- (who invariably have a military background - Moon, who was a lieutenant with the Marines, writes very well about the military, her military settings work very well, and she does female friendship, and families, family relationships - and writes about older women, exceptionally well, also.)
I think Little Women is very well written and shows the limited lives (and the deep frustration engendered by the constrictive circumstances - and limited range and scope - of those limited lives) that middle class women were expected to lead in the middle of the 19th century in the US.
I think Little Women is very well written and shows the limited lives (and the deep frustration engendered by the constrictive circumstances - and limited range and scope - of those limited lives) that middle class women were expected to lead in the middle of the 19th century in the US.
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Just quoting your post to flag up to you that here in the UK the radio discussion programme In Our Time have just featured Aurelius, Mediatations and his stoicism. (This episode follows the normal format of Melvin Bragg and a couple of specialist academics having spirited discussions/arguments for 45 minutes so they can cover a lot of ground). I think you'd really enjoy it. It's just aired so it should be uploaded soon as a podcast - the BBC In Our Time site is here, if that doesn't work as you're in the US - Apple host them as well - here.
I've been reading a lot of poetry this winter, but shifted gears lately to take up a book written by the celebrated tenor Ian Bostridge: his analysis of Schubert's incomparable Winterreise, a work he has performed over a hundred times. The book is titled Schubert's Winter Journey: Anatomy of an Obsession.
Bostridge uses his own translation of the 24 brief songs in this cycle of lieder, a work that in performance runs just over one hour. He came to professional singing rather late, only at age 27, and has a range of other interests I find fascinating, not least that he did his doctoral thesis at Oxford on demonology ("Witchcraft and Its Transformations, c.1650–1750"). He has also worked in television documentaries and taught at Oxford for a time on political theory and 18th century British history, before focusing entirely on his musical career at age 30.
Bostridge uses his own translation of the 24 brief songs in this cycle of lieder, a work that in performance runs just over one hour. He came to professional singing rather late, only at age 27, and has a range of other interests I find fascinating, not least that he did his doctoral thesis at Oxford on demonology ("Witchcraft and Its Transformations, c.1650–1750"). He has also worked in television documentaries and taught at Oxford for a time on political theory and 18th century British history, before focusing entirely on his musical career at age 30.
I'm finally going through Rich Dad Poor Dad. Not really sure what I think of it so far... But I've always wanted to read it because of what other people I know have told me about it.
This year is going really well for me. I've got 10 books read so far. iPad Pro 11 ftw. Instead of wasting a lot of time on Reddit, YouTube, etc... I put that into reading daily and it's really paying off. So much better use of time.
This year is going really well for me. I've got 10 books read so far. iPad Pro 11 ftw. Instead of wasting a lot of time on Reddit, YouTube, etc... I put that into reading daily and it's really paying off. So much better use of time.
Yes it is! I love reading! I am at 8 books so far, finishing 9 and 10 pretty soon.
These days, when I make but a few posts a day, it is mainly because I am reading, and lost in books.
Just started Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth, an Oxford economist. It's an interesting newer approach to the discipline, emphasizing outcomes for the entire population, not maximizing GDP.
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Cool.
My Goodreads goal is 40 and I'm at 7 so far. Last year I only read 32 but some were longer 😑Just started:
The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X by Les Payne
and
In the Beauty of the Lilies by John Updike
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. So far (70%) so good. (5th book of the year)
Still reading "The Stand" and boy there is a lot I had forgotten, which is a good things since it is like I am reading it for the first time. Of course, it could be because of the extra pages added, but I am really digging it. Just over the 450th page mark.
How many pages is it? I have the (German) Audible audiobook, which clocks in at 54h 12min.
Good training on the arm muscles reading that, I suppose? 😉
Kindle for the win on this one!
However I do have the hardcover version on my shelf... and yeah it is pretty darn big. It is as big as some of my graphic novels.
Impressive just for it's size. And It isn't much smaller, I think. Also a very good one.
I have to say, though - reading just isn't the same digitally. iPad (or Kindle) somehow lack that special feeling of a real book.
A World Without Email (2021) by Cal Newport.
Talk about provocative titles! Another hit by Dr. Cal Newport (author of "So Good They Can't Ignore You", "Deep Work", "Digital Minimalism") which tackles how the advent of email changed everything, not necessarily for the better.
Interestingly, this book starts with some historical analysis (we even go back to Charlemagne), to then provide some good ideas on how re-think the modern work world full of emails and slack channels.
The New Yorker published an excerpt from the book titled "E-Mail is making us miserable". I also recommend his article for The Chronicle of Higher Education titled "Is E-Mail making professors stupid?"
While many of the tips and ideas can't be implemented by many people, this book is certainly a welcome addition that will make us re-evaluate a tool that is now so commonly misunderstood to represent a serious problem.
Talk about provocative titles! Another hit by Dr. Cal Newport (author of "So Good They Can't Ignore You", "Deep Work", "Digital Minimalism") which tackles how the advent of email changed everything, not necessarily for the better.
Interestingly, this book starts with some historical analysis (we even go back to Charlemagne), to then provide some good ideas on how re-think the modern work world full of emails and slack channels.
The New Yorker published an excerpt from the book titled "E-Mail is making us miserable". I also recommend his article for The Chronicle of Higher Education titled "Is E-Mail making professors stupid?"
While many of the tips and ideas can't be implemented by many people, this book is certainly a welcome addition that will make us re-evaluate a tool that is now so commonly misunderstood to represent a serious problem.
Call it blasphamy, but I actually like my Kindle better than a book, unless it is a graphic novel, in which I love the feel of my graphic novels... But for a regular book, I love my kindle. I know a lot of folks don't like it though.
Not calling it blasphemy. If you like it (better), that's fine. I tried reading on my iPad multiple times, and each time I came to the conclusion that it just isn't the same. I prefer the real book feeling. If you read a lot (and like to own a lot of books), digital is much more space efficient though!
While a physical book may feel and look better the Kindle is far more practical. You can read every book with the same font and size which is a blessing if you are far sighted. It is also great for reading in bed as it is backlit. Also, you can purchase any book and start reading it instantly. I remember when travelling abroad I used to carefully pick a couple of books to take, now I can just take my kindle with hundreds of books on. I think the 8GB Kindle can hold 6000 books. It's a marvellous device.