Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?

[RedTomato]

Just finished reading 'What Might Have Been' aka 'The Secret of the League' by Ernest Bramah, 1907. Interesting book and definitely a strong influence on 1984 as acknowledged by Orwell.

I actually started reading it by mistake as I thought I was reading another one of Bramah's books about a blind detective, but the lyrical quality of the writing drew me in. And yes, I am a heavy politics geek so reading about class warfare in 1900s England in beautiful prose was appealing.

In the opening chapters, old ladies learn to fly with goosefeather wings over the piers of Brighton and Bognor Regis (!). I'm familiar with almost all of the London locations in the main section of the book so that added to the delight.

Bramah also wrote political science fiction. His book What might Have Been, published in 1907 and republished as The Secret of the League in 1909), is an anti-socialist dystopia reflecting Bramah's conservative political views.[4] It was acknowledged by George Orwell as a source for Nineteen Eighty-Four. Orwell credited it with giving a considerably accurate prediction of the rise of Fascism.[5] In this book, a Socialist government heavily taxes the middle classes, greatly expands a civil service, and engenders a pension crisis, before being overthrown by a capital strike.
At a time when the English Channel had yet to be crossed by an aeroplane, Bramah foresaw aerial express trains travelling at 10,000 feet, a nationwide wireless-telegraphy network, a proto-fax machine and a cypher typewriter similar to the German Enigma machine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Bramah

Some short essays by George Orwell: "The Spike," "Clink," "A Hanging," and "Shooting an Elephant" from the collection Facing Unpleasant Facts.

George Orwell is a wonderful writer, I love his work. He wrote with great political and philosophical insight in the sort of exquisitely elegant and utterly limpid prose only a true artist or master can craft.

His essays are a delight to write, again, beautifully written and very thought provoking, and both 'Animal Farm' and '1984' are timeless masterpieces.

 

[Koodauw]

Just started this one.

 

[AppleFanatic10]

What Book Are You Reading?

Kaplan's GRE Premier 2014.

 

[jeja7676]

I'm reading Grey Wolf - The Escape of Adolf Hitler

 

[Simplicated]

Just finished reading 'Creativity, Inc.' by Ed Catmull. It was a fascinating read and I was thoroughly intrigued to see how Ed and John Lasseter have gone to great lengths to keep Pixar creative.

Now I just started reading 'Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work' by Chip Heath and Dan Heath.

 

[pachyderm]

i've read the first 5 falvie de luce novels… waiting on #6 in paperback.

 

[vulcanvillalta]

Reading Salem's Lot by King. I've never read it, and I've been meaning to for a few years now. About 70 pages in so far. Lots of death and talk of death...is this why he is noted for his macabre? It's not bad, though. I'm having fun.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Some slightly more serious stuff, with a rapid trot through "Descent Into Chaos" by Ahmed Rashid, along with a quick look at "Afghanistan From The Cold War Through The War On Terror" by Barnett R. Rubin.

 

[MacDawg]

Just finished Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (Seabiscuit)

 

[Jasperer]

Just finished reading Jony Ive - The Genius Behind Apple's Greatest Products written by Leander Kahney.

The book is about Jony Ive's history and how he got to where he is now, and a little bit about Apple History and Design Team / Products. It gives a good insight into both areas and really interesting!

The only downside being the Author's American grammar/writing style, I personally didn't warm to it!

8/10

 

[AppleDApp]

The only downside being the Author's American grammar/writing style, I personally didn't warm to it!

8/10

Good read! Isn't the author British?

 

[Jasperer]

Good read! Isn't the author British?

Yes it is, very interesting read.

Apparently so! I only assumed from his writing style, perhaps I'll rephrase, it seemed badly edited and didn't seem to read too well!

 

[ucfgrad93]

Just finished Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (Seabiscuit)

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How do/did you like it?

 

[MacDawg]

How do/did you like it?

I really enjoyed it, although "enjoy" isn't really the right word for the content of the book. I have always enjoyed reading about WWII, both the European and Pacific, and this book held my attention well. I did not know the story and did not attempt to read up on it before I read the book, so the end was very different from what I anticipated. I recommend reading it before the movie comes out later this year.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I am currently reading 11/22/63 on my Kindle. I'm only about 10% in to it, but I'm enjoying it so far.

 

[S.B.G]

I have The Complete Calvin & Hobbes volume set by Bill Watterson. Actually, I've had it for a good long time now and started reading some of it yesterday.

Tonight, I am relaxing while reading some more of it while listening to the DirecTV music channel 'Beautiful Instrumentals'.

I just love the smell of this book too. There's something about a book smell that enraptures you.

Anyway, I have some stressful things going on in my life lately and the calm music and casual comic reading is pleasantly relaxing.

If you look closely, Puma is peering over the top of the book trying to get a look at Hobbes the Tiger.

 

[EricNau]

I'm finishing up Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Much better than I had anticipated, and the audiobook is very well narrated.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I have The Complete Calvin & Hobbes volume set by Bill Watterson. Actually, I've had it for a good long time now and started reading some of it yesterday.

Tonight, I am relaxing while reading some more of it while listening to the DirecTV music channel 'Beautiful Instrumentals'.

I just love the smell of this book too. There's something about a book smell that enraptures you.

Anyway, I have some stressful things going on in my life lately and the calm music and casual comic reading is pleasantly relaxing.

If you look closely, Puma is peering over the top of the book trying to get a look at Hobbes the Tiger.

Oh man, I love Calvin and Hobbes. I was very sad when Watterson announced his retirement.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I have The Complete Calvin & Hobbes volume set by Bill Watterson. Actually, I've had it for a good long time now and started reading some of it yesterday.

Tonight, I am relaxing while reading some more of it while listening to the DirecTV music channel 'Beautiful Instrumentals'.

I just love the smell of this book too. There's something about a book smell that enraptures you.

Anyway, I have some stressful things going on in my life lately and the calm music and casual comic reading is pleasantly relaxing.

If you look closely, Puma is peering over the top of the book trying to get a look at Hobbes the Tiger.

I love the picture of Puma looking over the top of the cartoon book - an image worthy of making an image - or cartoon - of in itself.

 

[S.B.G]

Oh man, I love Calvin and Hobbes. I was very sad when Watterson announced his retirement.

Yeah. But he had a good run at it for a long time, November 18, 1985, to December 31, 1995 in syndication.

I love the picture of Puma looking over the top of the cartoon book - an image worthy of making an image - or cartoon - of in itself.

Indeed, that would be quite apropos!

 

[LadyX]

Just finished Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (Seabiscuit)



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One of the best non-fiction books I've ever read.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Yeah. But he had a good run at it for a long time, November 18, 1985, to December 31, 1995 in syndication.

Not nearly long enough in my opinion.

 

[S.B.G]

Not nearly long enough in my opinion.

Yeah, I agree. It was such a great comic that I'd liked to have seen it continue for even longer.

 

[Don't panic]

Yeah. But he had a good run at it for a long time, November 18, 1985, to December 31, 1995 in syndication.



Indeed, that would be quite apropos!

1995, the year that comics died.
end of Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side and Bloom County/Outland

 

[balamw]

Did you know that Bill Watterson was recently back on the comics page? Did you know there still was a comics page?

http://stephanpastis.wordpress.com/2014/06/07/ever-wished-that-calvin-and-hobbes-creator-bill-watterson-would-return-to-the-comics-page-well-he-just-did/

Pearls Before Swine is really a decent modern day strip. It took a while for me to appreciate it, but it's one Inreally enjoy.

B