What are you reading at the moment?

[EesomeBeastie]

Originally Posted by Gaia_Lorraine

I'm about to start "Guilt by Association" by Susan R. Sloan; "A potent mixture of political thriller, saga and courtroom drama... or so the cover says

Yes, but you can't judge a book... Not even in a "courtroom drama"

[Gaia_Lorraine]

Originally Posted by EesomeBeastie

Yes, but you can't judge a book... Not even in a "courtroom drama"

I will judge by how it is written, usually you know within the first few para's whether or not it is worth reading

[Sienna]

Originally Posted by Gaia_Lorraine

I will judge by how it is written, usually you know within the first few para's whether or not it is worth reading

As an amateur writer and a book reader, I have to disagree. Sometimes the opening paragraphs can be "cryptic" as in breaking into a story from almost any where from within the full plot, and later bringing everything together so it makes sense as the whole story unfolds. I think a book or story is worth atleast the first chapter read before deciding whether it is good or bad.

[Gaia_Lorraine]

Originally Posted by Sienna

As an amateur writer and a book reader, I have to disagree. Sometimes the opening paragraphs can be "cryptic" as in breaking into a story from almost any where from within the full plot, and later bringing everything together so it makes sense as the whole story unfolds. I think a book or story is worth atleast the first chapter read before deciding whether it is good or bad.

From the opening para's you can judge the writer's style.

[Sienna]

Originally Posted by Gaia_Lorraine

From the opening para's you can judge the writer's style.

Yes, good point. But only if you are not familiar with the author and you are looking for a particular style. However, I think styles can vary with one author depending on how they wish to portray the story. There are styles for comedy, romance, fantasy and even erotica and sci-fi, and one author can change their style to suit each genre.

[EesomeBeastie]

Originally Posted by Sienna

As an amateur writer and a book reader, I have to disagree. Sometimes the opening paragraphs can be "cryptic" as in breaking into a story from almost any where from within the full plot, and later bringing everything together so it makes sense as the whole story unfolds. I think a book or story is worth atleast the first chapter read before deciding whether it is good or bad.

I'd tend to agree. There have been a couple of novels I've read where I got couldn't get into it, got stuck, put it down, came back a few months later and tried again. Same result. Third time round I got past the blockage and then couldn't put them down from then on to the end.

[Gaia_Lorraine]

Originally Posted by EesomeBeastie

I'd tend to agree. There have been a couple of novels I've read where I got couldn't get into it, got stuck, put it down, came back a few months later and tried again. Same result. Third time round I got past the blockage and then couldn't put them down from then on to the end.

As a busy person who has little time to read I want to cream the words, live the story. If the author fails to transport me into their created world then it's time to find another.

[Sienna]

Originally Posted by EesomeBeastie

I'd tend to agree. There have been a couple of novels I've read where I got couldn't get into it, got stuck, put it down, came back a few months later and tried again. Same result. Third time round I got past the blockage and then couldn't put them down from then on to the end.

A reader can adapt to style after so many attempts. I found the same situation with DH Lawrence novels. Once I had read the first, I became familiar with his style and the others just became much easier to read.

[MollyDolly]

Female Dominance: Rituals and Practices by Claudia Verrin- what? I'm curious

[EesomeBeastie]

Originally Posted by MollyDolly

Female Dominance: Rituals and Practices by Claudia Verrin- what? I'm curious

And the "Customers who bought this item also bought..." pane on the Amazon page for this book gives one even more to be curious about.
Like "Family Jewels: A Guide to Male Genital Play and Torment"

Hi there, MollyDolly. Long time no type. How are the studies going?

[Gaia_Lorraine]

Originally Posted by Sienna

A reader can adapt to style after so many attempts. I found the same situation with DH Lawrence novels. Once I had read the first, I became familiar with his style and the others just became much easier to read.

Assuming that the reader has the patience of a saint and the all the time in the world to read every book ever written.
No, they move on, time is precious, do we spend time with every man we meet and think that there is something more deeper?

[Sienna]

Originally Posted by Gaia_Lorraine

Assuming that the reader has the patience of a saint and the all the time in the world to read every book ever written.
No, they move on, time is precious, do we spend time with every man we meet and think that there is something more deeper?

Reading a book is like watching a movie or a play, only with more attention and imagination. I fail to see what that has to do with dating a man and wondering if he suits your emotions or not?

Books can be read inbetween tasks, during meal breaks or a few quiet hours, over a few days depending on the readers pace and time availability. If I was you, then I would stick with movies, TV serials and live performance theatre plays.

[Gaia_Lorraine]

Originally Posted by Sienna

Reading a book is like watching a movie or a play, only with more attention and imagination. I fail to see what that has to do with dating a man and wondering if he suits your emotions or not?

Books can be read inbetween tasks, during meal breaks or a few quiet hours, over a few days depending on the readers pace and time availability. If I was you, then I would stick with movies, TV serials and live performance theatre plays.

Good debate, we will continue
Night night
IYOU

[MollyDolly]

Originally Posted by EesomeBeastie

And the "Customers who bought this item also bought..." pane on the Amazon page for this book gives one even more to be curious about.
Like "Family Jewels: A Guide to Male Genital Play and Torment"

Hi there, MollyDolly. Long time no type. How are the studies going?

*laughs* Bargain book at the uni bookstore

I'm enjoying a two-week break from classes that ends Monday- then I start my Gender Ethics and Sexuality philosophy course Sounds like it'll be interesting!

[EesomeBeastie]

Originally Posted by MollyDolly

*laughs* Bargain book at the uni bookstore

I'm enjoying a two-week break from classes that ends Monday- then I start my Gender Ethics and Sexuality philosophy course Sounds like it'll be interesting!

Ethics? Isn't that a county east of London?

[kendo1]

The Complete Poems and Songs of Robert Burns.

[EesomeBeastie]

Originally Posted by kendo1

The Complete Poems and Songs of Robert Burns.

I've never actually read the complete set

(embarassed grin)

But I can boast that my ancestors came from the exact same parish (Glenbervie, northeast Scotland) as Burns' grandparents did. In fact my fives times great grandfather is buried about ten yards from them. (Though he doesn't have a fancy surround and railing put there by an appreciation society.) In a small parish it's likely they knew each other.

[MollyDolly]

Originally Posted by EesomeBeastie

Ethics? Isn't that a county east of London?

*shrugs* My UK geography is rusty, I'm afraid

[EesomeBeastie]

Originally Posted by MollyDolly

*shrugs* My UK geography is rusty, I'm afraid

It's an old, old joke. Pretending not to know what "ethics" is and thinking it's the county of Essex. Loses something in translation.

[MollyDolly]

Originally Posted by EesomeBeastie

It's an old, old joke. Pretending not to know what "ethics" is and thinking it's the county of Essex. Loses something in translation.

It didn't lose anything

[EesomeBeastie]

"Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy"

A young children's classic. Bought it this afternoon for my nephew's birthday, and couldn't resist reading it once more before wrapping it up!

[Leto Degeneres]

14 lines, shorter than some sigs, so I post the full poem...

The Caged Skylark
Gerald Manley Hopkins

AS a dare-gale skylark scanted in a dull cage
Man's mounting spirit in his bone-house, mean house, dwells --
That bird beyond the remembering his free fells;
This in drudgery, day-labouring-out life's age.

Though aloft on turf or perch or poor low stage,
Both sing sometímes the sweetest, sweetest spells,
Yet both droop deadly sómetimes in their cells
Or wring their barriers in bursts of fear or rage.

Not that the sweet-fowl, song-fowl, needs no rest --
Why, hear him, hear him babble and drop down to his nest,
But his own nest, wild nest, no prison.

Man's spirit will be flesh-bound when found at best,
But uncumbered: meadow-down is not distressed
For a rainbow footing it nor he for his bónes rísen.

==========================================


To Fool for the style, to W for the passion

[fieryjen]

Right now I'm reading...

I can't tell you. Too dorky.

[Leto Degeneres]

Originally Posted by fieryjen

Right now I'm reading...

I can't tell you. Too dorky.

Oh, now everyone wants to know! do tell...

[EesomeBeastie]

IEEE 802.11 n draft 9.0

(and that must count as at least a little bit dorky)