Book talk

cleverdevil76

Buddhist in the dark
Joined
Mar 13, 2005
Posts
1,412
Quite certain this thread should be placed somewhere else, but I think not having finished my first coffee on a Saturday morning more than grants me some leniency on that.

To be honest, I just want someone to talk books with. Recent reads are:

The End of Your Life Book Club by.....blanking here
Arguably by Christopher Hitchens
Atonement by....McEwan?
The Sun Also Rises

I usually avoid non-fiction, unless in comics or graphic novels. Been that way for years, until recently. And now, last night I began this Wall Lamb book and 50pgs in and the thing is pissing me right off.

Just....come talk to me.
here.
yahoo: brodi10
in this thread.


Going to get more coffee.
 
Too bad, I love reading but I haven't read any of those books or authors

Clive cussler
Stephen king (less than I used to)
Dean koontz
David baldacci
Lee child
Michael connelley (just started)

Any of those?
 
Before I stopped reading fiction (sometime around 2003), I think I had read everything King and Koontz had written to that point. Those 2, as well as the others you listed, are the classic summer vacation page turners. Nobody can say shit about those writers, as they've earned their place.
But now, getting back into fiction, I'm reading a lot more character driven books. The icons you mentioned, I think, are all plot driven. That's why they sell so well.
 
Before I stopped reading fiction (sometime around 2003), I think I had read everything King and Koontz had written to that point. Those 2, as well as the others you listed, are the classic summer vacation page turners. Nobody can say shit about those writers, as they've earned their place.
But now, getting back into fiction, I'm reading a lot more character driven books. The icons you mentioned, I think, are all plot driven. That's why they sell so well.

I see your point. They are all very easy reads too. Gunslinger may be the character driven exception, but I like reading for pleasure and I enjoy the familiarity of heroes like Dirk Pitt and Jack Reacher.
 
Oh, I get you. Those books are like good TV. It's like LOST in book form. I still get that familiarity in my serialized graphic novels.

Agree on the Gunslinger books too. Yet, I didn't enjoy any of them the way I enjoyed the first one.
 
Oh, I get you. Those books are like good TV. It's like LOST in book form. I still get that familiarity in my serialized graphic novels.

Agree on the Gunslinger books too. Yet, I didn't enjoy any of them the way I enjoyed the first one.

I think I could talk about gunslinger all day, but since you listed some books...

Sell me on character driven. I do judge books by their covers. atonement and the sun also rises, those sound like they could be worth a read. Synopsis please.
 
The Sun Also Rises is a Hemingway number. Starts off in paris, then moves to Spain for fishing and bull fights. Hemingway had a huge attraction to both. I feel like his protagonist is always muted. They talk like someone talking under water, and you barely notice or care. But there's a strong, interesting woman in the book. A different kind of love story. And the male characters all stand out as well. You're simply in the company of a group of friends and acquaintances as they drink and cafe hop, and take in the experiences of bull fights a relationship dynamics. If you have the time and inclination, I recommend Hemingway in audiobook form. Unless I'm reading his short pieces, I like to be read the story.

Atonement. Skip the book and watch the movie. I saw the flick a few years back, then read the book last week. It was a very faithful adaptation, but I think I prefer the movie as I don't really like books that are told from a female perspective. It's not that it was wishy washy, but it is. The protagonist, Briony, is sensitive and poetic. It's a beautiful book. I just don't want that flowery stuff in my head lol

I don't think I could sell you on any book, though I like that you asked me to. You have to want to read them. That said, maybe I can sell you on diversifying your reading habits. The best thing you can do is try to balance out the words that will earn a place in your mind. Don't just read plot driven stuff, but don't just read the character driven poetic prose either. Read poetry. Read historic works. When it's uncomfortable, force yourself. It's a healthy diet. And as long as you try to do that, you'll always have someone so happy to talk to you (me!!). Which, by the way, your company has been so appreciated this morning.
 
What did you think of 'arguably' by Hitchens?

Was there any particular essay from the book that piqued your interest?
 
Too bad, I love reading but I haven't read any of those books or authors

Clive cussler
Stephen king (less than I used to)
Dean koontz
David baldacci
Lee child
Michael connelley (just started)

Any of those?

My kind of reading. Don't forget Silva.
 
What did you think of 'arguably' by Hitchens?

Was there any particular essay from the book that piqued your interest?

I mean, it was mostly (all?) book reviews. I think he was reviewing a John Updike book, which didn't sound especially good, but that review got me interested in wanting to check out Gore Vidal at some point. Someone I would've never thought to read. As well, there was an essay/review on Charles Dickens that was especially interesting. Dickens was a cat that made his living writing about the poor and suffering. Yet he was also a cat that had a woman arrested for using profanity. Dickens was a dick.

Really, most of the book was very good and very interesting, simply because it introduces you to books you'd probably never think to read on your own. Yet Hitch, who must've read several books before breakfast, has done the leg work for you, and presents an argument that incites you to look further.
 
You had me at Paris then lost me at romance, I looked up the movie...not a keira fan but james is a good actor.

I have read other types of books. Siddhartha is probably the only deep one, but I loved it. I used to be into sci fi and fantasy but my tastes changed and I can't seem to go back. Horror has been a favorite of mine. I don't consider King horror anymore but Clive Barker, he is truly twisted and even though he doesn't consider himself a horror writer, he is brilliant. Mysteries...love them! Agatha Christie's-and then there were none, I've read that over and over. PD james as well.

Poetry, history...can't. Even though I read for pleasure, poetry doesn't have a "point" to it. It's like going for a walk to enjoy the scenery, I don't do that. I walk because I have somewhere to go, there is an endpoint. My mind rambles enough so I don't need to read it :). History...so last year, haha. Even in school I wasn't interested in history.

Why force yourself to read? So many people hate reading because they were forced to do it. I always think that is sad. A person who reads the top 50 suggested literary masterpieces, are they better than a person who reads John Grisham? In my mind no. Books are like art, there are some authors that everyone agrees are worth money, some are collectors items and some are just trash. It's all subjective though and my dog doesn't like any of them :).

I like that other people have tastes different than mine and I like to hear the passion for what they love, even though I don't share it. I diversify by talking to people who are different than I am. If you are willing to accept that I like what I like, but I will always be happy to hear about books you are reading then, I would love to have morning tea with you.
 
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You had me at Paris then lost me at romance, I looked up the movie...not a keira fan but james is a good actor.

I have read other types of books. Siddhartha is probably the only deep one, but I loved it. I used to be into sci fi and fantasy but my tastes changed and I can't seem to go back. Horror has been a favorite of mine. I don't consider King horror anymore but Clive Barker, he is truly twisted and even though he doesn't consider himself a horror writer, he is brilliant. Mysteries...love them! Agatha Christies-and then there were none, I've read that over and over. PD james as well.

Poetry, history...can't. Even though I read for pleasure, poetry doesn't have a "point" to it. It's like going for a walk to enjoy the scenery, I don't do that. I walk because I have somewhere to go, there is an endpoint. My mind rambles enough so I don't need to read it :). History...so last year, haha. Even in school I wasn't interested in history.

Why force yourself to read? So many people hate reading because they were forced to do it. I always think that is sad. A person who reads the top 50 suggested literary masterpieces, are they better than a person who reads John Grisham? In my mind no. Books are like art, there are some authors that everyone agrees are worth money, some are collectors items and some are just trash. It's all subjective though and my dog doesn't like any of them :).

I like that other people have tastes different than mine and I like to hear the passion for what they love, even though I don't share it. I diversify by talking to people who are different than I am. If you are willing to accept that I like what I like, but will always be happy to hear about books you are reading then, I would love to have morning tea with you.

That was perfectly articulated, and now I feel a wee bit like a douche for suggesting it.

I think I force myself to read different things because that's how I am in all aspects of life. I force myself to do the things I'm not good at or make me uncomfortable. This practice has bettered me in so many ways. I'm simply a better person because of yet.

But yeah. The error is my thinking it's the best path for anyone else.
 
That was perfectly articulated, and now I feel a wee bit like a douche for suggesting it.

I think I force myself to read different things because that's how I am in all aspects of life. I force myself to do the things I'm not good at or make me uncomfortable. This practice has bettered me in so many ways. I'm simply a better person because of yet.

But yeah. The error is my thinking it's the best path for anyone else.


You don't need to apologize. I like opinionated people. We can even argue about it if you like :)
 
Love Stephen king though he would use 30 words when 10 would say the same thing. Take THE STAND, I read it twice because it was good. Years later they came out with the "uncut" version that added 300 pages. I thought cool, I read it again. Couldn't tell a difference between the 800 page version from the 1100 page version.
 
Love Stephen king though he would use 30 words when 10 would say the same thing. Take THE STAND, I read it twice because it was good. Years later they came out with the "uncut" version that added 300 pages. I thought cool, I read it again. Couldn't tell a difference between the 800 page version from the 1100 page version.


I know I read the stand, but it's one of his books that I can never remember clearly. I've tried to watch the tv movie a dozen times but always miss most of it. That is on my to do list to read again. I will read the original though, 300 more pages that were probably left out for a reason...
 
Love Stephen king though he would use 30 words when 10 would say the same thing. Take THE STAND, I read it twice because it was good. Years later they came out with the "uncut" version that added 300 pages. I thought cool, I read it again. Couldn't tell a difference between the 800 page version from the 1100 page version.

LOVED The Stand. But, as with Tommyknockers, I've often wonder if we love these books because they're so damn long. I wonder if, after so much of my time is invested, do I lose my ability to reason? Know what I mean? A 200page deal and I'm sure to have some critque. Get up to 800 - 1000 pages and I feel like I've filled myself at a buffet. I'm just bloated and brain dead.
 
Lol as expensive as books are these days, you need 800 pages to feel you get your moneys' worth
 
Iceprincess, try reading THE HIGHWAY MAN by Alfred Noyles. It's a poem that gets you some where lol I'm not a big poetry guy but the highway man was awesome. Agatha Christie is great but I love rex stouts Nero Wolfe.
 
I just learned about www.bookoutlet.com yesterday. Check out those prices!!!

Those are good prices! I buy ibooks now, such a space saver. I have boxes and boxes of books in my basement. I will never throw them out but I don't have a library to display them in. Holding a book in my hands, folding down the corner to mark my place...I do miss that.
 
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