The What Are You Reading? Thread

[Smilin Ed H]

I asked about interesting info on musician's biography.  trivia about music. your "tiny" comment didn't seem to be about music. I'm not sure what the rolling eyes is for.

 

[the captain]

And just what does his hairstyle have to do with it?!?!? Oh my god, my head is exploding. 

[the captain]

Emily and 1-1-wonderful, thanks for the suggestions. I've read several of them (Bulgakov, Gogol, and Wilson) but not several of the others. I've been reading Sarah Hall's short stories in The Beautiful Indifference but will look into some of those others.

[1-1-wonderful]

I recently read Time's Arrow and Zone of interest by Martin Amis

Both powerful takes on the Holocaust wildly divergent from one another or anything else

[alf wiedersehen]

I bought these today. I plan to read them.

[Chocolate Shake Man]

The Joyce and Kafka books are two of my favourites.

[Emily]

I sense the metamorphosis will be right up Bubbly Waves' alley. Bubbly Waves, have you read any Ionesco?

[alf wiedersehen]

Bubbly Waves, have you read any Ionesco?

No, I don't think I've ever heard of him/her.
Why do you ask?

[Emily]

Bubbly Waves, have you read any Ionesco?

No, I don't think I've ever heard of him/her.
Why do you ask?

He was a major proponent of the 'theater of the absurd' movement, of which your writings remind me.

[alf wiedersehen]

Bubbly Waves, have you read any Ionesco?

No, I don't think I've ever heard of him/her.
Why do you ask?

He was a major proponent of the 'theater of the absurd' movement, of which your writings remind me.

Interesting. I'll have to check him out. 

[Empire Of Love]

Domain of Being/Ontology, by Celestine Bittle.



I'm not sure my image link is going to work but if it does, it is just going to be a solid blue, hardback cover, not even for the book I'm reading but another in the same series which looks exactly the same except for the title on the spine.

What it is about:

In essence, virtually all of philosophy can be broken into two groups, realism and idealism.  Bittle is a moderate realist, as am I.  I am reading this book (and most of the series) because though I've read more than my fair share of philosophy throughout the years I have never systematically worked through my position, so I am attempting to do that now.  

Why it is important:

As at any given time in history we are being governed (whether externally or internally or both) by one of these two systems, in one way or another, and usually more ways than one, through academia, government, literature, news, etc, it seems good to familiarize oneself with both systems.  Yet I have found most people are unaware of either system, though examples can be multiplied of where these ideas overlap and directly influence our day to day lives.  Why then should one be governed unknowingly by these things rather than knowingly?  Perhaps one will find one prefers one system to the other and will take steps to align oneself accordingly.

EoL

[JK]

I'm not sure my image link is going to work but if it does, it is just going to be a solid blue, hardback cover, not even for the book I'm reading but another in the same series which looks exactly the same except for the title on the spine.

This one?

[Empire Of Love]

I'm not sure my image link is going to work but if it does, it is just going to be a solid blue, hardback cover, not even for the book I'm reading but another in the same series which looks exactly the same except for the title on the spine.

This one?

That is the one, or at least an instance of it.   

[bluesno1fann]

Cloudstreet by Tim Winton. Though it lacks a coherent structure, it's definitely a very interesting story that spans several decades in the lives of two families living in the same house.

[alf wiedersehen]

Kafka's The Castle. Not really sure if I get this...

This is my reaction to Faulkner's the Sound and the Fury, which I am submerged in.

This, in my opinion, is one of the greatest novels ever written. Top 5, at least, for me. Would like to hear your thoughts on it.

Okay, finally got around to finishing it. I sure read a great deal less when I'm around a computer.
Anyway, I'm still not really sure what to think. I feel like I'm missing so many important details.

Wow, was anyone else aware of the entirely wretched-looking James Franco film adaptation of The Sound and the Fury? What the f*** is that guy doing

[Emily]

Kafka's The Castle. Not really sure if I get this...

This is my reaction to Faulkner's the Sound and the Fury, which I am submerged in.

This, in my opinion, is one of the greatest novels ever written. Top 5, at least, for me. Would like to hear your thoughts on it.

Okay, finally got around to finishing it. I sure read a great deal less when I'm around a computer.
Anyway, I'm still not really sure what to think. I feel like I'm missing so many important details.

Wow, was anyone else aware of the entirely wretched-looking James Franco film adaptation of The Sound and the Fury? What the f*** is that guy doing

Was not aware. The idea makes me a little queasy.

[alf wiedersehen]

Kafka's The Castle. Not really sure if I get this...

This is my reaction to Faulkner's the Sound and the Fury, which I am submerged in.

This, in my opinion, is one of the greatest novels ever written. Top 5, at least, for me. Would like to hear your thoughts on it.

Okay, finally got around to finishing it. I sure read a great deal less when I'm around a computer.
Anyway, I'm still not really sure what to think. I feel like I'm missing so many important details.

Wow, was anyone else aware of the entirely wretched-looking James Franco film adaptation of The Sound and the Fury? What the f*** is that guy doing

Was not aware. The idea makes me a little queasy.

Just wait 'til you see the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs6rYmlP2oM.
It all goes seriously downhill in a record-breaking 6 seconds.

[Emily]

Excuse my language but sh*t. What's that face he's making?
I'm going to go throw up now.

[alf wiedersehen]

I've been reading a lot of Joyce lately. Stephen Dedalus' interactions with Eileen are so pained yet beautiful, and they're easily my favorite parts of this book (so far). The way he talks about her slender, pale fingers, or the episode at the rail station. I love it. Or the way he casts himself as Monte Cristo, gloomily replying, "Madame, I never eat Muscatel grapes," as he stands in her rose garden. Or the way it all topples over, and he finds himself stalking the streets of Dublin looking to find prostitutes. It's all gorgeous, romantic writing.

But now I find myself near the end. I've read about 40 pages of Stephen being an amateur philosopher and my head is spinning.

Also, reading the priest describe hell is probably the closest I've ever been to repenting for my sins.

[halblaineisgood]

I wish I was reading the Norm Macdonald memoir. Supposed to be coming out sometime later this year.

[Chocolate Shake Man]

I've been reading a lot of Joyce lately. Stephen Dedalus' interactions with Eileen are so pained yet beautiful, and they're easily my favorite parts of this book (so far). The way he talks about her slender, pale fingers, or the episode at the rail station. I love it. Or the way he casts himself as Monte Cristo, gloomily replying, "Madame, I never eat Muscatel grapes," as he stands in her rose garden. Or the way it all topples over, and he finds himself stalking the streets of Dublin looking to find prostitutes. It's all gorgeous, romantic writing.

But now I find myself near the end. I've read about 40 pages of Stephen being an amateur philosopher and my head is spinning.

Also, reading the priest describe hell is probably the closest I've ever been to repenting for my sins.

I love this book. The angry political conversation around the table near the beginning of the book resonated quite a bit when I read it.

I agree with your point about it being gorgeous, romantic writing. The other day I picked up Ulysses and read about ten pages of it, not to really get into the story but to instead just briefly inhabit Joyce's world. I feel like the same is true with a writer like Faulkner who I believe you read before. You can just read a little bit and instantly know who the writer is.

Currently, I'm reading a great collection of Chekhov's short stories.

[Chocolate Shake Man]

I wish I was reading the Norm Macdonald memoir. Supposed to be coming out sometime later this year.

I hope it comes out! Norm is content to spend the bulk of his time doing stand-up but I'm sorry that he is unable to do movies or tv shows the way he'd like to do them. He's a brilliant comedian as far as I'm concerned.

[alf wiedersehen]

"I had never spoken to her, except for a few casual words, and yet her name was like a summons to all my foolish blood."

I love James Joyce.

[JK]

I've just been reading Bubs's hilarious "contribution" to Rocky's book. I'm still laughing. 

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,23026.msg565599.html#msg565599

[the captain]

I haven't read any Joyce in almost 20 years. I'd read Dubliners. Loved it. Read Portrait. Loved it. Read a few hundred pages of Ulysses. [Time passes.] And then the same few hundred pages of Ulysses. [Almost 20 years pass.] As smart as I felt I must look riding the bus to and from work, arrogant young-20-something I was, I felt that dumb. I just felt wholly unqualified to read it. But as for the other two I mentioned? You've actually inspired me to pull them off the shelf and read them again.

What? Finnegan's Wake? Um...waitissomeoneatthedoorgottagobye.