What are you reading?

[Crumb]

For some reason I am wasting my time on Crichton's State of Fear. I didn't realize it was his anti-global warming screed when I picked it up in the bargain bin. Oh well I am most of the way through so I will finish it anyways.

[Ymir's blood]

Yesterday, finished up The Sorrows of Young Werther - after taking a hiatus to read some Seventies horror comic compilations - and started The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks.

[pescifish]

Originally Posted by Ymir's blood

... and started The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks.

I accidentally purchased a non science fiction novel a while back through my book club. It's a repackaged crime mystery, written by Nora Roberts under the name J.D.Robb. I read the first 150 pages waiting for the undead zombies, witch, vampire or werewolf involvement. By that time I was enjoying it enough not to care. Born in Death is totally devoid of the supernatural, but it was an entertaining enough pleasure read, so I've ordered a few more in the series.

[godfry n. glad]

[Crumb]

[Ymir's blood]

The Trial by Kafka.

[viscousmemories]

Programming SQL Server 2000, by some geek.

[mountain_hare]

BORRRING.

I'm reading "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. It's fantastic. Perhaps the most entertaining book he's written so far.

[Beth]

The Orion Mystery by Adrian Gilbert and Robert Bauval. It is a fascinating book that talk of the Fourth and Fifth Dynasties of Egypt and how the pyramids actually were built in an expression of worship as part of their star religion.

[BDS]

I'm reading Ulysses, which I've never read or even attempted before.

I've read 5 chapters, and so far it is hardly a page turner. I have hopes for the future, though. Leopold Bloom's journey reminds me of the opening lines of "David Copperfield": "Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show."

Bloom is evidently not forged in the same heroic mold as Odysseus; within the first two chapters of his entry into the book (in chapter 4), we learn that he is an impotent cuckold, whose womanizing is limited to some lonely hearts letters (it seems, although I must read on to see). His wife, far from unweaving her tapestry each night in fidelity to her husband, is meeting with her lover in the afternoon.

So will Leopold Bloom be the hero of his own life, prosaic though it is? Is he a modern, middle class Odysseus, whose everyday adventures share something (who knows what, exactly?) with those of the famous "sacker of cities"?

I guess I'll find out.

[JoeP]

Wait for the kidney, bds. I think that's about as far as I got.

Cross Channel by Julian Barnes

[MooseIBe]

I am halfway through Our Mutual Friend, still on my Dickens readathon. Really good book, am enjoying it as much as David Copperfield or Nick Nick I think.

[BDS]

Originally Posted by JoeP

Wait for the kidney, bds. I think that's about as far as I got.

Cross Channel by Julian Barnes

I'm past (or passed, to indicate the pain of reading) the kidney. I'm reading Ulysses with a group, although one of the 4 members told me, "If the rest of the book is as bad as the first three chapters, I may not make it."

In chapter 4, Molly Bloom asks Poldy what "metempsychosis" (which is in a book she is reading) means. It means "the transmigration of souls". I assume this somehow fortells a theme of reincarnation, where Leopold Bloom represents Odysseus.

I figure if so many people say Ulysses is the Great Novel of the 20th century, there has to be something to it. The only question is whether it is worth the effort to find out.

[Clutch Munny]

Originally Posted by mountain_hare

BORRRING.

I'm reading "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. It's fantastic. Perhaps the most entertaining book he's written so far.

Based on the excerpts I saw online, I bought this book for use as a source of critical thinking examples.

And not in the good way.

Anyhow, I've just read the six books of the (first) Warriors series -- shortish kids' books about some clans of cats in a small forest. My daughter loves them, so I read them to be able to talk with her about them.

(Er... without shouting. )

They were pretty awful, with thin characters and excruciatingly obvious plots. But they did get better as the series progressed. By the last couple of books there was some subtlety and at least a sort of broader narrative catsmology into which the obvious plots were fitted.

I'm glad I read them, for family reasons, but I'm glad to be done too. For literary reasons.

[BDS]

Originally Posted by Clutch Munny

(Er... without shouting. )

.

Good for you!

(Whoops! Sorry about that.)

[Watser?]

Originally Posted by JoeP

Cross Channel by Julian Barnes

Oooh, I loved A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters (I read some others but I liked that one best).

[mountain_hare]

Clutch:

ed on the excerpts I saw online, I bought this book for use as a source of critical thinking examples.

And not in the good way.

What's wrong with Dawkin's logic? I find it impeccable.

[Ymir's blood]

The Gender of Death: A Cultural History in Art and Literature by Karl S. Guthke

[Shelli]

Overcoming Anger: How to Identify It, Stop It, and Live a Healthier Life by Carol D. Jones, Ph.D., M.F.T.

My dog ate half of the front cover and he's not dead, so that's something. (I kid, btw, I would never abuse my animals.)

[Watser?]

[Xorply]

No Bad Dogs: The Woodhouse Way by Barbara Woodhouse

The woman is completely full of herself and if I were to meet her in real life I would probably think she was a bitch, but she's got some smart stuff to say about dogs.

-X

[Veritas]

[Crumb]

Gotta love Vonnegut.

[Veritas]

Can you believe a friend sent five Vonnegut books before Xmas and they've only just arrived?! Over a month to get five paperbacks from England to Dundee.

[Crumb]

I believe it. I never did get my secret santa gift that Lees sent from England.

Currently Reading: