Now reading...

[BillF]

Well, that looks like a good 'un!

Edited January 31, 2010 by BillF

[jazzbo]

Oh yes, I love me some Cordwainer Smith. Fascinating writer.

I've read about 75% of these stories decades ago. This is a nice collection that includes everything except the brilliant novel "Norstrilia."

I'll probably read a third of this collection this time round and save the rest for later enjoyment.

Edited January 30, 2010 by jazzbo

[carnivore]

Still reading......'Against the Day' Thomas Pynchon. (Getting there)

[Teasing the Korean]

One of my alltime favorite things is to be in the middle of one of his novels.

Completely agree. I feel like I'm right there, and I never want the stories to end.

[A Lark Ascending]

The second of Steinhauer's Cold War thrillers set in an imaginary East European communist state. Set in 1956 around the time of the mid-50s Thaw and the Hungarian Uprising. A complex murder mystery set in a bleak landscape of surveillance, political arrests, brutal work camps and sudden rehabilitation. Very impressive.

Will work my way through his other books.

[WorldB3]

A Romance on Three Legs: Glenn Gould's Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Piano

Wonderful so far, the review of it being the Seabiscut of music books is spot on. Jim, as your a piano tuner you will love this. Also for fans of Glen Gould or just those who can appreciate the history and the art of what goes into the making/sound of a great piano.

[Van Basten II]

Michel Folco's latest.

Don't know if the fellow has been translated in english, are they frenchies here who are digging his stuff ?

[jlhoots]

John Burdett: The Godfather Of Kathmandu

[BillF]

Now moved on to the third novel in Asimov's Robot series, The Robots of Dawn.

[jazzbo]

[ghost of miles]

Edward Anderson's Hungry Men, a 1935 novel about hoboing during the Depression. Anderson went on to write Thieves Like Us, which I'll probably finally get around to reading after I finish Hungry Men.

[porcy62]

Mark Twain's Roughing It, great book, full of humor and wit. In these days of global communication networks, reading such books of travel literature, an admittely 'obsolete' genre, it makes me wonder if we didn't miss something in this world of overwhelming information.

[A Lark Ascending]

Some extraordinary stories in this. Makes me feel very lucky to be living where I am, when I am.

Smiled at this bit last night:

Miriam works at a public radio station. Recently, she was asked to make a program on Ostalgie parties where if you show an East German ID you get in for free, everyone calls one another 'Comrade' and the beer is only DM 1.30.

She says, 'Things like this feed into a crazy nostalgia for the GDR as if it had been a harmless welfare state that looked after people's needs. Most of the people at these parties are too young to remember the GDR anyway. They are just looking for something to yearn for.'

Made me think of some jazz fans. And some musicians!

Edited February 10, 2010 by Bev Stapleton

[jostber]

Just read this by Niccolo Ammaniti, great book!

http://www.bookbrowse.com/bb_briefs/detail/index.cfm/ezine_preview_number/4245/As-God-Commands

Now reading:

[Matthew]

Mark Twain's Roughing It, great book, full of humor and wit. In these days of global communication networks, reading such books of travel literature, an admittely 'obsolete' genre, it makes me wonder if we didn't miss something in this world of overwhelming information.

After I read Roughing It, I'm always tempted to jump in my car and recreate the journey (that would be a good idea for a book also!).

[paul secor]

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby

[sal]

I recently read Douglas Coupland's "Life After God" and Hari Kunzru's "My Revolutions". Both were very solid reads, yet neither felt completely satisfying. After I'm done getting through these Dexter DVDs, I'm going to pick up some Murakami or some Philip K. Dick.

[Matthew]

The Collect Stories of Lydia Davis. Heard some good and bad things about this book, even though the New York Times had a rave review. I must say that I'm very impressed (and I'm only 150 pages in) by Davis, as in this book you can see her experimenting with the short story form, and succeeding. Highly recommended to short story fans -- heck, to anyone who likes good writing.

edit for grammar & spelling.

I'm finding that these stories contain a great sense of isolation, with the characters locked inside their heads, and have no ability to reach out and connect with others. Short stories of isolation, yet of people wondering how to break out of that loneliness. Kind of a downer in some ways, but I'm 2/3 the way through, so I'll keep on going -- supposedly the last collection of stories in this book is very good.

Edited February 14, 2010 by Matthew

[BruceH]

Excellent collection of his stories, supplanted the old Ballantine "Best of-" which for many years was the go-to Cordwainer Smith collection.

[jazzbo]

To Ballantine's credit, they also had several other collections out at least one of which simultaneously, and between them all nearly all the stories were in print.

There's also a few softcver collections out now that get them all out there.

Amazing stories. I read about a third of this book and then set it aside so I can extend the pleasure. I love the tone of his writing, the humor and the love, the color and the cleverness.(I've previously read almost all the stories at least once).

Edited February 16, 2010 by jazzbo

[gslade]

Just been killin time with Stephen King's Under the Dome

been sick for about a week and down with some kind of primordial flu

This was a good call, no thought required for a tired mind

Been awhile since I've read any King, This one has been fun so far

about 450 pages in

[Harold_Z]

Borges giving a lecture may be one of the best ways to encounter Borges. Absolutely terrific.

[jlhoots]

Jeannette Walls: The Glass Castle

Edited February 16, 2010 by jlhoots

[Van Basten II]

[pasta]

"Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded"- John Scalzi