What Are You Reading

Charlie Noodles · Jun 30, 2008

Spiffy said:
Choke (Chuck Palahniuk), finally purchased after reading the first chapter about 6 times in the bookstore, and Watchmen (Alan Moore's graphic novel) because I was informed that I ABSOLUTELY had to read it.

Make sure you pay special attention to the pictures. Often with comics I find I read the text and just glance at the pictures. But there's stuff in the images that they don't spell out in the dialogue.

splatt · Jun 30, 2008

It's a fascinating book Smithy and covers a lot of ground, including the birth of the idea behind the Orient Express and the famous company behind it, the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits which was founded by Georges Nagelmackers.

It also has quite a detailed description of the trains "first trip" which left Paris on October the 4th 1883. Its real first trip was actually on October the 10th 1882, but this trip in 1883 was made a real PR coup by Nagelmackers having invited two of the periods most famous journalists; Edmond About and Henri Opper de Blowitz.

The books is full of great stuff and is really worth reading...though i'm pretty sure it has been out of print for a few years now

Kishtu · Jun 30, 2008

LocktownDog said:
Couldn't agree more! O'Brian deserves so much more than to have that boorish cretin play Aubrey. The rest of the casting was fine, but Crowe's demeanor just irritated me. Not at all what I've read into the character. Meanwhile I thought the A&E productions of the Hornblower films were cast pretty well with Ioan Gruffudd in the lead role. But that character was meant to start out young and a bit inexperienced. That was the point. Aubrey should have been cast as a more calculating and dynamic leader.

Afraid I haven;t seen the "Hornblower" series Locktown, but to me Aubrey is more of an "English Rose" physically as well - I always picture someone in the Boris Johnson school of appearance. (Big, beefy, fair-haired rugby type)
I couldn't help but feel they'd tried to pretty it up a bit. Tom Pullings' scar being (as Preserved Killick would say

) by way of a case in point - in the books he's fairly comprehensively scarred, what has he got in the film, a little cosmetic stripe across the eyebrow.

What's your take on the Bolitho books?

Herr Hitman · Jul 1, 2008

Lancealot said:
I just started the Dresden FIles by Jim Butcher. Kind of Sam SPade meets Harry Potter. A rather enjoyable bit of fluff.

I have heard this was pretty good.

Herr Hitman · Jul 1, 2008

I am reading the Camolud Chronicles by Jack White. A good historical fiction series for Roman/Dark age nerds.

positivelypinup · Jul 1, 2008

I'm currently reading the Sewing Circle. Its about women from golden age hollywood who loved other women. It is quite interesting.

hepkitten · Jul 1, 2008

A Suitable Boy, by Vikram Seth. 300 pages in, just over 1/5 done. Unlike when I read War and Peace, I'm having no trouble keeping the dozens of characters straight. Not sure how the author manages that, but it's brilliant. Even better, there's not been a single uninteresting page so far. Magnificent. I'm in love.

AmateisGal · Jul 2, 2008

The Man Who Flew the Memphis Belle: Memoir of a WWII Bomber Pilot by Robert Morgan. Started it last night and just love it.

sixsexsix · Jul 2, 2008

Moonfleet by Falkner - I found it in a FREE box on someones front yard

Jack Scorpion · Jul 2, 2008

Spiffy said:
Choke (Chuck Palahniuk), finally purchased after reading the first chapter about 6 times in the bookstore, and Watchmen (Alan Moore's graphic novel) because I was informed that I ABSOLUTELY had to read it.

The first half of the comic book is spectacular. I withhold comment on the second half.

I'd love to name a pet 'Rorschach,' but my childhood Great Dane was already named that. Now I have to name a pet THE COMEDIAN.

Darhling · Jul 2, 2008

The Authoritative Calvin & Hobbes Collection .. heavy stuff.

byronic · Jul 2, 2008

'Agent Zigzag' by ben macintyre, if it were fiction i would dismiss it as unbelievable tosh, but it's fact. the true story of eddie chapman, a safe-breaker turned double agent in the second world war, complete with femme fatales, cyanide capsules and bombs disguised as lumps of coal- what more could one ask for in a book?

AmateisGal · Jul 3, 2008

byronic said:
'Agent Zigzag' by ben macintyre, if it were fiction i would dismiss it as unbelievable tosh, but it's fact. the true story of eddie chapman, a safe-breaker turned double agent in the second world war, complete with femme fatales, cyanide capsules and bombs disguised as lumps of coal- what more could one ask for in a book?

When I saw this book, I immediately wanted to snatch it up, but didn't at the time. I'm anxious to hear what you think of it.

AmateisGal · Jul 3, 2008

Darhling said:
The Authoritative Calvin & Hobbes Collection .. heavy stuff.

I was SOOOO disappointed when the creator of this cartoon series announced his retirement. Calvin & Hobbes is utterly brilliant - I think it's one of the best comics ever.

Ok. End of gushing.

Spiffy · Jul 3, 2008

Jack Scorpion said:
I'd love to name a pet 'Rorschach,' but my childhood Great Dane was already named that. Now I have to name a pet THE COMEDIAN.

I was reading something else and a character said "Don't be such a Mr. Rochester," and in my post-Watchmen excitement I thought it read "Mr Rorschach."
But seriously, I put Watchmen down feeling like I had read a 500 page novel, there was just that much story. Now I'm going to be worried about the film instead of anticipating it.

This weekend: (I've been off since noon, so my holiday starts today)
Fearless Fourteen, Janet Evanovich:I don't know, this time around, everyone's 'amusing' antics just aren't that funny to me. I wish there would just be a conclusion to something, instead of the same character arc in every novel...
Choke, Chuck Palahniuk: Still plugging away at it. My book stack is so big that I'm just trying to finish the books I've already read most of, and I'm only about 10 pages into this....
Paint It Black, Janet Finch: Beautifully sad book about 80's L.A., how we remember the dead, and full of sweetly painful descriptions. I can't read it on my lunch break because it makes me moody, unfortunately.

Alucard73 · Jul 3, 2008

Don't Stop the Carnival by H. Wouk. I usually save this one for when I am in the Caymans. I could not wait this year. Very good book.

Maguire · Jul 3, 2008

For My Legionaries, by Corneliu Zelea Codreanu.

Quite a crazy book but definitely fascinating, it documents his rise from student protestor to being the leader of the Romanian nationalist Iron Guard in the turmoil following WWII. I like his writing style more than of Mussolini as he wrote with more a sense of urgency and passion, the kind of writing of a man still on the "frontlines" so to speak, while Mussolini's style is indulgent and frilly, the kind of work i'd expect from one who'd already succeeded in taking power and can comfortably reflect and consider every sentence. after this i'll finally hit up Sayyid Qutb's writings (Milestones), and the Holy Qu'ran which i've been meaning to read since last fall and am quite desirous to read.

Herr Hitman · Jul 3, 2008

Darhling said:
The Authoritative Calvin & Hobbes Collection .. heavy stuff.

Good stuff!

vonwotan · Jul 3, 2008

A Taste for Death by Peter O'Donnell. The fourth in the Modesty Blaise Series.

I keep hoping that Tarantino will follow through to make these into movies or sell the rights to someone who will. I loved these books growing up and enjoyed the short film, My Name is Modesty, that he shot in order to keep the rights...

Beowulf67 · Jul 3, 2008

Darhling said:
The Authoritative Calvin & Hobbes Collection .. heavy stuff.

I read something once about how C&H are used in philosophy classes to explain the concepts.
Along with "Groundhog Day."

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