The Book thread...

deviant · Post by **deviant** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:26 pm

Neal Stephenson pwns

youthful_implants · Post by **youthful_implants** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:41 pm

definitely.

the diamond age is one of my favourite ever books.

I even did a mix inspired by it, a long time after the event of reading it, I should add

apophenian · Post by **apophenian** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:56 pm

Yeah, loved snow crash, diamond age and cryptonomicon, but found the baroque cycle a bit hard to get into...

@MILCO@ · Post by **@MILCO@** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:32 pm

half way thru "the glass palace" by Amitav Ghosh, pretty good book i am enjoying it, possible suggested read?

Fents · Post by **Fents** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:18 am

Just finsished "Dead man running" by Ross Coulthart and Duncan McNab.

Its about a bloke Steven Utah who became a meth cook amongst other things for the bandido's outlaw motorycycle gang then infiltrated them. True story, its a good read.

fikuss · Post by **fikuss** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:48 am

I read two books in the first month or so when I was overseas... was absolutely stoked (haven't read much in the last few years other than work and internetz forumz)

"In Cold Blood" - Truman Capote
Was a really good read. Tale of a nasty murder in a small town. Gripping. Horrifying. But gripping none-the-less.

"Stasiland" - Anna Funder
True stories from behind the Berlin wall. About how the Berlin wall and the Stasi in Communist East-Germany effected a bunch of people... was also spot on. Some amazing personal stories of survival, resistance and hope during a pretty dark time in many East-German's lives.

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 10:01 am

Fents wrote:Just finsished "Dead man running" by Ross Coulthart and Duncan McNab.

Its about a bloke Steven Utah who became a meth cook amongst other things for the bandido's outlaw motorycycle gang then infiltrated them. True story, its a good read.

Read that a couple of weeks back mate... wasn't overly impressed to be honest.

Some interesting anecdotes, but not written that well IMO.

Check out a book called, 'The Brotherhood' - much better book on the bikies, can't remember the author's name... I'll check it at home.

Just about finished 'The Old Man and the Sea' by Hemingway... nice, easy, entertaining read.

Fents · Post by **Fents** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 10:37 am

sure you dont mean "brothers in arms"? if so i've read it, its ok, if its not the one link me up as i just searched and found zip, or just throw me your copy.

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 10:40 am

Hmmm... yeah, can't find anything online either.

Pretty sure it's called The Brotherhood. It's by the only trusted mediator between the bikie gangs and the bikies. He's the bloke who negotiated the massive stand off between the cops and bikies that time a couple of years back when masses of them came across from Tassie and were going for a big ride through Vic, to SA - I think.

I'll check it out tonight mate.

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 10:41 am

Here it is: http://www.amazon.ca/Brotherhoods-Insid ... 1865086983

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 10:45 am

apophenian wrote:Yeah, loved snow crash, diamond age and cryptonomicon, but found the baroque cycle a bit hard to get into...

snow crash is my favorite book of all time in cyber/sci fi genre.
i havent read the diamond age. will go get it today.

he did a range of books in collaboration with some other dudes, they were more military type stories.
i ordered a couple online and they were SHIT. so boring!!! so straight up military and predictable!

cryptonomicon i have read twice and still got a tiny bit lost. i love it but the jargon is too much sometimes, takes way from the story for me. im sure ill read it a few more times in my life.

is the baroque cycle MORE jargon-y? whats it about?

i just finished 'the boat' by Nam Le.
five out of five stars guys.
AMAZING stories, just so well written, characters that jump off the page at you etc. If you write yourself this is a mind blowing book, he's one of those writers who debuts with a book like this and you go
'thats it, im never writing again' cause he's so good.

yay books.

Fents · Post by **Fents** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:58 am

can i borrow yours direkt really cbf forking out $$$ for it.

also you should check Hells Angels by Hunter S Thompson (yep the real hunter s), now theres a very well written OMCG book.

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 12:13 pm

Sure you can borrow it mate.

Only problem will be getting it to ya.

Yeah don't think I've read the Hunter S. Thompson one, got a few of his books - but not that infamous one.

Post by **system** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:40 pm

apophenian wrote:
system wrote:finishing neal stephenson's "anathem" atm.
Yeah just started it - did you like it?

it had its moments.

ghetto kitty wrote:is the baroque cycle MORE jargon-y? whats it about?

it's a fictionalised account of the restoration period in english/european history (~1700AD). plenty of swashbuckling daring do, but a lot of science too. the last book is better than the second, and the second is better than the first.

youthful_implants · Post by **youthful_implants** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:41 pm

ghetto kitty wrote:
apophenian wrote:Yeah, loved snow crash, diamond age and cryptonomicon, but found the baroque cycle a bit hard to get into...
snow crash is my favorite book of all time in cyber/sci fi genre.
i havent read the diamond age. will go get it today

If you like that you would also like Jeff Noon.

This debut novel of his is ace, but he has done many. Hyper-visual UK sci-fi.

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:58 pm

yes, i LOVE JEFF NOON.

have read most of his stuff.

black feathers FTW!

C.I.A. · Post by **C.I.A.** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 2:09 pm

I have almost finished Jasper Fforde's "The Eyre Affair".

I am one chapter from the end and I just can't be arsed. I felt like I was trying to like his book as I read it, and this feeling never subsided. I only picked it up cos it was on some dumb 'best books ever' list and I haven't read anything written after 1930 (with the exception of Terry Pratchet (NEEERRRRD)) in about 5 years.

His published books include a series of novels starring the literary detective Thursday Next: The Eyre Affair, Lost in a Good Book, The Well of Lost Plots, Something Rotten, and First Among Sequels. The Eyre Affair had received 76 publisher rejections before its eventual acceptance for publication.[3] Fforde won the Wodehouse prize for comic fiction in 2004 for The Well of Lost Plots.[4]

The Big Over Easy (2005), which shares a similar setting with the Next novels, is a reworking of his first written novel, which initially failed to find a publisher. Its original title was Who Killed Humpty Dumpty?[5], and later had the working title of Nursery Crime, which is the title now used to refer to this series of books. These books describe the investigations of DCI Jack Spratt. The follow-up to The Big Over Easy, The Fourth Bear, was published in July 2006 and focuses on Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Fforde's books are noted for their profusion of literary allusions and wordplay, tightly scripted plots, and playfulness with the conventions of traditional genres. His works usually contain various elements of metafiction, parody, and fantasy. None of his books have a chapter 13.

The review on Wikipedia should say something about his writing being as exciting and rewarding as premature ejaculation.

Anyone like this guy? How did you do it? Numbing cream? Australian Sex Clinic nasal delivery technology?

Post by **system** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 5:37 pm

^ tried to finish one of the fforde books on a plane a year or so ago. couldn't do it! seriously naff from cover to cover.

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 1:07 pm

I'm slowly getting through Off the Rails in Phnom Penh by Amit Gilboa.
Intersting accoutn of dodgy politics, opportunistic Westerners and general corruption in Cambodia. The writing isn't very sharp, too many quotes or 'accounts' from over heard conversations.

gnat · Post by **gnat** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:59 pm

reading this. undecided

witty_pseudonym · Post by **witty_pseudonym** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 4:31 pm

midnights children = amazement. an absolute must read for everyone.
looking forward to shame

next on the list...the carpet wars by christopher kremmer and development as freedom, by amartya sen to get me hyped about masters.

youthful_implants · Post by **youthful_implants** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:21 am

reading this at the moment. its deep.

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:23 am

witty_pseudonym wrote:midnights children = amazement. an absolute must read for everyone.

no WAY! i bought this book today! looking forward to it....meaty!

and the dice man by luke rhinehart...

Brain · Post by **Brain** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:51 am

ooooh the dice man! You'll be rolling dice and doing crazy shit before you know it.

Almost finished John Birmingham's new one Without Warning - a rollicking romantic tale about what would happen to the world if everyone in the US was suddenly killed. Pretty goddamn grim. Be interesting to see how he winds it up although I smell a sequel already.

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 1:26 pm

ghetto kitty wrote: the dice man by luke rhinehart...

could not for Diceman. Reeks of pretension... and it comes across sooo fake.
I don't believe the plot, and serioulsy doubt this is based on real events. Major FA1L IMO.

Just finished Off the Rails in Phnom Penh by Amit Gilboa. Was okay, but too much 2nd person context. Live a little you lame fucker, if your' gonna go to a brothel and write about other peoples experiences, why not get laid yourself?

Nearly finished Snuff by Chuck Polowski - Farken good read.

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 1:30 pm

dice man > is it supposed to be based on real events?

few chapters in, find it kind of funny that he said 'if its a one im gonna go downstairs and rape her"
then goes downstairs, says 'im gonna rape you now' and she lets him?!
and not even much exploration of WHY, why he decided that, why she let him, why he thinks thats a sign he should roll the die more often ?

will persevere tho.

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 1:34 pm

ghetto kitty wrote:dice man > is it supposed to be based on real events?

few chapters in, find it kind of funny that he said 'if its a one im gonna go downstairs and rape her"
then goes downstairs, says 'im gonna rape you now' and she lets him?!
and not even much exploration of WHY, why he decided that, why she let him, why he thinks thats a sign he should roll the die more often ?

will persevere tho.

That's the problem with the book. He puts real choices on the dice, like things he can justify if he rolls them. WTF. I found it quite bollocksy and the type of people who liked it don't appear to be the type of people who take risks everyday.
Be interested in your opinion GK, I'm not goinna ruin it for you the interwebs.

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 1:40 pm

HAHAHAHHAHAHA

well i take risks. without a die.

i may die trying tho

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:07 pm

Love your work GK.
I haz some good recomendations, but you always seem to have a myriad of reading material.
My bookcase let me show you!

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:22 pm

i usually have a few on the go at once...
my speed reading let me show you.

next time will ask teh blax what to buy

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 1:30 pm

I always have a few on the go, especially cause I prefer somethign that I can come back to and ctach up easily for Public Transport.
Just finished the Chuck Palaniuk number "'Snuff" - was a good, easy ready with a wikkid plot.

gnat · Post by **gnat** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:01 pm

i am currently enamoured with the library. it's so ace, smells like old books, new mad titles for FREE for three weeks and hotties

most excellent. sometimes i go even when i already have 12 books out lol

Post by **huge** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:11 pm

im reading David Sedaris new one, When You Are Engulfed in Flames . its pretty lolz.

spazz · Post by **spazz** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 11:22 am

Fents wrote:can i borrow yours direkt really cbf forking out $$$ for it.

also you should check Hells Angels by Hunter S Thompson (yep the real hunter s), now theres a very well written OMCG book.

Isnt it called something else? The Motorcycle Diaries? If so that is a top book - that guy was a genius.

apophenian wrote:Yeah, loved snow crash, diamond age and cryptonomicon, but found the baroque cycle a bit hard to get into...

Agreed. Snow crash esp was awesome. Didnt like the baroque stuff at all.

ghetto kitty wrote:
witty_pseudonym wrote:midnights children = amazement. an absolute must read for everyone.

no WAY! i bought this book today! looking forward to it....meaty!
and the dice man by luke rhinehart...

Both of these are great. Rushdie peaked with Midnights Children. Outstanding book

For a fantasy edge - Highly recommend "The Name of the Wind" - Patrick Rothfuss

For a mindfuck - "House of Leaves"

But for the most mindblowing books would recommend anything by sci-fi guy Greg Egan. Cant remember the title but in one book he reinvents the fundamental laws of physics. Diaspora is a good one.

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 11:50 am

okay diceman is shitting me and inspiring me page by page.

and spazz > house of leaves!!!
ive never met anyone else who has read this book.
i have it, but have not read all of it as its too heavy, as in physically heavy for me to read in bed.

LOVE it tho, best concept for a novel ever.
whole pages with circular text, entire bits with only one word a page,
one main story and another in the footnotes...

fucking genius!

Fents · Post by **Fents** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 12:01 pm

Spazz if its the hunter s one your talking about then nope its just called Hells Angels.

quiet roar · Post by **quiet roar** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 1:41 pm

Recent Highlights that haven't been mentioned:

Good to Be God - Tibor Fischer
Kafka On the Shore - Murakami
Bad Monkeys - Matt Ruff
The End of Mr Y - Thomas Scarlett

A little on the quirky side but really good novels.

And one that was mentioned once (Good call Huge!) but is just so damn good, it needs to be mentioned again:
The Boat - Collection of short stories by local lad, Nam Le.

And lastly, the Pulitzer winner "The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Juniot Diaz is also a great read.

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 1:57 pm

quiet roar wrote: And one that was mentioned once (Good call Huge!) but is just so damn good, it needs to be mentioned again:
The Boat - Collection of short stories by local lad, Nam Le.

me, me too! i reccomended it to everyone a page or so back! LOVED it.
waiting for his next one now...

i like murakami too, but yes, kind of off beat sometimes..

mrj · Post by **mrj** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 2:27 pm

i need to read Kafka on the shore badly - nice one qr

apophenian · Post by **apophenian** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 12:47 pm

I am just about to start Ulysses by James Joyce. I anticipate that this may take me multiple attempts and possibly many months.

Wish me luck.

witty_pseudonym · Post by **witty_pseudonym** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:54 am

I'm really keen to reade The White Tiger that won the Booker recently.
I could be happy to just read Indian fiction tbh.

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:37 am

Fents wrote:Spazz if its the hunter s one your talking about then nope its just called Hells Angels.

Yeah Motorcycles Diaries is Che Guevara, and it beautifully written.

stovequeen · Post by **stovequeen** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 8:43 am

I'm reading this at the moment. Not my usual style of book, but really enjoying it none the less.

nic · Post by **nic** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 9:50 am

this is good as well

nic · Post by **nic** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 9:52 am

also

and

good light reading, about as much as i can handle when it comes to looking at paper tbh

witty_pseudonym · Post by **witty_pseudonym** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 9:56 am

this book is bloody tops farken.
read it.

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:24 am

Have gone through a few Hemingway's recently (books, not drinks)...

The Old Man and the Sea - awesome novel, great story-telling.
The Sun Also Rises - decent book.
For Whom The Bell Tolls - struggling. Too much rambling.

I LOVE a good novel. The art of story-telling is what books are to me.

Tim Winton would be my most favourite.

witty_pseudonym · Post by **witty_pseudonym** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:30 am

you should read Salman Rushdie.
now -that- is storytelling in its most incredible form.
forget your basic linear narrative, his stories and character are woven in and out of each other and written in the most evocative and beautiful language. in many ways his books are a redefinition of the English language and how we tell stories.
lol. can you tell i'm a fan?

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:36 am

I certainly can.

I'll check him out, thanks WP.

Post by **huge** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:57 am

halfway thru this.

its rad.

wish i knew more spanish hah.