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Post by Professor Freeman on Jul 31, 2009 8:26:10 GMT -6
I figure we're all book-loving types, so lets talk about the stuff we're currently reading! Or give recommendations for books, etc etc.
I'm currently reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman. ;D
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Post by Professor Paigi on Jul 31, 2009 8:34:07 GMT -6
How are you liking American Gods, Lia? I've been told I should read more stuff by Neil Gaiman since the only book of his I've read is Stardust, ha. Anyways, at the moment I'm reading The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, nearly finished, and I'm liking it, it's a great read. I think background knowledge on the Spanish Civil War, Franco etc. would probably help me to appreciate it more since it's set after the war and it's naturally a large part of understanding the setting of the book though it's still a really interesting read, even without that knowledge. I have a stack of books that I've bought over the past couple of months and really need to get around to reading while I have time to do absolutely nothing all day and not feel guilty about it... should really get around to reading those.
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Post by Raymond Bennett on Jul 31, 2009 10:03:30 GMT -6
I was going to buy American Gods the other day but then I figured buying lunch would probably be more favourable seeing as I was working all day!
At the moment Im reading Harry Potter & The Order of The Phoenix by JK Rowling again, its truly amazing how much of the little details you forget! Its just making me fall back into love with the whole Potterverse again, honestly...I read the bits about Sirius and I swoon. SWOON!!
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Post by Professor LeMire on Jul 31, 2009 19:06:58 GMT -6
I have been thinking about reading some of Neil Gaiman's books but for a really sad fact. Because he is dating Amanda of the Dresden Dolls and that is how I heard of his name XD.
Right now I have a really big stack from the library but I have started on The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. I have to say there is a very good possibility I might not finish that one. It is written (is that a word? XD ironic) decently but not really my style from what I have read so far. The other book I started on yesterday and I am liking much more is The House on Fortune Street by Margot Livesey.
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Post by Professor Paigi on Aug 6, 2009 17:08:03 GMT -6
Well I finished Shadow of the Wind and it was really good, I really enjoyed the conclusion of the story and felt it finished it all off nicely. Now I'm onto the book I'll be studying at school for my next set of exams which is Wuthering Heights. I have to say it's one of those books that I vaguely am aware of the plot and characters but never really knew in much detail (much like Pride and Prejudice, Dracula, stuff like that)... it's like I knew the cultural references we now have because of it, but don't know about it if you get me? I have to say I'm not impressed so far, it's not gripping me immediately but there's something about it so I'm going to stick with it.
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Post by Professor Freeman on Sept 6, 2009 20:56:05 GMT -6
How are you liking American Gods, Lia? I've been told I should read more stuff by Neil Gaiman since the only book of his I've read is Stardust, ha. I thought I should post again, as I'm now finished with American Gods! I LOVED it. Neil Gaiman is pretty great in general -- the book he wrote with Terry Pratchett, Good Omens, is one of my all-time favorites. So, next on the book agenda! I wanted to read more Chuck Palahniuk, but his books are always checked out from the library, hmft. So I'll most likely read one of the many books I inexplicably have in my possession despite never having read, ha.
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Post by Harry Armitage on Sept 7, 2009 13:09:35 GMT -6
Aaah I am so with you on the wanting-to-read Chuck Palahniuk, so many people have told me to read his stuff. I read Fight Club, purely because I loved the film, and thought that was pretty great so I'm sure I'll love his other stuff more because I don't know the story before reading them. Right well, update on my part is that... Wuthering Heights bored me so much, it confused me a bit (it's the similar names, a family tree would definitely help me when reading it) so I gave up and I'm halfway through it. Thing is, sooner or later I have to read it anyway because I sort of need to read it several times because it's the exam text this year for English Lit. :S I bought some of those 'classics' too, so I have Picture of Dorian Gray, Tess of the D'urbevilles, Hard Times, Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, Moby Dick, Frankenstein etc. to read. To be honest, the pile of books I've bought to read but never got round to is higher than the pile of books I've bought and actually read. Oh dear, I am not a very good English student, am I?
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Post by Fiona Hathaway on Sept 7, 2009 13:48:31 GMT -6
Funnily enough I recently picked up American Gods, but haven't got around to reading it yet! Aah, the classics, I've read most of those, not Picture of Dorian Gray though, I really should read that one. Really, everyone else I know loved Wuthering Heights, but I didn't fancy it that much either. I really need a book list, anyone want to volunteer an excrusiatingly long list that will take me months or years even to get through? hehe.
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Post by Martin Moss on Sept 7, 2009 14:19:06 GMT -6
Right well, update on my part is that... Wuthering Heights bored me so much, it confused me a bit (it's the similar names, a family tree would definitely help me when reading it) so I gave up and I'm halfway through it. Thing is, sooner or later I have to read it anyway because I sort of need to read it several times because it's the exam text this year for English Lit. :S That's how I felt about One Hundred Years of Solitude. The whole family stuff got too confusing and I eventually just gave up. I haven't read many of those classics, but then again, I'm not studying English. The Picture of Dorian Gray is excellent, though! As far as the classic, forced-to-read-in-school type of books go, I liked The Catcher in the Rye best (I'm a sucker for teen angst!). But these days, I'm mostly free to indulge my love for graphic novels, dramariffic young adult stuff, crappy fantasy, good fantasy, etc. etc.
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Post by Rebecca Barnes on Sept 7, 2009 14:54:08 GMT -6
Ooo I loved The Catcher in the Rye! Excellent book! And yes I'm a fan of novels with teen angst as well! I will absolutely check out The Picture of Dorian Gray. I really want to read something funny too, maybe I should reread Bridget Jone's Diary again, though I'd rather like something new. Any ideas?
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Post by Harry Armitage on Sept 7, 2009 15:02:19 GMT -6
From what I have read of Dorian Gray (66 pages, haha), it's amazing and I love it, hehe. I really want to see the film being released soon with Ben Barnes and Colin Firth too... anyways... I definitely recommend checking it out. Also, I say yes to rereading Bridget Jones' Diary, it's so much fun! Have you read the sequel to it? I haven't but I've seen the film and really should get around to reading it really, it's not like it's a hard book to read! For recs, if you're looking for more classical stuff then I loved North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (it's compared to P&P a bit)... it's a great book, stick with it and it's gorgeous. You've read Austen haven't you, Cara? If you haven't I totally recommend Persuasion, for me the letter from Captain Wentworth to Anne Elliot is beautiful and sums it up, I really loved the book. Dracula is a really good book too, obviously the impact of realising Count Dracula is a vampire is a bit... disappointing because thanks to vampire culture, everyone knows about Dracula anyway, hehe, but it's an amazing book nonetheless, I loved it and once you get into it it's quite an easy and nice read. Nice in the sense of it being good, not nice in the sense of it being happy in any way because, of course, it's not!
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Post by Raymond Bennett on Sept 7, 2009 19:55:02 GMT -6
I want to read Dorian Gray...dont think I ever have and it looks well interesting. I also want to see the film, I must admit I like Bin Bons when he isnt doing a ridic-yule-arse accent (yes, Im looking at you Prince Caspian!) and of course, Colin Firth is pretty much love.
Currently reading Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows (yes, still...Im taking forever) and of course I love it. I just...the way Rowling brings in things she mentioned in passing back in book 1 back into the story...the way she ties it all in together, it amazes me and I LOVE her for it. She's a truly great author. Once I finish it, I havent a clue what I want to read next. I shall have a look and post a potential list and you can vote!
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Post by Ally Bennett on Sept 11, 2009 23:11:12 GMT -6
I just read The Boy Who Kicked Pigs by Tom Baker (yes...Dr Who!!) and totally recommend it to everyone. Its a little morbid but SO intriguing! Its a short story and the artowrk is fabulous. If you like The Melancholy Death of Oysterboy by Tim Burton you will like this. If you havent read The Melancholy Death of Oysterboy by Tim Burton...you should.
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Post by meghanvorpahl on Nov 1, 2009 20:02:08 GMT -6
Aaah I am so with you on the wanting-to-read Chuck Palahniuk, so many people have told me to read his stuff. I read Fight Club, purely because I loved the film, and thought that was pretty great so I'm sure I'll love his other stuff more because I don't know the story before reading them. Sooo I just got Choke from the library; I'll let you know how it is! I have a compulsive need to disturb and horrify myself, and Palahniuk is great in that capacity. See also: Bret Easton Ellis.
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Post by Professor Carlyle on Nov 16, 2009 16:50:41 GMT -6
Haha how was/is Choke then, Lia? I seriously do need to read more Chuck Palahniuk, everyone keeps telling me too haha. Currently I'm reading The Other Boleyn Girl- Philippa Gregory. I don't really know why I decided to pick it up from my school library other than it had Eric Bana on the cover. Me, shallow?! Never! Hehe it's alright so far, I'm about a third of the way through and I'm seeing why some die-hard historians are hating on it and other non-elitist people find it interesting. Not too hard to read though so my kind of book really!
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