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01-18-2008, 01:29 PM | #466 |
In Search of a Life
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Finished Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. My main problem with this book is that it has three different types of writing in it. One is the protagonist writing his novel. Another is letters to the protagonist from the protagonist's Ukranian translator. The final is the Ukranian translator trying to tell the story of the events that took place between he and the protagonist. The book alternates chapters methodically, rotating between these two authors and genres. The problem with the book is that I loved two of the chapter types (the two by the Ukranian translator), but I hated the third (the novel by the protagonist). Interesting book, regardless, especially for people who enjoy the English language. The Ukranian translator has an interesting command of the English language and is obviously heavily reliant on a thesaurus, making for some good humor.
I've now started The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. It's very readable. My main problem with it is that it's a memoir. I'm really starting to hate this genre because, to me, the genre has turned into fiction based on the author's life. Authors have been drawing on life experience to write for years. Suddenly, though, memoir becomes a hot marketing tool and lends some authenticity to the writing or some such nonsense, so everyone labels their work a "memoir" when it's completely obvious that the author has played around with the actual events.
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In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. - H. L. Mencken Last edited by NewChief; 01-18-2008 at 01:43 PM.. |
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01-18-2008, 01:36 PM | #467 |
oxymoron
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I've ended up reading Philip José Farmer's 'Riverworld' series. About finished with The Magic Labyrinth, the fourth, and then it's on to the fifth and final book, (The) Gods of Riverworld.
It's pretty interesting, although there are times he really drones on with character reflection. |
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01-18-2008, 01:56 PM | #468 |
Seeking the Truth daily
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Just finished "The Huntley"...Civil War submarine History and recovery, currently in a bio of Sherman and another on Alexander Hamilton.
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“Make no mistake. If you try anything to raise the cost of vishessavatubs, I will veto it.” - Joe Biden, SOTU 2023 |
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01-28-2008, 08:20 PM | #469 |
oxymoron
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Just finished Duma Key, Stephen King's latest. I think it's one of his best.
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01-28-2008, 09:52 PM | #470 |
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Following Chiefs Planet recommendations, I just finishedThe Blind Side . Excellent book. I thank those of you who suggested it and suggest it to those of you who haven't read it. Very interesting, and on so many levels.
Just started No Country for Old Men. I was sucked in right away. I think Cormac McCarthy will be landing on my favorite writers list. Why did I know nothing about him before now? Guess I wasn't paying attention. |
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01-28-2008, 09:53 PM | #471 |
MVP
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Bobby Fischer goes to war
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Good Time Charlie, Uncle Doobie and the Great Frisco Freakout. |
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01-28-2008, 10:09 PM | #472 |
MY LITTLE #15
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Playing For Pizza
John Grisham |
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01-28-2008, 10:31 PM | #473 |
PEW PEW
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I'm working through the third Takeshi Kovacs novel, Woken Furries by Richard Morgan. Altered Carbon and Broken Angels were the first two. The world is kind of like a Blade Runner/Neuromancer hybrid with cloning, gene splicing and digital consciousnesses and the stories (especially the first) are very noir-ish. Altered Carbon makes me think Chinatown meets Blade Runner. Kinda.
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4. Performance enhancing drugs: A) are my ticket to the Hall of Fame. B) would be better if they tasted like fruit and were shaped like various Flintstones characters. C) are not for me, because I find that cocaine aids my performance much more effectively. D) apparently worked for Rodney Harrison. |
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01-28-2008, 10:34 PM | #474 |
Eat/Sleep/Procrastinate/Repeat
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"In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollan was wonderful.
I've discovered the very talented Steve Almond. His nonfiction book, "Candyfreak," is a cool look at the inner workings of both the regional candy buisness and the mind of the candy-obsessed. His latest book is a collection of essays titled "(Not That You Asked)," and it rules. Almond is both very funny, and a consummate craftsman of the language. |
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01-28-2008, 10:49 PM | #475 | |
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Quote:
Just read a description, sounds good, I'll check it out. Thank you. |
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01-28-2008, 10:50 PM | #476 | |
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Quote:
My favorite book of his is Blood Meridian. Its inspired by a real group of U.S. army guys who were hired by Mexicans to kill Apaches in 1800's. Very brutal and the entire book is really bleak, but I suspect if you like No Country, you'll appreciate this as well.
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Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes, well, he eats you. |
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01-28-2008, 11:31 PM | #477 | |
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Thank you, I'll check it out. That sounds like something I'd enjoy. I received quite a few books for Christmas this year and then I bought myself some books and on top of that I've been given a bunch of recommendations. Maybe by this time next year I'll be caught up. If nothing else. perhaps my brain will be bigger. |
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01-28-2008, 11:37 PM | #478 |
Feelin' Alright
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Any good recommendations on a look into Evolution? (Aside from Origin of the Species)
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01-28-2008, 11:45 PM | #479 | |
Eat/Sleep/Procrastinate/Repeat
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Quote:
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01-28-2008, 11:57 PM | #480 | |
fides quaerens intellectum
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Quote:
2. The Third Chimpanzee - Jarod Diamond 3. The Phenomenon of Man - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin 4. The Making of the Fittest - Sean Carroll |
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