Boobs Boobs Boobs!

[otters~1]

My problem with Lord of the Flies sits largely with a middle chapter. I don't think there is any dialogue, it's just pages and pages of description that ultimately resolves in them finding the... parachutist? at the top of the hill. I don't find the description or the idea pretentious, I just didn't think the description was very good. I found that section rather difficult to understand and it stayed with me as a bad part for the rest of the novel.

I felt that LotF was needlessly obtuse a lot of the time. I also felt that the characterizations and character interactions didn't hold together through the book. And yes, I realize that that was largely the point, but I still didn't like it. Not one of my favorite books, on the whole, but I recognize where it was coming from and where it was trying to go.

I rather think I'll try the other famous novel by whatever his/her name is.

[unoriginal name]

and A Confederate General From Big Sur, by Richard Brautigan.

[SlappyMcGee]

and A Confederate General From Big Sur, by Richard Brautigan.

Sooooooo good, the former.

[Pheidippides]

Sooooooo good, the former.

Agreed. Until I read Once A Runner, this was probably my favorite novel ever. But I'm partial to a story about running, of course, and Parker is a very eloquent writer. Though it's apples to oranges, I suppose: cult-classic versus modern classic. I love them both.

[SlappyMcGee]

Sooooooo good, the former.

Agreed. Until I read Once A Runner, this was probably my favorite novel ever. But I'm partial to a story about running, of course, and Parker is a very eloquent writer. Though it's apples to oranges, I suppose: cult-classic versus modern classic. I love them both.

I find the fact that Metanet has an active running subset to be fucking bizarre.

Huh, I never let everybody know about my booking.

Well, I finished Inherent Vice about three months after I expected because of just being busy. It was, however, among the best books I have ever read. A drug-addled mystery, which, if this doesn't appeal to you, get the fuck out.

And I'm reading Snow Crash right now. I'm about a quarter of the way done; it has been pretty solid.

[Pheidippides]

Sooooooo good, the former.

Agreed. Until I read Once A Runner, this was probably my favorite novel ever. But I'm partial to a story about running, of course, and Parker is a very eloquent writer. Though it's apples to oranges, I suppose: cult-classic versus modern classic. I love them both.

I find the fact that Metanet has an active running subset to be fucking bizarre.

It's not all that surprising, actually. We're mostly distance/cross country runners, and cross country teams across the country (tee-hee) tend to have the highest GPAs among all the teams at their high schools. Metanetters tend to be equally academically inclined, on average. N tends to attract nerds and running tends to attract nerds, so it's really only a matter of overlap.

And I mean "nerds" in the most endearing way possible. ;)

[SlappyMcGee]

And let's not forget that it is a game about running a little black dude off of ramps and shit. There's probably a connection there.

[Pheidippides]

And let's not forget that it is a game about running a little black dude off of ramps and shit. There's probably a connection there.

Well, he does have superb form. ^_^

[Slayr]

I just finished The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind, it was good at first but after awhile it just got repetitive. And while I wait for Dust of Dreams (the ninth malazan book of the fallen series book, by Steven Erikson) I decided to try the Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts. So far its ok, its not great nut its pretty good. The Malazan Book of the Fallen is still definitely the best series ive ever read.

[SlappyMcGee]

I should mention that I finished Snow Crash. I adored the world, but thought the writing was weak at parts. Still, it was occasionally fucking brilliant.

4/5.

Next up is The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

[otters~1]

I read and enjoyed Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness last Saturday. Reminded me of Kafka, except it had an actual ending. Kafka's books never end.

Now I'm reading the new Hitchhiker's Guide book, written by Eoin Colfer, and I'm disappointed as I expected to be. Still, much thanks to Yanni for indirectly reminding me of it's existence.

[unoriginal name]

[otters~1]

Nostromo, The Pickwick Papers, Walden and something by Suetonius. Halfway through all of them.

[noops]

Well, seeing as how I've been grounded for the past week, I've been reading a fuckton. I've come to the conclusion that almost every book by Neil Gaiman, ever, is amazing. With the exception of the noon-graphical version of Stardust.

[Mute Monk]

Cory Doctorow's Little Brother. Although the target audience is a bit below my age, I still found it quite enjoyable.

An added plus, he's Canadian...and he releases most (if not all, I haven't checked his entire repertoire) of his novels under the Creative Commons license. Which is pretty awesome.

[Aldaric]

Nostromo, The Pickwick Papers, Walden and something by Suetonius. Halfway through all of them.

I read The Pickwick Papers like 2 years ago. One of my favorite books. You just have to love the personalities he creates. Sam Weller and that thief smooth talker guy comes to mind. Sam Weller being probably the coolest person ever.

I read Robinson Crusoe over the summer, and quite frankly it is not good. The TV series is vastly different from the book, and in my opinion a lot better.
Reasons why:

1. In the book Robinson Crusoe is a dumb fuck and an asshole. He is completely unlikable. For example, he could have lived a great middle class life, like his father suggested, but decided to go sailing. He gets enslaved. After being a slave for some years he escapes, and to cut a long story short becomes a farmer in South America. He finally has a great middle class life, but because of greed decides to go get some slaves from Africa. This trip ends up with him being on the Island. In the television series he is a cool, smart, honest guy that was fucked over by his relatives.

2. The book often goes into a, "Thank god that I didn't die, and I am actually really lucky!" thing that drags on and is a bore. Maybe one time might have been fine, but he wrote about it in different words so much, that as soon as I saw it coming I just skipped 20 pages ahead when the book started again. Like seriously what the fuck! The TV series never really goes into the god thing. Also, in the TV series he isn't a religious nut job, he gives scientific reasons for things.

3. In the book he treats Friday like a slave. Not badly, but he does treat him as a lesser. It is clearly racist. In the TV series Friday is a cool character, that is treated as an equal.

4. In the book Robinson Crusoe does shit like growing rice and wheat in the same place on his tropical island. The TV series doesn't have him doing impossible things.

5. In the book he has a cave like habitation, while in the TV series he has a fucking awesome tree house thing.
Case closed Robinson Crusoe is a terrible book, that is only acceptable because it is famous. The TV series manages to take the best part of the book, and make up a good story for the rest. Don't read the book watch the TV series.

[SlappyMcGee]

I always forget to post here after I finish books.

I read The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, loved it to death, but the ending made me so sad, I cried. It's pretty spectacular, though.


Then, I read Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman. It was also spectacular, because Chuck Klosterman is such a proto-hipster.

And now I'm reading Slaughterhouse Five. (Abt time.)

[Tunco]

Improbable ~ Adam Fawer

Amazing book. You just stuck in it 'till first page, it compiles different stories into one and while you read through the book it makes you think about how a little action can change a persons life.

[SlappyMcGee]

Finished Slaughterhouse Five. It was way post-modern.


Now, Cory Doctorow's Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom.

[T3chno]

[Maligus]

Okay so I read 1984 by George Orwell and thought that it was interesting in how it related to what is occuring in society today. Just wanted to get some of you guys's opinions. And please, if you don't know what the heck I'm talking about or what the book is about, don't post on the topic....unless, of course, this somehow turns into something completely off topic.

[SlappyMcGee]

I'mma move this into the Book thread unless anybody has any objections. I feel that our book society is moderately large around here, but even with a book like 1984, a small chunk of those people will have read the book.

[Maligus]

by all means

[otters~1]

Everyone's read 1984. I personally thought it was kinda inconsistent.


(PS: Ew. Ursula Le Guin.)

[Maligus]

Everyone's read 1984. I personally thought it was kinda inconsistent.


(PS: Ew. Ursula Le Guin.)

insanity! not everyone has read 1984. most people (especially where i live) dont even think about picking up a book. the most reading they do is either the newspaper or a magazine.