OT: Books

FrieAaron · Post #41 » by **FrieAaron** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 12:45 am

I made the mistake of trying to listen to "Ulysses" on audiobook. I made it through, but quickly realized it's one I'm going to want to physically read some time so that I can go back and reread passages until I get it.

buckboy · Post #42 » by **buckboy** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 1:36 am

FrieAaron wrote:I made the mistake of trying to listen to "Ulysses" on audiobook. I made it through, but quickly realized it's one I'm going to want to physically read some time so that I can go back and reread passages until I get it.

Yep. I read it twice 25 years ago.

I still don't fully comprehend it. Which I'm not really ashamed of. I think.

buckboy · Post #43 » by **buckboy** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 1:36 am

FrieAaron wrote:I made the mistake of trying to listen to "Ulysses" on audiobook. I made it through, but quickly realized it's one I'm going to want to physically read some time so that I can go back and reread passages until I get it.

DP

chonestown · Post #44 » by **chonestown** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 2:52 am

Happy to see IJ get some love. DFW has been a punching bag over the last couple years. I can't speak on his personal life, but his writing had warm humanity to it. IJ is a huge commitment, but I without reservation recommend "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again." He was a tremendous non-fiction essayist and this is a great way to wade into his deep waters. IJ is worth the hype, but its also 1,100 pages and requires 2 bookmarks.

His piece on Federer is essential. Grab it here.
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/sports/playmagazine/20federer.html?pagewanted=all

buckboy · Post #45 » by **buckboy** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 4:19 am

chonestown wrote:Happy to see IJ get some love. DFW has been a punching bag over the last couple years. I can't speak on his personal life, but his writing had warm humanity to it. IJ is a huge commitment, but I without reservation recommend "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again." He was a tremendous non-fiction essayist and this is a great way to wade into his deep waters. IJ is worth the hype, but its also 1,100 pages and requires 2 bookmarks.

His piece on Federer is essential. Grab it here.
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/sports/playmagazine/20federer.html?pagewanted=all

Yes, again.

His tennis writing was gorgeous, for lack of a better term.

He was, by far, the writer who spoke to me in the best way. Which may say something about both of us for better or worse.

buckboy · Post #46 » by **buckboy** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 4:24 am

FrieAaron wrote:
Shoot it FatBoy wrote:
FrieAaron wrote:Some of my favorites:

Dracula - Bram Stoker
The Iliad - Homer
The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
I, Claudius - Robert Graves
Wizard and Glass - Stephen King
A Storm of Swords - George RR Martin
The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien
The Road - Cormac McCarthy

Curious how book 4 of a 7 book series makes the list? Why not just list The Dark Tower series?

Same as "A Storm of Swords," I just think they're the best in their series by a large margin. The King one specifically can almost be read stand-alone, but just went with single novels rather than throwing in series.

Is "Wizard and Glass" the flashback one where Roland is a teenager?

If so, I agree. And I'm pretty sure that's the one. Best book in the series.

FrieAaron · Post #47 » by **FrieAaron** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 5:08 am

buckboy wrote:
FrieAaron wrote:
Shoot it FatBoy wrote:
Curious how book 4 of a 7 book series makes the list? Why not just list The Dark Tower series?

Same as "A Storm of Swords," I just think they're the best in their series by a large margin. The King one specifically can almost be read stand-alone, but just went with single novels rather than throwing in series.

Is "Wizard and Glass" the flashback one where Roland is a teenager?

If so, I agree. And I'm pretty sure that's the one. Best book in the series.

Yep, that's the one. I enjoy the entire series but I love that book.

HaroldinGMinor · Post #48 » by **HaroldinGMinor** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 2:42 pm

Anybody read Dune? I have it on my Kindle but have yet to pull the trigger.

truly · Post #49 » by **truly** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 4:30 pm

HaroldinGMinor wrote:Anybody read Dune? I have it on my Kindle but have yet to pull the trigger.

Great book.Haven't read the rest though.

Beorn · Post #50 » by **Beorn** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 4:34 pm

Have read the first 3 novels. they are really good. I paused reading somewhere in the middle of the 4th, will continue at some point.

buckboy · Post #51 » by **buckboy** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 1:20 am

Read several of them 35 years ago. Enjoyed them quite a bit. I couldn't really tell you which ones.

DrWood · Post #52 » by **DrWood** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 6:42 am

The thing that pisses me off about DFW the most is that he hanged himself so I can't find him and beat the crap out of him for inflicting the world with that self-indulgent piece of crap that is Infinite Jest.

DrWood · Post #53 » by **DrWood** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 6:46 am

Probably the last "great" book I've read is "Inland" by Tea Obreht. It's a Western, but probably not like any western you've ever read.
Before that "Lincoln in the Bardo" by George Saunders. The story about the death of Lincoln's son and its aftermath.

AussieBuck · Post #54 » by **AussieBuck** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 7:48 am

I have no idea why but I haven't managed to pick up any fiction for years. I remember reading 1984 on a flight ages ago, can't remember reading anything since. Will pick up something from the lot mentioned in this thread and see if I can get back into the game.

chonestown · Post #55 » by **chonestown** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 12:55 pm

DrWood wrote:The thing that pisses me off about DFW the most is that he hanged himself so I can't find him and beat the crap out of him for inflicting the world with that self-indulgent piece of crap that is Infinite Jest.

Watch on YouTube

Post #56 » by **MickeyDavis** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 2:15 pm

AussieBuck wrote:I have no idea why but I haven't managed to pick up any fiction for years. I remember reading 1984 on a flight ages ago, can't remember reading anything since. Will pick up something from the lot mentioned in this thread and see if I can get back into the game.

I like to read a mix of fiction and non fiction. Sometimes I want to learn, sometimes I want to be entertained.

buckboy · Post #57 » by **buckboy** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 2:50 pm

DrWood wrote:The thing that pisses me off about DFW the most is that he hanged himself so I can't find him and beat the crap out of him for inflicting the world with that self-indulgent piece of crap that is Infinite Jest.

Eh. He probably would've whipped your ass anyway.

Chuck Diesel · Post #58 » by **Chuck Diesel** » Sun Jul 26, 2020 12:42 am

Just gonna be vulnerable for a second here- I’ve never actually read a book but you all have inspired me. Can’t wait to get started with some of these recommendations.

AussieBuck · Post #59 » by **AussieBuck** » Sun Jul 26, 2020 12:50 am

Chuck Diesel wrote:Just gonna be vulnerable for a second here- I’ve never actually read a book but you all have inspired me. Can’t wait to get started with some of these recommendations.

We're not snobs here Chuck, comic books are still books.

Chuck Diesel · Post #60 » by **Chuck Diesel** » Sun Jul 26, 2020 12:57 am

AussieBuck wrote:
Chuck Diesel wrote:Just gonna be vulnerable for a second here- I’ve never actually read a book but you all have inspired me. Can’t wait to get started with some of these recommendations.

We're not snobs here Chuck, comic books are still books.

The only super heroes in my life are Slovenian journeymen centers.