What are you reading?

[Davidizer13]

Still picking my way through Oil! by Upton Sinclair, after some delays. Sinclair is amazing with words, and I agree with many of his points about democracy, US involvement in post-Tsarist Russia, free speech (especially during the speech restriction that went on during and after WWI) and workers' rights, but I disagree with his conclusions, and find it more than a little funny that he uses the Soviet Union as an example of what socialism can do, especially considering what happened to it later.

Still, it's an excellent book, and highly recommended. It delves into issues of politics, corruption, religion, and life in the neo-Gilded Age that was the '20s. I sympathize strongly with Bunny, because I'm in his situation right now (a college kid with little worries in life, trying to decide where he stands on things, but having trouble because he can see all sides of the issue), and I know a couple people who act like the people Bunny meets - rich pleasure-seekers who simply don't care about anything besides themselves.

Also, I'm about halfway through SuperFreakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. It's an entertaining, but it's not nearly as great as the first, in terms of the content or what's being exposed - this book seems to focus on more salacious/sensational subject matter, such as prostitution and terrorism rather than the subtle shifts and trends that the first focused on, which it gets back to later. It delves into geoengineering, such as a cheap and simple solution to both hurricanes and oceanic "dead zones," which I do agree with, and more proactive solutions to stopping global warming (such as ocean seeding, which boosts the growth of CO2-consuming algae, or adding sulfur oxides to the atmosphere), which I'm not so keen about. Once again, it's still good stuff.

[rocklobster]

Starting another Neil Gaiman book: American Gods

[Atria35]

Starting another Neil Gaiman book: American Gods

Oh, man. I picked that one up for my trip to Cali, and I have to say, it's wierd. Interesting take on what happens to old beliefs/religions on what happens when they're brought to a new country, but it's literalized. And.... kind of creepy. Highly sexualized, fairly violent. I'm halfway through, but unsure of whether I should finish (and thinking Neverwhere might have been a abetter choice of reading material- it's by the same author, but different content).

[Hohenheim]

I am going to read one more book before returning to finish Faith of a Physicist, but only because I have one more week at summer school, I have to return the book back to the library on my last day, and the book in question is out of print and thus hard to come by in most places.

I am now starting Everyman Revived: The Common Sense of Michael Polanyi, by Drusilla Scott. The book is essentially a condensed introduction to the lesser-known but incredibly gifted philosopher of science, Michael Polanyi. From what I have heard of him in John Polkinghorne's works, he developed quite the view of epistemology, one that Polkinghorne himself now espouses. Seeing as how I agree with Polkinghorne's view of epistemology, I immediately sought out this book when I found he recommends it as a great way to learn of Polanyi. Luckily for me, my university's library had a copy of it (though I bet I'll end up buying it later). I can only hope I finish it in time before I have to give it up.

[bigsleepj]

Starting another Neil Gaiman book: American Gods

American Gods was a very good, interesting read, but is really dark with a lot of sexuality, some of it fairly disturbing. Very little of it could be considered "casual".

[rocklobster]

I kind of expected it to be weird, folks. Gaiman looves to be weird. (I suspect he likes the mushrooms, if you know what I mean)
anyway, Starting The Overton Window soon. Yes, that new Glenn Beck book.

[shade of dae]

And I'm back. I've been reading a ton lately, so I'll just mention the highlights.

Read The Incredulity of Father Brown and The Secret of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton.
I have now read all of the Father Brown stories, and am feeling more satisfied about this than I should be. But, hey, I at least finished one goal that I had for this summer, so it's something to be happy about. Reading the entire collection of stories has really helped me get a feel for the kind of person G.K.Chesterton is. And, overall, I think he is a great writer, a fascinating person, and he has some things I don't agree with. The most irritating thing that can be found interspersed throughout the Father Brown stories is the main character's conviction that all other nationalities, denominations, and religions are inherently wrong. True, it's amusing when Chesterton pokes fun at Protestants or Scots, but it's only amusing because it's written so well, and with a dry sort of humor that I can appreciate. Really, though, mocking others simply because they come from a different country or a different branch of Christianity is, in my opinion, wrong. Also, if you are looking for a mystery story that you can follow the clues to solve the mystery yourself, the Father Brown stories aren't often like that. While there are some that allow the reader to play detective, but often the ending left me wondering how on earth anyone could have guessed that on their own.
Overall, however, they are excellently written, solid mystery stories that are worth your time.

I also finished Oedipus at Colonus which finishes the Oedipus trilogy for me. I read them out of order because I read Antigone first for one of my classes last semester and read the other two after. I love plays, and haven't read much Greek drama other than this trilogy, so it was quite entertaining to read. It took a little while to get used to the writing style and the large amounts of melodramatic monologues, but it was fascinating to see what theater was like around 430 B.C. Also, I'm not sure if he continues this, but Sophocles seems rather taken with the concept of "Pride goeth before the fall".

I read Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra, and am currently reading That Hideous Strength. Will post more when I finish the trilogy.

A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis was quite possibly the most... human book I have ever read. Knowing Lewis as a renowned Christian apologist, it was both startling and comforting to read his struggles with his faith, and his anger at God. Startling because it seems difficult to imagine someone who I have admired be so very honest about his doubts concerning the belief that he had defended for so long. Comforting that even some of the most intelligent and solid (seeming, at least) in his faith can doubt and be angry at God as well. Things come full circle, though, and it is fascinating to see Lewis come to terms with the questions that plagued him and find peace again.

Anyways, as I said, I read quite a bit more than that, but won't bore you with all of it. I'm also reading about a half-dozen books at the moment, including Bulfinch's Age of Fable which I think I'll go catch up on.

[the_wolfs_howl]

Well, nanny-nanny-boo-boo, I finished The Scarlet Letter despite the introduction I agree; there was little point in him jabbering on about the different people he met who have no bearing on the story, but I had to read the whole thing, so oh well. I liked it; it was pretty good, though I'm not too fond of the way Hawthorne tends to deride the Puritans in his writing :/

Still reading Crime and Punishment; I've been rather busy and haven't been able to get much read.

[rocklobster]

Re-reading The Dragon Reborn.

[ich1990]

“The Waste Land and Other Poems” by T.S. Eliot

I don't read much short form poetry, so when I review the seminal works of the genre, please understand that my comments come from the dilettante perspective of someone who reads poetry for the heck of it. I can't tell you why Eliot is popular, why his poetry made a contribution to the genre, or even why “The Waste Land” is called “The Waste Land”. I can tell you my basic, visceral reaction to the twenty-five poems contained within this little book (“The Waste Land”, “Prufrock and Other Observations”, and “Poems 1920”).

All other poetry I have read has tried to tell a story or describe a scene, from Paradise Lost to “The Raven”. Eliot doesn't. Instead, he gives the reader scraps of a scene and a few lines of a story, then moves on to the next mood and feeling. The result is an almost perpetual disorientation and, most of the time, little in the way of a common theme to tie it all together. I can't say I care for such a writing style.

When Eliot was writing about a discernible theme, say in “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” or “Rhapsody on a Windy Night” or “Death by Water” (the latter from “The Wasteland”), however, my experience was much different. All of those scatterings and random whisperings drew together and orbited around a unifying topic. It wasn't easy reading, but when one read the poetry the meaning came together slowly, yet in a deliberate fashion. I found reading these poems very rewarding and engaging. Unfortunately, not all of his poems had a unifying topic, theme, or idea, at least as far as I could tell, so the experience was hit-and-miss. 7/10

[That Dude]

The two major ones that I am reading through are...

The City Of God -by- St. Augustine, and The Institutes Of Christian Religion -by- John Calvin.

Oh and I'm also making my way through Wings Of Dawn a.k.a. Magnus -by- Sigmund Brouwer

[Tamachan319]

Brave Story by Miyuki Miyabe. It's fantasy-looooooong fantasy at that. It's around 850 pages! I'm normally a very fast reader, but this one's extremely slow. Let's just say this bookwoorm is now a inchworm; I'm inching my way through this book.

[Atria35]

Checked out Hunger Games as a last thing to read before I move. I got through the first two chapters then stumbled along a section that pretty much said this: "Oh, yes, he may be gorgeous and strong and even the men want him, but I don't care because he's a good hunting partner!"

I am having a really hard time getting the gumption to pick it back up.

[Shao Feng-Li]

I kind of expected it to be weird, folks. Gaiman looves to be weird. (I suspect he likes the mushrooms, if you know what I mean)
anyway, Starting The Overton Window soon. Yes, that new Glenn Beck book.

I'm about half way through Beck's book. Not too shabby.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I doubt Neil Gaiman does drugs, he's just very creative. I imagine he uses many of his dreams as inspiration. Still, I don't know why such a talented writers often resorts to extreme violence and more importantly, weird sexuality. It's not necessary. Even Stephen King's works seems tame in terms of content compared to some of Gaiman's work.

I've just finished Vol.8 of Y: The Last Man (graphic novel series). I'm still re-reading Stephen King's The Stand.

[CrystalChalice]

Reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya by Nagaru Tanigawa

[Atria35]

Finished Hunger Games, and I have to say, it was sad to see the author fall on overused, obvious, kinda stupid descriptions for the characters. I mean, seriously, the red-haired girl was 'like a fox', 'crafty', 'sly'. How generic can you get?! And that was even more depressing since this had a decent amount of ingenuity for the rest of the story that I did actually enjoy. There were a few other bits that were just as bad, but I can't recount them ATM. But that one was the biggest transgressor.

[shade of dae]

Finished The Winter's Tale by Shakespeare. This wasn't one of my favorite of Shakespeare's plays, if only for the ending. [spoiler] Hermoine's sudden revelation that she wasn't actually dead all of those 16 years, but was pretending to be a statue seemed rather cheap trick for making the play have a happy ending. [/spoiler] Also, what is with the husbands in Shakespeare's plays? Most of them seem be paranoid homicidal maniacs.

Currently reading Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.
The culture that Wilde himself was a part of has always fascinated me in that it is so shallow a way of living. This book portrays the aesthete lifestyle as being exactly that. Wilde, it would seem, likes to contradict his lifestyle with his writings.

[steenajack]

Currently reading Artemis Fowl. WHY THE HECK HAVE I NOT READ THIS BEFORE! It's AWESOME!

[rocklobster]

Reading Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I've seen the Neverwhere TV series. It was very low-budget but had a interesting premise. I wonder how similar it is to the novel?

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

So I finished 1984 which I don't have much to say on, other than that it was good and the ending was a really big downer.

[Sheol777]

So I finished 1984 which I don't have much to say on, other than that it was good and the ending was a really big downer.

I have much to say on this....but I will keep it brief.

I love this book. Yes, the ending is a downer, but what a great ending!

Even though this book had a main character, the book is basically about an idea. The idea of how communism could go horribly wrong.

...and I'll stop there.

[rocklobster]

Finally started Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis! I've been waiting for this one for a year!

[Furen]

I'm reading "No More Christian Nice Guy" by Paul Coughlin.

Found out after I bought it it was an Instructional book...

Still pretty good.

[MomentOfInertia]

Currently reading Artemis Fowl. WHY THE HECK HAVE I NOT READ THIS BEFORE! It's AWESOME!

My little sister and my mom are reading those...apparently they are great...I'm gonna look into them when I get a chance.

I'm currently reading and enjoying Adrian Tchaikovsky's Shadows of the Apt series I'm up to the second book which is the last one my library has:(

Very good books though.

Oh I'm also reading Bone by Jeff Smith, I'm read through volume 3 so far

[Blacklight]

ALMOST done with Atremis Fowl: The Arctic Incident. This one is a bit short, but I've been busy, so I wasn't able to finish it yet. After that, I'll read the next Artemis Fowl book, The Eternity Code.
I also have Frankenstein that is waiting to be read.
Just yesterday, I picked up The Way of Shadows and Shadows Edge, books 1 and 2 of the Night Angel Trilogy,
and Dracula. I must say, this book is much bigger than I expected it to be. (Not that that's a bad thing at all.)

[rocklobster]

Yeah Artemis Fowl is awesome. Here's hoping the movie is just as awesome. Anyway, just started The Wheel of Time's prequel book, New Spring.

[Hohenheim]

I have finally finished both Everyman Revived and Faith of a Physicist.

Everyman Revived was an interesting read. I recognized many points Polanyi apparently made that obviously inspired Polkinghorne. Fair portions of the book required redefining some long-held concepts of mine, which, though challenging, was fairly rewarding. However, there were some points in the book that I disagreed on, or at the very least need to dwell on for an extended amount of time. In any case, I found the book to be very enjoyable.

Faith of a Physicist was similar to some of Polkinghorne's more recent books, but does much more in explicating his thoughts on various theological and scientific issues, and even delves into matters rather new to me. Like his other works, it was refreshing, and helped me look at things with a new perspective, even if I'm not sure about everything mentioned.

[rocklobster]

Starting King's Dragon by Kate Elliot. It's the first in the Crown of Stars series.