Still reading The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution by Richard Dawkins, though I'm near the end. Other than that I've been reading too many short stories and poems of friends and people I know to read anything else; this is also the reason why I've been taking my time with Dawkins' book.
Just finished Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind Don't know what to pick up next; I'm deciding between The Picture of Dorian Grey by Wilde, The Castle of Ortranto by Walpole, Light by John Harrison, or The Stand by King. Anybody have an opinion?
I found The Stand to be a little padantic. It jumped from character to character before I could really get the feel for just one. It's still rather good though, and I enjoyed it, dispite my little dislike for epics.
The Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan. I'm liking it more than books I've read by Dawkins or Hitchens.
As much as I like Dawkins and Hitchens (I would like to be a reporter like Hitchens one day) Carl Sagan is somehow special. He has this weird way of just making you sit and read; and no one can put it more honestly, more heart-felt and more elegant than Sagan could. He was an amazing writer and scientist, and I for one wish he was still around.
I agree. I like what I've read by Dawkins and Hitchens, but I find I'm connecting more with what Sagan says and how he says it. I'm going to check my local library for the rest of his books.
Just finished the AMAZING book It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini. I hihhgly reccomend this book. It's the story of a boy who has severe depression and tried to commit suicide, and ends up in a pychiatric hospital and what he comes to learn and realize there. It's quick, witty, engaging, funny, serious, realistic, and really sticks with you and makes you think. It was absolutely fantastic. I'm now reading Fire, the prequel to Graceling by Kristin Cashore, which was anther wonderful book.
I'm currently reading Lisa Gardner's The Neighbor. I'm on the second reading right now, to take a closer look at the writing techniques. The story is pretty well told. There were a couple times where a character stepped out of POV to give a description of his or her appearance and clothing. To me, it was intrusive and obvious, but someone else might not have a problem with it. Another annoying element, at least to me, is that she used first person for two of the characters, and third person for the remaining POVs. She distinguished the first person POVs by rendering one in all italics. Yeah. Even so, it was not very clear wht POV a section was from at first. I stand by my assertion that relying on typography to indicate a POV or internal dialogue is weak writing. I cannot quibble with the plotting. Nearly every chapter introduced a new complication, and at the same time dropped another important clue. The characters were crisply crafted, although it stretched credibility somewhat that nearly every single one had a lurid past. I have to admit that overall, I liked the book, even though there were aspects that annoyed me considerably.
Currently, Signature Killers by Robert D. Keppel, Ph.D. Dr. Keppel did extensive work with Ted Bundy and is one of the most brilliant minds to date on serial killers. If abnormal psychology is something you are in to... I recommend this book! Definitely Wilde. The Picture of Dorian Grey is an astounding book.
Yeah, The Picture of Dorian Gray is the book that made me think of writing as something other than just a hobby.
I'm reading Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. It's very long but I have a reputation for reading fast. It's good so far and I can tell it's going to have a convoluted plot.
I'm reading "The Great Hunt" from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, though I'm actually in school/at work more than I am reading. I really enjoy the series so far, though.
Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales...Perfect for short spans of sillyness. Edit: I really enjoyed Jordon's whole series...too bad he died.
Dune Messiah and The Republic, by Frank Herbert and Plato respectively. They're an interesting combination, actually. Dovetail nicely.
Ha taht's the short story collection of his that I kind of hated. Except Dolan's Cadillac was pretty decent, and one other that I can't remember.
I have just finished the 6th book in a series of 12 books. The book is called Faith of the Fallen, but the series is called the "Sword of Truth" series. It is written by Terry Goodkind, and it's THE best series I have ever read in my life! It's so intricate and detailed, and not to mention it is filled with a bunch of random facts that relate to the story but also to real life. It's amazing. I can't ever seem to put it down. Now I need to get my hands on the next book, The Pillars of Creation. Hmm...*Runs to Barnes & Noble*
Agreed. King clearly taken the idea for it from Poe and The Cask of Amontalado, but I never liked Poe's story as much as I thought I should, so King's story was a fitting rewrite for me. Other stories here have been either mediocre or just downright crap.
I've just finished reading "The Poor and their Assets", a old book by Sherraden. Because I'm thinking my thesis, which is going to talk about financial literacy of migrant workers in China, but I'm stuned with ideas. This book is very helpful in arguing the view that the poor are not able to spare money to build their assets.
I'm reading Beowulf (again). And will soon be reading Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman (again) and will also be reading Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (for the first time!)
I finished reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon today (not my usual flavor, shall we say) but it was fantastic and I can't stop thinking about it.
I liked it until the guy beat his wife. Then I hated it. Any defense of spousal abuse, I just can't tolerate. The book actually makes me angry, just thinking about it.
