Enduring Love as in the McEwan book? I really liked that. Studied it for a stage two english paper about literaure and science, thought it was pretty good. Not his best work by a long shot, but enjoyable all the same...
Finished Vamped by David Sonowski the other day. A beautiful, comical take on the standard vampire/human bonds, with less focus on the sensual aspect and more focus on the dark, twisted humor shown from a vampire's eyes as he tries to raise a mortal girl.
Personally I didn't enjoy it; we are studying it for our first year litrature paper at college and I just think that the narrator is pompous and annoying. I know it creates lots of things to talk about in an exam, narrative voice etc, but the way he presumes to know how people are thinking, or sees himself through other peoples eyes, grinds on me. I also found the story a little slow; we spend much of the book simply hearing Joe's scientific rambeling, which doesn't massivly interest me. Why did you enjoy reading it, I would like to find something interesting about it so I can bring myself to re-read it before the exam.
Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada. It's great so far, about half way through. Plot is about a couple of bereaved German parents whose soldier son died in combat. They begin to wage a low level resistance by posting anonymous postcards around Berlin denouncing Hitler. The supporting characters tend to be low life oportunists doing the dirty work of the Gestapo. Anyone else reading this?
We read it in the context of science and literature, as I mentioned, and the book is obviously an excellent example of the idea of 'fiction as case study', so a lot of attention was paid to how psychological profiles are created in the text and how they are manipulated by the author to alter he reader's own psychology (especially with regard to questioning Joe's sanity). Personally, I had no problems with the pacing or the narrator (I agree, he's not always likable, but that doesn't make him less interesting to read), but maybe that's just a personal thing. I think the lecturer also talked about 'reading as an experiment/hypothesis formation' in relation to that novel, which was something interesting to think about.
Thanks for the feedback I agree that the way McEwan manipulates the langauge to, at times, give the impression that Joe is actually the one with mental problems, using the mistake over the flavour sorbet or the fact their handwriting's are similar, there are a lot of interesting devices used throughout. I guess it may just be the story I wasn't interested in.
I finally finished The Bourne Ultimatum, ending the original trilogy. I personally think the movies are better, but to be honest it's hard to even compare them. They are completely different stories. But now, as of this morning, I am reading The Children of Men by P.D. James. It's not bad so far, but I'm about halfway done with it and nothing has really happened yet.
Tomorrow is the first day of a month, so time for a monthly update. March was a busy reading month for me. I'm currently reading: Sally Hemings by Barbara Chase-Ribould (historical fiction) Ice Station by Matthew Reilly (thriller novel) and I'm currently listening to on audio: On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin (abridged) (science) which I expect to finish tomorrow. Then I'll start The Magician's Nephew on audio, followed by either Breakfast of Champions or "A" is for Alibi. They're all already on my Ipod. I have others on order from the library, and others I can download. In March, I completed the following (dates are the date I finished): Regular hardcover/paperback books: 1. Cujo by Stephen King 3/12/10 2. Out of My Mind by Richard Bach 3/23/10 3. The Writer’s Handbook 2001 by Sylvia Burak (ed) 3/20/10 4. The Vanderkemp Collection (letters collection) Francis Adrian VanderKemp & Thomas Jefferson 3/26/10 5. Dark Visions King, Martin, Simmons 3/31/10 (the latter two authors were excellent!) Graphic novels: 1. Sandman Endless Nights by Neal Gaiman 3/22/10 (I never read any other Sandman, and frankly, I didn't get it.) Listened to on audio book: 1. The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum 3/3/10 2. Desperation by Stephen King 3/6/10 (very good!) 3. American Gods by Neil Gaiman 3/11/10 (very good!) 4. The Gospel of Judas by Benjamin Iscariot 3/12/10 5. The Green Mile by Stephen King 3/15/10 (excellent, but very close to the movie which I already saw) 6. Frankenstein II: City of Night by Dean Koontz 3/18/10 7. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James 3/19/10 8. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Charles Dodgson 3/20/10 9. Why We’re Liberals by Eric Alterman 3/24/10 (excellent, though I'd like to have seen more positive affirmation rather than response to critics) 10. Othello by William Shakespeare 3/25/10 11. Stardust by Neil Gaiman 3/26/10 (fun book!) 12. Saving Faith by David Baldacci 3/30/10 Audio (excellent, I love the author and this was a good one!) 13. Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman 3/30/10 (fun kids book)
Read it for my own interest, then read it lots of times in fine detail when we studied it at college. One of those books that improves greatly when abridged, in my view
I'm reading Dave Eggers' "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius", his semi-fictionalized memoir. I'm loving it so far - he uses a raw, realistic breed of language that makes it impossible to lose interest. He plays around with structure and format immensely, at times using lists, charts, and diagrams to illustrate his narrative, and sometimes delves into the surreal with imaginary conversations and dialogues between the present and past. On top of that, it's just a fantastic story. He strikes a rare chord of truly hilarious wit and heart-tugging poignancy, and yes, I know I sound like a review on the back cover, but oh well. I recommend it highly. Check it out!
Currently reading a short story collection by Alice Munro. She's one of the best writers we have today.
I just finished Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, really enjoyed that. Currently starting The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, looks good so far.
I enjoyed them (although Angels & Demons had an atrocious ending, one of the rare cases I thought the movie was better, largely because of the ending) but my favorite Dan Brown was Deception Point. Charlie
I Just finished reading Deception Point by Dan Brown. I'm going to start reading Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson as soon as I can get it.
I am 26 years old and just finished reading the House of Night series by P.C Cast. To be honest I found it entertaining, but am disturbed that the end of the last novel told me to stay tuned for the next book to find out what happens next. It's a wonderful story. I just wish it wasn't so repetitive and was all squished into one big fat novel. That's what I get for reading a series written for teens... Nice fluff read though
Well in the past four days I've finished The Children of Men (which was just eh), as well as Percy Jackson & The Olympians #1 and #2. I'd be reading the third one now if I had it lol. I'm hoping the library will be open tomorrow.
PJ&TO was pretty good, I thought. I read those a while back, but they're not my favorites. I like them, though.
