Last book you read? - Page 3

03-03-2007, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horns_of_a_Rabbit

I just started Invitation to a Beheading by Vladimir Nabokov (wrote Lolita) and I really enjoy it.

Take the prose styling from Lolita, put it in a condemned criminals head, and mix it with tons of nonsense. For example, even in the first chapter lol, he dances a waltz with the guard. The warden comes in his room and eats his dinner and smokes his cigarette. then the prisoner (Cincinattus C. who is arrested and ordered to execution for "Gnostical Turpitude" which, as far as i can find, means 'breaking the laws of matter' or sumshit) gets up and walks out of the prison into town. : )

I really like it so far.

I'm still working on that 'Feature Movie: Lolita'. Tell me about the book though (i'm guessing you've read it). Interesting? I reviewed the film for high school once, and while researching it, I read that the book was way different to the film. With Kubrick's depiction, there's that dark humour, but without any humour, I can't see how Nabokov could have made it an interesting read.

RunAmokRampant · 03-03-2007, 03:34 AM

Just finished reading "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, The Unbeliever". I started a thread about this series a little while back, so if you're interested use the search button.

The book I read before that for university was "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde. That's a great book considering it is still wildly relevant today. I think everyone knows the basic story to that one and I recommend it as it has some interesting discussion about aesthetic appreciation.

03-03-2007, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunAmokRampant

The book I read before that for university was "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde. That's a great book considering it is still wildly relevant today. I think everyone knows the basic story to that one and I recommend it as it has some interesting discussion about aesthetic appreciation.

Tell me about it more. i'm trying to brush up on my classics, and I always tell myself to try read some Oscar Wilde, but first I need some motivation. What's it about, and what are the themes of the 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'? Not exactly sure what era Wilde lived in (1800s? I have no idea), but there is something about Old England that is a turn off for me. I just visualise all these uppity class aristrocrats or dirty beggar types.

RunAmokRampant · 03-03-2007, 04:13 AM

Then you'll love it. This book is Oscar Wilde pretty much having a go at aristocracy and the such. The basic theme in the book is about pleasure and aestheticism. About how far one is willing to go to maintain a hedonic lifestyle and being able to become a spectator of one's own life. Really interesting story too. About a young man named Dorian Gray who pretty much sells his soul for infinite 'youngness' and does vile things throughout the book while maintaining a gentleman's and aristocratic manner.

gaslight · 03-03-2007, 04:44 AM

The last book I read was The Scar by China Mieville, totally awesome.

Dinosawesome · 03-03-2007, 06:07 AM

A Crown of Swords - Book 8 of the Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan.

I haven't finished it yet, but I've read if before so I know it's a good book (this is my second time going through the WoT series). However, I also picked up a copy of Bill Brysons new book 'A Short History of Almost Everything' the other day which I plan to read once I've done the WoT again.

fuzzyhair · 03-03-2007, 06:18 AM

I think The Da Vinci Code was the last book I read, which is kind of sad considering it was more than a year ago. I think I'm going to read The House of The Scorpion. It has to do with some form of cloning, and that's all I know.

I thought The Da Vinci Code was really good. It became a trend to knock on it, but I think that it was a really suspenseful book. It also had a lot of information, but did not bore you with it. The book was non-stop interesting.

gaslight · 03-03-2007, 06:36 AM

Yeah, I enjoyed the Da Vinci Code, I read it before all the silly movie hype. I read it one night on holiday, I found it an interesting and compelling read at the time, it was like a good action movie in the form of a book.

Esp Griffyn · 03-03-2007, 06:40 AM

Last book I read was "Not so Quiet..." by Helen Zenna Smith. It was a load of Feminist, War Diary BS that I never want to read again, but unfortunately will probably have to since its one of the texts for my A2 English Literature Course.

telemore · 03-03-2007, 09:24 AM

Roger - Lolita was actually funny. Nabokov's prose had a great amount of humur in it, it was very dark, and the humor was not so much in 'teh funniez' but more in the situations humbert humbert was in. like when he and c. quilty meet for the big 'showdown.' the bullets he fires at him like didn't fire from a gun, they were very slow, and quilty was able to run away from them, the actual bullets. and sometimes they would like fall as soon as they were fired.

just one situation. it's not as troubling as it may seem, after all it's a novel about a pedophile taking a young girl after marrying her mother (who then dies) and pretty much having her as a sex slave. so, luckily nabokov lightened it up a bit. good times, that one.

~~Meatplow~~ · 03-03-2007, 10:09 AM

i finished from a buick 8 by stephen king. i am now reading the dead zone

~~Africa~~ · 03-03-2007, 10:38 AM

Jeez why do you guys read such crappy popnovels

Ghostfire3 · 03-03-2007, 11:06 AM

Keep the Aspidistra Flying by George Orwell

I liked it. It was a good read.

Kaleid · 03-03-2007, 11:16 AM

Yeah, you can't really go wrong with Orwell.
Also, although I've read it over and over again through the years, I somehow keep coming back to 'To Kill A Mockingbird'. Such a classic

Ghostfire3 · 03-03-2007, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiketherevelator

Yeah, you can't really go wrong with Orwell.

Very true. reps++

Tillius · 03-03-2007, 05:40 PM

Last book I read was The Inferno.
Great book.
I'm currently working on The Godfather for personal reading and Lord of the Flies for English.
Both great books so far.

SgtBaker · 03-03-2007, 06:19 PM

The Real Frank Zappa Book

It's an autobiography about Frank Zappa. About how he grew up and many of his opinions. Also puts down some myths about him. It was a good book, funny, but was a little slow at the end. I liked it a lot, and would recommended it to any Zappa fans.

9/10

03-03-2007, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horns_of_a_Rabbit

Roger - Lolita was actually funny. Nabokov's prose had a great amount of humur in it, it was very dark, and the humor was not so much in 'teh funniez' but more in the situations humbert humbert was in. like when he and c. quilty meet for the big 'showdown.' the bullets he fires at him like didn't fire from a gun, they were very slow, and quilty was able to run away from them, the actual bullets. and sometimes they would like fall as soon as they were fired.

just one situation. it's not as troubling as it may seem, after all it's a novel about a pedophile taking a young girl after marrying her mother (who then dies) and pretty much having her as a sex slave. so, luckily nabokov lightened it up a bit. good times, that one.

Sup Jacob. Hmm okay then. Is the movie adaptation pretty true to the novel? Peter Sellers is an absolute laugh.

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiketherevelator

Yeah, you can't really go wrong with Orwell.
Also, although I've read it over and over again through the years, I somehow keep coming back to 'To Kill A Mockingbird'. Such a classic

Speaking of Orwell, any recommendations? Have read 1984 and Animal Farm only. I'm assuming most of his other works are politically themed.

I read 'To Kill a Mockingbird' for year 9 (or 10, can't remember). I though it was alright. I guess you've got to love the book for the issue that itexplores (cheers Harper Lee), but I don't know. A good read, but I can't see myself reading it again (well, probably because I resold the book).

~~Aria.~~ · 03-04-2007, 02:26 AM

tucker max i hope they serve beer in hell

Robert Crumb · 03-04-2007, 03:07 AM

Currently reading this anthology of American short stories for one of my classes. Nice to get a broad introduction to some writers I haven't been able to check out. Plan on branching out and snatching up some more Bernard Malamud after this, really loved "The Magic Barrel," need to read up on more of his work. Also liked the Donald Barthelme entry, "Indian Uprising." Sometimes his stuff is so simple, you kind of think you've missed the point and then other times, it's so complex that it makes you want to pull your hair out. This one falls under the latter category, but beautiful stuff in any case.

Also working through The New American Militarism by Andrew Bacevich for a media studies class. Only into the third chapter but it's pretty compelling stuff. The author is conservative, but approaches the topic in a level-handed manner, nailing anyone and everyone to the wall. Essentially a review of the American culture of military, how the culture evolved, how the public perceives the culture and the ultimate effects of the culture. Guy is hella qualified to take note of all this and the book is filled with detailed military and political history. Wild, man.

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03-03-2007, 03:34 AM	#42
RunAmokRampant Planeteer 4 life Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 5,079	Just finished reading "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, The Unbeliever". I started a thread about this series a little while back, so if you're interested use the search button. The book I read before that for university was "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde. That's a great book considering it is still wildly relevant today. I think everyone knows the basic story to that one and I recommend it as it has some interesting discussion about aesthetic appreciation.

03-03-2007, 04:13 AM	#44
RunAmokRampant Planeteer 4 life Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 5,079	Then you'll love it. This book is Oscar Wilde pretty much having a go at aristocracy and the such. The basic theme in the book is about pleasure and aestheticism. About how far one is willing to go to maintain a hedonic lifestyle and being able to become a spectator of one's own life. Really interesting story too. About a young man named Dorian Gray who pretty much sells his soul for infinite 'youngness' and does vile things throughout the book while maintaining a gentleman's and aristocratic manner.

03-03-2007, 04:44 AM	#45
gaslight Some place better Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 29,913	The last book I read was The Scar by China Mieville, totally awesome.

03-03-2007, 06:07 AM	#46
Dinosawesome Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 30,403	A Crown of Swords - Book 8 of the Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan. I haven't finished it yet, but I've read if before so I know it's a good book (this is my second time going through the WoT series). However, I also picked up a copy of Bill Brysons new book 'A Short History of Almost Everything' the other day which I plan to read once I've done the WoT again.

03-03-2007, 06:18 AM	#47
fuzzyhair Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: America Posts: 3,539	I think The Da Vinci Code was the last book I read, which is kind of sad considering it was more than a year ago. I think I'm going to read The House of The Scorpion. It has to do with some form of cloning, and that's all I know. I thought The Da Vinci Code was really good. It became a trend to knock on it, but I think that it was a really suspenseful book. It also had a lot of information, but did not bore you with it. The book was non-stop interesting.

03-03-2007, 06:36 AM	#48
gaslight Some place better Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 29,913	Yeah, I enjoyed the Da Vinci Code, I read it before all the silly movie hype. I read it one night on holiday, I found it an interesting and compelling read at the time, it was like a good action movie in the form of a book.

03-03-2007, 06:40 AM	#49
Esp Griffyn Time is the Enemy Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Indra Bridge Posts: 24,117	Last book I read was "Not so Quiet..." by Helen Zenna Smith. It was a load of Feminist, War Diary BS that I never want to read again, but unfortunately will probably have to since its one of the texts for my A2 English Literature Course.

03-03-2007, 09:24 AM	#50
telemore Outer Inner & Secret Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 10,744	Roger - Lolita was actually funny. Nabokov's prose had a great amount of humur in it, it was very dark, and the humor was not so much in 'teh funniez' but more in the situations humbert humbert was in. like when he and c. quilty meet for the big 'showdown.' the bullets he fires at him like didn't fire from a gun, they were very slow, and quilty was able to run away from them, the actual bullets. and sometimes they would like fall as soon as they were fired. just one situation. it's not as troubling as it may seem, after all it's a novel about a pedophile taking a young girl after marrying her mother (who then dies) and pretty much having her as a sex slave. so, luckily nabokov lightened it up a bit. good times, that one.

03-03-2007, 10:09 AM	#51
~~Meatplow~~ Banned Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 35,656	i finished from a buick 8 by stephen king. i am now reading the dead zone

03-03-2007, 10:38 AM	#52
~~Africa~~ Banned Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: river and rest in the shade of the trees Posts: 1,004	Jeez why do you guys read such crappy popnovels

03-03-2007, 11:06 AM	#53
Ghostfire3 The Other One Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 4,440	Keep the Aspidistra Flying by George Orwell I liked it. It was a good read.

03-03-2007, 11:16 AM	#54
Kaleid Soupy twist Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: UK Posts: 370	Yeah, you can't really go wrong with Orwell. Also, although I've read it over and over again through the years, I somehow keep coming back to 'To Kill A Mockingbird'. Such a classic

03-03-2007, 05:40 PM	#56
Tillius Custom User Title Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dallywood Posts: 12,566	Last book I read was The Inferno. Great book. I'm currently working on The Godfather for personal reading and Lord of the Flies for English. Both great books so far.

03-03-2007, 06:19 PM	#57
SgtBaker i do declare Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: i can float thru the air Posts: 2,273	The Real Frank Zappa Book It's an autobiography about Frank Zappa. About how he grew up and many of his opinions. Also puts down some myths about him. It was a good book, funny, but was a little slow at the end. I liked it a lot, and would recommended it to any Zappa fans. 9/10

03-04-2007, 02:26 AM	#59
~~Aria.~~ Banned Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: australia Posts: 1,796	tucker max i hope they serve beer in hell

03-04-2007, 03:07 AM	#60
Robert Crumb yeah baby shine that lamp Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: shine that lamp on this sad, sad man Posts: 4,419	Currently reading this anthology of American short stories for one of my classes. Nice to get a broad introduction to some writers I haven't been able to check out. Plan on branching out and snatching up some more Bernard Malamud after this, really loved "The Magic Barrel," need to read up on more of his work. Also liked the Donald Barthelme entry, "Indian Uprising." Sometimes his stuff is so simple, you kind of think you've missed the point and then other times, it's so complex that it makes you want to pull your hair out. This one falls under the latter category, but beautiful stuff in any case. Also working through The New American Militarism by Andrew Bacevich for a media studies class. Only into the third chapter but it's pretty compelling stuff. The author is conservative, but approaches the topic in a level-handed manner, nailing anyone and everyone to the wall. Essentially a review of the American culture of military, how the culture evolved, how the public perceives the culture and the ultimate effects of the culture. Guy is hella qualified to take note of all this and the book is filled with detailed military and political history. Wild, man.