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Discussion: What are you reading at the moment?

(Wordy)

(Wordy)

Moderator: BAD
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Tell us what you're reading, and give a brief synopsis if you think others would be interested.

Can be books, magazines, websites, journals, etc.

Anyone who says, "I'm reading this thread" or "Duh, I'm reading Bluelight!" will be automatically disqualified from the major prize round. ;) What prizes, you ask? Yeah, well, exactly, what prizes? :D

Ok, I'll go first...

At the moment I'm re-reading The Penguin Book of Modern Australian Poetry, edited by John Tranter and Philip Mead. It's one of the best anthologies out there, and covers a tumultuous period in poetry, from the 30s to the 90s. The transformations in style and subject matter that can be traced through that time are quite incredible. From modernism to postmodernism; from formalism to "deformity". This book is a true historical monument of an artform.
 
im not reading anything. care to suggest something?
im not very well read, but ive a (psuedo)newfound interest in reading.

wheres a good place to start?
 
wesmdow said:
im not reading anything. care to suggest something?
im not very well read, but ive a (psuedo)newfound interest in reading.

wheres a good place to start?
Click to expand...

Well, I can probably recommend some poetry.

I know you like Bukowski, and going by the kind of stuff you write... I take it you've read at least some of the Beats? Kerouac and Ginsberg? What about Lawrence Ferlinghetti? Gregory Corso? Both very good poets, and enjoyable to read. And what about the "San Francisco Renaissance" crew, like Philip Whalen and Kenneth Rexroth?

Actually, come to think of it, your stuff reminds me a little of Robert Creeley. I think you'd get into his stuff (if you haven't already).

Other than that, maybe you could hint as to the type of stuff you'd like to read? Subject matter, style, period, etc? What interests you? I'm sure between us, the members of the forum could give some good suggestions...
 
orbital_forest said:
knight of the word by terry brooks.
Click to expand...

I haven't read fantasy for years, but I remember reading the first 3 Shannara novels when I was about 13! He loved to write vividly described battle scenes...
 
yeah the shannara novels always managed to keep my attention better than lord of the rings. imo the shannara books are way cooler.i guess i just like terry brooks style more. im usually not one to read alot of fantasy,but my library just raised the lending limit to 25 books out at a time,so ill just go in there and grab whatever the fuck even looks anywhere remotely interesting.
 
I'm on a rereading kick, because I'm having severe writers block (I write fantasy novels, sci fi short stories). I just trashed my last short story, I'm stuck on my novel right now. I keep picking at my short stories so right now I just:
Finished Farenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
Rereading Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand
Rereading Dragonlance Series - Margaret Weis/Tracy Hickman ONLY
poking at various Discworld - Terry Pratchett
 
I picked up a book in an op shop called The Best American Poetry 1993 edited by Louise Gluck which I've been picking up and putting down for the past few weeks. It was just one of those, for-two-dollars-it-can't-hurt purchases but it has a few gems in there and there is one in particular, by Michael Atkinson, which I keep coming back to.

I'm also reading (and have been for a while) Pinkerton's Sister by Peter Rushforth. I have to admit I only bought it because it was reviewed by A. S. Byatt (who I love) and so thought it would be worth a look. I'm finding it fairly heavy going, mainly because there seems to be so much required reading to understand half of his story. That being said, it's such interesting writing that I'm determined to finish it.
 
i like reading things that make me think.

poetry is great... i like bukowski because his books full of poems sort of come together as a coherent story.

i like things that are harsh, gritty, and real. i like swear words, and i like the dark side of life.

IM SO EMO!!! ;)

right now, im more interested in narratives. i like short stories that make me THINK, and novels are fun too.

think "dark."

thanks for yalls support! :)
 
up all night said:
I picked up a book in an op shop called The Best American Poetry 1993 edited by Louise Gluck
Click to expand...

It's a terrific series, with a different guest editor every year - so the type of poems anthologised tend to vary greatly from year to year. I've got the 2001 and 2004 editions.

As a whole I'd say the series tends to focus on "academic" poets at the expense of other voices. Although that's to be expected I guess, since there are so many academic posts for poets in the US (making it possible for many poets to earn a living).

Having said that, there's always some weird and wonderful stuff... but a lot of experimental poetry based on theory.
 
I'm halfway through The Dark Tower by Stephen King. It's the final novel in his Dark Tower series. I must admit, I'm going to be pretty down when I finish this one. I've become more than a little attached to all the characters, and I've been able to find a little bit of everything I'm looking for in these books. And to think, prior to reading The Gunslinger I was convinced I wouldn't find anything I liked in King. How wrong I was.
 
Crome Yellow By Aldous Huxley
It was written in the twenties. The term "crome yellow" describes a yellow pigment that has an initial brightness that tends to fade when exposed to sunlight and turns brown/green over time. The books bizarre characters reflect the title's symbolism. They appear to be flashy, but when secretly analyzed by Denis, the pseudo-poet, he finds them all to be a bit sick underneath their superficial surface.
 
the alchemist by paulo coelho. it will change the way you think about your life
 
blind melon,i feel for you man, i was so let down when i finished the series. heres to hoping someone pulls their head out of their ass and does the films.
 
I just finished Slaughterhouse Five and I have to say I absolutely loved it. This book was so amusing that I really only thought about the magnitude of the content, and the other, much darker side of human life that was being exposed when I was almost at the end. The main character, Billy Pilgrim is really quite a masterpiece. Definitely recommended reading for those who haven't already picked it up.
 
Yeah slaughterhouse five is amazing. "so it goes" Been re reading "if this is a man+the Truce" and "the Periodic Table" by Primo Levi after being horrified to be incidently informed by Nick Hornby in "a long way down" that Primo Levi comitted suicide.
 
Slaughterhouse 5 is brilliant.

I haven't read any Primo Levi, apart from a little bit of his poetry. I know I owe it to myself though.
 
lol you make me feel juvenile for my choice currently, seaptimus heap. its actually quite good. I was reading these intese books for a while about communism and 11th dimentional particle physics and emotional content of gay men. I needed a switch so i went for seaptimus heap and lemony snickets a series of unfortunate events. hopefully ill be done with that one soon. but i was thinking i maintain this kinda bb board for books and theres a place to add and review. ive put a few on but i wouldnt mind seeing what you great poets think about the books your reading as well....

http://phillipesbookshelf.ning.com/
 
I like to have a couple different books in the hopper. Right now, I'm reading:

The Golden Ration -The story of the number phi

Wholistic Health & Living Yoga - A book about yoga with daily routines and lessons included

The World's Greatest Blackjack Book - This describes solid blackjack play and card counting techniques

The Complete Book of Hold'em Poker - Texas hold'em strategy

Phil Hellmuth's Texas Hold'em - Texas hold'em strategy

I mostly read non-fiction :)
 
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