The Official "What Are You Reading?" Thread

[Bullfrog]

Potvin, have you read David Suzuki's "The Sacred Balance?" You might want to look at Farley Mowat's "The Far-Farers" too; it's a mix of both fiction and non-fiction. I really enjoyed it, but I also really enjoy books about vikings.

 

[Bullfrog]

Anyone have any suggestions on warrior epic type of books? It could be Asian (samurai, ninja, etc.) or western (knights). I'm a sucker for these types of stories, but all I can find is books written for teenagers or fantasy-type books (Terry Pratchard, R.A. Salvatore, etc.). I'm looking for something written by reputable authors for an adult audience, with complex emotions and plots. I'm hopeful for realistic books, not Lord of the Rings type with magic and monsters.

Do such books exist?

 

[Nik]

Anyone have any suggestions on warrior epic type of books? It could be Asian (samurai, ninja, etc.) or western (knights). I'm a sucker for these types of stories, but all I can find is books written for teenagers or fantasy-type books (Terry Pratchard, R.A. Salvatore, etc.). I'm looking for something written by reputable authors for an adult audience, with complex emotions and plots. I'm hopeful for realistic books, not Lord of the Rings type with magic and monsters.

Do such books exist?

I remember reading Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa a long time ago and remember it as being pretty good if on the long side. I genuinely don't know if it's even still in print.

Oh, it is here

 

[Tigger]

Anyone have any suggestions on warrior epic type of books? It could be Asian (samurai, ninja, etc.) or western (knights). I'm a sucker for these types of stories, but all I can find is books written for teenagers or fantasy-type books (Terry Pratchard, R.A. Salvatore, etc.). I'm looking for something written by reputable authors for an adult audience, with complex emotions and plots. I'm hopeful for realistic books, not Lord of the Rings type with magic and monsters.

Do such books exist?

Shogun?

 

[Bullfrog]

Good suggestions. I've read Shogun, but not Musashi. I know a fair bit about his history though, so that might be an interesting read.

 

[MonikaM]

I finally have an ereader, and figure something from this century should be uploaded to the device, but need some advice.

No zombies, violence, blood and guts, vampire, thrillers, mysteries, romances, or paranormal stuff.

My all-time fiction favourites are epic novels like Les Miserables, Gone with the Wind, and the works of Tolstoy, Uris, and Joyce.

I'm avoiding the temptation to upload every biography that pops up - time to get some fiction.

 

[Zee]

Starting reading 1Q84, originally written in Japanese by one of their famous authors, was a sensation over there and has been translated into english. 

Still reading this. It's actually 3 books, I'm almost done book 2. Pretty good read but quite a few sex scenes.

Well I finished 1Q84, the ending was...meh.  Apparently in Japan it was originally released as the first 2 books, and he was going to end it there, but it was so popular the author decided to continue to the story with book 3.  I can see how book 2 would have been a better open-ended ending.  Oh well.

I'm now about to start a book i've had on my radar for a few years now:

 

[McPwnage]

just started reading wicked, I always wanted to see the play but never did.  It is really good so far.

 

[Bullfrog]

I'm finally reading the God Delusion. I'm about 15% done (love my Kobo ereader). He raises some interesting points, particularly about the advantages that main-stream religious institutions seem to enjoy that similar institutions (or groups of people) don't. Also interesting is how criticism is treated with kid gloves when it comes to politics, particularly American.

There's an interesting survey he cites that says that only 49% of Americans would vote for an atheist politician. He also talks about the change in public perception of American politicians. Where the founding fathers were often atheists or deists (or at the very least kept politics and religion separated), nowadays it's essentially required that they be a christian and uphold the belief they are "one nation under God."

 

[Zee]

I'm finally reading the God Delusion. I'm about 15% done (love my Kobo ereader).

Amazing what a difference in reading habits you form once you get an eReader.  Two years ago I wasn't convinced on the entire eReader thing, now after having the Kindle for 2 years I can't go back to reading normal books.

 

[riff raff]

just started reading wicked, I always wanted to see the play but never did.  It is really good so far.

The play and the book are different in important ways. The book is much darker. Both are about the time before The Wizard of Oz takes place.

The musical is more fun (you know, like a musical!!) with a different ending - completely different. If you read the notes on the soundtrack, the writer was completely on-board with the changes as he recognized the need for certain elements in a musical play.

Personally, I prefered the musical and would recommend it to people who like that sort of thing.

 

[Tigger]

I'm finally reading the God Delusion.

I really like Dawkins though I haven't read that one. Have you read The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan? Pretty good read.

 

[Zee]

Forgot to add a link to Shelfari.  If anyone is a member and wants to follow me my profile is:
http://www.shelfari.com/zanette

Shelfari lets you keep track of what you've read, and made a listing of what you plan to read. I usually use it to quickly add a book that someone has recommended me to read so I don't forget about it later.  Sometimes it takes me months to get to books because I forget about them, this site is pretty neat.  Has lots of reviews and you can see similar books or other books that people have read etc.

 

[McPwnage]

just started reading wicked, I always wanted to see the play but never did.  It is really good so far.

The play and the book are different in important ways. The book is much darker. Both are about the time before The Wizard of Oz takes place.

The musical is more fun (you know, like a musical!!) with a different ending - completely different. If you read the notes on the soundtrack, the writer was completely on-board with the changes as he recognized the need for certain elements in a musical play.

Personally, I prefered the musical and would recommend it to people who like that sort of thing.

Interesting, I'll try and see the musical if it is in town but I think the opportunity has passed. 

 

[Zee]

Starting reading 1Q84, originally written in Japanese by one of their famous authors, was a sensation over there and has been translated into english. 

Still reading this. It's actually 3 books, I'm almost done book 2. Pretty good read but quite a few sex scenes.

Well I finished 1Q84, the ending was...meh.  Apparently in Japan it was originally released as the first 2 books, and he was going to end it there, but it was so popular the author decided to continue to the story with book 3.  I can see how book 2 would have been a better open-ended ending.  Oh well.

I'm now about to start a book i've had on my radar for a few years now:

I recommend "Hey Nostradamus!", plot centers around a high-school massacre (similar to Columbine) that takes place in Vancouver.  Told in 4 different viewpoints, the first being one of the victims as she awaits in purgatory.  Very thoughtful read, at times funny and sad, really made me think.

I'm currently reading:

 

[Zee]

Turn of Mind was good.  All about a doctor who is suffering from dementia / Alzheimer's as told from her perspective.  Brought back (bad) memories of when my dad went through similar incidents as described in the book.

Now onto : ReadMe by Neal Stephenson.

 

[Zee]

Turn of Mind was good.  All about a doctor who is suffering from dementia / Alzheimer's as told from her perspective.  Brought back (bad) memories of when my dad went through similar incidents as described in the book.

Now onto : ReadMe by Neal Stephenson.

Been neglecting this thread a bit.

I finished up Reamde a while back. It started off really good, but I think it was too long and drawn out.  He could have shortened the story up a few hundred pages and it would have been a more enjoyable read.  Also it's a bit too convenient in the ending, but overall it was good.

Then I read "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close"

It's been made into a movie, about a boy who's lost his father in the 9/11 attacks.  The writing style was all told from the perspective of the boy, and a couple of other characters.  I really didn't like this one, found it very difficult to finish but I persevered through. 

Now I'm onto the Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks.  It's a fantasy trilogy that centers around an assassin training an apprentice (so far the story arc is the growth/maturity of the apprentice).  REALLY loving this one so far.  It's a fast paced read, great action scenes and an engaging story. 

I'm halfway through the first book "The Way of Shadows"

 

[Bullfrog]

I'm finally reading the God Delusion.

I really like Dawkins though I haven't read that one. Have you read The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan? Pretty good read.

Totally missed this. I'll check it out. I've enjoyed some of Sagan popular science type stuff. I couldn't finish The God Delusion. I'll return to it in a couple of months though. I just found it a bit boring. Dawkins seeming lack of respect for people based purely on their faith kind of annoys me too. He makes it seem more a matter of intelligence rather than of faith, though perhaps I'm missing some of his point. I do generally agree with most of his arguments, it's just a bit tedious at points.

 

[The Red Polar Bear]

Then I read "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close"

Just me, or when you hear the title of this book/movie anywhere, you instantly think of Pierre McGuire?

 

[Zee]

Then I read "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close"

Just me, or when you hear the title of this book/movie anywhere, you instantly think of Pierre McGuire?

That's actually a good way to describe McGuire.  LOL