What are you currently reading? - Page 28

ceppych · #**541** 15.08.2011, 15:31

	Quote:
	I'd prefer Dostoevsky for Idiots... Anyway, I'm looking forward to starting on a fascinating book about Byzantine esotericism given to me by a lovely EFer, but in the meantime I'm enjoying a short collection of extracts from Pepys' diary on the subject of gluttony and excess. Every page goes something like this: The King is away so nothing to do. Dinner at the Dogge with Wm. Penn. Ate a beef chine, two barrels of oysters and a pullet. Sixteen pints of Malmsey wine. Head ake in the night owing to excess of food and drink. Vomited in bason. Mayde innocently running up and down in her smock, pleased me and my wife. I reckon I'd have got on very well with Mr Pepys...

I like the bit about him burying his cheese in the garden

Amanandhisdogs · #**542** 15.08.2011, 16:47

	Quote:	Caleb
	Just started "The Fountainhead" last night, and I swallow 100 pages today on the train. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful writing until now.

Did you also read 'Atlas Shrugged'? 'The Fountainhead' is still on my wish list. Could you compare?

Caleb · #**543** 15.08.2011, 16:59

I haven't, but most likely will RIGHT AFTER I finish Fountainhead. I'm savoring every word. Its prose is close to perfect, and the characters have a shape beyond words (well, MY words, at least). I will let you know.

Amanandhisdogs · #**544** 15.08.2011, 17:07

'Atlas Shrugged' is one of the best books I have ever read. I guess, being also written by Ayn Rand, 'The Fountainhead' will have my full attention as well!

danielleAbear · #**545** 15.08.2011, 17:30

ugh, i'm reading the worst book ever! but i'll power thru & bloody finish it.

say you're one of them by uwem akpan

ceppych · #**546** 15.08.2011, 17:41

	Quote:	danielleAbear
	ugh, i'm reading the worst book ever! but i'll power thru & bloody finish it. say you're one of them by uwem akpan

When you're my age you might well regret all the time you wasted reading rubbish books. (not to mention all the time you just wasted

)
Chuck it out and start on something else.

Kilchbergerin · #**547** 15.08.2011, 20:03

I want to say something intellectual and smart sounding but i'll be honest - Bossypants by Tina Fey.

ccl_ac · #**548** 17.08.2011, 13:24

	Quote:	Angela-74
	great that is my next choice, I just finished the snowman, I love Nesbo

i'm with you. Nesbo is a good author.. i finished the book within 2 days..

ceppych · #**549** 17.08.2011, 13:29

'Surfacing' by Margaret Atwood.
I didn't think I liked Margaret Atwood, but this was one of the many books a generous EFer passed on to me.
It's brilliant. Her descriptive powers are incredible.

#**550** 17.08.2011, 13:31

	Quote:	ceppych
	When you're my age you might well regret all the time you wasted reading rubbish books. (not to mention all the time you just wasted) Chuck it out and start on something else.

I decided to burn 'The passage' by Cronin
OMG how boring!!

Sada · #**551** 17.08.2011, 13:35

	Quote:	ceppych
	'Surfacing' by Margaret Atwood. I didn't think I liked Margaret Atwood, but this was one of the many books a generous EFer passed on to me. It's brilliant. Her descriptive powers are incredible.

Read "The Handmaid's Tale" if you can get hold of it. Was turned into a movie. A bit weird but nice.
I've read one or two others of her too and yes she is really good. I have to look up what "Surfacing" is about perhaps it is one of those I've read.

rony_22 · #**552** 17.08.2011, 13:39

English forum posts. And so are you :-)

ceppych · #**553** 17.08.2011, 13:41

	Quote:	Sada
	Read "The Handmaid's Tale" if you can get hold of it. Was turned into a movie. A bit weird but nice. I've read one or two others of her too and yes she is really good. I have to look up what "Surfacing" is about perhaps it is one of those I've read.

Thanks, Sada, but 'The Handmaid's Tale' is the book which made me think I didn't like Atwood.
I think because it's set in an imaginary place, and I rather like reality.
I can't handle Tolkien, Watership Down, or Harry Potter probably for the same reason.

grynch · #**554** 17.08.2011, 13:47

	Quote:	Swisstree
	Has anyone read Mantel's Wolf Hall? Haven't started it yet, on my shelf to read this Summer but think it will be Sept' before I get to it.

its on my "try to read again" list... I got about half way thru it this past winter before I put it away in favour of something lighter... both literally and figuratively

currently reading ( not so light ) "the hare with the amber eyes"

#**555** 17.08.2011, 13:55

	Quote:	ceppych
	'Surfacing' by Margaret Atwood. I didn't think I liked Margaret Atwood, but this was one of the many books a generous EFer passed on to me. It's brilliant. Her descriptive powers are incredible.

I am a fan of M. Atwood too, though haven't read Surfacing yet. Must get it.

If you like Atwood, have you read any of Ann Tyler's novels? Her insight, and the way she hacks away at the normal, mundane, every day norm until it reveals so much more, is amazing.

Helm · #**556** 17.08.2011, 13:58

	Quote:	ceppych
	Thanks to a wonderfully generous EFer in Lausanne, I've got the most incredible pile of books, which will take me the rest of my life to get through. I'm reading Dostoevsky's 'The Idiot' which I would have thought I was much too much of a peanut-brain to appreciate but which is, in fact, easy to understand and most beautifully written.

Dostoevsky fan here *high five*

I loved the... argh... need to check english title, second... ah here "The Demons". Would also advise "White Nights" which is usually less than 1000 pages, opposite to the other ones...

ceppych · #**557** 17.08.2011, 14:02

	Quote:	Swisstree
	I am a fan of M. Atwood too, though haven't read Surfacing yet. Must get it. If you like Atwood, have you read any of Ann Tyler's novels? Her insight, and the way she hacks away at the normal, mundane, every day norm until it reveals so much more, is amazing.

Yes, I've read all of Ann Tyler, but the last couple I found disappointing, especially 'Digging to America'.

Sagitta · #**558** 17.08.2011, 19:22

	Quote:	Helm
	Dostoevsky fan here high five I loved the... argh... need to check english title, second... ah here "The Demons". Would also advise "White Nights" which is usually less than 1000 pages, opposite to the other ones...

The Idiot is my favourite book of all time. I usually reread it once a year.

axewoman · #**559** 17.08.2011, 20:08

I found Wolf Hall absolutely absorbing. Her style takes some getting used to but I can't recall finding myself so completely IN a world unless watching a BBC period drama. It's a huge beast, so heavy it's even difficult to hold, but I put it down wishing there were more, much, much more.

I'm about to read Arthur Koestler for the first time, mainly provoked by this endearing yet bloody-minded article in the Paris Review. I do love a cantankerous old eccentric - it's all I aspire to be.
http://www.theparisreview.org/interv...rthur-koestler

Helm · #**560** 17.08.2011, 20:19

It's so nice to see so many people enjoying one of my favourite authors. When I try to make conversation with good old Dostoievsky, people stare at me like I just got out of the crazy house...

Run out of books. Re-reading Pope Joan atm, by Donna Cross. A little "womanly novel", but I quite enjoyed it.