What book are you currently reading?

I just finished reading 1984 by George Orwell. What a great, thoughtful, sobering book. I wish I had read it years ago. You can very easily see society sliding into something like that.

For giggles, I purchased Justin Somper's novel "Vampirates" from Coles book store to read up in the NICU. It actually wasn't bad. A bit young for me perhaps, but I wanted something to read the required no thought. What I didn't like was the way he ended it with so much left open that you can hear the word SERIES being screamed a mile away. Other than that, it was a quick easy read which left me mildly amused. I wouldn't say you have to go out and read this book, but if you ever find yourself in a position where you need a book to read that requires no real effort and there is a copy handy, give it a try.

Just finished watching Sweeney Todd for the first time. Bloody awful, bloody awesome. (pun totally intended). I'm looking around for the play. Anyone can say something about that? Ever read it? If so, what's your reaction.

Because I have so much spare time on my hands (note the sarcasm), I've started reading another book. Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo basically thrashes the idea of aid to Africa in shreds. She makes a great point, though. We're actually hurting Africa and wasting billions of dollars by giving aid money. It is a really interesting argument.

I have just started Crime and Punishment. It started a bit slow for me, but I am about 100 pages into it and it is picking up. It is essentially, as far as I can see, a psychological study of the main character, who you would not like to have as a next-door neighbor.

I'm reading two books currently, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. The former I've read before, but it was a Great Illustrated Classics version in 5th grade. So this time, I'm reading the full version. I still love it the same though

We read The Pearl by Steinbeck in English class in the beginning of school, and I really liked his writing style. Of Mice and Men is a beautiful told story, Lenny is my favorite so far! It's a pretty short book, I'm almost finished!

Oh, and also; I so agree with you Paul, about Moby Dick. Melville is really detailed with his writing, and I never knew, before this, that something could be so challenging and boring at the same time!

Xeno! Great to see you back! I hope you have the time to come back more often! I realize that life is busy for everyone, including you, but I am very glad to see you here.

Yaaay, what a wonderful Christmas present ... all these people coming back to the forum.

xenophi1ia wrote:

I'm reading two books currently, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. The former I've read before, but it was a Great Illustrated Classics version in 5th grade. So this time, I'm reading the full version. I still love it the same though

We read The Pearl by Steinbeck in English class in the beginning of school, and I really liked his writing style. Of Mice and Men is a beautiful told story, Lenny is my favorite so far! It's a pretty short book, I'm almost finished!

Oh, and also; I so agree with you Paul, about Moby Dick. Melville is really detailed with his writing, and I never knew, before this, that something could be so challenging and boring at the same time!

Hey Xeno, good to see you again! I agree with you about "Of Mice and Men". It is a wonderful novel, although extremely sad - and the character of Lennie ist portrayed in a way that is really unusual. I know of few mentally disabled characters in literature that are not portrayed in a condescending or belittling way. Lennie is one of the rare exceptions.

Among other books, I'm reading Wuthering Heights at the moment, for my AP English class. I read some of the book years ago, and I now believe I was too young to appreciate it; I disliked it then. Now, I see its brilliance.

Not that it makes me any more fond of some of the characters, of course.

On a related note, from a comic I like to read:
http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=202

Oh, Anne.

I finished Gone With the Wind two nights ago, and my goodness, it is a book worthy of much praise and awards.
I wish I could turn back time and save Margaret Mitchell from getting hit by that taxicab. If she was still alive, there would probably be a sequel. I know there's a GWtW sequel, "Scarlett", but God knows the writing isn't as good as the original.

Just finished The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult, in the middle of 1984 for the first time.

On the Tenth Circle: Good beginning, but filled with unnecessary twists and unexplained actions. Inconclusive ending. So far, my least favorite Picoult piece.

1984 so far: Great, but I know the ending. That kind of spoils it. It's hard to root for characters that <SPOILERS!!!>
you know will lose utterly and completely. Seems like suicide is the only way out - complete and utter victory. It's so sad, that suicide would be an answer, but in 1984, it seems like it. Better than being forced to betray and renounce everything.

I gotta find a decent book soon. Right now I am reading a standard action/thriller someone lent me called "The Charlemagne Pursuit". It sounds more interesting than it really is.

It's time for a little adjustment in my reading habits.

Well, I finished the so-called thriller and have now started "All Quiet on the Western Front" by Erich Maria Remarque. I have higher hopes for this one than I did for the last one. When I finish I will post a review.

Paul wrote:

Well, I finished the so-called thriller and have now started "All Quiet on the Western Front" by Erich Maria Remarque. I have higher hopes for this one than I did for the last one. When I finish I will post a review.

That is one of those books that I love and hate at the same time. I had to read it in two days because I realized I would not be able to stand it any longer. Remarque has a way of writing that gave me the feeling I could hear the soldiers scream.

I am a little more than halfway through "All Quiet". As with any book that has been translated into English from its original language, I keep wondering just how much got lost in the translation. Granted, it is a superior book. The carnage on the battlefield is depicted with unflinching vividness. The alienation the MC feels from civilians and new recruits is convincing. But I still wonder how much of the power has been lost.

I imagine you read it in its original German, Laura. Do you feel that the full impact cannot help but be diluted with a translation into another language?

Paul wrote:

I am a little more than halfway through "All Quiet". As with any book that has been translated into English from its original language, I keep wondering just how much got lost in the translation. Granted, it is a superior book. The carnage on the battlefield is depicted with unflinching vividness. The alienation the MC feels from civilians and new recruits is convincing. But I still wonder how much of the power has been lost.

I imagine you read it in its original German, Laura. Do you feel that the full impact cannot help but be diluted with a translation into another language?

That depends very much on the person who translated it. Sometimes, a good translation can even add to the original meaning, but more often than not, a text necessarily loses some of its meaning while being translated. I found it exceptionally chilling and scary, and I cried in the end.

Just finished 1984. Total masterpiece. But a sad one, all the same. But brilliance, unadulterated brilliance shimmers through every page.

Do you have any recommendations for me to read?

Oh, and I also just finished the Sookie Stackhouse series.

Katelyn Leclerq wrote:

Just finished 1984. Total masterpiece. But a sad one, all the same. But brilliance, unadulterated brilliance shimmers through every page.

Do you have any recommendations for me to read?

Oh, and I also just finished the Sookie Stackhouse series.

I agree, 1984 was a masterpiece. I'm glad you got to it. As for something else, I'm not sure what you have already read. Animal Farm, while not quite as good as 1984, is still a worthwhile Orwell novel. Crime and Punishment is also excellent, and so is the book I just finished, All Quiet on the Western Front.

Sookie Sookie Sookie Sookie...
Sorry, couldn't help myself.

My sister borrowed Frankenstein, Dracula and The Crucible, but realized she didn't need them anymore, so I took them off her hands because these were books I was planning to read anyway.
I know Laura and Nicholle have read Frankenstein, but both differed in their opinions. Has anyone read Dracula? I think Paul has.
The Crucible is something I have wanted to read as well. Anyone?

Ugh, *shoves the three books next to the other three books I haven't finished reading*
One day, I am taking a couple of weeks days off from the computer and just read until my eyes evaporate. I am completely off schedule.

I did read Dracula, many years ago. I don't remember any of the details, but I do remember that it seemed to be a pretty good book.

I have finally gotten to Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. I know that a couple of you loved it but one of you (Laura, I believe) was not fond of it at all. I am about forty pages into it, and so far it seems to be good. We'll see!

Paul wrote:

I have finally gotten to Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. I know that a couple of you loved it but one of you (Laura, I believe) was not fond of it at all. I am about forty pages into it, and so far it seems to be good. We'll see!

It's true, I couldn't stand it. I had to force my way through it for a course on gothic literature, and it really bored the hell out of me

Finally finished Hunchback. Last 50 pages: awesome. Everything else: way too slow.

Also finished Gemma Doyle series and loved it.

Now reader Catcher in the Rye. Hate it so far.

Jane wrote:

Finally finished Hunchback. Last 50 pages: awesome. Everything else: way too slow.

Also finished Gemma Doyle series and loved it.

Now reader Catcher in the Rye. Hate it so far.

Somewhere around page 100, you'll find yourself wsnting to grab into the book and shake Holden Caulfield for being such a good-for-nothing.