What book are you currently reading?

I'm starting Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. After reading a few of his short stories (Markheim, The Suicide Club, The Body-Snatcher), I'm intrigued and slightly disturbed.

I read F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" today. It was perfectly quirky, and I absolutely loved it.

I need to read more by F. Scott Fitzgerald now, so I'm adding a few of his other novels to my list.

Paul wrote:

I have picked up a book called "Genghis: Birth of an Empire" by Conn Iggulden. It is a fictionalized account of the life of Genghis Khan. So far it seems to be a pretty good read.

I couldn't believe that I actually found this book tonight at the library. I was just about to give up and leave with my other two books (The Taming of the Shrew and Macbeth), but out of the blue I saw it. I was like, "Why do I know this?" I checked it out.
I'll tell you if I like it, or if I even read it. I'm still kind of out of the reading groove.

We're reading "Fiddler on the Roof" in English, and it is awesome! I never expected to be so fond of the play.

Right now, I just finished the latest 2 Morganville Vampires books, Lord of Misrule and Carpe Corpus. I wish Rachel Caine would finish her series. It's getting a bit dragged out. Hardly anything happens in Lord of Misrule except people running around like headless chickens. Carpe Corpus is a bit better.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green.

I love Green. He has a very unique sense of humor and fantastic characters.

I'm almost finished with "The Golden Compass," by Phillip Pullman. I started to read this book in fifth grade, but for some reason never finished. I'm glad I'm reading it again, however, because it's wonderful. I'm excited to read the other two books in His Dark Materials now.

And I want a daemon of my own.

I bought the book Lolita, and am so disgusted, disturbed, and creeped out by this book that I can hardly keep reading. But it's supposed to be an amazing classic, so I'm going to stick it through. Despite (or possibly because of) everything that's been going on, it's very interesting.

Don't worry, Aly, it's going to get a lot worse. You will be creeped out, disgusted, torn, and confused. You will also be awed, blown away, and amazed at the author's mind. That's why I love Lolita. Not because of Humbert's sick, diseased mind, but Nabokov's amazing one that gives you the whiny and self-justifying perspective of a twisted pedophile. Make sure to read between the lines, cuz Humbert is sneaky as hell.

By the way, I love that photo of Spock and your new one of Zachary Quinto. Yum ...

Currently, I am rereading the Harry Potter series in yet another attempt to cure my reading rut.

Soon, some of my required summer reading books will arrive in the mail, and I have to be able to read them.

Crap. I am officially addicted to Bond. Have been actually for the past week. I've watched the movies Casino Royale (starring Daniel Craig), Dr. No (starring Sean Connery) and Die Another Day (starring Pierce Brosnan). Just finished reading Dr. No by Ian Fleming, the mastermind behind all this. Currently reading Diamonds Are Forever. I'd have to check out more DVDs and books from the library later.

Louisa Lucian Lelouch wrote:

Crap. I am officially addicted to Bond. Have been actually for the past week. I've watched the movies Casino Royale (starring Daniel Craig), Dr. No (starring Sean Connery) and Die Another Day (starring Pierce Brosnan). Just finished reading Dr. No by Ian Fleming, the mastermind behind all this. Currently reading Diamonds Are Forever. I'd have to check out more DVDs and books from the library later.

I've read four James Bond books this year, and I like them well enough. Not enough to rave about them, but they were okay. Just like anything, though, you get sick if you have too much. The sexist and racist comments made by James Bond annoyed me, and eventually the books seemed cheesy. Take the first Bond book I read, Goldfinger, for example. A woman named Pussy Galore, the weird way Goldfinger murdered, the evil plot to rob Fort Knox, etc. All equaled cheese city.
Bottom line; for anyone else who wants to go the Bond route, don't go overboard lest you make yourself ill.

Clementine wrote:

Louisa Lucian Lelouch wrote:

Crap. I am officially addicted to Bond. Have been actually for the past week. I've watched the movies Casino Royale (starring Daniel Craig), Dr. No (starring Sean Connery) and Die Another Day (starring Pierce Brosnan). Just finished reading Dr. No by Ian Fleming, the mastermind behind all this. Currently reading Diamonds Are Forever. I'd have to check out more DVDs and books from the library later.

I've read four James Bond books this year, and I like them well enough. Not enough to rave about them, but they were okay. Just like anything, though, you get sick if you have too much. The sexist and racist comments made by James Bond annoyed me, and eventually the books seemed cheesy. Take the first Bond book I read, Goldfinger, for example. A woman named Pussy Galore, the weird way Goldfinger murdered, the evil plot to rob Fort Knox, etc. All equaled cheese city.
Bottom line; for anyone else who wants to go the Bond route, don't go overboard lest you make yourself ill.

I don't really mind those much, but I don't like the writing style of over-descriptiveness. I guess that's how the writing style was before.
But hell, the movies were great. Can't get enough of those. I like the modern ones better than the older ones.

Louisa Lucian Lelouch wrote:

Clementine wrote:

Louisa Lucian Lelouch wrote:

Crap. I am officially addicted to Bond. Have been actually for the past week. I've watched the movies Casino Royale (starring Daniel Craig), Dr. No (starring Sean Connery) and Die Another Day (starring Pierce Brosnan). Just finished reading Dr. No by Ian Fleming, the mastermind behind all this. Currently reading Diamonds Are Forever. I'd have to check out more DVDs and books from the library later.

I've read four James Bond books this year, and I like them well enough. Not enough to rave about them, but they were okay. Just like anything, though, you get sick if you have too much. The sexist and racist comments made by James Bond annoyed me, and eventually the books seemed cheesy. Take the first Bond book I read, Goldfinger, for example. A woman named Pussy Galore, the weird way Goldfinger murdered, the evil plot to rob Fort Knox, etc. All equaled cheese city.
Bottom line; for anyone else who wants to go the Bond route, don't go overboard lest you make yourself ill.

I don't really mind those much, but I don't like the writing style of over-descriptiveness. I guess that's how the writing style was before.
But hell, the movies were great. Can't get enough of those. I like the modern ones better than the older ones.

The sexist and racist comments can be explained away by the time period Fleming's novels were written in, but it really doesn't make them any less annoying for me. Fleming obviously had a problem with Koreans (Goldfinger) and having James Bond turn a queer woman straight? Lovely.
I once heard Bond novels referred to as "paperback romances for action fans," and I think that description fits quite well.
As for Fleming's writing style; I don't mind it so much, but you're correct in saying he's overly descriptive. I think he had a fondness for the finer things in life, and got a kick out of telling about those things, like caviar on toast, champagne, and nice cars.

The movies are fine, though I'm not a huge action fan. I recently watched Casino Royale (in the past I've just caught bits and pieces of it), and it was good.

I love the movies. I've seen a few of them.
I haven't read the books though, simply because I think that the movies probably sum them up pretty well, and really haven't had a whole lot of interest in the books.
I love James Bond's character. There's something about him that I hate, but I don't know what it is. And there's also something about him that makes me not care that I hate him a little bit. I don't know what that is either. I don't think I'll try to figure that mess out.

Galene wrote:

I love the movies. I've seen a few of them.
I haven't read the books though, simply because I think that the movies probably sum them up pretty well, and really haven't had a whole lot of interest in the books.
I love James Bond's character. There's something about him that I hate, but I don't know what it is. And there's also something about him that makes me not care that I hate him a little bit. I don't know what that is either. I don't think I'll try to figure that mess out.

I think most people experience the same feelings over Bond, myself included. Personally, I can sometimes overlook some of his flaws (like those asinine, sexist remarks) because of his suaveness. That, paired with the champagne and caviar charm of the series, makes him attractive.
I only speak for myself, of course. Like you said, you don't know why you're willing to overlook the something you hate about Bond.

I think what most people don't like about the character of Bond is how his self-assuredness, a necessary survival trait for his profession, so often turns into bullying arrogance. He knows he is going to get what he wants, especially when it comes to women. His multiple sexual conquests never really hides the despisement he feels for the "weaker" sex. Of course this all stems from author Fleming. If someone is going to give his female characters names like "Pussy Galore" that tells you right there how he feels about women.

Having said that I will admit I do enjoy the character, and the stories, for the most part. Fleming did know how to create colorful and interesting villains. And Bond's towering arrogance meant that he always knew what to do, even in the midst of chaotic life and death situations. There was never any uncertainty or ambivalence in his character, which is attractive to a lot of people.

Paul wrote:

Having said that I will admit I do enjoy the character, and the stories, for the most part. Fleming did know how to create colorful and interesting villains. And Bond's towering arrogance meant that he always knew what to do, even in the midst of chaotic life and death situations. There was never any uncertainty or ambivalence in his character, which is attractive to a lot of people.

Sometimes, however, it seems like the villains end up overshadowing Bond himself. I suppose that's due to the fact Bond remains essentially the same in each book, while the villains are different and always fascinating.

Currently, I'm reading the final book of His Dark Materials, "The Amber Spyglass." I liked the addition of Will in the previous book "The Subtle Knife," but I wasn't too keen on the other changes between that book and the first book, "The Golden Compass." In the beginning of the second book, it really felt like I had picked up a completely new series. Pullman seemed to be concentrating more on the Church rather than the fantasy aspects, and if I had wanted that, I would have read something else. Still, I pulled through, and I'm hoping "The Amber Spyglass" will be more similar to "The Golden Compass" than to "The Subtle Knife." I'm praying some of the original charm will return.

Luthien wrote:

Don't worry, Aly, it's going to get a lot worse. You will be creeped out, disgusted, torn, and confused. You will also be awed, blown away, and amazed at the author's mind. That's why I love Lolita. Not because of Humbert's sick, diseased mind, but Nabokov's amazing one that gives you the whiny and self-justifying perspective of a twisted pedophile. Make sure to read between the lines, cuz Humbert is sneaky as hell.

By the way, I love that photo of Spock and your new one of Zachary Quinto. Yum ...

I finished it and am now very confused. Am I supposed to like Humbert? I have to admit at the end I was kind of fond of him. I still think he's completely evil, demented, and crazy as hell, though. Does that make any sense?

I started The Ghost Map, which is one of my books I have to read for school this summer, this afternoon. It's a nonfiction about the cholera epidemic in Victorian London. Surprisingly, it's not too bad. I've only read one chapter (there are nine; I plan on reading one a day to keep with my summer work schedule), but so far it's reasonably enjoyable. It's certainly full of information.

I'm nearly done rereading HP and the SS. It took me way longer than usual, but at least so far my reading rut seems to be largely over. What don't I owe HP?

Allison wrote:

Luthien wrote:

Don't worry, Aly, it's going to get a lot worse. You will be creeped out, disgusted, torn, and confused. You will also be awed, blown away, and amazed at the author's mind. That's why I love Lolita. Not because of Humbert's sick, diseased mind, but Nabokov's amazing one that gives you the whiny and self-justifying perspective of a twisted pedophile. Make sure to read between the lines, cuz Humbert is sneaky as hell.

By the way, I love that photo of Spock and your new one of Zachary Quinto. Yum ...

I finished it and am now very confused. Am I supposed to like Humbert? I have to admit at the end I was kind of fond of him. I still think he's completely evil, demented, and crazy as hell, though. Does that make any sense?

Well, your feelings mirror my own at the end of my first reading. I suggest you put your confusion to rest and present, and just mull over what he said. I was SORT OF fond of him, yes, after my first completion. He's still creepy as heck, perverted, sick, and evil, but he had a bit of softness at the end.

Read it a second time in maybe 1/2 a year. You will uncover another layer in Nabokov's incredibly complex and brilliant masterpiece, and rest assured, will feel VERY differently. Happy reading!

What are you reading now?

I finished I Don't Want to be Crazy by Samantha Schultz and Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden on Saturday/very early Sunday morning.
I'm now reading The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle, and I'm really enjoying it. The story is about an American man and an illegal Mexican immigrant, and it is told from both of their perspectives. The scenario is something I don't encounter often, despite living in America, but I think I'm hooked. I can't put the book down.

My mom and I walked to the library to get some exercise. I totally went on a library-borrowing spree. I'm currently reading Child X by Lee Weatherly and I like it.

I borrowed:
Anne of Green Gables
Undead and Unworthy (been wanting to read this for a loong time now!)
Child X
Lovely Bones

I'm so excited to drown myself in books!

I have finished Child X and Undead and Unworthy within four days (two days each book) and the latter made me want to cry, which was so weird since it's a freaking chick-lit book. I'm now starting on Anne of Green Gables (because Nicholle seemed to really love it) and I'm at the part where Matthew meets Anne and good God, the girl won't shut her trap! She almost consumed a whole page with her talk! And to think, I have to endure this for another 400 pages...