The Official Book Thread (AWESOMY BOOK CLUB ALERT)

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If theres one thing I've been knee deep in lately it's some damn good books. If you are in the same straights by all means make yourself heard.

Post: Opinions, insights, and requests
or just anything book related.

Please refrain from anything Christian (book burning or Christian "literature") as well. it's a laff and a haff.

In the past week I've been through 3 novels (one which I tackled in a day)

I wrapped up Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson today. Good god it was a mad cap journey! Thompson is so upfront, charming and frank that he just ropes you into the twisted journey he went on in search of the "American Dream". In the end he comes out with a big mess and the realization that the "dream" is just a big disgusting farce. He's able to really recall his drug trips with incredibly vivid detail, which to me is a wonder considering the COPIOUS amounts of drugs he was consuming.

I literally RAN through Factotum by Charles Bukowski. It's also very easy to get into. It's written for the common man to just get into and relate. It's about the period in Bukowski's life during WWII. He wasn't drafted (he wasn't psychologically fit, just because he answered a few questions in a peculiar manner and turned down the offer to go to a party the doctor had invited him to) and instead just wandered the nation working menial jobs and living the life of a somewhat drunken bum. To really understand and appreciate the work you have to know more about Bukowski himself. But if you don't know much about him it's still great work. And it's not a long read either. It was like 185 pages , which I finished in a day, and it flows beautifully.

Lastly there's On the road by Jack Kerouac. It's the polar opposite of the other two. This one is a long haul. It's a very grand tale that takes some adjusting to, but eventually (for me it was around chapter 10 of part one) you just get roped into the emptiness and freedom of that time period. Being able to just pick up and wander your country and do just what you please with little to no hassle. If you have the patience to let it open up to you many a good time is to be had!

[leokef]

Was the religious bigotry really necessary Pip.

I read July, July by Tim O'Brien and Charming Billy by Alice McDermott recently.

I can't say I like Tim O'Brien but July, July was decent. It's grim reading, though. Nothing but a bunch of pathetic, pathological fuckups having a pathetic, fucked up reunion as O'Brien yarns on the precise moment when they fucked up to the max. Still, there's at least a few morbidly entertaining bits in it, the best one featuring a self-loathing uggo who lets a midget take nude pictures of her and build up her confidence enough so she'll make bad decisions and ruin her life, hahaha what'd you expect uggo.

McDermott's novel had it's depressing moments, too, but all in all didn't linger on them like O'Brien, the cheap pornographer. It's about a much-liked Irish fellow who drinks himself to death, and what the qualities of friendship and love are. But it's better than a sentence-long synopsis would have you believe. I will recommend it as it isn't very long, either.

Right now I'm reading Ian McEwan's Atonement. Or at least I should be reading it. Interesting so far, more when I finish it.

[Flamewave]

I still have Asimov's Foundation Trilogy to finish. I loved his other stuff but this is just too dry for me to read in extended chunks like I usually do.

[Gollgagh]

I recently finished The Captain from Connecticut by C.S. Forester.

I'm a fan of "high-sea" novels and also his other works, so this one was a no-brainer.

Forester's writing style is very appealing to me, though I'm not entirely certain why.

[Fang]

can we pirate books ITT?

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[Blitz]

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i knew house of leaves was going to come up in some form before the first page was done

[Syl]

I sadly haven't had much time to read recently; the last few books and things i've gotten into were of the japanese variety.

ROBOT (volumes 1-3) because it's incredible, beautiful to look at and worth every single penny. This shit is amazing and they better have the rest of the volumes coming out in america. The mainstays are the short stories by Range Murata and Yoshitoshi ABe, but the artwork for every single inch of the book is phenomenal.

I'm going to reread the HGTTG trilogy soon; it's been almost a year and tis about time to go through it again.

[Fang]

I haven't read it yet but in honor thereof:



Save, delete the file extension then rename to .rar for a treat.

Also, .

[mobilisq]

I have recently read through Hocus Pocus, Cat's Cradle, and Bagombo Snuff Box of vonnegut's

Mother Night is currently in progress

I am however uncapable of giving an unbiased review so I'll leave that to somebody else.

Also Breakfast of Champions and Timequake are in queue.

I suppose I should re-read slaughterhouse five as well for the hell of it.

And pick up a few more.

[Monobrow]

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