Whatcha Reading This Summer?
TychoCelchuuu
Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Besides "What to Expect When You're Expecting"</div>So Monday I leave for 2 and a half weeks on vacation to some sort of godforsaken land across the Atlantic. I bring with me armor in the form of paper, which I guess is heat resistant up to Fahrenheit 451 but otherwise not so great. I hope the savages don't attack with anything other than fire.
<div align="center"><img src="http://home.comcast.net/~ronnaround/BookStack.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
These get more room in my suitcase than clothes. Who needs clothes. The savages probably go without.</div>
I'm passing through London on my way to Heathenville so the top two books are especially relevant. They're like a tour guide in my pocket really. It's been years since I read either.
But aside from my stack of "hopefully it'll last me 2 and a half weeks," I'm not sure what I'll be reading with all my free time this summer (approximately two weeks between arriving home from Brutetopia and shipping off to college). Anyone have any suggestions? Don't even think about suggesting
<div align="center"><img src="http://www.patrickrothfuss.com/images/page/home_cover.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" /></div>
because I've already read it. "What's that book?" you ask? Well I already made a <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?s=9136700223806001152&showtopic=101477&hl=" target="_blank">huge freaking (awesome)</a> post about the most awesomest book ever, plus I already own a copy and I've read it recently.
Suggest me books! Or just show me what you're reading and I shall pick and choose as a Roman emperor chooses among the grapes proffered to him by nubile slaves as he lounges upon his pillow which I don't know if the Romans actually had. That might be a Hollywood thing.
<div align="center"><b>Insert picture of Mel Brooks as Emperor from <i>History of the World: Part I</i> here: I am unable to find the image on the Intertubes</div></b>
Aside from whatever's left of that stack after the vacation/harrowing journey through the depths of human depravity (assuming I survive), I'm also going to read The Brothers Karamazov and Running With Scissors. Also some other book I'm forgetting. I just finished
<div align="center"><img src="http://home.earthlink.net/~karen20000/Absurdistan.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" /></div>
which was pretty awesome. Like Catch-22 only not about World War II. Also, <i>The Glass Castle</i> is good. You will never complain about anything again after reading that book.
I've totally given you guys like a million suggestions. Now you all repay the favor!
<div align="center"><img src="http://www.royalcanin.co.uk/images/walking%20kitten%20RC%20Germany.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
This is a bonus kitten for reading this far in to the post without falling asleep. If you skipped to the cat (I know some of you will) you now have to read the whole post, like twice or something. Sorry, I don't make the rules, man.</div>
<div align="center"><img src="http://home.comcast.net/~ronnaround/BookStack.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
These get more room in my suitcase than clothes. Who needs clothes. The savages probably go without.</div>
I'm passing through London on my way to Heathenville so the top two books are especially relevant. They're like a tour guide in my pocket really. It's been years since I read either.
But aside from my stack of "hopefully it'll last me 2 and a half weeks," I'm not sure what I'll be reading with all my free time this summer (approximately two weeks between arriving home from Brutetopia and shipping off to college). Anyone have any suggestions? Don't even think about suggesting
<div align="center"><img src="http://www.patrickrothfuss.com/images/page/home_cover.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" /></div>
because I've already read it. "What's that book?" you ask? Well I already made a <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?s=9136700223806001152&showtopic=101477&hl=" target="_blank">huge freaking (awesome)</a> post about the most awesomest book ever, plus I already own a copy and I've read it recently.
Suggest me books! Or just show me what you're reading and I shall pick and choose as a Roman emperor chooses among the grapes proffered to him by nubile slaves as he lounges upon his pillow which I don't know if the Romans actually had. That might be a Hollywood thing.
<div align="center"><b>Insert picture of Mel Brooks as Emperor from <i>History of the World: Part I</i> here: I am unable to find the image on the Intertubes</div></b>
Aside from whatever's left of that stack after the vacation/harrowing journey through the depths of human depravity (assuming I survive), I'm also going to read The Brothers Karamazov and Running With Scissors. Also some other book I'm forgetting. I just finished
<div align="center"><img src="http://home.earthlink.net/~karen20000/Absurdistan.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" /></div>
which was pretty awesome. Like Catch-22 only not about World War II. Also, <i>The Glass Castle</i> is good. You will never complain about anything again after reading that book.
I've totally given you guys like a million suggestions. Now you all repay the favor!
<div align="center"><img src="http://www.royalcanin.co.uk/images/walking%20kitten%20RC%20Germany.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
This is a bonus kitten for reading this far in to the post without falling asleep. If you skipped to the cat (I know some of you will) you now have to read the whole post, like twice or something. Sorry, I don't make the rules, man.</div>
Comments
I was thinking of reading Gods and Generals but passed it up. Have you really not read 1984? Kafka is boring and painful to read.
<img src="http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l174/kyley19/campbell.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
<b>On a more serious note:</b>
I think I'll be reading the forums and a bunch of other stuff of the internet. I need to read a book during the summer for school so until I get that list telling me the choices I have no idea what I'll be reading. Best thing I can suggest is to read is the Halo Novel's because I don't read many books really so that's all I can come up with.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b1/Locke_Lamora.jpg/300px-Locke_Lamora.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
Not sure what to make of it yet, it hasn't grabbed me like Steven Erikson did, but then, it's certainly better than most of the dross I end up buying. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
- Shockwave
Oh, but for science fiction, I can't recommend these two(should be 1) enough:
<a href="http://www.ericnylund.net/signaltonoise.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.ericnylund.net/images/s2n.JPG" border="0" alt="IPB Image" /></a>
<a href="http://www.ericnylund.net/asignalshattered.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.ericnylund.net/images/shattered.JPG" border="0" alt="IPB Image" /></a>
Imagine EvE, written in book form, except not the same universe, but the same principles. Corporate Espionage and Backstabbing on the universal and terrestrial level, with enough action and real science interspersed as to keep it really compelling.
sorry but i have to ask this, how old are you
edit: oh right, books. i might read clapton's complete biography if i find a book like that somewhere
There's also <a href="http://www.threekingdoms.com/" target="_blank">Romance of Three Kingdoms,</a> an acquired taste perhaps but certainly one of the greatest historical novels ever.
And why are you traveling across the Atlantic just to read?
Where exactly is this Heathenland (your final destination)?
However you look as ifd you are looking for things that are at least slightly intellectual, so I will suggest:
1) Fool on the Hill by Matt Ruff (lots of literary/historic jokes in a modern day fantasy).
2) Beowulf, grab the translation by Seamus Heaney (the one with the back of a Chain Mail Coif). This is actualy next on my list currently.
To be honest I would suggest bringing some lighter reading as well. And my suggestion for that is always anything and everything by Terry Pratchett.
<b><i>ENDER'S GAME!</b></i> --again!
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Finished that a week or two ago. Im going to read Enders Shadow at work if some of the kids quiet down.
Other than that probably a few java text books, database textbook, and the zombie survival guide for kicks.
But hey, there's so much better to do in Europe than to read books.
This was recommended to me by a friend. I'm saving it for my upcoming trip to Mt Hutt in New Zealand!
Everything ever written by Robert Heinlein, again.
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I already <i>did</i> that.
Testament, I've read 1984. Talking about it and Huxley's book:
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And I'm sure there's plenty on Europa to do besides read books, but my family has decided to rent a farmhouse or something in the barbarian wastes where the most interesting thing to do will be wonder how far I would have to walk in any direction before I understood what people are saying. My guess is I'd have to wander all the way to Spain, and even there they'd probably be talking a little fast and I'd have to ask them to repeat things.
If anyone likes sci-fi, "The Mote in God's Eye" is really good. It's written by 2 people which is usually a recipe for disaster, but like this book and <i>Good Omens</i> show, it can sometimes result in pure awesome. Quaunaut, if you like Neil Gaiman, read Good Omens. Him and Terry Pratchett together = win.
Right now I'm reading Hyperion by Dan Simmons, which I'm really enjoying. It's this sci-fi story which takes a cue from the Canterbury Tales, as these 7 strangers tell their stories as they go on a pilgrimage. I'm also reading Death - The High Cost of Living, the graphic novel by Neil Gaiman, which (as with anything by Gaiman) is very good. As for my future reading plans, I hope to read the rest of the Hyperion Cantos, as well as finish the Riverworld series by Philip Jose Farmer.
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Hyperion is incredible, and so are most of Simmons are books. Read Ilium/Olympos and The Terror as well. Endymion too.
Everything ever written by Robert Heinlein, again.
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Thanks for reminding me, it's almost time for my annual reading of Stranger in a Strange Land!
I just bought Neuromancer and World War Z, so hopefully they will be done and dusted before i start the reading for my dissertation
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Neuromancer, its sequels, and Snow Crash are the most awesome cyberpunk anyone will ever encounter. I think it's time to reread all of that.
Also, I'm starting on a book on the War of Roses after having finished the one on the Hundred Years War last week. France was actually quite UBER, the more you know.
Neuromancer, its sequels, and Snow Crash are the most awesome cyberpunk anyone will ever encounter. I think it's time to reread all of that.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->Wait, you didn't mention Diamond Age, the sequel to Snow Crash. Read that if you haven't.
Snow Crash was very cool but I like a few twists which it certainly didn't have. The ending was pretty straightforward. Diamond Age is much better constructed if you ask me and presents a very intriguing world. Victorians you say? Drummers? Memetics?
Neuromancer, its sequels, and Snow Crash are the most awesome cyberpunk anyone will ever encounter. I think it's time to reread all of that.
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What, Snow Crash by Neal 'Whoops, I can't remember how to end this' Stehenson?
Nice idea, but he basically can't decide how to end it. The last half dozen chapters are pure trash. Cryptonomicon was better, but he just seems to run out of ideas how to make what he's decided need to happen, happen and ends up shoehorning occasionally.
- Shockwave
Oh yeah and Gsta Berling's Saga by Selma Lagerlf.