Cory
Clever Kid
Posts: 111
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Post by Cory on May 25, 2014 0:06:07 GMT -5
I like reading sports books every now and then. Right now I'm reading Ball Four by Jim Bouton. It reminds me a lot of The Game by Ken Dryden. The only differences I see right now are it's about baseball and not hockey, Bouton was a mid level to low level player where Dryden was a star, and Dryden (having gone to law school) is more articulate than Bouton.
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Post by junobeach on May 26, 2014 17:37:30 GMT -5
Been slogging through How Music Works by D. Byrne for the past few months (not that it's bad, it's just not a light read)
Have a giant pile to read next, probably going to start with the Pogues Biography.
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Post by yesterdayspapers on May 29, 2014 23:17:27 GMT -5
I like reading sports books every now and then. Right now I'm reading Ball Four by Jim Bouton. It reminds me a lot of The Game by Ken Dryden. The only differences I see right now are it's about baseball and not hockey, Bouton was a mid level to low level player where Dryden was a star, and Dryden (having gone to law school) is more articulate than Bouton. The Game is soooo amazing. For some reason I always tell people about the part where the players would sneak cans of beer onto the bus after games and Bowman would make snarky comments about it had they lost. Just finished Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, good shit.
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Post by laurenjean on Jun 14, 2014 11:26:12 GMT -5
During jury duty I read Holly Black's Modern Fairy Tale trilogy, which I enjoyed, Herman Koch's "The Dinner," which inspired major character hatred, and started rereading "The Fault in Our Stars." I'll see the movie after the book is fresh in my head. Missy and I have been reading the Fables series Fairest, which has been enjoyable so far.
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stringer
Has Status
Seein' my duty clear.
Posts: 2,702
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Post by stringer on Jun 16, 2014 9:24:56 GMT -5
Started The Road again after stopping for a while, and finished it in a couple of days. Enjoyed it much more this time around, I think it's because I had more time to read it; it's an insanely difficult book to get into if you're reading maybe just a couple of pages a day. This time I got stuck in with a few days off to sit in the park with it. Fantastic book, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't get choked up at the end. Consider the flame well and truly fucking carried. Now reading John Taylor's (bassist and one of the founding members of Duran Duran) autobiography, In The Pleasure Groove: Love, Death and Duran Duran courtesy of Delboydrums. Absolutely brilliant read. Nearly finished already. I forget how big a deal DD were and how often they get overlooked as one of the great British bands. Also, far more rock and roll than I would have assumed! If you're a fan at any level, it's well worth getting hold of. Been slogging through How Music Works by D. Byrne for the past few months (not that it's bad, it's just not a light read) Bought this a few months back, still haven't got round to it. Really excited to start, but it's not really a 'quick read on the train' kind of book is it!
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Post by junobeach on Jun 16, 2014 16:03:25 GMT -5
Been slogging through How Music Works by D. Byrne for the past few months (not that it's bad, it's just not a light read) Bought this a few months back, still haven't got round to it. Really excited to start, but it's not really a 'quick read on the train' kind of book is it! Haha not at all, but as culture historian Byrne is a really impressive writer, and there's always enough pop culture thrown in to get you through the drier bits.
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Post by laurenjean on Jul 5, 2014 17:05:54 GMT -5
I just finished Neil Gaiman's "The Ocean at the End of the Lane," which was enjoyable, but not super exciting. I think I'll start Dave Eggers' "A Staggering Work of Heart Breaking Genius" before bed tonight. I really liked his "Zeitoun."
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Post by campfirewood1980 on Jul 7, 2014 18:47:07 GMT -5
Some recent hits: - The Free. Believe the hype.
- Brewster, Mark Slouka- It's engrossing and powerful and has an ending that will break your heart. Pairs well with Darkness on the Edge of Town.
- Packing for Mars, Mary Roach- because it answers every question you ever had about astronauts farting.
- Dear Luke, We Need to Talk, Darth, John Moe- because John Moe is One Of Us, except that he's way funnier and smarter and makes the rest of us Jimothys look like slackers.
Also, if you didn't score Any Questions? by our man Eddie Argos, you really need to check and see if he has any copies left. In addition to having every Art Brut lyric ever, the footnotes and appendices are HILARIOUS, and CF gets a couple of shout-outs. Currently reading Swamplandia!, with the specter of Infinite Jest lurking on the horizon.
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bex
True Scene Leader
It's a Big City; there's a lot of love
Posts: 673
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Post by bex on Jul 9, 2014 20:39:53 GMT -5
I'm usually a Non fiction reader but have just finished "A Fine Balance' by Rohinton Mistry. An incredible story of four unlikely people's lives coming together during political turmoil in Indian in the 1970's. Heart breaking & powerful. Loved it
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Post by jackaltman on Jul 12, 2014 18:31:24 GMT -5
Currently reading Swamplandia!, with the specter of Infinite Jest lurking on the horizon. I heard an NPR segment with Karen Russell talking about "Sleep Donation" and, developing a crush on her voice, I picked up Swamplandia! I thought it was fine, but, ultimately, I spent a lot of the second half wanting to read the things that it was almost-but-not-quite (Italo Calvino, Steven Millhauser) more than I wanted to finish it. I've heard that her short story collections are supposed to be more consistently fanciful... As to D.F. Wallace, remember that though the jest might be infinite, the page count is not: all finishing a book (any book!) takes is time. That thought is what's getting me through "Gravity's Rainbow" at the moment.
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Cory
Clever Kid
Posts: 111
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Post by Cory on Jul 17, 2014 13:10:26 GMT -5
Saw it was discounted on Amazon, so I finally got around to reading "Love is a Mixtape" by Rob Sheffield.
As a great man once said, it was "kinda sad, and also kinda sweet, and very true."
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Post by laurenjean on Jul 18, 2014 12:07:52 GMT -5
Saw it was discounted on Amazon, so I finally got around to reading "Love is a Mixtape" by Rob Sheffield. As a great man once said, it was "kinda sad, and also kinda sweet, and very true." I have so much love for "Love is a Mixtape." I am reading Josh Ostergaard's "The Devil's Snake Curve: A Fan's Notes from Left Field" which is a bunch of small essays about baseball and American history. It's a little obsessed with the Yankees as bad guys theme, but pretty interesting.
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stephano
Sniffling Indie Kid
Makin' meals out of marzipan
Posts: 212
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Post by stephano on Jul 20, 2014 4:33:58 GMT -5
I liked the idea of love is a mixtape a lot more than the actual book. It was OK but there were some traits in there that seemed to underwhelm me when I felt I should have been moved. Still a good book but I expected to be ravaged by it.
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lyman
Cityscape Skin
Posts: 32
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Post by lyman on Jul 20, 2014 10:33:24 GMT -5
"Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri. An outstanding collection of short stories. It didn't win the the Pulitzer fer nothin'.
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I'M THAT GUY!
Sniffling Indie Kid
Heartbreak hurts, but you can dance it off.
Posts: 150
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Post by I'M THAT GUY! on Jul 25, 2014 21:20:57 GMT -5
The folger library edition of "Merchant of Venice". The versions (Arden, Folger) with articles and editors explain so much more of the meaning and context of the plays. I have 4 others I'm trying to get through this summer.
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stephano
Sniffling Indie Kid
Makin' meals out of marzipan
Posts: 212
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Post by stephano on Jul 26, 2014 11:38:39 GMT -5
Mark Billingham - Lifeless. I like an inspector Thorne story.
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lyman
Cityscape Skin
Posts: 32
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Post by lyman on Aug 7, 2014 8:48:18 GMT -5
I am reading Josh Ostergaard's "The Devil's Snake Curve: A Fan's Notes from Left Field" which is a bunch of small essays about baseball and American history. It's a little obsessed with the Yankees as bad guys theme, but pretty interesting. I've heard of that one before. I'm actually reading Jim Bouton's classic "Ball Four" right now. Kinda dated but entertaining none the less. Actually, he's got a bone to pick with the Yankees in that one too...
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Post by laurenjean on Aug 10, 2014 21:54:51 GMT -5
Some recent hits: [li] Packing for Mars, Mary Roach- because it answers every question you ever had about astronauts farting. I really liked her books about cadaver science and the alimentary canal. Both of those also feature passing gas. She asks questions that I would be too embarrassed to. I am currently reading "Moneyball" which is pretty interesting. I'm not an Oakland fan, but it's fun to read a baseball book covering events I remember.
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Post by campfirewood1980 on Aug 11, 2014 17:05:30 GMT -5
Bookage update:
I finished Swamplandia! and my experience echoes that of others here- I like Russell and want to like this book, but it just didn't do it for me, largely due to the "Ava and the Bird Man" sections of the book (I'll stop to prevent spoiling.) I plan on checking out her short story collections, though.
I'm presently reading The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall on the recommendation of a pretty reliable friend, and my early impression is REALLY favorable.
That DFW shadow still looms on the horizon, but I may just push it off until Christmas break.
By the way: even if you're not a comics person, per se, pick up Hawkeye 19. Trust me- it's unlike anything else you'll find in print.
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charlie
Sniffling Indie Kid
Posts: 214
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Post by charlie on Aug 14, 2014 8:40:11 GMT -5
Fourth of July Creek by Smith Henderson. Harrowing tales from the heartland.
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Post by laurenjean on Sept 8, 2014 0:05:41 GMT -5
I'm almost finished with Isaac Marion's "Warm Bodies" which is pretty enjoyable. It's kind of gross, but pretty funny. I recently finished Bryan Lee O'Malley's "Seconds," which mostly made me want to revisit Scott Pilgrim.
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Post by laurenjean on Sept 14, 2014 10:30:29 GMT -5
I just started "The Shining Girls" about a time traveling serial killer, and I hope it lives up to the hype. I wish someone would pay me to stay home and read.
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Post by campfirewood1980 on Sept 14, 2014 14:43:42 GMT -5
The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint is a great read. It swings hard from moment to moment, going from the sad to the hilarious to the graceful to the absurd, and it lingers with you for a good long while. Check it out, gang.
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stringer
Has Status
Seein' my duty clear.
Posts: 2,702
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Post by stringer on Oct 26, 2014 3:45:50 GMT -5
Bought this a few months back, still haven't got round to it. Really excited to start, but it's not really a 'quick read on the train' kind of book is it! Haha not at all, but as culture historian Byrne is a really impressive writer, and there's always enough pop culture thrown in to get you through the drier bits. Just started reading it... I absolutely love it so far!
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Post by junobeach on Oct 27, 2014 13:53:59 GMT -5
Finished How Music Works, interesting but nonessential, very very dry. Blasted through the new-ish Pogues book (Here Comes Everybody) which was a good read. Now reading What If by the xkcd guy, and waiting for my Wolf In White Van book to turn up in the mail.
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