books to read

[friendly dave]

Been working my way through this one. It's like got some big words and junk.

[Lenny the Fatface]

My mother (knowing I am into weird shit) bought me this for Christmas



and I've been reading this, some of the most interesting analogies I've ever read.

[crunk juice]

Super interesting.  Kinda reminded me of the Selfish Gene.  It's about how music, writing, sports, art, comedy, etc. are all elaborate forms of sexual fitness display.  Basically, all of these activities are different ways of showing off how great your brain/body/genes are to the opposite sex.

I think I read this in high school, but I read it again because everyone on here was talking about it.  I liked it, but it was kinda like a really shitty version of Ham on Rye.  Ham on Rye's the best book ever written, though, so this was still really good.

This was painful.  It's about this dude who murders some old lady and her daughter.  Then almost the entire book is about him freaking out about it, stressing, getting sick, losing his mind, and on and on.  It was just sort of stressful.  Not a bad book, though.

[noboru watanabe]

My mother (knowing I am into weird shit) bought me this for Christmas



and I've been reading this, some of the most interesting analogies I've ever read.

Howdy, I feel compelled to break my lurker's code of silence to agree with your post.  I highly recommend Murakami's The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.  Also, the free darko blog has the best "basketball related philosophical musings" around.

While I'm at it, Raymond Chandler writes some damn good stuff as well.

[layzieyez]

If you like that Murakami book, read A Wild Sheep Chase next.  I fucking love both of those books so fucking much.  Enjoy.

[Blue Fescue]

Dance Dance Dance is a great Murakami book too

[Smell Good]

If you like that Murakami book, read A Wild Sheep Chase next.  I fucking love both of those books so fucking much.  Enjoy.

This is my personal Murakami collection.

Still need Kafka (which I've already read) and his first two novels (have to get on ebay for that).

[Joust Ostrich]

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Has any one read "boob" from Dave Carnie?

I was just looking at it, had no idea it would be so big, not that he has ever been short of anything to say.  I figure parts of it are entertaining, but is it worth the money?

[close]

Where'd you find it? I've been looking around for it, but to no avail.

Local skate shop, got it through AWH skateboard distribution in Chicago.   If your shop uses them, you are in there.

[Smurph]

This was painful.  It's about this dude who murders some old lady and her daughter.  Then almost the entire book is about him freaking out about it, stressing, getting sick, losing his mind, and on and on.  It was just sort of stressful.  Not a bad book, though.

Okay.
Now, no insult to your intelligence or opinion, but if you think this book is just about a murder and some dude ''freaking out about it'', then Sarah Palin is the new Nikolas Tesla.

This book is about so much more than 99.99999999% of what all other books can adduce. That being said, if you didn't enjoy it that much, then that's your decision - and I respect that. I just think that there are so many themes and issues implicitly addressed in this book that it is considered one of, if not, the most venerable book of all time.

If somebody asks me to recommend a book I generally either suggest either of the classics, 1984 or Crime and Punshment; the former because it deals with more accessible issues to society. It is also conventionally a great novel. However I would refer the latter as there's a subtlety to Dostoyevsky's writing that is no longer achieved in modern literature; the depiction of his mental state, the description of the horror of (the) murder, the delineation of Russia in the nineteenth century, solitude.

Dostoyevsky wrote this after having been in exile for five years in Siberia. If the ending of the book didn't make you cry, then just listen to Blink 182 and get a face tattoo.

[bangkadang]

had to read night by elie wiesel for school, its really fucking intense, great book

[kilgore.]

[crunk juice]

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This was painful.  It's about this dude who murders some old lady and her daughter.  Then almost the entire book is about him freaking out about it, stressing, getting sick, losing his mind, and on and on.  It was just sort of stressful.  Not a bad book, though.

[close]

Okay.
Now, no insult to your intelligence or opinion, but if you think this book is just about a murder and some dude ''freaking out about it'', then Sarah Palin is the new Nikolas Tesla.

This book is about so much more than 99.99999999% of what all other books can adduce. That being said, if you didn't enjoy it that much, then that's your decision - and I respect that. I just think that there are so many themes and issues implicitly addressed in this book that it is considered one of, if not, the most venerable book of all time.

If somebody asks me to recommend a book I generally either suggest either of the classics, 1984 or Crime and Punshment; the former because it deals with more accessible issues to society. It is also conventionally a great novel. However I would refer the latter as there's a subtlety to Dostoyevsky's writing that is no longer achieved in modern literature; the depiction of his mental state, the description of the horror of (the) murder, the delineation of Russia in the nineteenth century, solitude.

Dostoyevsky wrote this after having been in exile for five years in Siberia. If the ending of the book didn't make you cry, then just listen to Blink 182 and get a face tattoo.

Just my honest opinion, bro.  I obviously wasn't trying to include every theme and nuance in the book in the couple of sentences I wrote.  I like it when other people give a quick synopses and/or opinion about what they've read on here, so I do the same.  It helps me get ideas about what I'd like to read next.  Like I said, it was not a bad book, but I just didn't really enjoy reading it.  It just didn't hit home to me and I didn't think the major themes were anything too mind blowing.  Yes, people in power kill and they're made heros; poor people kill and they're murderers.  I think most people understand this.  Maybe not.  It definitely wasn't revelatory to me.  I also found the main character to be pretty annoying.  I felt bad for the poor mother that had to deal with a selfish person of a son fucking up her life.  On the other hand, I really liked some parts of it.  I don't know...I could go on, but why bother?  I'm aware that the great weight of literary thought is against me on this one, but I don't really care.  I was just giving my honest impression.  Maybe I missed something huge.  Feel free to enlighten me if you'd like. 

[Eric Harris]

[oyolar]

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This was painful.  It's about this dude who murders some old lady and her daughter.  Then almost the entire book is about him freaking out about it, stressing, getting sick, losing his mind, and on and on.  It was just sort of stressful.  Not a bad book, though.

[close]

Okay.
Now, no insult to your intelligence or opinion, but if you think this book is just about a murder and some dude ''freaking out about it'', then Sarah Palin is the new Nikolas Tesla.

This book is about so much more than 99.99999999% of what all other books can adduce. That being said, if you didn't enjoy it that much, then that's your decision - and I respect that. I just think that there are so many themes and issues implicitly addressed in this book that it is considered one of, if not, the most venerable book of all time.

If somebody asks me to recommend a book I generally either suggest either of the classics, 1984 or Crime and Punshment; the former because it deals with more accessible issues to society. It is also conventionally a great novel. However I would refer the latter as there's a subtlety to Dostoyevsky's writing that is no longer achieved in modern literature; the depiction of his mental state, the description of the horror of (the) murder, the delineation of Russia in the nineteenth century, solitude.

Dostoyevsky wrote this after having been in exile for five years in Siberia. If the ending of the book didn't make you cry, then just listen to Blink 182 and get a face tattoo.

Did you ever read Nabokov's lecture where he just tore Crime and Punishment, and Dostoyevsky in general, apart? I've never read Crime and Punishment or Dostoyevsky (I think), but Nabokov's descriptions don't make me eager to read him and they make me wonder if his ability has been blown out of proportion.

[kilgore.]

dostoyevsky>>>>>>>>>>>nabokov.

by a mile
easily.

[sven thorkel]

I forgot about this thread for a while. Here's what I've been up to for the past while (as if anyone cares)



Really good. Funny insights into phony intellectualism and consumerism. I haven't read any other DeLillo novels but this one seems to be a good starting point.



A quick and funny read. It's a good take on the many angles of conspiracy theories. The self-aware used car salesman still cracks me up.



For whatever reason I wanted to read a cyberpunk book. It's alright, but it would have been way more jawdropping if I had read it in the 80's when it was all new ideas. Some of the concepts are more relevant today though. I'm waiting to read Snow Crash; that sounds as if it's the best cyberpunk (or mock) novel.



Pretty typical Vonnegut book which means I really like it. Not his best but definitely not his worst. If you want some laughs and some observations towards the fucked up nature of humans this book is for you.

[Des Esseintes]

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If you like that Murakami book, read A Wild Sheep Chase next.  I fucking love both of those books so fucking much.  Enjoy.

[close]

This is my personal Murakami collection.

Still need Kafka (which I've already read) and his first two novels (have to get on ebay for that).

Hear the wind sing will cost you about a tenner or so, mate. So just stop by ebay for that one.

Pinball can cost about a hundred quid though. You can read that one online fortunately.

http://www.betz.lu/media/users/charel/pinball1973.pdf

[yeah dude!]

I guess a lot of people think it's too similar to The Corrections (aaaand they're sort of right) but Freedom is the best book I've read in a while.

[???]

I forgot about this thread for a while. Here's what I've been up to for the past while (as if anyone cares)



Really good. Funny insights into phony intellectualism and consumerism. I haven't read any other DeLillo novels but this one seems to be a good starting point.

This is a great book and also the only one of his that I have read. I hear good things about his other works. I should re-read this one.

[lighting]

just read this today, now i know.

[VictoriousOG]

Has anyone here had their hand at writing they're own novel?

[oyolar]

Has anyone here had their hand at writing they're own novel?

It sucks and it's hard. I barely got anywhere before I hit a major writer's block/lack of free time.

edit: Which makes me even more amazed by the author's who have such a huge catalog of (legitimate) works.

[VictoriousOG]

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Has anyone here had their hand at writing they're own novel?

[close]

It sucks and it's hard. I barely got anywhere before I hit a major writer's block/lack of free time.

edit: Which makes me even more amazed by the author's who have such a huge catalog of (legitimate) works.

I have an idea, and have had others. I just can never stretch out any idea to no more than a short story. I especially get discouraged to even write one when reading a book and thinking I could never write as well. Writing a novel is definitely a life goal I would love to reach.

[David]

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Has any one read "boob" from Dave Carnie?

I was just looking at it, had no idea it would be so big, not that he has ever been short of anything to say.  I figure parts of it are entertaining, but is it worth the money?

[close]

Where'd you find it? I've been looking around for it, but to no avail.

[close]

Local skate shop, got it through AWH skateboard distribution in Chicago.   If your shop uses them, you are in there.

I need this.
and this

[Smurph]

I have an idea, and have had others. I just can never stretch out any idea to no more than a short story. I especially get discouraged to even write one when reading a book and thinking I could never write as well. Writing a novel is definitely a life goal I would love to reach.

Life experience.

I don't mean to sound condescending. Actually screw that, I do; I would never read some novel by a teenage skateboarder from Texas.

The best novels are authoritative and unique They illustrate an effigy/place/person that nobody else can. Not that I'm in the position to tell anyone how to write a book, but if you're inspiration hasn't been aroused and you feel that you really do have the literary skills to produce a compelling novel, then don't worry. You're seventeen/eighteen or some shit right? Assuming you're still in school, I can attest that you will learn alot about yourself when you leave school. Honestly, when you start travelling/doing shit in your own (generally being outside you're comfort zone) you will really start to formulate an articulate viewpoint...

[VictoriousOG]

I agree with that,and do believe that will happen. But the comment on being a skateboarder wouldn't really matter. Cause no one is going to put a book down if they found whoever wrote the book skated when he was young. And I don't expect to finish it within this year, and three years if I'm lucky. I want to take my time with it. I have a friend whose dad has been writing the same novel for 16 years.

[Smurph]

But the comment on being a skateboarder wouldn't really matter. Cause no one is going to put a book down if they found whoever wrote the book skated when he was young.

No, I'm saying if you, as a skateboarder, wrote a book right now, I would just refuse to read it.

Though I know some people will disagree with this sentiment, I think that skateboarders as a whole, are unfulfilled, illiterate, uneducated, predictable wastes-of-life. Really, I've met skateboarders from all over the world and honestly, ~90% of them were just plain dull and seemed to have no opinion about history/current affairs/life. Skating/weed is generally the extent of discourse with skateboarders the world over. Take for instance that enjoi smart contest video - with the exception of Jerry Hsu and Louie Barletta (who was just joking for most answers) it was appalling to see how little grown men knew about the world that they've been living in for so long. 'We' as skateboarders get frustrated with the disrespect we are bestowed on a daily basis but how can we command any form of respect when we can't even recall the names of five presidents...

Then again you've always got people like Spike Jonze, Mark Gonzalez to restore your faith...

[VictoriousOG]

Yeah I totally agree, people just take skateboarders for retards, but we're really not with the exception of a few people.

[MaryhillVibe]

Just got done with "The Steve Machine" by Mike Hoolboom a visual artist from toronto who has been living with HIV for two decades.

Its basically a plauge novel that twists reality to deals with some dark situations in a refreshing way.

another good read from the free stuff table in my laundry room!

[Smell Good]

There is absolutely no shame in being a short stories writer.

Fuck, it's a totally different animal.

I'm surprised that not more of you SLAP dudes read Raymond Carver's stories.