books to read

[shark tits]

Has anyone read Pygmy by Chuck Palahniuk? This shit is so goddamn hard to read. The narration is written in broken english and that would be somewhat bearable if the story was at least a little interesting. I just want to hurry up and finish this shit

i read it at the bookstore in oakland waiting for a train. sorta how clockwork orange is hard at first but then it makes sense, pygmy ended up being ok. never really explained what country that little devil was from, did it? wasn't my favorite or least favorite palahniuk book.

[oyolar]

I've heard it was a cool concept that took a while to get used to but ultimately just kinda fell flat. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good enough to justify the frustration of the stilted prose.

[tortfeasor]

i have no read pgymy but rant is one of my all time favorite books and the concept is amazingly executed. 


my new years resolution is to only read slightly trashy, non-peachy suspense stories this year.
i've started with 'sharp objects' and its so fucking enjoyable.   its reminding why i loved reading in the first place.   if anyone has any recommendations on good easy/fun suspense or mystery books i'm all ears.

[botefdunn]

easy read, wonderful. the movie adds a bunch of propaganda and waters down the main point

[shitsandwich]

Expand Quote

Has anyone read Pygmy by Chuck Palahniuk? This shit is so goddamn hard to read. The narration is written in broken english and that would be somewhat bearable if the story was at least a little interesting. I just want to hurry up and finish this shit

[close]

i read it at the bookstore in oakland waiting for a train. sorta how clockwork orange is hard at first but then it makes sense, pygmy ended up being ok. never really explained what country that little devil was from, did it? wasn't my favorite or least favorite palahniuk book.

I've havent read a clockwork orange but I'm assuming its written with thick accents? I just finished the Trainspotting book which was also a little difficult because of the heavy Scottish accents. Although unlike Pygmy imo it was worth the read because it was actually enjoyable. (Also if anyone has seen Trainspotting, I recommend the book. It's a really entertaining read.)

I'm not sure yet what happens to Pgymy. I've only been able to get through fifteen pages at a time without my mind wandering somewhere else. I feel like this writing style is cool in theory though

[shark tits]

not accents, made up slang ie droogs and vecky horrorshow. it makes sense after 20 pages or whatever. i've read a few irvine welsh books, at first the phonetics messes w/ you but you start reading w/ scottish accent. i guess you'll get used to anything after a chapter or 2.

[Alexactly]

i read it at the bookstore in oakland waiting for a train.

Was it near Rockridge bart?

[shark tits]

Expand Quote

i read it at the bookstore in oakland waiting for a train.

[close]

Was it near Rockridge bart?

i don't think. it was by jack london plaza. it was about to be out of business barnes and nobles right on the water and the freight trains ride down the middle of the street and there's a building you can ollie sideways flat gap over stairs.

[cookieboy]

Currently reading Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are.

Also heard that Murakami is writing a new book, can't wait to try some Murakami Bingo.

[shitsandwich]

Currently reading Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are.

Also heard that Murakami is writing a new book, can't wait to try some Murakami Bingo.

How is this?

[cookieboy]

So far I like it, but I'm not too deep into the book. He has some interesting views and stories that go along with each view as well. I'd recommend it since it's not a dense read.

[snowman600]

The Tools by Barry Michels and Phil 'deez nutz' Stutz. probably the first self-help book I've truly found useful.

[AnotherHardDayAtTheOffice]

Finally wrapped up 2666 the other day. I love the feeling of finishing a really long-ass book - it's like you're finishing a project. Overall, 2666 is one of the best books I've ever read. I can totally see why people refer to it as Bolano's magnum opus, even though I still like The Savage Detectives better. If you like Bolano, you should totally check it out one day. If you're really into plot-driven novels where all loose ends are brought together, this might not be your cup of tea.

Right after, I read Returning to Reims by Didier Eribon. Eribon is a French sociologist who, as the title says, returns to his parents' house in middle of nowhere after his father died. On the one hand, it's an autobiography about a man who fled the narrow-mindedness of his parents' household and conservative Reims to fully express his homosexuality and become an intellectual in Paris. As Eribon is confronted with his roots for the first time in decades, he becomes very critical with his himself and his "inner" escape. On the other hand, it's also a book about political changes in France; by looking at his own parents, Eribon tries to analyze why "common people" went from voting for the Communist party straight to the Front National (a "populist" right-wing party). I loved how critical Eribon is with himself and left-wing intellectuals in general and how he's not afraid to confront ugly truths. If you're interested in right-wing populism in Europe right now, this one could be for you.



This morning, I picked up George Packer's The Unwinding. I know it's been really popular in the States. Anyone else read it?

[Rusty Shackleford]

rereading...still gives me the chills..

[RCB3]

I read The Road from Cormac McCarthy and couldn't put it down. I read it all in one sitting because I enjoyed it so much. Because of that, I started reading Blood Meridian, one of his earlier books, which is often said to be one of his best. I'm 3/4 of the way through and I'll be honest that it's been really hard for me to read. The style in which it's written and the different types of words, which I'm sure are more geared towards that time period, makes me read it real slow in order to gather everything together in my head. I'm hoping by the end I will have a better appreciation for it, but I'm trying to not be one of those dudes that say they love a certain book because it's a hipster classic or something.

Anyone read it and have some insight or want to share their take on it? I'd love to hear some thoughts.

[oyolar]

Dude--I had the same thing happen to me! I liked some of the very poetic passages and the imagery of Blood Meridian, but I definitely didn't feel the same impact that I did from The Road. I want to try some of his other stuff though.

Here are two Yale lectures on Blood Meridian that I remember being interesting and helpful but full disclosure, I read the book and listened to these years ago so I apologize if my memory is off and they're not that great:

[botefdunn]

bears a fe similarities to blood meridian but is lighter. reqd on the plane a couple days ago and it got me where i wqnted to go. bit of a rip on brautigan's hawklin mystery though. for those who like western noir

[AnotherHardDayAtTheOffice]

I read The Road from Cormac McCarthy and couldn't put it down. I read it all in one sitting because I enjoyed it so much. Because of that, I started reading Blood Meridian, one of his earlier books, which is often said to be one of his best. I'm 3/4 of the way through and I'll be honest that it's been really hard for me to read. The style in which it's written and the different types of words, which I'm sure are more geared towards that time period, makes me read it real slow in order to gather everything together in my head. I'm hoping by the end I will have a better appreciation for it, but I'm trying to not be one of those dudes that say they love a certain book because it's a hipster classic or something.

Anyone read it and have some insight or want to share their take on it? I'd love to hear some thoughts.

I literally had the same experience. All I can say is: wait until you finish the book. I loved The Road; I was really not sure about Blood Meridian. Now, years later, I completely forgot about details from The Road, but I'm still thinking about Blood Meridian every once in a while. So yeah, the book isn't exactly a page-turner, but I'd say it's worth it in the end.

And yeah, the lectures that oyolar posted, are great!

[RCB3]

Thanks for the replies dudes. Glad I'm not alone on this one. I'll definitely finish it and hope to feel a little bit more attached to it by the end. And I'll check out those videos. Cheers!

Also, on a side note, I read the book Modoc, which is based on a true story about a boy and an elephant and their relationship over the years, and it's amazing. Definitely dropped a tear or 2 at some point. Elephants are incredibly smart animals.

[Grind King Rims]

Finally finished reading Stoner by John Williams. Damn, is it sad. But it's a damned good book.

[biggums mcgee]

Finished E.L. Doctorow's World's Fair today- great author if you're into historical fiction, that book though is autobiographical and takes place in the Bronx between '36-?39. Great light reading.

Picked up Blood Meridian a few years back because Mark Whiteley said it was one of his favorites. Ill shamelessly admit I put it down after 50 pages..

[7 year old]

anyone read Against the Day by thomas pynchon?
wondering how it compares to Gravity's Rainbow.

i read The Crying of Lot 49 a few days ago and really liked it in parts. ending sucked though.

[Alan]

[oyolar]

anyone read Against the Day by thomas pynchon?
wondering how it compares to Gravity's Rainbow.

i read The Crying of Lot 49 a few days ago and really liked it in parts. ending sucked though.

It took me long enough to get through Gravity's Rainbow (although I want to give it another read)--I can't imagine trying to read Against The Day.

[7 year old]

Gravity's Rainbow is so sick. I want to re-read it too, but I don't know where the hell my copy is.

[Chris Hansen is back]

Mason & Dixon was one of the most satisfying books I've ever read. It was an odd place to start with him, but I'm glad I did.

[oyolar]

I've got to read more Pynchon.  I've liked everything I've read so far, but he's one of those authors that I'll get an itch for, read him, and then be fine for a while.

Just finished the first chapter of You Too Can Have A Body Like Mine by Alexandra Kleeman and damn is it really good and unsettling.  Excited to see where it goes.

[cookieboy]

Just finished The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho, it was such an enjoyable read. Liked it a lot more than The Alchemist.

[Peter Zagreus]

Not an American hero, but a hero nonetheless. Breezy, informative read, thanks to Halberstam.

Nietzsche always hypes me up...maybe overly so, sometimes. The Will to Power is a compilation of Nietzsche's more pertinent journal entries, so they read differently than his published material...disjointed bursts of thought, like when you're stoned and feel like you need to capture your profound ideas, so you scribble them down...except Nietzsche's ideas are actually "deep."
Always thought the cover would look good on a t-shirt.

[oyolar]

An important detail about The Will to Power was collected and (originally) edited by Nietzsche's Nazi-sympathizing sister and has been critiqued a lot for mischaracterizing a lot of his thoughts and notes.  I've always heard from friend who have read a lot of Nietzsche to take that collection with a massive grain of salt.