Author Topic: book recommendations  (Read 229973 times)

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Offline Brock Landers

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #900 on: August 05, 2014, 12:06:58 PM »
My cubicle neighbor at work recently loaned me Under the Dome.  I hadn't read any Stephen King stuff since the late 90's and I figured it was worth a shot since the guy used to be pretty entertaining.  This book is simply awful.  There are too many characters to keep track of but it doesn't matter since ***NO SPOILER WARNING SINCE YOU'D HAVE TO BE AN IDIOT TO READ THIS BOOK*** almost every single one of them dies anyway.  The ending was unbelievably stupid.  Oh yeah, the book was 1072 pages long. I kept reading and reading thinking it would get better but it didn't.  Joke's on me for reading 1072 pages of absolute garbage.

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #901 on: August 05, 2014, 12:15:47 PM »
My cubicle neighbor at work recently loaned me Under the Dome.  I hadn't read any Stephen King stuff since the late 90's and I figured it was worth a shot since the guy used to be pretty entertaining.  This book is simply awful.  There are too many characters to keep track of but it doesn't matter since ***NO SPOILER WARNING SINCE YOU'D HAVE TO BE AN IDIOT TO READ THIS BOOK*** almost every single one of them dies anyway.  The ending was unbelievably stupid.  Oh yeah, the book was 1072 pages long. I kept reading and reading thinking it would get better but it didn't.  Joke's on me for reading 1072 pages of absolute garbage.

The lesson: bail on books you don't like early

(UNLESS IT'S INFINITE JEST)

Offline Mr Bread

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #902 on: August 05, 2014, 12:17:39 PM »
He probably didn't read the rough ridin' footnotes right.  Typical brock landers.
My prescience is fully engorged.  It throbs with righteous accuracy.  I am sated.

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #903 on: August 05, 2014, 12:20:22 PM »
The last book I bailed on early was this:

http://www.amazon.com/On-Looking-Eleven-Walks-Expert/dp/1439191255

Such rough ridin' awful pretentious prose, I bailed after a chapter and a half. Her previous book was about what dogs smell so joke's on me I guess.

Offline CHONGS

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #904 on: August 05, 2014, 12:34:30 PM »
I've been doing a bit of non-fiction lately, but I have to space it out. Need some good ole stories in between all of the facts.

Offline CNS

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #905 on: August 05, 2014, 12:45:29 PM »
Brock, King pretty much sucks balls now.  He mumped up his masterpiece and has sucked since.

As far as giving up on books early, I have had a real problem lately.  I have read the first 100 pg of half a dozen books lately and can't find one that keeps my attention right now.  Most of them seem like they should be good, but I just can't get into them right now.  Will save for later, I guess.

Now I am on something(Natchez Burning) that I can pretty much guarantee is going to be bland the whole way through, but I actually don't mind picking it up daily.  Anyone read it yet? 

I hate it when I can't find something that grabs my balls.

Offline CHONGS

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #906 on: August 05, 2014, 12:49:19 PM »
Yah, I started reading Artful: A Novel and couldn't even get past the first two pages.  I need something to titillate and arouse me.

Offline Brock Landers

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #907 on: August 05, 2014, 12:52:12 PM »
My cubicle neighbor at work recently loaned me Under the Dome.  I hadn't read any Stephen King stuff since the late 90's and I figured it was worth a shot since the guy used to be pretty entertaining.  This book is simply awful.  There are too many characters to keep track of but it doesn't matter since ***NO SPOILER WARNING SINCE YOU'D HAVE TO BE AN IDIOT TO READ THIS BOOK*** almost every single one of them dies anyway.  The ending was unbelievably stupid.  Oh yeah, the book was 1072 pages long. I kept reading and reading thinking it would get better but it didn't.  Joke's on me for reading 1072 pages of absolute garbage.

The lesson: bail on books you don't like early

(UNLESS IT'S INFINITE JEST)


Good advice, but by the time I realized how bad it was I was already a few hundred pages into it and figured I was committed at that point.  I'm the same way with movies.  Although your maximum time committment to a terrible movie is usually about 2 hours whereas this piece of crap book used up most of my leisure time over about 2 weeks.

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #908 on: August 05, 2014, 01:00:03 PM »
I've been doing a bit of non-fiction lately, but I have to space it out. Need some good ole stories in between all of the facts.

yes, me, too.

I've mentioned it before, but I love George Saunders' short stories as a way to break up non-fiction.

Offline Rage Against the McKee

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #909 on: August 05, 2014, 01:16:57 PM »
I read this book a few weeks ago. It was pretty interesting.


Offline Mrs. Gooch

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #910 on: August 05, 2014, 01:50:48 PM »
I remember the good old days of the book thread where gratuitous fiction used to flow like wine.

Now, just a bunch of snobs running around talking about having to have patience for ivory towered drivel.

eff that.  I want sex, violence, intrigue, and humor, or GTFO.

The Wool series is actually pretty much what you describe.

I'm 2/3 through Wool.  :thumbs:

Finished Shift and now I'm on Dust. I start to cry every time they bring up that damn cat.

Offline Mr Bread

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #911 on: August 05, 2014, 02:17:49 PM »
I remember the good old days of the book thread where gratuitous fiction used to flow like wine.

Now, just a bunch of snobs running around talking about having to have patience for ivory towered drivel.

eff that.  I want sex, violence, intrigue, and humor, or GTFO.

The Wool series is actually pretty much what you describe.

I'm 2/3 through Wool.  :thumbs:

Finished Shift and now I'm on Dust. I start to cry every time they bring up that damn cat.

I read Wool.  It was okay.  It did not leave me with the desire to read another one. 
My prescience is fully engorged.  It throbs with righteous accuracy.  I am sated.

Offline Emo EMAW

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #912 on: August 05, 2014, 02:21:35 PM »
Everybody post some classics and/or really well-known books that you read that were either terrible or meh.

Pride and Prejudice: no rough ridin' thanks
1984: meh. I mean, I guess. Whatever.

Anything Kurt Vonnegut. 

Offline Mr Bread

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #913 on: August 05, 2014, 02:41:28 PM »
Everybody post some classics and/or really well-known books that you read that were either terrible or meh.

Pride and Prejudice: no rough ridin' thanks
1984: meh. I mean, I guess. Whatever.

Anything Kurt Vonnegut.

You should just name the one that you read.
My prescience is fully engorged.  It throbs with righteous accuracy.  I am sated.

Offline 8manpick

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #914 on: August 05, 2014, 02:46:07 PM »
Everybody post some classics and/or really well-known books that you read that were either terrible or meh.

Pride and Prejudice: no rough ridin' thanks
1984: meh. I mean, I guess. Whatever.

Anything Kurt Vonnegut.

You should just name the one that you read.
Vonnegut is awesome, but I can see how a low/medium may not enjoy him
:adios:

Offline chum1

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #915 on: August 10, 2014, 07:12:38 PM »
I just completed my reading list designed to include uniquely California stories. I was pretty happy with it, so here it is:

The Day of the Locust, Nathanael West
Less Than Zero, Bret Easton Ellis
Ask the Dust, John Fante
Where I was From, Joan Didion
Slouching Toward Bethlehem, Joan Didion

Offline CNS

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #916 on: August 10, 2014, 07:20:42 PM »
No Steinbeck?

Offline chum1

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #917 on: August 10, 2014, 07:41:18 PM »
No Steinbeck?

Already read most. But I should also clarify my project further. I was more after stories that might capture unique aspects of the the nature of some of the state's people and places, conveying a distinct California flavor.

Offline Mikeyis4dcats

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #918 on: August 11, 2014, 09:51:29 AM »
read the Wayward Pines series last week.   Enjoyable summer fare.

Offline Kat Kid

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #919 on: August 11, 2014, 10:03:08 AM »

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #920 on: August 11, 2014, 10:16:07 AM »
As soon as I am done with Capital in the 21st Century.......

http://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Bridge-Fall-Nixon-Reagan/dp/1476782415/ref=la_B001I9OL9S_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407769352&sr=1-1

interesting!

I finished 'A Peace to End All Peace'

http://www.amazon.com/Peace-End-All-Ottoman-Creation/dp/0805088091/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407769775&sr=1-1&keywords=peace+to+end+all+peace

Summary: The Middle East borders and leaders of today are for the most part in place because a bunch of bumbling Brits who had no idea what they were doing carved up the Ottoman Empire during World War I among the allies (BEFORE THEY HAD SET FOOT ON OTTOMAN TERRITORY MIND YOU.) The Brits had a comical series of misadventures along the way before losing interest (and money) after the war and saying, "well, I guess we did promise we'd do this five years ago during WWI, so here ya go". It's kind of infuriating. Also the author didn't care much for TE Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) and basically called him a big fat liar the entire book, but the Brits thought he was awesome because he war Arabian clothes.
« Last Edit: August 11, 2014, 10:32:29 AM by michigancat »

Offline Kat Kid

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #921 on: August 11, 2014, 10:19:43 AM »
I read Nixonland already, so I might as well tune in to figure out what happens next, ya know?

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #922 on: August 11, 2014, 10:31:51 AM »
I wasn't being facetious, it really does sound interesting. 

Offline Mrs. Gooch

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #923 on: August 11, 2014, 10:32:53 AM »
I really like Ken Follett books. I just found World Without End (sequel to Pillars of the Earth) on audiobook at a flea market for $8.50. It is really good so far.

Offline star seed 7

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Re: book recommendations
« Reply #924 on: August 12, 2014, 08:14:38 PM »
Hyperbolic partisan duplicitous hypocrite