take it easy HnR)hT, i don't think this thread is for literary criticism. i kind of see this thread as a substitute for browsing a bookstore and looking at interesting covers for prospective reading material. I'd rather browse through book covers in this thread that have been selected by mostly competitive SC players than having to go through every book filled with time-wasting garbage in the bookstore. Usually if there is a good book ppl will quote and state their opinions..also it lets me know of new releases i haven't heard of :p
But yes i agree it is pretty lame when people post their assigned school readings :[ but not much we can do about that, can we ?

I think you're in the wrong place man D:

Murderotica

Vatican City State2594 Posts

June 29 2010 14:59 GMT

#222

One of the greatest analytical pieces on 3 well-documented battles, from the individual psyche and its influence on battle to the importance (and sometimes futility) of strategy.

HnR)hT

United States3468 Posts

June 29 2010 15:00 GMT

#223

Well shit, it wasn't my intention to spoil anyone's good time. If you like, I'm thinking out loud.

Have fun!

Murderotica

Vatican City State2594 Posts

June 29 2010 15:02 GMT

#224

On June 29 2010 22:05 sTromSK wrote:
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Great book about the life of a famous physicist and Nobel price laureate R. Feynman. Nice style of writing, funny and inspiring content.

This is also a great book (:

z]Benny

Romania253 Posts

June 29 2010 15:24 GMT

#225

Ok then this one's for you, HnR)ht, as I kind of agree with you.

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I think this establishes Nick Cave, once and for all, as a guy who is not only able to write brilliant lyrics, but also brilliant books. The book is a very Nick Cave-ian account of a man burning through life to the point of extinction (no spoilers here, the book is, after all, called the death of bunny munro).

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The book is exactly what the movie could've been, but wasn't. A very serious account of a soldier returning from Vietnam to a world that hates him for having fought for his country, people calling him a vagrant, spitting on him. When I started it I feared it would be yet another pro-american war bullshit book, but it's quite the opposite, and it's the human rage that's the main current in this book. I've never actually read such a "mainstream" action-oriented book before, an action-book (behold!), but this one lets having things to say and action coexist very nicely.

I've seen the movie before reading the book and I must say it's really difficult doing things in this order, because usually characters from the movie pop in your mind when reading the book. But Dennis Lehane provides enough insight, depth and detail for Sean Penn and Tim Robbins to fly right out of your mind, as he gives you a very thick and through description of the world his action takes place in. I gotta say that after Mystic River, having read 3 other books by him, he's close to being my favorite author right now, as his grittyness in writing is so gravel grinding rough that it seems other worldly. Seriously recommending this one.

Flaccid

8835 Posts

June 29 2010 15:25 GMT

#226

Just finished my latest bathroom reader while taking a dump this morning:

A collection of witty, clever essays from America's favorite armchair intellectual. For those not familiar with Chuck Klosterman, he has a gift for making the reader examine the seemingly meaningless in unexpectedly meaningful ways. He covers everything in this book from time-travel to american football to Ted Kaczynski - all the while elaborating on the larger themes of how the modern media has shaped our lives.

edit:

Currently wrapping up my night-time reading which is White Noise by Don Delillo, a pretty short little novel from the 80s that most people have probably heard of. I don't really read a lot of fiction so this was a nice change of pace. Delillo is a brilliant writer and his wonderful use of the english language makes me feel profoundly stupid on a nightly basis. I have enjoyed this novel so much that I went and picked up his much longer work Underworld the other day to get cracking on next. All I know is there is something about the Cold War in it...

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edit2: Also, it'd be really nice if people could elaborate on what they're reading, like give us a bit of their impressions as opposed to just posting a cover image. It's hard to determine what's worth picking up without some sort of insight =[

thedeadhaji

39489 Posts

June 29 2010 15:26 GMT

#227

SwEEt[TearS]

Canada1575 Posts

June 29 2010 15:55 GMT

#228

Manit0u

Poland17248 Posts

June 29 2010 16:03 GMT

#229

Tried to read this...

But ditched it after first two chapters.

Now on to this:

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Dance.jhu

United States292 Posts

June 29 2010 16:07 GMT

#230

The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon
and
World War Z by Maxwell

Hirmu

Finland850 Posts

June 29 2010 16:11 GMT

#231

psheldr

Germany32 Posts

June 29 2010 16:19 GMT

#232

stafu

Australia1196 Posts

June 29 2010 16:34 GMT

#233

Sadist

United States7219 Posts

June 29 2010 16:40 GMT

#234

Paper Tiger
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Its about a writer who takes a year and then some off to try to get as good as he possibly can at golf and maybe make the PGA tour. Its very interesting, hes a good writer and its pretty funny. Its a great read for anyone, but if you enjoy golf at all youll really love it.

Ndugu

United States1078 Posts

June 29 2010 17:11 GMT

#235

Got stuck on the absolutely awful Wheel of Time series. I would not recommend it to my worst enemy. A close friend swears that is the best thing ever written, which has gotten me up to book 10. Nothing has happened since book 5. I promise you. Nothing that cannot be described in a paragraph has happened in the last 5 800 page books. I would have stopped if not for the knowledge that the author dies and a superior author takes over the series. At least I know that the series will only get better once I get to Brandon Sanderson's bits. I regretfully care enough about the characters to see how it ends.

Read Neuromancer for the first time recently. Was very disappointed. There was little depth, and I think it was merely the first guy to take modern technology and try and imagine its implications for the future. That being said, it was a quick and pleasant read coming from Wheel of Time.

Cambium

United States16368 Posts

June 29 2010 17:16 GMT

#236

On June 30 2010 00:55 SwEEt[TearS] wrote:
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I've seen this a couple of times already (I think) in this thread, how good is it? Do you actually recommend it?

I know quite a bit about North Korea being Chinese, have relatives who visited, and have done research on NK for a grad lvl course.

Azerbaijan

United States660 Posts

June 29 2010 17:31 GMT

#237

One of the best books I have ever read. If you want to run and be healthy but have trouble finding motivation or staying consistent Read This Book.

ZapRoffo

United States5544 Posts

June 29 2010 19:33 GMT

#238

On June 29 2010 20:53 snotboogie wrote:
Taking a break from Anna Karenina (not enough action) to read:

Hehe, yeah if you ever want a detailed look at like every single aspect of Russian society of the time, including extensive theorizing about the best methods of farming, read that book. But don't expect things to happen fast.