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Post by Captain Bee on Dec 31, 2013 17:34:42 GMT -8
Let's try to put a little activity back into this sub forum, shall we? If you haven't already heard about Goodreads, it's basically a site that lists pretty much every book in existence (or is trying to, anyway). If you have an account, you can add books you've read/own to your personal library and make favorite lists and stuff like that. It's basically the backloggery, but for books instead of video games. There's also a section that hosts a butt-load of giveaways. That's always a plus. If you already have a GR account, what's on your lists? If you don't have an account, list your favorite/disliked/want-to-read books here anyway! Right now my absolute favorite book of all time is How to Train Your Dragon. Think you know the story because you've seen the movie? Think again! It's actually pretty different from it's cinematic counterpart. Most of the dragons are actually really small (definitely not suited to ride on), they can talk (let that sink in for a second), and most of the characters other than Hiccup, his father Stoik and his mentor Gobber were changed completely. I'd love to talk more about it, but it'll have to be for another thread. The book I want to read the most right now (excluding books from a series I've started reading - and there are a lot) is a tie between The Cloak Society and Sidekicked (do you see the pattern here?) There are hundreds of other books I'd love to mention, but I'll reserve them for now. If I didn't, we'd all be here for who knows how long!
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Post by RavenKingSage on Dec 31, 2013 17:58:30 GMT -8
I read Brave New World recently. Great stuff. I can see why it's such a classic.
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Post by Derpy Hooves on Jan 1, 2014 15:36:10 GMT -8
I have read American Born Chinese. I think it is one of the best Graphic Novels ever.
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Post by Captain Bee on Jan 2, 2014 18:03:30 GMT -8
I read Brave New World recently. Great stuff. I can see why it's such a classic. Just by reading it's description I can see why it's considered a classic (don't do that, though. Never judge an entire book by it's description alone. No.) It seems like a pretty creepy story. What was it like? I have read American Born Chinese. I think it is one of the best Graphic Novels ever. I've never read it, but it does seem pretty interesting. Apparently there are 3 stories being told and that they all come together in the end...? How does it pull it off?
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Post by Derpy Hooves on Jan 3, 2014 6:06:06 GMT -8
I read Brave New World recently. Great stuff. I can see why it's such a classic. Just by reading it's description I can see why it's considered a classic (don't do that, though. Never judge an entire book by it's description alone. No.) It seems like a pretty creepy story. What was it like? I have read American Born Chinese. I think it is one of the best Graphic Novels ever. I've never read it, but it does seem pretty interesting. Apparently there are 3 stories being told and that they all come together in the end...? How does it pull it off? A Brave New World is amazing I highly reccomend it. It is a really good story about finding yourself. The main story as you may know is about a Jin Wang a boy who struggles to fit in in a society that doesn't look at him but his heritage. Danny and his cousin Chinkee who is the Chinese stereotype that the western world likes to portray. The last is about the Monkey King from Journey to the West. It is brilliant how they all come together at the end.
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Post by RavenKingSage on Jan 3, 2014 8:57:55 GMT -8
I read Brave New World recently. Great stuff. I can see why it's such a classic. Just by reading it's description I can see why it's considered a classic (don't do that, though. Never judge an entire book by it's description alone. No.) It seems like a pretty creepy story. What was it like? Exactly that - creepy and unsettling. You have a scene where 7-year-olds are engaging in "erotic play" while adults are looking on and encouraging them. I love its satire and it's kinda scary how Huxley got some things right, even if he exaggerates them. The encouragement of promiscuity is satirized in the book ("everybody belongs to everybody") and one-night stands are common practice today. False happiness is mass-produced in the form of soma, and today people are overly dependent on drugs. That's just the tip of the iceberg.
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Post by Avaril on Jan 5, 2014 14:25:23 GMT -8
I got quite the pile of books I still want to read in the near future: - Snuff (from the Discworld series)
- The Legend of
Drizz'l Drizzt
- Jules Verne's Seven Novels
- H.P. Lovecraft's Necronomicon
- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
- The Picture of Dorian Gray
- The Art of War
- The Epic of Gilgamesh
And a bunch more. As for favourites... that's a tough one. I quite like the whole Discworld series, but I gotta mention the Lord of the Rings trilogy (and The Hobbit) and Dracula as well.
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HotterdanArul
Krazier
I like white food but you don't catch me writing a song about salad and cheese
Posts: 226
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Post by HotterdanArul on Jan 6, 2014 13:44:21 GMT -8
I am all about late 20th century American novels hence why Les Than Zero and Fight Club are two of my favourite books and the remnants of that era are still present in my ultimate favourite book of all time Vernon God Little.
As for graphic novels, Chew and Watchmen come to mind as the best I have read but I am eager to see what will happen with Drowntown as well.
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Post by higemaru on Jan 6, 2014 14:40:25 GMT -8
Read the first two Song of Ice and Fire Books.
Martin's a damn good storyteller, if nothing else.
Planning on finishing off Vollman's "The Rainbow Stories", Hitchhiker's Guide and plowing through the remaining I&F books in the upcoming months. Also need to finish Screwtape Letters for school. Will probably start up Dracula and Brave New World before long.
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Post by Dementedvillian on Jan 7, 2014 19:48:18 GMT -8
I finished reading Maus. Oh my god, what a book.
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HotterdanArul
Krazier
I like white food but you don't catch me writing a song about salad and cheese
Posts: 226
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Post by HotterdanArul on Jan 20, 2014 9:46:08 GMT -8
Well today I finished off Jay Rubin's translation of Norwegian Snow by Haruki Murukami. I consider it at least in my three favourite books and might even have usurped Vernon God Little as my absolute favourite of all time. It seems a simple enough story but everything is told with such a deft sincerity and frankness that had me reading two thirds of it today alone. Plenty of sex in it though so not for the kiddies.
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HotterdanArul
Krazier
I like white food but you don't catch me writing a song about salad and cheese
Posts: 226
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Post by HotterdanArul on Jan 21, 2014 5:32:38 GMT -8
Just moved onto a new book called Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. Definite comedy aspects and told in quite a meta way which can get confusing. Interested to see where it goes.
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Post by alotofstickfigures on Jan 27, 2014 18:29:34 GMT -8
I'm gonna be honest, I probably haven't read anything that'll impress anyone.
A guilty pleasure of mine is the Percy Jackson series. Just...all that adventure. All the Greek Gods...being OWNED by CHILDREN. It makes a man feel good inside, let me tell you.
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Post by Captain Bee on Jan 27, 2014 20:43:10 GMT -8
I'm gonna be honest, I probably haven't read anything that'll impress anyone. A guilty pleasure of mine is the Percy Jackson series. Just...all that adventure. All the Greek Gods...being OWNED by CHILDREN. It makes a man feel good inside, let me tell you. I'd definitely recommend Starbounders, then. I'm reading it right now, and it has many similarities to the Percy Jackson series in terms of adventure. Just switch gods and magic with space and futuristic technology, and voila!
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HotterdanArul
Krazier
I like white food but you don't catch me writing a song about salad and cheese
Posts: 226
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Post by HotterdanArul on Jan 30, 2014 8:50:09 GMT -8
Everything is Illuminated was really good and you should read it super soon: interesting narrative approach but has capacity to be both heartwarming and sad.
I am now reading Battle Royale by Koushun Takami and Seiobo There Below by Laszlo Krasznahorkai
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