Books you're currently reading??? - Page 27

Mrs. Parker · 03-15-2006, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

Based on a conversation at work tonight, I may reread American Psycho, if I can figure out where in my house i put it ... probably the back of the linen closet.

After that, I have an autographed copy of Rick Santorum's "It Takes a Family."

I am sure that RichLevy thinks that the plots of these two books are identical.

American Psycho is one of my favorites. I'd love to hear the theory for re-reading. I've had many interesting convos about this book as well

wolf · 03-15-2006, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thrillhouse

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk

This is a truly awesome book. Stunning. Like you got thwacked in the forehead by a stack of copies. That damn good.

My own current read is The Prince - Machiavelli

richlevy · 03-17-2006, 08:57 PM

Yesterday I finished Kildar by John Ringo. I liked his alien invasion series, so when I saw this and read the sample chapters, I picked it up from the library.

It's not a bad book, but it is essentially a soldier's wet dream. The basic plot goes like this.

Ex-Seal who retires a multi-millionaire is cruising through Eastern Europe and comes upon a valley with gorgeous women and great beer. He buys some real estate and becomes the de jure lord of the valley.

While fighting Chechen rebels, he rescues teenage virgins from kidnappers. Since by local custom they cannot be returned to their homes, he takes them as concubines, in addition to the gorgeous local prostitutes he has hired and the 15-year-old girl who is actively trying to seduce him.

Parts of this book read like a Penthouse forum, with blow by blow (literally) descriptions of sex and light bondage. "Dear Penthouse, I never would have guessed when I went driving through Georgia (the country not the state) that I would have a story for you."

This is the second of a series. I never read the first book. The tactical descriptions seem authentic, but the overall plot seems too contrived.

wolf · 03-18-2006, 12:57 AM

Sounds like hairy chested men's adventure novels haven't changed all that much. I favored They Call Me the Mercenary and The Survivalist, myself.

richlevy · 03-18-2006, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

Sounds like hairy chested men's adventure novels haven't changed all that much. I favored They Call Me the Mercenary and The Survivalist, myself.

Yes, but it wasn't what I expected. His other series didn't have the explicit sex scenes.

Maybe the guy needs to get laid.

wolf · 03-18-2006, 04:56 PM

Moving on to Plato's Republic. I am plodding through the introduction(s).

Why is it that translators of "classics" feel the need to let you know exactly how erudite they are, and make passing, and often unclear, references to at least a half-dozen other works by the author you're about to read (that would have been better handled as footnotes to the main text, since they allude to passages in the text you're holding in your hot little hands)?

Torrere · 03-18-2006, 08:00 PM

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, by Thomas Kuhn. Very cool book.

richlevy · 03-19-2006, 03:59 PM

Thud! by Terry Pratchett.

seakdivers · 03-19-2006, 10:25 PM

Wolf - I liked Angels & Demons, but it didn't "wow" me. It would make a fun movie though.

wolf · 03-20-2006, 01:09 AM

I think it would actually make a better movie than The DaVinci Code.

Trilby · 03-20-2006, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

Why is it that translators of "classics" feel the need to let you know exactly how erudite they are, and make passing, and often unclear, references to at least a half-dozen other works by the author you're about to read (that would have been better handled as footnotes to the main text, since they allude to passages in the text you're holding in your hot little hands)?

You have no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that. I just always read those things and thought, "well, brianna, you are one dumb chick 'coz you did NOT understand anything that guy just said."

wolf · 03-20-2006, 10:23 AM

It's not you. They make no fucking sense. Actually, I'm having a bit of a hard time with some of the arguments in the early parts of The Republic. If you accept the assumptions and conclusions, you're all right, but I got stuck on the whole just/unjust thing ... I'm now on book four(?), well, anyway, the part where Socrates is editing all the literature and stories about the gods because he doesn't want people thinking in unjust/incorrect ways in the perfect city.

This is actually quite fascinating, in a 1984 kind of utopia kind of way.

Cyclefrance · 03-20-2006, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

It's not you. They make no fucking sense. Actually, I'm having a bit of a hard time with some of the arguments in the early parts of The Republic. If you accept the assumptions and conclusions, you're all right, but I got stuck on the whole just/unjust thing ... I'm now on book four(?), well, anyway, the part where Socrates is editing all the literature and stories about the gods because he doesn't want people thinking in unjust/incorrect ways in the perfect city.

This is actually quite fascinating, in a 1984 kind of utopia kind of way.

Sounds like an ideal model for justifying an invasion of Iraq....

thrillhouse · 03-23-2006, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

This is a truly awesome book. Stunning. Like you got thwacked in the forehead by a stack of copies. That damn good.

My own current read is The Prince - Machiavelli

chuck is twisted. i like that. heard he lives in portland. . . and loves it.

you're right wolf, this book has me by the throat.

dar512 · 03-23-2006, 09:57 PM

Ripples in the pond. You never know what repercussions your actions have.

Over in the Bull and Duck IOTD, the second picture reminded me of the scene where the T-Rex chases the jeep from the first Jurassic park movie. While looking for a picture to illustrate the likeness, I found a web page on the differences between the movie and the book. It's been a while since I read the book, so that was enough of a tweak to cause me to go back and re-read it.

My thanks to SeanAhern or Kagen4o4 whoever really submitted the pic.

03-17-2006, 08:57 PM	#393
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	Yesterday I finished Kildar by John Ringo. I liked his alien invasion series, so when I saw this and read the sample chapters, I picked it up from the library. It's not a bad book, but it is essentially a soldier's wet dream. The basic plot goes like this. Ex-Seal who retires a multi-millionaire is cruising through Eastern Europe and comes upon a valley with gorgeous women and great beer. He buys some real estate and becomes the de jure lord of the valley. While fighting Chechen rebels, he rescues teenage virgins from kidnappers. Since by local custom they cannot be returned to their homes, he takes them as concubines, in addition to the gorgeous local prostitutes he has hired and the 15-year-old girl who is actively trying to seduce him. Parts of this book read like a Penthouse forum, with blow by blow (literally) descriptions of sex and light bondage. "Dear Penthouse, I never would have guessed when I went driving through Georgia (the country not the state) that I would have a story for you." This is the second of a series. I never read the first book. The tactical descriptions seem authentic, but the overall plot seems too contrived. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

03-18-2006, 12:57 AM	#394
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Sounds like hairy chested men's adventure novels haven't changed all that much. I favored They Call Me the Mercenary and The Survivalist, myself. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

03-18-2006, 04:56 PM	#396
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Moving on to Plato's Republic. I am plodding through the introduction(s). Why is it that translators of "classics" feel the need to let you know exactly how erudite they are, and make passing, and often unclear, references to at least a half-dozen other works by the author you're about to read (that would have been better handled as footnotes to the main text, since they allude to passages in the text you're holding in your hot little hands)? __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

03-19-2006, 03:59 PM	#398
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	Thud! by Terry Pratchett. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

03-20-2006, 01:09 AM	#400
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I think it would actually make a better movie than The DaVinci Code. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

03-18-2006, 08:00 PM	#397
Torrere a real smartass Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kirkland, WA Posts: 1,121	The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, by Thomas Kuhn. Very cool book.

03-19-2006, 10:25 PM	#399
seakdivers Icy Queen Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Southeast Alaska Posts: 700	Wolf - I liked Angels & Demons, but it didn't "wow" me. It would make a fun movie though.

03-20-2006, 10:23 AM	#402
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	It's not you. They make no fucking sense. Actually, I'm having a bit of a hard time with some of the arguments in the early parts of The Republic. If you accept the assumptions and conclusions, you're all right, but I got stuck on the whole just/unjust thing ... I'm now on book four(?), well, anyway, the part where Socrates is editing all the literature and stories about the gods because he doesn't want people thinking in unjust/incorrect ways in the perfect city. This is actually quite fascinating, in a 1984 kind of utopia kind of way. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

03-23-2006, 09:57 PM	#405
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Ripples in the pond. You never know what repercussions your actions have. Over in the Bull and Duck IOTD, the second picture reminded me of the scene where the T-Rex chases the jeep from the first Jurassic park movie. While looking for a picture to illustrate the likeness, I found a web page on the differences between the movie and the book. It's been a while since I read the book, so that was enough of a tweak to cause me to go back and re-read it. My thanks to SeanAhern or Kagen4o4 whoever really submitted the pic. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

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