|
regulargonzalez posted:It won the William Faulkner Foundation award and was a National Book Award finalist, so ease yourself off your high horse there, chief. Real talk: not every book has to be Ulysses. That was too flippant, I suppose. I'll do an effort dissent. I don't deny that it's an important/worthwhile book. It had a great premise and complex characters (albeit ones I had trouble liking/identifying with), but I didn't care for the author's style when it came to description. I felt that it tried to be stark and lyrical at the same time, and just ended up confusing the tone in some scenes. I found that distracting enough that it interfered with my enjoyment of the book.
|
#
?
Jun 7, 2017 04:18
|
|
|
|
| # ? Jun 4, 2024 14:29 |
|
|
Transistor Rhythm posted:What are some decent books set against the backdrop of college in the sixties, seventies, or eighties? Stephen King's "hearts in atlantis" is a big one, but I'd be even more interested in the seventies or eighties if possible. The Secret History by Donna Tartt, The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides are both 80s. I didn't care for the latter, but it got pretty good reviews, so some people like it.
|
|
#
?
Jun 7, 2017 10:41
|
|
|
regulargonzalez posted:It won the William Faulkner Foundation award and was a National Book Award finalist, so ease yourself off your high horse there, chief. Real talk: not every book has to be Ulysses. surely those things would make it closer to Ulysses than otherwise?
|
|
#
?
Jun 7, 2017 11:21
|
|
|
Transistor Rhythm posted:What are some decent books set against the backdrop of college in the sixties, seventies, or eighties? Stephen King's "hearts in atlantis" is a big one, but I'd be even more interested in the seventies or eighties if possible. Robertson Davies makes this a semiregular setting. Margaret Atwood's Life Before Man is set in the Royal Ontario Museum, attached to the University of Toronto. /cancon
|
|
#
?
Jun 7, 2017 21:48
|
|
|
Transistor Rhythm posted:What are some decent books set against the backdrop of college in the sixties, seventies, or eighties? Stephen King's "hearts in atlantis" is a big one, but I'd be even more interested in the seventies or eighties if possible. Technically, Casaubon in Foucault's Pendulum is a student in Milan in the 70s ...
|
|
#
?
Jun 8, 2017 11:44
|
|
|
Everybody come get salty in the botm thread You'll like it, it's good
|
|
#
?
Jun 11, 2017 04:55
|
|
|
regulargonzalez posted:The Sirens of Titan is an early work and a bit rough around the edges but is excellent. Franchescanado posted:Mother Night, Sirens of Titan, in that order Just finished Mother Night and it was really good. Thanks!
|
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2017 15:21
|
|
|
Is Welcome to the Monkey House good? I'm kinda feeling a short story collection.
|
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2017 17:37
|
|
|
Rolo posted:Is Welcome to the Monkey House good? I'm kinda feeling a short story collection. Yes. Also, I forget what you posted initially, but you should probably give I'm glad you enjoyed Mother Night, that's one's still my favorite by him. *saw your post in he Just Finished thread edited for different recs. Franchescanado fucked around with this message at 17:56 on Jun 15, 2017 |
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2017 17:52
|
|
|
I've never really read a book for fun so I have no idea what I like. I spent the last several years reading text books so I am finally looking for something that isn't engineering related. I'd like some easy reading to do in the evenings and I am open to pretty much everything as long as its not Math, Science or History.
|
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2017 20:29
|
|
|
Rolo posted:Is Welcome to the Monkey House good? I'm kinda feeling a short story collection. Yes. There's a Canadian public television miniseries with a bunch of the stories, too (which I have on VHS)! And read Breakfast of Champions soon, too. knowonecanknow posted:I've never really read a book for fun so I have no idea what I like. I spent the last several years reading text books so I am finally looking for something that isn't engineering related. I'd like some easy reading to do in the evenings and I am open to pretty much everything as long as its not Math, Science or History. Welcome to the Monkey House is pretty good... Machine of Death also popped into my head, and short stories by Ray Bradbury and Philip K Dick always do a great job of filling the gap between more substantial reads.
|
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2017 21:01
|
|
|
Franchescanado posted:I'm glad you enjoyed Mother Night, that's one's still my favorite by him. Yeah man, it's such a good pick. That ending.
|
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2017 21:09
|
|
|
knowonecanknow posted:I've never really read a book for fun so I have no idea what I like. I spent the last several years reading text books so I am finally looking for something that isn't engineering related. I'd like some easy reading to do in the evenings and I am open to pretty much everything as long as its not Math, Science or History. Ok, what TV shows or movies do you like? Asking so we can get an idea of a starting place.
|
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2017 21:18
|
|
|
funkybottoms posted:Welcome to the Monkey House is pretty good... Machine of Death also popped into my head, and short stories by Ray Bradbury and Philip K Dick always do a great job of filling the gap between more substantial reads. Thanks!
|
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2017 21:19
|
|
|
knowonecanknow posted:I've never really read a book for fun so I have no idea what I like. I spent the last several years reading text books so I am finally looking for something that isn't engineering related. I'd like some easy reading to do in the evenings and I am open to pretty much everything as long as its not Math, Science or History. For something literary, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver For a novel, A Confederacy of Dunces or a Douglas Adams or light Vonnegut book for something fun/funny.
|
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2017 21:22
|
|
|
knowonecanknow posted:I've never really read a book for fun so I have no idea what I like. I spent the last several years reading text books so I am finally looking for something that isn't engineering related. I'd like some easy reading to do in the evenings and I am open to pretty much everything as long as its not Math, Science or History. Do you like murder mysteries? Agatha Christie is genuinely one of the greats, and Ngaio Marsh hits up the same buttons pretty well, but in a cozier, friendlier manner. And Rex Stout writes some corkers with the Nero Wolfe series!
|
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2017 21:52
|
|
|
knowonecanknow posted:I've never really read a book for fun so I have no idea what I like. I spent the last several years reading text books so I am finally looking for something that isn't engineering related. I'd like some easy reading to do in the evenings and I am open to pretty much everything as long as its not Math, Science or History.
|
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2017 22:00
|
|
|
anilEhilated posted:I'll do what I always do and recommend Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart. Exteremely relaxing book as long as you don't mind a bit of fairy tale. Seconding that this is an extremely cool and good book
|
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2017 22:00
|
|
|
anilEhilated posted:I'll do what I always do and recommend Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart. Exteremely relaxing book as long as you don't mind a bit of fairy tale. I just picked up my copy of The Library at Mount Char thanks to this thread and I'm probably going to order this one next.
|
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2017 22:45
|
|
|
knowonecanknow posted:I've never really read a book for fun so I have no idea what I like.
|
|
#
?
Jun 16, 2017 01:09
|
|
|
Franchescanado posted:Also, I forget what you posted initially, but you should probably give Franchescanado posted:For a novel, A Confederacy of Dunces or a Douglas Adams or light Vonnegut book for something fun/funny. StrixNebulosa posted:Do you like murder mysteries? Agatha Christie is genuinely one of the greats Unrelated recommendations: Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler; Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett; Instructions For Living Someone Else's Life by Mil Millington; Excession by Iain M Banks.
|
|
#
?
Jun 16, 2017 04:11
|
|
|
knowonecanknow posted:I've never really read a book for fun so I have no idea what I like. I spent the last several years reading text books so I am finally looking for something that isn't engineering related. I'd like some easy reading to do in the evenings and I am open to pretty much everything as long as its not Math, Science or History. The Hobbit is a fun adventure that almost all modern fantasy copies Area 7 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_7_(novel) is a kickass action story, there are some sequels if you like it (also The Great Zoo of China is by the same author and is like Jurassic Park with dragons and lots of explosions) The Grapes of Wrath is more of a touching story with some political purpose Lots of stuff by Stephen King ranges from decent to great, mostly scary or weird, check out the short story compilations at least
|
|
#
?
Jun 16, 2017 05:34
|
|
|
knowonecanknow posted:I've never really read a book for fun so I have no idea what I like. I spent the last several years reading text books so I am finally looking for something that isn't engineering related. I'd like some easy reading to do in the evenings and I am open to pretty much everything as long as its not Math, Science or History. The Once and Future King Easy read about King Arthur and it's so. loving. good.
|
|
#
?
Jun 16, 2017 07:28
|
|
|
Tiggum posted:I would not recommend A Confederacy of Dunces. People who like it really, really like it, but some people (like me) just don't enjoy it at all. And if you're going for Douglas Adams, everyone knows/recommends The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but I think the Dirk Gently novels are actually way better than even the first Hitchhiker's book, let alone the later ones. I agree with both. I don't love CoD, but more people love it than hate it, especially on SA
|
|
#
?
Jun 16, 2017 15:48
|
|
|
Are Sophie Hannah's Hercule Poirot books any good?
|
|
#
?
Jun 17, 2017 05:22
|
|
|
No. The second one is slightly better but they just try way too hard to emulate the originals and it falls flat. Just my opinion though. anilEhilated fucked around with this message at 12:22 on Jun 17, 2017 |
|
#
?
Jun 17, 2017 12:18
|
|
|
Im going to Boston. Whats a mindblowing book on boston non fiction?
|
|
#
?
Jun 17, 2017 18:11
|
|
|
'mindblowing' and 'boston' are two words which i do not often see used together in a sentence
|
|
#
?
Jun 18, 2017 00:47
|
|
|
The Mr. Boston Bartender Guide, for some values of "mindblowing." Or how about something on the Boston Strangler?
|
|
#
?
Jun 18, 2017 01:21
|
|
|
Selachian posted:The Mr. Boston Bartender Guide, for some values of "mindblowing." He gets it. Its a town of old history and seedy dealings. Salem wasn't too far away
|
|
#
?
Jun 18, 2017 04:25
|
|
|
What non-fiction do people recommend on American anti-government extremist/domestic terrorist movements? Obviously a particularly relevant subject now, but I've also been reading about the Oklahoma City bombing and want to know more about the history and culture of the movements that create something like that.
|
|
#
?
Jun 21, 2017 20:18
|
|
|
This is going to sound so wanky, but I'm looking for a recommendation for a philosophy book that deals with the question of why anything exists at all. I know there are some physics books that deal with this question but I find those a little inaccessible, plus it doesn't answer the question of why physics even exists. Basically, I get a little anxious when I think about the universe, where it ends, what's outside it, or if it doesn't end how that can even be, as well as about why people exist, and in hoping that a book can help me get a little more comfortable with those thoughts.
|
|
#
?
Jun 22, 2017 12:54
|
|
|
You might run me out of here for this, but... Have you tried religion?
|
|
#
?
Jun 22, 2017 12:56
|
|
|
Myth of Sisyphus by Camus. It's a short essay addressing whether or not people should just kill themselves.
|
|
#
?
Jun 22, 2017 13:02
|
|
|
Lord Hydronium posted:What non-fiction do people recommend on American anti-government extremist/domestic terrorist movements? Obviously a particularly relevant subject now, but I've also been reading about the Oklahoma City bombing and want to know more about the history and culture of the movements that create something like that. The two best books on the subject I know -- David Neiwert's In God's Country and James Ridgeway's Blood in the Face -- are unfortunately rather old; they were written in the mid- to late 90s, when the militia movement was first coming to national attention after Oklahoma City. Still, they might be worth reading for historical value -- Neiwert and Ridgeway are excellent reporters.
|
|
#
?
Jun 22, 2017 14:11
|
|
|
elbow posted:This is going to sound so wanky, but I'm looking for a recommendation for a philosophy book that deals with the question of why anything exists at all. I know there are some physics books that deal with this question but I find those a little inaccessible, plus it doesn't answer the question of why physics even exists. Well, if you mean "why" as in "for what purpose" you indeed risk being into religion more than anything, philosophy on these matters is rarely prescriptive. Otherwise I guess you are looking for Descartes (cogito ergo mundus talis est; I think, therefore the world is such as it is), but I am not sure actually reading his stuff will get you anything better than the anthropic principle: "The universe (and hence the fundamental parameters on which it depends) must be such as to admit the creation of observers within it at some stage." That is, it should not be read as meaning that our observation and analysis creates the universe, but there is no option of analysing a non-existing universe, so the only way for the question to arise places rather strict requirements of the universe (first among which is that it must exist).
|
|
#
?
Jun 22, 2017 14:15
|
|
|
elbow posted:This is going to sound so wanky, but I'm looking for a recommendation for a philosophy book that deals with the question of why anything exists at all. I know there are some physics books that deal with this question but I find those a little inaccessible, plus it doesn't answer the question of why physics even exists. Get some recommendations from the Occult thread https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3751013&pagenumber=1 and gain a true understanding of the universe.
|
|
#
?
Jun 22, 2017 15:00
|
|
|
"My nigga have you tried lsd"Lord Hydronium posted:What non-fiction do people recommend on American anti-government extremist/domestic terrorist movements? Obviously a particularly relevant subject now, but I've also been reading about the Oklahoma City bombing and want to know more about the history and culture of the movements that create something like that. I havent read about them specifically, but Shock Doctrine and Conservative Nanny State detail some of the causes of people's disaffection with modern society. I also read The Dark Side, by Jane Mayer, about the Bush torture program, and its causes/effects.
|
|
#
?
Jun 22, 2017 15:51
|
|
|
|
| # ? Jun 4, 2024 14:29 |
|
|
elbow posted:This is going to sound so wanky, but I'm looking for a recommendation for a philosophy book that deals with the question of why anything exists at all. I know there are some physics books that deal with this question but I find those a little inaccessible, plus it doesn't answer the question of why physics even exists. Try Catholicism
|
|
#
?
Jun 23, 2017 03:57
|
|