Discuss: What are you reading? - Shakespeare's Monkeys

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Leanne Hansonfrom Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3708 posts	on May 6 2007 I've just finished reading Hippy Bob and the Piano of Doom by the most marvellous Chris Morris (poetrydog) -- I actually read it through twice, it's that good. Some of you might have read the first few chapters on the old site. If you like Harry Potter and love Hitchhikers, there's no excuse for you not to like this. And your kids will love it to bits, if they have inherited the slightest bit of sarcasm. I am bored with books after that though, so I'm re-reading The Wheel of Time. That gives me a lot of material to be bored by.
Dotdotdotfrom mars 466 posts	on May 6 2007 Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk. But it's depressing the bejesus out of me. So I stopped. I think you should read The God Delusion, Anstey pants.
Stephan Ansteyfrom Lowell, MA Associate, 6232 posts	inspired from ShannonV on May 6 2007 I really hope Jordan doesn't die before he finishes that damned book. ----- stephan
Leanne Hansonfrom Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3708 posts	on May 6 2007 He could have finished the series three books ago, greedy bastard. Anstey's not deluded, Shannon. He IS God in forty two different poses, sometimes backwards.
Stephan Ansteyfrom Lowell, MA Associate, 6232 posts	on May 6 2007 If i'm God, in any pose, then why don't I know a lot more? It's just damned frustrating being God and not being omniscient. I think i'm more like God's little sidekick that he has to keep saving from stupid stuff. ----- stephan
Leanne Hansonfrom Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3708 posts	on May 6 2007 God is old, it stands to reason he forgets stuff. Although I can picture you as a divine Sancho Panza.
Stephan Ansteyfrom Lowell, MA Associate, 6232 posts	on May 6 2007 " Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk. But it's depressing the bejesus out of me. So I stopped. I think you should read The God Delusion, Anstey pants. " What's "The God Delusion" about? Fiction? Non-Fiction? Who wrote it? ----- stephan
Dotdotdotfrom mars 466 posts	on May 6 2007 It's written by Richard Dawkins. You would find it under non-fiction. For some reason I assumed you knew about it, I keep seeing it hyped up everywhere, cuz its so.. "edgy". He seeks to convince middle of the road-ers, like agnostics or people who have never questioned their faith, that there is no God. That their belief is, you know, a delusion. I don't want you to read it to change your mind, cuz I don't think you're a middle of the road-er. And, like, I read it and my mind was already pretty set. I just think its iiiinteresting, well written, clever. I severely doubt its power to convince anyone other than maybee an agnostic. I just think you should read it because it's well written and I'd be interested in what you have to say about it. (Probably just crap all over it). May even inspire you. Dunno.
Paradiso, Tracey Associate, 1902 posts	on May 7 2007 Y'all know I've been in and out of Leanne Hanson and Billy Collins' books. I've got Leonard Cohen's "Book of Longing" on deck. It looks interesting, full of his poetry and drawings.
Stephan Ansteyfrom Lowell, MA Associate, 6232 posts	on May 7 2007 Leanne and Billy sitting on the shelf one like a troll, the other an elf. ----- stephan
Paradiso, Tracey Associate, 1902 posts	on May 7 2007 Tee-hee! I think you'd like Cohen's drawings, Anstey-pants. Boob-n-butt, along with some high-end comicky looking drawings.
Melden Fred Associate, 1848 posts	on May 7 2007 Right now I'm reading a question from someone named Anstey. Why did you ask? Alcuin
Kath Abela Wilsonfrom after the dance 290 posts	on May 7 2007 *During the plane flight home I read all of Charles Bukowski's poembook "Slouching Toward Nirvana" ~~it's the most recent of the books his wife~~ Linda Lee Bukowski has published of his archived work, newest poems that he leftfor publication. It is very interesting to read his late poems, in his 70's and his view of life later in life! His writing is very different from mine, but I really appreciate it. Also during the trip I read The "Sci Fi Fan Anthology "recently published here by Don Campbell ofSouthern California Science Fiction and Speculative, science related inspired poetry. Another local friendDeborah Kolodji moderates both our local haiku study group and Sci-Fi organization and she hosted theanthology reading before we left. My poem "To My Earth" is in there too. I am planning to feature Debbie on my Ephemeral Poetry website as a featured poettephan was first, Leanne, and most recently Michael Dunn. Next though, I hope to feature the work of CaLokie, a fantastic, local poet, with a powerful and original voice, you may have heard me mention. He's old enough (my husband Rick says) "he doesn't have to be dainty or even to careful about he says things, he just says what he thinks"I will be posting some samples soon on http://ephemeralpoetry.blogspot.com read his recent chapbook on the trip "One Size Fits All Poems". Shannon, we've not read the "God Delusion" but read about it, but we'd surely like it, although Rick says perhaps he might not say things quite the same way. Which reminds me we both read an article in the New Yorker on the plane about a tribe, the Pirhana in the Amazon who have a strange language orientation, one quality of which prevents any of them from being "converted" to Christianity. (Missionaries and linguists have studied this) They will not think outside the present -- or last couple of memorable generations...when presented with missionary zeal about J.C. they ask "do you know this man?" And having been told he lived long ago, they shrug and go on to more immediaytely pressing concerns. The tribe has no creation myths, either, which is unusual. Ah well...really I am not sure I have mentioned things that you'd find interesting, Stephan, as there is so much good poetry here on the site that it is hard to keep up with. (The Bukowski though, I think you WOULD find interesting.) Because we just got back these are what are on my mindI will be back with more... photo--reading and writing in our hotel in Puerto Rico--why there? I don't know--the stone tiles feel good... Oh one more thing--I SHOULD be reading and will is Alcuin of York's writing. He's been really generous reading mine, which I so appreciate. My brain is still catching up with me... but I will do that soon. Also more of Stephan's ~~I certainly can't keep up with him, and I have read a lot of Leanne's book --of course highly recommended~~will write more when I have a brain. And ...Michael Dunn's book is beautiful. The hard cover especially... does his work justice. (links to both on Ephemeral Poetry Blog). [file=13]
Kath Abela Wilsonfrom after the dance 290 posts	on May 7 2007 Thanks Leanne, I just ordered ...the Piano of Doom!
Joe R Associate, 313 posts	on May 7 2007 Anything and everything on this site! As for Novels - Robert A. Heinlein "Time Enough for Love", I never get sick of him. I'll read "Children of Hurin" by Tolkien next and I have some Neal Stephenson to get through as well. If interested here is a Virnor Vinge interview : http://www.reason.com/news/show/119237.html He is on my list somewhere too.
Ashley Nicole	on May 8 2007 Just started "A Sudden Country" by Karen Fisher, and I'm really enjoying it so far. That, and I have the token beach trash novel in my car that is still waiting to be finished And I've been editing one of my novels I, so think I've read that like six times in the past week.
Dotdotdotfrom mars 466 posts	on May 8 2007 Kathy, that is REALLY interesting about the Pirhana tribe. That just goes to show that not EVERY culture has religion. Which is an important distinction, I think, when talking about religion – cause I know a lot of people who fall back on the line that “well, whether or not there IS a god is irrelevant, because people NEED to believe, it’s part of a cultural human instinct”. Well, apparently not. I looked up that tribe but couldn’t find anything. I’ll have to try to find that article somehow. That’s really fascinating. And it also kinda makes me wish I could have majored in linguistics. And yeah, did Rick mean, that in not going about it the same way, he wouldn’t be so.. uh.. rude about it? But that’s what came to my mind. Dawkins is kind of an atheist-snob. Very elitist in his presentation of WHY he thinks religion is so very, very lame. But I just think he’s being firm, unwavering, not trying to be nice. Though it’s kind of hypocritical to suggest atheism to others while saying how insulting it is when religions try to indoctrinate others. Though he can fall back on, and does, the moral high ground approach of, “well, I’m using LOGIC. You can’t beat logic”. Which, I agree completely, but what fundamental Christian is going to be persuaded by logic? Not one. Anyway. I thought of another book I have to plug that I probably have before. But still. “The Beach” by Alex Garland. It’s like “Lord of the Flies” meets.. uh.. something even better. Totally awesome. Aaaand I think I need to get this piano of doom book. Doom is one of my favorite words, and.. I’m intrigued.
Leanne Hansonfrom Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3708 posts	on May 8 2007 You'll find it at www.poetry-dog.com -- it's self published and there's the odd typo but it's SO worth it. Just the blurb is brilliant: "Hippy Bob is a relaxed kind of guy. Some might even say lazy. He tends to potter a bit, garden a bit and generally...well...nothing. It comes as something of a surprise to learn then, that for all these years he has unkowingly been "The Savour of Dallandore", a parallel world where imagination becomes reality and the wishy-washy ideas of possibility become the tight fitting pants of the now. Thrust into this new world with his psychotic pet Mad Cat George, he is even more surprised to find that he must play Joplin's Piano of Doom to save the multiverse and defeat the evil Maunch Detesterin who's cohorts constantly seem to be chasing him with long, pointy, sharp things. With the help of the inhabitants of Dallandore including Giants, Half-Trolls and the uniquely individual Bobbins, he must play the universal music and return the universe to harmony. Shame, he's a tone-deaf coward."
Kath Abela Wilsonfrom after the dance 290 posts	on May 8 2007 Sorry Shannon, the reason you could not find it was that I spelled the name of the tribe wrong. It's Piraha, and they are in northwestern Brazil. Here is a link to something about the article which is in April16, 2007, The New Yorker -- called "The Interpreter" (An interesting thing about this is that the linguist who knows most about the language went origianlly as a Christian missionary, and he eventually gave up religion because of his studies of them!http://www.newyorker.com/repor..._fact_colapinto That issue of the New Yorker is very interesting (I had it on our trip)--another fascinating long article is about being on the new train from Beijing to Lhasa! ~~A technological miracle yet shocking~~in its intrusion as it approaches over the pristine mountains and lakes you so often see pictured of Tibet...so long the rarified country pure and almost unreachable,,, About what Rick said...yes, I think he meant the vehemence. Rick is a very gentle person, an very repectful toward others, and understanding of the security that religion and tradition gives. But he is very strong is his opinions and completely agrees with you, me and "The God Delusion" I'm sure.
Jasmine Mann 263 posts	on May 11 2007 I'm currently reading children's books and my son seems to like to eat them. ----- Well, poop. "Milk is for babies. When you grow up, you have to drink beer." - Arnold
Dotdotdotfrom mars 466 posts	on May 19 2007 Just finished Survivor. Not my favorite Palahniuk but still damn good. TOTALLY READ IT. It's a great.. social comment. To say the least. It was pretty horrific. I need something to read next. I have like 80 poetry books written down from when you guys gave me poetry recommendations. I shall maybe do that next.
Dotdotdotfrom mars 466 posts	on May 19 2007 Oh, and thank you Kath for the link and info about the tribe. I checked it out and thought it was really interesting. I told some friends about it and they all thought it was cool too, and one is writing a paper on it. So thanks! :D
Poetrydog 15 posts	on Jul. 5 2007 today i are mostly reading e-mails other than that i'm starting "Going Postal" by Terry Pratechett - i've been a big fan for years but got out of the habit so i'm catching up a bit on some of the stuff i haven't read yet. for those who are clueless, Terry pratchett writes "Discworld" novels - a flat world supported on 4 elephants that stand on the shell of a giant turtle swimming through space. so comedy/fantasy stuff abounds. they're very good. ----- yes, we have no bananas. yes, we have no bananas.
Sterner Wendy 2 posts	inspired from ShannonVeeeee on Aug. 6 2007 I just finished choke, anyone read that?? I am still trying to decide if I like the way he writes, its odd to say the least, but I couldn't put the damn thing down!!!
Dotdotdotfrom mars 466 posts	on Aug. 8 2007 Choke is by far my favorite Palahniuk book. I don't know if it's "good" in a literary sense, but it's AMUSING as hell. So there's that. Aaand now I just finished reading "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green. It's a YA book.. and it's freaking terrific. I wanted to read it because I watch the author (and his brothers) videoblog. Which is at brotherhood2.com, if you care. But yes, it is good. Now I am reading his other book "Looking for Alaska" which I'm sure is also good.
Latifa	on Aug. 14 2007 i read something posted, here, from may. about leonard cohen. you ought to read his poem, take this waltz. he has imitated lorca, in it, and it is simply fascinating. his music is exceedingly good, too, as he is one of my favourite singers. perhaps some might find his voice too monotonous and entirely too daft. but i am simply enchated, by it. perhaps his older songs are best.. heh. his current, and 'newer' music is not good, altogether. i never cared much for his paintings... as to the main query, i am re-reading some russian literature, and immersing myself in proust and joyce for the lack of any other interests, thereof.
Paradiso, Tracey Associate, 1902 posts	on Aug. 23 2007 As I've posted elsewhere...I recently finished Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl and rereading Leanne's Odd Verse Effects, and I'm now reading Lisey's Story by Stephen King. Next up? Not sure. I've got piles of unread books all over this joint. I'll have to look up that Cohen poem, Latifa. Thanks for the suggestion.
Stephan Ansteyfrom Lowell, MA Associate, 6232 posts	on Aug. 23 2007 I am reading a book about lowell baseball. It's fairly awesome. ----- stephan
Dotdotdotfrom mars 466 posts	on Aug. 29 2007 I also recently re-read Leanne's book. It fills me with joy. And I've been reading stuff for school. (Whatever you do, don't get "Biological Psychology: An Introduction to Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience", it's freakin boring as hell). Also I've been starting longingly at my plethora (Stephan likes that word, fun fact) of books and desiring to read them. Or organize them. Mostly organize. I have maybe 100 books, is it weird to alphabetize them by author (after seperating them by subject?). I think it is perhaps unnecessary. However, go to hell. Oh and I am also reading this Bukowski collection and I'm kinda unimpressed. I guess I suck or something. Most people seem to find him impressive.
Leanne Hansonfrom Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3708 posts	on Aug. 30 2007 Today I gave in and bought the new Harry Potter. I couldn't see the point in denying myself any longer Shannon, it fills me with joy that you're filled with joy. I wonder how joy feels about it all? But for the record, Bukowski doesn't thrill me to bits either.
Mike Tousignant 102 posts	on Sep. 10 2007 NEED to finish So Long and Thanks for All the Fish and Mostly Harmless, then I need to read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to finally bring CLOSURE to the past like 8 years of my life, or whatever it's been. Then I have a buttload of other books in the queue, including Rant (Chuck Palahniuk's latest) and about 100,000 others. I feel guilty when I'm not reading.
Poetrydog 15 posts	on Oct. 15 2007 Angels & Demons by Dan Brown - i'm not proud, and slightly ashamed. ----- yes, we have no bananas. yes, we have no bananas.
Derma Kaputfrom Possum Grape, Arkansas Associate, 2156 posts	on Oct. 15 2007 I actually read Angels and Demons - I had two mothers and each of them gave it to me for my birthday. So I read it. Its at least 100 pages too long. That's all I'm saying. I just took a long excursion into the poetry of Czeslaw Milosz. One of the best excursions I ever took. I'm ready to stick with post-war Polish poetry and forsake all else. It just doesn't get any better, even in translation.
Leanne Hansonfrom Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3708 posts	on Oct. 17 2007 I haven't read any post-war Polish poetry. I haven't even read war poetry about posts and poles. Shall delve into the dusty shelves to locate it now though.
Leanne Hansonfrom Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3708 posts	on Oct. 17 2007 Dan Brown's novels are IMMENSELY important in defining the reader in the twenty-first century. Easily impressed, lazy and not at all discerning.
Dotdotdotfrom mars 466 posts	on Oct. 18 2007 My sister was annotating The Da Vinci Code (which consisted entirely of pointing out every single thing she found obnoxious about the book) and I was going to read it. She got through like 20 pages but, the problem is, I can't get past page 15 in the book anyway, and she said she doesn't have enough room in the margins to write everything that sucks. And that she can't bare to read any more because the bad-ness makes her angry. Also, we bought the book at a goodwill for a dollar. To insure that Dan Brown does not profit in any way off our purchace. While we were there we saw every single other one of his books.. and reading the synopsis coulnd't help but notice that they were all about the EXACT same thing. I mean, same premise. REALLY ? GOOD TIMES. Now I'm reading "As She Climbed Across the Table" which is weird.
Jasmine Mann 263 posts	on Oct. 29 2007 I'm reading A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin. Devouring it, really. It's a medieval/fantasy book in a series. Very enthralling. If that's up anyone's alley i highly suggest it. The series is called A Song of Ice and Fire, and the first book is A Game of Thrones. Next on my list is some Lovecraft. ----- Contemplate this on the Tree of Woe. "Milk is for babies. When you grow up, you have to drink beer." - Arnold
Jerseydanielgibson 51 posts	on Nov. 4 2007 I !luv! the Martin series, and am waiting for the 5th book (Dance of Dragons, i think) to come out in the next decade or so.... I unfortunately read whatever I can get my hands on out here in Iraq. not much in the way of a library, so my wifey sends wht she can. For Chuck P., I think that Lulibye was the best. A very wierd perspective about SIDS, with an even weirder twist. The best part is figuring out the narriator's true identity, which clues are few and far between. For some reason, I keep reading books about people in serach of books, like the Rule of Four, or Shadow of the Wind. strange. I'm still waiting for R, Jordan's last book. I thought it would have been out by now, but i am behind the times, since i'm in a third world country. I'm standing in the corner of Winslow, Arizona, and whoops! I'm in the wrong song! -Tissi Germain
Derma Kaputfrom Possum Grape, Arkansas Associate, 2156 posts	on Nov. 6 2007 I could only read Jordan's series through the first ten books. What makes you think it will ever end, Jersey? I couldn't even get through the prologue in the eleventh book, so I said the hell with it. As for Martin, I loved the first three books and read all of them in about a week's time - I barely slept. I haven't been able to make myself read the fourth, but I probably will - in a couple of decades when he finished the "final" two.
Leanne Hansonfrom Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3708 posts	inspired from Derma Kaput on Nov. 7 2007 Jordan's gonna have some trouble finishing that series off now that he's dead, as we (unfortunately) predicted. Still, I'm sure the legions of fans will cobble something together.
Derma Kaputfrom Possum Grape, Arkansas Associate, 2156 posts	inspired from Derma Kaput on Nov. 8 2007 Dead?!? Did Rand's power get out of hand and destroy the author? Glad I put that one aside (finally)
Jerseydanielgibson 51 posts	on Nov. 10 2007 He might have gotten so bored writing the same thing over and over again that it finally killed him. I didn't know he died, though. The last three books weren't worth a tin squat. It was 2,000 pages of filler, no real story movement except for the last twenty pages of the last book (which name I have faithfully forgotten). I can finish the book in a few sentences. They invented the a-bomb. They blew everybody up. They're all dead. Best seller. ----- Wot, no tea? I'm standing in the corner of Winslow, Arizona, and whoops! I'm in the wrong song! -Tissi Germain
Poetrydog 15 posts	on Jan. 11 2008 just finished "making money" by, well, Terry Pratchett again. bloody funny. never finished the dan brown book. got about 20 pages in and decided it was crap so stopped reading. Seriously poorly written, and i quite enjoyed the Da Vinci Code as well, as a potboiler. back to writing again i think... ----- yes, we have no bananas. yes, we have no bananas.
Rene Jonesfrom somewhere in the orbit of my own sphere 558 posts	on Jan. 11 2008 I really haven't been reading much since December 7 (the end of the semester) except for this site and once school starts again next week I will have 15 novels (as well as a spanish I textbook) to begin reading! ----- could someone turn the world back over, I'm getting dizzy! I am orbiting, I don't know where, but I am orbiting something!
Stephan Ansteyfrom Lowell, MA Associate, 6232 posts	inspired from Rene' on Jan. 11 2008 I'm reading Ayn Rand's "Philosophy: Who Needs it"
Dotdotdotfrom mars 466 posts	on Jan. 12 2008 AGGGGGGGGGH. I tried to post something here like 5 times and it keeps saying XML error: mismatched tag at line 4 Last stacking element: LI WHAT?!?! THE TAGS ARE FINE, YOU'RE WRONG. "Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?" -Douglas Adams
Dotdotdotfrom mars 466 posts	on Jan. 14 2008 Ehhh. WEll anyway, I think you, Anstey, should read The Underminer: or, The Best Friend Who Casually Destroys Your Life by Mike Albo. For pure hilarious amusement value. For classics, I recommend The Stranger by Camus. Or, if you're feeling chipper, The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo. (I thought it was a little too upbeat) Contemporary, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. This had been hyped a lot and I was afraid it would suck, but I thought it was good. Or A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby. Or I Have the Right to Destroy Myself by Young ha-Kim. Or, if you're in a "feminist lesbian vampire" mood, The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez. I've read more books recently but those are the best of 'em. ACCEPT THIS COMMENT. ----- "Smug athiest quote" - Dude
Dotdotdotfrom mars 466 posts	on Jan. 29 2008 NO one updates this anymore other than me, which is a shame because I like this thread. But whatever. Now I'm reading Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman and Still in the Mind by Alan Watts. They are both excellent. ----- "Puppies" -Shannon
Rene Jonesfrom somewhere in the orbit of my own sphere 558 posts	on Jan. 30 2008 I just finished reading "The Romance Of The Forest" by Ann Radcliffe and "The Other House" by Henry James. Will be starting "Persuasion" by Jane Austen this weekend as well as "Summer" by Edith Wharton...writing papers on all of them too. ----- LIFE: I messed up, can I have a 'do over'? I am orbiting, I don't know where, but I am orbiting something!
Poetrydog 15 posts	inspired from Kath on Jan. 31 2008 Kath: i've only just noticed this - bless you, you poor misguided fool. hope it caused a giggle, there's more on the way.... yes, we have no bananas.

102 comments · 1-50 · 51-100 · 101-102