POZ Community Forums
Off Topic Forums => Off Topic Forum => Topic started by: le_liseur on December 22, 2013, 10:20:48 pm
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Where are the readers on this forum? :)
What are you currently reading, or going to start soon and impatiently? What were your favorite reads, or the ones that were the most upsetting?
Right now, I'm reading The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood. Two thirds in it, and I can say I like it. There's something slow, oppressed and calculating about the character's mind, a woman of the servant's cast who's social role is only to aid in reproduction, and who's not yet really brainwashed by the 'system' she lives in.
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"S" by JJ Abrams
I'm going to start it after the Christmas holiday. I can't wait to start it. If you get it you need to buy the hard copy (it's prob not even avail in an online version) because it's filled with "extras." I'm really excited to start reading it.
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"I Know This Much Is True" by Wally Lamb. After having read it ten years (give or take) ago and relegated it to the 'shelf of books too good to dispose of', I pulled it down yesterday and am reading it for the second time. It was and is THAT good.
Just finished "Perks of Being A Wallflower" and it was much better than the movie. It's now on the shelf to be re-discovered years from now.
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I love reading but since I'm online here so much its put a dent into my book reading habits . I read every post on the forum every day and I really am not too crazy about adding a novel to the eye strain, but I do miss it .
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"S" by JJ Abrams
I'm going to start it after the Christmas holiday. I can't wait to start it. If you get it you need to buy the hard copy (it's prob not even avail in an online version) because it's filled with "extras." I'm really excited to start reading it.
Oh! I saw that book a few days ago while shopping for Christmas presents! It looked intriguing, and sealed hehe I don't really know what's happening in the contemporary english literature, so I was wondering what it was and who was the author. What is it about? :)
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I love reading but since I'm online here so much its put a dent into my book reading habits . I read every post on the forum every day and I really am not too crazy about adding a novel to the eye strain, but I do miss it .
Maybe we could write down a few pages of the books you'd like to read every day on the forum, so you'd be able to read them while reviewing the place here... :D
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Maybe we could write down a few pages of the books you'd like to read every day on the forum, so you'd be able to read them while reviewing the place here... :D
When forum members and dear friends Jan and Jen came to visit this summer Jen had a thumb drive with over 800 books on it including the ones from the last few NY times bestsellers list and she loaded them onto my computer where they are waiting for me ... but book suggestions are always welcome . I love reading so much I lose track of time and it settles and centers me more than anything I can think of .
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A friend and I discovered we had in common having tried to read SWANN'S WAY and could never get into it. So I had for sometime given up on reading Proust in this incarnation. But there's a new and highly touted translation. So we decided to buy copies and once a week we are reading it aloud together for about 90 minutes. And having a great time with it. Stay tuned.
Meantime as usual I am reading more than one book at a time. Hadn't read any Henry James in a long time. Current into RODERICK HUDSON, one of his earlier novels. Enjoying it.
Among my holiday gifts are some books from my daughter-in-law editor. She gave me the first volume of the gigantic Barbara Stanwyck bio. And Martin Cruz Smith's newest. My stacks have stacks. Also into a bio of Stalin. And the fancy version of DORIAN GREY published a couple of years ago.
Enjoying seeing what others are into.
Oh yes and my son Abe and his editor wife gave me a copy of EVERYTHING I NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED FROM A LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK. Original illustrations from them including THe Poky Little Puppy. I love it. I'd like David Boreanaz from BONES to be in the movie.
Of books that have been notable to read in the past few years, Irene Nemirovksy's SUITE FRANCAISE is OUTSTANDING. Also Kevin Brownlow's bio of David Lean. And what a good time I had re-reading THE MALTESE FALCON. Somewhat different in parts from the movie but both are still tops in taps.
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I always have a book going. I usually alternate between reading something heavy and something light. Right now I am reading a gay noir fantasy Wicked Gentlemen (Hells Below) by Ginn Hale about a priest and his drug addicted demon lover who are investigating the disappearance of the priest's sister and a series of gruesome murders. So far it is holding my interest.
Before that I read The God Argument: The Case against Religion and for Humanism by A.C. Grayling. The case against religion is basically a litany of standard atheist arguments and nothing really new but his case for humanism is more compelling.
Reflecting on what I read this the past year, two books that stand out are The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined by Steven Pinker and Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clark. It took me an unusually long time to get through The Better Angels of Our Nature, not because it is a difficult read but because there is so much interesting information that I became distracted researching various topics he discusses. Pinker makes a very convincing case that humanity has become significantly less violent in the recent future and also gives a fascinating history lesson.
Childhood's End is a classic of science fiction that I never got around to reading until this year. It was published in 1953 but doesn't feel dated. I don't want to give away details but the basic theme involves the purpose of human existence. If you like science fiction and haven't gotten to it yet make sure it is on your "must read" list.
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Oh how I love to see that so many people enjoy reading! :) Noting the good recommendations!
Right now, I'm about to start indulging in pure geek pleasure, as I just received A Song of Ice and Fire for Christmas! :D
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When forum members and dear friends Jan and Jen came to visit this summer Jen had a thumb drive with over 800 books on it including the ones from the last few NY times bestsellers list and she loaded them onto my computer where they are waiting for me ... but book suggestions are always welcome . I love reading so much I lose track of time and it settles and centers me more than anything I can think of .
That sounds like way worse than finding an iPad innocently in an airport bathroom. I hope the Forum Morality Police appear soon in this thread to roundly condemn you, Jen (and Jan as an accomplice) on theft of copywritten material estimated at $20,000 minimum.
May God smite you in a most ferocious manner by nightfall.
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That sounds like way worse than finding an iPad innocently in an airport bathroom. I hope the Forum Morality Police appear soon in this thread to roundly condemn you, Jen (and Jan as an accomplice) on theft of copywritten material estimated at $20,000 minimum.
May God smite you in a most ferocious manner by nightfall.
I gave them all away to a homeless person like you said you did with the Ipad you are still using . Your thievery is obviously wearing on your conscience because you sure have been bringing it up allot .
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Piracy isn't a crime anyway.
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David Brinkley "Memoir"
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Scotty Bowers: Full Service: My Adventures in Hollywood and the Secret Sex Live of the Stars
Reread:
Edmund White's biography of Genet
Infinite Variety: The Life and Legend of the Marchesa Casati
The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always do Better - Wilkinson and Pickett
99 To 1: How Wealth Inequality Is Wrecking the World and What We Can Do About It Chuck Collins
Dorian Gray, Gatsby, and Ripley, with a class this semester.
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99 To 1: How Wealth Inequality Is Wrecking the World and What We Can Do About It Chuck Collins
Dorian Gray, Gatsby, and Ripley, with a class this semester.
What a coincidence, I read both The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Great Gatsby this past year because I wanted to read the books before seeing the movies. The movie Dorian Gray was disappointing, despite Colin Firth. The Great Gatsby movie didn't get very good reviews but I enjoyed it, probably because I like Baz Luhrmann's style.
Let us know if you like 99 to 1. Based on your post I watched Chuck Collin's TED Talk on taxing the wealthy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sgaDbg2RLE
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Also Lord of the Flies, cause a few students said they would read it to prepare for Cambridge English tests. Its been like high school all over again.
I didn't see the new Dorian Gray movie. I hate Luhrmann's style but he did a good job on Gatsby, which Hollywood understood, way back when it was published, was the kind of novel that doesn't easily translate to a movie.
I let them watch whatever movie versions each one preferred. or even related movies that they could compare, etc.
Oscar Wilde is a major English writer for foreigners, while growing up in the states I didn't remember Wilde being part of our "canon" at all, just an ornament.
I wanted to read some of the Left books about wealth inequality but its preaching to the converted. Chuck Collins is a nice man, a limousine liberal, people like that aren't going to influence the current debate. Whats interesting is every year since the financial crisis began we'll debate the binaries, via different "topics", but people don't seem to be reaching any compromise or consensus. "You didn't build that" didn't persuade anyone on taxation for the common good. (Geez, even gun control can't move forward...) We had a debate in Forums and it was clear that people fundamentally believe Yeah, or Neah, that equal opportunity, equal chance, and the level playing field, exists today.
I always like it when science or techy academics take their expertise and sort of massage it into political-eonomic debates and see what shakes out, so the Spirit Level is more interesting, personally to me on an intellectual level. But there again, as for as American politics, it seems we're still at 50/50 with 50% of the people convinced that health care is just fine or even better, "the best in the world", no matter how much evidence to the contrary.
I think we in the left, who are for taxation and regulation and the social welfare state, need charismatic public figures - politicians, billionaires, "intellectuals" (but really genuine brains, and famous ones - and who are they'?), top religious posts, and maybe some celebrities - who will teach it out because nobody really cares what the other camps policy wonks and media puppets say. And there are only a few leaders in Washington who seem to be shrewdly intelligent, ballsy enough to talk truthfully across the aisle, and charismatic enough to talk to the public and have everyone listen respectfully.
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I would like to see Bill Gates debate David Koch on income inequality and job creation.
I would like to have seen Jay Z do a televised round table with big intellectuals and a few business and government bigwigs, discussing not only racial profiling, but also conspicuous consumption and the consumer based economy... Ha!
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Anyone read the Divergent series? I was thinking about reading it since the movie is coming out?
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I gave them all away to a homeless person like you said you did with the Ipad you are still using .
Did I say that? I must have been loaded. Thanks goodness I've shaken off my Klonnie abuse for the past 60 days.
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Scientists say great novels can change brain's biology
http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/scientists-say-great-novels-can-change-brains-biology/story-fniym874-1226791689829
MOST of us have experienced how a great novel can make you feel like you’re seeing things through the eyes of its characters.
But this feeling may be far more real than you imagine with new research showing how the biology of a reader’s brain actually changes to allow them to experience the physical sensations they’re reading about.
The research, carried out by scientists at Emory University, found that a great novel can produce measurable changes in the brain that linger for at least five days after reading.
“We want to understand how stories get into your brain, and what they do to it,” said neuroscientist Gregory Berns, who lead the research.
Berns’ team had test subjects read Pompeii, a 2003 thriller by Robert Harris. After finishing the novel they were given MRI scans over five consecutive days.
Even though the subjects were no longer reading the MRI results showed heightened connectivity in the left temporal cortex, an area of the brain associated with language.
The team also discovered heightened connectivity in the brain’s central sulcus, the primary sensory motor region of the brain.
The researchers said that neurons of this region are associated with making representations of sensation for the body, a phenomenon known as ‘grounded cognition’. Because of this phenomenon just by thinking about running someone can activate the neurons associated with running.
“The neural changes that we found associated with physical sensation and movement systems suggest that reading a novel can transport you into the body of the protagonist,” Berns said.
“We already knew that good stories can put you in someone else’s shoes in a figurative sense. Now we’re seeing that something may also be happening biologically.”
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Georges Simenon anything by plus I am getting them on e-bay penguin Crime editions great covers . This man wrote a huge no off book with a come-menable quality kept up. Maigret is the famous character , but Banana Tourist non Maigret's and is a good look at 60,s hippy travel except it was written in , well before 1946 which is the first English edition.
This is also the case with The Man Who Watched The Trains Go By 1942 and it could be a look at the power off the press and employment rights now.
Currently its Jorn Lier Horst " Closed For Winter " I enjoyed His 'Dregs" the only 2 translated into Engish I am enjoying it .
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I was just gifted with a signed copy of Dr Saag's book Positive . He is over the clinic and a researcher at UAB . Im going to make time to read this because I admire the man greatly .
http://www.uab.edu/medicine/cfar/outreach/positive-the-book
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My passion with books started with Science Fiction and Fantasy books. I have read hundreds of them, with some series being comprised of up to 24 books. All the authors I list, are epic in their careers and have received numerous Hugo and Nebula Awards which are the pinnacle in the SciFi/Fantasy genre. Though I list only certain titles, by each author, most of the work by the authors listed is stellar, but you have to start a list somewhere.
Darwin's Radio - Greg Bear
Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
Foundation Triliogy and I, Robot - Issac Assimov
Dune - Frank Herbert
Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert A Heinlin
The Mote in God's Eye - Niven & Pournelle
Rendezvous With Rama & Childhood's End - Arthur C. Clarke
Neuromancer - William Gibson
Ubik - Phillip K. Dick
The Martian Chronicles - Ray Bradbury
Ring World - Larry Niven
and for fantasy book lovers, two outstanding series:
The Earthsea Cycle Series - Ursula K. LeGuin
Dragonriders of Pern - Anne McCaffrey
Enjoy!
Joe