191 replies to this topic

[Scott Wilkinson]

I didn't know China Miéville had another book out. I'll be getting that. I think I liked his last YA book, Un Lun Dun, but it wasn't one of my favourites of his.

Just bought for 99p in Amazon kindle sale . . .

[Ulf Imwiehe]

I'm 100 pages into Fingerprints of the Gods by Graham Hancock. This is a very interesting book so far. It is bringing up some interesting theories and points about a possible lost civilization. I'm really enjoy it.

I’ve been meaning to read this for ages as I’m a sucker for fringe archeology. So far I’ve only read two of his books: Underworld: The Mysterious Origins of Civilization, essentially an elaboration on his ideas in Fingerprints of the Gods, and Supernatural: Meeting with the Ancient Teachers of Mankind in which he puts forth the fascinating theory that the consumption of hallucinogens helped shape human consciousness and culture. Interesting and deftly written books but the latter in particular is frustratingly inconclusive.

[Tonycal]

I’ve been meaning to read this for ages as I’m a sucker for fringe archeology. So far I’ve only read two of his books: Underworld: The Mysterious Origins of Civilization, essentially an elaboration on his ideas in Fingerprints of the Gods, and Supernatural: Meeting with the Ancient Teachers of Mankind in which he puts forth the fascinating theory that the consumption of hallucinogens helped shape human consciousness and culture. Interesting and deftly written books but the latter in particular is frustratingly inconclusive.

Same here! This is my first Graham Hancock book to read. It is very interesting so far. He seems like a very interesting fellow. I heard about this book awhile back but forgot to get it. But a few months ago I heard Graham on the Joe Rogan podcast. The stuff he was talking about was really interesting to me. So I went on Amazon and ordered Fingerprints of the Gods. He brings up some very good points that make you think.

Ufl I've read how he is a big believer in hallucinogens and the effect of the conscious. To me that is something very interesting as well. I would love to sit with Mr. Hancock one day and just chat about everything. He seems like a genuine guy.

Do you recommend those other books of his?? I was thinking about buying them as well.

Edited by Tonycal, 05 January 2012 - 02:04 AM.

[stephanie familiar]

i am giving Poetics a second shot. i have no idea why.

[Ulf Imwiehe]

Same here! This is my first Graham Hancock book to read. It is very interesting so far. He seems like a very interesting fellow. I heard about this book awhile back but forgot to get it. But a few months ago I heard Graham on the Joe Rogan podcast. The stuff he was talking about was really interesting to me. So I went on Amazon and ordered Fingerprints of the Gods. He brings up some very good points that make you think.

Ufl I've read how he is a big believer in hallucinogens and the effect of the conscious. To me that is something very interesting as well. I would love to sit with Mr. Hancock one day and just chat about everything. He seems like a genuine guy.

Do you recommend those other books of his?? I was thinking about buying them as well.

Supernatural: Meeting with the Ancient Teachers of Mankind is an interesting book and some of Hancock’s ideas on how the development of art and religion might owe itself to the consumption of psychoactive substances are quite thought-provoking. I was a bit disappointed, though, that the narrative just sort of stopped when it got really fascinating. That said it’s well worth a read if the subject matter is of interest to you.

[Nicholas Taggart]

I am reading The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes and But Gentlemen Marry Brunettes by Anita Loos. They are nothing alike but I am going to say But Gentlemen Marry Brunettes is better anyway.

[Ulf Imwiehe]

Oh, almost forgot, I’m currently reading John Dies at the End by Jason Pargin writing under the pseudonym David Wong. It’s a pretty weird story and the glee with which Pargin keeps throwing out crazy ideas reminds me a bit of Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis. Regrettably, as with Ellis’ book, the narrative doesn’t really hold together but then that’s to be expected when you deal with the subject matter of insanity.

[Rory Abel]

Oh, almost forgot, I’m currently reading John Dies at the End by Jason Pargin writing under the pseudonym David Wong. It’s a pretty weird story and the glee with which Pargin keeps throwing out crazy ideas reminds me a bit of Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis. Regrettably, as with Ellis’ book, the narrative doesn’t really hold together but then that’s to be expected when you deal with the subject matter of insanity.

Have you seen the trailer for the film versions? It's looks suitable insane.

Currently working my way through P.N. Elrod's Vampire Files series. I had read the first 6 way back when they were originally published but didn't realize the series had continued from there. Currently on the 9th book, Lady Crymsyn and enjoying it quite a bit.

Edited by Rory Abel, 05 January 2012 - 04:19 PM.

[Ulf Imwiehe]

Have you seen the trailer for the film versions? It's looks suitable insane.

Yeah, that’s when I first heard about the book. I’m on the last third of it now and it keeps getting more and more confusing. Not in an entirely bad way, mind, but I’m still wondering if it will make any sense at all in the end.

[Christian U]

I need to post that trailer in the trailers thread.

[Nicholas Taggart]

I tried to start reading Life by Keith Richards. I hadn't wanted to read it because I was sure it would just be all about his boring drug antics but after seeing all the rave reviews and people assuring me it wasn't like that at all. Unless the start is very incongruous to the rest of it, they lied!

[David Meadows]

The only book I got for Christmas was Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde, and I would highly recommend it. If you've read his Thursday Next books... well, it's not set in the same series (or world) but it's just as clever, and the main joy of the book is seeing how his fantasy absurd world works. There's some sort of central mystery driving the plot along, but really the book is all about describing the world and the plot isn't terribly important. I suspect that would put some readers off, but Fford does it so well that you don't care that you're suddenly two-thirds of the way through and nothing has actually happened...

[Russell H]

It's by/about Keef - if there's no drug content at all, people will be disappointed.

[Christian U]

The only book I got for Christmas was Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde, and I would highly recommend it. If you've read his Thursday Next books... well, it's not set in the same series (or world) but it's just as clever, and the main joy of the book is seeing how his fantasy absurd world works. There's some sort of central mystery driving the plot along, but really the book is all about describing the world and the plot isn't terribly important. I suspect that would put some readers off, but Fford does it so well that you don't care that you're suddenly two-thirds of the way through and nothing has actually happened...

I got given this for my birthday by friends who absolutely raved about it. Haven't started on it yet, though.

[David Meadows]

I got given this for my birthday by friends who absolutely raved about it. Haven't started on it yet, though.

I'd be interested in knowing how well the humour works for you, as a lot of it is based around the idea of an English village gone mad, which relies you knowing the clichés of English village life. (Though to be fair you're not the best test subject for that, as you've got a pretty good knowledge of Britain I think.)

[Ulf Imwiehe]

My hat’s off to Jason Pargin – John Dies at the End holds together quite nicely after all. Turns out the main character

Spoiler

isn’t going insane, he’s fighting an interdimensional invasion

… or is he? I must say it’s one of the crazier books I’ve read in recent time but if you like The Invisibles, The Filth, The Umbrella Academy or Donnie Darko it’s definitely worth a read, warts and all.

Next up, The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window Into Human Nature by Steven Pinker in which he attempts to analyze “how our words relate to thoughts and to the world around us and what this tells us about ourselves."

[Martin Smith]

The only book I got for Christmas was Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde, and I would highly recommend it. If you've read his Thursday Next books... well, it's not set in the same series (or world) but it's just as clever, and the main joy of the book is seeing how his fantasy absurd world works. There's some sort of central mystery driving the plot along, but really the book is all about describing the world and the plot isn't terribly important. I suspect that would put some readers off, but Fford does it so well that you don't care that you're suddenly two-thirds of the way through and nothing has actually happened...

Actually, having read the first two Thursday Next books, I really did care that there was little more than one book's worth of plot across both of them.

[Robert B]

The only book I got for Christmas was Roger Ebert's Life Itself. It was a thoughtful gift, but thus far I'm not quite enjoying it as much as I've enjoyed Ebert's blog posts that perhaps inspired its creation. I'm not that far into yet, however.

[David Meadows]

Actually, having read the first two Thursday Next books, I really did care that there was little more than one book's worth of plot across both of them.

Fair enough. I should have said I don't care that there isn't much plot

Usually I would agree with you. I prefer plot-oriented books and don't care for things which are just extended travelogues. But I think Fford's worlds are clever enough that they hold my interest even without much actually going on.

[GordonM]

Mark Twain's Autobiography 1910 - 2010 by Michael Kupperman.

According to Mr Kupperman Twain didn't die when everyone thinks - it was just a false rumour that got out of control. Twain tried to rectify this but everyone thought he was a ghost and ran away. So he decided to go on adventures instead, sometimes teaming up with Einstein to take down gangsters and aliens, othertimes getting entangled in porn and drugs. A funny bit of easy reading.