What Are You Reading Now?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Finally read this. I found it slow and boring and perhaps pretentious. It felt like I was reading the story move along in real time.

I read it a long time ago, but I recall liking it. Maybe that means I’m boring and pretentious!

[chrisrenrut]

My parents, like most Mormons are lifelong Republicans. Our family has never been very political and we've rarely talked politics at get togethers. My parents luckily did not succumb to the boomer desire to camp in front of Fox News 24/7. I was pleasantly surprised to learn last summer that they had officially left the Republican Party. I asked why and they said that Trump had made it unrecognizable to them and that they felt that many of their GOP friends seemed to have lost their minds. They are now independents.

Steelblue was born of goodly parents.

[SteelBlue]

Finally read this. I found it slow and boring and perhaps pretentious. It felt like I was reading the story move along in real time.

I liked it a lot the first time I read it in 2013. I re-read it this year and had a much tougher time with it. Not one likeable character. I think that was the point, but even so that's a lot of pages to hang out with the pretentious little pricks. Then again, I did it twice so kudos to Donna Tartt for getting me to do that.

[BigPiney]

I liked it a lot the first time I read it in 2013. I re-read it this year and had a much tougher time with it. Not one likeable character. I think that was the point, but even so that's a lot of pages to hang out with the pretentious little pricks. Then again, I did it twice so kudos to Donna Tartt for getting me to do that.

yeah, I was thinking how unlikeable they all were. None of the deaths were sad, only made me wish for more.

Still, she is a great writer.

[falafel]

yeah, I was thinking how unlikeable they all were. None of the deaths were sad, only made me wish for more.

Still, she is a great writer.

I think that is how I ended up feeling about it. I enjoyed (or maybe just appreciated?) the downward spiral of these pretentious kids and how their machinations ultimately destroyed them. But it was a bit of a slog at times.

The Goldfinch is better in that there are some likeable characters. And I absolutely love the Vegas section of the book. The latter New York section gave me serious anxiety though.

[PaloAltoCougar]

I just finished Doris Kearns Goodwin's An Unfinished Love Story about her marriage to Dick Goodwin, a brilliant speechwriter for the Kennedys and LBJ. She wrote the book after going through dozens of boxes with her husband that contained all of his notes, back-up materials, speech drafts, etc. It's filled with fascinating details about the inner workings of the White House in the '60s. Long after her husband withdrew from active politics, he volunteered to help Gore write his 2000 concession speech. He wrote (Gore spoke) the following, providing another painful reminder of how far political speech has plummeted under the truly despicable Trump:

Almost a century and a half ago, Senator Stephen Douglas told Abraham Lincoln, who had just defeated him for the presidency,“Partisan feeling must yield to patriotism. I’m with you, Mr.President, and God bless you.”

Well, in that same spirit, I say to President-elect Bush that what remains of partisan rancor must now be put aside, and may God bless his stewardship of this country.

Neither he nor I anticipated this long and difficult road.Certainly neither of us wanted it to happen. Yet it came, and now it has ended, resolved, as it must be resolved, through the honored institutions of our democracy.

Over the library of one of our great law schools is inscribed the motto, “Not under man but under God and law.” That’s the ruling principle of American freedom, the source of our democratic liberties. I’ve tried to make it my guide throughout this contest as it has guided America’s deliberations of all the complex issues of the past five weeks.

Now the U.S. Supreme Court has spoken. Let there be no doubt, while I strongly disagree with the court’s decision, I accept it. I accept the finality of this outcome which will be ratified next Monday in the Electoral College. And tonight, for the sake of our unity of the people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession.

[Northwestcoug]

I had a friend recommend The Whispering Door by Klune and I liked it a lot. Do these novels carry over the same characters at all?

I just finished Under the Whispering Door. I liked it a lot. For me it had a very similar wholesome feel to The House on the Cerulean Sea. The characters were very likable and the writing was just a pleasure to read.

It's not the nerdy fantasy book that I typically recommend here, though it's on the fantasy spectrum. About the way station from death and beyond, and some people who are tasked to help others move on. Klune is a huge advocate of queer representation, and the rainbows shine bright in this one, though definitely not all up in your face. Even if every character in the book was gay, you might not care; he can create characters that you really care about.

Since this crowd is understandably partial to the belief of life after death, you'll be pleased to know that according to this book there is something waiting for all of us. Just be aware it's going to be much more fabulous than what you may have been led to believe.

Anyways, if you want a relatively short and inconsequential book that makes you feel good, this one ain't bad.

[Pelado]

I just finished Under the Whispering Door. I liked it a lot. For me it had a very similar wholesome feel to The House on the Cerulean Sea. The characters were very likable and the writing was just a pleasure to read.

It's not the nerdy fantasy book that I typically recommend here, though it's on the fantasy spectrum. About the way station from death and beyond, and some people who are tasked to help others move on. Klune is a huge advocate of queer representation, and the rainbows shine bright in this one, though definitely not all up in your face. Even if every character in the book was gay, you might not care; he can create characters that you really care about.

Since this crowd is understandably partial to the belief of life after death, you'll be pleased to know that according to this book there is something waiting for all of us. Just be aware it's going to be much more fabulous than what you may have been led to believe.

Anyways, if you want a relatively short and inconsequential book that makes you feel good, this one ain't bad.

"Fabulous"?

[Northwestcoug]

"Fabulous"?

Fabulously gay.

[Mormon Red Death]

In my ongoing series of reading all the pulitzer prize winners (Fiction) I read The Night Watch. It was a really good book. Every time I learn about the 19th century I'm reminded of how little I really know about US history during that time (especially 1866-1900). Quckish read

[SteelBlue]

In my ongoing series of reading all the pulitzer prize winners (Fiction) I read The Night Watch. It was a really good book. Every time I learn about the 19th century I'm reminded of how little I really know about US history during that time (especially 1866-1900). Quckish read

I did this, except I read every winner and finalist for Fiction since 2000 instead of all the winners. One of the best things I've done. Some of the finalists were shockingly tough to get my hands on.

[SteelBlue]

Just finished The Anomaly by Herve Le Tellier. Marketed as a literary thriller but that’s a real stretch. I would say it was <1% thriller. Philosophical novel that questions free will and delves into simulation theory. I thought it asked some intriguing questions and would guess many here would enjoy it.

The premise is that an Air France flight from Paris to NYC encounters a massive storm. After enduring a ton of turbulence they suddenly emerge I to a sunny day but have some damage to the plane. Pilot calls in and air traffic freaks out, continually asking flight number and pilot name and flight code. It turns out the flight landed 3 months ago with all the same crew and passengers…

[BigPiney]

Just finished The Anomaly by Herve Le Tellier. Marketed as a literary thriller but that’s a real stretch. I would say it was <1% thriller. Philosophical novel that questions free will and delves into simulation theory. I thought it asked some intriguing questions and would guess many here would enjoy it.

The premise is that an Air France flight from Paris to NYC encounters a massive storm. After enduring a ton of turbulence they suddenly emerge I to a sunny day but have some damage to the plane. Pilot calls in and air traffic freaks out, continually asking flight number and pilot name and flight code. It turns out the flight landed 3 months ago with all the same crew and passengers…

I remember that one. It got 3 stars on my random ass rating system.

[happyone]

In honor of Independence Day, I'm reading the 2nd volume of RIck Atkinsen's Revolutionary War trilogy

The Fate of the Day

[MartyFunkhouser]

Just finished up Dilla Time. Fantastic book. I highly recommend it.