Brian.
-
Posts
3,304 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Books
Posts posted by Brian.
-
-
I am planning a bit of a book buying trip next week and I just realised that I hadn't posted about my charity shop purchases the other week.
Brick Lane - Monica Ali
Miami Blues - Charles Willeford
Candide - Voltare
Icebound - Dean Koontz
Empire of the Sun - J.G. Ballard
Homage to Catalonia - George Orwell
Hilter's Henchmen - Guido Knopp
Backwards to Britain - Jules Verne
The Kon-Tiki Expedition - Thor Heyerdahl
The Bhagavad Gita
The Kon-Tiki Expedition is a Folio Society hardback which if I'm honest, I only bought because it looks fantastic. Its quite a collection of genres but I am looking forward to starting some of them soon.
-
I'm plowing my way through Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, according to my Kindle I am not 60% of the way through it. I've got a chunk of days off of work so I'm hoping to get a load of reading done for a change.
-
Emelee, I hope you have fun at the party! It's great you're in good health, too
!I've never heard of tattoos giving a problem of blood giving, but I don't know anyone I know well in the Netherlands who has one (that I know of). Is it because the ink gets in the blood?
I imagine its due to the possibility of blood born infections. A tattoo is basically a wound which needs to heal and your body needs to fight off any infections trying to get in. The wait period is probably to ensure that enough time has passed to allow any kind of blood infection from the tattoo to be fought off by the body and the tattoo fully healed.
-
Tim and Brian, I totally understand your love for Interstellar now. I saw it last night and loved it! I was on the edge of my seat quite a bit, which pretty much never happens with movies, and it wasn't even because of action scenes. At nearly three hours in length, the time just flew by. I think it might just be one of my favourite sci-fi movies ever; it reminded me of 2001 and Contact in places. But yes, there were a few minor plot holes and annoyances. I guess they're difficult to avoid in movies of this scale (or maybe I'm just happy to excuse them because the movie was mostly so brilliant). I always wish wormhole/space scenes in movies would go longer (instead of a couple of seconds and then cutting back to the spaceship/actors). I think Kubrick would have done that better. I always want more time to immerse myself in space!
Brian, I'm curious to know which scene in particular bothered you?
The scene with when Cooper is caught in the 5th dimensional place where he can hit the books which then fall out in Murph's room. I thought that it was a clunky way to explain and tie together the story. Although there are some scientific holes elsewhere they really didn't detract from the movie and I felt that it flowed really well up until that point. To be fair to Nolan, I'm not sure how else that part of the story could have been solved.
Its a minor thing and I'm considering going to watch it again on an iMax screen in the next few weeks.
-
In Sweden, you are allowed to give blood if you have a tattoo, but 6 months must have passed between getting a tattoo and giving blood. I have a tattoo.
In the UK the same restriction applies although I think the wait time is 4 months and also includes piercings.
The municipal parties sound like a superb idea.
-
Interstellar. Wow. Absolutely incredible film, quite possibly my new favourite film of ever!
I went to see this last night and was left stunned and pretty lost for words by the end. There is no denying that there are plot holes and one scene bothered me, but numerous times during the movie my heart was racing and that rarely happens to me. I am very tempted to go and see it again, something I have never done with a movie before.
I also finally watched Prometheus today and I was less enamoured with it. I felt like it was a bit all over the place and I'm not sure what the point of it all was.
-
Or Florence!
ETA: Brian the snail rocks!
I dont think I would have been able to forgive them if I had been called called Florence
-
Introducing Lenin & the Russian Revolution by Richard Appignanesi & Oscar Zarate
Synopsis
Lenin is the key to understanding the Russian Revolution. His dream as the creation of the world's first Socialist state. It was a short-lived dream that became a nightmare when Stalin rose to absolute power in 1929.
(taken from Goodreads)
My ThoughtsI picked this up at my local library after browsing the politics and history sections trying to find something stimulating. This book is a little different to what I would usually read as it is an illustrated comic book. I decided what the heck and went for it anyway.
I learned some things from this book that I didn't know but I found the timeline haphazard. New people were introduced and then not revisited until much later and some of the more important ones such as Stalin were not covered in any detail at all. The book was ok but I felt that it could have been much better. Perhaps it is just me and the book didn't suit my reading preferences. I did like the approach though and it is probably something that would appeal to a younger reader interested in the subject matter.
2/5 (It was ok).
-
Mine is also just my name. My parents decided on my name as my mother was a fan of The Magic Roundabout. I guess I got lucky, I could have been called Zebedee.
-
When do you normally work, we could always see if we could change the date for one read-a-thon and see how that goes..?
Thanks for the offer but don't worry about it. I work a rotating shift pattern so it always changes around. I could have actually read a fair bit today but I managed to get distracted into doing something else.
-
The read-a-thon always seems to fall when I am working
-
Good for you Brian! Two words: Jack Vance.
I know he's not everybody's bowl of rice but I had to mention him first
I have seen you talk about Jack Vance a lot, I'll add it to my list.
Have you read Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit by J.R. Tolkien. They are not short books but there are none more enjoyable, IMHO.
I have the books but I am yet to read any of them, I wanted to try something a little lighter first. Despite this, I'm not sure if the LOTR trilogy is heavy going or not so that may just be an unfair judgement on my part.
Here are some of my recommendations for fantasy under 300 pages:
Brandon Sanderson - The Emperor's Soul (short novella)
Terry Pratchett - any of his shorter works, for example The Carpet People or Discworld 4: Mort (humourous fantasy)
J. K. Rowling - Harry Potter 1: Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone
G. P. Taylor - Wormwood 1: Wormwood
Anne McCaffrey - The Dragonriders Of Pern 1: Dragonflight (my Dutch copy has 319 pages, I'm not sure of the English copy)
I second Replay as I really enjoyed this book, however I have it classified as science-fiction so it's not in my fantasy list.
I have some of the Discworld books and I have also been meaning to read the Harry Potter books for a while. I'm leaning towards that direction I think as they always get great reviews.
My suggestion and recommendation is a book series with more than 300 pages per book, but I think it's one that you might really like: The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
We have a lot of Fforde fans on here, and I think you're one of those who would most likely find delight in the literary world of Thursday Next. Jasper Fforde is another name I have seen mentioned around here a lot so I'll be sure to check it out.
Also, consider Neil Gaiman. Two of his books that I really liked were The Graveyard Book (336 pages) and Stardust (368 pages).
I have actually read one of Neil Gaiman's books (Neverwhere) and I absolutely loved it. It turns out I have actually read some fantasy already.
-
Somehow I have managed to fall into the trap of having several books on the go at once. The one that has caught my imagination most is Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku.
-
So the title pretty much sums my question up. I would like to start reading some fantasy as it's a genre that as yet, I have stayed away from. I am fairly open to most things, however, vampire love stories are not my thing so I would like to avoid those. The only other stipulation I have is that the books suggested are not too long. Anything up to 300 or so pages is fine but before I dive into the bigger books the genre has to offer I would like to start by dipping my toes in.
-
Do you want fiction or non-fiction and do you mean bicycles or motorcycle? My father is a big reader of non-fiction bicycle travel books so if that is what you are after I'm sure I can provide you with many titles.
-
The cat knew what it was doing
I finished Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? yesterday. The rest of the book was as good as the first half and it took me almost no time at all to read it. I have started Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami.
-
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
Synopsis
A final, apocalyptic, world war has killed millions, driving entire species into extinction and sending the majority of mankind off-planet. Those who remain, venerate all remaining examples of life, and owning an animal of your own is both a symbol of status and a necessity. For those who can't afford an authentic animal, companies build incredibly realistic simulacrae: horses, birds, cats, sheep . . . even humans.
(taken from Goodreads)
My ThoughtsEvery time I go to my local library this book tempts me from the small but well stocked Sci-Fi section. I actually own this as an ebook but for some reason borrowed it last week as a paperback, in part because I really like the cover. I really like the movie (Blade Runner) so I had high hopes for the book and I was a little surprised at it's size (200 pages) as I expected it to be longer.
The first thing that really jumped out at me while reading the book is that it is very atmospheric. I don't know if this is entirely because of the book itself or some of it has carried over in my mind from the movie. I could imagine the world in which the story is set with ease and completely understood all the technology involved along the way. I wouldn't say that too many of the characters are really developed a whole lot apart from Deckard and perhaps Isidore.
I am not a big Sci-Fi reader but it is a genre that always seems to sit well with me when I do. Off the top of my head, I think this is the second Philip K. Dick that I have read and it has only served to encourage me to read more of his work and more Sci-Fi in general.
4/5 (I really liked it).
-
I started to read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick last night and after a few chapters went to sleep. It was fairly quiet this afternoon at work so I decided to read a little more and almost finished it. I love the movie but I am surprised at just how good the book is and how quickly I've got through it so far. I'm hoping for another quiet day tomorrow so that I cant finish it off.
-
Goldfinger by Ian Fleming
Synopsis
Auric Goldfinger, the most phenomenal criminal Bond has ever faced, is an evil genius who likes his cash in gold bars and his women dressed only in gold paint. After smuggling tons of gold out of Britain into secret vaults in Switzerland, this powerful villain is planning the biggest and most daring heist in history—robbing all the gold in Fort Knox. That is, unless Secret Agent 007 can foil his plan.
In one of Ian Fleming's most popular adventures, James Bond tracks this most dangerous foe across two continents and takes on two of the most memorable villains ever created—a human weapon named Oddjob and a luscious female crime boss named Pussy Galore.
(taken from Goodreads)
My ThoughtsI am slowly making my way through the Ian Fleming Bond books and this was the next one up (number 7). I am working through them slowly because so far I have enjoyed all of the them and I don't want the end to come too soon. Goldfinger is one of my favourite Bond movies and I think is widely regarded as one of the best ones despite the some times far fetched story line. As is usual, the movie story line deviates from the book and in one particular case I think that the approach taken by the movie is better.
I find that reading one of the Bond books is like slipping into an old comfortable jumper on a cold day. Everything feels familiar and I know that I can rely on the book to deliver. The characters are well formed, probably in no small part due to the movies, and the exchanges between the characters are very well written. Due to the time period in which the books were written there is a sexist element and very superior British attitude at times but the same can be said of the movies. I never have an issue with these things as long as they are in context and appropriate for the time.
I really enjoyed the book and my only minor grumble is down to the ebook version which I read. I suspect that some OCR software had been used because there were some typos which looked very much like OCR errors.
4/5 (I really liked it).
-
I know what you meant when you say that The Handmaid's Tale is very thought provoking. I had trouble when trying to write my review of it and I found myself thinking about it long after I had finished reading it.
-
Fantastic idea for a topic. I'm yet to read any Jane Austen so I can't give an opinion in this case though.
-
I read every James Bond book by Ian Fleming and really enjoyed almost every one. I gave the set of Bond books to the library when we moved to North Carolina.
I just finished reading "Gunsights" by Elmore Leonard. It was a pretty good Western novel.
I am now reading "A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking.
I passed on a chance of a second hand set and have been kicking myself ever since. I've opted for the ebook versions for the rest of the Ian Fleming books but I have already noticed a few editing errors which is annoying.
I'll be interested to see how you get on with A Brief History of Time, I've got a copy somewhere but never read it.
-
I have no solid plans but I do intend to try and get in 8 -10 more books before the year is out. I have plenty on my TBR so I shouldn't buy anymore books but it's my birthday soon and I have some cash burning a hole in my pocket.
-
My next book is Goldfinger by Ian Fleming. I am only a few chapters into it after a busy week at work but it already feels reassuringly familiar.
Brian's Book Log 2014
in Past Book Logs
Posted
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami
Synopsis
'A narrative particle accelerator that zooms between Wild Turkey Whiskey and Bob Dylan, unicorn skulls and voracious librarians, John Coltrane and Lord Jim. Science fiction, detective story and post-modern manifesto all rolled into one rip-roaring novel, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World is the tour de force that expanded Haruki Murakami's international following. Tracking one man's descent into the Kafkaesque underworld of contemporary Tokyo, Murakami unites East and West, tragedy and farce, compassion and detachment, slang and philosophy.'
(taken from Goodreads)
My Thoughts
I have really enjoyed the Murakami books I have read so far and it felt like the right time to delve into another one. I've had this on my TBR for a few years now and I'm still a little intimidated by the length of IQ84. At about 400 pages I felt that this would be the ideal mixture in terms of length and content.
As I tend to avoid reviews prior to reading a book I was surprised that the chapters alternate between two different stories. At first I found this quite disconcerting and I kept putting it down for a few days at a time. After a while though, I settled into this rhythm and as the book went on I felt like it really worked.
Another thing that stood out was the lack of names for the characters. Everyone is known as 'The Gatekeeper', 'The Librarian' etc and we never find out the name of the main protagonist. I have come across this in the past with other books and it does leave a little distance between me and the characters. In some cases this would be a problem but I always really like the underlying sense of despair in Murakami's work and I feel that these things work well together.
The actual stories are well told and I really enjoyed both of them. Once I got into the book I kept having to pick the book up and see what was going to happen next. I also really liked the ending, I was concerned the book would go one way and it didn't, I'll leave it there so I don't spoil anything.
This would be a 5 if it wasn't for the fact that it took me a while to get into.
4/5 (I really liked it).