MetaChat - What books are you currently reading?

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02 January 2008

What books are you currently reading? →[More:]

I got a gift card to the local bookstore for Xmas, and picked up Geek Love and Son of a Witch; both of which I've been anticipating. Am currently reading both interchangeably and the mister is currently reading Wicked in anticipation of reading the latter. off topic but UGH, since when did they change the cover of Wicked?! it's awful compared to the woodcut style of the original...

Geek Love is amazing. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. It's a difficult read at times, but stick with it, 'nuf said.

I'm surprised by how much I am enjoying SoaW, considering how much I liked Wicked, and how I figured the sequel would be a tough followup, and also having seen the many, many lukewarm reviews it got.

I think the trouble most of the audience is having is that a) it's not the Broadway play (likely vastly watered down for the mainstream, amirite?) and b) it is a completely different book, told by a different viewpoint and c) about a totally different character with a completely differing gender bias, etc, etc, etc. Yes, McGuire can be heavyhanded on the pseudopolitical rhetoric, but I enjoyed the change of pace from Wicked. I didn't find it slow; I am finding it engrossing.

I find a very strong common thread tying both Geek Love and Son of a Witch together. Both protagonists struggle with being "different" but "not quite different enough", and thus they live in the shadows cast by the antics of their considerably more extraordinary relatives, carrying expectations of themselves that lead (mainly) to disappointment. These are the stories of those struggles, and the hapless disasters that result as each protagonist thrashes about alternately attempting "normalcy" (whatever that means to them) and "outlandishness" (ditto).

post by: lonefrontranger at: 17:29 | 43 comments

I'm alternating on two different collections of essays by Joan Didion, Slouching Toward Bethlehem and White Album. I like Bethlehem better, I think, but they're overlapping a bit at this point.

I started the one and forgot I hadn't finished it, then got the other one out of the library, so I tend to just pick up whichever one is closest to me at the time I want to read. I love her writing, but I'm verging on overkill and a stupid-bad essay she wrote on the Women's Movement has soured me a bit. I may set them both aside for a while.

White Teeth is waiting in the wings.

posted by occhiblu 02 January | 17:41

ZOMG. I am also reading Joan Didion. I bought the anthology (We Tell Ourselves Stories in Order to Live) with a 30% off coupon. It was my xmas gift to myself, and I'd been coveting it all year. I see now, though, that Amazon has a great deal on the book. Oh well.

I love love love Joan Didion. Her writing is so pointed and clear. She makes me jealous and awestruck all at once.

Never could get in to White Teeth, sadly.

posted by mudpuppie 02 January | 17:48

Kitchen by banana yoshimoto and I'm about to start The Omnivore's Dilemma.

Just finished the 40 Signs of Rain/50 Degrees Below/60 Days and Counting trilogy by my most-beloved Kim Stanley Robinson and felt let down by 60 Days, mostly by the wrap-up of the Frank/Caroline story. There was no there there, at all, it seemed.

posted by crush-onastick 02 January | 17:53

Just finished Service Included, a book-length personal essay about a year or so spent waiting tables at Per Se from its opening. A fun read, fast and full of interesting digressions. I'd call it an amuse-bouche. I really enjoyed it; it actually made me miss the restaurant world.

Last night I started Suite Francaise.

posted by Miko 02 January | 17:58

Just finished Steve Martin's memoir Born Standing Up, which I liked. It actually induced me to fix my turntable so I could play his LP, Let's Get Small and watch a bunch of his old performances on youtube.

Just started Russell Hoban's Linger Awhile. I've been reading bits and pieces of Didion's Slouching Towards Bethlehem now and then too. Last year (2007), I read her novel Run River and The Year Of Magical Thinking, which was one of my favorites for the year.

I got about 50 pages into White Teeth a couple of years ago, but drifted away to something else. Still want to go back and give it another try someday though.

posted by DarkForest 02 January | 18:02

DarkForest, I found On Beauty more accessible than White Teeth.

Best Short Stories of 2007. Some amazing stuff, but overall, not the best of the series for me, probably because Steven King is the guest editor this year. KINGIST. Sorry.

posted by rainbaby 02 January | 18:13

War and Peace. I've never read it, and bought a copy when I got a B&N gift card for xmas.

posted by kellydamnit 02 January | 18:27

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards, which I'm really enjoying.

posted by rhapsodie 02 January | 18:30

2008 will be the year I conquer Infinite Jest. I bought it 10 years ago and never made much of a dent despite trying so many times. I remember buying it at the Borders on Michigan Ave in Chicago wanting to get something I would make sure I wouldn't finish it on the plane home. It is too big to bring on trips which is when I start new books for some reason. But now, I will finish it if it kills me.

I'm also reading The Good Life. Haven't touched it since I got off the plane last week as IJ is at my bedside.

Then for something in the non-fiction category, Shock Doctrine.

posted by birdherder 02 January | 18:34

Bridge of Birds, a book about Eleanor of Aquitaine and Slash's autobiography.

posted by gaspode 02 January | 18:37

I'm due for books to read. I'm going to read a trashy detective novel, and then get into something with more substance. I've read Wicked, and "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" by Gregory Maguire. I love the concept, and they are quite good, but especially Wicked gets a little too fantasy-ish for me. Which is odd considering I used to be a huge science fiction and fantasy reader.

Not sure what I'll get into. I'll have to spend an afternoon perusing my favorite bookstores and see what I come up with. Maybe take some photos too while I'm at it.

On preview: kellydamnit did you get the newest translation of War and Peace? I heard the couple that did it on NPR and it was really interesting to hear how they went through the process, and the differences from past editions.

posted by eekacat 02 January | 18:41

Here's an interview of the couple that did the translation of War and Peace.

posted by eekacat 02 January | 18:46

I'm reading Miles Davis for Beginners. Mostly stuff I already know, but I love the for Beginners graphic nonfiction series. Also rereading The Bush Junta, an excellent comics anthology about 'the Mayberry Machiavelli.' And I've checked out the latest issues of Blab!, Mome and Flight, though I haven't really gotten into 'em yet.

And fiction: I'm reading James Crumley's Bordersnakes and Tom Perrotta's The Abstinence Teacher.

Nonfiction: Vietnam Zippos, which is exactly what it sounds like, and Basic Bookbinding, which ditto. Leafing through books about printmaking and textile arts and whatnot, also books about tribal tattoos (as opposed to 'tribal' tattoos), lately. And I started Gamer Theory, but then I had to bring it back when somebody else was waiting on it.

posted by box 02 January | 18:49

I got a small feast of short story collections for Christmas, so for the time being I'm sampling stories from each of them. The Collected Stories of Roald Dahl - very nice. Widdershins, by Oliver Onions, a beautifully produced edition from a small press. And a sturdy new copy of John Collier's Fancies and Goodnights to replace the 1953 paperback that I read to death.

posted by Iridic 02 January | 19:02

I'm halfway through "Evil for Evil", second book in K.J. Parker's Engineer trilogy.

Excellent book, well up to the standards of the first, fantasy novel in that it's an alternate world, but without any magic or strange creature. Great characters, thoroughly worked-out plot.

ObShelfari. Wish you'd asked in the last few weeks, I had some dead interleckshual books on the go then...

posted by TheophileEscargot 02 January | 19:12

TheophileEscargot, I get you. I always feel intellectually inadequate to this crowd. Part of the reason I ask, though, is that I really, really dig MeCha book threads. Mostly because the bunnies' discussions have always spurred me towards branching out more... I purchased Geek Love as a direct result of reading a thread about it on this forum in fact.

You want pulp, I read massive, massive reams of unbelievably trashy pulp; sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, chick-lit, youth novels, cat lady mysteries - I'm telling you, if it's egregiously trashy and shallow, it's probably got my library card imprint in it.

but at least this crowd encourages me to leaven the loaf a bit. Seriously, five years ago, you wouldn't have caught me reading anything deeper than Anne Rice or Mercedes Lackey.

posted by lonefrontranger 02 January | 19:26

I've got about 17 pages left in Bob Dylan: The Essential Interviews. I'm expecting shipment of CREEM: America's Only Rock 'N' Roll Magazine and The Rick Johnson Reader: Tin Cans, Squeems and Thudpies next Tuesday, which leaves me sorta high and dry in the interim. Maybe I'll finish one of those WWII books I mentioned last time we did this.

posted by bmarkey 02 January | 19:26

I just got this today. So far it's terrific.

posted by jonmc 02 January | 19:30

I am trolling my way through Slash's autobiography right now, and am enjoying it a lot. It's pretty straightforward, and he's got an interesting story to tell. I'm also finding it sorta cool that he's actually very kind to Axl Rose. I assumed the book would be filled with a bunch of stories of what an asshole Axl is, yet so far, it's only got some stories of how odd he is/was, but a genuine affection and understanding too. Oh yeah, lots of stories about smack too.

I also got the Replacement's oral history one...It's All Over But the Shouting this year. Haven't cracked it yet. Same goes for Redemption Song, Joe Strummer's newish bio.

I received The Upanisads, and a Christopher Brookmyre novel that I've not read. I really like him. I think he's either a Brit or a Scot. Great, cracking crime-y stuff, heists, smart folks, etc. I bet his books would make a great film or two.

ALSO, I received Paul Quarrington's Civilization and Its Part in My Downfall, Douglas Coupland's Eleanor Rigby, Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Oh, and Wherever You Go There You Are, by Jon Kabat-Zinn, which was recommended by a good friend.

I love booky Christmases! Oh, and sorry I'm too lazy to link all those books up.

posted by richat 02 January | 19:36

Almost finished The Spy who came in from the Cold by John le Carré and about to start Will Storr Vs. the Supernatural: One Man's Search for the Truth about Ghosts by Will Storr.

posted by oh pollo! 02 January | 19:49

gaspode, I thought that you meant "Bridge of Birds" was a book about Eleanor of Aquitaine and Slash. And I was very confused.

But intrigued.

posted by occhiblu 02 January | 19:58

occhiblu, I thought the same thing, and then my wandering mind took it a step further and thought maybe it would be fan fiction written by Slash about Eleanor of Aquitaine...

The pulp I'm going to read tonight is Tony Hillerman's "The Shape Shifter". I've always liked his stuff for a light entertaining read. It was an impulse buy at Costco. I drooled over "The Complete Calvin and Hobbes" while there. Only 84 bucks too. Alas I didn't purchase it. I'm going to get a first edition of W.S. Merwin's "The Lost Upland". It's a book of prose about Southwest France where he lived. I've had 2 copies of it and have loaned them out, never to return. I like reading it because it's beautifully written, and there's not a lot of plot to get in the way. I read it and totally feel like I'm there living that life every day. A nice escape for sure.

I've read several of le Carre's books, including that one. His isn't a typical spy novel. One of my favorites of his was "The Constant Gardener". And, no, I didn't see the movie.

posted by eekacat 02 January | 20:36

A Very Short Introduction to Political Philosophy

posted by matthewr 02 January | 20:44

Oh, and lfr, the original "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" book was heavy handed political rhetoric according to quite a few people, though Frank Baum never admitted it as such. Anyways, that's why I felt it appropriate in the writing. It's been a couple of years since I've read Maguire's books, but my impression at the time was that not only were the premises of the books interesting, but he also had captured the style of the writing too. All too often someone comes up with a great idea, but the result is crap. Maguire had a great idea, and wrote some really good books.

posted by eekacat 02 January | 20:47

fan fiction written by Slash about Eleanor of Aquitaine...

"I remember playing this gig in Aquitane, it was a great show and I got bombed and picked up this chick named Eleanor. She was wild, man...[nods out]"

posted by jonmc 02 January | 20:58

I burned through a couple fiction books while on vacation:
- Dead Boys, by Richard Lange (a book of short stories recommended to jonmc by scody in this thread)
- Right Livelihoods, by Rick Moody (3 novellas)
- and The Lovely Bones

All three were pretty good, quick reads for the beach (though the last was particular sad, which is kinda at odds with being at the beach).

Since returning, I started another investment book called The Dhando Investor by Mohnish Pabrai. It's pretty lightweight stuff and nothing new, but I enjoy his descriptions of how Indian immigrants with the surname Patel came to dominate the US motel industry.

posted by mullacc 02 January | 21:23

The Terminal Beach, by J.G. Ballard. (I think that was my answer in the last book thread, too... I didn't read much during the holidays.)

Next I'm going to read my favorite novel, Swan Song by Robert McCammon, since a certain UK bunny was sweet enough to send me a replacement copy after I mentioned I'd lost mine years ago. :)

posted by BoringPostcards 02 January | 21:33

I'm reading Wyrd Sisters...one of the few discworld books I haven't read before. I am also reading The Perricone Promise and The Perricone Prescription...I'm reading these to see if I think my dad can handle the food recommendations in them. I'll probably end up doing the The Perricone Promise (28 day plan) with dad to get him set on the right path. It won't hurt me to lose a few pounds. I've got a call in to his kidney doctor to see if Perricone is a-ok for pop or not.

The biggest problem with finding a food plan for my dad is just that he's not comfortable eating whole food. He is so used to and comfortable with processed food that trying to get real food or real food prepared at home into his piehole is problematic. Dad is also having issues because he really isn't going to be able to eat the foods he likes. He is a total sweet tooth guy and that just won't work with diabetes. He is also super into crap bread (Wonder). His wife is exactly no help with his diet.

posted by fluffy battle kitten 02 January | 22:56

I can't read books when I am writing a big project. I can't explain it, it's like there is no room in my brain to hold the story from the book because it is taken up by my writing. I have to stick to short things. So - right now, not reading anything.

posted by typewriter 02 January | 23:00

I'm reading Sheri S. Tepper's "Family Tree", which my friend Carey (who is a huge fantasy buff) got me for Christmas. She also got me "Beauty" by the same author.

posted by black8 02 January | 23:05

kellydamnit- War and Peace is a book I like alot (as is Anna Karenina) and I have discovered that the translation makes all the difference. If you really don't like it, you might try a different translation. There's a definite learning curve with the names, though, and if you're reading a translation that smooths out that learning curve, it's probably not a great translation.

Oddly, or maybe not oddly at all, the new "super accurate" translation I just picked up of Anna Karenina is pretty annoying. I think I liked the previous translators' editing, verboten as that is.

When I was in school 10 years ago I discovered that any translation from the Russian published by W.W. Norton was probabably pretty good, but I don't know if that's still anything to go by.

posted by small_ruminant 03 January | 01:19

I'm just finishing "Anansi Boys" and will start today on "Out" by Natsuo Kirino - and after that, probably "Grand Ellipse" by Paula Volsky, which is supposed to be a sort of Jules Verne-ish steampunk (? maybe) thing.

posted by taz 03 January | 01:23

lonefrontranger: The thing is, I read a lot. mostly for entertainment, but with serious books mixed in. So, a "what are you reading right now" question generally finds me reading something light.

Whereas, if you only read two heavy books per year but string them out, you can always give an impressive answer.

WAAAH IT'S NOT FAIR.

posted by TheophileEscargot 03 January | 02:23

The original version of the roman a clef about Anatole Broyard--I agree with Anne Beranays that it isn't very good--and an account of slam poetry for which my friend Dan wrote the forward.

posted by brujita 03 January | 06:37

Michael Crichton's Next.

posted by chewatadistance 03 January | 08:04

The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene.

posted by malaprohibita 03 January | 08:57

I'm reading Bicycling and the Law and The Acme Novelty Datebook, both of which were Christmas gifts.

posted by smich 03 January | 11:25

Theo, I also read a lot... like, 3 or 4 books at a time sometimes. As in, one (or two) of varying degrees of depth on the nightstand, something substantial on the coffee table in the livingroom (where I'm not ashamed to own up to it), and typically something disgustingly YA/pulpy/chick-lit hiding in my messenger bag for light lunch reading, etc.

I freely admit to cheating tho - I would only start (or chime in on) book threads around this crowd when I'm not reading something COMPLETELY embarrassing.

posted by lonefrontranger 03 January | 11:26

I found out last night that ikkyu2 had left a Robert Ludlum novel on my pillow, so I started that last night instead of White Teeth. (Just wanted to throw my support behind trashy reading!)

Also, thank you to this thread for reminding me of Sheri Tepper. I read her Beauty in high school and promptly forgot the author's name; I've been trying to re-find that for years.

posted by occhiblu 03 January | 11:49

Just finished No One Belongs Here More Than You. I made fun of this book before it came out, back in a Mefi thread about Miranda July. Instantish karma got me and I ended up having to read it for work. About what I expected: well written stories, but a relentless mixture of twee and dark with very predictable plot twists. She's also got a very strong authorial voice, but virtually all the stories are written in the first person, so all the narrators end up sounding the same in my head, whether they're young or old, male or female.

Then I started Richard Flanagan's Death of a River Guide, which I've been saving for a few years (I was entranced by Gould's Book of Fish, but other things kept coming up). So far it's fantastic. Flanagan's prose is lovely and strong; such a relief after reading a few contemporary young American writers in a short period of time. My god, they all have that low affect "This American Life" tone, even the ones who are obviously good writers who should be braver.

posted by Lentrohamsanin 03 January | 12:11

I'm trying to read that new Tolkien. It's hard going.

I read that last Gaiman collection, and it was good fun.

posted by chuckdarwin 03 January | 13:05

The Air We Breathe by Andrea Barrett.

posted by grabbingsand 03 January | 17:25

Henry VIII - The King and His Court and next up is His Only Begotten Daughter.

I think Miko was reading/recommended the first one (I'm fascinated by the Tudor period) and the second one was mentioned at Mefi (maybe here) a while back. They're both library books, but I have a $50 Chapters gift certificate burning a whole in my pocket.

posted by deborah 03 January | 20:59

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