What are you reading right now?

[skramamme (OP)]

I thought I'd start a couple of threads here, one for books and one for telly/movies.

So, what are you reading at the moment?

Any suggestions for a good read?

I'm currently reading one of the Dark Tower books by Stephen King (the snobby part of me cringes that I like his work, but he tells a damn good story).

And some of the authors that I love are;
Robin Hobb- the Liveship trilogy is amazing if you like beautifully fleshed out fantasy worlds
Sheri S Tepper (futuristic fantasy might be the way to describe it)
Frank Herbert's Dune
Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams of course (RIP to both of them)
Stephen Hunter's Black Light is great- about a Vietnam sniper vet (there's a movie called Shooter based on one of his novels)
Martin Amis- Money is just a brilliant novel
Robert Campbell's Alice in La LA Land is a very cool gumshoe detective novel (a hard-boiled novel I think they call it)...

so many great books out there 

What's your favourite genre?
I tend to like sci-fi/fantasy (hard sci-fi is a little hard for me to grasp sometimes), good crime (fiction rather than non fiction) and dystopian-type stuff.
Oh, and horror.

So I'd love to hear what other people are into 

[Anti-hero]

I like history books
I just got done with
Legacy of ashes
It was about the cia
I would get up and find it
But HeAd is sleeping.
And I'm on my phone trying not to annoy her.

[Chip]

an Android magazine and this forum.

[DeadCat]

Working on "Chasing the Scream"about the history of the drug war.

Favorite author is Cormac Macarthy, especially Blood Meridian but all of his stuff is beautifully written.

Recently read "Why America Failed" by Morris Berman, an excellent dissection d chronic problems of the USA by a scholar.

Regualr blogs by Chis Hedges and Dimitri Orlov.

I can't sit for 5 minutes without reading something. Once in Guadalajara I was walking down the street reading a book while walking and fell inot an covered, unmarked pit in th emidddle of the sidewalk. Just walked off the dge and had that falling feeling......ouch.

[Narkotikon]

I've not read any fiction in ages.  When I was in HS and college, I really liked reading the classics of English / American literature.  Jane Austen, Edith Wharton, Henry James, Edgar Allen Poe, Thoreau, Shelley, Lord Byron, the Bronte sisters, etc. 

For the past decade though, I've not read much.  If anything, I usually read non-fiction.  Primarily history, but sometimes articles on languages, culture, pharmacology, biographies, etc.  Usually articles on Wikipedia, sometimes other sites. 

As for history, I like ancient to pre-WWI.  I just can't get into 20th century history, or a lot of contemporary events.  One reason I like history is b/c it offers a glimpse into another world and time.  20th century history is too close to today.  It's also a lot of wars, and I hate learning about battles and wars, in whatever time period.  For instance, in Roman history, I always hated learning about Caesar on his campaigns in Gaul.  Totally boring IMO.  Likewise with the history of Ancient Greece and their battles with Persia.  Boring. 

I'm not into American history either.  Some aspects of the Revolutionary War are interesting, primarily from a cultural standpoint.  But after that, no thanks.  I do like Colonial American history though. 

If I had to pick my three favorite historical periods, I'd say:

Ancient Roman (late-Republican to early-Imperial)
English and French history of the High Middle Ages
19th century English history 

[nick]

Just finished "American pain" and "Dreamland"-as good a break down on the socio-political history of opiate dependence in the states over the last 10-15 years and I'm now reading Bruce Robinson's "They all love Jack".

Read "Ghettoside;investigating a homicide epidemic" recently too.

[BamaPainGurl]

I'm reading two, the zamperini book that unbroken was based on and Dean Koontz newest. Well the short story before it. I have very eclectic reading tastes. When I get on my tab I will add titles, this phone sucks for posting g.

[Opus]

Have two books here: The Sociopath Next Door (Stout), and: It's Here Now (Are You?) (Bhagavan Das)

I want a Kindle.

[BamaPainGurl]

Have two books here: The Sociopath Next Door (Stout), and: It's Here Now (Are You?) (Bhagavan Das)

I want a Kindle.

Loved my kindle! Now I use the Kindle app on my Samsung tab, just as good imo!

[smalls]

I'm reading two, the zamperini book that unbroken was based on and Dean Koontz newest. Well the short story before it. I have very eclectic reading tastes. When I get on my tab I will add titles, this phone sucks for posting g.

Oh man, Unbroken, the book, was so good! I love me some good narrative nonfiction. Haven't seen the movie. Did you see the movie?

I thought I'd start a couple of threads here, one for books and one for telly/movies.

So, what are you reading at the moment?

Any suggestions for a good read?

I'm currently reading one of the Dark Tower books by Stephen King (the snobby part of me cringes that I like his work, but he tells a damn good story).

And some of the authors that I love are;
Robin Hobb- the Liveship trilogy is amazing if you like beautifully fleshed out fantasy worlds
Sheri S Tepper (futuristic fantasy might be the way to describe it)
Frank Herbert's Dune
Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams of course (RIP to both of them)
Stephen Hunter's Black Light is great- about a Vietnam sniper vet (there's a movie called Shooter based on one of his novels)
Martin Amis- Money is just a brilliant novel
Robert Campbell's Alice in La LA Land is a very cool gumshoe detective novel (a hard-boiled novel I think they call it)...

so many great books out there 

What's your favourite genre?
I tend to like sci-fi/fantasy (hard sci-fi is a little hard for me to grasp sometimes), good crime (fiction rather than non fiction) and dystopian-type stuff.
Oh, and horror.

So I'd love to hear what other people are into 

Glad you started this thread. I already see some titles I want to add to my to-read list. Right now I'm reading The Biology of Desire: Why addiction is not a disease by Marc Lewis. He also wrote Memoirs of an Addicted Brain: A neuroscientist examines his former life on drugs in which he explains the neuroscience/biology of drug use through the narrative of his life. He uses the same format in Biology of Desire, but rather than write about his own experiences this time, each chapter is focused on a different drug user. I'm loving it. The logical explanations really speak to me, and he's also just a very good writer. Some of the best drug-related imagery I've read (although everyone has their own opinions about that stuff).

skramamme, if you like sci-fi I want to recommend a few podcasts (maybe a podcast thread should be started?) because I'm podcast obsessed right now: Meanwhile In The Future and Limetown.

With Meanwhile In The Future they do a small intro skit imagining what some form of the future will be like, for example some of the episodes are "A world with artificial wombs," "A second moon for earth," and "What if we banned all weapons?" and then they interview experts to get their opinion on the subject. Their experts are usually scientists and science fiction authors. The episodes are only about 20 mins and are well produced.

Limetown is only three episodes along but so far seems promising. It's also well produced and episodes are around 30 mins. People are saying it's like Serial meets Welcome to Nightvale but that's probably just bc there aren't many podcasts available for comparison. From their website: Limetown follows journalist Lia Haddock as she investigates the infamous disappearance of a doomed research facility. Give it a listen - I'd love to know what you think.

Ooh ooh, another one I just thought of is Criminal. This one's not sci-fi, it's true crime. Also 20 min-ish episodes covering topics from extortion to counterfeit money to murder. Each episode tells a specific (true) story or interviews a specific person. Some of my favorites are "The buck stops here," "Mothers little helper," and "I'm about to save your life."

Okay okay I'll stop now. 

[BamaPainGurl]

Smalls,
  No, haven't seen the movie yet, I am much more into reading than the movies. For instance,I've read the entire Lee Child series but was so bummed when they made Tom cruise Reacher in the movie. Reacher is 6ft6in. Cruise is what 5'4"? Anyways I like creating my own visuals and movies rarely compare.

 The movie is on demand right now so I may try it out this weekend and if I do I'll let you know  .
  ~lissa 

[smalls]

Smalls,
  No, haven't seen the movie yet, I am much more into reading than the movies. For instance,I've read the entire Lee Child series but was so bummed when they made Tom cruise Reacher in the movie. Reacher is 6ft6in. Cruise is what 5'4"? Anyways I like creating my own visuals and movies rarely compare.

 The movie is on demand right now so I may try it out this weekend and if I do I'll let you know  .
  ~lissa

I'm the same way. Movies rarely ever live up to what I've created in my mind from reading the story.

[skramamme (OP)]

Glad you started this thread. I already see some titles I want to add to my to-read list. Right now I'm reading The Biology of Desire: Why addiction is not a disease by Marc Lewis. He also wrote Memoirs of an Addicted Brain: A neuroscientist examines his former life on drugs in which he explains the neuroscience/biology of drug use through the narrative of his life. He uses the same format in Biology of Desire, but rather than write about his own experiences this time, each chapter is focused on a different drug user. I'm loving it. The logical explanations really speak to me, and he's also just a very good writer. Some of the best drug-related imagery I've read (although everyone has their own opinions about that stuff).

skramamme, if you like sci-fi I want to recommend a few podcasts (maybe a podcast thread should be started?) because I'm podcast obsessed right now: Meanwhile In The Future and Limetown.

With Meanwhile In The Future they do a small intro skit imagining what some form of the future will be like, for example some of the episodes are "A world with artificial wombs," "A second moon for earth," and "What if we banned all weapons?" and then they interview experts to get their opinion on the subject. Their experts are usually scientists and science fiction authors. The episodes are only about 20 mins and are well produced.

Limetown is only three episodes along but so far seems promising. It's also well produced and episodes are around 30 mins. People are saying it's like Serial meets Welcome to Nightvale but that's probably just bc there aren't many podcasts available for comparison. From their website: Limetown follows journalist Lia Haddock as she investigates the infamous disappearance of a doomed research facility. Give it a listen - I'd love to know what you think.

Ooh ooh, another one I just thought of is Criminal. This one's not sci-fi, it's true crime. Also 20 min-ish episodes covering topics from extortion to counterfeit money to murder. Each episode tells a specific (true) story or interviews a specific person. Some of my favorites are "The buck stops here," "Mothers little helper," and "I'm about to save your life."

Okay okay I'll stop now. 

I've heard a little about Marc Lewis, isn't he the one who talks about the physical changes to the brain of long term addicts being irrelevant because of brain plasticity? I am always a bit wary of the disease/not a disease conflict because generally speaking the "it's not a disease" camp tend to reduce addiction down to it just being a lack of ~willpower~ on the part of the addict, which is both unhelpful, untrue and plays into the morality aspects of shaming and persecuting addicts.

I'm not sure what stance Mr Lewis takes wrt the complex nature of addiction, but I am always leery of ex addicts going on about their addiction and how if they can beat it then anyone should be able to.

What is your impression of his attitude towards addiction/addicts?


"Meanwhile, in the Future" sounds very cool- I really should try getting into podcasts but I have a hard time sitting still listening to things (as much as I love music)- it's like I need a visual connection too (that's why I have never even tried listening to an audio book, IDGI if you can read, why would you listen instead?).

I did listen to an episode or two of Welcome to Nightvale but, again, I kinda needed visuals to make the connection, although the story telling was excellent- even just watching the person speak is enough to keep me engaged but words simply coming out of my speakers with nothing else...IDK, I just struggle with it holding my attention.
Which is a shame because I'm obviously missing out on some interesting stuff.

Thanks for the suggestions, I think I will have to give podcasts a second chance

[Dhedmo]

Just finished James Brown's The L.A. Diaries and am reading Burroughs' The Western Lands, both site-appropriate, coincidentally enough.

[Badly Drawn Girl]

I'm an odd duck, I read multiple books at the same time.  Well, not really at the same time but you get what what I'm saying.  I WISH I was able to literally read more than one at a time.  Reading is just about my only hobby outside of video games.  I read about 150 books a year.  I love non fiction best but I do read a fair bit of novels.  Currently reading: Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris (part two of his incredible biography on Roosevelt), Up in the Air by Walter Kirn, Darkness Visible (a memoir of madness) by William Styron, A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit (fascinating exploration on altruism in humans stemming directly from catastrophes.) After Dark by Haruki Murakami, The Round House by Louise Erdrich and The Cliff Walk, a job lost and a life found by Don J Snyder.  That's this weeks fare.  And honestly, I have probably ten more books scattered around in various places that I'm also reading.  I could get stuck anywhere and will have a book nearby.  Thank God for thrift stores, I'd never be able to afford my habit.

(And don't go recommending a Kindle to me. I'll politely bite your head off.  If I can't hold the book, turn and smell the pages, I'm not reading it.)