What are you reading right now?

**Frownland** · 01-31-2023, 05:18 PM

^House of the Scorpion

innerspaceboy · 01-31-2023, 05:59 PM

There's a new title from November of 2022 which I've really wanted to read but after losing my job and fighting for over 8 weeks with still not a penny in unemployment benefits and likely another 8 weeks before I see a payment (if at all), I've had to rein in all non-critical spending so I haven't ordered a copy yet. Hopefully by next June I'll be employed again and can treat myself to the book for my birthday, but all my career hunting options have dried up so it's not looking good.

Turn On, Tune In, Drift Off: Ambient Music's Psychedelic Past is the third major academic work on the ambient music genre and is published by Oxford University Press. I have copies of its predecessors, The Ambient Century (2000) by Mark J. Prendergast and Ocean of Sound (1995) by David Toop.

The latest book is by Victor Szabo, whose work broadly addresses the socioaesthetics of 20th and 21st century popular and electronic music. He's previously published articles on Eno's Airports and a piece on "Ambient Music as Popular Genre," but Turn On... is his first proper book.

News of the book was hyped by DJ Food and widely-promoted by Hearts of Space, so I've really wanted to get my hands on a copy.

Has anyone else read this yet? I'd love to hear what readers thought about it. I've stalked book review sites but there is very little reader feedback so far. If you've read it I can live vicariously through you until I'm able to save up for a copy.

Thanks.

(Image is of DJ Food's copy)

UPDATE: I found a copy of the PDF version and read it cover to cover this morning. I'll likely order a physical copy later this year if I can find a job to show my support to the author.

At least I've scratched that itch.

Mojo · 02-08-2023, 06:24 AM

This is now the second time I have tried to read this one and stalled halfway through. I wouldn't mind chalking it up to not being my thing, ditching it and moving on, but it takes about 5 minutes to read the damn thing it's so short that I feel compelled to finish it.

innerspaceboy · 02-08-2023, 12:25 PM

My Ray Bradbury collection! These are all original mass market paperbacks of the author's short stories published between 1946 and 1972, omitting collections where the stories had been previously anthologized elsewhere. Also pictured are the two omnibus oversize hardcovers with 200 of his collected short stories! I adore his heavily descriptive style and vivid imagery. There's no one quite like Bradbury. <3

innerspaceboy · 03-01-2023, 01:07 PM

My friends and family know just how much I adore Calvin & Hobbes. And the crocheted Hobbes doll and Hobbes enamel pin my girlfriend got me are among my most beloved possessions. But I had yet to claim a complete library of Watterson's classic comic strip.

I've finally secured the handsome oversize 1,456-page 3-volume first-printing hardcover box set from 2005. The set ranks as the #1 Best Seller for Amazon's Graphic Novel Anthologies category. I couldn't be happier! These will be a joy to read every day. Hooray! <3

For a detailed look at this beautiful box set, visit my absolute collection: The Complete Calvin and Hobbes Three Hardcovers Oversized Boxed Set

Synthgirl · 03-01-2023, 01:30 PM

That’s so cool, I absolutely love the Hobbes doll, and I still have my copy of the complete comics box that I got back when it was new (2005? Wow, feels more recent than that, haha). C&H was a massive part of my childhood, the transmogrifier, Spaceman Spiff, classic stuff.

TheBig3 · 03-01-2023, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo

This is now the second time I have tried to read this one and stalled halfway through. I wouldn't mind chalking it up to not being my thing, ditching it and moving on, but it takes about 5 minutes to read the damn thing it's so short that I feel compelled to finish it.

Off topic Mojo, but I love your avatar.

Mojo · 03-07-2023, 07:57 AM

Thanks man. You may already know but should you not, it's by this guy who does the artwork for the band Conan. This work specifically was used for the album Monnos.

Mojo · 03-07-2023, 08:28 AM

I really enjoyed this, although I'd probably say I'm not 100% certain I love Neil Gaimans writing style. I enjoyed it enough however to try something else, and also to go and see the National Theatre adaptation at the weekend. That was really impressive.

Mucha na Dziko · 03-10-2023, 01:17 PM

Finishing „A Dance with Dragons”

GRRM work faster, goddamit!

01-31-2023, 05:18 PM	#7601 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	^House of the Scorpion __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

02-08-2023, 06:24 AM	#7603 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	This is now the second time I have tried to read this one and stalled halfway through. I wouldn't mind chalking it up to not being my thing, ditching it and moving on, but it takes about 5 minutes to read the damn thing it's so short that I feel compelled to finish it. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

03-07-2023, 07:57 AM	#7608 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	Thanks man. You may already know but should you not, it's by this guy who does the artwork for the band Conan. This work specifically was used for the album Monnos. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

03-07-2023, 08:28 AM	#7609 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	I really enjoyed this, although I'd probably say I'm not 100% certain I love Neil Gaimans writing style. I enjoyed it enough however to try something else, and also to go and see the National Theatre adaptation at the weekend. That was really impressive. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

03-01-2023, 01:30 PM	#7606 (permalink)
Synthgirl Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Cheeseland USA Posts: 155	That’s so cool, I absolutely love the Hobbes doll, and I still have my copy of the complete comics box that I got back when it was new (2005? Wow, feels more recent than that, haha). C&H was a massive part of my childhood, the transmogrifier, Spaceman Spiff, classic stuff.