What are you reading right now?

Son of JayJamJah · 12-01-2008, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepy jack

It'll be like the Musicbanter Book Club.

Just like the Oprah book club but without the narcissism...

sleepy jack · 12-01-2008, 11:33 PM

haha or the crappy choices.

Fruitonica · 12-05-2008, 03:52 AM

I just finished The Road by Cormac McCarthy, and I'm feeling slightly ambivalent. It never really clicked for me and I don't really understand the piles of critical acclaim heaped on it.

The sparse prose is at times beautiful and profound, especially the final passage, but most of the time it just felt solid and workman like, not adding or detracting from the story.

The structure of the story was repetitive, and all of the descriptions of setting up camp blur into one. And I actually found the overwhelming bleakness and futility to be too much.

What saves it is the interaction between the man and boy, which is just perfect, swaying between touching and unsettling.

Terrible Lizard · 12-05-2008, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fruitonica

I just finished The Road by Cormac McCarthy, and I'm feeling slightly ambivalent. It never really clicked for me and I don't really understand the piles of critical acclaim heaped on it.

The sparse prose is at times beautiful and profound, especially the final passage, but most of the time it just felt solid and workman like, not adding or detracting from the story.

The structure of the story was repetitive, and all of the descriptions of setting up camp blur into one. And I actually found the overwhelming bleakness and futility to be too much.

What saves it is the interaction between the man and boy, which is just perfect, swaying between touching and unsettling.

I think the primary flaw with the Road was the setting, McCarthy is incredible in the gothic western setting, but otherwise it's like wading through a swamp.

Nevertheless Blood Meridian is still one of the greatest novels I have ever read.

Inuzuka Skysword · 12-05-2008, 08:59 PM

CA, I know you are into Beckett. I have never read any of his stuff and was wondering what novel I should start with. A lot of people are telling me Murphy, but I want to see what your recommendation would be.

cardboard adolescent · 12-05-2008, 09:17 PM

I think Waiting for Godot would be the obvious place to start, of his novels I would say Watt.

Strummer521 · 12-05-2008, 10:50 PM

Marsupial by Derek White, who happens to be the one-man wrecking crew behind Calamari Press. Support the small presses people! Please!

Obdurate · 12-05-2008, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terrible Lizard

I think the primary flaw with the Road was the setting, McCarthy is incredible in the gothic western setting, but otherwise it's like wading through a swamp.

Nevertheless Blood Meridian is still one of the greatest novels I have ever read.

You know, I appreciate Blood Meridian but didn't really like it that much. It's beautifully written, but I just couldn't get into it. I want to read the Road because I figure it's more my thing.

Right now I'm reading Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet by Joanne Proulx right now. It's probably the type of book I need to break me out of my reading slump. Nothing too hard, with an interesting story. It would be death at this point to jump into something like James Joyce or War & Peace, etc.

Terrible Lizard · 12-06-2008, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Obdurate

You know, I appreciate Blood Meridian but didn't really like it that much. It's beautifully written, but I just couldn't get into it. I want to read the Road because I figure it's more my thing.

Right now I'm reading Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet by Joanne Proulx right now. It's probably the type of book I need to break me out of my reading slump. Nothing too hard, with an interesting story. It would be death at this point to jump into something like James Joyce or War & Peace, etc.

Sometimes you have to read the hard stuff, it makes your reading more vibrant and you learn from it. I prefer pulp and hardboiled fiction to almost everything, but I still read the hard **** because it makes the experience have a realistic edge. Reading difficult or vague works like McCarthy sharpens the mind.

Obdurate · 12-06-2008, 02:08 PM

Indeed it does, but there is definitely a time and a place for it. If I was to read hard book after hard book I'd go nuts. I read through Infinite Jest and then afterwards I read a Kevin Smith book just because my brain needed a break with something simple and entertaining.

I just realized that earlier I said "right now" in a really redundant way. Funny.

12-05-2008, 10:50 PM	#907 (permalink)
Strummer521 Pepper Emergency! Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 493	Marsupial by Derek White, who happens to be the one-man wrecking crew behind Calamari Press. Support the small presses people! Please! __________________ "Caffeine is so ridiculous right now." RZA

12-06-2008, 02:08 PM	#910 (permalink)
Obdurate Groupie Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 35	Indeed it does, but there is definitely a time and a place for it. If I was to read hard book after hard book I'd go nuts. I read through Infinite Jest and then afterwards I read a Kevin Smith book just because my brain needed a break with something simple and entertaining. I just realized that earlier I said "right now" in a really redundant way. Funny. __________________ Will post for food.

12-05-2008, 03:52 AM	#903 (permalink)
Fruitonica Pale and Wan Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Aus Posts: 917	I just finished The Road by Cormac McCarthy, and I'm feeling slightly ambivalent. It never really clicked for me and I don't really understand the piles of critical acclaim heaped on it. The sparse prose is at times beautiful and profound, especially the final passage, but most of the time it just felt solid and workman like, not adding or detracting from the story. The structure of the story was repetitive, and all of the descriptions of setting up camp blur into one. And I actually found the overwhelming bleakness and futility to be too much. What saves it is the interaction between the man and boy, which is just perfect, swaying between touching and unsettling.

12-05-2008, 08:59 PM	#905 (permalink)
Inuzuka Skysword Existential Egoist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,468	CA, I know you are into Beckett. I have never read any of his stuff and was wondering what novel I should start with. A lot of people are telling me Murphy, but I want to see what your recommendation would be.

12-05-2008, 09:17 PM	#906 (permalink)
cardboard adolescent ;) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Posts: 3,503	I think Waiting for Godot would be the obvious place to start, of his novels I would say Watt.