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Post by nick on Dec 1, 2012 14:25:11 GMT -5
The Windup Girl is great. He has a short story collection, Pump Six and Other Stories, that's really solid too.
Currently in the middle of rereading Blindsight by Peter Watts. Next up is Cloud Atlas maybe?
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Post by DREW OF THE RUSHES on Dec 1, 2012 15:36:58 GMT -5
Blindsight is stellar. Nihilistic and dark and totally perfect hard sci fi. I've had Cloud Atlas on my radar for a while now too. But I think I have to read Under the Dome first.
Just finished Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston, a gorgeous memoir, and recently finished Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin. Also read To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf a bit ago, and listened to the audiobook of Embassytown by China Mieville. Currently listening to Existence by David Brin.
What about ya'll?
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Post by Horned Gramma on Dec 1, 2012 21:39:17 GMT -5
Workin on Chabon's 'Telegraph Ave.' (not his best) and I got Rushdie's recent memoir on deck. Stoked for that.
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Post by nick on Dec 2, 2012 21:55:46 GMT -5
Embassytown by China Mieville? Fuck, I loved this book so much until I had about 100 pages left, and then it totally lost me. After being so unconventional and fascinating for the majority of the book, it felt like he just sort of phoned in the end so he could move on to his next project. I love the dude but he needs to take a couple years to chune his novels. Ever since Iron Council it's felt like he's just playing around with prose, trying a bit of everything. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't (I'm looking at you, Kraken). |
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Post by DREW OF THE RUSHES on Dec 3, 2012 0:37:14 GMT -5
The City and the City is a masterpiece, and Perdido Street Station is a masterpiece, and the rest of it is humble in comparison. I agree, he writes too damn fast, but dude's got some cool ideas.
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Post by Horned Gramma on Jan 14, 2013 14:45:00 GMT -5
I just finished reading, only moments ago, George Saunders' new short story collection, Tenth of December.  I am usually pretty vocal about not enjoying short fiction; even the short fiction of my favorite writers tends to leave me cold. But George Saunders is nothing short of miraculous. I know I am the King of Hyperbole, but I mean it from the top of my heart when I say that there isn't a recommendation that I would give -- in terms of music, film, literature, anything -- with as much confidence and enthusiasm as I would recommend George Saunders. His writing is profound, hilarious, sad, sexy, powerful, and important. Tenth of December made me feel bigger than myself; made me understand myself better than I did before I read it. I can only hope to ever write even the tiniest fraction as well as George Saunders. Everyone, all of you. Read this book. Holy shit I feel like I just jumped off a cliff and landed, smiling, on my feet. |
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Post by Cysquatch on Jan 14, 2013 14:53:27 GMT -5
I think I will buy this book. I think some good short stories would be great for me right now, because I don't really have time to get in to a lengthy novel. In the last few years I have put all of my time into reading technical text, and that shit can be mind numbing.
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Post by Horned Gramma on Jan 14, 2013 14:56:31 GMT -5
Do it. For all of its emotional heft, it is a very quick and 'easy' read. Saunders' prose feels like some crazy bastard just ran into the room, breathless, trying to tell you as quickly as possible all of the shit he just saw go down on Mulberry Street.
I've been waiting for this book to drop for a good five years and it took me all of four days to read it, and that was with me doing my best to make it last. Let the waiting recommence, I suppose. And if you do read it, cy, let me know what you think.
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Post by DREW OF THE RUSHES on Jan 14, 2013 16:45:46 GMT -5
That was the most hyperbolic statement you've ever made, EVER.
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Post by Cysquatch on Jan 20, 2013 23:30:57 GMT -5
I came home on Friday to find my copy of Tenth of December. I'm almost through The Semplica Girl Diaries. I'm finding it to be a pretty interesting read. It seems like in most of the stories he throws in some fucked up twist, but then sheds some light on it, so it's sad, but not sad. It's like you don't know whether to laugh or cry at the turn of events. He really helps you step into the mind of his fucked up characters too. I think I'll check out some of his other books of short stories.
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Post by nick on Jan 20, 2013 23:33:11 GMT -5
About 100 pages into The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I haven't felt strongly about the world-building so far, but the character development is incredible, and the voice of the book is impressive.
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Post by DREW OF THE RUSHES on Jan 20, 2013 23:47:30 GMT -5
About 100 pages into The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I haven't felt strongly about the world-building so far, but the character development is incredible, and the voice of the book is impressive. I liked this book a lot, but the second one disappointed me. What I like about Rothfuss is that he's melding old-school fantasy with the fairy story, and he's talented. But frankly, if you're not Susanna Clarke, you didn't write the best fairy story homage ever. |
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Post by Horned Gramma on Jan 20, 2013 23:47:48 GMT -5
I think I'll check out some of his other books of short stories. is particularly excellent. 'The Semplica Girl Diaries' fucked with my head. |
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Post by nick on Feb 8, 2013 10:36:56 GMT -5
Just finished The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, hot damn what a story. Gotta grab book 2 today.
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Post by Horned Gramma on Feb 8, 2013 15:22:05 GMT -5
I checked the local paper -- which I usually forget to do anymore -- and I see that George Saunders is doing a reading at Powell's tonight.
I'm really glad I checked the local paper.
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