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Entertainment & Artistry => Words => Topic started by: Jake on April 11, 2005, 03:30:54 PM

Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: Jake on April 11, 2005, 03:30:54 PM
since we have the music VOLUME thread, lets make the "what are you reading now" thread as well :)

with that said, what is it that you are lost in right now?
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: Jake on April 11, 2005, 03:32:53 PM
I'm currently reading "Tender is the Night" by Fitzgerlad - a book for class; kind-of confusing; too many characters; i liked "Gatsby" better. Also reading a lot of short stories from Hemingway, started with "In Our Time" (his first published work) and going through other Nick Adams stories.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: joshdick on April 11, 2005, 03:44:16 PM
The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

All six books in one volume. Four down, two to go. I'm getting ready for the feature film release   :thumbsup:

Axon, have you read A Clean, Well-Lighted Place? I think that's a very good short story by Hemingway.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: Jake on April 11, 2005, 03:45:10 PM
Quote from: joshdick
The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

All six books in one volume. Four down, two to go. I'm getting ready for the feature film release   :thumbsup:


Ken will be proud!
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: Govtcheez on April 11, 2005, 04:27:42 PM
Porn.

Also, I'm into Survivor right now, but I don't see that last more than another day or so.  It's pretty short.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: -KEN- on April 11, 2005, 05:38:12 PM
I started reading my friend's copy of Survivor at the beach a little bit ago. Seemed pretty cool.

Let's see here:
Crime and Punishment - About halway in. Really enjoying it, but getting the characters'  names straight is giving me a headache.
Heart Of Darkness - For class, but I've always wanted to read it.

I'm also casually re-reading The Ultimate HHGG for a refresher, as well as Sirens Of Titan.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: jkim on April 11, 2005, 08:07:12 PM
We're reading the Inferno for class, but I'm actually really enjoying it.  It's really a fast read.
I'm also reading The Red Tent, but lack of time has been slowing that down a bit.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: Jake on April 12, 2005, 12:28:48 AM
>>We're reading the Inferno for class, but I'm actually really enjoying it<<

that's great! I got about half way done with "Heaven" and kind-of dropped it for a while - which reminds me, I should finish it sometime soon :p
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: [stealth] on April 12, 2005, 07:27:42 AM
Reading a book called "Man Bites Dog" - about half way thru.  Was reading Crime & Punishment but gave up a third of the way in.  Have read it before, just got bored this time - I'm sick of reading heaving shit, I've not got the stamina, desire for it as I once did.  Also have the autobiography of Anthony Kiedis to read next.  And a Ben Elton book that I got for xmas, but haven't touched.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: PING on April 12, 2005, 08:20:42 PM
currently reading dan brown's Da vinci code..but when i get bored of reading it, which happens pretty often, i pick up any book of the perry mason series and read that..
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: Exluddite on April 18, 2005, 11:42:36 PM
Planet Simpson How a cartoon Masterpiece Documented an Era and Defined a Generation by Chris Turner.
 I'm a big Simpsons fan, but I think the subtitle might be a bit of a stretch. Actually, I haven't been reading it straight through. I keep it next to the bed and read random bits of it until I feel like going to sleep. A lot of interesting factoids, and some of his observations are dead on, but a lot of it can definately be skipped. Essentially, this is a bathroom book that'd last a good year or so.
Prime Obsession Bernhard Rieman and the Greatest Unsolved Problem in Mathematics by John Derbyshire.
I don't know why, but the title caught my eye in the book store, and it seemed like an interesting read. It covers Rieman's hypothesis on prime numbers and how things have developed over time.The chapters alternate, first he talks about the history and people involved, then he goes into the math. Actually all the chapters have  some math in them, it'd be hard to get into the subject much without it. I sort of feel like I'm reading a mystery novel where I know the last page is going to say "but we don't know who did it.."
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: Jake on April 21, 2005, 10:19:18 PM
Quote from: Exluddite
Planet Simpson How a cartoon Masterpiece Documented an Era and Defined a Generation by Chris Turner.


i'll have to flip through it next time I'm at B&N. Has anyone read that book, I think its called "Simpsons and Philosophy"?
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: Govtcheez on April 22, 2005, 08:00:35 AM
I've got it, but haven't read a whole lot of it.  You might like it, but it's not exactly my cup of tea.  It seems silly to try and assign specific traits to cartoons that change on the animator's whim.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: Jake on April 22, 2005, 12:45:44 PM
Quote from: Govtcheez
I've got it, but haven't read a whole lot of it.  You might like it, but it's not exactly my cup of tea.  It seems silly to try and assign specific traits to cartoons that change on the animator's whim.



can you give an example of something?
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: Govtcheez on April 22, 2005, 01:53:29 PM
If I've got what you mean by "something" right, the best illustration I can give is the evolution of Homer.  When Bart was the focus of the show in the first couple seasons, he was the sort-of-dim, semi-abusive dad.  When the focus moved to him, he became more likeable (probably since things were centered around him) - tried to do what was best for the family, and his being stupid was sort of endearing.  When I stopped watching it, he had become someone who was basically braindead, and the whole point of the show became "Look at Homer he's so dumb and it's silly!"  That's not a logical progression of personalities to me, so I don't know what you'd gain by analyzing it.

That's just my opinion, though.  I'm sure you could find the book for cheap.  Hell, if you wanted I could loan you my copy.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: drakkenkorin on April 22, 2005, 03:11:52 PM
Quote from: axon
>>We're reading the Inferno for class, but I'm actually really enjoying it<<

that's great! I got about half way done with "Heaven" and kind-of dropped it for a while - which reminds me, I should finish it sometime soon :p

i don't blame you.

comparing all 3, inferno is the most interesting, purgatory is pretty good and IMO, heaven is the most boringest evar!  i had to force myself to read it.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: [stealth] on April 22, 2005, 08:25:03 PM
>> i had to force myself to read it.<<

"Just don't take any course where they make you read Beowulf" - Wood Allen
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: [stealth] on April 22, 2005, 08:25:33 PM
>> i had to force myself to read it.<<

"Just don't take any course where they make you read Beowulf" - Woody Allen
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: -KEN- on April 23, 2005, 06:19:34 PM
Ah, finally finished C&P. Great novel, really. I enjoyed Heart of Darkness as well. Somewhere in there I read The Importance of Being Earnest, too.

Now I suppose I'll start in on The Sun Also Rises, then probably East of Eden.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: Steve on October 11, 2005, 07:40:06 AM
Quote from: axon
since we have the music VOLUME thread, lets make the "what are you reading now" thread as well :)

with that said, what is it that you are lost in right now?


my new g/f's eyes, shes awsome
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: ober on October 11, 2005, 09:17:30 AM
You bumped a thread from APRIL to post that sappy shit?  You must be drunk.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: Jake on October 11, 2005, 11:28:24 AM
alright then RoD....:rolleyes:

to keep this on topic, I'm currently reading:
The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0679732454/qid=1129044357/sr=8-6/ref=pd_bbs_6/102-9363718-5362517?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) - Rilke's only novel

The Unbearable Lightness of Being (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060932139/qid=1129044462/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-9363718-5362517?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) - Kundera
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: Govtcheez on October 11, 2005, 11:39:12 AM
I am reading the Bourne Supremacy for fun, and The Demon Haunted World (Sagan), also for fun.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: PJYelton on October 11, 2005, 12:13:03 PM
Elegant Universe by Brian Greene, Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, and Harry Potter 4 just because it was my favorite of the series and the movie is about to come out.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: Govtcheez on October 11, 2005, 12:18:26 PM
> Elegant Universe by Brian Greene

I almost bought this this weekend.  Any good?  Have you seen the Nova series?
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: ober on October 11, 2005, 12:51:39 PM
I'm reading Steven King's Dreamcatcher.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: PJYelton on October 11, 2005, 01:18:00 PM
I've never seen the Nova series but I really enjoy the book.  The physics it teaches is fun and easy to understand but at the same time isn't dumbed down, great for anyone whos interested in relativity, quantum, and the universe in general.  Even if string theory is ultimately debunked I'd still recommend it.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: Govtcheez on October 11, 2005, 01:26:20 PM
Well, I'm interested in learning about them, but I don't really know much more that the extreme basics on any of them.  Is it something you think I'd be able to get into without any previous background?  I've taken physics classes, but they haven't really touched on string theory, quantum theory, or relativity.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: PJYelton on October 11, 2005, 01:35:35 PM
Well its tough to say from my experience, you definately don't need to know anything about string theory since I sure didn't, but I did know a little bit about quantum and relativity going in.  

As long as you know the extreme basics I'm sure you'd be fine, I've seen a ton of reviews from people who say they knew nothing about physics but found the book easy to read and understand.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: [stealth] on October 11, 2005, 09:24:12 PM
Picture Home Girls
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: yoshi on October 14, 2005, 01:56:48 AM
I just finished Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express", now I am on James Joyce's "Ulysses"
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: -KEN- on October 14, 2005, 12:13:12 PM
Quote from: Duwenbasden
I just finished Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express", now I am on James Joyce's "Ulysses"


There's a jump right there. I remember when I read Agatha Christie...
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: salvelinus on October 14, 2005, 07:20:00 PM
The Quincunx right now. Always got a couple books going. Lotta mystery, sci fi, history, science & classical type novels (Vanity Fair, Tom Jones, etc.). Already read most modern "classics" - Hemingway, Fitzgerald, etc, but have gaps that might seem odd for a Humanities major with a minor in English. Never read Lord of the Flies, Native Son, The Outsiders or Catcher in the Rye, for example. Typical high school fare I never had. Course, for two years went to an all boy Catholic high school, wearing suits & ties.
Which reminds me of something completely different, as Monty Python used to say...
I remember one 40 something priest, trying to be hip & cool in relating to 15 year old boys in the mid '70's, trying to persuade us not to masturbate.
He talked about the consequences of what happens if you don't masturbate (and aren't getting sex with girls, which most of us weren't, although I do have a "Summer of '42" story" or, I suppose, guys, but that was so far off the radar the idea never came up). Nocturnal emissions, wet dreams, that is.
Should we be embarassed about the stains on our sheets or underwear? No! Our moms would be proud of us for our restraint!
How our mom's would know the difference between wanking & not wanking on the sheets was never explained. Did they do a CSI type exam of splatter patterns? Does any 14 year old boy want his mom proud of his wanking behavior? When the moms get together for coffee or martinis, are they bragging that "my boy's not wanking - I know! Check out this sheet!". I don't watch many chick flicks, but the ones I have seen haven't mentioned this.
Why that priest, who was a nice guy and was widely regarded as a priest who could "connect with kids" (and, no, afaik neither he nor any of the other priests I knew, even as an altar boy, were molesters) would think a talk like that would be effective is a mystery to me.
On the other hand, our class would have Mass once a week in the small chapel. Before Mass, Father'd go into the confessional to hear us confess our sins. A couple guys would then start rolling doobies in the back pews (the '70's were a  lot more permissive to weed, although maybe not in the Catholic church :(  ). They'd send us all in, one by one, to confess our sins (never personally confessed to wanking) so they'd have time to smoke it. Father'd then come out and start Mass at the altar. He'd start sniffing around and make some comment about incense being strange this week.
I think he was basically a good guy; we weren't fooling him, but he had to toe the party line to some extent. OTOH, he was one of those people that get too close to you physically, the kind that gets 12 inches from you. Not meaning harm, but not what most of us were used to.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: Jake on October 15, 2005, 01:21:36 AM
today I took a well deserved day off from school ;) and spent a better half of it at B&N (yea I know, shut up :) ) anyway, while there I read C.S.Lewis' "Screwtape letters" - great read; wow. Another book that reenforces the idea that C.S.Lewis was one of the best writers of the 20th century.

Also gave me an idea for a short story. :)
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: [stealth] on November 14, 2005, 10:55:36 PM
"Live Through This: American Rock Music in the Nineties" Everett True
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: Jake on November 14, 2005, 11:36:09 PM
currently reading, even though it is taking me a long time, "The Devil's Apocrypha" by John De Vito. Its decent; pretty interesting idea for a story: basically it is a manuscript written by a priest who has been visited by the Devil over a hundred years ago - the manuscript tells the real truth
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: yoshi on November 28, 2005, 01:02:32 AM
I skipped Ulysses :p and went straight into Lovecraft's realm of horror :p.
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: [stealth] on November 29, 2005, 07:46:20 AM
Reading "Perfume" by Suskind at the moment..
Title: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: [stealth] on November 29, 2005, 07:50:16 AM
>>there I read C.S.Lewis' "Screwtape letters" - great read; wow. Another book that reenforces the idea that C.S.Lewis was one of the best writers of the 20th century.<<

Have you read the Great Divorce? It's great as well, also the book he wrote after his wife died..the title escapes me..it's not very long, maybe 60 odd pages..but heartbreaking all the same.  His apologetic works are also worth seeking out - his logic in some matters may be faulty, but his writing is so lucid it's a joy to read.
Title: Re: What keeps you UP at night?
Post by: Jake on November 10, 2008, 08:46:43 PM
testing lol
testing for what?