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Did you like it? What was so interesting about it?

By Ishan (Ishan) on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 01:44 pm: Edit

Eragon. Dont really know. I guess I just like fantasy literature.

By Squarishcircle (Squarishcircle) on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 01:45 pm: Edit

this is not a forum for you to get answers to your homework...

By Candi1657 (Candi1657) on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 01:46 pm: Edit

"A is for Admission" by Michele A. Hernandez. Yes, I'm so behind, what is the usefulness of reading this book if you have sent out all your apps? Well, it sure put my mind at ease that I had done the right things.

By Squarishcircle (Squarishcircle) on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 01:48 pm: Edit

you already got accepted to dartmouth so i don't know what you're not so at ease about

By Luxaeterna4 (Luxaeterna4) on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 01:56 pm: Edit

The Tao of Physics: Fritzof Capra. most excellent, please read. and candi... do you ever read for the sake of reading? why should it be a chore??

By Pwiddles (Pwiddles) on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 02:03 pm: Edit

this forum is not for my homweork

you dont even have to tell me what it was about genius(squarishcircle)

if i needed to know info on books i would have read them

just wanted to see if i ran across anyone who has read the same book as me lately (LUCKY) SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT

i was also curious to see what books other people read

is that such a crime?

By Penn08please (Penn08please) on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 03:18 pm: Edit

The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy

By Watchout (Watchout) on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 03:24 pm: Edit

'tis by frank mc court.
i highly recommend this it's quite funny, but first read mc court's 1st memoir, angela's ashes.

By Jordana (Jordana) on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 04:11 pm: Edit

I just read or i am almost finished with A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It is a very good book, though very sad too.

By Mcreek05 (Mcreek05) on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 05:27 pm: Edit

The Bretheren by John Grisham

A very good book that's very interesting and entertaining, you should read it.

By Candi1657 (Candi1657) on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 05:44 pm: Edit

I don't think reading is a chore...Quite the contrary, it is one of the most useful activities one can engage themselves in.

By Luxaeterna4 (Luxaeterna4) on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 05:50 pm: Edit

lol sorry i misread what you had put... didnt see the title of the book... lol *feels stupid*

By Usna_Reject (Usna_Reject) on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 05:54 pm: Edit

almost done with 1984

By Greggie (Greggie) on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 06:12 pm: Edit

Reunion in death, Nora Roberts aka J.D.Robb

By Crnchycereal (Crnchycereal) on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 06:16 pm: Edit

Dude, Where's my Country?

By Riesenmy (Riesenmy) on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 06:24 pm: Edit

just finished "survivor" by chuck palahniuk, and reading "lullaby" by him right now. as far as school goes, just finished "l'etranger" by camus and am reading "the consolation of philosophy" by boethius and "henry IV PI"

By Entropicgirl (Entropicgirl) on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 09:28 am: Edit

I LOVE L'etranger!!

I just read "The Confessions of Felix Krull, Confidence Man (the Early Years)"

By Totallytaffy (Totallytaffy) on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 09:50 am: Edit

Linden Hills by Gloria Naylor

By Foreignboy (Foreignboy) on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 10:08 am: Edit

King Rat. (forgot author's name)
It's about Singaporean P.O.W.s

By Joe3000t3 (Joe3000t3) on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 04:20 pm: Edit

Book of Illusions by Paul Auster
Great book

By Hitu (Hitu) on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 04:32 pm: Edit

Born Confused
Da Vinci Code

By Yugekorb (Yugekorb) on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 05:13 pm: Edit

Crime and Punishment
now: the idiot and oliver twist

By Luxaeterna4 (Luxaeterna4) on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 05:26 pm: Edit

the idiot is INCREDIBLE. I spent four hours at the beach sophie yr reading the last 200 pages... SO GOOD.

By Virgo007 (Virgo007) on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 06:33 pm: Edit

"This Side of Paradise" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Loved it

Now: Dante's Inferno.

By Flameball63 (Flameball63) on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 11:26 pm: Edit

Currently Reading:
"The Chomsky Reader"-Collective works of Noam Chomsky.
"Two Americas-America's Current Political Deadlock and How to Break It"

Yeah...I love politics.

Just finished: "Clinton and Me"---great book-funny as heck.

By Nike1800 (Nike1800) on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 11:44 pm: Edit

Absolutely American by David Lipsky
It's about West Point

By Gianscolere (Gianscolere) on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 11:45 pm: Edit

"mountain of gold" by sung...the book is historically-based...i definitely learned a lot from the book, but i derive most of my conclusions from primary sources. it was helpful nonetheless.

currently reading shakespeare's macbeth. i'm loving it thus far...the witches' involvement with macbeth and lady macbeth makes the story all the more interesting.

By Haithman (Haithman) on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 12:42 am: Edit

Just finished
Divine Comedy-You know by who
Fast-James Gleick

Currently..(For English Class)
Crime and Punishment
Joy Luck Club

By Layne (Layne) on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 01:01 pm: Edit

Candide
now:
Crime and Punishment and about to start The Importance of Being Earnest

By Stanfordrulez (Stanfordrulez) on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 01:10 pm: Edit

---

Quote:

The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy

---

By Fallentear04 (Fallentear04) on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 01:49 pm: Edit

I'm currently reading The Mismeasure of Man - lol at the suggestion of MassDad, ran out and bought a copy - Les Miserables, and plan on stealing (sorry, borrowing) The Virgin Suicides from my friend Jess.

By Jennyzsong (Jennyzsong) on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 02:39 pm: Edit

requiem for a dream, for pleasure
oedipus the king, required

By Jordana (Jordana) on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 03:14 pm: Edit

o i didn't know books we read in school count. lol. In that case i have read Lord of the Flies and Howards Zinns American History too. I plan on reading Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and Across the river and into the Trees by Ernest Hemingway as soon as i get some time. Have any of you read either one of these books? Were they good? I heard Wuthering Heights was good but i am not to sure about Across the River and into the Trees. As i am sure you can tell i am reading classics and famous books a lot lately. I like to read, but i also need to study for the SAT's so this kills to birds with one stone.

By Netshark2005 (Netshark2005) on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 04:01 pm: Edit

Lies and the Lying Liars who tell them by Al Franken. For anyone interested in politics, this is a must read. It uncovers so much that is extremely relevant for the upcoming election in November.

By Candi1657 (Candi1657) on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 04:47 pm: Edit

Ugghhh...I can't stand Al Franken. Bleeding heart all the way.

By Najy (Najy) on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 04:49 pm: Edit

Jazz by Toni Morrison. I hated it and I hate Toni Morrison.

Wuthering Heights, now thats an interesting book.

By Riesenmy (Riesenmy) on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 05:26 pm: Edit

entropic girl... i loved l'etranger too... camus is a genius. candi, no way, al franken is the man... finished consolation of philosophy, starting the inferno.

By Riesenmy (Riesenmy) on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 05:28 pm: Edit

i guess i should have said *was* a genius... depends on your point of view i guess.

By Blondie (Blondie) on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 06:19 pm: Edit

Women of Sand and Myrrh - Hanan Al-Shaykh
Grendel - John Gardner (just finished Beowulf, I like Grendel's perspective a lot better )

By Wunderkind__Not (Wunderkind__Not) on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 08:30 pm: Edit

Critique of Pure Reason (original German) --Kant

By Neo (Neo) on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 09:25 pm: Edit

"Crime and Punishment" -- it seems to be standard AP English reading material. The same with "The Stranger".

For pleasure, it was The Bell Jar.

I'm also writing a book right now, so I'm adding that to the list. I haven't named it yet, but I'll call it "Bright Eyes" for tonight.

By Caro33 (Caro33) on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 09:26 pm: Edit

The Color Purple
Easy reading, not an easy topic, but all around a good book

By Wo4567 (Wo4567) on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 09:49 pm: Edit

candi... you will fit in so well at dartmouth. have fun.

By Chasgoose (Chasgoose) on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 10:37 pm: Edit

For School (AP English Lit and Russian History through Literature):
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez-Amazing, I can't decide if I like it better than One Hundred Years of Solitude or not.

Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev- I wasn't really a fan, but that was because I loathed the main character

The Communist Manifesto- Rather interesting although hopelessly idealistic and flawed.

For fun:
Naked by David Sedaris-hilarious as usual.

Up next at school:
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky

By Jennyzsong (Jennyzsong) on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 10:41 pm: Edit

bright eyes!? influenced by the band or no? haha.

By Nmoreno1 (Nmoreno1) on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 12:15 am: Edit

I found Eragon to be a horribly written book. The author's sentence structure does not go above the simple sentence. I found it annoying after the first page or so, but had to endure so that I could discuss the book with a friend. Needless to say, I returned the book when I was finished with it.

By Vtoodler (Vtoodler) on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 03:24 am: Edit

Life as Carola-read this summer and absolutely loved

In Deep(by patricia cooper)-currently reading

By Emilyp114 (Emilyp114) on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 09:32 am: Edit

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I highly recommend it.

By Canadaclaire (Canadaclaire) on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 10:57 am: Edit

Jordana I just finished "a tree gorws in brooklyn" too. now I'm back to "a catcher in the rye for about the hundredth time"

By Chasgoose (Chasgoose) on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 11:31 am: Edit

One note about Love in the Time of Cholera. While it is still a really great book and Marquez is tied with Salman Rushdie for my favorite author, I must say one thing: old people should not be allowed to have sex.

By Jordana (Jordana) on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 01:49 pm: Edit

Canadaclaire did you like it? I found it to be quite sad, but for some reason i consider sad books to be some of the best. My favorite book is Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls(SP?), and just like you i have to go back and read all the time.

By Meggykewpie (Meggykewpie) on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 01:51 pm: Edit

For School: A clockwork Orange (great book)
For Fun: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (harry potter rocks)

By Lordmandean (Lordmandean) on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 05:18 pm: Edit

An introduction to Options and Futures By John C. Hull

By Bobbyh (Bobbyh) on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 05:33 pm: Edit

"this is not a forum for you to get answers to your homework... "
hahaha


i just finished Wuthering Heights, and a couple of Cicero's works.

By Abz1986 (Abz1986) on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 06:10 pm: Edit

Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck

Actually it should be Wuthering Heights but I didn't technially read it

By Hollowfloors (Hollowfloors) on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 06:32 pm: Edit

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger


(for fun)

that is one exceptional book

By Yugekorb (Yugekorb) on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 07:00 pm: Edit

catcher was good. i finished it in like 3 days, the fastest i've read a book (i just started liking to read). this thread's given me alot fo good ideas, keep 'em coming.

By Giraffe (Giraffe) on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 05:50 am: Edit

The Berenstain Bears Go to School

Overall a difficult book, but well worth it if you catch the meaning between the lines. Or in this book's case, the pictures.

By Najy (Najy) on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 08:07 am: Edit

I love the Berenstein Bears. So many lessons to be learned in those books. My favorite one is when the kids arent allowed to watch TV because it rots your skull and eats away at your morals. But i have to admit that the mother isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer if you get what im sayin.

By Entropicgirl (Entropicgirl) on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 02:23 pm: Edit

Just finished The Great Gatsby for school. Everyone in my class hates it (as in 'wants to burn it' hates it) except for me and two friends. The macroscopic elements (plot, characters, etc) are not fascinating, but I LOVE the writing. Fitzgerald doesn't use those cliched ways of describing things--his phrases and descriptions and such are eccentric and very exact. I love it.
I'm about to start The Da Vinci Code.

By Meggykewpie (Meggykewpie) on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 03:19 pm: Edit

OMG I loved the great gatsby! Just the conflict that goes on and how fitzgerald makes you feel so sorry for different characters, its amazing.

By Lightspeedoo7 (Lightspeedoo7) on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 03:21 pm: Edit

Tuesdays with Morrie

greatest book ever besides great gatsby, cannery row and animal farm

By Stargazrlilychk (Stargazrlilychk) on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 03:32 pm: Edit

Slander by Ann Coulter
and Stupid White Men by Michael Moore
I like to read both sides of the spectrum- the hillarious right followed by the hillarious left. they both crack me up haha

By P3nguinpi3 (P3nguinpi3) on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 04:51 pm: Edit

The Rehearsal by George Villiers. It's a play written during Restoration period. He was pretty competitive with Shakespeare as far as drawing crowds, but he didn't have the political support like W.S. had. The last novel I read was A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce. Joyce is one of my favorite writers and Portrait is my second favorite book ever, Ender's Game being my favorite.

By Alv (Alv) on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 06:03 pm: Edit

The Grand Failure: The Birth and Death of Communism in the Twentieth Century. It is about, you guessed it, communism and its impacts and its failure. I liked it a lot.

By Entropicgirl (Entropicgirl) on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 07:18 pm: Edit

stargazrlilychk:

that's awesome.

By Xdtish (Xdtish) on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 07:33 pm: Edit

Light in August (Solid book)

William Faulkner

I'm bout to start "The Sound and the Fury"..

By Chatterjoy87 (Chatterjoy87) on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 07:39 pm: Edit

Reading Midaq Alley by Naguib Mahfouz.

Lask book finished: The Princess Bride. Never saw the movie, and the author bet dollars to donuts that I had, haha.

Amusing satire, and I fell for the trick of thinking S. Mortenstern was a real person (because the author put in a fake quote from a fake Columbia professor on the back about teaching an S. Mortenstern quote). Although the lady at Barnes and Noble was quite helpful...telling me that the original classic never existed and that Mortenstern never existed. Live and learn.

By Thepiskickass (Thepiskickass) on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 10:09 pm: Edit

The Principia- no really... It was tough.
And a side note: I love Douglas Adams too. And.. Hm.. This is a long shot, but does Stanfordrulez=Bobby H?

By Riesenmy (Riesenmy) on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 10:56 pm: Edit

entropic girl: did you read l'etranger in french? i guess the title implies that, but i wasn't sure. we had to read it for our french class. i've now read it in both languages, and liked it sooo much more in french.. it just seems like there's a little something lost in translation, you know?

By Deeny1414 (Deeny1414) on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 11:13 pm: Edit

Angels & Demons by Dan Brown for pleasure
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood required

Currently reading John Hersey's Hiroshima for pleasure

By Springfieldchri (Springfieldchri) on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 11:35 pm: Edit

currently Grapes of Wrath an Sheakspeare Bats Cleanup (cute little book written in poetry)
Just read Tuesdays With Morrie

By Callofthewind (Callofthewind) on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 11:54 pm: Edit

Yellow by Don Lee

By Mitwannabe (Mitwannabe) on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 12:04 am: Edit

the hot zone and the cobra event, richard preston, oooooo so scary yet good

By Riesenmy (Riesenmy) on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 12:06 am: Edit

also: has anyone read the long walk by stephen king?

By Brownlovespink (Brownlovespink) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 01:23 am: Edit

Just read- Queen Bees and Wannabees, Caucasia, Ordinary People.
Currently reading- Leaves of Grass, Walt Whitman

By Dylan (Dylan) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 02:33 am: Edit

Books currently on the list:

Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid (Douglas Hofstadter)

The Name of the Rose (Umberto Eco)

Slouching Towards Gomorrah (Robert Bork)

ANSI Common LISP (Paul Graham)

By Twinkletoes696 (Twinkletoes696) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 03:05 am: Edit

The Myth of the ADD Child for some work I was doing in psych. Fascinating stuff.

By Amnestykid (Amnestykid) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 08:52 am: Edit

Let's see...

Currently/Recently Covered (In English)
"The Importance of Being Earnest"
"The Misanthrope"
and poetry of John Keats (yeah I know they're not books, but oh well, there should be a poetry thread as well - T.S. Elliot coming up)

Oooh, did someone comment on G.G.Marquez's "Love in the Time of Cholera" and "100 Years of Solitude"? Both are excellent, the former was for English though, while the latter I read in my own time.

Chasgoose: "I must say one thing: old people should not be allowed to have sex." LOL!

"100 Years of Solitude" I found slightly more interesting, and I liked the mystical approach to the events that occured.

Currently (Personal choice):
"Crime and Punishment"
"Stupid White Men" (Moore has great insight)

Before those two were:
John Grisham's "King of Torts"
Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation" (must read!!!)
Coelho's "Veronika Decides to Die"

By Foreignboy (Foreignboy) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 09:16 am: Edit

I just read the Jungle Books. Yeah, I know I'm a bit old... Anyway, it's not at all like the Disney movie. Shere Khan gets trampled to death by buffaloes somewhere in the beginning, and then Mowgli destroys the village. I was like, Muahahahhaaaaa...

By Amarsn (Amarsn) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 09:38 am: Edit

Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. It's interesting. Not your typical happy ending, but worth reading.

By Nightswimmer (Nightswimmer) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 10:08 am: Edit

"The End of the Affair," by Graham Greene,
"Lady's Chatterly's Lover," by D.H. Lawrence,
and re-reading "The English Patient" by Michael Ondaatje.

They're all for a paper, but so far I'm loving them.

By Piquant77 (Piquant77) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 10:27 am: Edit

Amnestykid isn't Coelho the one who wrote "The Alchemist"? Great book.

LOL Foreignboy.

I hated "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man"...most boring book in existence (sorry).

For school: Chekov's "The Cherry Orchard"

For pleasure: "David Copperfield" and also going to start "The Da Vinci Code"

By Entropicgirl (Entropicgirl) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 10:37 am: Edit

Riesenmy:
Yeah, it's way better in French. What's funny is that I own two translations of the book...one is an old, British translation that my mom bought twenty years ago because it was the only one she could find, and it's awful. In the beginning of the translator's note to my new copy, he uses this example:
original french- il etait avec son chien
old translation- as usual, he had his dog with him
new translation- he was with his dog
Funny stuff.

By Dillydils (Dillydils) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 10:46 am: Edit

Finished Grapes of Wrath by Steinback. Just started Bake-Face by Opal Adisa

By Foreignboy (Foreignboy) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 10:57 am: Edit

Da Vinci's code is a very very good book. Everyone should read it.

By Amnestykid (Amnestykid) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 12:05 pm: Edit

Yes Piquant, he's the one. "The Alchemist" is also on my bookshelf, and I've received endless recommendations It will definitely be next.

Foreignboy, I hear Da Vinci's code is a really great book as well. I'll need to get a copy soon.

By Emyh (Emyh) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 04:34 pm: Edit

L'Alouette by Jean Anouilh and Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw. It's for an English paper.

Unfortunately, I can't say I liked the Da Vinci Code too much.

By Vtoodler (Vtoodler) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 05:07 pm: Edit

Has anyone ever read "A Gathering of Old Men." If so, then could you please give me your opionions about it and a BRIEF synopsis.

By Magoo (Magoo) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 10:48 pm: Edit

the other ninety percent by doctor something or other and kweisi mfume's autobiography

By Athlonmj (Athlonmj) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 10:54 pm: Edit

Wuthering Heights

By Deeny1414 (Deeny1414) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 11:00 pm: Edit

I LOVED the Da Vinci Code...hence why I read Angels & Demons and will soon own Deception Point...

By Riesenmy (Riesenmy) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 12:51 am: Edit

just curious... did the thread about political affiliation get moved/deleted? i don't see how it is much different from this thread. not complaining, just confused with the logic.

By Noodleman (Noodleman) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 09:28 am: Edit

I think it got deleted because of me. I was kind of sad because I thought the debate was clean and rather good.

I guess some threads are more equal than others.

Who cares about silly old life-and-death issues, anyway. Let's talk about Jessica Simpson instead.

Oh well.

By Noodleman (Noodleman) on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 09:34 am: Edit

OOPS! Off-topic again! Bad Noodleman! Bad! Bad!

Last books: "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin, "Mad In America" by Rober Whitaker.

By Noodleman (Noodleman) on Friday, March 05, 2004 - 07:59 pm: Edit

bump

By Usunkmyb_Ship (Usunkmyb_Ship) on Friday, March 05, 2004 - 08:17 pm: Edit

In process: Brave New World - english class
Where the Heart Is - book club

By Entropicgirl (Entropicgirl) on Friday, March 05, 2004 - 08:20 pm: Edit

The Awakening...argh...I read that earlier this year and hated it. Our English class totally overanalyzed it, which is bad because the thematic elements of the book get repetitive. Also, this was at the beginning of the year, and the students were DESPERATE for anything to say (my English teacher pretty much grades you on whether or not you talk in class), and started saying things like "an orange fell on her head--an orange is round--the world is round--so the cares of the world all landed on her head!" which were totally ridiculous.

/rant

As for Da Vinci Code...it was a quick, fun read, and I enjoyed it, but it wasn't nearly as good as I had been lead to believe. I didn't think it was nearly as complicated or deep as some people are making it out to be, so I was a bit disappointed. BUT it was still fun, and there's plenty of room for that in books, eh?

By Julz711 (Julz711) on Friday, March 05, 2004 - 11:21 pm: Edit

Finished: "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen (for the second time), "Men at Arms" by Terry Pratchett, and "The Magus" by John Fowles.

In the process "Little, Big" by John Crowley and "The Adventures of Huckelberry Finn" by Mark Twain (for school).

I recommend all of them, especially the Pratchett, the Austen, and the Crowley.

And re: the Da Vinci Code. I thought the plot was well done and interesting, but the writing made me want to take out a pen and edit the thing. Burgundy hair? Come ON. It was still a good book, but don't expect a Major Work of Literature.

By Suzannegrenvill (Suzannegrenvill) on Friday, March 05, 2004 - 11:34 pm: Edit

Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
(brilliant!)

By Gianscolere (Gianscolere) on Friday, March 05, 2004 - 11:42 pm: Edit

nice to know that you enjoyed anchee min's book...i actually met her in person when she visited my school a few months ago

By Infatuazn410 (Infatuazn410) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 12:24 am: Edit

Dubliners by James Joyce :/

By Infatuazn410 (Infatuazn410) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 12:25 am: Edit

Dubliners by James Joyce :/

By Ghewitt04 (Ghewitt04) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 12:50 am: Edit

fast food nation by eric schlosser...great book

By Napoleoncomplex (Napoleoncomplex) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 02:52 am: Edit

Has anyone ever read anything by a Japanese author named Haruki Murakami--a lot of his stuff has been translated.

I love his stuff and he's gotten great reviews, but no one I know has ever heard of him.

And Tom Robbins is funny.

By Piquant77 (Piquant77) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 11:30 am: Edit

Update: I just read Angels & Demons; found it immensely interesting AND learned a lot while I was at it. It delves into science, religion, and art history and sparks some good debates. However, I completely agree with Julz711...Dan Brown is a master at researching interesting phenomena for his books, but his writing is really, really mediocre.

By Jszab (Jszab) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 11:31 am: Edit

"Genomes" Yerry A. Brown
"Mebite Bomb" Lem
"Bacteries in Biotechnology" BIOS [author???]
Instant notes in Neurobiology. BIOS

By Jszab (Jszab) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 11:32 am: Edit

terry

By Chasgoose (Chasgoose) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 01:17 pm: Edit

I just read Beloved by Toni Morrison and let me say that it was the most powerful and amazing book I had ever read about the horrors of slavery. Not to mention Morrison's style is so delicate and beautiful. After we finished the book, my class watched an interview with Toni Morrison about Beloved and she was so elegant and wonderful and I think I might have an intellectual crush on her. (I know it sounds strange for a 17-year-old white boy to have a crush on a almost 70-year-old black woman, but to put that in perspective I have a similar intellectual crush on the dead avant garde lesbian writer Gertrude Stein.) I am going to go on a big Toni Morrison and Russian Literature binge this spring break and I am so excited. It will be the best vacation ever!

By Riesenmy (Riesenmy) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 02:52 pm: Edit

it's more of a story, but "bartleby, the scrivener" by melville.

By Manyzhka (Manyzhka) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 03:17 pm: Edit

Now reading : Carnegie (Look, guys tell me, how is his name spelled if I made a mistake. I read it in Russian, so I just tried to transliterate the name)

Before that : Dostoyevsky - I love him.
There was someone here, who read "Crime & Punishment". I also read it , in Russian, - if want to discuss - come on.

By Masamune707 (Masamune707) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 03:27 pm: Edit

just finished The Merchant of Venice in class yesterday...I liked it :P

By Matthias (Matthias) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 05:33 pm: Edit

Just finished:

Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner-

Brilliant. Faulkner creates a time-shifting cosmos to detail the tragic events of the Compson family, a microcosm of the southern gentry of the 1920s. The characters, Jason, Quentin, Caddy, and the retarded child (sorry, forgot his name) are unforgettable. The most important aspect of the novel is the "flow of thought" method that Faulkner uses. His writing flows directly from his characters' thoughts. The flashbacks that Quenting and the retarded child have in the first two chapters make the events of this book very difficult to deciper, because Faulkner does not differentiate between the past and present, but the novel comes together in the last two sections. 9.5/10. Difficult yet intelligently introspective.

Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka-

Third time reading this novella, each reading makes the themes and symbol of isolation clearer. This book is not only a fictional landmark, it is a psychological landmark. Want to know what the feelings of alienation, despair and inferiority are life? Read this short book. 10/10

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

I'm sure many of you have read this book (probably for AP English) and proceeded to thrash it (like many did in my class) for its datedness. On the other hand, I loved this novel. True, the love between Heathcliff and Catherine is not exactly 20th century material, but it also isn't 19th century material. I have never read a book where the language so convincingly detailed the power that they had for each other as it impacted themselves, their loved ones and future generations. I can just picture Heathcliff burying himself next to Catherine and their ashes mixing together. 8.5/10 Superb over-the-top romance.


Now:

Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler-

It's a story based upon the Moscow Trials that occured during Stalinist Russia. It primarily focuses on the theme of a totalitarian regime having to consume its subjects to survive. The main character used to be a highly-esteemed politician, but he is now imprisoned for false crimes for carrying a different viewpoint than No. 1 (represents Stalin). Recommended.

Also...Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry

I read about 20 pages of this, but put it down to save for a period of a few days so that I can completely immerse myself in it. What I've read so far, is beautiful, Lowry shows off his mastery of poetic language. I'm uncertain of what themes and concepts the book exactly entails besides it being a canvas for Lowry to paint on, but so far I believe it has something to deal with alcoholism, the main characters weakening relationship with his wife, and some historical event known as the Day of the Dead. I'm certain that it will be a great read.

Also...Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

I feel bad for having not read this book until my English teacher instructed my class to read it. The first two chapters hold a lot of promise.

By Socaljessie (Socaljessie) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 05:43 pm: Edit

I have a habit of reading 1/3 of a book and then picking up another and another so I am currently reading:
Poetry of the People (a collection of poems)
Tender is the Night by F Scott Fitzgerald (Great Gasby author)
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
a book of fairy tales
Passenger to Frankfurt by Agatha Christe

And I just finished yesterday:
Hamlet
The Da Vince Code

By Vpof2005 (Vpof2005) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 06:59 pm: Edit

The Great Gatsby

By Suzannegrenvill (Suzannegrenvill) on Sunday, March 07, 2004 - 02:41 am: Edit

Chasgoose: Wow! Would you describe her to me? I mean her character and style?

By Bamagirl (Bamagirl) on Sunday, March 07, 2004 - 11:05 am: Edit

Alas Babylon by Pat Frank

By Evil_Robot (Evil_Robot) on Sunday, March 07, 2004 - 11:49 am: Edit

The Brothers Karamazov (ha! Crime and Punishment doesn't hold a candle)
Outside:
The Idiot
The Possessed/Devils

All by Fyodor Dostoevsky.