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Underground > Books, Criticism & Writing >

2003: What are you currently reading?

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ONLY NICE THINGS

20:52 / 04.11.03

Alas, any pretence of there being other characters worth the name is shortly going to go utterly tits-up, Feleesh.

Currently reading The Idiot, which I keep being distracted from, which is a shame because it's very good, if rather packed with characters. Most recently I have been distracted by a collection of Virginia Woolf's short stories (mostly the ones collected in Monday or Tuesday with a few others bolted on). Also, since I have been knackered and non-brained a lot lately, I've been buzzing through whatever Katherine Applegate I can find in the library. I want to start a thread on her, but must go to bed now. Maybe tomorrow.

The Return Of Rothkoid

11:29 / 05.11.03

Finished Moore, now working my way through Lindsay Clarke's The Chymical Wedding. It's great: hermeticism and someone who reminds me of a cross between Ted Hughes and Francis Bacon. Lovely prose.

08:25 / 06.11.03

Finished Brick Lane which was wonderful, then I read a book called Holes, by Loius Sachar which was curiously sweet and well worth reading even though it only took me about two hours.

Now I am reading Susan Orlean's The Orchid Thief, but the problem with reading this is that I have already seen the film Adaptation, (which for those of you who don't know is a fictional film about the writing of the book.) So I can't help thinking about the film whilst I read the book, which is weird because the book is a true story and the film isn't. But because I've seen the film I keep presuming that their version of the story is, in fact, true and that Susan Orlean in the book is not disclosing the full story.

Hmmm. Confusion anyone?

18:36 / 06.11.03

I've just finished my umpteenth re-reading of the Invisibles. It was every bit as affecting as previous times. Next up, if I can manage to stick with it, is a book of De Sade's writings and an essay by Simone de Bouvoir (sp?) called "Must We Burn De Sade?" It's a bit slow-going, or maybe I am.

Zoom.

20:42 / 06.11.03

olulabelle, I read Holes just before the movie came out and I really enjoyed it. An extremely well put together novel. If you liked it, the movie's pretty good, having been scripted by Sachar himself.

And I've already given up on De Sade. See how easy it was. I'm now reading "Lost" by Gregory Maguire.

Zoom.

No star here laces

05:56 / 07.11.03

I just read Theodore Sturgeon's "More than Human". It was great. Really absorbing sci-fi. The thing I love about Sturgeon is he writes sci-fi from a really human perspective - it's never about 'society' or technology or anything like that for him, its what can a particular event or idea tell us about what it means to be human. And I think this must probably be the ultimate Sturgeon novel on that score. Fascinatingly, thrillingly problematic questions are asked and examined. And while you might not agree with his point of view (although I think I do) its always interesting to see it.

I really love this guy - he's one of those people that really lifts sci-fi out of itself and approaches it in an entirely different way. He's really unique. I don't understand why he's not talked about more - it's actually really hard to get hold of his stuff. I've only ever been able to get hold of three of his books, although I think he wrote quite a few - this one, "the dreaming jewels" (also published under a different title) and a collection of short stories are all that I have.

Kurt Vonnegut fans will recognise the name as a recurring character in his books - the postman turned sci-fi author. It is a great name, and a really unlikely one. I don't even know if it's a nom de plume or what...

Scrubb is on a downward spiral

14:36 / 09.11.03

Still attempting to finish Mrs Dalloway...Having more constructive progress with The Book of Lies, some HG Wells short stories and the Ultimate X-Men (book? comic?) back catalogue.

17:10 / 09.11.03

Right now I'm in the middle of Andrea Juno's "Angry Women in Rock" (found it at my local library!). So far its been an interesting read (just finished the Naomi Yang interview); my favourite part thus far has been the interview with Jarobe (Swans) describing her experiences on tour and how she improvised with every difficult situation that came her way, though the treatment she suffered at the hands of an asshole bouncer at Boston's Ratskeller was rather harrowing...Looking forward to the rest. Its been a real eye-opener on women's perspectives in general.

02:48 / 10.11.03

Viktor Pelevin's "Babylon" after something someone said here. 10 pages in, so far so good.

13:39 / 10.11.03

I'm reading My Tiny Life by Julian Dibbell - which takes a rape in a MOO as its starting point, explains how what happened in a virtual space was defined as rape, and goes on to talk about online communities (how they define themselves and how people define themselves within them). It's very interesting, and readable as well, which is always a bonus. Minus 5 to Ravenclaw, however, for use of the word 'memescape' in the first chapter...

No star here laces

00:12 / 11.11.03

I've got John Fowles' "The Magus" sitting by my bed and am trying to work up the enthusiasm to tackle it. Anybody read it? Is it good?

Disco is My Class War

03:49 / 11.11.03

I read it a very long time ago, possibly when I was far too young to understand it. It's pretty damn long. And towards the end it gets quite... diasppointing, from memory. But he's a lovely writer.

And unheimlich, I've tried Mieville -- the writing isn't splendid enough for me to keep with it. Bit too murky and overdone. Although the concepts and the ideas are great.

12:33 / 11.11.03

I really like "The Magus", I thought it was one of those books that'd merit a re-reading, which it never got. It's very odd but still very English, if memory serves. A strange psychodrama which is never entirely resolved. I couldn't figure out exactly what it was about either but it's worth a shot.

Well I've just finished "Crime and Punishment" which was amazing. While reading this I've been diverting myself with Jeeves & Wooster, "Holy Fire" by Bruce Sterling - which manages to be both thought provoking and brillant and really annoying at the same time and a book of interviews with British Anarchist Colin Ward, which is possibly the most interesting book on politics I've ever read. He's very old now, so it's a kind of last will and testament with loads of anecdotal UK Anarcho-leftist history, a recap of his career as an architect and social planner and how he brought anarchist ideas into his work, as well of lots of material elucidating his point of view, with the consistency and consideration that one would expect from someone of his years. Puts a lot of the most simplistic critques of anarchy to bed. Will probably start a thread on it soon.

Now started on the monumental "Zhouyi: The Book of Changes" by Richard Rutt, a new translation of the I Ching with a 200 page intro and tons of notes drawn from the latest scholarship, which ground the book in it's historical roots, the Chinese Bronze age. An acquired taste, but I think it's brillant.

15:20 / 11.11.03

I'm reading My Tiny Life by Julian Dibbell Vincennes
You know he now makes a living selling virtual things for real money? He is a trader in Ultima online and similar games and sells the virtual stuff on ebay and such, the only professional imaginary magic sword seller in the world AFAIK.
I too have the Magus hanging around, never got round to it- maybe I will now..

Oh, am reading The Child That Books Built by Francis Spufford, just finished some Lovecraft and recently read 'Across the Nightingale Floor' which is quite like His Dark Materials. I'll be reading the sequel (Grass for his Pillow) as soon as my g/f is done and I'll report back.

unheimlich manoeuvre

21:44 / 11.11.03

a book of interviews with British Anarchist Colin Ward, which is possibly the most interesting book on politics I've ever read.

Illmatic, that sounds good. what's the title?

Just finished Doom Patrols by Steven Shaviro. It is online here.

I am currently rereading Sandman: The Dolls House. It's better than I remember it.

08:04 / 12.11.03

Umhemlich: It's called "Talking Anarchy" by Colin Ward and David Crouch. It's brand new small press, so I cant' find any references to it on the Web, I got it at the Anarchist Bookfair a couple of weeks ago. The publishing house is Five Leaves, based in Nottingham, but it's not even on their homepage. Their site is here - this is a review of his last book.

Ak Press should be able to get copies as well.
http://www.akpress.org/

What did you make of Doom Patrols? I was given a copy but I've not read it yet.

15:32 / 12.11.03

At work, I’m reading Eamon Duffy’s >>The Stripping of the Altars<< and a thriller (?) by Bernhard Schlink, >>Die gordische Schleife,<< (during my lunch break). At home, it’s >>Witchcraft and Magic in Europe: The Middle Ages<< (or some such title) and I just finished >>Second Sunrise<< by Aimée & David Thurlo. [The last is about a Navajo half-vampire. (He was partially cured by a Navajo "ha’taali" (sp?), medicine man.] The furnishings in my house are Early Eclectic, too.

unheimlich manoeuvre

00:09 / 13.11.03

Illmatic: many thanks.

well, Doom Patrols was good. much of the postmodern theory went way over my head. hmmm... i'm still dealing with modernity.

some nice quotes though.

"Oh, I'm so horny. I'm so horny all the time. You know what my Daddy said? Daddy said I was a little slut and when I grew up, I'd do it for money. And you know what? He was right. Except I don't even want money. I just want to do it." This voice belongs to Scarlet Harlot, the most flamboyant among the 64 personalities of DOOM PATROL's Crazy Jane.

08:53 / 13.11.03

Finally getting aroundto Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections, and it's just wonderful. Can always read it now matter how tired I am; can rarely put it down. This is what I need from a book at the moment.

Whisky Priestess

23:21 / 13.11.03

Frogmore Papers 62
Free to me, and full of reasonably good poetry (and some quite bad, and purple, prose), but not so good that you (me, us) couldn't do better. Most heartening.

17:05 / 16.11.03

Found this delightful little book in a remainder bookstore: Your Mother's Tongue by Stephen Burgen. All about how people swear in all the major (and many minor) European languages. Easy reading for such a compendiously researched piece of writing. Filling in all the gaps, ignored in learning foreign languages via the prim, academic route and full of socilogical musings on the meanings of linguistic quirks.

01:53 / 17.11.03

So I finished "Babylon" and it's one of the few times I'ev put a book down and thought "what the fuck just happened?" Great book, probably needs a re-read, though I've been told that it's not one of his best and it's better to read "Clay Machine Gun" for a better explaration of the same themes. If that's not one of his good ones, then I'm really looking forward to the rest.

Current read is "Syrup" the first novel by Maxx Barry, the author of "Jennifer Government". So far it's better than JG, it certainly isn't trying to say as much, but it's snappy and pretty inventive in its structure.

Brigade du jour

21:46 / 17.11.03

Halfway through The Hobbit. Thought I'd see what all the fuss was about this Tolkien feller.

Jolly good read now that I'm into it. Plan to read Lord of the Rings next. Happy friends have lent me the lot, bless 'em.

22:24 / 17.11.03

Just started on the Father Brown stories. Read the first one just over a week ago and I'm still soaking up the impact before moving on. I like to do that. That guy Chesterton just had boundless imagination. I find him really inspiring. Reminds me of when I first read Orthodoxy, even though it's a totally different genre. He's the kind of writer that reminds you that you're alive!

03:36 / 18.11.03

"Syrup" was good. Faltered a little at the end, but not enough to spoil the book.

Current read is Jonatham Lethem's second novel, "Amnesia Moon". My quest to read all his books in order continues. So far, so good. A little confusing in places, but it's deliberate and I'm sure (hoping) all will be explained before the end.

No star here laces

05:41 / 18.11.03

Am leaving the Magus where it lies and instead getting stuck into The Hero and the Outlaw by Mark and Pearson. Which is great. Analysis of how modern brands use Jungian archetypes...

08:26 / 18.11.03

I have finally finished Clifford Harper on Anarchy (an interesting illustrated primer which provides a solid outline and an agreeable amount of polemical presentation of events). Still wading through Quicksilver - not because it is in any way unsatisfactory, quite the opposite, am enjoying it immensely, but it is such a ruddy great big book that I can only read it with the support of my pillows as a consequence of which I keep going to sleep over it.

My new book for the bus is The Magic Toyshop - will discuss this in the Angela Carter thread when I'm a bit further in...

08:39 / 18.11.03

finished the great gatsby the other day, and now i'm on to 'holidays in hell' by PJ o'rourke. i like his work, and i really enjoyed 'republican party reptile'.

something good about a writer whom you know you disagree with on most things in life, but whose style you can still enjoy.

17:58 / 18.11.03

Am about to start J.G. Ballard's "Concrete Island" and "This is the Beat Generation", by James Campbell. Always on the lookout for new and interesting takes on the Beats.

08:31 / 19.11.03

toksik -what did you think of The Great Gatsby? I read it before I read any other F Scott Fitzgerald, and preferred the others... so was thinking of giving it a re-read at some point.

I'm reading Hard, Soft & Wet -more about virtual communities, but written with a kind of "Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Computers! Isn't this all so exciting?" kind of tone. Good though (apart from the bit where she meets a 14 year old consultant, which caused me to feel tired and discouraged...)

03:40 / 20.11.03

"Underboss" the story of Sammy "the bull" Gravano life in the mafia. Gravano is the highest ranked member of the mob to turn and it was basically his testimoni which put John Gotti behind bars. Partly for research and partly because it's really interesting.

The Return Of Rothkoid

07:51 / 20.11.03

The Dark Horse translation of Inagaki's The Ring manga. It's the first manga I've really read, and has been printed so you have to read it as you would in the original, back to front, right to left. Interesting.

The Return Of Rothkoid

22:27 / 20.11.03

...and rather quick, unsurprisingly. Some interesting additions, though the smiling lead gave me the shits.

Now reading Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. I liked The DaVinci Code and this is more of the same, only... well, not different. It starts with the obligatory "all this is true" bit, and seems a little more hamfisted in places (bits are set in CERN, there's lots of gee-whiz sciency bits) but I think it WAS an earlier work, so his style wouldn't be as well-groomed...

at the scarwash

23:06 / 20.11.03

Jefe--I just reread all of the Ted Sturgeon collections I have (like, 6, I think) a week ago. I agree with you. He has this beautiful, howling love for humanity that is expressed in such a unique way. I never fail to be moved by Theodore Sturgeon. Such a shamefully overlooked author. Someone deserving of rescue from the SF ghetto.

12:43 / 24.11.03

In addition to f***ing Quicksilver I am now reading Living Dolls, by one Gaby Wood, which I swiped from underneath Illmatic's nose at the weekend and which turns out to be even more interesting than I thought (though I think I would be a lot further on with it had I not had to endure a bus journey stuck in front of some brainless twerpo wittering on about the doings of lovely Henry and her prospective visit to Thailand to make a documentary over the Christmas hols for the entire hour and a half from Victoria to Oxford). Anyway. It is about automata and the reason it is especially interesting is that it ties in the early development of automata with the Enlightenment of the philosophes, industrialization and mechanization and alienation of the workforce, and the outcome of the whole Enlightenment project. This is all entirely fascinating to me.

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