h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
Jonathan Swift - Thoughts on various subjects moral and diverting.

'When a true scam artist arrives in the world, you may know him by this sign - he'll be driving 23 Rolls Royces while his 'followers' sign over all their money to live in poverty as that is ther true way to 'enlightenment'.'
BlusShark- Thoughts on the nature of gullibility.

Knew that would get a reaction!
Just about to start The Sorrows of Young Werther
by J.W.v Goethe.

Just finished Lunar Park by Bret Easton Ellis last night.



I don't mind books that leave one or two things unexplained, but the whole darned book?!

Just finished (re)reading 'The Eternal Frontier' by Tim Flannery. It's an ecological history of North America from the time of the dinosaurs to the present. It's really quite good, with the best thing being the long-termism in his thinking. The changes wrought by humans are unprecedented since the Chixculub impact 65m years ago.

Just read "Toast" by Nigel Slater.

A very good, very funny, very sad book. It seems like a lightweight read when you first start it, but it becomes quite harrowing when you get into it. It reminds me of my childhood...no-one told me *anything*.

RF

Stu, Stu, Stu...

I beg to differ. I really enjoyed Lunar Park. Note my current tagline. I want to go back and read American Psycho now.

Last week I finished 'Saturday' by Ian McEwan. The best book I've read in ages. It's so densely packed with inter-relating ideas. I've know idea how you'd go about planning a book like that.

Currently reading Idoru by William Gibson - a random bookshelf choice after finishing Saturday.

I'm hoping that tomorrow the library will have The Peoples Act of Love by James Meek.

If not...I'll probably start Bob Dylan's Chronicles.

I liked "American Psycho", too. In a weird way, though.

I'm just starting "From Ike to Mao and Beyond" by Bob Avakian, the memoirs of the chairman of the RCP (Revolutionary Communist Party, USA). I've been looking forward to reading it for some time.

May I recommend "Gojiro" by Mark Jacobsen? I read it in January, and thought it was pretty cool. It's a sort of metaphysical fantasy starring none other than the King of Monsters. I really enjoyed it.

The Pale Horseman By Bernard Cornwell. I am reading the book very quickly. A sign that I like the book.

I'm reading Lunar Park right now, and for the moment I really really enjoy it....I will let you know what I feel about all the unexplained things after I finish my reading

My one criticism is that Lunar Park strayed a bit too far into Stephen King territory. The first chapter is definitely the best...especially if you're read American Psycho.

Edward, yep that was a great line. But overall, thumbs down. Maybe I'm just not getting it. Was it meant to be a serious attempt at a King-style novel? If so .....

Started A Long, Long Way by Sebastian Barry last night. Excellent so far.

>>Was it meant to be a serious attempt at a King-style novel?

No...I don't think so. Until very near the end, there was the distinct possibility that everything was in his mind, including his son's plans. Definitely, though, the first half was better than the second - all post-post-modern and self-referential.

I think it just lapsed into absurdity towards the end. Nothing wrong with that, but for me it didn't work on this occasion. I found the social commentary amusing though - over-medicated kids etc.

"the gothic" by fred botting. and dracula by bram stoker. about to start on frankenstein.

its for a course im doing at uni called "the gothic text: are you scared of the dark?"

Just finish "The Handmaid's Tale" and really liked it. That's my 3rd book by M. Atwood after the "Oryx and Crake" and the "Blind Assassin". Can't say it was any easy book - rather dark and foreboding, but it was an easy read. She has this special way of writing, slow and warm, without pressing on you the strong emotions too much, which makes it easy to follow the story, no matter how disturbing.

Oh and here's the funny part! I got the book as a Christmas present from a friend. It's from "Vintage future classics edition with READING GUIDE" and contains instructions on how to start your own reading club and a list of possible questions to initiate a discussion on the book I wonder who their target audience is

My version of The Name of the Rose was one of those.

I read The Handmaid's Tale last year - it's very good! I love the 'ending' in the appendices! Dracula and Frankenstein are great too!

try "private memoirs and connfessions of a justified sinner"

Never heard about "private memoirs and connfessions of a justified sinner"... What kind of book is it? And who si the author?

I guess there is no need to ask if it's good if you advertise it