avecigrec
Well-Known Member
I bought this one immediately upon release but I've yet to crack it open as I've been drowning in library books. Really looking forward to it though! Hanif is one of my absolute fabourite modern writers.
2024 Reading Challenge
- Thread starter Selaws
- Start date
I bought this one immediately upon release but I've yet to crack it open as I've been drowning in library books. Really looking forward to it though! Hanif is one of my absolute fabourite modern writers.
Bull Shannon
Well-Known Member
It's well worth one's time; I might recommend spacing out reading it, as the essay format allows it and the density of emotion and thought can be a little overwhelming. It's something to savor. I can't think of anyone else writing on this level right now.
Mr Moore
Well-Known Member
Oh man, RIP
www.theguardian.com
Paul Auster, American author of The New York Trilogy, dies aged 77
The writer of The New York Trilogy, Leviathan and 4 3 2 1 – known for his stylised postmodernist fiction – has died from complications of lung cancer
www.theguardian.com
ranbalam
Well-Known Member
Wow, I was just going through a list of his books because I had seen some love for him here. I've never read anything by him.Oh man, RIP
Paul Auster, American author of The New York Trilogy, dies aged 77
The writer of The New York Trilogy, Leviathan and 4 3 2 1 – known for his stylised postmodernist fiction – has died from complications of lung cancer
Fleetwood-Matt
Well-Known Member
Book #5: Let’s Pretend That Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) by Jenny Lawson
I needed a pick me up after the bummer of a book my last pick was so I googled “funniest books ever” and this was often mentioned on those lists so I went with it. Definitely an absurd story by a rather wacky person. Wasn’t laughing out loud as many reviewers were but I’d be lying if I said a smile was never not on my face while reading. What really got me though was the heart in this book. The best moment comes in a middle chapter that is really sad but she tells it in a great way that doesn’t ruin the flow of the “comedy” book but also just lets the sadness exist. My biggest problem with comedy tv is when they are afraid to let a sad moment just be sad, and I like that she lets sad moments sit, she’ll tell jokes but she doesn’t distract from that sadness.
Rating - 3.5/5
I needed a pick me up after the bummer of a book my last pick was so I googled “funniest books ever” and this was often mentioned on those lists so I went with it. Definitely an absurd story by a rather wacky person. Wasn’t laughing out loud as many reviewers were but I’d be lying if I said a smile was never not on my face while reading. What really got me though was the heart in this book. The best moment comes in a middle chapter that is really sad but she tells it in a great way that doesn’t ruin the flow of the “comedy” book but also just lets the sadness exist. My biggest problem with comedy tv is when they are afraid to let a sad moment just be sad, and I like that she lets sad moments sit, she’ll tell jokes but she doesn’t distract from that sadness.
Rating - 3.5/5
Fleetwood-Matt
Well-Known Member
Book #6: Heartstopper Vol 5 by Alice Oseman
Quick read. I absolutely love this series! Gives such warm and good feelings inside
Rating - 4/5
Quick read. I absolutely love this series! Gives such warm and good feelings inside
Rating - 4/5
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
I've seen a few friends reading this series via Goodreads and been curious. Gonna have to check it out!
Fleetwood-Matt
Well-Known Member
I highly recommend it! All 5 are super quick reads but are all great and super heart warming. I also highly recommend the Netflix adaptation which i probably prefer as a whole
mgp
Well-Known Member
Chugging along and reading way less than I'd like. Two more:
4. Brooklyn Crime Story by Jonathan Lethem: This one is barely a story and not about crime. I've had a soft spot for Lethem since Motherless Brooklyn and Fortress of Solitude, but (for me, anyway) not much has come close to those. This is another ode to Brooklyn written as a tapestry of short (kind of) interweaving stories that intersect (or don't) over decades. It was ok, but I had trouble picking up momentum with all of the different storylines.
5. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch: This one on the other hand, wow. I'd hesitate to say too much, as I don't want to color any other views. This is a tour de force about an Irish family dealing with an increasingly oppressive government. Incredibly well written, it's hard not to be drawn in and see how Lynch has been influenced by what's going on around the world. Definitely recommend this one, even if it is not an easy read in a lot of ways.
4. Brooklyn Crime Story by Jonathan Lethem: This one is barely a story and not about crime. I've had a soft spot for Lethem since Motherless Brooklyn and Fortress of Solitude, but (for me, anyway) not much has come close to those. This is another ode to Brooklyn written as a tapestry of short (kind of) interweaving stories that intersect (or don't) over decades. It was ok, but I had trouble picking up momentum with all of the different storylines.
5. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch: This one on the other hand, wow. I'd hesitate to say too much, as I don't want to color any other views. This is a tour de force about an Irish family dealing with an increasingly oppressive government. Incredibly well written, it's hard not to be drawn in and see how Lynch has been influenced by what's going on around the world. Definitely recommend this one, even if it is not an easy read in a lot of ways.
jamieanderson1968
ninniest jackaninny
Mr Moore
Well-Known Member
On my list too. My dad has been banging on about how good it is for the past 6 months. Looking forward to getting around to it.
Thackeraye
Well-Known Member
We have it, but it’s in a massive to read pile.
Selaws
Well-Known Member
Book 9: Dune by Frank Herbert (New English Library)
With all of the hype around the second film (which is brilliant by the way) I decided tive the book ago and really glad I did. I found it super easy to get lost in the world and interesting parts are more expanded from those in the film. Really great stuff and there's a good chance I will read the next one.
Book 10: We Jazz Magazine 10 - Dominoes (We Jazz Helsinki, 2023)
Im a bit behind with my reason of the We Jazz Magazines but this one was fantastic with some great stories on Donald Byrd, Billy Harper, Lonnie Liston Smith, Sun Ra, and more.
Book 11: Taste by Stanley Tucci (Fig Tree 2021)
I'm a sucker for food/chef-related biographies/autobiographies and whilst Stanley Tucci is best known for being an actor, his life clearly revolves around food. This was such a fun and easy book to read. It takes the form of an autobiography but is also littered with recipes in addition to a ton of humor. I wasn't really familiar with him outside of his films (Big Night being a favourite) but I certainly want to check out more after this.
With all of the hype around the second film (which is brilliant by the way) I decided tive the book ago and really glad I did. I found it super easy to get lost in the world and interesting parts are more expanded from those in the film. Really great stuff and there's a good chance I will read the next one.
Book 10: We Jazz Magazine 10 - Dominoes (We Jazz Helsinki, 2023)
Im a bit behind with my reason of the We Jazz Magazines but this one was fantastic with some great stories on Donald Byrd, Billy Harper, Lonnie Liston Smith, Sun Ra, and more.
Book 11: Taste by Stanley Tucci (Fig Tree 2021)
I'm a sucker for food/chef-related biographies/autobiographies and whilst Stanley Tucci is best known for being an actor, his life clearly revolves around food. This was such a fun and easy book to read. It takes the form of an autobiography but is also littered with recipes in addition to a ton of humor. I wasn't really familiar with him outside of his films (Big Night being a favourite) but I certainly want to check out more after this.
Ericj32
Well-Known Member
I think all 5 volumes are available here for free. Not the same as reading in physical book format, but it looks like the author gets some kind of ad revenue from views on this site and, at least in the past, has donated those proceeds to some cool organizations. There are some bonus Q&A posts sprinkled throughout as well.
EDIT: would probably helped if I linked the site lol: Read Heartstopper :: 1 - 1 | Tapas Community
jamieanderson1968
ninniest jackaninny
Books 13-15
#13 Simon Reynolds - Totally Wired: Post Punk Interviews. Great companion to his other book Rip It Up and Start Again. Even if you are not familiar with the interviewees, I found many to be very enlightening of the 1978-1982 period.
#14 Gary Phillips - One Shot Harry. Entertaining noir setting in early 60s LA with a black Korean war vet and reporter investigating the death of a friend. This would make a great tv series in the right hands.
#15 S.A. Barnes - Ghost Station. SciFi haunted house in space. A bit long and a bit obvious but still fun. Not too scary, more just caked on paranoia and dread.
#13 Simon Reynolds - Totally Wired: Post Punk Interviews. Great companion to his other book Rip It Up and Start Again. Even if you are not familiar with the interviewees, I found many to be very enlightening of the 1978-1982 period.
#14 Gary Phillips - One Shot Harry. Entertaining noir setting in early 60s LA with a black Korean war vet and reporter investigating the death of a friend. This would make a great tv series in the right hands.
#15 S.A. Barnes - Ghost Station. SciFi haunted house in space. A bit long and a bit obvious but still fun. Not too scary, more just caked on paranoia and dread.
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avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Book 21
The N-Word of God by Mark Doox
This was incredible! An Afro-surrealist literary graphic novel, presented like an illuminated manuscript, this bit of Byzantine Dadaism is not for the faint of heart. At times hilarious and always thought provoking this book deconstructs and challenges binary racial ideas through the story of Saint Sambo beginning at the very beginning when God declared Light and Darkness to be opposing forces. The language and wordplay throughout absolutely delighted me, and I will be most certainly purchasing a copy for myself sooner than later.
The N-Word of God by Mark Doox
This was incredible! An Afro-surrealist literary graphic novel, presented like an illuminated manuscript, this bit of Byzantine Dadaism is not for the faint of heart. At times hilarious and always thought provoking this book deconstructs and challenges binary racial ideas through the story of Saint Sambo beginning at the very beginning when God declared Light and Darkness to be opposing forces. The language and wordplay throughout absolutely delighted me, and I will be most certainly purchasing a copy for myself sooner than later.
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Book 22
RAW: The First 25 Years by Dean Miller
Stalled out on this one for a few weeks, and don't reckon I'm going to read the Smackdown one afterall since I never watched that show. Been nice to revisit wrasslin' over the past little bit, and I feel like I've at least got some idea of what's happened since I stopped watching but I'm probably good for now.
RAW: The First 25 Years by Dean Miller
Stalled out on this one for a few weeks, and don't reckon I'm going to read the Smackdown one afterall since I never watched that show. Been nice to revisit wrasslin' over the past little bit, and I feel like I've at least got some idea of what's happened since I stopped watching but I'm probably good for now.
Nee Lewman
बैस्टर्ड
Lol.
I’ve had a hard time reading this year. Constantly having stack of books I am reading doesn’t make it easier.
I finally finished book #1 this year:
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
It was a trashy thriller but it only took a few nights to read. It would make a killer movie (and I think it’s in development), but it wasn’t particularly well written. Had a couple of left turns I didn’t expect. Interesting set up for sequels but I can’t read another of these.
I’ve had a hard time reading this year. Constantly having stack of books I am reading doesn’t make it easier.
I finally finished book #1 this year:
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
It was a trashy thriller but it only took a few nights to read. It would make a killer movie (and I think it’s in development), but it wasn’t particularly well written. Had a couple of left turns I didn’t expect. Interesting set up for sequels but I can’t read another of these.
Thackeraye
Well-Known Member
Picked this up in a cool book and record shop in Sydney. Was after Meet Me in the Bathroom, which they didn’t have, but the owner recommended this.
A history of the indie record labels of the UK from Rough Trade to Domino. Runs out of steam a little as it gets to the later years, and is guilty of doing the usual “lots of drugs were consumed” stories in all music books.
Worth a read if you like the bands and labels of the era.