post #181 :: 12th February 2006 at 08:30 PM

I LOVE THAT TRILOGY.

My favourite book was the Subtle Knife; I loved the way the first book was set in Lyra's world and they moved over to ours for the majority of the second. Simply excellent set of books, that.

The whole 'dust' thing is pretty crazy, too.

post #182 :: 12th February 2006 at 10:36 PM

I'm reading "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova. It's ostensibly about Dracula, but is a lot more about a girl coming to realize the world isn't as safe as she thinks, and that people aren't always what they seem.

It reminds me of "The Egyptologist," which, despite similar themes and titling, are not by the same person. Also, "the historian" isn't funny.

"Titling" should mean a small creature that looks like a breast.

post #183 :: 12th February 2006 at 10:48 PM

I've just finished a book about the Yom Kippur war between Israel, Egypt and Syria in 1973.

I've just started a biography of Stalin and yet another book on the battle of Verdun (1916).

post #184 :: 13th February 2006 at 01:26 AM

I am currently reading nothing, but I may well give the book recommended by Cytherea a go. It sounded rather interesting, and a little different from most other books I have read.

post #185 :: 18th February 2006 at 03:05 PM

I just read "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver. But it's a short story, so I can't be too proud of myself.

Also, I read something like 20 cases in Property last week and that area of law is making less and less sense to me.

post #186 :: 8th April 2006 at 04:58 PM

I finally finished the Dark Materials trilogy, which was pretty cool, as Pullman didn't write his characters as good and evil, but hid their intentions and the true nature of each person, while making you question what the hell they were going to do next. It was like a Fantasy version of 24, except without Jack Bauer.

Now I'm getting into Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle, starting with Quicksilver. I love how Neal can tell a story, but also fill pages with world history, strange factoids and random social bric-a-brac, and still keep the reader interested. I did not enjoy math class in HS and dropped out of Pre-Calc my senior year, yet I love to hear about Issac Newton and Liebnetz and the way they developed their theories. Such amazing shit.

post #187 :: 8th April 2006 at 11:36 PM

I'm glad you enjoyed His Dark Materials Sketchy, it's one of my favourite series of books around. Pullman is awesome.

I need to start reading another book...

post #188 :: 2nd April 2007 at 11:11 PM

These are the books I've read recently:

My Books at allconsuming.net

post #189 :: 3rd April 2007 at 04:52 AM

Wow, "Earth Abides." I read that about 10 years ago for a seminar class I was in. I remember really liking how they got rid of gender related pronouns.

I am reading "Prague" by Arthur Phillips. I've enjoyed the beginning, and I really liked his other book, "The Egyptologist." He's a witty writer who exaggerates pretention to make it look more rediculous. Which might anger you, Dave, being British and all.

post #190 :: 3rd April 2007 at 09:33 AM

The Earth Abides is a fantastic book in which nothing happens, it all just seems to flow along. Truly truly recommended.

post #191 :: 3rd April 2007 at 09:51 AM

Pretentious? Moi?

Recently finished A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. I actually really liked it. Better than the movie. Loved the crazy words, it kept the brain ticking over to have to translate from context most of the time. Recommended.

Also started reading Raymond E Feist's Riftwar Saga thanks to my housemate Isla who read pretty much his entire literary career in 3 months. Anybody else read any of them? I'm finding them to be awesome so far. Finished Magician a couple of weeks back and I'm waiting to get a hold of Silverthorn, the second book in the trilogy. Pug/Milamber ftw.

post #192 :: 4th April 2007 at 06:06 AM

Feist is of the fucking awesome - I discovered him about 15 years ago and have kept up with all his books.

By the way, Ashen-Shugar FTW!

post #193 :: 4th April 2007 at 09:16 AM

Ashen Shugar was a bit darkside for me. But I hope it isn't the last we've seen of him when Tomas manages to subdue him.

Tomas is awesome. I want some magic armour

post #194 :: 5th April 2007 at 06:37 AM

I've got all his stuff on audio books, if you're interested

post #195 :: 5th April 2007 at 01:17 PM

Who reads them? Is it an American accent? If so, thanks, but please God no.