What Book Are You Currently Reading ?

[Batman]

Have you ever wanted to kill somebody?

Sorry, that’s a blunt question. It might make you uncomfortable. If it does—if your stomach knots or your skin prickles—then your answer is yes. You probably don’t want to admit it. I get that. But it doesn’t change the fact that deep down you’re a killer.

Like me.

My name is Mia Sanguine. I’m a 17-year- old girl, living in Australia. I go to school, play percussion in the orchestra, and study when I have to. I like horror movies, comic books, and punk music. Oh, and yeah, a group of teenagers has ruined my life.

So I’m going to kill them.

But don’t get me wrong—I’m not talking about some Columbine-styled rubbish. No offense, but this isn’t the United States. All I need is a mask, an outfit, and a pair of knives. You see, I’m going to become a slasher movie villain. Like Jason, Mike, or Ghostface. In real life. Not because it’s right. But because of what I am.

A YOUNG SLASHER.

Just finished this last night, I'm a massive horror buff so I was semi interested in this, it was a nice easy read, fast paced and pretty violent which sits well with me.

There was constant pop culture references which got a bit tiresome in the end, some were good (especially when she has a mini rant about I spit on your grave) and the book would have been a lot smaller without them, I suppose they were a necessary evil to paint the picture of 'the young slasher'

It was too fast paced though, there was a decent build up then boom it was all over in one night, if the book is going to try and create a protaganist to rival Freddy and Jason then there has to be a few more than 4 murders on one night.

Decent book but I don't think I'll revisit it any time soon (plus I always find that books that rely on pop culture references date really badly, will people still be talking about the Kardashians and Taylor Swift in 20 years time? I fucking hope not anyway)

I'm going to be starting this today

Sent to London to help catch a vicious serial killer, Inspector John Rebus teams up with a beautiful psychologist to piece together a portrait of a depraved psychopath bent on painting the town red—with blood...

part 3 of the Rebus series, the first 2 have been less than amazing and I'm expecting more of the same from this one, I'm only reading it because I was gifted the entire series, they are easy enough going though so I don't mind too much.

once I've finished this one I'm going to be looking for something a bit more taxing, I might delve back into the old gothic genre from the 1800's, they always seem to keep me going for a good while

[Batman]

Got me another 2 books today

continuing my little obsession of space, the universe and all that sort of shite

The ALIENS invasion is coming ...

It's the biggest question we've ever faced, one that has fascinated generations of humans: do aliens exist? If they did, what would they look like? How would they think? And what would it mean for us if we found them?

Here, Professor Jim Al-Khalili blasts off in search of answers. Featuring twenty pieces by top scientists and experts in the field including Martin Rees, Ian Stewart and Adam Rutherford, Aliens covers every aspect of the subject, from alien consciousness to the neuroscience behind alien abductions. And along the way he'll cover science fiction, the probability of us finding extra-terrestrial life, and whether recently-discovered exoplanets might support life.

Engaging, authoritative and filled with scientific insights fresh from the far edges of the galaxy, Aliens is the perfect book for anyone who has ever looked up into the starry sky and wondered: are we alone?

had this one recommended to me and its been a while since I read a good post apocalyptic book so thought I'd give it a go

Oryx and Crake is at once an unforgettable love story and a compelling vision of the future. Snowman, known as Jimmy before mankind was overwhelmed by a plague, is struggling to survive in a world where he may be the last human, and mourning the loss of his best friend, Crake, and the beautiful and elusive Oryx whom they both loved. In search of answers, Snowman embarks on a journey–with the help of the green-eyed Children of Crake–through the lush wilderness that was so recently a great city, until powerful corporations took mankind on an uncontrolled genetic engineering ride. Margaret Atwood projects us into a near future that is both all too familiar and beyond our imagining.

[brocktonblockbust]

"The Garden of Forking Paths" by Jorge Luis Borges

[Batman]

Just finished this, good book I really enjoyed it, the first 100/150 pages were just so so, plodding along, nothing really happening, it is 50% flashbacks but to be honest not a lot happens in either of the timelines, once you hit the half way mark though the fact that nothing is really happening seemed to stop bothering me and I was just enjoying the book.

I reckon this is one of them books that I won't realize how much I enjoyed it until I think back on it in a few months time.

I've got 3 other books to get started on, I can only remember the one of them, I haven't got a clue what the other 2 are and I can't even remember ordering one of them (probably another drunk purchase, I've made a few of them in the past and they normally end up being pretty good)

anyways I suppose I'll start on this one next

It began as a mistake. By middle age, Henry Chinaski has lost more than twelve years of his life to the U.S. Postal Service. In a world where his three true, bitter pleasures are women, booze, and racetrack betting, he somehow drags his hangover out of bed every dawn to lug waterlogged mailbags up mud-soaked mountains, outsmart vicious guard dogs, and pray to survive the day-to-day trials of sadistic bosses and certifiable coworkers. This classic 1971 novel--the one that catapulted its author to national fame--is the perfect introduction to the grimly hysterical world of legendary writer, poet, and Dirty Old Man Charles Bukowski and his fictional alter ego, Chinaski.

I'm hoping this is going to be nice and easy because I have got my eye on 3 or 4 books that are going to be pretty fucking tough going I think, I'm going to enjoy the simple reads for the minute

[Batman]

Blimey I could have written this myself, Chinaski gets a job at a post office, throughout his time there he drinks a hell of a lot and hates his job, no real major events in his life and the events that do take place he seems to be nonplussed about, 17 years pass and nothing at all has changed in his life except he is 17 years older and still in the same job.

Pretty much mirrors my own life except I've been there for 13 years and I don't drink as much as I used to.

That really doesn't make a fantastic book though.

I think I fancy some science next so I'm gunna get started on this

[Batman]

Ordered this today

The essential universe, from our most celebrated and beloved astrophysicist.

What is the nature of space and time? How do we fit within the universe? How does the universe fit within us? There’s no better guide through these mind-expanding questions than acclaimed astrophysicist and best-selling author Neil deGrasse Tyson.

But today, few of us have time to contemplate the cosmos. So Tyson brings the universe down to Earth succinctly and clearly, with sparkling wit, in tasty chapters consumable anytime and anywhere in your busy day.

While you wait for your morning coffee to brew, for the bus, the train, or a plane to arrive, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry will reveal just what you need to be fluent and ready for the next cosmic headlines: from the Big Bang to black holes, from quarks to quantum mechanics, and from the search for planets to the search for life in the universe.

Neil deGrasse Tyson is a fucking legend so when I saw that he had released a new book I had to get it, I've not read any of his previous books but I have spent countless hours watching all of his YouTube videos and documentaries.
I'm becoming a geek in a big way and since one of my mates borrowed A Brief History of Time and then decided to fuck off to the other side of the country without returning it this should be a good replacement, I'm looking forward to getting this one.

[Gandalf]

Blimey I could have written this myself, Chinaski gets a job at a post office, throughout his time there he drinks a hell of a lot and hates his job, no real major events in his life and the events that do take place he seems to be nonplussed about, 17 years pass and nothing at all has changed in his life except he is 17 years older and still in the same job.

Pretty much mirrors my own life except I've been there for 13 years and I don't drink as much as I used to.

That really doesn't make a fantastic book though.

I think I fancy some science next so I'm gunna get started on this

Lyle, turned me onto Bukowski and I think it is really good writing. Sure, nothing happens, but it is a profound mundanity written in such an odd, funny way. The simplicity of the writing is an art form in itself. I respect someone like Dickens but he sure could waffle on, on the other hand Bukowski is clipped, sharp and concise. It's good writing. Easy book to read too, you can read it in a couple of evenings.

I am reading a book about Elvis called Memphis Mafia. Elvis was one of those icons like Marilyn. On the surface wholesome and very apple pie, but underneath some really fucked up shit going on. I find that very interesting and want to know more.

[Batman]

Blimey I could have written this myself, Chinaski gets a job at a post office, throughout his time there he drinks a hell of a lot and hates his job, no real major events in his life and the events that do take place he seems to be nonplussed about, 17 years pass and nothing at all has changed in his life except he is 17 years older and still in the same job.

Pretty much mirrors my own life except I've been there for 13 years and I don't drink as much as I used to.

That really doesn't make a fantastic book though.

I think I fancy some science next so I'm gunna get started on this

Lyle, turned me onto Bukowski and I think it is really good writing. Sure, nothing happens, but it is a profound mundanity written in such an odd, funny way. The simplicity of the writing is an art form in itself. I respect someone like Dickens but he sure could waffle on, on the other hand Bukowski is clipped, sharp and concise. It's good writing. Easy book to read too, you can read it in a couple of evenings.

Oh I appreciate the style and it was an extremely easy read, I was just expecting a bit more of an insight into the main characters thinking and feelings, especially as it was autobiographical.
To be honest the book had a great chance to show a real grimy depressing side of the main character it kind of just skimmed over it.

I might read some of his other books but I don't think I'll be rushing out to buy them and putting them to the top of my 'to read' list.

[Beanz]

Blimey I could have written this myself, Chinaski gets a job at a post office, throughout his time there he drinks a hell of a lot and hates his job, no real major events in his life and the events that do take place he seems to be nonplussed about, 17 years pass and nothing at all has changed in his life except he is 17 years older and still in the same job.

Pretty much mirrors my own life except I've been there for 13 years and I don't drink as much as I used to.

That really doesn't make a fantastic book though.

I think I fancy some science next so I'm gunna get started on this

Lyle, turned me onto Bukowski and I think it is really good writing. Sure, nothing happens, but it is a profound mundanity written in such an odd, funny way. The simplicity of the writing is an art form in itself. I respect someone like Dickens but he sure could waffle on, on the other hand Bukowski is clipped, sharp and concise. It's good writing. Easy book to read too, you can read it in a couple of evenings.

Oh I appreciate the style and it was an extremely easy read, I was just expecting a bit more of an insight into the main characters thinking and feelings, especially as it was autobiographical.
To be honest the book had a great chance to show a real grimy depressing side of the main character it kind of just skimmed over it.

I might read some of his other books but I don't think I'll be rushing out to buy them and putting them to the top of my 'to read' list.

If you want to give yourself a mental workout then Umberto Eco for me is always a bit of a challenge. I read "The Prague Cemetery" on Nameless or killersheeps recommendation and it was hard work but worth it.

Updike's "Rabbit" novels are sort of the other end of the spectrum, and much like a meditation. Never read anyone like him. Quite brilliant in how he makes something in which little happens so engrossing and powerful.

[Batman]

finished this, fantastic book, I have to admit I always subscribed to the theory that it was arrogant to assume that we were the only planet that harbors life due to the size of the universe but one dude puts forward an argument that made me realize just how wrong I could be

say there are 400 billion stars in the Milky Way Galaxy, suppose life's origin needs a specific sequence of ten critical precise chemical reactions (an underestimate) and each one has a probability of occurring in the habitability window of, say, one in a hundred then the combined probability for all ten steps to occur is one in a hundred billion billion, that would leave the odds of life in the Milky Way pretty low.

There is also mention of the zero one infinity rule which I've read about before, basically the only three numbers that matter in anything are zero one infinity

its an interesting book man, I got a bit bogged down with the repetition in the final third of it but still great, I'll probably just return to this every now and again and read a chapter whilst I'm on the shitter, there is a lot of info to take in after just one read

I'll be starting this soon, I might take a few days off from the books, I've been hammering them for a while now

In the city that’s become a symbol for the death of the American dream, a nightmare killer is unravelling reality. The new thriller from Lauren Beukes, author of The Shining Girls.

Detective Gabi Versado has hunted down many monsters during her eight years in Homicide. She’s seen stupidity, corruption and just plain badness. But she’s never seen anything like this.

Clayton Broom is a failed artist, and a broken man. Life destroyed his plans, so he’s found new dreams – of flesh and bone made disturbingly, beautifully real.

Detroit is the decaying corpse of the American Dream. Motor-city. Murder-city. And home to a killer opening doors into the dark heart of humanity.

A killer who wants to make you whole again…

[Batman]

Meh, wasn't a bad book, as I thought it was more of the same but it was a nice brain dead read

Getting started on this one tomorrow, first released in 1824 so I'm not expecting this one to be as easy going as what I have been reading just lately

I've had it lying around for fucking ages but have never got around to picking it up

One of the supreme masterpieces of Romantic fiction and Scottish literature, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner is a terrifying tale of murder and amorality, and of one man's descent into madness and despair. James Hogg's sardonic novel follows a young man who, falling under the spell of a mysterious stranger who bears an uncanny likeness to himself, embarks on a career as a serial murderer. The memoirs are presented by a narrator whose attempts to explain the story only succeed in intensifying its more baffling and bizarre aspects. Is the young man the victim of a psychotic delusion, or has he been tempted by the devil to wage war against God's enemies? The authoritative and lively introduction by Ian Duncan covers the full range of historical and religious themes and contexts, offers a richer and more accurate consideration of the novel's relation to Romantic fiction than found elsewhere, and sheds new light on the novel's treatment of fanaticism. Copious notes identify the novel's historical, biblical, theological, and literary allusions.

[Batman]

I ordered a few books off Amazon today at 11am, one of them have just been delivered that's 8 fucking hours, can't complain at that can ya

[El Kabong]

The James Hogg book looks interesting, let us know about that once you've finished.


Are there any movies you have seen(I being more of a film buff) which you feel have really captured the books they were based on?

[Batman]

The James Hogg book looks interesting, let us know about that once you've finished.


Are there any movies you have seen(I being more of a film buff) which you feel have really captured the books they were based on?

I've not got much left of that one, I was going to try and finish it tonight but being when it was written you can imaging that them 70 odd pages are not easy to just fly through.

Movies that captured the books? that's a pretty fucking tough question, I'm guessing that the majority of ones that I would mention are pretty famous films already

True Grit, To Kill a Mockingbird, Clockwork Orange etc

Blindness wasn't a bad film adaptation although it still wasn't anything on the book (by Jose Saramago, check it out if you haven't ever read it)
Swedish version of Girl with a dragon tattoo
Swedish version of Let the right one in
Room was really good, film and book

A couple of horrors that did it well would be Amityville horror, Exorcist, The Entity

A film that came out recently was A Monster Calls, the film was horrible and the book is for kids but it was fucking fantastic and actually nearly made me shed a tear at the end, I think I purchased it when I was drunk (I have a bit of a habit of doing that)

one of the books I ordered today was The Postman by Charles Bukowski, I think it may have actually been you that recommended that to me ages ago.

[El Kabong]

I've not got much left of that one, I was going to try and finish it tonight but being when it was written you can imaging that them 70 odd pages are not easy to just fly through.

Movies that captured the books? that's a pretty fucking tough question, I'm guessing that the majority of ones that I would mention are pretty famous films already

True Grit, To Kill a Mockingbird, Clockwork Orange etc

Blindness wasn't a bad film adaptation although it still wasn't anything on the book (by Jose Saramago, check it out if you haven't ever read it)
Swedish version of Girl with a dragon tattoo
Swedish version of Let the right one in
Room was really good, film and book

A couple of horrors that did it well would be Amityville horror, Exorcist, The Entity

A film that came out recently was A Monster Calls, the film was horrible and the book is for kids but it was fucking fantastic and actually nearly made me shed a tear at the end, I think I purchased it when I was drunk (I have a bit of a habit of doing that)

one of the books I ordered today was The Postman by Charles Bukowski, I think it may have actually been you that recommended that to me ages ago.

Right, I can only imagine. I had to struggle through the last pages of the book on Maj. Frederick Russell Burnham as he was all out of adventures at that point.


Thank you for your list of movies that were true to/as good as the books. It's not so much that I am lazy it is that I am better at listening to things and soaking that up in my brain rather than reading them. I read quite a lot actually, but typically comments and articles rather than books, I do enjoy when I get ahold of a good one. My Uncle has just published a book, kind of an autobiography but that's really the next one on my list.

I might have to look into those books you listed.


I am not sure if I suggested that specifically, but Bukowski was an interesting guy and I have most certainly watched a documentary on him again and again. He was simple yet complex, he had the ability to do any number of things but the drive and ambition to really only accomplish 2 things successfully write and drink. He was a souse, a drunkard, a boozer, a vagabond, and just a worthless pock marked lush.....that said he was unapologetically himself and he had a certain charisma which drew people to him. He was very Jekyll & Hyde as drinking that much can make you....you go from the fun tipsy drunk to the angry bitter violent lout in the blink of an eye.

Buk wasn't a Beat and he hated the Beats actually, but they all loved him and took him in with open arms. He was almost a replacement for Kerouac who drank himself to death but before doing so alienated himself from Ginsberg and Burroughs.


The first books I read which I actually really got into or that I wasn't forced to read for school were: 'The Count of Monte Cristo' - Dumas, 'Tortilla Flat' - Steinbeck, 'Jurassic Park' - Crichton, 'Born In Blood' - Robinson, but typically it was a lot of Edgar Allen Poe and (I always relate these two as they lived in the same period) when I got into art it was Van Gogh...I feel like Poe wrote the way Van Gogh painted if that makes any sense at all. They could both be macabre but sometimes without even trying to be, the final painting of Van Gogh the 'Wheatfield with Crows' where he said in letters to his brother Theo "I made a point of trying to express sadness, extreme loneliness" and then you've got Poe's The Raven, Van Gogh had his crows which he said "They interest themselves in everything, and observe everything. The ancients, who lived far more completely than ourselves in and with nature, found it no small profit to follow, in a hundred obscure things where human experience as yet affords no light, the directions so prudent and sage a bird." which to me really brings the two together. Both were extremely depressed, had troubled lives, and died alone, in miserable conditions Poe maybe having had a bout with rabies and Van Gogh shooting himself.


But anywho, I was actually a pretty happy kid when I read those things and admired that artwork....it is hard to turn away from those things especially when you know so very little of what those guys were dealing with on an emotional level. It's like looking at a car crash.