[Book Chat] "What's Everyone Reading" Thread

[Triangle Man]

...I went with e-books because all my reasons for enjoying physical books were far too insubstantial.

That doesn't seem to be stopping you guys though. x3

I suffer from a bad case of nostalgia and a lack of desire to acquire electronic gizmos.

I have more money for books that way.

Books and Food.

Also, Fight Club turned out to be pretty awesome in the end. Won't say much, but the later half of the novel gets pretty crazy.

Next up - American Gods. Do not let me down, Neil Gaiman.

[weirdguy]

You say that last part as if it is actually possible.

[Triangle Man]

You say that last part as if it is actually possible.

Nothing is impossible in this crazy universe of ours...

But I have high expectations for this novel nonetheless...

[ilikeoctopus]

Nothing is impossible in this crazy universe of ours...

But I have high expectations for this novel nonetheless...

You guys are making me feel bad for putting off reading it.

[Dmatix]

You guys are making me feel bad for putting off reading it.

As well you should. It's really a one of a kind book.

[ilikeoctopus]

As well you should. It's really a one of a kind book.

Crap. These... library... books...
But hey, I have two Terry Pratchett books in that pile. Does that by any chance placate you folks? Maybe?

[Dmatix]

Crap. These... library... books...
But hey, I have two Terry Pratchett books in that pile. Does that by any chance placate you folks? Maybe?

Yes. I can't stay mad at anyone reading Pratchett. It is simply impossible.

[Zombiitwo]

1. That's exactly what we're talking about. With the exception of large, textbook-style tomes, that kind of thing wouldn't even register in many people's minds as something that might damage a regular book. There, I've just thrown one of mine, on purpose, perfectly fine.

2.Also, an ebook reader's screen can get cracked or scratched. Also, the same nostandard monitor design that makes it readable in sunlight raises quetions about what kind of cleaning sprays are safe to use on the monitor (would a spray designed for cleaning a traditional monitor be ok to use? What about the spray I have for my glasses? What about Windex?). Granted, traditional books are likely to get damaged or dirty as well (and do indeed display more visible wear from being carried in cargo pockets) but NOT every page at once.

I must say though, that ebooks have opened my mind to many enlightening, classic, public domain books, (due in large part to my refusal to pay approximately the same price for a bunch of words that I could pay elsewhere for the same words plus a quantity of ink and paper)

1. The exact same argument applies exactly in reverse as well. A normal book may not be damaged by being physically jostled, but it does become damaged through, maybe, a pair of scissors or an accidental ripping? Those issues don't happen to e-readers.

2. First off, you never, EVER use Windex to clean computer screens.
This happens:


You shouldn't even need a spray to clean off an e-reader's screen, just use a microfiber (just like the one for a pair of glasses, how 'bout that shit?), if that stuff is really resiliant, use a tad of water or your fingernail to loosen it up and go over with the microfiber again. And once again I have to disagree with the whole "not all at once" argument, I've had many books' edges damaged throughout the entire text from being in a bag with dust or keys in it.

[ilikeoctopus]

I have to say, though, taking care of a book is just not the same as taking care of an e-reader. With a book, you don't have to worry about dirty screens (which I do, very often - almost obsessively) and don't have to stop every few hours to frantically wipe off the screen. They are rather convenient for those days when stuffing a 500 page book into a bookbag seems impossible, though. But they are so dang expensive...


(I am not being influenced by my tendency to get headaches when reading from e-readers at all. ...Definitely not.)

[Zombiitwo]

I have to say, though, taking care of a book is just not the same as taking care of an e-reader. With a book, you don't have to worry about dirty screens (which I do, very often - almost obsessively) and don't have to stop every few hours to frantically wipe off the screen. They are rather convenient for those days when stuffing a 500 page book into a bookbag seems impossible, though. But they are so dang expensive...


(I am not being influenced by my tendency to get headaches when reading from e-readers at all. ...Definitely not.)

A Kindle is only $99...

[ilikeoctopus]

A Kindle is only $99...

I'm a cheap person, okay? ...And a library card is free...

[Showeranon]

Here are the current irons I have in the fire.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig: A philosophical novel that explores what Pirsig calls his "Metaphysics of Quality," while using a cross-country motorcycle trip as a medium, and motorcycle maintenance as a way of expressing certain philosophical ideas. Really, you don't need to know anything about bikes to read it, though. Good stuff.
Emerald City by Jennifer Egan: A collection of short stories, each taking place at different locations around the world with drastically different characters. Fantastic job at pretty much every aspect of fiction, this book.
The World According to Clarkson by Jeremy Clarkson: A collection of Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson's column writing. Funny, intuitive, and opinionated. Each segment is only a few pages long, so it's great to carry around if I've got a few minutes to kill while waiting for something.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy: This speaks for itself. I'm not that far in it yet, but I'm really enjoying myself because I'm a huge literary faggot and whatnot.
Othello by William Shakespeare: One of the plays of his that I've not read. I put this down several months ago and have yet to pick it up again, which is a crime.

I wish I had fourteen bucks to drop on a copy of The Hunger Games, because I really enjoyed the movie and now I want to read the book. I really like reading :B

[Dmatix]

Hmm I don't really read that much. I've been meaning to pick up the Color of Magic. I like Hitchhiker's Guide to galaxy style books as well as intriguing fantasy. Any recommendations?

Also haven't read harry potter...something makes me not want to read it either.

Harry Potter you can really go both ways on- not a terrible read, but not a must read either. You should pick Color of Magic. While it's not the strongest of the Discworld books, it is a good introduction to the world and lore.

[forkinyoureye]

Nearing the end of A Dance with Dragons (finally) and just finished Snow Crash. Man that was a good book.

[PumpkinMan]

Snow Crash. Man, I need to read that again. Loved that book.

[Fitzwibble]

Are there any Lois Bujold fans who dwell in this thread? Because the official synopsis for the next Vorkosigan Saga novel went up. November can't come soon enough! The snippets of it from her Cryoburn book tour have been haunting me for the last year and a half @_@. . . though I am probably going to act like the enormous fangirl that I am and buy the $15 eARC from Baen as soon as it becomes available. August maybe? :P.

[forkinyoureye]

On a similar note, there are going to be three Dresden Files short stories with Bigfoot as Harry's client, if anyone else likes that series. The April Fool title is referring to a paranormal romance spinoff they teased in the last post.

[Dmatix]

On a similar note, there are going to be three Dresden Files short stories with Bigfoot as Harry's client, if anyone else likes that series. The April Fool title is referring to a paranormal romance spinoff they teased in the last post.

I'm a big fan of the series. That short story from Molly's POV sounds good.

[forkinyoureye]

Because you can never have too much

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crazy

Molly.

[Dmatix]

Because you can never have too much

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crazy

Molly.

Considering the story takes place

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during the time she went crazy

This should be very interesting indeed.

E: wait, never mind. It takes place later. Still, should be good.

[forkinyoureye]

Yeah, that's what I was referring to. I really loved Molly's character in Ghost Story, and woooo we get to see more of that!

I'll probably just wait for the next anthology though.

[Dmatix]

Yeah, that's what I was referring to. I really loved Molly's character in Ghost Story, and woooo we get to see more of that!

I'll probably just wait for the next anthology though.

Me too. I don't like buying 10 short stories from guys I never heard of just for the one I want. Better to wait for another Side Jobs sort of deal.

[Triangle Man]

Me too. I don't like buying 10 short stories from guys I never heard of just for the one I want. Better to wait for another Side Jobs sort of deal.

...I would be willing to give a deal like that a shot.

I mean, how do you know that the other ten stories aren't of equal or superior quality to the one you want, huh?

Come to think of it, there are a ton of books in my room that I've only partially finished or haven't even started yet...For example, that anthology of Stephen King short stories I have on me...that's been a fun collection to work through so far...

[Dmatix]

...I would be willing to give a deal like that a shot.

I mean, how do you know that the other ten stories aren't of equal or superior quality to the one you want, huh?

Come to think of it, there are a ton of books in my room that I've only partially finished or haven't even started yet...For example, that anthology of Stephen King short stories I have on me...that's been a fun collection to work through so far...

Don't get me wrong, I bought anthologies before, and even enjoyed some, but you really never know what your'e gonna get with them. Sometimes it's all good stuff, and sometimes 90% of the stories are worthless. I just prefer knowing what I'm going into.

[forkinyoureye]

I'd rather not spend two hundred bucks to get ten short stories when I could get them for twenty. Sure, I'd be missing out on other short stories that I might have liked, but I don't have to spend as much money.

Also I started reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I like it so far.