What book are you reading?

I am reading the novel The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I have only read a couple of chapters but thus far it promises a lot. I hope it doesn't disappoint, but some of my friends have also said it is a good book.

The book is hard to describe so here is what the back cover says:

Barcelona, 1945: A city slowly heals from its war wounds, and Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer's son who mourns the loss of his mother, finds solace in a mysterious book entitled The Shadow of the Wind by one Julian Carax. But when he sets out to find the author's other works, he makes a shocking discovery: someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book Carax has written. In fact, Daniel may have the last of Carax's books in existence. Soon Daniel's seemingly innocent quest opens a door into one of Barcelona's darkest secrets -- an epic story of murder, madness and doomed love.

I just finished Tony Wilson's novelization of 24 Hour Party People. Definitely worth getting even if you've seen the movie.

I'm currently working on Miles Davis' autobiography, which is sort of on hold right now.

Lately I've been spending more time reading the Fodor's guides to Brazil and Argentina.

I'm still on the Eyre Affair, but only just. :)

Forever Amber - the book isn't bad but I hate it when you don't have much feeling for the main character.

A sentimental history of the British Empire by Borislav Pekic. He was a Serbian writer, born in Montenegro, died in London 1992. He ran a series about the history of GB at the BBC too.

Stuck in the early 11th century at the mo. So far the two nations (Serbian and British; he's comparing the both histories from the very start) have had nothing in common and there's that question like when was it that the first Serb and the very first Brit had actually met and what caused it?

Tough read but very interesting (for me at least)... Helped me learn more about the history of GB, people, their habits and the culture. Still got 200 more pages to go :)

El Jarvo wrote:

Foreign F**kwitt wrote: Helped me learn more about the history of GB, people, their habits and the culture. Still got 200 more pages to go :)

Just read FHM and OK.

I'm reading F. Scott Fitzgerald's "Babylon Revisited".

leather_girl wrote: I'm reading F. Scott Fitzgerald's "Babylon Revisited".

I don't know of that one. What's it like?

This Side of Paradise is one of my all-time favorite reads.

Mr disco 99 wrote:

leather_girl wrote: I'm reading F. Scott Fitzgerald's "Babylon Revisited".

I don't know of that one. What's it like?

This Side of Paradise is one of my all-time favorite reads.

It's just a collection of some of his short stories, including the short story "Babylon Revisited".

Selected readings on capitalism by Che Guevara

a book club? not a bad idea,good to get ideas for stuff to read though the only suggestion that jumps out at me so far is fhm.

Ladt Book I read was "Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero" by David Maraniss

great biography...

currently? "All We Are Saying" by David Sheff. The transcript of the tapes he used for his interviews with John Lennon & Yoko Ono that appeared in "Playboy"

no punches pulled, we get to see all sides of Lennon.

FAC 461

I have just finished Figurec of Fabrice Caro.

The story ? When people around you can be paid to do so. Just like if someone paid an escort man/woman without your approval. Then, who's who in the crowd ? Real people or paid people ? What about your friends ? Paid by your parents in order to not leave you alone or real sincere friends ? Does anybody paid for the girl you just met ? Who is this man telling that coffee X is the best on the market ? An agent of Figurec ? The last girlfriend you introduced to your parents was your real one or did you hire her for the evening ?

Interesting first novel.

'Devil In The Dark' A sort of James Herbert Autobiog.

"The Intellectual Adventures of Ancient Man"

One of those, not by choice books. It's a 400 page essay!! Didn't think essays could be that long! Basically about the history of science from BC to 1000 AD in the Middle East.
This book is not an easy read as this guy loves to hear himself talk, takes me 1 hour to read 30 pages of this book.....and I'm a fast reader....or at least I thought i was.

JHC

Just finished reading Torn Apart. Thought it was really good and can recomend it.

Incendiary, about a fictional bomb at Arsenal/Chelsea game, the book is a womans letter to Osama Bin Laden after her husband and son get killed. It's good (and no i'm not having a go at those teams!)

The Beatles, by Bob Spitz (re-reading, actually. Got it last December and read it in under a month, which is amazing as it's almost 1,000 pages long)

I needed something light and frothy after sitting through my summer classes :D

got 2 on the go.

won 30 quid in book tokens for winning the school spanish prize :geek:

i think i was supposed to buy books to do with spanish, but, i didn't.

so i am reading "Jimi Hendrix: The Man, The Magic, The Truth" and also "Gigantic: The Story of Frank Black & Pixies"

Good stuff as well

whose bible is it? by jaroslav pelikan. it's about how the bible has changed considerably, from the original hebrew through its greek and latin translations, and how the tenakh, protestant bible and catholic bible differ. it also looks at why certain books were adopted by different religions and shaped to fit their beliefs. quite interesting, if a bit textbook-y.

Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy.

Currently revisiting "The Black Book of Communism"

Also, just yesterday I finished Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford. Genghis Khan has definitely gotten a bum rap by Wester historians of the past few hundred years.

AgentWood wrote: whose bible is it? by jaroslav pelikan. it's about how the bible has changed considerably, from the original hebrew through its greek and latin translations, and how the tenakh, protestant bible and catholic bible differ. it also looks at why certain books were adopted by different religions and shaped to fit their beliefs. quite interesting, if a bit textbook-y.

Sounds interesting, especially if you're into the DaVinci Code stuff. It is interesting the way the Bible is manipulated by people to further their own personal beliefs or interests.

I'm reading Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann. It is an easy, carefree read but it kind of drags in some parts.

Mr disco 99 wrote: I just finished Tony Wilson's novelization of 24 Hour Party People. Definitely worth getting even if you've seen the movie.

I'm currently working on Miles Davis' autobiography, which is sort of on hold right now.

Lately I've been spending more time reading the Fodor's guides to Brazil and Argentina.

I think I might look into that Tony Wilson's work. Good suggestion!

gerry jamieson wrote: a book club? not a bad idea,good to get ideas for stuff to read though the only suggestion that jumps out at me so far is fhm.

Well, I am not surprised that a lot of NOOLers read a great array of books.... I thought it would be an interesting thread. But given the vast array of interesting books listed in this forum thus far, it would be hard I think to garner enough interest in just one book to warrant an online meeting of a book club in full swing. :)

NOOLigan wrote: I'm still on the Eyre Affair, but only just. :)

I would recommend the sequels as well.