Recently finished books?

[pesahson]

Closely Observed Trains - Bohumil Hrabal : I've read this book at least 3 times, in last 4-5 days. Sweet gem of a book. Brilliant.

I've always wanted to get round Hrabal with no results. Probably I should start with this one.

You definately should Daniel. It's such a short book, but as I've read someone put it in an Amazon review I think, it leaves you feeling you've lived a life. I remember I had a strange reaction with it. I've read it, enjoyed it, but only after a few days did it hit me how much I love this book. I've never had that reaction before.

[Daniel del Real]

You definately should Daniel. It's such a short book, but as I've read someone put it in an Amazon review I think, it leaves you feeling you've lived a life. I remember I had a strange reaction with it. I've read it, enjoyed it, but only after a few days did it hit me how much I love this book. I've never had that reaction before.

I was looking for this book at Amazon at this books has two different titles: Closely Watched Trains and Closely Observed Trains. I think different editions have different translator also. Which one should I pick guys?

[Amichai]

I was looking for this book at Amazon at this books has two different titles: Closely Watched Trains and Closely Observed Trains. I think different editions have different translator also. Which one should I pick guys?

If you are talking about the book in English translation it´s the same one. Translated by Edith Pargeter, just one is sold in the USA ("watched") and the other is the UK edition ("observed") with the slightly different title. I have both by mistake.

[sirena]

La Conquête de Plassans - Émile Zola +

[Daniel del Real]

La Conquête de Plassans - Émile Zola +

I know, quite boring this book was to me.

[Peeping Tom]

The City and the City by China Miéville.

This is my first China Miéville novel. I found his style to be somewhat jarring, which may be a good and/or bad thing, and found myself leaning towards being dismissive about this novel. But in the end, after having finished the novel, I find myself still thinking about it. And that has to be a good thing.

[Daniel del Real]

Bram Stoker, Dracula +

Very different from what I expected, as I thought it would be a more agile narrative. Very slow at times and I have to say it, dull at some other moments. The first part, with the Jonathan Harker's journals from Dracula's castle are just amazing, breathtaking and full of suspense. Then it falls down in a very monotone set of letters, journals and gazette's notes to finally recover for the last 100 pages. It's hard to think this average book and be so representative and important through our days, just by a few moments, situations and images. Not bad, but I definitely expected way more from a book it is considered a classic.

[kpjayan]

William Styron - Sophie's Choice : It was pending with me for a long time (almost 10 years). At 630+ pages, this demanded a lot more time dedicated. The first reaction after finishing was on how brilliantly he constructed the book, from chapter 1 till the end. One day if I ever get to write a book, this will be one I go back for guidance. I am very impressed.

[Colonel Green]

The Stories of John Cheever by John Cheever

Part 1 of my attempt to develop more of a taste for short fiction (as well as another Pulitzer-winner notched), this mammoth (700 page) collection of the so-called "Chekhov of the suburbs" is quite a good way to start trying the genre (I've previously read some short detective stories by Doyle and Chesterton, but detective fiction isn't really a major interest of mine). There's some okay stuff here, but a number of really standout stories. I know that Matthew Weiner, the creator of Mad Men, has talked a lot about his love for Cheever, and you can see some influences (there's even a character named "Joan Harris" in one of them, as well as another story with a Madison Avenue advertising executive). Some of my favourites would be "The Children", "The Duchess", "The Five-Forty-Eight", "Clementina", and "The World of Apples".

[Liam]

The Saga of Burnt Njal
Bernardin de Saint-Pierre: Journey to Mauritius
László Krasznahorkai: Satantango

The last one of these is probably one of the best books of the century; hard to believe it was LK's first published novel.

[Daniel del Real]

The Saga of Burnt Njal
Bernardin de Saint-Pierre: Journey to Mauritius
László Krasznahorkai: Satantango

The last one of these is probably one of the best books of the century; hard to believe it was LK's first published novel.

Wow, you finally were seduced under the charm of Krasznahoraki. Too sad Rumpy is no longer here to witness it, he'd be in tears by now.

[Daniel del Real]

Jorge Luis Borges, El Oro de los Tigres

One more book and I'll complete all his poetry

[Liam]

Rumpy'd be in tears by now.

Seriously--but tell him I loved the book over at the Woods. I gave him my email address before he left but the fucker doesn't deign to communicate, . Too cool for school or something? LOL

[Daniel del Real]

Seriously--but tell him I loved the book over at the Woods. I gave him my email address before he left but the fucker doesn't deign to communicate, . Too cool for school or something? LOL

Haven't been at the Woods for a while now. This fucking job has been killing me for month and a half now.

[Liam]

Just be grateful you have one, you bleedin' SoB, .

[pigeonweather]

Stuart Ayris - Tollesbury Time Forever
http://www.amazon.com/Tollesbury-Tim.../dp/B006TJDJKE

I recently came across a thread on Goodreads discussing "what makes a good read". For one person, it was "a cute couple and a happy ending", but for me, I think I'd say it's a matter of "voice". I like a book that has a clear, individual, compelling voice that I feel I can hear as I read. This book has that. The narrative is strong and pulled me in from the start and kept me interested throughout. I felt as if I was following a sort of Ariadne's thread, knowing full well it was leading on to monsters within. It's a contemporary, self-published novel about the inner voyage of a paranoid schizophrenic, written by a psychiatric nurse who has some insight into such conditions. It's not a perfect book. In particular I thought the female characters were lacking in definition, though at least they weren't just there for the wanking as in so many novels.

[Loki]

Bram Stoker, Dracula +

Very different from what I expected, as I thought it would be a more agile narrative. Very slow at times and I have to say it, dull at some other moments. The first part, with the Jonathan Harker's journals from Dracula's castle are just amazing, breathtaking and full of suspense. Then it falls down in a very monotone set of letters, journals and gazette's notes to finally recover for the last 100 pages. It's hard to think this average book and be so representative and important through our days, just by a few moments, situations and images. Not bad, but I definitely expected way more from a book it is considered a classic.

They must have made a mistake, then. I think we should stop considering it a classic.

[Liam]

I think we should stop considering it a classic.

Easier said than done. A classic doesn't simply cease to be a classic because a bunch of readers are left dissatisfied, . And I say that as no particular admirer of either Bram Stoker or Count Dracula.

[Hamlet]

Jpod by Doug Coupland -- light, satirical and fun.

I'm interested in pretty much everything Coupland has written, he's put the work in to assessing the experience of living in the wired world, but occasionally I do think, well --- we could just switch off, or ignore advertising... and it all goes away. We're not all dupes. But Coupland does suggest there's this pull and push of the web, it inspires/ it infuriates.... we can't do without it/ sometimes we wish it would implode, and the party just ends.

Anyway.... along with FIRE SEASON, by Phillip Connors there's two finished books.

I've also picked up some new reads .... such as Steinbeck's THE MOON IS DOWN... and Cormac McCarthy's CHILD OF GOD.... and around 8 other novels to sample-read to see how they take...

[Loki]

Easier said than done. A classic doesn't simply cease to be a classic because a bunch of readers are left dissatisfied, . And I say that as no particular admirer of either Bram Stoker or Count Dracula.

I know. I was just saying that maybe they've all been wrong in considering it a classic!