What book are you reading right now?
Posted by: Chillkram on 23 May 2010
I am currently reading Suetonius, 'The Twelve Caesars'.
How about you?
Now reads a little dated and slight to follow.
Just started this. Not convinced yet.
steve
About to start the newest book of Meir Shalev, this time in English, a copy borrowed from our local library. Down the road I will make a point of reading it in Hebrew, the language it was written in. 'Pigeon and a Boy' is highly recommended.
In depth research and excellent writing.
About to start:
“This fascinating and often grim portrait of Ukraine . . . contributes to a greater Western understanding of the country. . . . This work stands out by splitting the difference between a purely journalistic account and a scholarly analysis. Judah offers a compassionate human view of these conflicts, mixing personal stories, history, politics, and reportage. . . . Judah’s special and timely book will provide lay readers with an apt introduction to Ukraine, and specialists will appreciate its atypical yet enlightening approach and its insights into the social aspects of ongoing conflicts.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
steve
The fourth Higashino for me. So far the only Japanese author I can relate to.
Paper Plane posted:
steve
I loved this book. I think it's a masterpiece. For the first 40 pages or so I had to use a dictionary, I was travelling in the Metro to work with the iPhone on my knee as Translator, ten to twenty words or so per page were slang and unknown. Then I got caught. The plot is minor. Everything else is Pynchon at his best.
I am re-reading this:
today on the Metro to my job I was laughing alone, and two little Korean kids sitting opposite me shyly watched me smiling (I was smiling). I was so happy that someone is still able to stimulate my intelligence, my humour... I am so thankful to him.
dayjay posted:The Burning Land, one of the Saxon series by Bernard Cornwell, really good set of books and I noticed earlier that the series has been televised so looking forward to watching it next Thursday
I just finished Sword Song and have The Burning Land in the queue. While I was waiting for The Burning Land to come in to my local bookstore I came across a copy of Sarum by Edward Rutherfurd. What a fantastic book! I'm about 300 pages into this epic historical novel, so, the continuing adventures of Uhtred of Bebbanburg will have to wait a bit 
Gripping and moving account of the Russian Revolution, which took place a century ago this year... Figes is very good on the effects of huge historical shifts on ordinary people; and on the forces and events that created the climate for the Bolsheviks' seizure of power. It covers the period from the great famine of 1891 to the death of Lenin in 1924.
Twenty years old now, this enormous (925 pages) book hasn't dated one jot. The sheer naivety, folly and kingly arrogance of the Tsar and his circle is staggering to behold. Has there ever been a monarch more stupid and more unsuited to rule, than Nicholas II?
Very good, evocatively written and well translated, especially if you have ever read Patrick Leigh Fermor's books (he revisits some of the same places and even people)
(There is a very negative review on Amazon from someone who seems to romanticise Communism and fails to realise that this is a travel book about characters rather than any attempt at comprehensive history. I take their point, but it's rather like reviewing a dictionary badly for its failure to have a plot. And it means the book gets a far lower average 'score' than it otherwise would/should.)
Though labeled a thriller, The Round House builds slowly and deliberately. As a piece of literary fiction it offers insightful commentary on the intricate ways the jurisdiction of the reservation often conflicts with the laws of the federal government, thus making justice often hard to achieve. (JW)
An interesting read and one that for a few bucks, has opened the doors of perception enough to perceive SQ gains in what I'm hearing from my current system!
Fascinating history of the movies' relationship to, er, history.
The autobiography of Christine Newby (AKA Cosey), formerly of Coum Transmissions and Throbbing Gristle. Absolutely gripping stuff. Gen(esis P Orridge) doesn't come out of it well at all.
Inspired by watching the excellent film 'The Swimmer' based on one of Cheever's short stories.