What Are You Reading, Again?

[mitsho]

the Perfume by Patrick Süskind. Probably the best German book of the last decades (just after "Der Vorleser").

 

[Danghis Khan]

the Perfume by Patrick Süskind.

It's been so long since I read that, but it's a great book.

 

[Till]

Edgar Allen Poe

Alone

From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were — I have not seen
As others saw — I could not bring
My passions from a common spring —
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow — I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone —
And all I lov'd — I lov'd alone —
Then — in my childhood — in the dawn
Of a most stormy life — was drawn
From ev'ry depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still —
From the torrent, or the fountain —
From the red cliff of the mountain —
From the sun that 'round me roll'd
In its autumn tint of gold —
From the lightning in the sky
As it pass'd me flying by —
From the thunder, and the storm —
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view —

. . .

 

[Heretic_Cata]

Edgar Allen Poe

I love Poe - so depressing, but so good.

 

[Richard Cribb]

the Perfume by Patrick Süskind. Probably the best German book of the last decades (just after "Der Vorleser").

I agree that it is one heck of a novel.
Myself, I am just about to finish The Best Democracy Money Can Buy by Greg Palast (Highly recommended), and also restudying one of my absolute favourites; Dynamic Chess Strategy by Mihai Suba, one every chessplayer should know.

 

[Till]

I love Poe - so depressing, but so good.

I like to read Poe, while listening to an audiobook version of the text. It's facinating!

 

[Ciceronian]

the Perfume by Patrick Süskind. Probably the best German book of the last decades (just after "Der Vorleser").

I've read both, and I think Der Vorleser isn't bad, although the first half is better. When it trailed it off into the Nazi-past/guilt-theme in the second half I realised I'd read something just like it often before. As to The Perfume, it didn't impress me that much, the whole smelling thing seems a bit ridiculous to me, as does Grenouille's character. I suppose it does open your senses to the world of smell though, and shows that different people perceive in different ways.

 

[Hornblower]

Well this is what Henry Rollins is reading at the moment.
Apparently you can get into trouble reading books now!

Rock star's security threat
February 23, 2006 - 2:32PM


Henry Rollins ... the rock star was reported to Australian anti-terrorism authorities for reading a book on the rise of militant Islam.

American hard rocker and political activist Henry Rollins says a fellow passenger on his flight out of Auckland reported him to Australian anti-terrorism authorities for reading a scholarly work on the rise of militant Islam.

Rollins, who flew to Melbourne soon after performing at Auckland's Big Day Out on January 20, described the experience in a blog he runs on his own website, henryrollins.com.

Rollins wrote that he received a letter from an Australian government worker informing him that the passenger sitting next to him during the flight reported him to a national security hotline.

The book, Jihad: The Rise Of Militant Islam In Central Asia, by Ahmed Rashid, a New York Times columnist, was published by the Yale University Press.

It canvasses how extreme poverty and religious suppression in the areas surrounding Afghanistan have created a breeding ground for militant Islam.

Rollins wrote that while touring the series of Big Day Out shows across Australia, he was told by a "nice woman" who worked "in one of those government areas that deals with anti-terrorism matters" that he had been dobbed in.

He said the official told him that, though her department did good work, it also received a lot of letters "submitted by lunatics".

"Please tell your government and everyone in your office to go f--- themselves," Rollins replied.

"Tell them twice. If your boss is looking for something to do, you can tell him I suggest he go f--- himself. Baghdad's safer than my hometown and your PM is a sissy."

NZPA



http://www.smh.com.au/news/people/rock-stars-security-threat/2006/02/23/1140563906383.html

 

[mitsho]

I've read both, and I think Der Vorleser isn't bad, although the first half is better. When it trailed it off into the Nazi-past/guilt-theme in the second half I realised I'd read something just like it often before. As to The Perfume, it didn't impress me that much, the whole smelling thing seems a bit ridiculous to me, as does Grenouille's character. I suppose it does open your senses to the world of smell though, and shows that different people perceive in different ways.

In the case you got me wrong, I do think "Der Vorleser" is a good novel and one of the few where the nazitime is in my eyes reasonable depicted... But ok, the first half is better.

The perfume on the other hand is just a genius work on how to use language. If you don't like the story, the logic, Grenouille's Character, it's ok, they are debateable... But just the way how Süskind writes it down, is superb (imho). And it's just an epic story...

m

 

[Warman17]

Right now i'm reading a Conneticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. I got to read some Twain since our school doesn't have him as an author of any of the books we're forced to read. (for shame)

 

[Ciceronian]

In the case you got me wrong, I do think "Der Vorleser" is a good novel and one of the few where the nazitime is in my eyes reasonable depicted... But ok, the first half is better.

The perfume on the other hand is just a genius work on how to use language. If you don't like the story, the logic, Grenouille's Character, it's ok, they are debateable... But just the way how Süskind writes it down, is superb (imho). And it's just an epic story...

m

Yeah mitsho, I agree that Der Vorleser does treat Nazism in a fairly reasonable and subtle manner. It's just that we'd read so many books in German class about Nazi Germany that I just got slightly fed up with that theme. Good that we agree that the first half is better.

And yes, the language of Das Parfüm is very powerful, the diction in the descriptions is usually overpowering and forceful. I suppose Süskind needed to create such a surreal character and plot to be able to employ this language, especially "the language of smelling".

 

[thetrooper]

Hard Rain by Barry Eisler.

Thanks btw Ciceronian for the tip on LEO. I'm using it on a regular basis now.

 

[mitsho]

I just stocked up again on books (well, I got tired of waiting for the delivery mail service to bring one book, so I bought one else ).
Atm I'm reading Close Range by Annie Proulx, the movie sucked me in, it's not a bad book at all, interesting reads.
Today, the mail brought home Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamonds I first got to know this book via this forum and - as I am a history geek - I decided to read it
Then, at last, I have Huis Clos (et la mouche) by Jean-Paul Sartre on my shelf. Reasons are that I find Sartre an interesting philosopher, this is one of his better books (afaik) and I didn't want to let loose on French .

mitsho

 

[Kan' Sharuminar]

Just finished The Second World War by John Keegan. Very good read.

 

[BCLG100]

going postal- Terry Pratchett

 

[Fifty]

Hop On Pop - Dr. Seuss

I'm almost half way through!

 

[Danghis Khan]

^My son loves that one. Especially:

Hop Pop
We like to hop.
We like to hop on top of Pop.

STOP.
You must not hop on pop.

It's like a stupid earworm, after reading it everyday for the last 6 months I can go through the whole thing memorized along with Green Eggs and Ham.

 

[jamiethearcher]

I recently finished "the Baroque cycle" by Neal Stepenson - its actually 3 books, and I recomend all of them!

 

[I am the Future]

almost 200 pages into CRANK by Ellen Hopkins.
Recently Finished Godless and You dont know me

 

[Secular]

Against the Tide of Years by S.M. Stirling