What Book Are You Reading? Volume 9

[Shekwan]

The next book on my to read list is "The KGB and the World: The Mitrokhin Archive Part II" by Christopher Andrew and Vasili Mitrokhin. I borrowed it from a friend, hence why I'm reading part II first. It seems really interesting, basically it chronicles the KGB archives that Mitrokhin brought with him when he defected to the West in 1992.

I'm currently reading my way through "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72" by Hunter Thompson. Essential reading for anyone interested in American politics, covering Nixon v McGovern for the US presidency that year. Its at least the most unorthodox coverage of that campaign.

 

[Godwynn]

The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression - Amity Schlaes

 

[Babbler]

Americanos: Latin America's Struggle for Independence by John Charles Chasten. I've read his more general history of the region as a whole, and this book focuses more on the independence period. It's short and fun, I would recommend it.

 

[Agent327]

The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X/as told to Alex Haley

I found this to be quite informative, as autobiographies go - although I must admit I've read it quite a while back.

 

[Ansar]

The French Way by Ross Steele

 

[Smellincoffee]

I'm soon finishing The Road to Wigan Pier for class, and am sort-of-reading The Fellowship of the Ring. I'm reading it mostly to see what the fuss is about.

 

[Gilder]

I started Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court, but have decided to quit it for now. It's too boring and the language is too dull for me to read through it.

Instead, I'm reading Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams.

 

[Smellincoffee]

I started Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court, but have decided to quit it for now. It's too boring and the language is too dull for me to read through it.

I read that last week. It was a bit easier for me: I'm already well familiar with the story.

 

[Masada]

Burmese Days, George Orwell: Not the strongest of his works but it is interesting from a Southeast Asian historical perspective. I was considering writing a paper on the misconceptions and biases present in Orwell's writing and contrasting it favorably with something like Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad (which incidentally I'm also reading).
Lord Jim, Joseph Conrad: Again, not the strongest of the authors works but with some residual historical use. Interestingly Conrad was far more perceptive than most of his contemporaries (and even scholars) in his examinations and ruminations on Malay society. It isn't brilliant but there are far fewer things to quibble about than I expected.
Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez: I feel compelled to read more Magical Realism before I pass a critical eye over the book in any further detail.
The Emergence of Modern Southeast Asia: A New History - various: Readable, enjoyable but not necessarily the best product on the market. I can see why its used as an introductory textbook although I wonder if students might benefit from reading something with a more historical bent instead of an, admittedly good, thematic treatment.
The Decline of Constitutional Democracy in Indonesia - Herbert Feith: The seminal treatment of the transition of Indonesia into Guided Democracy. Despite being almost 50 years old it still a solid piece of scholarship which is gracefully showing its age.

 

[Cutlass]

Comeback America, by David Walker.

 

[GoodGame]

Still reading:

Philosophy of Science: A very short introduction, by Samir Okasha.

Just picked up and read a good bit of Quantum: A Guide for the Perplexed by Dr. Jim Al-Khalili.

 

[Whiskey_Lord]

I just finished the Aeneid today and am about to start the Nibelungenlied. Epics ftw.

 

[GoodGame]

I just finished the Aeneid today and am about to start the Nibelungenlied. Epics ftw.

The Aenid is fun, but it gets kind of crazy with the naming of warriors in battle.

 

[Quackers]

I am reading Fight Club.

Anyone know any in Hampshire? I want to fight!

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I began John Galbraith's The New Industrial State today.

 

[Masada]

I began John Galbraith's The New Industrial State today.

I should have picked that up for $2 at a second hand bookstore about 3 months ago. For some reason I didn't, and I'm still kicking myself

 

[The Imp]

Soviet Policy in the Far East 1944-1951 by Max Beloff

 

[JollyRoger]

Stuck at LAX a couple of hours longer than expected on the way to Hawaii, decided to finally give Gravity's Rainbow a stab.

 

[The Imp]

The Aenid is fun, but it gets kind of crazy with the naming of warriors in battle.

Then read the Illiad. You will want to blow your brains out after all the naming of warriors in battle.

 

[GoodGame]

Then read the Illiad. You will want to blow your brains out after all the naming of warriors in battle.

I think it is done way more gratuitously and pointlessly in the Aenid.