What are you reading?

I've been reading through two books at the moment. I kind of jump between one and the other as and when I want a subject change. The first being something called Space Opera by Catherine Valente. It's essentially a story about an intergalactic eurovision song contest. Maybe the blurb will describe it a bit better.

"Once every cycle, the civilizations gather for Galactivision - part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part continuation of the wars of the past. Instead of competing in orbital combat, the powerful species that survived face off in a competition of song, dance, or whatever can be physically performed in an intergalactic talent show. The stakes are high for this new game, and everyone is forced to compete.

This year, though, humankind has discovered the enormous universe. And while they expected to discover a grand drama of diplomacy, gunships, wormholes, and stoic councils of aliens, they have instead found glitter, lipstick and electric guitars. Mankind will not get to fight for its destiny - they must sing.

A one-hit-wonder band of human musicians, dancers and roadies from London - Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeroes - have been chosen to represent Earth on the greatest stage in the galaxy. And the fate of their species lies in their ability to rock"


Definitely an acquired taste most likely, but I'm enjoying it.

The second book is Breverton's Phantasmagoria. Which is just a big ol' book about all sorts of different monsters and mythical creatures. I don't really have much more to add other than the cover is really swish to look at.
 
So I'm now on, "From Russia With Love," and have about 120 pages left before I'm done, then I'll almost be halfway done the Bond books.

Honestly, these books are just amazing and FRWL is so far, the best book, I feel (Moonraker comes close). Its funny too, because the film is my third least-favourite of the films (to this day, I can't believe the amount of love it gets, for being a VERY cobbled-together and, IMO, rushed final product), but everything in that film is elaborated on so much more in the book, it makes for a very enjoyable read and the film did a great justice in terms of the sets )at the very least), as it has included the most accurate amount of settings, characters, etc. of all the books thus far.

Calling back to the last page of this thread, I also just purchased Romance of the Three Kingdoms and I will start them when I'm done the Bond books; absolutely can't wait to dive deep into something as massive and complex as that story is :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
 
...I feel (Moonraker comes close)...

I wish more people knew of the novel's version of Moonraker. I'm with you on this view entirely.

I'm switching between two works to keep sanity:

a. Vol VIII of Frederick Copleston's "History of Philosophy": I need to brush up on American Pragmatism and alienate anyone around me in conversation. Dry but excellent explication.
b. Jay McInerney's "Bright Lights, Big City": one of the funnier novels I've encountered, it's unique for being written in the second person.
 
lol I had SUPER high hopes for Moonraker the film, years before I saw it (mainly due to the awesome level in Goldeneye). After watching the film for the first time in 200...7 or whenever it was, I was MASSIVELY underwhelmed with it and almost outright disappointed (though there are still a good handful of Bond films worse than it).

But the book? So awesome, so well done! I rather liked the Bond girl as well, feeling she is stronger than Vesper (the book's version), Solitaire (the book's version; Jane Seymour is favourite Bond girl ever and she does a damn good job) and the jury is out on Romanova.

Anyways, I'm rambling...
 
How to Win Friends and Influence People. A book always recommended to me because of my lack confidence at times. About a third through and finding it quite boring and repetitive thought there are some lessons to be learned.
 
How to Win Friends and Influence People. A book always recommended to me because of my lack confidence at times. About a third through and finding it quite boring and repetitive thought there are some lessons to be learned.

I suppose it's a good work, but the chapter headers speak for themselves. Too many unnecessary anecdotes...
 
Currently nothing and it's really sad... but I really need more time to relax before I can consider reading anything significant. Unless you count reddit and gamefaqs and here and stuff lol...
 
im not a big reader but im currently reading "art of the con" ..its about fakes and scams in the art world.

also grabbed volume 30 of the walking dead from my local library. nearly all the issues are on youtube but its nicer to read them in a book.
 
I'm a junkie for self improvement/educational books. Recently read 4 Hour Work Week, Scientific Advertising and 12 Rules for Life. Highly recommend 4 Hour Work Week and if copywriting or advertising is in any linked to what you do then Scientific Advertising is a great read.

As far as novels go I just started Neuromancer.
 
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So it's premise is heresy, I went to a Bible College for a few years so I can safely say it's got a dash of heresy. but the story is about the solder who priced the side of Christ with a spear while he was being crucified. That is when the story starts for a just small moment in time after he priced the side of Christ everything stopped around him and Christ looked down and said "As you are so shall you remain, till I come again" Now Casca cursed/blessed depends on how you look at it can not die and is in fact an eternal mercenary fighting battles and wars throughout several key events throughout history waiting for the return of Christ, I'm on the second book now, there are a lot of them about 40-50ish. Really interesting read thus far, and if you have Kindle unlimited to the best of my knowledge they are all on there.
 
Both Spanish for Reading and a book by Mortimer Adler on the nature of the US Constitution (We Hold These Truths); as someone who hates US Politics season, I have no idea what these choices say about me.
 
Been on a fantasy kick lately so I plowed through the original Dragonlance trilogy, The Stuff of Legends, and The Legend of Huma. I mixed in some Sherlock Holmes, so now I'm reading my first Ellery Queen novel And On the Eighth Day.


I loved his first autobiography, and my family bought me this one for Christmas. Looking forward to digging into it in the near future!
 
I think the Murakami book was called After Dark (をフターダーク). If Murakami was given a project to write as much as he could about eating at Denny's and then a dream or something, I guess I could understand the book more or his objective. It just wasn't about anything and left me feeling frustrated and wanting my time back :)

After Dark does have a lot good reviews though, so maybe its the type of book that isn't for me.

After dark its super weird. Shouldn't start with that.

My recomendations:
Tokyo Blues (this is the Sonic 3 of Murakami: just perfect)
Sputnik, my love (something like that, dont know how is the English translation)
Years of the guy without colour (idem up)
 
I loved his first autobiography, and my family bought me this one for Christmas. Looking forward to digging into it in the near future!

i read JC first autobiography as a kid, i liked how he described how Sammo Hung got fat lol.
from what ive head of this new book, his first autobiography must of been heavily watered down.
 
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Been reading this. It's a Manga collection of short stories from different artists. It features a story by a Manga-ka friend of mine (Miyako Cojima).

I've been reading through some of the stories in it and translating the odd few here and there (literally going into the photoshop and making translations for the fun of it)

Cool little book...quite enjoy reading it.
 
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