If all you phonies want to know the truth about it, I just finished reading the goddam "Catcher in the Rye." No kidding.

Even so, you have to give a more-personal critique of the sucka.

The Once and Future King, by TH White. Halfway through. Strangely anachronistic, but still quite good. Not an epic fantasy book like I assumed it to be, not yet anyway.

Usually I donate January to reading the backlog of magazines from the year before or even further back if needed. I have a couple Ptolemaic Terrascopes, a few Wax Poetics and some cult film zines, among various music mags, to read. The nice thing about saving them for January is having both or more issues of continuing articles and interviews handy to read without forgetting what's go on before (Ugly Things is notorious for dividing huge articles over various issues). The cult film zines often review cool dvds that aren't released yet so waiting til January gives the product time to be released and to be offered used online.

quote:

Originally posted by Gusher:
I've just finished reading a book I got from Amazon.com called "Amongst The Marines" by Steven Preece. It was a good warts an all story about a marine's life amongst the ranks. It was violent, funny, disgusting and also deeply sad. All in all it had all the personal hallmarks of a good personal story that I really enjoyed.

This was different. I've since read the sequal: Always A Marine, which I also enjoyed. My compliment to the author is that I will definately read it again.

Here's an article I found on him:

http://archive.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/2005/12/16/214137.html

"Raptors: The Birds of Prey" by Scott Weidensaul. I'm starting to read about birds again. I've read this book before. Very glossy with lots of cool pictures. When I was in elementary school I was hardcore into birds, and I read everything I could get my hands on. I've kind of drifted away from that sort of thing, but I'm such a miserable bastard right now that I'm trying to find something that will occupy my mind and interest me.

The shining. I'm actually surprised at how much I have enjoyed this book. Does anyone know of a book that is actually scary? For some reason I like being scared but nothing seems to do it for me anymore. I'm open to suggestions!

"Lost in the Funhouse" by John Barth.

Just started another Charles De Lint novel, "Somewhere to be Flying". De Lint has a series of novels that take place in the fictional city of Newford. The books are only connected by the locale and a few reoccuring characters but the stories are all self-contained. I highly recommend De Lint to any lover of urban & rural fantasy.

quote:

Originally posted by Ryan Nyburg:
"Lost in the Funhouse" by John Barth.

That is a super book. I have read all of Barth's stuff and that is one of my favorites.

"Just One Look" by Harlan Coben

Pretty good suspense thriller.

I want to read this Wind-Up Bird Chronicle thing, but I don't know anything about it, except that it's really good (so I hear from people whose tastes in media I trust). Anything about characters, plot, setting etc. I should know?

quote:

Originally posted by Biggles:
I want to read this Wind-Up Bird Chronicle thing, but I don't know anything about it, except that it's really good (so I hear from people whose tastes in media I trust). Anything about characters, plot, setting etc. I should know?

It's a great story. Basically, it's about a seemingly mundane guy named Toru Okanda who's unemployed. His cat disappears and finds out his life is not as simple as it appears. Good stuff.

Thanks.

My local library doesn't have it, but I'll have a further look around.

THE ACCIDENTAL by Ali Smith-

can anyone explain that ending

I am continuing my conquest of Philip Roth... currently reading "The Ghost Writer," which is probably my favorite thus far of his early work, maybe even besting "Portnoy's Complaint" and Goodbye, Columbus."

I'm not reading a damn thing right now, because I can't concentrate on anything for longer than 5 minutes. Does anyone have any tips on what I can do to increase my concentration? Seriously. Any mind tricks I can play on myself? Any pills/nutritional supplements? I'm about to go mad, and it's really frightening.

Time for a light read: the tongue-in-cheekvadventures of Kurt Austin in Clive Cussler's Deep City.

hey ravinglunatic, sounds like you some good old fashioned adderal. or crank.

I'm reading Into the Wild by Jon Krackauer, I literally found it on the street. good read, not quite as good as Into Thin Air but well paced.

I'm currently reading Hey Nostrodamus!