I'll be happy to kick it off. I just finished Beautiful Children, and I thought it was fantastic. It's very much a first novel. It's a bit ragged and undisciplined, but the characters are interesting, and incredibly well drawn. The city of Las Vegas, itself, becomes a character in the book as well. And it's not very nice. Very satisfying, and literary.

I am almost finished reading The Other Boleyn Girl and I am loving it. I did see a trailer for the movie based on the book last week and thought it looked pretty interesting. I found it and Barnes and Noble and bought it and I haven't put it down since. It is about King Henry VIII and two rival sisters who start off competing for the king’s attention as part of their family's plan for their family to gain power. I don’t want to give too much away but if anyone is interested in a story about love, sex, and power than you have a winner!

The film is awful and should be avoided at all costs.

Finished reading The Courtier and The Heretic, a comparison of the lives of Spinoza and Liebniz. Exceptional book.

I don't read modern literature very often, but if I were to check out one 2008 book, what should it be?

That completely depends on your areas of interest LR.

I'm currently reading Amand Menon's 'The State Of The Union', about the European Union.

quote:

Originally posted by Turenne:
That completely depends on your areas of interest LR.

I'm currently reading Amand Menon's 'The State Of The Union', about the European Union.

Let's say fiction and go from there...

Ah I read non-fiction (politics, history etc) and so can't help you.

I will say the new Bond is supposed to be excellent. Its written by one of the great writers of the 20th century (Sebastian Faulks).

quote:

Originally posted by Turenne:
Ah I read non-fiction (politics, history etc) and so can't help you.

Well then just recommend me your favorite book of the year so far.

I have a feeling it was technically released last year, but assuming that doesn't matter, I strongly suggest getting Arkady Babchenko's 'One Soldiers War in Chechnya'.

As the title suggests, its a Russian journalist writing about his time in the Russain army whilst fighting in the Chechenm wars. Its a brutal tale of bullying, murder and the ways of the Russian army, and more then that its an exertly written analysis of how soldiers act and think in the worst of conditions.

quote:

Originally posted by Turenne:
I have a feeling it was technically released last year, but assuming that doesn't matter, I strongly suggest getting Arkady Babchenko's 'One Soldiers War in Chechnya'.

As the title suggests, its a Russian journalist writing about his time in the Russain army whilst fighting in the Chechenm wars. Its a brutal tale of bullying, murder and the ways of the Russian army, and more then that its an exertly written analysis of how soldiers act and think in the worst of conditions.

I'll check it out. Thanks!

I am a devotee of art and photography books, and I would have to say that my favorite recent purchase is something I'd be happy to recommend: The Places We Live, by Jonas Bendiksen.

LRS, I don't know if you'll check this site out, a few months later, but, of the 20 or so books I've read so far this year, my favorite, by a longshot, is The Hakawati, by Rabih Alameddine. A story, simultaneously, of modern Lebanon, the end of the Ottoman empire, and of a fantasy in the style of the 1001 Nights. Moving and beautiful. I was so sad when it ended. I missed the characters. After that, I'd probably recommend, The Enchantress of Florence, by Salman Rushdie. It took a while to really get going, but, in the end, a really satisfying read.

The new Bond novel is absolute crap. I enjoyed it, for what it was, but it is genre writing in the very worst sense of the word. You already know if you are the sort who is going to read it. If you have any doubts, then you really don't need to waste your time.

Hey k/c, great to see you popping your head above the parapet once again.

I'm going home to Oz in 2 weeks so I'll hunt down your recommendation.

Call me mad, call me unhinged. I don't care. Read The Sleepwalker's Introduction to Flight. You'll be a better person for it. It is a Brit novel but think it deserves to be an American Classic. Read it, and don't weep.
Gorgeous.

xx
Saz.

The best books that I read this year were Beautiful Boy and Tweak... it was so interesting to here the life experience from such different perspectives.
Beautiful Boy was written by the father and Tweak written by his son who suffered from drug addiction.

Has anyone else read either of these books yet?

I am currently enjoying The Good Thief, by Hanna Tinti. A nice slice of faux Dickens. Unfortunately, it is following on the heels of Neil Stephenson's Anathem.

Anathem is the rare genre novel that transcends genre. I liken it to Dune, or His Dark Materials. It is big, and fat, and dense. A working knowledge of western philosophy helps, but is probably not essential. I recommend it with little reservation.

Read The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. It just won the Booker and I absolutely loved it. Similar to some of my favorite books (Catch-22, Slaughterhouse-five) in that it points out the horror in situations through absurdity and humor. Highly recommended.

I've been looking at The White Tiger, but hadn't made up my mind to get it. I'll get it next time. I just finished Philip Roth's Indignation. It is minor Roth, but it was OK. Currently reading Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosht.

has anyone read names of a map? great book

I enjoyed The Astonishing Live of Octavian Nothing Vol. II quite a bit. It's seemingly a young adult book, but the language is fantastic and strange and moving. Dangerous Laughter is great if you like short stories.

I'm contemplating Netherland next.