What Are You Reading?

[Singed]

I cheat by listening to rather than reading books, and usually while driving or hiking. Some recent ones are:

Metamorphosis, by Ovid, and as wryly humerus as it was two millennia ago

Candide, by Voltaire, which shows you can be banished, excommunicated, and numerous other bad things if you write a really good satire

The History of the English Speaking Peoples - Volume 1, by Churchill, who documents the three years between the Roman invasion of England and the reformation that the British weren’t fighting themselves or others

I’ll likely pick up Dune once Audible has another one of their terrific sales.

I do not think of audio books as a cheat. I read voraciously as a child and younger man. As my eyesight becomes worse over time, I find it harder to remain focused on the content of a novel or other reading material. I am constantly reminded, and frustrated, and interrupted by the limitations of reading a blurry page. Glasses do not help as I have retinal damage and astigmatism. Embrace the audio book, it gives access to an art that we might otherwise lose with age.

That being said, I still make the effort to physically read a book. "If you don't use it, you lose it."

 

[Polyphemos]

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams. Overdue for a re-read.

Sounds like a fun book. We’ve watched multiple TV series over the years, but I’ll bet the book is much better.

 

[AutumnGold]

I usually have a few readers on the go at any given time, dependant upon what I'm doing. Currently:

Bedtime - The Complete Sherlock Holmes
In the bath - Wilderness Days by Sigurd F. Olson
For breakfast time - The Collected Poetry of Robert Frost.

I even used to have a book on the go for when I went to the little boy's room for any length of time, but my wife got fed up of me disappearing for so long!

Being an English teacher, I place a tremendous value upon books. I would literally go without food before going without books!

 

[Gaius Marius]

I'm collecting and reading the Tarzan series of books by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Everybody knows Tarzan!
I really fell in love with the 1930's Tarzan radio broadcast series and it inspired me to collect the books and read them. I've only got Tarzan and the Ant Men, Tarzan the Terrible, and Tarzan and the Leopard Men. small collection so far but they're first print hardcovers in great shape. My wife found them for me and I'm very proud of them.
Tarzan so far is a great popcorn adventure read.

 

[Eutychus]

I just finished reading Beloved by Toni Morrison. And I have been working my way through The Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer: A Christian Worldview. I'm half way through vol. 2, of 5. And I'm half way through the audiobook of Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian.

 

[Eutychus]

The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky, translated by Pevear and Volokhonsky.

Haven't laughed out loud this much from a book in a long time.

Yes, I recently read it and it struck me at times as a kind of farce.

 

[Aussiemike]

I just finished reading Beloved by Toni Morrison. And I have been working my way through The Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer: A Christian Worldview. I'm half way through vol. 2, of 5. And I'm half way through the audiobook of Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian.

I was just wondering Eutychus if you have seen the movie before hearing "Master and Commander" book?
I really enjoyed the movie and would love to hear your review of book.

 

[Eutychus]

I was just wondering Eutychus if you have seen the movie before hearing "Master and Commander" book?
I really enjoyed the movie and would love to hear your review of book.

G'day mate!

I think I did see the movie first. I've happly seen it a number of times and recently purchased the Blu-ray disc. And I've read the hardcopy book, too. I think Russell Crowe is a perfect Jack Aubrey, so when I read/listen to the book I enjoy being able to visualize Aubrey. And I think Paul Bettany was a fine Stephen Maturin, too.

One thing to keep in mind is that the movie is based on 2 novels: Master and Commander and Far Side of the World. I haven't read the latter, but I think it's clear that the movie is based mostly on Far Side of the World. So not much from M & C will be spoiled if you read it.

Although, like the movie, M & C is a great yarn, it is a historical novel. That is, O'Brian obviously did an immense amount of research about the Napoleonic era, and about the British Navy, naval warfare, and the operation of fighting ships. And the book can get pretty detailed about the nuts and bolts of operating a naval vessel. Don't be frustrated if you don't understand much of it (neither does Maturin). The take away is that seamen had to have extensive knowledge to perform their duties.

M & C also excels at getting inside the characters, particularly through Maturin's thoughtful observations of Jack as well as others.

O'Brian skillfully blends all of this together. I think M & C is a substantial work of fiction as well as being an enjoyable adventure story. If you choose the audiobook, Patrick Tull does a great job of narration. You won't go wrong either way.

Les (Eutychus)