NationStates Jolt Archive

Right now I'm about halfway through Wicked and am planning to read Eat the Rich next. What about you?

"Developing Clinical Problem-Solving Skills - A Guide to More Effective Diagnosis and Treatment."

It's a veritable hoot.

iam reading a few
1421 the year the chinese discovered america byGavin Menzies
the scarlet letter by Nathaniel Hawthorn
twlight by Shephenie Meyer

I'm not really reading anything right now (partly because of university classes and partly because I spend an inordinate amount of time on this blasted forum), but earlier today I trotted over to the fiction wing of the University Library and started re-reading Animal Farm. I got through the first couple of chapters (up to the bit where the pigs paint the commandments on the wall). I wish I had more time to read good fiction.

Finishing up Ovid's Metamorphoses, half way through Virgils Aenies, starting Dantes Inferno, starting Delilo Mao II, finishing Faulkners Absalom Absalom.

All of which need to be done in the next week so I can move on to the next chunk of assignments

Feynman's Rainbow by Mlodinow, and a somewhat disappointing "The Onion" anthology in the john...

Gotta pick up something new tomorrow morning, though, for a plane ride and a few days out of state with family. Maybe this thread will have some good picks.

Robert Heinlein - Stranger In A Strange Land

Feynman's Rainbow by Mlodinow, and a somewhat disappointing "The Onion" anthology in the john...

Gotta pick up something new tomorrow morning, though, for a plane ride and a few days out of state with family. Maybe this thread will have some good picks.

Well if you want suggestions I'm full of them. If you want something funny pick up, "Red Diaper Baby" by Josh Kornbluth. And if you want something that can be funny but is also serious go with, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime."

The Passion of the Western Mind by Richard Tarnas.

I suggest it to anyone interested in philosophy.

At this exact moment I'm reading this thread. (Somebody had to say it.)

For fiction, I'm reading Kim Stanley Robinson's Forty Signs of Rain.

And for nonfiction, Barbara W. Tuchman's The Guns of August and Alex Kerr's Dogs and Demons: Tales from the Dark Side of Modern Japan.

"The Wild Sheep Chase"

I got this book after I went into a book store and said to the clerk, "Look at me! Good! Now suggest a book for me."

Apparently book store clerks hate it when you do that.

Well if you want suggestions I'm full of them. If you want something funny pick up, "Red Diaper Baby" by Josh Kornbluth. And if you want something that can be funny but is also serious go with, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime."

Well, a good book with the word "diaper" in the title is worth 50 points in the Scavenger Hunt of 7 Lifetimes...

"Sabriel" by Garth Nix - nice little fantasy read when on the bus
"Le Phantom de l'Opera" by Gaston Leroux. Nothing beats the original...
and "Alias Grace" by Margaret Atwood. Fascinating.

iam reading a few
1421 the year the chinese discovered america byGavin Menzies
the scarlet letter by Nathaniel Hawthorn
twlight by Shephenie Meyer

I just watched a series on the telly about that, it was very interesting.

Currently I'm reading The System of the World by Neal Stephenson and Players by Tony Wilson.

How to Hide Anything

The Revised Identity Changer

Fighting In The Streets: The Manual of Urban Guerilla Warfare

The Foutainhead


I have a bad habbit of starting many books at once without finishing them first

Reading four books right now.

The House of Morgan - A historical look at the various Morgan based companies. IE, JP Morgan, Morgan Chase, Morgan Grenfell etc...

The FED - A look at how the FED operates

Asimov's Galaxy - A collection of essays by Isaac Asimov about science fiction

The God's Themselves - a science fiction novel by Isaac Asimov.

I am actually reading 3 books at the same time.
1)Pathways to Adventure
It is about W.B. 'Sandy' Thomas who started off as a Lieutenant in the New Zealand Army at the start of WWII and ended his career in the British Army Chief Of Staff South East Asia i think he was the last Divisional Commander in S.E.A.
2)Born to LeadPortraits of New Zealand Commanders
Simple enough it summarises New Zealands Army Navy and Air Force Commanders of the Boer War onwards.
3)The Armed Forces Of New Zealand
Part of the Armed Forces of Asia Series it looks into New Zealands Defence forces and theircapabilities.


Ive pretty much finished all three.
Next i'll read Yesterdays Drums By Tony Vercoe it is his experiences as a POW in WWII.

Hmm...

"Teach Your Self Swedish" - Wonder what I'm doing with that?
"Priset på vatten i Finistere" - Translate it sometimes. Its not my kind of book though.
Various newspapers and magazines on a regular basis, as well as text books.

I am reading Virginia Woolf's 'To the Lighthouse'.

Boring book. No action what so ever. About 100 pages covers one day in the book. Worded oddly, all about internal thoughts with no plot.:(

If your professor suggests reading it, pelt him/her with rocks and knock some sense into them to redefine what a real masterpiece is.;)

Hmm...

"Teach Your Self Swedish" - Wonder what I'm doing with that?
"Priset på vatten i Finistere" - Translate it sometimes. Its not my kind of book though.
Various newspapers and magazines on a regular basis, as well as text books.
"Teach Your Self Swedish" - Wonder what I'm doing with that?=Toilet Paper?
"Priset på vatten i Finistere" - Translate it sometimes. Its not my kind of book though.=Start a fire?
Various newspapers and magazines on a regular basis, as well as text books.=See above.:p

The Dark Tower Series
Book 5

The Book of Sorrows by Walter Wangerin Jr.

"Priset på vatten i Finistere"

"The Price of Water in Finistère. (http://www.finisteretourisme.com/)" There. :p

"The Price of Water in Finistère. (http://www.finisteretourisme.com/)" There. :p

Very pretty, I'll have to go there next time I'm in France. Thanks!

The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton

I wasn't expecting that sort of response to my reading list. :p

Anyhow, I'm actually using the "Teach Yourself Swedish" book for learning Swedish, when I'm all by my lonesome. And ditto for "The Price of Water in Finistère."

And I forgot how to make the accent thingy over the "e." *repents* I studied Spanish, not French, and although there is not much difference between the keys one must press, Swedish has made me forget almost everything, hehe. I've read the "Hobbit" and "The Great Gatsby" if that makes anyone feel better, and last night, I attempted to read "The Origin of Species," but I found Darwin's writing style too passive. *big yawn*

Tack ska ni ha!

Stranded in Paradise (http://www.penguin.co.nz/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,0_0143019538,00.html)
New Zealand Rock and Roll: 1955 to the modern era

Pirates: An Illustrated History - Nigel Cawthorne
Phaic Tan - Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch
Guardians of the West - David Eddings
Executive Orders - Tom Clancy

Hurrah. And yarr.

"A Feast for Crows" - By George R. R. Martin.
"The Fright of Real Tears" - By Slavoj Zizek
"The Book of the Samurai" - By Stephen R. Turnbull

Also casually flicking through Plato's "Republic", but I've already read it.

"The Godfather" by Mario Puzo
"City of God" by St. Augustine

The Origins of the Liberal Welfare Reforms by JR Hay

The Political Economy of the Welfare State by Ian Gough.

The Working Class and State 'Welfare' in Britain, 1880-1914 by Pat Thane.

Plus I have about another eight I need to read.

A barrel of laughs, I assure you.

Eternal Warrior by Michael Moorcock

Tacitus - Annals of Rome

Terry Pratchett - Thud!

K. Potter & R. H. C. Davis - Gesta Stephani


I'm getting the urge to dig out a Charles Dickens book though as it's been a while since i last read one.

The Origins of the Liberal Welfare Reforms by JR Hay

The Political Economy of the Welfare State by Ian Gough.

The Working Class and State 'Welfare' in Britain, 1880-1914 by Pat Thane.

Plus I have about another eight I need to read.

A barrel of laughs, I assure you.


Studying history by any chance?

Studying history by any chance?

How did you guess :)

Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett.

I didn't much like it when I read it first (compared to other Discworld books, that is), but it's really started to grow on me and is quickly becoming one of favourite Discworld books. Although it will probably never replace Feet of Clay, in my opinion.

Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett.

I didn't much like it when I read it first (compared to other Discworld books, that is), but it's really started to grow on me and is quickly becoming one of favourite Discworld books. Although it will probably never replace Feet of Clay, in my opinion.


Hmm i didn't mind it, but to me there are three that will always stand out as my favourites;

Nightwatch (marvellous, this was my fave of the City Watch books), Witches Abroad, and of course Maskerade.

I like the witches and city watch books the best. The gods/death and Rincewind books are middling. Pyramids and Eric... never again.

My fave character has to be Mustrum Ridcully.

Richard Dawkins - Climbing Mount Improbable
SR4D (the Shadowrun 4.0 core rulebook in german)
Robert Rankin - The Fandom of the Operator
Hans Pretterebner - Der Fall Lucona

John Locke - An Essay Concerning Human Understanding

I must get around to reading something by Richard Dawkins. Douglas Adams loves him.

Like each year I'm reading the "Best SF" compilation by Gardner Dozois.
To be found at

www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312336608/qid=1132744902/sr=8-4/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i4_xgl/026-5159582-0629244

Richard Dawkins - Climbing Mount Improbable


Great choice, that one. Read anything else by RD by chance?

www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/026-5159582-0629244

re-reading The Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy, for about the 40th time.

re-reading The Lord of The Rings, for about the 30th time.

I refuse to buy any new books from November onwards. People have to have some idea of what to get me foe christ mas

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

Wars Of National Liberation by Daniel Moran

BBC World Affairs Editor John Simpson's Autobiography (I forget the title, he's written three books, I'm reading the second of three. Excellent observations of the world.)

A Tale of Resistance in Warsaw: By Devil's Luck by Stanislaw Likiernik, on being a part of the Warsaw Underground Resistance movement fighting Nazi occupation in WW2. Gripping and Harrowing.

I'm currently reading book two in Steven Kings "The Dark Tower" series. Very strange so far, but all in all, a good read so far.

Currently halfway through part 2 (A Forest of Stars) of "The saga of the seven suns" by Kevin J Anderson
Just finished "Judas Unchained" by Peter F Hamilton.

Just finished "Freakonomics" Very interesting look at using statistics and economic models to find root causes of problems.

Before that "The World Is Flat" a look at how the world is changing with the growth of 3rd world industry and communications. Amazing how business works today.

The TV's closed captioning system for the deaf and hard of hearing. :p

re-reading The Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy, for about the 40th time.

re-reading The Lord of The Rings, for about the 30th time.

You know, it takes a lot of effort to be the geekiest person on a forum like this, but I think you just might have a shot at it.

You know, it takes a lot of effort to be the geekiest person on a forum like this, but I think you just might have a shot at it.
You'd best watch what you say! The Hitchhiker's Guide is a Classic piece of work...and hilarious to boot. Lord of the Rings...well, I've always avoided it personally, but it's no longer in the realm of geekdome. Sheesh. And be careful how you talk about NS General! *strokes the forum, hush hush little baby, it's okay*

Frick this...I don't need to pretend I'm cerebral all the time...I'm reading the Myth serious by Robert Asprin, in between bounts of LSAT preparation tests. It lets me turn of my brain for a while...kind of like watching tv, with a bit more effort involved.

Chapterhouse Dune.

You'd best watch what you say! The Hitchhiker's Guide is a Classic piece of work...and hilarious to boot. Lord of the Rings...well, I've always avoided it personally, but it's no longer in the realm of geekdome. Sheesh. And be careful how you talk about NS General! *strokes the forum, hush hush little baby, it's okay*

Sure they may be good books, but forty and thirty times each? That's more times than most Christians have read the Bible. And any NSer worth his or her salt would be proud to claim the title of geekiest person here.

In Search of Schrödinger's Cat.

Its actually quite interesting.

just finishing Son of a Witch (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060548932/104-9968093-3723102?v=glance&n=283155&v=glance) by Gregory Maguire

and just starting

Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0765312786/104-9968093-3723102?v=glance&n=283155&s=books&v=glance) by Cory Doctorow

at the same time re-reading parts of

Hardcore Zen : Punk Rock, Monster Movies, & the Truth about Reality (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/086171380X/104-9968093-3723102?v=glance&n=283155&s=books&v=glance) by Brad Warner

In Search of Schrödinger's Cat.

Its actually quite interesting.

I'm currently taking a course in quantum physics and I had hoped that one of the lab experiments might involve a cat and a canister of cyanide, but no such luck.

Frick this...I don't need to pretend I'm cerebral all the time...I'm reading the Myth serious by Robert Asprin, in between bounts of LSAT preparation tests. It lets me turn of my brain for a while...kind of like watching tv, with a bit more effort involved.
so I take it you've chosen to go for law school? *i hope i hope i hope* lol

"The Wild Sheep Chase"

I got this book after I went into a book store and said to the clerk, "Look at me! Good! Now suggest a book for me."

Apparently book store clerks hate it when you do that.
I love Murakami.
I'm reading Shardik, Cloudsplitter, I just started some weird Russian novel at my girlfriend's house and Our Inner Ape.

just finishing Son of a Witch (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060548932/104-9968093-3723102?v=glance&n=283155&v=glance) by Gregory Maguire

Is it good?

I've heard so many complaints about Al Franken lately that I picked up "Lying Liars" (or whatever it's called) to see what the big deal is about. Interesting, but nitpicky, so far. Also, he mixes in his jokes at bad moments.

Is it good?

So-so. I liked it, but it isn't as good as Wicked.

I think he must be planning on at least a third book about Oz.

This thread....;)

The TV's closed captioning system for the deaf and hard of hearing.
You are so close minded! What about foreign films and programs! I can't stand you people! Like everyone that reads subtitles or captions is deaf or hard of hearing! Aaarrrrgggghhhhh!! *tears hair out of head, then eye-brows*

Um...I read TV's closed captioning system...sometimes...generally when I don't understand something, or when someone's vaccuming, or playing music loud, or making loud noises in kitchen *cringe*, or when I feel like watching television but not hearing annoyingly high voices. I'm sorry for my outburst. :p

Terry Pratchett - Thud!


Thats another Vimes one, isnt it?

I'm a bit behind on all the new ones seeing as how im too stingy to buy em and my library is aswell, but ive read a lot of the earlier ones (Men at Arms, Jingo, The Fifth Elephant, Night Watch etc.) and am in the middle of Men at Arms for about the 7th time. And yes, I counted.

Imajica by Clive Barker. Only about 50-60 pages in. Looks pretty good.

You are so close minded! What about foreign films and programs! I can't stand you people! Like everyone that reads subtitles or captions is deaf or hard of hearing! Aaarrrrgggghhhhh!! *tears hair out of head, then eye-brows*
I read it because I AM hard of hearing! ;)

Although I always read peripherally a number of books and a central one, my current central material is Leon Uris' 'Exodus.'

Good read.

I'm reading:

Stupid white men (Michael Moore)
Bilbo (Tolkien)
The Hitchikers guide... (Adams)
The Field of Swords (Iggulden)
Stone Cold (Unknown :p)
1984 (Orwell)

In Search of Schrödinger's Cat.

Its actually quite interesting.

It is. Even for a non scientist like me.


Or maybe I'm just a g33k :(

I read it because I AM hard of hearing! ;)
My bad. Noted. :)

My bad. Noted. :)
It's okay. :)

rip it up and start again, it's about post-punk
going underground, an american punk book
punk, a punk of quotes from and about the punk era
In case your wondering why so many punk books I'm doing my thesis on punk and metal
I guess i'm still reading the 2 towers as well but thats gone by the watside since i started this thesis in the middle of the summer

The Destruction of the Bismarck

After I will probably be reading The Caine Mutiny or Mauritius Command and I just finished The Thin Red Line.

Das Kapital - Marx

I'm meant to be reading three books at once from now on - one NF, one novel, one French. I'm failing miserably.

Started a few pages in Le Parfum