What Are You Reading?

[Demeter]

The first three stories are really, really good. They're linked in interesting ways. I've read that only the first four stories are true "King in Yellow" stories, though.

Is "King in Yellow" a series or something?

 

[Bev Vincent]

It's a concept -- a play that will supposedly drive you mad if you read it. "Carcosa" from True Detective is derived from these stories. The main characters in the first few stories in the collection have read it.

 

[Haunted]

Finished The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - good, could have great.

Books with an unreliable narrator often provide the most thought provoking and engrossing experiences for readers. We must sift through the story trying to ascertain how events probably really unfolded.

The Goldfinch mixes the post-traumatic stress of a horrible event for a young boy and how it affects him through out his entire life. This is married with a painting he carries around with him for life - sometimes physically but always mentally. It is his anchor and without it he probably would have successfully committed suicide. The Goldfinch painting is also a device that allows for dissertations on art, our perception of it, art's ability to endure, and our fleeting participation in it's endurance as we fade away and someone else steps in to take our place.

These dissertations are the book's greatest strengths and it's biggest weakness. Individually they are engrossing. Collectively they eventually bog the book down to the point where this reader felt like he was wading through the last 100 or so pages knowing what was going to happen and waiting for the writer to catch up.

The book's other strength is it's characters - especially Hobie and Boris. Setting wise the book is strong too but some trimming here could have been done as well. Especially in the areas of Hobie's furniture restoration processes.

I'm glad I read the book but this one could have used some serious trimming. Cut it down by 100 pages and it would have been brilliant. Instead, because of it's flabbiness it overstays itself and recedes to become good.

The one core element that really stood out for me was the cruel maxim that we very often become the very thing we despise. That is not fiction but a sad fact.

 

[Haunted]

I'm reading three things at the moment:

1) Crimes Against My Brother by David Adams Richards -- a Canadian author, Giller winner, who hails from my home province originally. He came to visit my high school class when I was in grade 11. Made a big impact.
2) The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers -- a short story collection that was a big part of True Detective. These stories from around 1895 are very creepy. Poe-inspired, I'd say.
3) As the Crow Flies by Craig Johnson -- One of the Longmire series. I've been reading these to my wife.

Sir Bev: Is the Longmire series you refer to is the one adapted for the telly?

 

[Bev Vincent]

Yes, it is. The (alas) cancelled TV series.

 

[Mr Larry Underwood]

Bought "A Most Wanted Man" by Le Carré. His prose is so cynical it becomes tempting to read him.

 

[ghost19]

I've been wanting to read some Barker but not sure where to start

Try Weaveworld.....very, very strange book, be sure and pay attention to every page, it gets complicated. One of the most unique plots I've ever read.

 

[HollyGolightly]

It's a concept -- a play that will supposedly drive you mad if you read it. "Carcosa" from True Detective is derived from these stories. The main characters in the first few stories in the collection have read it.

Did it drive you mad? I'd almost like to read this, but I can't be any madder than I already am. I still have kids living at home.

 

[Bev Vincent]

Did it drive you mad? I'd almost like to read this, but I can't be any madder than I already am. I still have kids living at home.

The jury is still out.

 

[Haunted]

Yes, it is. The (alas) cancelled TV series.

You just gave me an awesome idea for a Christmas gift for BH; He loves Longmire.

 

[Bev Vincent]

We started at the beginning and have been reading the books in order.

 

[ghost19]

I gave up on War and Peace. My simple brain is just not programmed correctly to digest that monster.

 

[AchtungBaby]

Finished Dracula last night, now I'm 80 pages into my annual reread of Needful Things. Sooooo good.

 

[not_nadine]

I read Secret Window Secret Garden last night.

I am sure that I have read it a long ago, didn't remember it. It was enjoyable.

 

[Haunted]

You just gave me an awesome idea for a Christmas gift for BH; He loves Longmire.

We are still hoping that the series will be picked up by another outlet. Found the first nine novels as a set for $88+ at B&N available after the 22nd of this month. Where's me card??? THANKS, Sir Bev!!!

 

[Haunted]

Really caught up with the story of Midnight Mass by F. Paul Wilson. Real and evil vampires, no Twilight characters in this story. In Mr. Wilson's intro he says:

"Midnight Mass was born out of my dissatisfaction with the tortured romantic aesthetes who have been passing lately for vampires. Stephen King gave us the real deal in 'Salem's Lot but what gives since then?"

Wilson's words bear testimony to his intro!

 

[Lily Sawyer]

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.
He's one of my favorite authors and the story is great. Bedtime for me is late these days.

 

[staropeace]

Not The Stand....laws no! I am doing some girly comfort reading by Heather Graham. It is about a haunted house.

 

[staropeace]

Really caught up with the story of Midnight Mass by F. Paul Wilson. Real and evil vampires, no Twilight characters in this story. In Mr. Wilson's intro he says:

"Midnight Mass was born out of my dissatisfaction with the tortured romantic aesthetes who have been passing lately for vampires. Stephen King gave us the real deal in 'Salem's Lot but what gives since then?"

Wilson's words bear testimony to his intro!

Oh I have to read that. Thanks!

 

[morgan]

Not The Stand....laws no! I am doing some girly comfort reading by Heather Graham. It is about a haunted house.

I love that your "girly comfort reading" is about a haunted house, Staro!