Books!

[Opa Opa]

Time of Contempt I started at the end of December. The others I read over the past few days. Reading two more books right now.

[dsheinem]

Time of Contempt I started at the end of December. The others I read over the past few days. Reading two more books right now.

Damn, impressive!

As I said a few pages ago, I really want to keep at a list this year. I am going to try and treat it more like the "Games Beaten" thread - if I can "clear" one book cover to cover for every 3-4 games I put down I will see it as a success

Books Read 2015:
1. Slavoj Žižek - The Year of Dreaming Dangerously *new*

Total: 1

Previously: 2014

----


This is Žižek's take on many key global events of 2011, a year which he believes helped us to see the "totality" of our political, ideological, economic landscape and, perhaps, to think about the relationship of those events to the future. He talks about the Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street, Foxconn, and other players and places and runs them through his special blend of Marx/Hegel/Lacan in some really compelling ways, but my favorite chapter was the one on my favorite TV show - The Wire - wherein he largely responds to Frederic Jameson's essay on the show while making his point about totality, activism, and change quite lucid in conjunction with Simon's work.

[BoneSnapDeez]

My advice: skip the Rand

This needs to be shouted from the rooftops.

[casterofdreams]

I haven't picked up a book in ages but this year I will change that. I asked for Christmas for "The Lord of the Rings" set and for "A Song of Ice and Fire".

Lets see what I can do.

[puke_face]

So far this month...

All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Remarque

This novel follows a German soldier during World War I. The author, being a veteran of that same war, doesn't spare any details of the horrors faced in trench warfare. The characters frequently reflect upon events, asking themselves "what is the meaning of the war". Remarque really humanizes the 'other side' when the protagonist faces the enemy in combat or in prison camps. Great novel; highly recommended.

Great book!

This was the first book I read that really turned me onto WW1. When I first read it, I didn't realize it was a fictional account. The way he goes into detail made the story really pop out of the pages. His descriptions of the entire atmosphere around him really made you feel like you were there.

If you plan on reading it, don't look at this part.

It really even made me sad when he was carrying his friend Kat to the field hospital, only to find that when he got him there, a shell splinter had gone through his head and killed him. that would be a horrible "surprise".

[Pulsar_t]

I've greatly enjoyed Dan Carlin's history podcasts last year which focused on WWI, delivered in his unique style.. Easier than reading another book on the subject at any rate :p

[Opa Opa]

My first "IDGAF Anymore" award of 2015 goes to: Baptism of Fire by Andrzej Sapkowski

Got to around the middle of the book and had to quit. I'm so disgusted I don't even want to talk about it. I still stand by what I said on the previous page. The Last Wish is worth reading. Don't bother with the rest of the novels because Geralt doesn't give a damn about the political melodrama and neither should you.

[dsheinem]

Books Read 2015:
1. Slavoj Žižek - The Year of Dreaming Dangerously
2. Edgar Rice Burroughs - A Princess of Mars *new*

Total: 2

Previously: 2014 2012 2011




3-4 years ago I started reading Asimov's novels for the first time as I wanted to plug a hole in my literary knowledge of a genre I enjoy. It was a great decision, as I went on to read the full Foundation trilogy and have a much greater appreciation of Asmiov's work and his influence on the genre.

Another big hole in that genre history for me is Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose Mars books have inspired icons from Bradbury to Lucas. A Princess of Mars is a pulpy, action-packed, travelogue-style book about a Civil War soldier who becomes a great hero on Mars. Before I opened the first page, I had no idea that Burroughs was the creator of John Carter, a character I only knew previously as "the title character in that lame-looking movie I didn't see and that flopped". After reading the book, I don't know how that movie ended up being lame or how Burroughs' stock characters, well-described worlds, and violent action sequences didn't translate well to the big screen. I found the book to hold my attention and interest throughout, even if the writing itself lacked complexity and the story was generally predictable. Maybe I should see the movie?

[Blu]

Started reading The Martian by Andy Weir. Pretty good premise -- an astronaut gets abandoned on Mars during a freak windstorm by his fellow crewmates. Turns into a great survival novel. Going to be made into a film this year starring Matt Damon (MATT DAMON). It's a genre that I particularly enjoy, so I'll post my thoughts soon.

[Ghudda]

Started reading The Martian by Andy Weir. Pretty good premise -- an astronaut gets abandoned on Mars during a freak windstorm by his fellow crewmates. Turns into a great survival novel. Going to be made into a film this year starring Matt Damon (MATT DAMON). It's a genre that I particularly enjoy, so I'll post my thoughts soon.

Nice! I recently read The Martian as well and loved it.

I recently read Masters of Doom, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good video game related read.
It. was. rad.