1. SPS Accounts:
    Do you find yourself coming back time after time? Do you appreciate the ongoing hard work to keep this community focused and successful in its mission? Please consider supporting us by upgrading to an SPS Account. Besides the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from supporting a good cause, you'll also get a significant number of ever-expanding perks and benefits on the site and the forums. Click here to find out more.
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
You are currently viewing Boards o' Magick as a guest, but you can register an account here. Registration is fast, easy and free. Once registered you will have access to search the forums, create and respond to threads, PM other members, upload screenshots and access many other features unavailable to guests.

BoM cultivates a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. We have been aiming for quality over quantity with our forums from their inception, and believe that this distinction is truly tangible and valued by our members. We'd love to have you join us today!

(If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you've forgotten your username or password, click here.)

Which book are you reading currently? #5

Discussion in 'Booktalk' started by dmc, May 4, 2006.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Plate Gems: 1/31
    Latest gem: Turquoise


    Joined:
    May 31, 2006
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    0
    @Aikanaro

    Yeah, Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is really confusing. Which is (I believe) in part due to the fact that the English version is apparently missing a not insubstantial portion of the content of the original:

    "In a review in World Literature Today Yoshiko Yokochi Samuel writes that"the English version has been subjected to extensive cutting, undoubtedly under pressure from the publisher" . This sad fact is now confirmed in Jay Rubin's Haruki Murakami and the Music of Words, where he writes that it was "stipulated in Murakami's contract that the book should not exceed a certain length". Rubin, in fact, handed in both an abridged and a complete translation, but Knopf stuck to their ridiculous word-limit. May they suffer at the hands of the literary gods for their crimes against helpless readers and Murakami. But it's just another reminder, that when you read a book in translation you're getting screwed -- often far worse than you could even contemplate."

    (Quoted from Complete-review.com, boldness added for relevant lines)

    I actually really loved that book. I really don't know why exactly. I think perhaps it was the overwhelming feeling that everything tied together somehow and made sense, even if it was only a sense that would be important in the world of the book and not in a real world metaphorical sense. The cats were important somehow...with Murakami, it's always cats...

    Edit: I'm assuming of course that the version you read is the English. I apologise if you're fluent in Japanese and have had the benefit of the unabridged text ^_^
     
  2. Enagonios Gems: 31/31
    Latest gem: Rogue Stone


    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2001
    Messages:
    6,089
    Likes Received:
    5
    the last continent by pratchett.
     
  3. JSBB Gems: 31/31
    Latest gem: Rogue Stone


    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2003
    Messages:
    4,054
    Likes Received:
    1
    I finished Whispering Nickel Idols last night - it was definitely a step up from the last couple books but it still wasn't as good as the earlier books in the series. I think one of the main problems is that the main character has essentially been relegated to being pretty much a dumb grunt gofer while the Dead Man does everything meaningful.

    I have finally bit the bullet and started on Deadhouse Gates. Erikson's prose was actually showing signs of improvement in the introduction but so far in the main body of the text he has slipped back into his uncanny knack of taking what should be interesting story material and making it sound as dull as ditchwater.

    Hopefully it will get better at some point but based upon what I have seen of Erikson's writing so far I would say that he could really use a co-author who would actually write the prose after Erikson developed the story.

    Edit: Once again The Malazan Book of the Fallen Asleep managed to work its sleepy time magic on me on the train ride home. Fortunately I woke up before we got to my stop. :sleep:

    [ June 17, 2006, 02:46: Message edited by: JSBB ]
     
  4. Aikanaro Gems: 31/31
    Latest gem: Rogue Stone


    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2001
    Messages:
    5,521
    Likes Received:
    20
    Something called Biodroids 2600 - it sucks. As I got it really cheap second hand I suppose that doesn't matter, but it doesn't even suck in a good way...
     
  5. Enagonios Gems: 31/31
    Latest gem: Rogue Stone


    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2001
    Messages:
    6,089
    Likes Received:
    5
    decided to give pratchett a break and put last continent on hold. have just started freakonomics by steven levitt and stephen dubner. fascinating, interesting, funny, informative and factual. i'm taking economics in uni and this is the first economics book i've actually enjoyed.
     
  6. Faraaz Gems: 26/31
    Latest gem: Diamond


    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2003
    Messages:
    2,403
    Likes Received:
    0
    Principles of Biochemistry by Lehninger...I got an exam on Tuesday... :D
     
  7. Oaz Gems: 29/31
    Latest gem: Glittering Beljuril


    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2001
    Messages:
    3,140
    Likes Received:
    0
    Ugh -- biochemistry is daunting.

    I'm currently reading Gao Xingjian's Soul Mountain.
     
  8. Harbourboy

    Harbourboy Take thy form from off my door! Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    May 29, 2003
    Messages:
    13,346
    Likes Received:
    97
    I can understand that opinion, but I still love it.
     
  9. joacqin

    joacqin Confused Jerk Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2001
    Messages:
    6,117
    Media:
    2
    Likes Received:
    121
    Reading Sarah Ash now, so so stuff. The intentions are there but not completely fulfilled.
     
  10. Harbourboy

    Harbourboy Take thy form from off my door! Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    May 29, 2003
    Messages:
    13,346
    Likes Received:
    97
    Started reading 'Deadhouse Gates' by Steven Erikson for the second time. It takes on a whole new light after 'The Bonehunters'.
     
  11. JSBB Gems: 31/31
    Latest gem: Rogue Stone


    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2003
    Messages:
    4,054
    Likes Received:
    1
    Well, the number of consecutive train rides where I have fallen asleep reading Deadhouse Gates is now at two. On the plus side Erikson's prose does seem to be getting a little better.

    One thing that really ticked me off is that a character gave another a round about set of directions basically taking several right turns instead on only one left turn - unless the distance measured in paces is highly inconsistent throughout the directions there is no way that the two sets of directions could possibly lead to the same location. If you are going to put in a stupid joke like that you should at least make sure that it actually works.
     
  12. Harbourboy

    Harbourboy Take thy form from off my door! Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    May 29, 2003
    Messages:
    13,346
    Likes Received:
    97
    Train rides send me to sleep no matter what I am reading. But I am reading Deadhuse Gates on the bus and I usually drift off for a bit at some point too. Doesn't mean it's not a quality book. Just means we have been conditioned to be soothed by a rocking motion ever since we were in our mothers' tummies. /end ante-natal off-topic wanderings.
     
  13. Barmy Army

    Barmy Army Simple mind, simple pleasures... Adored Veteran

    Joined:
    May 26, 2003
    Messages:
    6,586
    Media:
    2
    Likes Received:
    162
    God, you do anything to defend Erikson! Even it putting you to sleep you have an answer for :p ;) .
     
  14. Harbourboy

    Harbourboy Take thy form from off my door! Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    May 29, 2003
    Messages:
    13,346
    Likes Received:
    97
    All books and all public transport send me to sleep.
     
  15. Daie d'Malkin

    Daie d'Malkin Shoulda gone to Specsavers

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2002
    Messages:
    2,636
    Likes Received:
    1
    Meh, I want the next Ice and Fire book NOW!
     
  16. Arabwel

    Arabwel Screaming towards Apotheosis Veteran

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2001
    Messages:
    7,965
    Media:
    2
    Likes Received:
    16
    Gender:
    Female
    Well, I have plowed through 1632, 1633 and 1634; the Galileo Affair by Eric FLint. And damn, what can I say? I want that baltic war book NOW; damn it! *grumbles*

    seriously... I adore these books. sure, it's pompos and america-praising at points, but oh god the humor, occasionally unintentional, is.... it's priceless. and the concept itself is extremely fascinating.
     
  17. kuemper Gems: 31/31
    Latest gem: Rogue Stone


    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2005
    Messages:
    8,926
    Likes Received:
    8
    I just finished HP and the Half Blood Prince about 2 this morning. I'm glad I didn't pay for it.
     
  18. The Irreligious Paladin Gems: 7/31
    Latest gem: Tchazar


    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2002
    Messages:
    208
    Likes Received:
    0
    Do Comic Books, Graphic Novels and Trade Paperbacks count?
     
  19. Enagonios Gems: 31/31
    Latest gem: Rogue Stone


    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2001
    Messages:
    6,089
    Likes Received:
    5
    If they're any good, like Hellblazer, Sandman, Preacher, etc. :p
     
  20. Duffin Gems: 13/31
    Latest gem: Ziose


    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2006
    Messages:
    585
    Likes Received:
    1
    Im trying to get hold of 1984 for my English coursework, has anyone read it?
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Sorcerer's Place is a project run entirely by fans and for fans. Maintaining Sorcerer's Place and a stable environment for all our hosted sites requires a substantial amount of our time and funds on a regular basis, so please consider supporting us to keep the site up & running smoothly. Thank you!

Sorcerers.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.