What swanky things are you reading? - Page 24

flippyshark · 12-11-2008, 07:15 PM

I'm about two thirds of the way through Cormac McCarthy's The Road. It's beautifully written, but I'm dreading each turn of the page. (To say that it is bleak is an understatement.)

Stan4dSteph · 12-11-2008, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flippyshark

I'm about two thirds of the way through Cormac McCarthy's The Road. It's beautifully written, but I'm dreading each turn of the page. (To say that it is bleak is an understatement.)

I bought that one, but haven't started it yet.

Andrew · 12-11-2008, 07:45 PM

Princeps' Fury - book five of Jim Butcher's non-Dresden series, the Codex Alera. Liking it a lot so far.

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 12-11-2008, 08:27 PM

Swann's Way. I am reading it very, very slowly.

JWBear · 12-11-2008, 11:07 PM

Right now, I'm just trying to work my way through the ginormous stack of magazines I haven't gotten around to reading.

NickO'Time · 12-12-2008, 12:43 AM

Roadie. By Jamie Smith, I hope that a few people that don't understand a bike racers life will pick this up.
It's comical and surreal at the same time. Quick read for sure. Pretty much the reality of it all.

Ghoulish Delight · 12-12-2008, 02:06 PM

I've put down The Secular Conscience which, besides heading in a direction I didn't agree with, began arguing statements that weren't even accurate (what hell do you mean no one's been willing to take the position that zygotes aren't people?).

But, still being inspired by recent board chatter to embrace my atheism, I've picked up The God Delusion. I am certainly the choir for this preacher so it's not really going to do much to make me think, but it's nice to see my own positions so well argued.

Alex · 12-12-2008, 02:12 PM

Actually, I still found it very thought provoking at several points. Unfortunately, if you are in that choir, it is repretitive because he takes the arguments in favor of god's existence on individually (because frequently the response to an argument against one god is responded to with "well, mine is different" even when it really isn't) and the response is generally the same with at most minor tweaking.

But it put into succinct form many arguments I've made in the past and presses home the point that many "all things are possible" arguments miss in that while all things may be possible they are not all equally probable. Or that the existence of god just pushes back all of the same questions one layer.

Strangler Lewis · 12-12-2008, 02:14 PM

Having embraced your atheism, of which I was unaware, are you still planning to ritually take a knife to your son's penis?

Alex · 12-12-2008, 02:17 PM

As for me, I've just given up on The Wettest County in the World. Sometimes you just know immediately that you're not going to get along with a writing style. I did this time and I don't think I made it 40 pages in. The reviews are generally positive so I'm going to take the blame for this failure.

Started in its place both Sarah Vowell's The Wordy Shipmates about the Puritans and American Lion, the new Andrew Jackson biography from Jon Meacham. Since I consider Andrew Jackson a good candidate for worst person (not necessarily worst president) to hold the office it'll be interesting to see if my opinion changes (I haven't done deep reading on Jackson since college; maybe I've mellowed since).

12-11-2008, 07:15 PM	#1
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	I'm about two thirds of the way through Cormac McCarthy's The Road. It's beautifully written, but I'm dreading each turn of the page. (To say that it is bleak is an understatement.)
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12-11-2008, 07:45 PM	#3
Andrew Making Good Girls Go Bad Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Palo Alto, CA Posts: 734	Princeps' Fury - book five of Jim Butcher's non-Dresden series, the Codex Alera. Liking it a lot so far. __________________ -- Andrew Just Andrew. Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I contradict myself. (I am large, I contain multitudes.) -- Walt Whitman, "Song of Myself"
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12-11-2008, 08:27 PM	#4
Eliza Hodgkins 1812 Sputnik Sweetheart Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,685	Swann's Way. I am reading it very, very slowly.
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12-11-2008, 11:07 PM	#5
JWBear Worn Romantic Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach California Posts: 8,435	Right now, I'm just trying to work my way through the ginormous stack of magazines I haven't gotten around to reading. __________________ Unrestrained frivolity will lead to the downfall of modern society.
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12-12-2008, 12:43 AM	#6
NickO'Time Missed it by that much.. Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 678	Roadie. By Jamie Smith, I hope that a few people that don't understand a bike racers life will pick this up. It's comical and surreal at the same time. Quick read for sure. Pretty much the reality of it all. __________________ Yeah, right.
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12-12-2008, 02:06 PM	#7
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	I've put down The Secular Conscience which, besides heading in a direction I didn't agree with, began arguing statements that weren't even accurate (what hell do you mean no one's been willing to take the position that zygotes aren't people?). But, still being inspired by recent board chatter to embrace my atheism, I've picked up The God Delusion. I am certainly the choir for this preacher so it's not really going to do much to make me think, but it's nice to see my own positions so well argued. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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12-12-2008, 02:12 PM	#8
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Actually, I still found it very thought provoking at several points. Unfortunately, if you are in that choir, it is repretitive because he takes the arguments in favor of god's existence on individually (because frequently the response to an argument against one god is responded to with "well, mine is different" even when it really isn't) and the response is generally the same with at most minor tweaking. But it put into succinct form many arguments I've made in the past and presses home the point that many "all things are possible" arguments miss in that while all things may be possible they are not all equally probable. Or that the existence of god just pushes back all of the same questions one layer.
	Submit to Quotes

12-12-2008, 02:14 PM	#9
Strangler Lewis Doing The Job Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In a state Posts: 3,956	Having embraced your atheism, of which I was unaware, are you still planning to ritually take a knife to your son's penis? __________________ Live now-pay later. Diner's Club!
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12-12-2008, 02:17 PM	#10
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	As for me, I've just given up on The Wettest County in the World. Sometimes you just know immediately that you're not going to get along with a writing style. I did this time and I don't think I made it 40 pages in. The reviews are generally positive so I'm going to take the blame for this failure. Started in its place both Sarah Vowell's The Wordy Shipmates about the Puritans and American Lion, the new Andrew Jackson biography from Jon Meacham. Since I consider Andrew Jackson a good candidate for worst person (not necessarily worst president) to hold the office it'll be interesting to see if my opinion changes (I haven't done deep reading on Jackson since college; maybe I've mellowed since).
	Submit to Quotes