He won't shut up about Vampires now. He accused me of being one about 6 times yesterday
He won't shut up about Vampires now. He accused me of being one about 6 times yesterday
I'm making some garlic bread with the spaghetti tonight.
Just because.
I'm in the midst of reading 'Think' by Simon Blackburn.
Has anyone ever read this before? It is suggested, via it's subtitle, as "A compelling introduction to philosophy". I am a bit of a beginner in the ideas of the subject of Philosophy. It is my attempt to become a more knowledgable person, or potentially, a way to further illuminate my stupidity.
I'm having an extremely tough time actually understanding anything that is being said it in. I am having to re-read every single sentence, trying to grasp any extract of meaning. I still sort of have no idea what this book is really trying to tell me 35 pages in...
I started and never finished GoT on my kindle. I started 1984 but cba to finish. And I still have yet to finish Death By Black Hole. I need to read more often
Might be Blackburn's style. He's known for a quirky writing style that's less accessible than his ideas are. Might be handy to stop every once in a while and do a little research on things you've never heard of, b/c while it's an "introduction" to philosophy, it still kind of assumes some things it probably shouldn't. The terminology's not always de-jargoned, and the philosophers he mentions have backgrounds and contexts and whatnot that you should know before studying what they said and such.Originally Posted by Leigh
Keep at it, though. The struggle is your brain being stretched and reorganized. If you want to grow, expect growing pains.
I enjoy reading the works of Philip Yancy which includes, "Disappointment with God" and "Where is God when it hurts?" Truly remarkable and will make you realize a lot of things about faith. It does not promote a certain religion though which I greatly appreciate.
"The String of Pearls" by... I'm still not sure. I believe it's the first story to introduce the character of Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. It was an old serial for a paper back in the mid-1800s, and I think it had a couple writers overseen by an editor. Or something like that. I could be completely wrong and it was written by the editor.
Anyway, as I said it's the first Sweeney Todd story. It's a tough read, and I've only read it once. I didn't care for it the first time because the story really isn't about Sweeney Todd so much as the romance between Johanna and Mark. The musical that most people are familiar with has almost nothing to do with the original story. So ignore the story of revenge and the sympathetic Todd. In the original, Todd is just a villian. He's standard fair, but still a fun and dangerous character to read. And he did become popular in England for a reason! The chapters that focus on him are my favourites. Ms. Lovett doesn't appear very often, and the cannibalism is only alluded to every now and then. The story really isn't about the meat pies at all. There is also an interesting detour with Tobias and his unfortunate turn of events around the middle. I'm looking forward to revisiting those pages. But it's the whole titular string of pearls and romance plot that actually does nothing for me. It drags somewhat and I don't particularly care for how those characters are written. Oh well, it might grow on me this second time around. I'm only on chapter two, after all.
"It" by Stephen King.
I'm on Beverly's second chapter where she is heading back to Derry.
It's pretty good.
I've read "The Shining" and the first half or so of "The Stand." The former was great and the latter was pretty good too but it was so long and i kinda got distracted along the way.
The Stand and It are generally agreed to be his best books it seems.
Just finished Gardens of the Moon by Stephen Erikson, first in The Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Absolutely beautiful, rich, complex and just brilliant. And I had read many warnings that it would be a hard slog, but to stick with it because the rest of the series gets good. Well if things only get better then I am prepared for my socks to be blown in the general direction of off. Any of you lot read these books? No spoilers or fire and death.
Just finished up Fall of Hyperion which I read immediately after Hyperion. I have Endymion now and plan to start it once I catch up on the last few weeks of comics I haven't read yet.
Currently reading Neil Gaiman's "Trigger Warning", in what little free time I have. Luckily, it's a book of short stories, so I can read it bit by bit, without worrying that I'm forgetting something.
Formerly: Autumn Rain
Still on String of Pearls. Almost halfway through. There are moments where you can really tell it's a product of its times (1850s). Some of the comments, even the compliments, are somewhat sexist. Other than that, it's a pretty solid mystery for an oldie. I'm enjoying the story more this time around. I'm sure it helps that I know what to expect. When I first read the book, I was thinking it would be more like a horror story because it's Sweeney Todd, a classic villain. It is part horror, but it's mostly acting as a mystery novel with the characters trying to solve the mystery of two missing sailors. I think the heavy mystery parts really threw me off the first time reading.
I'm reading Earth Afire buy Orson Scott Card. Great book!
So this is love and See you space cowboy were made for me.
Have you read Gaiman's Fragile Things, another book of short stories? I haven't enjoyed his short works as much as I'd like, but maybe I'm just spoiled by his longer works. I've got an enormous backlog to read, but I'd like to give mini-Gaiman another shot.
Ugh. I can't find Hyperion anywhere except for big name bookstores.
Blagh,
zCurrently reading Wicked.
<PaperStar> live fast, die young, bad plefs do it well
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