[en] What books have you been reading lately?

[Dobber]

Not to be confused with the Favorite Books thread, this thread is to talk about what you have been reading lately, whether it be your favorite reading or just something interesting.


I just finished reading "Naked Empire" by Terry Goodkind. It is not a genre that I seek out to read, but I found the book at a Final Markdown discount store and thought it sounded interesting, and it turned out to be pretty good reading. It is of the fantasy genre with Wizards and Sorceror's/Sorceress's, magic and a fight between good and evil, stressing the idea that man has freewill and should have a choice to live life as he chooses and not be forced to live without the freedom of choice.

[catt]

I'm usually reading many books at once.

- Right now I am about to finish "Das zweite Königreich" ("The second kingdom") by Rebecca Gable. It's a historical novel about the Norman conquest. It's one of the books that I have read so often that I could just open it up anywhere and start reading (though I don't do that).

- I am also about to finish "Kaule" by Alfred Wellm. Kaule is the name of the main character. It's just a small book, I could read it in one day. Basically it's about a little boy who who tries to be a good boy but the adults always interpret everything he does wrong. It's one of the books that I've read since my childhood, so it's just good to pick it up once in a while.

- Then I'm about to finish "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov. I just saw the movie a little while ago and after that I really wanted to read the English original version (I only know the German translation). I found the book on e-bay and it's arrived one week ago.

- On and off I'm also reading "Himmelsbesn über weißen Hunden". Now, that tile is impossible to translate. "Himmelsbesen" ("sky's broom") is what sailors call the northwest wind because it's clearing the sky of clouds. "Weiße Hunde" ("white dogs") are big waves that are white from the foam. It's a book about sailors language and how it developed through the centuries. It's really fascinating because it's so picturesque. But I'm not reading it cover to cover, just some entries here and there (though some entries are 10 pages or longer).

- And then I just got a historical Atlas. I've been planning to buy one for over 2 years now, I found a cheap copy on Amazon and I could just spend the day opening random pages and reading.

The next books I was going to read where two historical novels: "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett and "Wir sind das Salz von Florenz" ("We are the salt of Florence") by Tilman Röhrig). The second one is about the Renaissance and the Medici in Florence. I really like that book, someday I'll get me more books from that author.
But that plan might be disturbed by Irving's "The Cider House Rules", which I also found on e-bay and it might arrive any day now. I just can't get past and Irving if I can get my hands on one...

Just got to love semester holidays. :biggrin: In one week I'll be back to scientific literature I guess... :wink:

[Traveller]

Last books I've been reading or am still reading:
- "Weaponry and armament from the Bulgarian Middle Ages (VII-IX c.)" by Valeri Yotov (archaeological reference book)
- "Danubian Bulgaria and Volga Bulgaria in the VII-XI c." by Georgi Vladimirov
- "Ancient Mysteries" by Peter James and Nick Torpe

Yeah, I guess I read only history stuff. But I don't have much time to read at all lately, so...

[Angryminer]

I'm not reading much lately except stuff for my studies.
But apart from that I'm reading:
- Robert Harris: Pompeji
Nothing exceptional. The kind of book you read when there's nothing good on TV.
- Benjamin v. Stuckrad-Barre: Soloalbum
It was recommended to me, and it's bad, really.
- Marquis de Sade: Justine
Recently finished reading it, I liked it.
- Daniel Kehlmann: Die Vermessung der Welt ("The measuring of the world")
I don't actively read it. It recieved great ciriticism and supposed to be a very interesting read, but it's shallow. I don think I'll continue reading it.

Angryminer

[Kuno of Gersenau]

I'm reading quite a lot at the moment because I have to read several books for my final exams at gymnasium (high school).

I lately read or am still reading:

- The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco. Great book, you probably know it.
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Nice book as well, sometimes a bit too fantastic for my taste.
- I started to read "Parzival" an 800 years old story by Wolfram von Eschenbach. But I actually stopped after some pages and went on to the next book...still have to read it.
- Romulus der Große (Romulus the Great) theater play by Friedrich Dürrenmatt. Very funny and entertaining story about the last emperor of rome who preferes to raise chicken than defending the empire...

and currenttly I'm reading Baudolino by Eco as well, can't say much about this yet...

Still on the "to read" list:

- Die Verwandlung (The Metamorphosis) by Franz Kafka
- Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse
- Jacob the Liar by Jurek Becker
- Faust I by Goethe

and 3 more in french...:nono:

[Elvain]

last non-study book I've red was perhaps Unbearabla Lightness of being by Milan Kundera... before that it was again Kundera, but his Immortality (my high recomendation) and Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse - I seem not to read bad books, they are all very ... ehm... enriching

several books I started reading, but have to wait to finnish them:
Salman Rushdie - Harun and Sea of tales (some kind of pseudo fairy tales, I love this writer)
Orhan Pamuk - Istanbul
Ibn Battuta - Voyages


and from time to time I as always open my most favourite Petit Poemes en Prose (Little Poems in Prose) by Charles Baudelaire

Unfortunately I had to return East of Paradise by Steinbeck which was also great (but if some of the books was weaker, it was this one). On my to read list is also Master and Markete by Mikhail Bulgakov... and The Castle by my favourite Franz Kafka

PS: has any of you red the latest book of Salman Rushdie?

[Carbon]

- Marquis de Sade: Justine
Recently finished reading it, I liked it.
Angryminer

Read the sequel?

[Largefry07]

The Bear and the Dragon: I just finished this Tom Clancy thriller. It's another novel in his Jack Ryan series. This one wasn't as good as the other I thought. But anyways the book is mainly about a shooting war with America and Russia against China.

1776: This David McCullogh book is a good one. I havn't finished it yet but he takes you through this epic year. He starts out with Washington taking command of the Boston seige and end with the Battle of Trenton (I think). I was really impressed on his research and how he presents it. I find it very unbyist and he gives the English and American points of view.

[binchen]

- Daniel Kehlmann: Die Vermessung der Welt ("The measuring of the world")
I don't actively read it. It recieved great ciriticism and supposed to be a very interesting read, but it's shallow. I don think I'll continue reading it.

Angryminer

I bought it for the sames reasons and finished reading it, but it's not really getting intresting.

For my studies, I'm reading "Sunset Song" by Lewis Grassic Gibbon. I'm still reading introduction an stuff, so I can't tell whether i like it or not.

The last book I finished is "Um Haaresbreite" ("Night Probe!") by Clive Cussler. "Im Todesnebel" (Pacific Vortex) and "Im Zeichen der Wikinger" ("Valhalla Rising") are next.

[catt]

I am currently reading:

- "The Cedar House Rules" by Irving

and

- "80 000 Miles & Cape Horn" by Bobby Schenk (about sailing, in German)

[thegrovechick]

I have way too many books in my College library. :biggrin:
I am currently reading Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoniette, by Sena Jeter Naslund (in English, of course).
and after I'm done reading that, I plan on finish Aristocrats by Stella Tillyard (also in English...though I say some of the German books people are reading here sound more interesting).

[Lord Hess Fortescue]

I'll start with Robert Jordan's "Wheel of time"/"Das Rad der Zeit" No. 15.
There are more than 30 books, so I have enough to do :cool:

[Elvain]

just several days ago I bought a new book.. it's not a story, but rather a philosophical discussion between 2 authors about future of religion. Very interesting. The title is:

The Future of Religion by Santiago Zabala (ed.)

[Traveller]

- "Weaponry and armament from the Bulgarian Middle Ages (VII-IX c.)" by Valeri Yotov (archaeological reference book)
- "Danubian Bulgaria and Volga Bulgaria in the VII-XI c." by Georgi Vladimirov
- "Ancient Mysteries" by Peter James and Nick Torpe
I finished those and am now on "History of Bulgaria for applicant students", although I'll probably soon move to Georgii Ostrogorski's "History of Byzantium". Gotta find that book about the history of Hungary I had set me eye upon some time ago...

[Elvain]

I finished those and am now on "History of Bulgaria for applicant students", although I'll probably soon move to Georgii Ostrogorski's "History of Byzantium". Gotta find that book about the history of Hungary I had set me eye upon some time ago...
hehe, don't you wat to read a book about diferent corner of world or at least europe than Bulgaria/Byzantine empire? :biggrin:
or something else than history of this region?

The world was and is full of interesting people who are not Bulgars, Bulgarians or "Byzantines" :lol:

[Traveller]

Well, the Byzantines are not Bulgarians and neither are the Magyars. :wink: Although I'd gladly read a book about the Germanics, especially before, during and after the Hunnic invasions - I love the "barbarian" times during the fall of the Empire. Sadly, though, I can't find any such book to arouse and satisfy my interest...

[Doux]

Currently, I just finished "Dwaallichten" [[en]Will o' the wisps,[la] ignes fatui ] by W. Elsschot. A nice read.. I'm reading the Bible and the Origin of Species, slowly - such a conflict on the bookshelf :smile:

Dwaallichten is a short story, a novel, about essentially not much, but the style of writing impells to read on. The theme of the book is different cultures. There are (hidden) religious references throughout the book.