What are you reading right now?

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

I have just finished reading a couple Douglas Coupland books in the past week, Hey Nostradamus, as well as Girlfriend in a Coma. I don't know whether anyone has read either of these books, but I personally thought they were actually really good. I must say that I did enjoy the books just as light reading (in the way in which they read - not in their content).

I really don't know what to think of either of them though, for some reason they both left me craving more, but at the same time satisfied with everything that I had read. It is at the best of times an odd combination, but it seems to have worked very well for Coupland.

If I were to point out the aspects that I really didn't like it would have to be that the ending of Girlfriend seemed really quite forced, and to a certain extent hollow as a result. I can also see how some might consider it poorly structured, I for one think that the way in which it is written is done so in order to convey the message and the atmosphere of the book.

[JiriHrdina]

Excellent Max!

Coupland is my favourite author by far - have you read his other works? They are very good with the exception of perhaps All Familes Are Psychotic which I thought was weak. The rest are all great particularly Microserfs and Life After God (which isn't really a standard novel).

In fact right now I'm reading his latest novel "Elenor Rigby" and so far its very good.

Besides that...

Just finished a couple of participatory journalism books from George Plimpton - Open Net (where he tends the nets for the Bruins) and Out of My League where he pitches to MLB players. Both fantastic reads for sports fans.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

I haven't really read any of his other books, but I do own a couple more which I plan on finishing off in the next couple weeks. I also have Generation X, Miss Wyoming, and All Families are Psychotic.

Tonight I think I will go pick up Microserfs and Life After God on your suggestion.

Edit: I am also starting to read Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. It had good reviews, so I figured why not.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

"The Resturant at the End of the Universe", by Douglas Adams

I finished "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" last week and saw the movie two nights ago.

I'm enjoying the books more than the movie, only in the books you don't actually get to see Trillian

[Pagal4321]

I'm actually about to start Da Vinci Code....a little late I know but things at school have finally settled down a little bit.

[kn]

I just finished the Da Vinci Code. I don't know how that sold 25 million copies other than perhaps the "controversy" about the lineage of Jesus and the political maneuverings of the Roman Catholic Church. Maybe this was new to many but a much more thorough analysis on this topic is "Bloodline of the Holy Grail" by Laurence Gardner, which I am reading now.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally posted by Mean Mr. Mustard@May 28 2005, 02:20 PM
I haven't really read any of his other books, but I do own a couple more which I plan on finishing off in the next couple weeks. I also have Generation X, Miss Wyoming, and All Families are Psychotic.

Tonight I think I will go pick up Microserfs and Life After God on your suggestion.

Edit: I am also starting to read Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. It had good reviews, so I figured why not.

Well. I would leave both All Families and Miss Wyoming until last. They are far and away his weakest efforts. Read Microserfs, Life After God, Shampoo Planet, Gen X - they are better and deal with similar themes. Coupland seemed to struggle a bit after Girlfriend in a Coma, but returned to form with Nostradamus.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Thanks for the heads up mate. I am heading off to Chapters in a couple of hours and will likely pick the books up.

[FlamesAddiction]

I'm reading someone's thesis about riparian cottonwood recruitment. Woohoo!

I don't read a lot of fiction.

[CaptainCrunch]

The age of sacred terror by Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon

Who were the former director and senior director for Counterterrorism for the National Security Council

An interesting book on the terrorist motivation in attacking the United States.

[Cain]

I am reading the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov right now...about 4 books in I believe.

I love sci-fi (not the crap like starwars and halo/starcraft stuff...that shouldn't be anywhere near the sci-fi scection) but have never read one of its best known series. It is pretty decent...not amazing, but a fun read.

[moon]

I just finished the Hitchers Guide to the Galaxy. Loved the books, have yet to see the movie.

Am about to start Resurrection by Paul Kemp (last book in the War of the Spder Queen series.)

[Jagger]

Originally posted by Cain@May 28 2005, 02:29 PM
I love sci-fi (not the crap like starwars and halo/starcraft stuff...that shouldn't be anywhere near the sci-fi scection) but have never read one of its best known series. It is pretty decent...not amazing, but a fun read.

I'm a big fan of the Niven/Pournelle books like "Lucifer's Hammer", "Mote in God's eye" and "Footfall" I must have read those books at least six times each. Have you read any of them?

I was reading the latest Dean Koontz novel "The Taking" but it started to get way too weird for my liking right now so I've put it aside for a bit. Probably going to start the latest Douglas Preston novel "The Codex" for some light relief! I quite like the Preston/Child books so will give this one a go.

[evman150]

I don't read much fiction, right now I am reading Carl Sagan's "Cosmos". Just finished reading Timothy Ferris' "Galaxies".

[Jiggy_12]

Originally posted by Pagal4321@May 28 2005, 02:24 PM
I'm actually about to start Da Vinci Code....a little late I know but things at school have finally settled down a little bit.

Hey Pagal, have you read Angels and Demons? It's kind of the prequel to Da Vinci Code. I'm just finishing it up right now, and I have Da Vinci Code lined up next.

[kipperiggy]

I've just started reading "Life of Pi" which I've heard nothing but good things about. Can anyone here on CP tell me anything about it?

[snowdude]

I just finished reading a newspaper and i think it's time to start reading some textbooks from last sememster....if only i had bought them

What i'm actually reading is a pretty good book about the launch of the National Post and the newspaper war it began called Ego and Ink. It's pretty good, but then again i'm an econ student and love reading biz and econ focused books

[duncan]

just finished 'City of Bones' by Michael Connelly and 'Beach House' by James Patterson. Just started 'Secret Prey' by John Sandford

[octothorp]

Originally posted by kipperiggy@May 28 2005, 04:28 PM
I've just started reading "Life of Pi" which I've heard nothing but good things about. Can anyone here on CP tell me anything about it?

Well, if you've just started reading it, I'm not sure what you need to know about it. I guess the advice I'd offer is that even though the first third of the book is kinda philosophical and slow compared to the last two parts, it really is key to understanding the main point of the book, although it won't become evident in what way until you've finished the book--at least, as far as my own understanding of it.

edit: forgot to add my own current readings: two books, Ice Fields, by Edmontonian Thomas Wharton, and Popular Music From Vittula, by Swedish author Mikael Niemi. Both are great books, and somehow they really go well together.

[HOZ]

The Da Vinci Code:

Great book so far. Learned something from it too. I didn't know there was a difference (or in fact 2 paintings) between the Virgin of the Rocks and the Madonna of the Rocks.

Looked up the picture and lo and behold...DIFFERENT B-)

Haven't finished yet.