What was the last book you read ?

[2NaFish]

Katherine Burdekin - Swastika Night

Amazing premise for a book,

do tell.

i finally read the god delusion. i now need to forget; i'd hate to be caught using any of his arguments as this would allow others to class me as one of his followers. preaching to converted for the most part.

also read another jeeves book which leaves with just two more then i've done the lot. this makes me a sad panda.

[nemo]

do tell.

I guess to some it might just come off as another of those 'what if the Nazi's had won?' books, but she actually wrote it between 1933 and 1935 and it was published in '37.  It's imagining a world split into 2 constantly warring continents who emerged as the victors from a 2nd world war (the German Empire and the Japanese Empire) 600 years into the future, with 600 years of the Nazi cult of masculinity behind them, the effect this has on gender roles, etc.  Hitler's been deified in it, and people believe he was born by exploding out of the head of the creator (which is a nice allusion to who his father would be if you know your Paradise Lost, I guess.)  From there it's basically much the same plot as 1984, (complete with doublespeak, the women and christians in the role of the proles, the aforementioned warring continents, systematic breeding, etc) but with more of a focus on feminism and the dangers of objectifying the female and Hitler's plans for women to stay at home, and of constantly promoting masculinity and the desire to fight.

I always thought Orwell had done a serious rip off of Zamyatin's 'We' in 1984, but I think he's actually taken more stuff from this.  It's fabulous if you can get over the way it's written.

[2NaFish]

so its a "what if the nazis had won" book then? chortle chortle.

[LostInTheGarden]

I just read Dennis Lehane's The Given Day. A tale about early 1900's boston. A very Dark and detailed look at the seedy underbelly, and gang affiliations of the day, contrasted with the law enforcement and their families, and the upper class citizens' lifestyles. very recommended for anyone who likes  historical fiction, or reading about murder, drugs, crime and love stories. It really is a great book for anyone who enjoys reading

[Another Girl]

Any Haruki Murakami fans?

[nemo]

Any Haruki Murakami fans?

Some of his stuff, yes, others, no.

A Wild Sheep Chase, Hard Boiled Wonderland, The Wind Up Bird Chronicle, Norwegian Wood and his short story collections I loved.  After Dark was pretty good too, the only one of his recent books I enjoyed. 

On the other hand, I didn't get on with Dance Dance Dance, Kafka On The Shore, Sputnik Sweetheart and South of the Border/West of the Sun

I'm looking forward to an English or French translation of 1Q84, but I don't think we're getting one until next year some time.

[Another Girl]

Wow, first time I get a coherent answer to this question on a msg board.

I haven't read as many books as you have, but I agree that some of them are good and others not that good. First book I read was Norwegian Wood, and I loved it. Then I was a bit disappointed with Kafka On The Shore. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle was a bit better though.

I'm going to start his short stories as soon as I finish the book I'm currently reading.

[2NaFish]

been reading yet more 'jeeves' books. only two more to go and then they're all finished. which means i can read them all again. yay.

[nemo]

been reading yet more 'jeeves' books. only two more to go and then they're all finished. which means i can read them all again. yay.

I just started Hot Water by Woodhouse, not one of the Jeeves books, but a tail of intrigue and jewelery theft on the French Riviera.  So far he's on his usual sparkling form.

Wow, first time I get a coherent answer to this question on a msg board.

I haven't read as many books as you have, but I agree that some of them are good and others not that good. First book I read was Norwegian Wood, and I loved it. Then I was a bit disappointed with Kafka On The Shore. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle was a bit better though.

I'm going to start his short stories as soon as I finish the book I'm currently reading.

Ah, Murakami was one of my literary heroes through later high school and university.  Even though i'm not a huge fan of his later works, I still snap up anything and everything with his name on it.

From his short stories, After the Quake is great (but it's like 6 mini novellas rather than real short stories), Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman is possibly the best collection of shorts I've ever read, The Elephant Vanishes is ok.  I think it suffers pretty badly from a not very good translation because it seems like the ideas for some great stories are there.

Oh, and read Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World.  It's stunning.  The ending left me emotionally paralysed for about 3 days.  I couldn't actually move on with my life for a while until I managed to come to terms with the ending.

[2NaFish]

I just started Hot Water by Woodhouse, not one of the Jeeves books, but a tail of intrigue and jewelery theft on the French Riviera.  So far he's on his usual sparkling form.

2Na shimmered into the room like a, well, thing known for shimmering.
"I believe it is 'Wodehouse', sir."

[Another Girl]

From his short stories, After the Quake is great (but it's like 6 mini novellas rather than real short stories), Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman is possibly the best collection of shorts I've ever read, The Elephant Vanishes is ok.  I think it suffers pretty badly from a not very good translation because it seems like the ideas for some great stories are there.

I'm going to start with Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman. And thank you, I really appreciate your recommendations.

[karlossacanell]

A brief history of time

[jedc53]

I have read many books.I am reading On Writing by Stephen King and the last book I read was Animal Farm by George Orwell.I read also Nation of Sheep,by Andrew Napolitano.I would recommend it to anyone, especially people who think the government still operates according to Constitutional principles.

[2NaFish]

couple of books by prof. bart ehrman on the roots of christianity. all very interesting, some of the best stories in the bible couldnt be from before the 9th century.