What books have you loved recently?

I read a lot but few books make it onto my loved list. Most recently it's been:

Wisdom of the Heart by Henry Miller. MIller is absolutely one of my favorite authors and I snatched this up in a used book store a couple of weeks ago and it was fantastic. Gorgeous prose as always.


Rough Stuff: Tales of Gay Men, Sex, and Power Edited by: Simon Sheppard & M. Christian. With a forward by Pat Califia . The hottest raunchiest gay porn ever. Hand in my pants my favorite collection.


In the Shadow of the Gargoyle edited by Nancy Kilpatrick and Thomas S. Roche. An excellent collection of short fiction. I've had it for awhile and only recently read it. Very good.

Plainclothes Naked by Jerry Stahl. I absolutely love Jerry Stahl (as an author and human being he's fucking cool) and this book was really good. Very funny and tragic without being cheesy or overwrought.


Diesel Fuel: Passionate Poetry by Pat Califia. I've loved Pat Califa's writing for years now and just reread this after finding it way in the back on my bookshelf. A gorgeous collection of poetry. I really love this book. Note to self get a new copy.

The Enchanter by Vladimir Nabokov. I read this particular translation of this book at least once a year. The language is so beautiful (vile subject matter notwithstanding) it's really one of my favorite books ever. That book makes me want to learn Russian so I can read it in the original language.

Currently I'm rereading-

An out of print collection of Ovid's love poetry. Another book I read a few times a year. My favorite antique smut.

If I can find my copy or buy another I want to reread High Risk: An Anthology of Forbidden Writings edited by Amy Scholder & Ira Silverberg. Solely for an essay by John Preston called: How Dare You Even Think These Things.

Or I might get back into some Cormac McCarthy or Don De Lillo. Although I've got some books on gender theory that are looking mighty tasty.

Yer turn.

I've been doing some research to get a better handle on what is what I see as ther neurosis of our society.

The Theory of The Leisure Class - Thorstein Veblen. Veblen writeis in the 19th Century but his words remain poignant. Specifically, he posits capitalism is driven more by a quest for distinction than conformity or "keeping up with the Joneses". His only weakness is he writes from what was still a very stratified society. It has been helpful but not sufficient to my query

A Nation of Rebels - Why Counterculture becomes Consumer Culture (also called The Rebel Sell) - Joseph Heath and Andrew Potter. This book introduced to Veblen. I highly recommend it. Instead of the distinction of class, the new one is "being cool". Again it posits that advertising follows the "needs" of consumers as much as creating them. It lays down the gauntlet to critiques of "mass society".

Beyond that, I've been testing the interlibrary loan system for their timeliness in obtaining ukrainian books. They can do so in under a month.

I wouldn't say any of the books I'm reading now are exciting. These are simply things I need to synthesize with my own observations.

Jackie T

I just not that long ago saw a copy of A Nation of Rebels but didn't pick it up. I'll keep m y eye out for that out it looks like something I'd be into.

reading eragon right now...it's alright

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Originally Posted by Nudemuse

I just not that long ago saw a copy of A Nation of Rebels but didn't pick it up. I'll keep m y eye out for that out it looks like something I'd be into.

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It's a great book. It is definitely a challenge to try to respond to some their arguments. I would recommend anyone read it.

Jackie T

to start wit hthe obvious - The Potter books. Seven was really good (though do kinda feel the cop out at the end, it wasn't bad) The saddest part is that there won't be a next book. *sad*

My all time favourite book, that I can't go anywhere without is The sins of Rachael Ellis by Philip Caveney. Definitly an 18+ read but sooo good. Lots of violence and yes there's magic and sex, but in such a matter of fact way that it isn't a "fantasy" story. Not the best book ever written, and that's comming from a writer, but its a damned good book nonehteless.


The Troy Game series by Sara Douglas - the part i love about these four books (that Rob can't stand) is that it's Historical Fiction-ish. Sarah takes liberties with well known historical events, but she does get her facts as close to correct as possible. really well written and a decent story about rebirth, reincarnation and, trust, love, betrayal, murder, power, lust, truces and putting your past behind you.


If you can guess from this that I don't read alot of non-fiction, you're right. If i wanted non- fiction, i'd read the newspaper.

~K

the last harry potter book. It was awesome; that and my usual comic books or manga.

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Originally Posted by keiko

to start wit hthe obvious - The Potter books. Seven was really good (though do kinda feel the cop out at the end, it wasn't bad) The saddest part is that there won't be a next book. *sad*

My all time favourite book, that I can't go anywhere without is The sins of Rachael Ellis by Philip Caveney. Definitly an 18+ read but sooo good. Lots of violence and yes there's magic and sex, but in such a matter of fact way that it isn't a "fantasy" story. Not the best book ever written, and that's comming from a writer, but its a damned good book nonehteless.


The Troy Game series by Sara Douglas - the part i love about these four books (that Rob can't stand) is that it's Historical Fiction-ish. Sarah takes liberties with well known historical events, but she does get her facts as close to correct as possible. really well written and a decent story about rebirth, reincarnation and, trust, love, betrayal, murder, power, lust, truces and putting your past behind you.


If you can guess from this that I don't read alot of non-fiction, you're right. If i wanted non- fiction, i'd read the newspaper.

~K

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I ve been reading a series of books by david gemmel and he does the same with his historical-ish slant he did a greek series Lion of macidon and dark prince, very good, and a Troy series 3 books so far firdt two really good im yet to lay my hands on the 3rd give it a whirl:thumb:

Currently reading wealth of nations, only regret is not reading it much sooner in life.

Chopper, by Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read.

the last book I read the I really liked was Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, bloody loved it.

i havent loved any books since my heart was broken by a mysterious and seductive young novel i met in Taiwan, all those lonely years ago... :( will i ever love again?

I found and reread my copy of High Risk and it was far better than I remember it. Some of the essays were very seriously things I needed to see right now.

I think I'm going to reread favorite books. Start with Selby and work my way back to non fiction.

i keep coming back to the books by Raymond E Feist, David & Leigh Eddings, and Anne McCaffrey. also i love this book that i cant find anywhere called Fallen Dragon by Peter Hamill or Hamilton or something.

I've just finished reading the latest part of a series called Fiends of the Eastern Front, a story based on a 44 page comic series from the 80's. The series was about the Second World War in which Vampires from Transylvania joined the armed forces to learn tactics for the next war, (the Blood War)
The original series ran in 2000AD and was one of my favourites. The latest part was called Fiends of the Rising Sun, and focuses on the Vampire Samurai and their involvement in the bombing of Pearl Harbour and other US bases in the Pacific. They haven't published the next parts yet, but they are hinting at the POW camps in Burma and what the Vampires did to POWs and the final part is hinted at Vampires being involved with the placement of the bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Looking forward to them.

"The Man Who Folded Himself, by David Gerrold - The best time travel book EVER.

I don't want to give anything away, but this book gives me renewed pause whenever I hear the phrase "Go fuck yourself". A definite must read for hardcore narcissists like me....

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Originally Posted by Black Spiral Dancer

I've just finished reading the latest part of a series called Fiends of the Eastern Front, a story based on a 44 page comic series from the 80's. The series was about the Second World War in which Vampires from Transylvania joined the armed forces to learn tactics for the next war, (the Blood War)
The original series ran in 2000AD and was one of my favourites. The latest part was called Fiends of the Rising Sun, and focuses on the Vampire Samurai and their involvement in the bombing of Pearl Harbour and other US bases in the Pacific. They haven't published the next parts yet, but they are hinting at the POW camps in Burma and what the Vampires did to POWs and the final part is hinted at Vampires being involved with the placement of the bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Looking forward to them.

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hey, that sounds feckin cool. the only comic i could ever really get into is the sandman series, which im addicted to. but i really like gaiman's work in every case ive found so far.

The last two books I read where
Michael Moorcock's: Moorcock's Book of Martyrs
and
Richard Harland's: Taken by Force