mjmooney Posted February 13, 2016 VT Supporter Share Posted February 13, 2016 The Baroque Cycle (Quicksilver, The Confusion and The System of the World) is a sort of prequel to Cryptonomicon. It's long, it's dense, it's erudite. It manages to combine the origins of the modern banking system, the origins of calculus, Newton and Leibniz, the siege of Vienna, the exploration of the East Indies, barbary pirates, you name it. Sounds heavy going, but it isn't, it romps along. I've read most of Stephenson's books, and these three (plus Crypto) are easily my favourites. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V01 Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 I've read a few Stephenson books (seveneves, snow crash) keep meaning to read his others but I keep getting distracted by the next fantasy book on my fantasy list. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted February 13, 2016 VT Supporter Share Posted February 13, 2016 What I like about The Baroque Cycle is that it's 97% historical fiction, but with that all-important 3% twist of SF, where he deviates from authenticity, always with a sly and knowing wink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
useless Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 I've finished Jane Eyre, I found the overall story a bit boring but liked many aspects of Jane Eyre herself, and as the story is told through her recollection, I was able to enjoy the book. Now I've got more time for Ulysses which I!m starting to get into the rhythm of, although I might lose it again. Actually really want read 'In Search Of Lost Time' by Proust, having read the first few pages and really liked it, but not to sure if its wise to start that until I've finished Ulysses but then again if I wait I'll be waiting a long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh29 Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 26 minutes ago, useless said: I've finished Jane Eyre, I found the overall story a bit boring serves you right for trying to be all pretentious Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted February 26, 2016 VT Supporter Share Posted February 26, 2016 50 minutes ago, useless said: I've finished Jane Eyre, I found the overall story a bit boring but liked many aspects of Jane Eyre herself, and as the story is told through her recollection, I was able to enjoy the book. Now I've got more time for Ulysses which I!m starting to get into the rhythm of, although I might lose it again. Actually really want read 'In Search Of Lost Time' by Proust, having read the first few pages and really liked it, but not to sure if its wise to start that until I've finished Ulysses but then again if I wait I'll be waiting a long time. Finish Ulysses before you start Proust. And have a couple short easy reads as palate cleansers in between. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
useless Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 (edited) Jane Eyre has to be one of the least pretentious books you can read. Besides I'm allowed to be randompretentious, I admit I'm called useless and openly have a IQ of 79. Edited February 26, 2016 by useless I didn't write the word random its this stupid kindle fire thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
useless Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 (edited) Probably a good idea its not as if Ulysses is the only book I'm reading as it is. I'm starting to enjoy it now as well will probably get through it a bit faster. Edited February 26, 2016 by useless I'll probably read the Sherlock Holmes' stories in between. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarewsEyebrowDesigner Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Finished 'The Search Warrant' by Patrick Modiano. Very good. Does anyone know of a similar writer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Catch 22. For the third time, and the first time in at least ten years. It's still glorious. Just finished the chapter where the true scale of Milo's syndicate is first revealed. It's definitely one of the all time great novels. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MakemineVanilla Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 The Warden by Anthony Trollope A very nicely written, humorous, tale which works as a critique of the sort of representation of Victorian society Dickens is famous for. The sneering at the poor and the unapologetic claim to upper-class privilege are egregious. So definitely a piece of counter-propaganda and it is no surprise that Trollope is so beloved by grumpy old reactionaries and Tories. There are none of Dickens's grotesques and it is not the church or the warden who are the villains but the guy seeking reform. The book offers insights into modern concerns about the church, in that anything can be excused in the name of protecting the reputation of the business, and contemporary doubts about how much of a charity's income reaches those it is meant to benefit. In short, nothing has changed. Trollope is a fine writer and his neglect these days suggests that he might not have been excluded from the canon but he has definitely been marginalised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted March 26, 2016 VT Supporter Share Posted March 26, 2016 I find both Trollope and Dickens unreadable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFC_Hitz Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Rereading the Tin Drum. Utterly brilliant. So much vision and meaning. It's up there with Cryptonomicon and The Master and Margarita as my favourite book. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodders Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Great book. Also a rare example where the film adaptation is equally as.compelling. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFC_Hitz Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Don't think I've ever watched the film. Think I'll give it a go after the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted March 26, 2016 VT Supporter Share Posted March 26, 2016 40 minutes ago, AVFC_Hitz said: Rereading the Tin Drum. Utterly brilliant. So much vision and meaning. It's up there with Cryptonomicon and The Master and Margarita as my favourite book. Now you're talking. All three rank among my favourite novels of all time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted March 26, 2016 VT Supporter Share Posted March 26, 2016 On 13/02/2016 at 19:20, AVFC_Hitz said: Not yet but I've recently 'acquired ' 2000 books for my Kindle and all of Stephenson's works are in it. So I'll definitely be giving a go. Jesus i struggle to concentrate on a book when i have another couple waiting for me. 2000......Id give up reading! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MakemineVanilla Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 On 2/13/2016 at 20:17, mjmooney said: What I like about The Baroque Cycle is that it's 97% historical fiction, but with that all-important 3% twist of SF, where he deviates from authenticity, always with a sly and knowing wink. When I read Quicksilver I liked it a lot but was annoyed by the middle book (The King of the Vagabonds) which was written in the style of George MacDonald Fraser and all the good stuff about science was put on hold, while she released his yellow bile. Having Eliza and Jack meet Leibniz to create some kind of connection with Quicksilver, didn't lessen the disappointment. The book would have worked better without it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFC_Hitz Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Jesus i struggle to concentrate on a book when i have another couple waiting for me. 2000......Id give up reading! Yeah but it was a job lot so there's probably hundreds I won't even read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted March 27, 2016 VT Supporter Share Posted March 27, 2016 (edited) I wonder how many of those books you will start but not finish though? The sheer amount of choice would mean if any book which failed to keep up its pace for more than a few pages would be cast aside with me. It would be book suicide Edited March 27, 2016 by Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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