Author Topic: What are you reading? (The thread about what you are reading) (Read 26680 times)

Kavik · « **on:** Fri, 04 January 2019, 13:49:02 »

Since 461 days have passed since this thread (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=80900.0) was updated, I figured I'd start a new topic.

Last summer, I read the F@gles (GH won't let me spell his name without censoring....) translations of both The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer. Out of curiosity, I am currently reading the Wishbone adaptation of The Odyssey by Joanne Mattern since it is the version I read as a kid. It is a very simplified take on the story, and it leaves out a lot of details. It is an easy read, and it's ok for a recap of the story. I've been reading it before bed as a way to increase my sleep hygiene (instead of going to bed right after being on the computer or watching TV).

I've liked The Odyssey since I was a kid because of this book (and the Wishbone episode and videogame based on it) though I never appreciated it fully until I read an actual translation.

The Iliad was harder to understand and not as interesting. It had a good moral, but it took more analysis to grasp it, and the story relies more on other stories in Greek literature than does The Odyssey in my opinion.

I have a bunch of other Wishbone books that I never read, so I'm wondering if I should bother reading them now or just read the actual classics they are based on at this point in my life.

audiosl4ve · « **Reply #1 on:** Fri, 04 January 2019, 14:07:05 »

only thing i read before was mangas while going to work and back. Last few years i started reading Chinese web novels, Wuxia novels. It's like love at first sight. I love reading them and very much enjoy whole world and concept. Been reading them on Wuxiaworld and i very much recommend you all if you even want to start reading chinesee fantasy stuff you can start there. Most novels are translated on daily bases and list of novels is long and for everyone's tastes.

fohat.digs · « **Reply #2 on:** Fri, 04 January 2019, 14:22:59 »

One of the most frightening books that I have ever encountered.

Superb and must-reading for anybody who cares about the future of America.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30011020-democracy-in-chains

no, the other guy · « **Reply #3 on:** Thu, 10 January 2019, 06:13:24 »

Currently, mostly music magazines and a book to learn Japanese.

Tactile · « **Reply #4 on:** Thu, 10 January 2019, 08:27:39 »

Just finished this book about the North Korean seizure of a US spy ship in 1969:

And now back to some sci-fi. This is book two of the Fractured europe series - it's pretty good so far:

xtrafrood · « **Reply #5 on:** Thu, 10 January 2019, 16:41:49 »

Just recently finished the original Dune series (Dune-Chapterhouse). Now reading Hunters of Dune.

Lanrefni · « **Reply #6 on:** Thu, 10 January 2019, 17:33:43 »

Currently rereading The Malazan Book of the Fallen,just finished Gardens of the Moon,will most likely start Deadhouse Gates this weekend.

lovechan · « **Reply #7 on:** Fri, 11 January 2019, 21:14:44 »

まんが

Tactile · « **Reply #8 on:** Mon, 21 January 2019, 13:58:14 »

The third & last of the Fractured Europe series. Pretty good Sci Fi.

Maxyol · « **Reply #9 on:** Tue, 05 March 2019, 17:49:04 »

The firm by John Grisham

fohat.digs · « **Reply #10 on:** Sun, 17 March 2019, 10:53:37 »

Freedom from Fear

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/106317.Freedom_from_Fear

TheNamesTy45 · « **Reply #11 on:** Sun, 17 March 2019, 11:05:07 »

Working through The Witcher series. Currently almost done with Lady of the Lake.

enrique.aliaga · « **Reply #12 on:** Sun, 17 March 2019, 11:14:22 »

"Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution" by Mr. Steven Levy.

I'm almost done with it! Such a fantastic read for anyone into computers (I'm a software developer myself).

Tactile · « **Reply #13 on:** Sun, 17 March 2019, 11:40:03 »

Quote from: enrique.aliaga on Sun, 17 March 2019, 11:14:22

"Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution" by Mr. Steven Levy.

I'm almost done with it! Such a fantastic read for anyone into computers (I'm a software developer myself).

His writing style makes for an easy read. You'd probably also enjoy his book Crypto.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/984428.Crypto

Findecanor · « **Reply #14 on:** Sun, 17 March 2019, 12:24:02 »

I read mostly sci-fi and fantasy, which I buy mostly at flea markets .. and I buy everything that I can find. (except odd books in the middle of series)
The advantages of that is part the price, but also that I get a lot of things that I wouldn't have sought out otherwise.

Right now, I am in the middle of Anne Rice's "Pandora". A 2000-year old vampire tells her origin story: about how she had grown up and become a vampire during the Roman Empire.

xtrafrood · « **Reply #15 on:** Sun, 17 March 2019, 16:10:30 »

Almost done with Sandworms of Dune--there are some seriously ****ed up scenes in the books that follow Dune Messiah (just a friendly warning).

The language is not the same (I guess that's normal for 2K+ years and different authors), though it is neat to get some Butlerian Jihan backstory along with a continuation of Leto II's Golden Path.

mauri · « **Reply #16 on:** Mon, 18 March 2019, 15:06:30 »

Recently I've been obsessed with the Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss, I'm reading the second book now and really digging the series. Hopefully the next book is in the horizons.

I've got Cixin Liu's Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy's second and third book, first three books of John Scalzi's Old Man's War, Forever War by Joe Haldeman and some Brandon Sanderson on order.

Tons of stuff to read but I'm hoping to get started on Sanderson's "magnus opus" I suppose, The Stormlight Archive series when the next book drops.

Anguloce · « **Reply #17 on:** Mon, 18 March 2019, 15:18:37 »

I just picked up House of Leaves. Yes I am late to the show but a YouTuber I like called Night Mind is doing a whole thing on it and I want to know what is going on.

After that, I intend on diving into "The WoW Diary", a book I backed about how World of Warcraft came to be through development by a programmer at the time.

The massive library that is "The Expanse" novel series (the very same one the show is based on) is gathering dust but on my list to finish before Summer...

I'm set! I hope.

Tactile · « **Reply #18 on:** Fri, 29 March 2019, 09:31:42 »

UFOs! OOOOhhhhh!

phinix · « **Reply #19 on:** Sat, 30 March 2019, 19:30:20 »

Witcher - Time of Contempt.
I've been reading the whole series, only if I find time...

What are you reading? (The thread about what you are reading)

xtrafrood · « **Reply #20 on:** Sat, 30 March 2019, 19:37:33 »

The Wheel of Time series

TheNamesTy45 · « **Reply #21 on:** Tue, 02 April 2019, 20:53:55 »

Quote from: phinix on Sat, 30 March 2019, 19:30:20

Witcher - Time of Contempt.
I've been reading the whole series, only if I find time...

(Attachment Link)

Great series for sure. Just has been taking me forever to get through.

_rubik · « **Reply #22 on:** Wed, 03 April 2019, 21:51:07 »

Better late than never?

fohat.digs · « **Reply #23 on:** Thu, 04 April 2019, 08:46:57 »

Quote from: _rubik on Wed, 03 April 2019, 21:51:07

Better late than never?

I read that when it came out and was very moved by it.

I should consider a re-read now to see how it aged through multiple decades.

_rubik · « **Reply #24 on:** Fri, 05 April 2019, 19:45:08 »

It's surprising how much Gibson got right, even 30 years ago. It's also refreshing to see the origins of the cyberpunk aesthetic as we know it -- so many shows/movies today are just copying (Altered Carbon for one).

I'm moving onto Count Zero now and trying to finish the full Sprawl series soon-ish (tm)

tp4tissue · « **Reply #25 on:** Fri, 05 April 2019, 20:16:25 »

Quote from: _rubik on Fri, 05 April 2019, 19:45:08

It's surprising how much Gibson got right, even 30 years ago. It's also refreshing to see the origins of the cyberpunk aesthetic as we know it -- so many shows/movies today are just copying (Altered Carbon for one).

I'm moving onto Count Zero now and trying to finish the full Sprawl series soon-ish (tm)

Well, it's the lightbulb situation, independently invented by many people , and Eventually we begin to see iterative, and derivative designs.

SL89 · « **Reply #26 on:** Fri, 05 April 2019, 22:47:53 »

I have just started reading "The Color of Magic" by Terry Pratchett. It's been on my list for like a decade and now that I'm able to I'm jumping into Discworld.

DeTommie · « **Reply #27 on:** Mon, 08 April 2019, 02:37:33 »

Quote from: SL89 on Fri, 05 April 2019, 22:47:53

I have just started reading "The Color of Magic" by Terry Pratchett. It's been on my list for like a decade and now that I'm able to I'm jumping into Discworld.

Discworld is a very deep (but funny) hole. Good luck on not reading the following book(s)...

Carcharocles · « **Reply #28 on:** Mon, 08 April 2019, 22:03:59 »

Just started reading The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon a few days ago. Didn't get past the first paragraph before Life interruptis came for a visit. Still planning on reading it, I've heard great things about this one (it's a psychological thriller, not one of his wackier horror stories).

mauri · « **Reply #29 on:** Fri, 07 June 2019, 14:06:31 »

I'm halfway through The Lies of Locke Lamora. So far I've been really enjoying it, although somehow from the synopsis I expected a different, less gruesome story.

I really like how the book has been written, the back and forth between flashbacks and current events has been done many times but I thought it was really well executed. For example, if I were to compare it to Mark Lawrence's Red Sister, that I read recently, it's implemented in a much better and more fluid manner. I'm not much of a book critic but the dialogue in the book jumps as something that really tickles my fancy.

fohat.digs · « **Reply #30 on:** Fri, 07 June 2019, 14:48:32 »

Excellent

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11958983-eisenhower-in-war-and-peace

nelamvr6 · « **Reply #31 on:** Fri, 07 June 2019, 17:06:12 »

I'm currently re-reading Good Omens in anticipation of watching it on Amazon Prime.

Kavik · « **Reply #32 on:** Mon, 10 June 2019, 13:53:50 »

I've been reading China Marine, which is the sequel of sorts to With The Old Breed. It's not quite as interesting as the first book, but it's an easy read and it's interesting to read about a time in history not often mentioned, the occupation of China immediately after WWII.

Sintpinty · « **Reply #33 on:** Mon, 10 June 2019, 14:00:59 »

Am reading this thread

xtrafrood · « **Reply #34 on:** Mon, 10 June 2019, 14:17:30 »

Reading The Dragon Reborn (book #3) as of last night. I think I'm beyond the point of no return in The Wheel of Time series.

Sintpinty · « **Reply #35 on:** Thu, 13 June 2019, 05:12:51 »

I am reading "The C# Programming Language by Eric Lippert and various authors which i forget their name"

xtrafrood · « **Reply #36 on:** Thu, 13 June 2019, 08:10:03 »

We can talk about technical text book type books too? In that case I started reading Pro Git recently. I knew just enough version control to be dangerous--I'd like to be less dangerous.

JP · « **Reply #37 on:** Thu, 13 June 2019, 10:41:51 »

Quote from: Sintpinty on Thu, 13 June 2019, 05:12:51

I am reading "The C# Programming Language by Eric Lippert and various authors which i forget their name"

Live a real dev just google it

romevi · « **Reply #38 on:** Thu, 13 June 2019, 13:49:31 »

In no particular order:

Animorphs: The Encounter
Bible, NIV
A Game of Thrones (again)
Goosebumps: Say Cheese & Die!
Hamlet (No Fear Shakespeare)
An Introduction to Advanced Legal Research
Principles of Risk Management and Patient Safety
Star Wars: Dark Force Rising
Typography for Lawyers
Usagi Yojimbo Volume 28
War of the Spark: Ravnica

fohat.digs · « **Reply #39 on:** Mon, 24 October 2022, 08:51:32 »

Somebody should merge these 2 threads.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?action=post;topic=80900.0;last_msg=3140895

fohat.digs · « **Reply #40 on:** Thu, 08 June 2023, 09:30:26 »

An Immense World by Ed Yong is one of the most mesmerizing books that I have ever read. You owe it to yourself to read it.

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/59575939

marara1 · « **Reply #41 on:** Sat, 12 August 2023, 07:11:34 »

East of Eden. I learned alot about people and why they are motivated to do the crazy things they do.

I also learned that there are people who are just straight up rotten. Can't be fixed. I think it's chapter 3 where he describes Kate as a monster, comparing that some people are missing an arm or a leg. Kate it missing something in her mind which makes her evil.

kurplop · « **Reply #42 on:** Sat, 12 August 2023, 11:47:37 »

Quote from: marara1 on Sat, 12 August 2023, 07:11:34

East of Eden. I learned alot about people and why they are motivated to do the crazy things they do.

I also learned that there are people who are just straight up rotten. Can't be fixed. I think it's chapter 3 where he describes Kate as a monster, comparing that some people are missing an arm or a leg. Kate it missing something in her mind which makes her evil.

One of my favorites too.

noisyturtle · « **Reply #43 on:** Sun, 13 August 2023, 03:00:52 »

I think it might be The Little Prince.
It is nearly impossible to choose, but that book holds a very special and dear place in my heart.

HeadlessHorseman · « **Reply #44 on:** Sat, 16 September 2023, 03:17:15 »

Just started on the Bolivian diary, looking forward to it as well. For anyone who doesn’t know, it is the diary of che Guevara (one of the generals of the Argentinian revolution or something. I’m not too knowledgeable myself atm, I’m hoping to change that

mohawk1367 · « **Reply #45 on:** Mon, 18 September 2023, 07:17:29 »

I'm only reading it because my English class is making us do a book project and my school library didn't have anything interesting to me (I'm really not into books) but I wanted to look more into The Elder Scrolls lore, so I picked up The Elder Scrolls: The Infernal City by Greg Keyes. It's pretty interesting so far. Not anything that's completely blown me away but it's definitely a very good read if you just want to get more immersed in the universe of The Elder Scrolls like I did.

fohat.digs · « **Reply #46 on:** Mon, 18 September 2023, 07:45:08 »

Quote from: mohawk1367 on Mon, 18 September 2023, 07:17:29

(I'm really not into books)

This is a sad, but all too common, commentary on the modern world.

mohawk1367 · « **Reply #47 on:** Mon, 18 September 2023, 07:48:55 »

Quote from: fohat.digs on Mon, 18 September 2023, 07:45:08

Quote from: mohawk1367 on Mon, 18 September 2023, 07:17:29

(I'm really not into books)

This is a sad, but all too common, commentary on the modern world.

I guess? I've just never really cared, though I haven't read many books either. Maybe I just haven't read the right ones? I did enjoy reading The Great Gatsby a few years ago for school. I thought the details and stuff were awesome and it wasn't super corny and cliché like the other books they usually make us read.

Of course less people are reading these days, but I don't really see it as a negative. Maybe I'm just biased because I'm young and wasn't around when reading was more of a popular thing.

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Author Topic: What are you reading? (The thread about what you are reading) (Read 26680 times)