Book Recs, continues

[urbpan]

Can anyone recommend for or against the following? (recommended by volunteers at my work)

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
The Life of Pi
The Kite Runner

Apart from my bias against fiction, I also have a seething distrust of the Best-Sellers list.

EDIT: And what about "The Future of Life," by E.O. Wilson? He comes highly recommended around here, but I found "Biodiversity" unreadable.

Comments

[vampyrusgirl.livejournal.com]

Have life of pi at home, but haven't read it yet. Keep skimming the dog one in the bookstore but haven't bought it yet. So no. I'm useless.

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

I bought Life of Pi for Bec (I told you) but ... um ... I guess you'll be gone by the time she comes back?

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

omg...here's a couple if you'd like to spend some time stabbing yourself in the face:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060746874/qid=1122655837/br=1-2/ref=br_lf_b_2//103-2383052-8490225?v=glance&s=books&n=290063
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1578051096/qid=1122655910/br=1-5/ref=br_lf_b_5//103-2383052-8490225?v=glance&s=books&n=290063

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

I'm already bringing 1984.

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

That's *fiction* honey (not a handbook as some people seem to think).

[belen1974.livejournal.com]

and um sweethearts i have 1984.

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you'll bring it back! Right?

[izzy23.livejournal.com]

Life of Pi is a brutal but riveting read. The brutality sneaks up on you and jumps you after chapters and chapters of humor and thoughtfulness and fancy and general Deep Pondering on the Nature of Things, making it pack a serious emotional whallop. It was one of those books that I wanted to lend to everyone I knew after reading it, so I'd have somebody to discuss it with, but ended up not, for the most part, because it just would have been too tough for some folks. For you, I'd recommend it.

Curious Incident is on my "to read" list, but I've got quite a stack, so it'll be a while. I've never gotten through anything longer than article-length by Wilson, but consider it a sort of a personal failing that I will struggle to overcome (one of these days).

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

Bec started life of pi but found it 'too confusing.'

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Sounds interesting. The subject matter is such that I feel like can't not read it.

Life of Pi

[frith]

I scuttled Life of Pi half way through. The writing was ok (not riveting), but I couldn't stand the invented "zoo anecdotes". I didn't want to fall into the trap of confusing Pi fiction with fact experienced by colleagues. I also never got past the first chapter in The Sea Around Us because it was so out of date.

kite runner

[belen1974.livejournal.com]

a friend at work was reading "kite runner." i think she really liked it but said it was sad. so not sure if you might be in the mood for sad.

Re: kite runner

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was recommended to me by a volunteer who (I think) enjoys wallowing in how bad things are for various people around the world.

[shellizzle.livejournal.com]

+ Life of Pi!

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

? Is that an endorsement? Do you agree with izzy23, above.

[badnoodles.livejournal.com]

It took me about two hours to get through Dog..., but I didn't actually care for it that much. Instead of sticking with what could have been an interesting mystery, or an interesting way of thinking, it wandered off into a lot of touchy-feely emotional shit that just soured me on the novel.

books, books, books

[brush-rat.livejournal.com]

Did I ever send you a copy of the Second City book with the CDs? It's too big to take with you, but I had another spare I had meant to get to folks I thought would enjoy them (I bought several at once and I can't remember who I gave them all to.)

[(Anonymous)]

I read Curious Incident and found it a mostly pleasant experience that didn't stay with me at all, so I'd say "meh". Have heard only good things about Life of Pi, and love the cover. :)

When do you leave again?

B

[artemii.livejournal.com]

i found the future of life actually readable (unlike any other e.o. book i've ever tried), and though he continues his obsession of treating humans like they're analogous to ants, it's not as foregrorund nor as noticeable as usual. i know many people for whom that's his only book they've actually finished.

[wakarusa.livejournal.com]

sadly, I find EO largely unreadable. couldn't finish Biodiversity either.

have you ever tried any Sandra Steingraber?