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What are you reading Chapter 4

#2,341
Just finished this one:

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Not sure how I missed this over the years, but we all have blind spots, I guess. I stumbled across a reference to it a while back, and got a copy to put on the "to be read" shelf. The cover above is from the author's most recent (and according to the introduction, "definitive") revision.

In the genre of supernatural fantasy, it's considered a classic, and now I can easily see why. Marvelously warm and deceptively understated, with some descriptive turns of phrase on par with F. Scott Fitzgerald. Absolutely brilliant.

This just became a new personal favorite.

:thumbsup:
 
#2,344
Just finished this one:

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Quirky, interesting, and fun. A bit heavy in terms of the historical basis for some of the story's background, but then, given what's still going on in parts of the world now, it's all the more timely.

Recommended. :thumbsup:
 
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#2,345
And now, this one:

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Missing-person mystery set in a near-future dystopian surveillance state. How does a person go missing, when the law requires everybody to have always-on surveillance implants in their eyeballs? o_O

Relatively light fare, but entertaining. :thumbsup:
 
#2,346
Another new favorite! :hyper:


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For those with an interest in, and familiarity with, Japanese folklore and traditional ghost stories, this is a joy to read. (For those unfamiliar, don't worry; There's a section in the back that summarizes the key points of the relevant legends, so you won't be lost.) This is a collection of interwoven stories that have the old tales, creatures, and characters still roaming the modern world, and working their special brand of magic. It's a work of subtle, understated genius that sneaks up on you, and makes you want to live in the world where it's all real.

Since this is translated form the original Japanese, I'll also note that the translation is thorough, knowing, and skillful enough that all of the Japanese social cues and sense of humor carry all the way through. Huge credit is due for the excellent work done on that as well.

Recommended most highly! :thumbsup:
 
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#2,347
Just finished The Kalevala - it's Finland's national poetic/mythic epic. Quite a different style of mythology than I expected. I had assumed it would be more akin to Norse or Germanic myth since the Vikings were in the same places, but it was completely different. A few main recurring characters, but mostly it's a long story arc of the major gods, with random creations of various parts of the world interspersed, and plenty of cultural mores etc. sprinkled in. Good read if you enjoy that sort of stuff. Next, I'll read Tolkien's take on a portion of The Kalevala - his part is called The Story Of Kullervo. I had assumed Kullervo would figure as a larger character in the originals, but he really doesn't last long in the story. But you can definitely see his influence on Tolkien's writings in his 1st Age stories. I'll be intrigued to see his take on the Kullervo character and the associated essays he wrote on the topic when I start reading that soon. May take a quick break tomorrow and watch a movie instead of reading.
 
#2,352


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​
Lecture 1: Our Only Home
In dictionaries, definitions of home are various. It is both 'a place of origin,
a starting position' and 'a goal or destination.

Published: 20 Nov 2011 …

Duration: 53 minutes 56 seconds


Lecture 2: A Home on Bland Street
The idea of home is bigger than the floorplan of any given four walls or the
mass of any roof line. It cannot be compassed by rote recitations of suburb
or postcode, nation or state.

Published: 27 Nov 2011 …

Duration: 35 minutes 11 seconds


Lecture 3: At Home in the World
If one definition of the word 'home' is a goal or objective, then I have to be
clear that becoming the kind of journalist who covered war was never my
goal or intention.

Published: 4 Dec 2011 …

Duration: 36 minutes 41 seconds


Lecture 4: A Home in Fiction
It is my great good luck that the words I use are English words, which means
I live in a very old nation of open borders; a rich, deep, multi-layered,
promiscuous universe, infused with Latin, German, French, Greek, Arabic
and countless other…

Published: 11 Dec 2011 …

Duration: 35 minutes 17 seconds
​
 
#2,354
Just finished this:

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The first half was really good and a fun read, but about halfway through it takes a hard right into melancholy, dry, repetitive philosophical lecturing. Especially the second to last chapter covering free will and determinism. Totally knocked the wind out of the sails on what started as a thought-provoking look on how chaos theory and interconnectivity affects the world around us.

3.5/5
 
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