Okay, Thrash, I figured this would be appropriate since I felt like the conversation was deviating from the YouTube thread.

Yeah, I've been trying to read more since I believe my vision is fading (goddamned floaters!). As of current my reading list has fallen to picking up whatever the hell is interesting for the moment. I've been interested in the Hysterical Realism movement in American Lit. but there are only a few writers I know of: Pynchon, David Foster Wallace, Don Delillo.

A few books I've picked up as of late:

The Lincoln Nobody Knows by Richard Current

Griftopia:  A Story of Bankers, Politicians, and the Most Audacious Power Grab in American History by Matt Taibbi

Cosmopolis by Don DeLillo

Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton

Don't we already have a book thread?

Books I've read recently
The hobbit - tolkien
Good omens - pratchett / gaiman
the time machine - h g wells
the sleeper awakes - h g wells

Pretty much all just for book club (which for the record is hilarious, the last session I laughed till I cried).

I read two Bryce Courtenay books recently, Tommo & Hawk and Solomon's Song. They were excellent, as has been everything of Courtenay's that I've read.

I've also been reading the latest few Reacher books, which are really fun.

American Hardcore
Commando (Johnny Ramone autobiography)
Distrust That Particular Flavour - William Gibson

I dunno, fiction no longer does it for me.

How did I miss this thread that Justin was nice enough to start for me?
Damn, I feel like a dickhole now ...

Thanks for the thread, Justin ...

Dickhole...

How did I miss this thread that Justin was nice enough to start for me?
Damn, I feel like a dickhole now ...

Thanks for the thread, Justin ...

You're a really disappointing admin, dave. Really disappointing. . . . 

I saw a book in the mud and kicked it away, does that count?

No, it's that with my browser, it was always below the screen by the time I'd have gotten to it ...

I've heard of that Griftopia one a little while back ...
... I've been meaning to get it (for Kindle) and check it out
I'm always interested in scammers and how ingenious and balsey they are ...

No, it's that with my browser, it was always below the screen by the time I'd have gotten to it ...

Quick Tech Tip: Maybe you should minimize the porn window you are browsing in.

Good point ...

I just read trainspotting. It was surprisingly good; I tried to read it years ago but found the accent too difficult to read.

Also finally got round to reading a discworld novel! It was good, with a healthy amount of quantum mechanics in it.

It's an interesting movie, indeed ....
.... I've never read the book

What are the differences between them?

"Red Moon Rising"

About all the inside politics that lead to Sputnik.  It was quite interesting.

http://www.amazon.com/Red-Moon-Rising-Sputnik-Rivalries/dp/080508858X

and recently re-read "Moby Dick" for about the hundredth time.  It's my favorite book of all time..

and recently re-read "Moby Dick" for about the hundredth time.  It's my favorite book of all time..

I read MD a couple of years back. One of my favorites, but I'm more a fan of "Billy Budd".

Recent reading/reads:

A Game of Thrones by GRRM

Age of Greed: The Triumph of Finance and the Decline of America, 1970 to the Present by Jeff Madrick. I only trust this author because I read his articles in Harper's.

1066: The Age of Conquest by David Howarth

I want to read a game of thrones but it's so hard to get a copy of at my library! Unfortunately I'm too cheap to buy it.

It's an interesting movie, indeed ....
.... I've never read the book

What are the differences between them?

I've never watched the movie. I found it a bit confusing because it's written from the viewpoint of several different characters and it's not always clear whose viewpoint it is but it's so much fun reading the scottish accent. Though I imagine it's clearer in a sense with the book because you know the characters thought processes. (Specifically I'm thinking of when Franco punches and kicks his pregnant girlfriend so casually and in his head it is the most logical thing ever, in contrast with his violence as seen by anyone else.)

Actually, that would be a great point ...
The "additional inner dialog" of it, which I don't remember in the movie ...

I also don't remember a character called "Franco", but I would assume that was (Francis) Begbie.

I just read trainspotting. It was surprisingly good; I tried to read it years ago but found the accent too difficult to read.

Ditto, exactly. Maybe I should give it another try.

Also finally got round to reading a discworld novel! It was good, with a healthy amount of quantum mechanics in it.

Been meaning to try those since the A-S days.

1066: The Age of Conquest by David Howarth

Did they cover Stamford Bridge much, or did they gloss over that like most things seem to?

I've been reading a few David Lodge novels. He's witty, and the stories are entertaining and full of interesting bits of linguistics and theology.

1066: The Age of Conquest by David Howarth

Did they cover Stamford Bridge much, or did they gloss over that like most things seem to?

This isn't a big book, probably 125 pages thick. Howarth glossed over a lot of details, but analyzed most of the historical pageants that were ever written or drawn.

But, yeah, Howarth covers the last vague accounts of the battle between King Harold's forces and Harald Hardrada's at the bridge, ending in Harald's and Tostig's defeat. Nothing significant in the battle stood out to me other than Harald's death from an arrow in the neck and the multiple accounts of a lone viking holding off British troops at the bridge.

What I meant by glossed over was the fact that until I started doing a bit more reading, I'd never even heard of the battle of Stamford Bridge, and it seems like a fairly important point, considering the fact that Harold Godwinson's forces had to march north to face Harald Hardrada's Norwegian invasion, then straight back south to face the Normans. From what I've read, this was one of the deciding factors in William's victory.

I've also read some speculation that Harald and William had made an agreement to invade simultaneously and then split the newly conquered land between them, but William decided that by waiting and letting Harold face Harald first, he could more easily defeat Harold and then take the whole thing for himself. No idea if there's any truth to this, but it doesn't sound like it's beyond the realm of possibility.

Also finally got round to reading a discworld novel! It was good, with a healthy amount of quantum mechanics in it.

Been meaning to try those since the A-S days.

If you do, start with "The Colour Of Magic".

What I meant by glossed over was the fact that until I started doing a bit more reading, I'd never even heard of the battle of Stamford Bridge, and it seems like a fairly important point, considering the fact that Harold Godwinson's forces had to march north to face Harald Hardrada's Norwegian invasion, then straight back south to face the Normans. From what I've read, this was one of the deciding factors in William's victory.

Howarth seems to think so too. Even though Harold railroaded Hardrada's forces (because only 2/3 of Hardrada's army was at Stamford Bridge), Harold had to deal with reclaiming territory and settling conflicts in ravaged areas. Plus, Harold was probably upset that his own brother Tostig had joined forces with Harald and died at Stamford Bridge. While this was going on, Harold finds that William has invaded in the south.

Howarth says there's inconsistencies in the records back then making them unreliable. The Snorri saga and French monk records are both reliable, but both English and Norman versions of the events are riddled with holes, making them sometimes inaccurate.

I've also read some speculation that Harald and William had made an agreement to invade simultaneously and then split the newly conquered land between them, but William decided that by waiting and letting Harold face Harald first, he could more easily defeat Harold and then take the whole thing for himself. No idea if there's any truth to this, but it doesn't sound like it's beyond the realm of possibility.

Howarth supports that theory, but it's inconclusive, meaning that William was trying to set sail across the English Channel for a week. I think William was cunning enough to do it, but the records suggest he didn't.

A History of Britain Ep. 2 - Conquest

I see a problem with basing the events prior to 1066 completely on the Bayeux Tapestry. The tapestry was commissioned by Bishop Odo, William's half-brother, approximately around 1080. The tapestry portrays Harold as a dishonorable usurper, which might be contested, and Godwin as a manipulative schemer for the crown. The history was unclear about Harold's ascension since we have very little historical record coming from neutral sources at the time.

I fiiiiinally read the first LOTR book, again something I tried to read years and years ago but failed at. It was really easy to read and surprisingly captivating. I thought it would be too descriptive but that wasn't the case at all.

The other two books I've read recently are The Vagrants by Yiyun Li and Honour: A Novel by Elif Shafak. The first is about a woman being executed for her beliefs in communist China and the latter is about an honour killing. Both I'd recommend! They were both sad in the kind of way that sticks (to me at least) for days and days afterwards but in a good way. The latter in particular had some really amazing passages (and also several characters that really annoyed me).

I also don't remember a character called "Franco", but I would assume that was (Francis) Begbie.

Ditto, exactly. Maybe I should give it another try.

Yep, you're correct.

Yeah seriously do it, I think it was difficult before because I wasn't used to the Scottish accent, so trying to read and think in it was difficult too.

I've also read some speculation that Harald and William had made an agreement to invade simultaneously and then split the newly conquered land between them, but William decided that by waiting and letting Harold face Harald first, he could more easily defeat Harold and then take the whole thing for himself. No idea if there's any truth to this, but it doesn't sound like it's beyond the realm of possibility.

I find it hard to believe.

Big Brother by Lionel Shriver.


It's really good, it's another dysfunctional family. It feels a world apart from We need to talk about Kevin but I suppose in a way it's the same, just a different situation.