The Book Thread Book • Page 11

A family friend has been loaning me her graphic novels. I'd never read any before. They're nice quick reads and not overwhelming. I think they'll get me back into reading regularly cause now I'm getting the desire to read more. So many unfinished books.

 

Which graphic novels have you read? I use them as a bridge to get me into reading as well.

 

I read persepolis and am reading maus now. It's nice cause I really love reading memoirs and autobiographies but they can be a bit daunting to read sometimes just cause of length and time. The graphic novels are nice cause they have the same memoir/biography thing going on but they're easier reads that are less time consuming. I do hope to read the unfinished books I have tho. I need to make more time for reading!

 

two of my favorites! especially Persepolis. the author also wrote a short graphic novel about the sexuality of the women in her family that was crazy interesting.

 

I'm almost done reading Eat Pray Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert. I love books that are spiritual!

 

I just finished Maus and now I'm gonna be sad for a while!

 

I had no idea this existed but uh, holy shit. I might have to pick this up.

 

Do it! I haven't started yet but it's taunting me everyday on my shelf. I'll need someone to talk about it with

 

Has anyone read any of Gillian Flynn's novels? Im loving Sharp Objects so far.

 

I read Gone Girl. It was a fun read.

 

Junot Díaz - 'This Is How You Lose Her' has been phenomenal so far. Almost done.

 

I got one of his short stories free through iTunes forever ago and really enjoyed it, I'll check this out.

currently about half-way through A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers.

 

I've read all 3 and Sharp Objects and Dark Places I found to be better than Gone Girl (I hated the ending so much).

 

I wasn't a huge fan of that but agree that it was enjoyable. What are you enjoying most about it?

 

The way he kind of disguises the heavy attention to craft with colloquialism in his persona is really enjoyable to me. Like the lack of quotation marks throughout leads to some great shit like the "I miss him sometimes" line at the end of Nilda. Nilda's the one saying it, but since there's no quotation marks, you could read that in his narrator's voice as well, which I think brilliantly punctuates the story about a boy who misses his brother. I also love how that story ends: "I don't know where the fuck she went." I get this catharsis in how he swears there, like the voice throughout whole story is trying to find significance in why he's so focused on this woman's impact on his and his brother's lives and he kind of comes up short at the end.

I could talk for hours about it haha. Definitely not for everyone and I think he goes a bit overboard with his character's vulgarity at times, but I think they're perfectly crafted short stories otherwise.

 

I read Kitchens of the Great Midwest. Loved the style of writing and realism of the story...but a lot of the characters were too realistic. just really crappy people that you've probably known in real life.

 

I read this a few months back. The writing style and realism was great - I do agree that some of the characters were awful people but it's probably one of my favorites that I've read this year.

I finished The Flame Alphabet by Ben Marcus and was not a fan. I was very intrigued by the premise but thought the execution was terrible. It was so dense and kind of generally boring.

 

Haha well, I'm glad you really enjoyed it. I did not hate it I just felt like he was trying wayyyy too hard with the colloquialisms especially when he was throwing in random Spanish words but you're right about Nilda. I loved that whole plot line and the very realistic relationship between him and his brother. I do want to read another one of his books to truly get a feel because I know a lot of people who loved Oscar Wao.

 

I was not super impressed by either of his short story collections, but Oscar Wao is on a whole different level for me. The mythology, plot, and real history all these together something fierce. (Also was a super huge fan of all the nerdy references haha.)

 

Hahaha that definitely sounds way more my speed. I also happen to think This is How you Lose Her was just overall more male-centric which is totally cool but probably why I didn't resonate as heavily with it.

 

Gone Girl, of course, which ruled. I personally LOVED Dark Places but I know most people hated it.

 

Just finished reading Becoming Steve Jobs by Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli and I loved every minute of it. Perfect length and enlightening throughout, the book was entirely a fair characterization of Jobs as opposed to the asshole-genius everything else paints him to be. On top of that, I learned a ton about management, creativity, and productivity. If you are remotely interested in Apple or Steve Jobs, I recommend this wholeheartedly!

 

Currently reading I Wear the Black Hat by Klosterman, really enjoying it. I read fiction almost exclusively but would like to change that.

Anybody have any recommendations of non-fiction that tackle philosophy/culture with humor in a similar way? I know that's pretty vague and I think I'm gonna pick up some DFW collections but if anybody has other recommendations based on this incredible vague description, I'd love to hear em

 

Since I'm going to see Russel Brand live next month, I'm about to start My Booky Wook. Anyone read it?

 

Own it but haven't read either yet. Love his standup though.

I realize this is no help but wanted to share the love