Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?
This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.
Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Notes -
Didn't have time to do proper service to those books I read yet (surprisingly, the list is longer than I remembered), I decided in the meantime to do the list of fails - those books where I started reading, but got stuck and put them aside, either for a while or forever.
The Annihilation Score (Charles Stross, Laundry Files) - I used to enjoy Laundry Files series, but the quality has gone downhill, and by this one it became unbearable. Also the author himself is a completely un-sympathetic (to me) character, which I would be inclined to overlook if the work were good, but it isn't. To the discard pile it goes.
Use of weapons (Ian Banks) - I enjoyed Player of Games, but this one just didn't work for me. I feel nothing for it and it felt like wasting time. Undecided whether I want to continue with Banks in general (recommendations welcome) but likely done with this one.
Mercy of Gods (James SA Corey, of The Expanse fame). Actually an opposite reason - it's pretty good as a book, but way too dark for me right now. With all that's going on around me, I feel like I just can't stomach that much of physical and psychological torture, death and suffering. I am only a weak man. Maybe I'll return to it in happier times.
Unbearable lightness of being (Kundera, obviously) - this one is very famous and I totally don't get it. It's not bad, just, you know, meh, and I expected more. I set it aside and will return to it, probably, when I'm in more suitable mood for it or maybe just older.
A Tale of Two Cities (you know this one) - ever more famous and highly praised book than the former, true classic, same symptoms. I mean, I am not saying it out of contrarianism, I even actually like his style and wordsmithing abilities, but with some books (with much less technically capable writers too) it makes me care what happens and why, and this, for one reason or another, does not.
Burmese days (Orwell) - Orwell is most famous for the book everybody heard of, but he's a genuinely good writer overall (IMHO) and I enjoy his writing. But this one also was a bit too hopeless for me - I understand why one could write a book about "everything is shit and is going to shit" (especially when everybody else pretends it's actually going peachy) but reading it when everything had gone to shit, and goes to shit even deeper now, is taxing. I will likely return to it next year.
Barbarians at the Gate (Bryan Burrough and John Helyar) A very, very detailed book about how the big business is done, on the example of RJR Nabisco. Very interesting, but the amount of details is a bit overwhelming, so I had to take a break. Will likely finish it sometime next year.
More options
Context Copy link