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What was the last book you read?

Why Men Don't Have a Clue & Why Women Always Need More Shoes by Barbara and Allan Pease .. lol funny book
 
violet_may said:
^
This is the first Rushdie book that I have read (well, almost). Being a Science student, I was quite glad I would never have to take English again in University. And then I decided to take a course from the English department last year, and I was hooked. Wish I had explored more subjects earlier on but a Minor in English will have to suffice I guess. Good luck on your thesis by the way.

This is interesting. Whippy, how are you finding the book? Since you are not from India, I would like to know how you are interpreting the book. What I find is that a lot of Western folks tend to homogenize post-colonial authors by approaching the novel with a mindset that the book is a national allegory of some sort (but I do think Saleem's disintegration represents disintegration of the nation)

There are a lot of references to Hindu epics, various religious customs of different people, and 'physical' India; so, I wonder how easy this was for you to understand. Even I had some trouble with some of the references.

Fantastic book so far and surprisingly, it resonated with me right from the start. I am reminded of Barthes' 'The Death of the Author' even more when reading Midnight's Children :))

Probably the first book I have read which mixes post-colonialism and post-modernism and more refreshingly, while it deals with the 'clash' between tradition and modernity, it doesn't attempt to reach a conclusive remark. Meaning, it never conclusively says which one is better but rather, the book keeps on exploring and probing; questioning the idea that everyone lives in the same now and questioning 'progress' & 'reasoning' (a tool for colonialism most would say).

It's really hard to wrap my head around post-modernism literature sometimes but I find that the sentiments that arise from postmodernism; this book captures it to quite a great extent and for me, through it's projection of language, culture, history and identity, I guess it reflects my own hesitance towards the idea of an objective truth, and furthermore, the way I see it, it reflects the acceptance for multiplicity, or acknowledging that perhaps there is no one version of anything; like when it comes to literary text, history, reality, etc.
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Thanks for the reply and the good wishes.

I'm not actually studying Midnight's Children, largely because it is indeed difficult to fully comprehend for a Westerner. Shame is wrapped up in accessible Indo-Pakistani history thus slightly easier to get the head round. Both fantastic books that, as you say, give magical realism a postmodern edge it arguably did not possess beforehand.

Put aside the controversy and pre-conception for a moment - for me, he is a genuinely great writer because he changed the face of the literary landscape. The twentieth century saw the birth of many a fine writer, but Rushdie is a cut above, a bastion of innovation and influence, the sort that will be talked of long after his death. The Booker of Bookers was more than an award for writing a novel - it remains a statement of admiration and acknowledgement from the industry, for sheer impact as much as anything else.

With regards to the thesis, my interest lies with the Satanic Verses and his subsequent fiction. The reaction to the Verses has been over-storied already, but a relatively untapped idea is how Rushdie's narrative strategy changed afterwards. India was still a set and setting for him, but he became more focused on characterisation and inner monologue, in a bid to represent the difficulties that artistic and creative figures face. He of course is a prime example of a misunderstood/disgraced writer (depending on your opinion) that has a dilemma in how he communicates with his audience. He used novels such as Haroun and the Sea of Stories, The Moor's Last Sigh and Fury as both shield and sword in a bid to have his artistic licence respected.

The most interesting thing between us here is our mutual recognition of Barthes and the Death of the Author. Rushdie's novels are a summation of his background and experiences, and all part of a bigger picture - they are not original pieces of flourish and gay abandon, no matter how rich the language within can be.
 
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AbdulrazzaqFan said:
I just saw this. I liked the book because some of its philosophies resonate with Islam. The idea of the ONE according to Coelho perfectly fits with the idea of an omnipotent and all-knowing god. Moreover, he suggests that the attributes of god and his signs are so numerous that they should be intuitive to anyone. In other words, he seems to be saying that by not paying attention to the signs human beings are denying their fitrah by being oblivious to god. Furthermore, Coehlo’s description of the Sheppard’s life is very similar to what I’ve heard in a lecture by Shaykh Muhammad alShareef in describing Rasool Allah saw. According to a hadith, all prophets were once Sheppard & their lifestyle helped them ponder god as well as become patient in dealing with people. This is why I thought the book was inspiring since I was able to make similarities with some of the Islamic text with the book. However, the mystical stuff near the end of the book was just super imaginary and shirki as per Muslim POV, nonetheless, it was still very deep and interesting to read.

On a side note, I doubt a Harry Potter fan would actually enjoy a dry book like that though. No offense :P
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My dislike for the book has nothing to do with it being "dry."

I understand the connection you made with Islam as I also appreciated those aspects of the novel. However, the novel as a whole just fell short. The story had potential, but the author kept it at a very elementary level. The novel is just full of one cliche after another. Not to mention, Coelho's "original" story line is extremely similar to a story from One Thousand and One Nights as well as an old European folktale.

Was the novel interesting? Yes, it was. Was it overrated? Yes, easily the most overrated book I have ever read. It boggles my mind that so many people found this book to be life changing.
 
hokie said:
My dislike for the book has nothing to do with it being "dry."

I understand the connection you made with Islam as I also appreciated those aspects of the novel. However, the novel as a whole just fell short. The story had potential, but the author kept it at a very elementary level. The novel is just full of one cliche after another. Not to mention, Coelho's "original" story line is extremely similar to a story from One Thousand and One Nights as well as an old European folktale.

Was the novel interesting? Yes, it was. Was it overrated? Yes, easily the most overrated book I have ever read. It boggles my mind that so many people found this book to be life changing.
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Ever read the Twilight series?

Now that's overrated. :yk

Good to see an HP fan, the best series of all time. All time. :D
 
^
KU, don't even get me started on the Twilight series! I loathe Stephenie Meyer for what she has done to vampires. :pissed:
 
I am currently reading Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave written by Himself.
 
RWAC said:
I would say The Kite Runner was miles better than A Thousand Splendid Sons. I was disappointed by this book.
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I simply love Khaled Hosseini's writing style. With both books I felt as if I was right there, breathing in Afghani culture and sharing the joys and burdens of all the character's in both books.

Initially I also felt that the Kite Runner was better but after finishing it, I found it to be more emotionally moving (esp the ending where Laila read's the letter Mariam's dad had written to her).

As soon as I finished the book, first thing I did was call my mom and dad and told them both how much I love and appreciate them for everything they have ever done for me.
 
justarslan said:
I am currently reading Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave written by Himself.
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Read that last year. Still have it lying around somewhere on my desk.

He does a terrifc job of explaining the pain and torment slavery caused as he grew up.
 
I just finished A Case OF Exploding Mangoes

200px-Case_of_Exploding_Mangoes.jpg


The central theme of the book is a fictitious story behind the real life plane crash which killed General Zia, president of Pakistan from 1977 to 1988, about which there are many conspiracy theories. After witnessing a tank parade in Bahawalpur, Zia left the small Punjabi town in the C-130 Hercules aircraft designated 'Pak One'.

Shortly after a smooth take-off, the control tower loses contact with the aircraft. Witnesses who saw the plane in the air later claimed it was flying erratically, before nosediving and exploding on impact, killing General Zia and several other senior army generals, in addition to Arnold Raphel, the US Ambassador to Pakistan, and General Herbert M. Wassom, the head of the U.S. Military aid mission to Pakistan. Zia had ruled Pakistan for 11 years prior to his death.

The book develops through the eyes of the narrator, Ali Shigri, a Junior Officer in the Pakistani Air Force who seeks revenge for the death of his father, which he is convinced, although apparently a suicide, was orchestrated by General Zia himself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Case_of_Exploding_Mangoes
 
Finished reading 'Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India' by William Dalrymple last week.

Reading 'The Elephant, The Tiger, and the Cell Phone: Reflections on INDIA - The Emerging 21st-Century Power' by Shahsi Tharoor

And the BCL delivered 'The God os Small Things' by Arundhati Roy today.
 
violet_may said:
Well, Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie was an excellent read (highly recommended).

Currently reading The Glass Palace and Sea of Poppies (amazing, amazing book) by Amitav Ghosh.
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Have read Midnight's Children and Sea of Poppies. Amazing books both though for a layman Ghosh is more readable. The second book in the Ibis Trilogy is 'River of Smoke' which I have already queued up in my rental list.
 
With regards to the thesis, my interest lies with the Satanic Verses and his subsequent fiction. The reaction to the Verses has been over-storied already, but a relatively untapped idea is how Rushdie's narrative strategy changed afterwards. India was still a set and setting for him, but he became more focused on characterisation and inner monologue, in a bid to represent the difficulties that artistic and creative figures face. He of course is a prime example of a misunderstood/disgraced writer (depending on your opinion) that has a dilemma in how he communicates with his audience. He used novels such as Haroun and the Sea of Stories, The Moor's Last Sigh and Fury as both shield and sword in a bid to have his artistic licence respected.
Click to expand...

Hmm, that sounds quite interesting Whippy, I must say. I have only read Midnight's Children so far and greatly liked it on so many levels! I am planning on buying some other Rushdie novels as well and so, will give the ones you mentioned a go (good thing his novels aren't banned here :amir).

Too much controversy around Satanic Verses and will have to read it for myself in the future. Hope it's an easier read than Midnight's Children though.
 
samplepiece said:
Have read Midnight's Children and Sea of Poppies. Amazing books both though for a layman Ghosh is more readable. The second book in the Ibis Trilogy is 'River of Smoke' which I have already queued up in my rental list.
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Haha, you seem to have the same taste in novels as me, and your signature resonates with me as well-excellent quote :)

I was actually going to ask you, how did you find the novel, 'Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India' ?
 
The Verses is infamously difficult to read and only mildly rewarding, one of his weaker novels to be honest. Can be studied endlessly, and its appearance represents a seminal moment in the history of censorship and publication, but the casual or even semi-serious reader is unlikely to put it in his top ten. The Moor's Last Sigh - now there's a novel. The epic sweep of the Indian setting and several fascinating characters awash with tragicomedy and ambiguity.
 
A case of the exploding mangoes, a funny fiction about zia airplane crash. highly recommanded!
 
violet_may said:
Haha, you seem to have the same taste in novels as me, and your signature resonates with me as well-excellent quote :)

I was actually going to ask you, how did you find the novel, 'Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India' ?
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Quite brilliant. Being Indian, I still found some of it unbelievable. One of the stories is actually from Pakistan (Shewan Sharif in Sindh). I had no idea Jhule Lal was Lal Shahbaz Qalanadar. Also enjoyed reading about Shah Abdul Latif (Bhit Shah).
 
I will follow up on your recommendation during Christmas holidays here. Indian authors have written some of the most extraordinary novels out there, Amitav Ghosh being my favourite one.

There is also Ismat Chughtai and Raja Rao. I recommend fellow PPers to explore some of these authors from across the border, as they are class. The details in Amitav's novels are simply beautiful.
 
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Currently reading 'Wise Man's Fear' by Rothfuss.

Mostly just interested in fantasy fiction (Tolkien, Feist etc.)
 
There are many favorites.

The Kite Runner & Shahab Nama are 2 of the favorites.
 
INHERITANCE last book of the inheritace cycle (eragon, eldest, brisingr) and wow what a book probably the best book i have read if no its up there.
 
Last book read:

Shogun by James Clavell

Favourite book:

All The Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy
 
Hando said:
Pakistan by Imran Khan
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Salaam. It is available in Norway, and I was thinking of buying it.
Any good? What is it about? His biography, or book about Pakistan written by him?

Last book I read was Shoaib Akhtar's book, a good read! Recommended to everyone who is interested in cricket :akhtar
 
Book currently reading: China, Inc. by Ted C. Fishman

Last book read: India Calling by Anand Giridharadas

Favorite book: Brilliant Orange by David Winner and 43 Years with the Same Bird by Brian Reade
 
Book currently reading: Alexis Jenni's L'Art français de la guerre (won the 2011 'French Nobel prize' in literature)

Last book read: Osamu Dazai's No Longer Human

Favourite book: J.K. Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces
 
Book currently reading :- Mice and Men.

Last book read :- Oleanna.
 
Currently - Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevsky.

Last read - Turn of the Screw by Henry James.
 
Harry Potter #5. A bit late but hey they're amazing!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
ammo said:
INHERITANCE last book of the inheritace cycle (eragon, eldest, brisingr) and wow what a book probably the best book i have read if no its up there.
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Only Eragon was good. Eldest, Brisingr and Inheritance are all tripe IMO.

I'm a Sci-Fi and Fantasy fan but found the 2nd and 3rd book quite boring and had to speed-read to get thru. Paolini could have easily fit his series into a trilogy but I guess the thought of making extra dough led him to change the trilogy to cycle.

I'm trying to finish the last book but its heavy going so far...
Majorly disappointed in Paolini after the brilliant start he had in Eragon.
 
Saqib Salman said:
Currently reading 'Wise Man's Fear' by Rothfuss.

Mostly just interested in fantasy fiction (Tolkien, Feist etc.)
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Wise Man's Fear is a great follow-up to Rothfuss' debut. Shades of Potter but more darkly done.

Edit: I've started on 1Q84 by Murakami. Heard rave reviews lets see. Also halfway thru By Light Alone-Adam Roberts. Interesting premise where people do not need food and as their hair soak up energy they need to survive.
 
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Arcturus said:
Wise Man's Fear is a great follow-up to Rothfuss' debut. Shades of Potter but more darkly done.

Edit: I've started on 1Q84 by Murakami. Heard rave reviews lets see. Also halfway thru By Light Alone-Adam Roberts. Interesting premise where people do not need food and as their hair soak up energy they need to survive.
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Wow surprised to see others are into Rothfuss. Not yet spectacularly popular around here just yet.

But loved the first one. Possibly the best opening chapter (three silences) I have read.

Also - didn't know Eragons final book was out.

Also - I'd recommend Joe Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy as well. Some of the most well developed characters in Fantasy.
 
Law said:
Last Book I Read

Mangoes.jpg
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i am reading it too :)))

the guy doing yoga in the mosque and people accused him of hindu worship :))) just brilliant !

Lady of Alice Bhatti is not available here yet in Toronto so i will have to wait until my next trip to Pakistan :iamlegend
 
Julius Evola - Revolt Against the Modern World
 
John Fowles - A Maggot.

Really weird and kind of good.
 
(Re-Reading ) History of God by K Armstrong

( Planning to read ) Shipwrecks by Donald Shomette
 
Last Read: Extraordinary Evil by Barbara Coloroso

Currently Reading: Skeleton Lake by Mike Doogan
 
The last book I read was Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella. It was a nice light read for girls.

I'm currently reading Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult. I've been disappointed by her new books over the past couple years (they all seem to follow the same formula and have become very predictable). I wasn't going to read this one, but I went and saw her at a book signing where she talked about the research regarding wolves that went into the book. It was fascinating stuff, so I gave in and bought the book.
 
Wish I had more time to read fiction, as I prefer non fiction nowadays.

Currently reading: The Israel Lobby and the US Foreign Policy.
 
hokie said:
The last book I read was Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella. It was a nice light read for girls.

I'm currently reading Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult. I've been disappointed by her new books over the past couple years (they all seem to follow the same formula and have become very predictable). I wasn't going to read this one, but I went and saw her at a book signing where she talked about the research regarding wolves that went into the book. It was fascinating stuff, so I gave in and bought the book.
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How about Twilight or Never Say Never? :P
 
11/22/63 - Stephen King

Superb novel. Yes, it's a beastly 849 pages, but it's absolutely worth it.

It's based around the events of JFK's death and how Jake Epping (protagonist) can go into the past and save JFK. It's not another corny time-travelling story though.

One of his best works, IMO.
 
Muhammad - by Martin Ling is quite amazing.
 
Last book I read and one of the best books I have read is
The Heirs of the Prophet Muhammad (and the roots of sunni-shia schism) by Barnaby Rogerson

Synopsis

The Prophet Muhammad taught the word of God to the Arabs. Within a generation of his death, his followers - as vivid a cast of heroic individuals as history has known - had exploded out of Arabia to confront the two great superpowers of the seventh-century and establish Islam and a new civilization. That the protagonists originated from the small oasis communities of central Arabia gives their adventures, their rivalries, their loves and their achievements an additional vivacity and intimacy. So that on one hand, THE HEIRS OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD is a swaggering saga of ambition, immense achievement, self-sacrificing nobility and blood rivalry, while on the other it allows us to understand some of the complexities of our modern world. For within this fifty-year span of conquest and empire-building, Barnaby Rogerson also identifies the seeds of discord that destroyed the unity of Islam, and traces the roots of the schism between Sunni and Shia Muslims to the rivalry of the two individuals who best knew and loved the Prophet: his cousin and son-in-law Ali and his wife Aisha.

ISBN:
9780748124701
Category:
General
Format:
ePub
Publication Date:
2010-11-04
Publisher:
Little Brown Book Group
Language:
en
 

Attachments

  • heirs.jpg
    heirs.jpg
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Just finished Lloyd Jones, "Mr.Pip", it is about the PNG civil war.Was kind of forced to read it because of school but it was a very good book nonetheless.
 
Buffet - The Making of an American Capitalist


Next read will be:

A Random Walk Down Wall Street or
Cashvertising
 
The WoodLanders .

The writing was very descriptive but the plot-line was great .. though the ending left a bitter taste in the mouth .
 
Naudir Bakht, "Role of Mir Ghous Baksh Bezanjo in the politics of Balochistan : an analysis"
 
Currently reading Bookie, Gambler, Fixer, Spy by Ed Hawkins.

Interesting and at times depressing read particularly as a follower of Pakistan cricket.
 
A Very Short Introduction to Terrorism.

It's an academic study and not a self-help guide in case you were wondering.

...
 
"The Book of Sand" by Borges and right now into some CG Jung book which has not been translated into English I think (it would read "The Dialectics of the Self and the Unconscious")
 
Saj said:
Currently reading Bookie, Gambler, Fixer, Spy by Ed Hawkins.

Interesting and at times depressing read particularly as a follower of Pakistan cricket.
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ive gotten through about a quarter of it. quite interesting with respect to how the money in fixing is really made, having said that ill hold back judgement on the merit of its content until ive read some more.

well at least it will give me something interesting to do (observing the betting markets online) if the game gets a bit boring tmou. at the mo taking everything with a pinch of salt.
 
"I too had a love story " By Ravinder Singh -- Like Chethan Bhagath;s book...it is not some literary piece of Work....But it will connect to the readers very well.

Still does not beat 2 states by Chethan Bhagath in this genre ....
 
one chat friend ( she looked like sonakshi sinha) stopped talking to me because i made fun of her tastes when she mentioned that book.. i told her a book like this should not be anywhere near book shelves..the bad title itself suggests it is for teenagers who pepper every sentence with "like"..looks like a copy of five point someone which itself was a bad book.. Chetan Bhagat is responsible for the mushrooming of these silly teenage love stories..
 
^^^^

How was five point Someone a love story???Infact only 2 states was a love story...... One night at call center, 3 Mistakes of my life....Revolution2020...none of them were love stories.Revolution2020...a bit I guess !!!!

Infact Chethan Bhagath should be credited for Making young India start reading books again.....You do not write literary pieces for the masses...you write a story in day to day english to connect ....his aim was not to be a Shakespeare...!!!!!
 
No need to be shakespeare..there have been great writers in english like R K Narayan, Ruskin Bond, Mulk Raj Anand..followed by Vikram Seth, Jhumpa Lahiri..and now we have Chetan Bhagat and his brothers writing for teenagers.. from such glorious writers to so low.. actually i dont dislike CB as much as I dislike the success he has got..and the effects it has on the english story telling in india.
 
GentleMan said:
No need to be shakespeare..there have been great writers in english like R K Narayan, Ruskin Bond, Mulk Raj Anand..followed by Vikram Seth, Jhumpa Lahiri..and now we have Chetan Bhagat and his brothers writing for teenagers.. from such glorious writers to so low.. actually i dont dislike CB as much as I dislike the success he has got..and the effects it has on the english story telling in india.
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Sucess he has got is because he was able to connect with young Indian people all over India devoid of the place they come from..and connected to his story telling. Please do not say a local Indian guy in a town to start reading Jumpa Lahiri or even RK Narayan....The wider reach greater the sucess...even people who talk about sucess...only talk about his reach...rather than story telling as such !!!! I am sure all the authors you have mentioned are way brilliant than chethan and have won many international awards....they were striving for that. Chethan was striving for reach....People who started reading books with Chethan bhagath may go ahead and read the books you have mentioned. I think it is good we had chethan bhagath.....Many friends I know have started reading from him and moved on better books...some of them are reading Grisham....even Fountainhead...
 
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