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What was the last book you read?

Currently reading Kane and Abel by British Author, Jeffrey Archer.

Enjoying it so far. Archer is a master storyteller.
 
Lit student, graduate this time next year :)

Postmodernism is, like every other term, a subjective one and I have barely scratched the surface with it. Some lecturers in twentieth-century writing actually dislike the very existence of the term, and argue that modernism never died.

I personally think of postmodernism as a movement that has come to terms with modernism instead of one that continues to rely on the bases of it (the latter would be modernist writing itself). Postmodernism is willing to explore themes more explicitly, represent current affairs more bravely and play with form even more experimentally than modernism.

As postmodernist literature began to appear after the Second World War and has lived through the Cold War, the Gulf Wars, capitalism, consumerism, multiculturalism, cosmopolitanism and 9/11, it is more daring and diverse and yet more paranoid and introverted than modernist writing. Aside from some of the existing examples throughout the thread, try these:

Naked Lunch - William S. Burroughs
Pale Fire - Vladimir Nabokov
Crash - J.G. Ballard
The Mezzanine - Nicholson Baker
The Black Album - Hanif Kureishi
American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis
White Noise/Cosmopolis - Don DeLillo
Saturday - Ian McEwan
 
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Easa said:
Currently reading Kane and Abel by British Author, Jeffrey Archer.

Enjoying it so far. Archer is a master storyteller.
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A fabulous book no doubt, still his best.
 
Taliban by Ahmed Rashid.

Waiting for the late Saleem Shahzad's book 'Inside Al Qaeda And The Taliban: Beyond Bin Laden and 9/11' to be delivered.
 
Any history-related book recommendations for the upcoming summer holiday ?

Going to read the Rise and Fall of the Ottoman Empire,could do with some more reading material.

EDIT - Thanks very much saadibaba.
 
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Markhor said:
Any history-related book recommendations for the upcoming summer holiday ?

Going to read the Rise and Fall of the Ottoman Empire,could do with some more reading material.
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The Last Mughal by William Dalrymple. Great book about the 1857 war of independence and the life of Bahadur Shah Zafar, a tragic figure.
 
The Murder of History by K.K Aziz.

Essential read if one wants to find out the lies taught to us in Pakistani text books.
 
Any book by K.K Aziz saab is highly recommended for all history buffs.
 
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway.

Hemingway is a master writer. His prose is absolutely beautiful.
 
I recommend Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki to everyone who wants to make big money.
Don't we all?:asif:amir:butt
If real estate isn't your thing then forget about it, though you should still read the book.

Looking for an inspirational and adventurous story of graceful warrior/men -like "The Prisoner of Zenda" by Anthony Hope- any recommendation?
 
Any one read The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia by Peter Hoprik.

Is it the usual evil Russians and uncivilised east that needs civilising.
 
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I would recommend reading most of John Grisham's legal thrillers.

I have been reading them for 6 years now, and they are a class apart.


Word of warning = All of them start of really SLOW! :misbah

A Time to Kill (1989)
The Firm (1991)
The Pelican Brief (1992)
The Client (1993)
The Chamber (1994)
The Rainmaker (1995)
The Runaway Jury (1996)
The Partner (1997)
The Street Lawyer (1998)
The Testament (1999)
The Brethren (2000)
A Painted House (2001)
The Summons (2002)
The King of Torts (2003)
The Last Juror (2004)
The Broker (2005)
The Appeal (2008)
The Associate (2009)
The Confession (2010)
 
Abdullah22 said:
I recommend Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki to everyone who wants to make big money.
Don't we all?:asif:amir:butt
If real estate isn't your thing then forget about it, though you should still read the book.

Looking for an inspirational and adventurous story of graceful warrior/men -like "The Prisoner of Zenda" by Anthony Hope- any recommendation?
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The book has scenarios which are too good to be true in real life. More like "right place at the right time". And the workarounds he mentions to multiply your money are not what an average individual busy in his everyday life can do.

It's a good read. If just for getting the basic idea i.e. "Rather than spending all your money on frivolous purchases in the short run, you should build assets for the long run", drilled into your head. Otherwise most of the methods he mentions are not methods that would hold true for most people in everyday life.
 
One of my favorites is Flatland. It's from the perspective of a being in 2-D world. Interesting and full of cheeky humor all throughout.
 
Anyone who is a Harry Potter fan should read 'The Magicians' from Lev Grossman.

Wasn't as good as Harry Potter (of course) but it packed a punch.
 
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People - the best book I have ever read is I'm the King of the Castle by Susan Hill. Anyone who genuinely wants to be gripped by a book they can't put down has to read this. The only warning I would give you is that the theme is dark. It is all about the extent to which humans, and children in particular have an ability to play terrible, perhaps even evil mind games on others. Some people may find it depressing but if you're anything like me, you will just be totally amazed at the author's extraordinary ability. Just brilliant.

If you only read one book in your life, make it this one.
 
Picked up two books from a charity shop sale recently and they were both great.

The Suicide Club - Thought it would be about the japanese film of the same name but it wasn't. Still quite a gripping book although a little twlighlity at times, quite an emotional book at times no homo.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Suicide-Club-Rhys-Thomas/dp/0385614721

Pakistan a hard country - Top book so far, haven't read it fully yet but it is unbiased ( so far) and the author at times perfectly captures how I feel about Pakistan but can't put into words. Analyses the country and society quite nicely. A must read.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pakistan-Ha...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314451046&sr=1-1

Picked up both of these books in excellent condition for a fiver so a good buy.
 
Radiance Of Australis said:
Guys, any fiction books set in subcontinent or Middle East? I quite like those. I find them easier to relate to.
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Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

The Inheritance of Loss Kiran Desai

A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. It's been highly recommended to me and I have it, but can't face reading a rather daunting 1500 pages!

Abdullah22 said:
Looking for an inspirational and adventurous story of graceful warrior/men -like "The Prisoner of Zenda" by Anthony Hope- any recommendation?
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Royal Flash by George MacDonald Fraser, follows a similar plot. Flashman is anything but graceful...

I have read the whole series 10/11 books(?) - imo it's brilliant.

From Wiki:

"Sir Harry Paget Flashman VC KCB KCIE (1822–1915) is a fictional character created by George MacDonald Fraser (1925–2008), but based on the character "Flashman" in Tom Brown's Schooldays (1857), a semi-autobiographical work by Thomas Hughes (1822–1896).

In Hughes' book, Flashman is the notorious bully of Rugby School who persecutes Tom Brown, and who is finally expelled for drunkenness. Twentieth century author George MacDonald Fraser had the idea of writing Flashman's memoirs, in which the school bully would be identified with an "illustrious Victorian soldier": experiencing many 19th century wars and adventures and rising to high rank in the British Army, acclaimed as a great soldier, while remaining by his unapologetic self-description "a scoundrel, a liar, a cheat, a thief, a coward—and oh yes, a toady." Fraser's Flashman is an antihero who runs from danger or hides cowering in fear, betrays or abandons acquaintances at the slightest incentive, bullies and beats servants with gusto, beds every available woman, carries off any loot he can grab, gambles and boozes enthusiastically, and yet, through a combination of luck and cunning, usually ends each volume acclaimed as a hero."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Paget_Flashman
 
Am reading The Kite Runner an its amazing
Agatha Christie novels are class if you like to read mystery. "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" is spectacular
 
The Book Thread

Seeing as we have an Education Thread and a Music Thread, I thought I would create a book thread so that you can discuss books you are/have read. One point though. If someone says they are reading something please don't spoil the ending for them by posting what happens.

I have just finished reading War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. I had been meaning to read this for a long time and was really surprised at the skill of the writing, if you take into context when it was written. Well worth a read no matter how old you are.
 
It seems an age since I read a fiction book - but thankyou for the recommendation.

The book I am currently engrossed in is a non-fic. entitled "A Line In The Sand. Britain, France and the Struggle that Shaped The Middle East" by James Barr.

It documents the tension between Britain and France, and how this power struggle led to the carve up of Arabia. A must read for all those seeking greater insights into the origins of the conflicts in the Holy Land, Arabia - and beyond.

I have an entire library of books which are worth a mention - so perhaps I will add to your list over the course of time, In Sha Allah Ta'aala.

(My favourite read is, without doubt, Al-Qur'an Al-Kareem - Subhan-Allah!)
 
Just finished Will Self's The Book of Dave and Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. Both wicked clever and utterly absorbing. Google them

Now 50 pages into Philip Roth's American Pastoral - a slow-burner, but beyond the digression lies a beautiful and deeply analytical style of writing
 
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Whippy said:
Naked Lunch - William S. Burroughs
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Tried hard but found it unreadable.

Have just finished Hemminway's For Whom the Bell Tolls which I liked more and more as I got into it.

Having a crack at A Tale of Two Cities now.
 
started with lotr, reading it for the fourth time now. planning to skip tom bombadil as usual though.
 
Taking a fantastic course on South Asian literature and currently reading Midnight's Children. Anyone doing English Lit. in Uni?
 
Operating System Concepts by Silberschatz, Galvin, and Gagne. Probably one of the most boring books I have ever read. :facepalm:
 
^
I thought this thread was about posting the name of novels or something :zoni, not boring CS books.
 
derivaties securities :facepalm ... I don't get one word.

:facepalm :facepalm < ---- what happened to the smiley.
 
Read The Alchemist a few days ago, pretty awesome and inspirational.

Currently reading The case of exploding mangoes by Mohsin Hanif.
 
The Submission by Amy Waldman -- A friend recommended it, it's not bad so far.

In Leah's Wake by Terri Giuliano Long -- Having a hard time getting through this one.

Jinnah of Pakistan by Stanley Wolpert -- Finally got a hold of a copy of this book! Just started reading it yesterday.

ahsan88 said:
Anatol Lieven's 'Pakistan - a hard country'.

Thoroughly enjoying it.
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I just got this book recently...haven't started reading it yet though.

AbdulrazzaqFan said:
Read The Alchemist a few days ago, pretty awesome and inspirational.
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I don't understand the hype over this book to be honest. I've even read it twice because a friend insisted it would change my life. Highly overrated imo.
 
violet_may said:
Taking a fantastic course on South Asian literature and currently reading Midnight's Children. Anyone doing English Lit. in Uni?
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I finished reading Midnight's Children last month - one of those books that you cannot read in one go.

hokie said:
Jinnah of Pakistan by Stanley Wolpert -- Finally got a hold of a copy of this book! Just started reading it yesterday.

I just got this book recently...haven't started reading it yet though.
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I recommend you read Shameful Flight by Mr. Wolpert as well.

AbdulrazzaqFan said:
Read The Alchemist a few days ago, pretty awesome and inspirational.

Currently reading The case of exploding mangoes by Mohsin Hanif.
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The Case of Exploding Mangoes auhtor is Mohammad Hanif.

His second novel 'Our Lady Alice Bhatti' just got published.
 
The Droughtlanders. Its pretty good but there is a sequel to it but I really don't feel like buying it and reading it. Yes, I'm a cheapo when it comes to books!
 
FaceBook :P

On a serious note, I read some PHP Programming topics... other then that, I'm trying to clear my accounting exams with the help of some mysterious books....
 
violet_may said:
Taking a fantastic course on South Asian literature and currently reading Midnight's Children. Anyone doing English Lit. in Uni?
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Doing the same as you, and yes. Dissertation is on Rushdie as well. Won't get his dues from everyone but a very very good writer to be honest.
 
^
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.

ahsan88: I think why it may require a second read is because there are a lot of ideas and references that are explored in that book. It doesn't help when Rushdie, in my opinion, keeps on blurring the line between 'magic' and 'reality', and often fractures the temporal line. On the one hand, he refers to history, and at the same time, he erases history, which can take some time to get used to IMO. And then, Rushdie also seems to be questioning the narrative structure itself and the English language he himself employs in the novel-most of us would not celebrate (let alone acknowledge) contradictions or 'impurity of identity' as is done in Midnight's Children.

I think the fact that there is never a 'resolution' of any sort in terms of ideas being explored (this is the feeling I get so far), I think this can make Midnight's Children a 'distasteful' read for some as most of us do seek an answer or 'one truth'.

I am quite frankly really enjoying the book so far. More to rant after I am done reading. :P
 
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Cuckoos nest. Good book so far--I have to read it for my English class :)
 
Just read a thousand splendid suns by Khaled Hosseini. Incredibly deep and without doubt one of the best books I have ever read.
 
BMW Power said:
Just read a thousand splendid suns by Khaled Hosseini. Incredibly deep and without doubt one of the best books I have ever read.
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I would say The Kite Runner was miles better than A Thousand Splendid Sons. I was disappointed by this book.
 
Having a proper look through Mythologies by Roland Barthes. Only read bits of it while I was on my degree.
 
hokie said:
I don't understand the hype over this book to be honest. I've even read it twice because a friend insisted it would change my life. Highly overrated imo.
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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

ahsan88 said:
The Case of Exploding Mangoes auhtor is Mohammad Hanif.

His second novel 'Our Lady Alice Bhatti' just got published.
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Thanks for the correction. I actually finished reading "The reluctant fundamentalist" before getting my hands on this one hence I confused the names. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to finish the book yet. :( Soon enough though, inshallah.
 
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just started reading incognito by david eagleman. read first two chapters today, so far quite interesting.
 
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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