The Book Thread Book • Page 96

I've also been sick/super over tired these last few weeks and have a vacation coming up so I haven't been fully there and engaged so maybe that played a role in me feeling a bit lost or confused at points, but it is still definitely worth the read and I enjoyed my time with it!

 

just finished a book of Lou Reed interviews and it was a real knock out. he's got a rep for being difficult in interviews but man he says some really insightful things in between roasting the interviewers. I love me a curmudgeon. now I'm switching to Kindred by Octavia Butler for my race and gender in scifi class. this is a pretty quick read too, even if no one in here is Lou Reed lol

 

not to be a pedantic dweeb but it’s wild how good McMurtry is. floors me all the time.

 

Lonesome Dove is my favorite book of all time. I've got a bunch more of his books on my shelf -- do you have any rec's for what to read next from him?

 

horseman pass by and last picture show for sure

 

Been reading my friend's published debut, The Father by Andres Cruciani. About a man who kidnaps his daughter to save her life but loses himself in the process. Prose is lyrical, and it's a page-turner. I recommend it. It's cool to know actual authors.

 

super cool! signing with a publisher/lit agent as an unknown is such a fascinating thing to me

 

about halfway through The Neon Bible

very engaging thus far

 

Currently reading Uzumaki by Junji Ito, what a spiralling thriller. I remember reading this when I was younger and it made my stomach turn (but hopefully not spiral).

 

He actually started his own pub company, had a lit agent years ago but it wasnt fulfilling. Regardless I recommend reading his shit- its good!

 

A History of Heavy Metal by Andrew O'Neill

Listening to the audiobook version of this right now. I don't care about metal but I am always interested in the history of sub/counter cultures. The guy that wrote this is apparently a comedian. I don't know his work but the book is definitely lighter in tone than these kinds of books usually are.

 

I'm 200 pages into Stephen Chbosky's Imaginary Friend and it is so freaking good. Reminds me of IT and N0S4A2 which is like my upper limit on praise. I love that the second book from the author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a straight horror epic.

 

I'm waiting on this from the library, hope to attempt it by the end of the year some time.

About 1/2 through The Institute currently

 

What do you think of it? I know you haven't read a whole lot of King so I'm curious!

I am taking forever finishing it just due to being super busy which stinks because I definitely love it.

 

Yeah it's been taking me a while too with a new baby in the house. I'm definitely enjoying it quite a bit so far. Very curious where it's gonna go/end up.

The only solo King I've physically read is The Outsider and I really liked that one!

 

Started Clarice Lispector’s Near to the Wild Heart tonight. I love Agua Viva, and this is gorgeous in a similar way- though I’m appreciating the more traditional narrative. Obviously the title forces me to make the comparison, but I’m getting strong A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man vibes (which is one of my all-time favorite books- dont judge me).

 

finished up The Neon Bible on Saturday and it's instantly one of my favorite books. so sad tho in its way

about to start Growing Things and Other Stories by Paul Tremblay and I'm so excited. the only thing of his I've read is A Head Full of Ghosts but I adore that book so I'm expecting great things

 

I gave it a read before and didn't like it but I probably didn't give it enough of a change since I was waiting to start other books. I might go back to it since AHFOG is one of my favourite horror books.

 

Anybody read/watched/listened to The Goldfinch?


I'm currently listening and have about 1 hour left and it's honestly been quite a chore to get through. Really glad I chose to listen and not read it outright.

 

i listened to it and thoroughly enjoyed it, but it also could’ve been much shorter to achieve the same effect.

are you still using my audible, too?

 

Yeah like I'm determined to finish it but I've been bored for the last several hours haha.

I haven't in a while! I kinda forgot I had access lol. Is this you revoking my privileges??

 

i think the ending was my favorite part after the opening in the museum.

nope! Just keep seeing books of mine bounce all over the place in my app and I always wonder who is listening to what.

 

I really enjoyed The Goldfinch (read the book). Not nearly as much as The Secret History (also by Tartt) but was better than I expected. I was surprised they made it a movie because there are portions of the book I feel wouldn’t work but as book it was very enjoyable.

But I can see why people wouldn’t be a fan of it.

 

Louis Theroux: Gotta get theroux this.

Louis Theroux is a really well-known documentary maker in the UK. Rise started with his 'Weird Weekends' which were really looking at 'unusual' things in America around about 15 yrs ago (Porn stars, ufos, etc - I think they are all on netflix now). He then went on to cover Americas most hated family among other things. Recently it has been more serious topics. However, did a feature length on Scientology which was funny.

The book does spend a lot of time on Jimmy Saville which is interesting. For those not aware of the saga.... Basically, Louis made a documentary about a tv host/radio dj (Jimmy Saville) who was past his best and clinging on to fame but also doing a lot for charity. Then a few years after it aired, Jimmy died. Then accusations of him being sexually inappropriate appeared. When i say 'some', it was a few hundred! So then Louis does another documentary about him. This was interesting as Louis was looking back at old footage but also interviewing new folk for it. It was a really weird time and was a massive scandal.

If you like Louis then you will like this, very interesting read. If you havent heard of him, check out his weird weekends. Absolutely amazing and comedy gold.

 

I just read Fever Dream by Samantha Schweblin and it was one of the most visceral reading experiences of my life. I couldn't recommend it highly enough. I won't say much because I went in blind and I recommend anyone does the same. I'll just say this: the narrative is told through a conversation between a dying woman in a hospital and a young boy (who is not her son). It's a very strange conversation, and the boy is not normal.

The book is under 200 pages but there's also not too much text on each page, so you really can read it in like an hour or two, which is what I did. The title of the book is perfect for how it feels to read. Like a weird fever dream that creeps up on you, and you just get more and more unsettled as the tale goes on, but you're not quite sure what it is that's making you uncomfortable. After finishing it I took like a 45 minute shower to wake myself back up, lol.

It was on the Man Booker shortlist and got great reviews so if you're interested I highly recommend just buying it, not reading anything about it, and diving into it when you have like 90 minutes - 2 hours to read it in full.