Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton
I love Crichton's stories more than any other author. Pirate is the one that was finished posthumously, right? I've been meaning to pick that one up.
Ask HN: Which book are you reading?
41–50 of 51 posts
Re: Ask HN: Which book are you reading?
#42Earlier quoted context omitted.
I guess it's a failed experiment the way Catcher in the Rye was a successful experiment. But it's kind of interesting despite that. I like how daringly he injects esoteric religious material into conventional 1950s settings. But it was too hard to pull off. None of the characters is captivating and most of them, especially Zooey, are asses in a way that doesn't feel entirely intentional. I'm on a Salinger kick, havin…
Could it also be that _Zooey_ was simply read at a different time in your life? I first read _Catcher_ when I was the disgruntled youth that you expect to read it, and found it brilliant. I've re-read it a couple times since then and now find it far less so. I acknowledge that the writing is still really great, but I'm just not able to connect to it the same way I do other books that I read from the same era.
No, I only read Catcher a couple weeks ago. It's on an altogether other level than F&Z, even though it's no longer shockingly original like it must have been in 1951. I found it brilliant stylistically; only a voice, but what a voice. The emotional impact was different for me than it would have been when I was that age, but I remember very well how all that feels, so I was cheering on behalf of my younger self.
But what are the books that you do still find brilliant? :)
Re: Ask HN: Which book are you reading?
#43Earlier quoted context omitted.
Could it also be that _Zooey_ was simply read at a different time in your life? I first read _Catcher_ when I was the disgruntled youth that you expect to read it, and found it brilliant. I've re-read it a couple times since then and now find it far less so. I acknowledge that the writing is still really great, but I'm just not able to connect to it the same way I do other books that I read from the same era.
No, I only read Catcher a couple weeks ago. It's on an altogether other level than F&Z, even though it's no longer shockingly original like it must have been in 1951. I found it brilliant stylistically; only a voice, but what a voice. The emotional impact was different for me than it would have been when I was that age, but I remember very well how all that feels, so I was cheering on behalf of my younger self. But w…
> But what are the books that you do still find brilliant?
With every Vonnegut novel I re-read, I discover something new, more insightful, more brilliant and more compelling than I was able to grasp the last time I read it. This is true for just about every Vonnegut book I've bothered to re-read.
The same holds true for Mark Twain (so far). I recently re-read Tom Sawyer, which I only re-read after realizing that I couldn't really remember anything from my first reading of it. Phenomenal.
There are more, I'm sure, but I'd have to give it thought. The only non-print thing I can think of that is as compelling is "Primer", which is a must-watch movie, but I don't know why I'm mentioning it here, except to remark that it takes more than a single viewing to digest the entire film.
Re: Ask HN: Which book are you reading?
#44Not reading it currently, but I can't let a thread like this go by without suggesting the Silo Saga by Hugh Howey. The first book in the series is "Wool: Part 1", which (last I looked) was a free Kindle book on Amazon, and I'd graduated to purchasing the rest of the series before finishing the second chapter. It's a phenomenal series, and I'm a little embarrassed that it took me so long to find it. Aside from that, I…
Yeah that is on my radar. I have wanted to read it ever since I read more about Hugh. Really like the guy.
Re: Ask HN: Which book are you reading?
#45Earlier quoted context omitted.
You are in for a treat man. I read it once every year (not cover to cover just my favorite parts esp the prison) just to fire myself up. Side note: The movie is also quite good.
which movie version? (there are many)
I was talking about this one
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245844/?ref_=nv_sr_2
not entirely faithful to the book but it is well done. I have not watched the oldies. Any suggestions?
Re: Ask HN: Which book are you reading?
#46I know I'm a little late to read this, but I've been enjoying How to Win Friends and Influence People , by Dale Carnegie. It's interesting how it objectifies social interaction with others in such short passages.
the modern equivalent of the book is "Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi"
Thanks! I'll definitely check it out!
Re: Ask HN: Which book are you reading?
#47Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton
I love Crichton's stories more than any other author. Pirate is the one that was finished posthumously, right? I've been meaning to pick that one up.
Yes, it was published posthumously. There is another book that was actually finished by another author after Crichton died which is called Micro.
I get the feeling Pirate Latitudes was closer to a first draft than a final draft - but it's still Crichton.
Re: Ask HN: Which book are you reading?
#48Earlier quoted context omitted.
FWIW, i think it's terrible. There's a few really excellent pieces of writing sprinkled throughout it, but the whole thing felt hollow and self-indulgent to me.
I guess it's a failed experiment the way Catcher in the Rye was a successful experiment. But it's kind of interesting despite that. I like how daringly he injects esoteric religious material into conventional 1950s settings. But it was too hard to pull off. None of the characters is captivating and most of them, especially Zooey, are asses in a way that doesn't feel entirely intentional. I'm on a Salinger kick, havin…
Did you like _The Royal Tenenbaums_? NPR's pop culture critic says that movies is basically F&Z filmed.
(_Tenenbaums_ is among my least favorite Wes Anderson movies).
Re: Ask HN: Which book are you reading?
#49Earlier quoted context omitted.
I guess it's a failed experiment the way Catcher in the Rye was a successful experiment. But it's kind of interesting despite that. I like how daringly he injects esoteric religious material into conventional 1950s settings. But it was too hard to pull off. None of the characters is captivating and most of them, especially Zooey, are asses in a way that doesn't feel entirely intentional. I'm on a Salinger kick, havin…
Did you like _The Royal Tenenbaums_? NPR's pop culture critic says that movies is basically F&Z filmed. (_Tenenbaums_ is among my least favorite Wes Anderson movies).
I haven't seen it! I haven't seen anything.
I finished F&Z last night. The thing is a train wreck. Now I'm curious to read the rest of what Salinger published (pretty easy to do) because Catcher and Nine Stories are so good and F&Z borderline intolerable. Perhaps it was his Metal Machine Music.
Does Tenenbaums principally consist of turgid dialogue about mysticism?
Re: Ask HN: Which book are you reading?
#50Pornland: How Porn Has Hijacked Our Sexuality by Gail Dines.
Should be essential reading for everyone, especially men, in this day and age.
http://www.amazon.com/Pornland-How-Porn-Hijacked-Sexuality/d...