What are you reading?

[samb]

Started the new Brian Keene, Darkness on the Edge of Town. He's one of my favorites for cheap, easy horror.

[Ken Gargett]

Started the new Brian Keene, Darkness on the Edge of Town. He's one of my favorites for cheap, easy horror.

anything to do with the boss or did he just rip him off?

[JoshMP]

Currently reading:

The Grey Knights Omnibus. Really indulging my hidden nerd with that one.

And, for work, The New Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz and The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Post Revolution Havana Cigars is open to *checks page* the Partagas.

Was considering a box of 898 but needed some convincing.

- Little Josh

[strayvector]

Follet's Pillars of the Earth

[samb]

anything to do with the boss or did he just rip him off?

Sir? I'm not sure what you mean. He's an original author, I've read just about everything by him (except for some rare prints) and I haven't noticed any kind of rip off from any "boss" ie Stephen King. I'm sure its possible though, it would be hard not to be inspired by King.

[DrunkenMonkey]

Sir? I'm not sure what you mean. He's an original author, I've read just about everything by him (except for some rare prints) and I haven't noticed any kind of rip off from any "boss" ie Stephen King. I'm sure its possible though, it would be hard not to be inspired by King.

"The Boss" refers to Bruce Springsteen. "darkness on the edge of town" is one of the timeless masterpieces of the songwriting medium penned by said Boss, as well as the name of an album containing this masterpiece and others, including another of my favorites, Racing in the Streets".

[Ken Gargett]

"The Boss" refers to Bruce Springsteen. "darkness on the edge of town" is one of the timeless masterpieces of the songwriting medium penned by said Boss, as well as the name of an album containing this masterpiece and others, including another of my favorites, Racing in the Streets".

whilst i have a feeling that samb might have been fully aware of that, i cannot but agree completely. timeless masterpiece indeed. classic after classic. candy's room, badlands, so many.

[DrunkenMonkey]

whilst i have a feeling that samb might have been fully aware of that, i cannot but agree completely. timeless masterpiece indeed. classic after classic. candy's room, badlands, so many.

Sorry Samb, my mistake. Many such humorous statements are lost on me.

[samb]

Sorry Samb, my mistake. Many such humorous statements are lost on me.

Lol, DrunkenMonkey and Ken, you really give me too much credit. Honestly, I thought Ken was talking about another author. Springsteen was the last guy on my mind, though I should of put two and two together after watching that RA Estupendos video last night and hearing Born to Run in the background on his deck.

But to answer the question, nope, its just a title on a book. Its about a darkness that is on the edge of town, lol.

[thechenman]

you're a very lucky man if you find cheap yquem. i've tried to buy a bottle here and there but not easy. mind you, i would sell my soul for the 01.

just bought the 'Cuba: What Everyone Needs to Know by Julia Sweig', so be keen to know what you think.

I guess cheaper is relative right? I mean compared to the other wines coming from Sauternes and Barsac, Yquem is definitely dramatically more expensive. Having futures available now I think is definitely a plus. I know much of the 1st Growth wines are trading/selling a pretty high prices despite the downturn in the global economy as interest in these wines is still strong in Asia. However, Sauternes (and sweet/dessert wines in general) have not really caught on. If and when they do, I wonder what will happen to the prices commanded for Yquem? I would imagine that it would see a rather significant spike from improving demand in Asia alone.

Apologies on the thread jack...

[Wiley]

Dostoevsky is my favourite of the Russians. Which translation are you reading?

FSG Books - translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky.

[Ken Gargett]

I guess cheaper is relative right? I mean compared to the other wines coming from Sauternes and Barsac, Yquem is definitely dramatically more expensive. Having futures available now I think is definitely a plus. I know much of the 1st Growth wines are trading/selling a pretty high prices despite the downturn in the global economy as interest in these wines is still strong in Asia. However, Sauternes (and sweet/dessert wines in general) have not really caught on. If and when they do, I wonder what will happen to the prices commanded for Yquem? I would imagine that it would see a rather significant spike from improving demand in Asia alone.

Apologies on the thread jack...

i know what you mean but the prices for the current/or soon futures - 09s - are partly based on it being considered such an extraordinary vintage and there not having been anything like it for four years.

yquem is largely the exception to prices for sauternes, though prices in general for these wines have gone up (leaving aside financial meltdowns etc). when they put lurton in charge at yquem, he did some interesting things. dropped the price on the 99 considerably, on its release, with the intention that everyone who really wanted to, could try an yquem - it is certainly no dud. but the price of the 05 showed that the long term intent is for it to be priced in the stratosphere. if you look at the last three great vintages, 01, 03 and 05, in aussie terms, the first two were both priced around the A$500 to $600/bottle on release, though the 01 has deservedly skyrocketed. the 05 was 3 to 4 times that price though certainly no better than 01. not so sure of prices since then.

and buying futures is terrific but it can bite you. works in the best vintages when they are not overpriced to begin with - 82 a great example - and i suspect that 09 will be one of those. but there are plenty of years when it backfires. 97 a perfect example but there are many others.

[jtree26]

Perdido Street Station by China Mieville, only about 100 pages in but a great book so far.

[PartagasIV]

Have several of their translations--have yet to read most of them but liked their War & Peace.

FSG Books - translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky.

Just got my Amazon Kindle last week and went on a book-buying spree, yikes. I like it so far but think all the talking heads hailing the death of the print medium aren't quite on target, time-wise. I still prefer to turn the pages manually and the smell of paper and newsprint. But it is handy for travel and commuting. Going to the beach for a week with 25 books in a format weighing ounces=very nice.

[Torontonian]

The Pevear/Volokhonsky translations are certainly admirable. When to comes to Tolstoy, however, I prefer the older Constance Garnett translations.

[Wiley]

I'm afraid I'm not a Tolstoy fan. Chekhov, however, I love reading.

[Torontonian]

I'm afraid I'm not a Tolstoy fan. Chekhov, however, I love reading.

Is there anything in particular you dislike about Tolstoy? At times, I'm simply indifferent to him. As intimated above, I prefer Dostoevsky. Gogol is hilarious, of course, but so bizarre.

Chekhov's The Shooting Party is the only murder-mystery story (if we can call it that) that I've actually enjoyed!

Just got my Amazon Kindle last week . . .

What is it like? Is it hard on the eyes? The Kindle is an interesting idea, but I still prefer antiquated ink and paper.

[Wiley]

I'm certainly not any kind of Russian literature expert. I just read whatever catches my interest. I can simply tell you that in my opinion, Tolstoy loves his details, and his vast cast of characters, more than the story.

[Wiley]

Atlas Shrugged-Ayn Rand, It is very slow going. I am also reading endless eye candy of the spy, murder or political genre, I need something light weight to get a break from Ms. Rand's philosphical musings.

I guess I missed this after you first posted. I'm glad to see I'm not the only person who struggled with this book!

[jquest63]

Finished previous 2 this weekend and moved on to:

The Black Sea

The Last Good Kiss - this is my third time in last several years, love this book

[StumpyJoe]

I normally read only non-fiction nowadays. Working my way through Winston Churchill's memoirs of the second world war...always have a cigar while reading it...makes for a greater connection with the man I think.

Surprisingly the most recent fiction I've been reading has been Ian Fleming...on the sixth book "Dr No". Just love it. Pure escapism.

[Chaki]

whilst i have a feeling that samb might have been fully aware of that, i cannot but agree completely. timeless masterpiece indeed. classic after classic. candy's room, badlands, so many.

That (Darkness on the edge of town) and "Born to run" are the absolute best from the Boss

[DrunkenMonkey]

That (Darkness on the edge of town) and "Born to run" are the absolute best from the Boss

I suspect that in the long run I'll agree with you, but just lately (I mean the last decade or so) I think that The Ghost of Tom Joad is my favorite. One of my favorite records ever. I think he just keeps getting better at writing songs, although the magic of those early records is undeniable.

[dimi68]

The roads to Moscow  (SiFi)

A three book series by David Wingrove. 

A mind bending trip for The Relentless War through Time.