What'cha Reading?

[Strappado]

A collection of random essays in a book called Apocalypse Culture.

[sleuthiness]

"Porphyria's Lover"
-Robert Browning

The rain set early in to-night,
The sullen wind was soon awake,
It tore the elm-tops down for spite,
And did its worst to vex the lake:
I listened with heart fit to break.
When glided in Porphyria; straight
She shut the cold out and the storm,
And kneeled and made the cheerless grate
Blaze up, and all the cottage warm;
Which done, she rose, and from her form
Withdrew the dripping cloak and shawl,
And laid her soiled gloves by, untied
Her hat and let the damp hair fall,
And, last, she sat down by my side
And called me. When no voice replied,
She put my arm about her waist,
And made her smooth white shoulder bare
And all her yellow hair displaced,
And, stooping, made my cheek lie there,
And spread, o'er all, her yellow hair,
Murmuring how she loved me – she
Too weak, for all her heart's endeavour,
To set its struggling passion free
From pride, and vainer ties dissever,
And give herself to me forever.
But passion sometimes would prevail,
Nor could to-night's gay feast restrain
A sudden thought of one so pale
For love of her, and all in vain:
So, she was come through wind and rain
Be sure I looked up at her eyes
Happy and proud; at last I knew
Porphyria worshiped me; surprise
Made my heart swell, and still it grew
While I debated what to do.
That moment she was mine, mine, fair,
Perfectly pure and good: I found
A thing to do, and all her hair
In one long yellow string I wound
Three times her little throat around,
And strangled her. No pain felt she;
I am quite sure she felt no pain.
As a shut bud that holds a bee,
I warily oped her lids: again
Laughed the blue eyes without a stain.
And I untightened next the tress
About her neck; her cheek once more
Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss:
I propped her head up as before,
Only, this time my shoulder bore
Her head, which droops upon it still:
The smiling rosy little head,
So glad it has its utmost will,
That all it scorned at once is fled,
And I, its love, am gained instead!
Porphyria's love: she guessed not how
Her darling one wish would be heard.
And thus we sit together now,
And all night long we have not stirred,
And yet God has not said a word!

[OrangeAppled]

The Elegance of the Hedgehog, and American Gods is next. I'm liking the Hedgehog so far...

[Tamske]

"The private life of Mao", by his doctor Li Zhisui. Very interesting read, especially in combination with "Mao, the true story" by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday. A result from some cross-seeding with history freak husband. I read a history book now and then, he sometimes reads fantasy fiction.

[INTP]

The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable

have to read it for school entrance test.

[Snoopy22]

A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Warfare How to Make War – James F Dunnigan/1982 and very out of date, but an enjoyable non-technical read.

[Synarch]

Yesterday I finished "Surface Detail" by Iain M. Banks. Now I'm reading "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen.

[Vizconde]

How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale

http://www.amazon.com/Make-Love-Like.../dp/0060539097

Not my usual kind of read as I got it as a gift for by girlfriend who started reading it in the bookstore but was too shy to purchase but I am enjoying it and I like the writing style of her ghostwriter Neil Strauss.

[NPcomplete]

I'm starting Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel (by Susanna Clarke) for the 3rd time. Hopefully, I'll read it to the end this time.

[Salomé]

I finally got around to reading Camus's L’Étranger.
I HATED everything about it.