Richard Matheson is credited for moving horror from remote gothic settings into familiar modern settings. He was also one of the core writers for the original Twilight Zone series, which did the same thing. Throughout their careers Stephen King and Dean Koontz, the brand names of the horror section, have hailed Matheson as a major influence, which is probably what saved his work from going out of print.
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What'cha Reading?
- Thread starter Haight
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Richard Matheson is credited for moving horror from remote gothic settings into familiar modern settings. He was also one of the core writers for the original Twilight Zone series, which did the same thing. Throughout their careers Stephen King and Dean Koontz, the brand names of the horror section, have hailed Matheson as a major influence, which is probably what saved his work from going out of print.
Colors
The Destroyer
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Loser by Jerry Spinelli: Will Spinelli ever stop making me cry? Probably not. I was pleasantly surprised that the concept of a kid who isn't good at anything isn't oversold- he's still believable in his cheerfulness and persistance and social pariahness. 8/10
China Boy by Gus Lee: Eh, I gave up after slogging half of the way through. Impressive descriptive phrases aside, this novel is entirely tedious. Where's the plot arc? The protagonist comes off as a pasty, indolent child, spoiled soft by his position as the only son (born after three older sisters) of a Chinese couple relocated to San Francisco after the Cultural Revolution. So what he has an almost-comically evil white stepmother? So what the author seeks to create a vibrant '50s hood? It's put to no use and the protagonist is a whiny wimp. What is amazing about children, what is amazing about cultural clash/immigrants- is adaptation. A character who adapts to nothing = useless. Would be much more interesting from the perspective of one of the sisters. 3/10
China Boy by Gus Lee: Eh, I gave up after slogging half of the way through. Impressive descriptive phrases aside, this novel is entirely tedious. Where's the plot arc? The protagonist comes off as a pasty, indolent child, spoiled soft by his position as the only son (born after three older sisters) of a Chinese couple relocated to San Francisco after the Cultural Revolution. So what he has an almost-comically evil white stepmother? So what the author seeks to create a vibrant '50s hood? It's put to no use and the protagonist is a whiny wimp. What is amazing about children, what is amazing about cultural clash/immigrants- is adaptation. A character who adapts to nothing = useless. Would be much more interesting from the perspective of one of the sisters. 3/10
prplchknz
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re reading the bluest eye (mostly because I have to give an oral presentation on Toni Morrison, in two weeks), and I'm noticing things I didn't before, especially since I know the ending. I usually hate re reading, but for some reason I'm enjoying this.
Colors
The Destroyer
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Romeo and Juliet--Together (And Alive!) At Last by Avi Cute.
Phoenix: Future (Volume 2) by Osamu Tezuka. Oh boy, Tezuka tackles evolution and monotheism and naturalism/environmentalism and whatever-ism it is that says the universe is a living/sentient being (animism?)- and mashes them all up into one big mind-boggling whole. My brain hurts. I've the first few volumes of Buddha without much impression, so this is the first time I've started to understand why he's considered such a great. His scope is magnificent-crazy- encompassing the small individual to the whole of creation in such a limited medium. Not sure I actually *like* it though, in that the "love story" between Masato and his moopy (Tamami) is entirely a plot device and never explained or expanded upon. After all that, Masato just seems to always want to escape to this "perfect" love who can grant him the illusions of all his desires. He doesn't learn much at all, except that he is not sole guardian to his own fate. And still the cycle moves on, inexorably, guided by the Phoenix. We must be our own little cell in the system. I guess I can't really judge by a single volume because it's the whole picture that's supposed to make sense.
And from the feminist perspective: the perfect woman is pet alien who takes any form you want and takes you away to dreamland. *Sigh* And for her, Masato basically, kinda, catalyzes the destruction of humankind. Eh, at least Dr. Saruta and his Robita are kinda awesome though.
This book makes me ridiculously happy. Porn screenings! Sports scores! Highlighting passages that are particularly awful!
Justices are hilarious. (And plenty of gravitas too- Roe v. Wade, etc.)
I haven't read Grotesque- not sure I dare after reading Out a couple of years ago! What do you think of it, Littlelostnf?
Oh this is going to sound vapid, but it's a bit like a crazy inverted Sex in the City, isn't it? I'm sure there's a better metaphor not available in my cultural know-how, but there you go (Thelma and Louise, maybe?). A fellowship of women... chopping up bodies! And I do sort of cheer them on despite myself. Definitely need to reread this. Makes you wonder though. Is it too sensationalist you think? People *are* definitely driven to what we'd think is outrageous though- the circumstances sometimes just align and makes the bizarre logical. Guess that's what makes stuff like this powerful- needs to retain believability.
Phoenix: Future (Volume 2) by Osamu Tezuka. Oh boy, Tezuka tackles evolution and monotheism and naturalism/environmentalism and whatever-ism it is that says the universe is a living/sentient being (animism?)- and mashes them all up into one big mind-boggling whole. My brain hurts. I've the first few volumes of Buddha without much impression, so this is the first time I've started to understand why he's considered such a great. His scope is magnificent-crazy- encompassing the small individual to the whole of creation in such a limited medium. Not sure I actually *like* it though, in that the "love story" between Masato and his moopy (Tamami) is entirely a plot device and never explained or expanded upon. After all that, Masato just seems to always want to escape to this "perfect" love who can grant him the illusions of all his desires. He doesn't learn much at all, except that he is not sole guardian to his own fate. And still the cycle moves on, inexorably, guided by the Phoenix. We must be our own little cell in the system. I guess I can't really judge by a single volume because it's the whole picture that's supposed to make sense.
And from the feminist perspective: the perfect woman is pet alien who takes any form you want and takes you away to dreamland. *Sigh* And for her, Masato basically, kinda, catalyzes the destruction of humankind. Eh, at least Dr. Saruta and his Robita are kinda awesome though.
This book makes me ridiculously happy. Porn screenings! Sports scores! Highlighting passages that are particularly awful!
Justices are hilarious. (And plenty of gravitas too- Roe v. Wade, etc.)I haven't read Grotesque- not sure I dare after reading Out a couple of years ago! What do you think of it, Littlelostnf?
Oh this is going to sound vapid, but it's a bit like a crazy inverted Sex in the City, isn't it? I'm sure there's a better metaphor not available in my cultural know-how, but there you go (Thelma and Louise, maybe?). A fellowship of women... chopping up bodies! And I do sort of cheer them on despite myself. Definitely need to reread this. Makes you wonder though. Is it too sensationalist you think? People *are* definitely driven to what we'd think is outrageous though- the circumstances sometimes just align and makes the bizarre logical. Guess that's what makes stuff like this powerful- needs to retain believability.
tibby
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I'm reading quite a few books now (not the most efficient).
Audrey Niffenegger's The time Traveler's wife, Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, Peter Englund's Queen Christina, Georges Bataille's Inner Experience and these couple of others in my native language, suspect they are not translated though.
Audrey Niffenegger's The time Traveler's wife, Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, Peter Englund's Queen Christina, Georges Bataille's Inner Experience and these couple of others in my native language, suspect they are not translated though.
cascadeco
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Jeez...that's a lot at once! I've only juggled two at the same time before. (Tolstoy is great though!!!)
I'm reading The Ambassadors by Henry James.
S
Sniffles
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H. Stuart Hughs - The Obstructed Path: French Social Thought in the Years of Desperation 1930-1960
Very interesting book.
Very interesting book.
ladypinkington
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No Collar-
The Humane Workplace and its hidden costs
About to read soon- The Prince by Machiavelli
The Humane Workplace and its hidden costs
About to read soon- The Prince by Machiavelli
Synarch
Once Was
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- Oct 14, 2008
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Would also recommend to you, Lord Chesterfield's Letters to His Son if you are into such things. There is a lot of practical stuff in there, though it is not as organized as The Prince.
R
Riva
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the bible
sunset5678
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I just finished Wicked and started Son Of A Witch. And Les Miserables AGAIN. Don't
ask why...I don't know I just love this story.
ask why...I don't know I just love this story.
Xenofile
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I'm currently reading
Nausea by Jean Paul Sartre
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer
The Virtue of Selfishness by Ayn Rand
The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
I'm enjoying all of them thus far, though I'll need to take a break and read a good chunk fiction when I'm done.
Nausea by Jean Paul Sartre
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer
The Virtue of Selfishness by Ayn Rand
The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
I'm enjoying all of them thus far, though I'll need to take a break and read a good chunk fiction when I'm done.
Fluxkom
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juggernaut
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- Mar 22, 2009
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Thinking About Consciousness David Papineau
Metaphysics Aristotle
Politics Aristotle
Guns, Germs, and Steel Jared Diamond
Also still piddling through the Nagel Essays, Aristotle's NE, and GEB.
Metaphysics Aristotle
Politics Aristotle
Guns, Germs, and Steel Jared Diamond
Also still piddling through the Nagel Essays, Aristotle's NE, and GEB.
ThinkingAboutIt
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Ha ha! I read multiple books at a time 
7 Things He'll Never Tell You - Kevin Lehman
Pocket Guide to Insects
For Women Only - Shaunti Feldman
The Maker's Diet - Jordan Rubin
The Woman Within - Vonette Bright
The Wigglesworth Standard - Peter Madden
Want More? Tim Enloe
...plus online stuff, commentaries and my bible.
7 Things He'll Never Tell You - Kevin Lehman
Pocket Guide to Insects
For Women Only - Shaunti Feldman
The Maker's Diet - Jordan Rubin
The Woman Within - Vonette Bright
The Wigglesworth Standard - Peter Madden
Want More? Tim Enloe
...plus online stuff, commentaries and my bible.
