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The New Coffee Room

  1. TNCR
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  3. What are you reading now?

What are you reading now?

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  • George KG Offline
    George KG Offline
    George K
    wrote on last edited by George K
    #178

    Meanwhile, being a huge Scalzi fan, I decided to refresh my memories of this:

    Screen Shot 2021-02-01 at 7.16.35 PM.png

    "The Interdependency is a thousand-year-old human empire of 48 star systems connected by the Flow, a network of "streams" allowing faster-than-light travel. Each stream is one way and has an entry point and an exit point. There is no faster-than-light communication faster than the Flow, and interstellar trips are not instantaneous—ships carrying mail or passengers from Hub, the capital of the empire and the system with the most Flow connections, arrive at End, the most distant, nine months later—but the network permits life-sustaining intersystem trade. As a natural phenomenon, the Flow is poorly understood; Earth disconnected from the network thousands of years ago, and civilization on another system collapsed more recently when its pathway suddenly closed."

    I finished it this weekend, and hungry for more, I started the sequel, "The Consuming Fire" this morning:

    Screen Shot 2021-02-01 at 7.19.02 PM.png

    I'm about a quarter of the way through it.

    I love, LOVE, Scalzi's writing. It's snappy, smart, witty and ironic.

    Neither of these books has disappointed in any way.

    "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

    The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

    1 Reply Last reply
    • George KG George K

      @George-K said in What are you reading now?:

      alt text

      Great tale. Wonderful world-building that expands on the short stories that I read before. Long and intricate, without being confusing.

      I'm going to go thru the "Revelation Space" universe in chronological (not published) order. The short stories and novellas have given enough background to make it understandable.

      But...up next, to finish the trilogy:

      alt text

      George KG Offline
      George KG Offline
      George K
      wrote on last edited by
      #179

      @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

      I'm going to go thru the "Revelation Space" universe in chronological (not published) order. The short stories and novellas have given enough background to make it understandable.

      Yeah. Reading them in chronological order is definitely worth the effort. Reynold's world-building is great. He has a very unique style - sometimes first-person, sometimes third-person.

      Just started this the other day:

      Screen Shot 2021-02-13 at 5.15.06 PM.png

      "The once-utopian Chasm City -- a domed human settlement on an otherwise inhospitable planet -- has been overrun by a virus known as the Melding Plague, capable of infecting any body, organic or computerized. Now, with the entire city corrupted -- from the people to the very buildings they inhabit -- only the most wretched sort of existence remains. For security operative Tanner Mirabel, it is the landscape of nightmares through which he searches for a lowlife postmortal killer. But the stakes are raised when his search brings him face to face with a centuries-old atrocity that history would rather forget."

      "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

      The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

      George KG 1 Reply Last reply
      • bachophileB Offline
        bachophileB Offline
        bachophile
        wrote on last edited by
        #180

        Calibans war. Expanse part 2.

        1 Reply Last reply
        • OptimisticO Offline
          OptimisticO Offline
          Optimistic
          wrote on last edited by
          #181

          alt text
          Have had this on my list for a while, recommended by a friend living in Japan who knows I like Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Curious if anyone else has read this? Enjoyable so far, and I know at some point things will be taking a weird turn.

          1 Reply Last reply
          • LuFins DadL Offline
            LuFins DadL Offline
            LuFins Dad
            wrote on last edited by
            #182

            I am in the last book of The Wheel of Time (Audio Books)... I think it's over 300 hours I've put into this series over the last few months...

            The Brad

            1 Reply Last reply
            • Aqua LetiferA Offline
              Aqua LetiferA Offline
              Aqua Letifer
              wrote on last edited by Aqua Letifer
              #183

              D177238C-EFC2-4021-98D7-D4FB4B71459B.jpeg

              Cyberpunk detective story, like all his other ones. And it's at least as awesome. 😁 Something you can just burn through in a weekend.

              Please love yourself.

              1 Reply Last reply
              • jon-nycJ Online
                jon-nycJ Online
                jon-nyc
                wrote on last edited by
                #184

                135F5D53-1242-445A-A92C-C10F3CF1AFD6.jpeg

                Only non-witches get due process.

                • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
                1 Reply Last reply
                • Aqua LetiferA Offline
                  Aqua LetiferA Offline
                  Aqua Letifer
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #185

                  835CDA28-C98E-4F92-B314-EA1AE74F49B1.jpeg

                  Please love yourself.

                  KlausK 1 Reply Last reply
                  • Aqua LetiferA Aqua Letifer

                    835CDA28-C98E-4F92-B314-EA1AE74F49B1.jpeg

                    KlausK Offline
                    KlausK Offline
                    Klaus
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #186

                    @aqua-letifer started reading it yesterday. What do you think?

                    Aqua LetiferA 1 Reply Last reply
                    • KlausK Klaus

                      @aqua-letifer started reading it yesterday. What do you think?

                      Aqua LetiferA Offline
                      Aqua LetiferA Offline
                      Aqua Letifer
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #187

                      @klaus said in What are you reading now?:

                      @aqua-letifer started reading it yesterday. What do you think?

                      Interesting to hear the fleshed out story behind his health issues, and how he handled the timing of the publication in the midst of the pandemic.

                      Aside from that, as always his insights about the nature of storytelling, its importance, and how it works as a process are very sharp and much appreciated. (The humanities would be very well served by following a more structuralist model, but ah well, what are you gonna do.)

                      Only read the first chapter so far but it's been good.

                      What do you think? How far are you?

                      Please love yourself.

                      L 1 Reply Last reply
                      • Aqua LetiferA Aqua Letifer

                        @klaus said in What are you reading now?:

                        @aqua-letifer started reading it yesterday. What do you think?

                        Interesting to hear the fleshed out story behind his health issues, and how he handled the timing of the publication in the midst of the pandemic.

                        Aside from that, as always his insights about the nature of storytelling, its importance, and how it works as a process are very sharp and much appreciated. (The humanities would be very well served by following a more structuralist model, but ah well, what are you gonna do.)

                        Only read the first chapter so far but it's been good.

                        What do you think? How far are you?

                        L Offline
                        L Offline
                        Loki
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #188

                        @aqua-letifer said in What are you reading now?:

                        @klaus said in What are you reading now?:

                        @aqua-letifer started reading it yesterday. What do you think?

                        Interesting to hear the fleshed out story behind his health issues, and how he handled the timing of the publication in the midst of the pandemic.

                        Aside from that, as always his insights about the nature of storytelling, its importance, and how it works as a process are very sharp and much appreciated. (The humanities would be very well served by following a more structuralist model, but ah well, what are you gonna do.)

                        Only read the first chapter so far but it's been good.

                        What do you think? How far are you?

                        I tried to read the first and just felt you could learn a lot more in shorter and more interesting time from others.

                        Aqua LetiferA 1 Reply Last reply
                        • L Loki

                          @aqua-letifer said in What are you reading now?:

                          @klaus said in What are you reading now?:

                          @aqua-letifer started reading it yesterday. What do you think?

                          Interesting to hear the fleshed out story behind his health issues, and how he handled the timing of the publication in the midst of the pandemic.

                          Aside from that, as always his insights about the nature of storytelling, its importance, and how it works as a process are very sharp and much appreciated. (The humanities would be very well served by following a more structuralist model, but ah well, what are you gonna do.)

                          Only read the first chapter so far but it's been good.

                          What do you think? How far are you?

                          I tried to read the first and just felt you could learn a lot more in shorter and more interesting time from others.

                          Aqua LetiferA Offline
                          Aqua LetiferA Offline
                          Aqua Letifer
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #189

                          @loki said in What are you reading now?:

                          I tried to read the first and just felt you could learn a lot more in shorter and more interesting time from others.

                          Then you missed the point.

                          I'm not trying to be shitty or snobby about that. Peterson's a weird mix of things. I don't know much about clinical psychology or motivational self-help, so I can't speak to those aspects, but I know a lot about lit theory. Maps of Meaning is one of the most important books on the subject from the past century. Probably the most important of the past handful of decades. Not only is that true because of its insight—it's also true that no one else out there is even trying. Lit theory is currently undergoing a dark ages, and here comes this weird ass psychologist who talks about lobsters and room-cleaning and makes some of the most important contributions to the Humanities as anyone else alive. No, you literally can not find this information elsewhere, it's not taught anymore.

                          Please love yourself.

                          L 1 Reply Last reply
                          • Aqua LetiferA Aqua Letifer

                            @loki said in What are you reading now?:

                            I tried to read the first and just felt you could learn a lot more in shorter and more interesting time from others.

                            Then you missed the point.

                            I'm not trying to be shitty or snobby about that. Peterson's a weird mix of things. I don't know much about clinical psychology or motivational self-help, so I can't speak to those aspects, but I know a lot about lit theory. Maps of Meaning is one of the most important books on the subject from the past century. Probably the most important of the past handful of decades. Not only is that true because of its insight—it's also true that no one else out there is even trying. Lit theory is currently undergoing a dark ages, and here comes this weird ass psychologist who talks about lobsters and room-cleaning and makes some of the most important contributions to the Humanities as anyone else alive. No, you literally can not find this information elsewhere, it's not taught anymore.

                            L Offline
                            L Offline
                            Loki
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #190

                            @aqua-letifer said in What are you reading now?:

                            @loki said in What are you reading now?:

                            I tried to read the first and just felt you could learn a lot more in shorter and more interesting time from others.

                            Then you missed the point.

                            I'm not trying to be shitty or snobby about that. Peterson's a weird mix of things. I don't know much about clinical psychology or motivational self-help, so I can't speak to those aspects, but I know a lot about lit theory. Maps of Meaning is one of the most important books on the subject from the past century. Probably the most important of the past handful of decades. Not only is that true because of its insight—it's also true that no one else out there is even trying. Lit theory is currently undergoing a dark ages, and here comes this weird ass psychologist who talks about lobsters and room-cleaning and makes some of the most important contributions to the Humanities as anyone else alive. No, you literally can not find this information elsewhere, it's not taught anymore.

                            Sorry I should have been more clear. I was referring to the 12 rules for life. I have found his you tubes interesting and of course he’s been talked a lot about here. So, in part, my comment was meant to elicit feedback. I have enjoyed him enough that I will give maps of meaning a whirl. Honestly I was caught a bit off guard by the 12 rules for life but I’ll allow for the fact I could be missing something.

                            Aqua LetiferA 1 Reply Last reply
                            • L Loki

                              @aqua-letifer said in What are you reading now?:

                              @loki said in What are you reading now?:

                              I tried to read the first and just felt you could learn a lot more in shorter and more interesting time from others.

                              Then you missed the point.

                              I'm not trying to be shitty or snobby about that. Peterson's a weird mix of things. I don't know much about clinical psychology or motivational self-help, so I can't speak to those aspects, but I know a lot about lit theory. Maps of Meaning is one of the most important books on the subject from the past century. Probably the most important of the past handful of decades. Not only is that true because of its insight—it's also true that no one else out there is even trying. Lit theory is currently undergoing a dark ages, and here comes this weird ass psychologist who talks about lobsters and room-cleaning and makes some of the most important contributions to the Humanities as anyone else alive. No, you literally can not find this information elsewhere, it's not taught anymore.

                              Sorry I should have been more clear. I was referring to the 12 rules for life. I have found his you tubes interesting and of course he’s been talked a lot about here. So, in part, my comment was meant to elicit feedback. I have enjoyed him enough that I will give maps of meaning a whirl. Honestly I was caught a bit off guard by the 12 rules for life but I’ll allow for the fact I could be missing something.

                              Aqua LetiferA Offline
                              Aqua LetiferA Offline
                              Aqua Letifer
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #191

                              @loki said in What are you reading now?:

                              Sorry I should have been more clear. I was referring to the 12 rules for life.

                              No I gotcha. 12 Rules isn't a lit theory book, but those lessons are baked in anyway. Maps of Meaning is much more dense. It took me several months to chip away at it because here and there I compared his analysis to source material.

                              FWIW, I also think his lectures on Genesis and Exodus provide perspectives that fill a lot of modern gaps.

                              Please love yourself.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              • kluursK Offline
                                kluursK Offline
                                kluurs
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #192

                                I've followed this woman's career since she was a teen and recording for the Japanese label Denon. She's a talented person with a strong independent streak.

                                125e1ac9-c554-4c8f-9c33-403989c59e22-image.png

                                Started this one as well - not sure about it just yet.

                                d0200327-7705-4ba2-9696-8b303d6a38a7-image.png

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                • kluursK Offline
                                  kluursK Offline
                                  kluurs
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #193

                                  Bailed on this one - not what I was looking for. Oddly enough, there are books on many body parts - knees, feet, skin, etc. - but there's almost nothing on teeth, history of dentistry, care, issues, etc. I was quite surprised.

                                  d0200327-7705-4ba2-9696-8b303d6a38a7-image.png

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  • George KG Offline
                                    George KG Offline
                                    George K
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #194

                                    alt text

                                    "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                    The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    • LuFins DadL Offline
                                      LuFins DadL Offline
                                      LuFins Dad
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #195

                                      Uhm, George? Everything okay?

                                      The Brad

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      • kluursK Offline
                                        kluursK Offline
                                        kluurs
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #196

                                        668e04b0-c788-468c-a654-6b33aa5ec402-image.png

                                        George KG 1 Reply Last reply
                                        • kluursK kluurs

                                          668e04b0-c788-468c-a654-6b33aa5ec402-image.png

                                          George KG Offline
                                          George KG Offline
                                          George K
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #197

                                          @kluurs I really enjoyed that book.

                                          "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                          The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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