What are you reading?

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by rdawson808

I am firmly of the opinion that this is one of the top 5 books ever written by humankind. I first read it my senior year in high school and have tried to read it every spring since. Some years I never got around to it, but I still have a pretty good record over these last 17 years.

Possibly the finest closing line in literature. Say what you will about Hemingway, I think he can rest his reputation on that one sentence.

I'll also second the praise for "Founding Brothers." What a great read -- really humanizes the founders.

 

[dr.no]

I just started Lolita based on the "If you only had one book to read" thread. Already ordering The Defense for next week.

 

[aportnoy]

"The Friendship"

The story of Coleridge and Wordsworth's legendary association.

 

[lawyerdad]

Originally Posted by dr.no

I just started Lolita based on the "If you only had one book to read" thread. Already ordering The Defense for next week.

Add "Pale Fire" and you've pretty much got Nabokov down. The rest of his stuff is just filling in the gaps - albeit with often brilliant filler.

 

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by dr.no

I just started Lolita based on the "If you only had one book to read" thread. Already ordering The Defense for next week.

One of the best openings in literature (Odd, coming right after my previous comment). Hard for the book to live up to it, though it's a good read.

Best opening sentence: "Anna Karenina"

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by lawyerdad

Add "Pale Fire" and you've pretty much got Nabokov down. The rest of his stuff is just filling in the gaps - albeit with often brilliant filler.

Why not his translation of Pushkin's "Evgeni Onegin"?

I am currently reading:

Various Agatha Christie mystries--sort of guilty reading
The Lais of Marie de France.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

Possibly the finest closing line in literature. Say what you will about Hemingway, I think he can rest his reputation on that one sentence.
The poignancy is like a small but effectual bullet-wound.

 

[rdawson808]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

Various Agatha Christie mystries--sort of guilty reading
The Lais of Marie de France.

Well, I can't help but raise a toast to that!

b

 

[aportnoy]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

Best opening sentence: "Anna Karenina"

I would nominate Camus "The Starnger"

"Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday. I dont know."

 

[johnapril]

Will You Please Be Quiet, Please? by Raymond Carver (fourth or fifth reading)

 

[Kaga]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

Various Agatha Christie mystries--sort of guilty reading
.
If my memory serves me correctly, The Mysterious Mr. Quin is an odd departure from form by the Dame. I fondly remember correctly the restaurant Arlecchino.

I am debating whether to purchase the new Anthony Bourdain book.

 

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by aportnoy

I would nominate Camus "The Starnger"

"Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday. I dont know."

Yes, but that's three sentences!

 

[drizzt3117]

I'm reading "Heyday" by Anderson. Seems to be an interesting book so far.

 

[Manton]

"The Salinas Valley is in Northern California. It is a long narrow swale between two ranges of mountains, and the Salinas River winds and twists up the center until it falls at last into Monterey Bay."

 

[tiger02]

Originally Posted by Manton

"The Salinas Valley is in Northern California. It is a long narrow swale between two ranges of mountains, and the Salinas River winds and twists up the center until it falls at last into Monterey Bay."
McPhee?