Books what you is reading: Page 19 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Books what you is reading

MistaT

Geography of Nowhere

Scathing critique of how poorly the US has been developed, and in doing so led to a sincere lack of culture. He points out this is increasingly a country of individuals who live sheltered off lives that revolve around private transit (everyone drives), minimal work interaction, and a quick return home to your home of luxury that you can't afford and are desperate to defend.

All this while being surrounded by a sad concrete jungle of high speed roads, strip malls, and commercial buildings.

Too few cities have committed to building parks, central gathering points, and building communities.

Klaus

Umberto Eco died apparently.

I don't know why, but I feel guilty now for still not having finished Prague Cementery which I started reading four years ago. It feels like I had one task. I'm picturing him being all: "Please finish this book before I die, that's all I'm asking" but I kept putting it up and then he croaked. And now I feel awful and want to finish the book quickly. Like I could still make it if I read really, really fast.

It's not a very rational feeling.

Burnwinter

Requiescat in pace.

My favourite bit of his writing was On The Impossibility of Drawing a Map of the Empire on a Scale of 1:1:

http://blogs.ubc.ca/clanki/files/2007/04/on-the-impossibility.pdf

which was in turn inspired by Borges' brief conceit, On Exactitude in Science:

https://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/users/08/bblonder/phys120/docs/borges.pdf

Generally think he had a charming gift for over-extrapolation, and taking premises beyond their logical conclusions in amusing ways, which you can see in all his collected essays.

Another work of his I'm really fond of is The Search for the Perfect Language, which should be read by any mathematician or linguist. It's a terrific popular non-fiction work dwelling on the failed mediaeval project to harmonise all human language in one perfect system of communication.

Of his fiction I only ever read The Name of the Rose, and I don't think it's as good today as I used to think it was when I was younger. I've heard Foucault's Pendulum is very good if you're interested in the occult and the idea of conspiracy.

Klaus

I never read Foucalt's Pendulum, but The Mystic Flame of Queen Loana was a brilliant work in my opinion. Really underrated, probably because of the unconventional form. People might have been put off by the constant comic references in it too, perhaps not realising that Eco was essentially a hack writer who took delight in ridiculous conspiracies, pop culture trash and detective mysteries. That was his art. He made it come alive by incorporating his semiotic knowledge in everything he did.

Burnwinter

Yeah! Giovanni Tiso's obit in Overland has a nice discussion of Eco's straddling the fissure of high and low culture.

https://overland.org.au/2016/02/vale-umberto-eco/

Klaus

Ooh, cheers! I'm definitely reading that before I go to bed.

mags

Although I didn't understand the half of Eco's writings, I so admired his curiosity and appetite for life...Thoroughly enjoyed The Name of the Rose and took it at face value, a medieval mystery...

From Wiki: His family name is supposedly an acronym of ex caelis oblatus (from Latin: a gift from the heavens), which was given to his grandfather (a foundling) by a city official.[3]

Gurgen

Just finished A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James. Can't remember the last time I was so impressed by a book. Give this man the Nobel prize.

mdgoonah41

ive been trying to get back to reading a book a week, but its been more like a book every 2 weeks.

im about halfway through this one:

i finished this one recently, and even though it sort of dragged on a bit, it was good

Sicario

10 per cent happier by Dan Harris. Really recommend this book. About an American news anchor who had a panic attack whilst on live tv (due to the 'constant internal critic in his head' which led to drug taking etc) turned his life around via meditation. Doesn't say it will change the world but it could make you 10 per cent happier. Good book.

Sicario

Also, Born For This by Chris Guillebeau is another book I would recommend. The author gives you practical tips to choose your best career path and what to do in order to achieve it.

Biggus

mags wrote:
Although I didn't understand the half of Eco's writings, I so admired his curiosity and appetite for life...Thoroughly enjoyed The Name of the Rose and took it at face value, a medieval mystery...

From Wiki: His family name is supposedly an acronym of ex caelis oblatus (from Latin: a gift from the heavens), which was given to his grandfather (a foundling) by a city official.[3]

If you are interested in the mystical/occult/mysteries/religion that Burnsy suggested (Foucault's Pendulum) might I suggest Frazer The Golden Bough.

mags

Thanks, Big....
Will order it from my local library....

mdgoonah41

mdgoonah41 wrote:
ive been trying to get back to reading a book a week, but its been more like a book every 2 weeks.

im about halfway through this one:

i finished this one recently, and even though it sort of dragged on a bit, it was good

dreamland was a good read. sleep/dreams is a big interest for me and ive read tons of literature on sleep in the last few years, so a lot of it was re-hash for me, but it was still a good entertaining read.

im currently almost finished reading this one:

and wow, what a book. i was a college student in 99/00 when napster hit and so i vividly remember a lot of this stuff, but it was fascinating to read a behind the scenes account, especially the technical development of the mp3 and the whole warez scene. the book is really well written and flows nicely. highly recommended.

Asterix

Listening to Le Carre's George Smiley series on audiobook. What a fantastic writer that man is. Currently up to the third book - The Spy Who Came in From the Cold.

Burnwinter

That's a fantastic book. Only Le Carré I've ever read mind you, but it's a stunner.

Asterix

Only one?!! You need a few days off, a comfy spot to read and pick any of his books. I enjoy trying to work out whether any given book will be "happy ending Le Carre" or "cynical no one wins the whole world is corrupt Le Carre".

I'd recommend Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Little Drummer Girl, The Night Manager, The Constant Gardener, A Most Wanted Man. But really, if you can, read them all.

mags

My favorite oddly enough is Call for the Dead, his first...
It is a snapshot of all his Smiley/Cold War books...

Segway

In the wake of this Icelandic fever I have to recommend the excellent novel, Stormland, by Hallgrimur Helgason.

Daz

Got any links to a decent review in English Segway? I can't seem to find one.

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