This is a regurgitated topic from the past, but always seems to draw interesting responses....which book, or books, are you currently reading.

At the moment I'm reading a book called 'Rescuing History from the Nation' by Prasenjit Duara. It challenges the Hegelian notion of an evolutionary history within the context of the Chinese historiography. Believe it or not, it's interesting. I've also been flipping through a textbook 'The World of Ancient Times' by Roebuck...it covers Sumer to Rome. Also, I'm reading several articles on the industrial policy in various East Asian countries from the 1950s to the 1980s. That reading isn't so exciting. Finally, I picked up the book 'The Great Chinese Revolution' by Jonathan Spence...one of his books I haven't quite gotten to yet. I recommend Spence to anyone who wishes to learn more about modern China.

So...what are you reading?

I am reading "Speak, Memory", by Vladimir Nabokov. He seems to be a pretty good writer. He seems to take you with him on his journey. Very well written. I just finished a Tom Clancy novel part of his OP center series Mirror Image. That was a fun book to read but too much like events of recent past (terrorists blowing up the tunnels into New York). I have already purchased another Clancy novel Politika. It seem that it is going to be a fun read as well.

Am reading the Mahabharata in a shortened version by R.K.Narayan. Surprising how clever and wise those old chaps were.

I'm reading a book about the life and work of William Blake. I don't remember the author. I've just started it and it is very interesting.

Besides my schoolbooks, I'm reading The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. It was just released on Nov. 6th, although I got it about a week early thanks to Indigo.ca.

Just picked up a book at the library today titled "Past Tense" by William G Tapply. It's the newest release in the Brady Coyne series who is a Boston based attorney who gets involed in solving all kinds of crimes.

"Fierce Invalids from Hot Climates" by Tom Robbins.

Terry

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"Fierce Invalids from Hot Climates" by Tom Robbins

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Is this as weird as "Half asleep in Frog pyjamas"? Terry? I'm still trying to work that one out!

I'm reading "The Truth" ... one of the Discworld books by Terry Pratchett, very funny. After that one, I'll be reading "the King of Sleep" by Caiseal Mor... I've been saving it.

I am reading Savage Inequalities Children in America's Schools By Jonathan Kozol. I highly recommend it. Even if you don't have children, you can't help but be outraged at how our school's let down so many of our children. This book has upset me more than anything I've ever read before.

Lough

JFK: The CIA, Vietnam And The Plot To Assassinate John F. Kennedy
L. Fletcher Prouty
(Man X in the movie JFK)

1. The Creation of the World....Ray Porter
2. Rule by Secrecy....Jim Marrs
3.Upside Down.....Eduardi Galeano
4.Things Hidden Since the Foudation of the World....Rene Girard

5. Nyasas Sutras
6. Plutarch's Lives..there is a set of 20 volumes...
7. Agrippa's Secret source book
8. Babylonian Magics
9. Aegyptica...Manetho
10...Gravity's Rainbow...Pynchon..
11. The Iconography of Indian Symbols
12. Poems by Dogen

I'm reading Gone with the Wind for what must be the sixth or seventh time. I really love that book!

Prophecy by Elizabeth Haydon

"Uncle John's Bathroom Reader - Plunges Into History" -Bathroom Readers' Hysterical Society
"The Mabinogion" - Unknown
"Father Brown" - G.K. Chesterton
"Gods & Myths of Northern Europe" - Davidson

Honestly- I'm not reading any "big people" books right now but have been reading "If You Give A Mouse a Cookie" to my son, cute stuff !

hehe yep, Tom Robbins is definitely one of my favorite authors. he's just so incredibly witty and his books are works of art.

Terry

I'm trying desperately to get through the latest John Le Carré novel set in Kenya. It's just not grabbing me!
He is brilliant as a writer, but it's too obvious.
I feel more like a Ken Follett!

Oh My Goodness!! God bless America....
I (duh!!) have just discovered Edith Wharton!!What a lovely writer... All I had done was watch the TV series of The Age of Innocence, which I enjoyed a few years ago. I picked up 'The House of Mirth"in the library and thought well if she wrote that one it must be worth a try. I can't put it down!! She writes about Old New York Society like Austen wrote about English Society..... it is so interesting, revealing and stylish. I am enjoying it sooo much!

Shooting From The Lip - Katie Puckrick. It's an autobiography of a rather cool journalist/TV presenter who made hr name on the UK TV show, The Word. It's a total joy to read, and I'm glad got to know her!

Junk Mail - Will Self. A collection of articles, reviews and interviews by just about the wittiest man alive in the UK today. I'd buy him a pint!

I'm reading Slaughterhouse-5 at the moment. It's pretty good so far....

[ 11-16-2001: Message edited by: tanzen ]

hmm...what I'm reading now...

My sister's book of Greek tragedies. I just started Antigone today.

I figured that since I hear so much about them, it's high time I actually read them to see what the fuss is all about.

Ah you have selected well Happy...I'm wondering if you've picked up a book by Barrons recently hmm (heh)...

Currently reading Eight Skilled Gentlemen by Barry Hughart.
it is a sequel to The Storey of the Stone, wich is a sequel to Bridge of Birds.

Set in ancient China all 3 follow the adventures of Master Li and his sidekick Number 10 Ox, they deal with the mythology and folklore of China, In a very tongue in cheek fashion.

An absolute scream if you like dry humor.

I'm reading moving pictures by Terry Pratchett at the moment. It's the second of his I've read,only just got round to him as an author. My favourites are the Covenant books of Stephen Donaldson.

I'm going to start reading Zeke and Ned by Larry McMurry and Diana Ossana, perhaps tomorrow. I'm not sure what it is about... but it has a pretty neat cover!