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Blast from the past read that in first year back at University throughly enjoyed it. Great book.Was in New York a couple of weeks ago at a bookstore near Rockefeller Center. Son was busy wringing his hands over which Diary of a Wimpy Kid book to buy, and I decided to pick this up. Only finished the first chapter so far, but it's interesting, and I like the writing style.
I read a fictional account of his life The Magician by Colm Toibin. Was a big fan at 21 read 7 books of his that year. Never got round to reading a biography of him.Still have copies of The Magic Mountain, Joseph and His Brothers and Doctor Faustus.View attachment 2145891
Recovering from hip replacement surgery @46, I kid you not! Thought I’d catch up on some literary biography’s.
HAH. I also went on a Thomas Mann dive in my 20s: Confessions of Felix Krull is a favourite.I read a fictional account of his life The Magician by Colm Toibin. Was a big fan at 21 read 7 books of his that year. Never got round to reading a biography of him.Still have copies of The Magic Mountain, Joseph and His Brothers and Doctor Faustus.
Late to party.William Gibson: Burning Chrome, 1986.
'She try to call you yet?'
'No.'
'She will.'
'Rubin, she's dead. They cremated her already.'
'I know,' he said. 'And she's going to call you.'
Collection of short stories, some taking place in the same Sprawl setting as Neuromancer. Gibson is one of the greatest prose stylist in SF, his flinty style being the perfect match for the cyberpunk world he invents. Recommended on the strength of the writing alone, though the stories are cool too. It's hard to read these without a smile on your face from just how well written they are.
Read the first two and can confirm they are excellent. It really is hard for people to comprehend just how horrific ireland was for so long. Jake adelstein did a podcast two years ago or maybe last year "the Evaporated: Gone With the Gods" about how easy and common it is to just disappear in Japan.I did 51 books last year and hoping to do better this year. 14 so far. Some great highlights I would recommend here:
- Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland. Patrick Radden Keefe. A very interesting look at some of the more notorious personalities on the Republican side of the troubles.
- Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan. Jake Adelstein. Incredible. Adelstein is the first Westerner to be hired as a reporter by the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's largest paper. Story is wild.
- The Wager. A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder. David Grann. New last year and on the NYT best books of 2023 list.
- Ametora. How Japan Saved American Style. W. David Marks. Reissued for 2023. Pickup up at Armoury Tribeca. Seems appropriate for the forum.
- The Botany of Desire. Michael Polan. An older title I had never gotten to. Who knew apples were so cool?
- The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger. Marc Levinson. I'm an operations/logistics nerd, so this was great for me. But overall good look at an important change in how we all live.
- The Amur River: Between Russia and China. Colin Thubron. Thubron is a total badass and great writer. A great travelogue.
Neuromancer was a bit of a hard read for me (Gibson flies through cyberspace at such break-neck speeds that it can be hard to keep up), but I'm still planning to pick up the next two Sprawls and start them off with a re-read of Neuromancer. For the first book, I'll suggest picking up the nice hardcover from the Penguin Galaxy imprint (and then enjoy that iconic opening line).Late to party.
Friend has been trying to get me to read his sprawl trilogy for years. Have had it penciled-in, similarly, for years.
One day.
It is because I am a physicist that I too often reject Sci-fi, it hurts. That said, do intend to read the trilogy… one day.Neuromancer was a bit of a hard read for me (Gibson flies through cyberspace at such break-neck speeds that it can be hard to keep up), but I'm still planning to pick up the next two Sprawls and start them off with a re-read of Neuromancer. For the first book, I'll suggest picking up the nice hardcover from the Penguin Galaxy imprint (and then enjoy that iconic opening line).
But before that I'll recommend getting Burning Chrome. As mentioned, some of these short stories (3 out of 10) take place in the Sprawl (including Johnny Mnemonic) and they work nicely as prequels to Neuromancer and as an acclimating introduction to Gibson's prose.
Just started that one recently; a little dry, but it is kind of amazing how such a simple thing can be so transformative.- The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger. Marc Levinson. I'm an operations/logistics nerd, so this was great for me. But overall good look at an important change in how we all live.
Wooden pallets, too!Just started that one recently; a little dry, but it is kind of amazing how such a simple thing can be so transformative.
I think I did 40 last year (and some shorts stories). And likewise up to 14 so far this year. Highlights from last year:I did 51 books last year and hoping to do better this year. 14 so far.
This sounds like something I should pick up. I'm quite enjoying the tv series on HBO (co-produced by Adelstein, I believe) - with vibes of Scott's great Black Rain.- Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan. Jake Adelstein. Incredible. Adelstein is the first Westerner to be hired as a reporter by the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's largest paper. Story is wild.
This book is so good. Had me crying this morning. There is a donkey named Ferrari who manages to provide comedic relief even though he is really just mentioned. But, Ferrari does have some genuinely touching moments as a character--all while one of Christianity's holiest sites is being obliterated in war.16 holds on six copies at the library meant I'll buy this one. View attachment 2144011