Finished The Brothers Karamazov (now properly spelled) yesterday. Easily one of the best books I've ever read... If Dostoevsky handled his prose with any sense of poetic flair this bad boy would be book of the year all years. But in a sense his ramblings about the psychology of every goddamn character in every goddamn situation is fitting, I just find it a bit of a shame his style isn't as passionate (or raving mad) as his characters.

So Tolstoy is going to have to wait; my body simply isn't ready for another hot wad of Russian soul. Thus begins my reading of The Tale of Genji, which upon completion will surely grant my weeaboo power level a promotion to over 9,000 or so.



Of course I'm reading the Penguin Classics edition, but I like this cover because the artist makes vidya games and the illustration features a boobie.

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When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again: I would have none but knaves follow it, since a fool gives it.

So I decided to write reviews of the books I (don't) like and make a Charlie Brooker impersonation at the same time.

The result? Bookswipe.

I wrote about how Origin of Species wouldn't be so polemic if Darwin wrote about pubic hair. Next week, I want to talk about J.S. Mill's "On Liberty".

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Indiana Clones Upcoming Sets
[ I May Upload Something Someday ]

Splitting my reading between...


http://www.amazon.com/Wizards-Armag...e/dp/0804718849

and


http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Hand-Unt...y/dp/0385524374


Both are pretty good, been reading the first one a lot more lately though. Lots of good history on the people that started The RAND Corporation and the beginnings of nuclear strategy and politics. Lots of stuff on Game Theory and economics as well (most of the strategists were not military people, but economists and sociologists).

Gonna see what Llosa's all about.

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quote:

Originally posted by Lira Next week, I want to talk about J.S. Mill's "On Liberty".

Heh, I tried giving that a go yesterday and quit on page seven. I found the writing hard to follow and the book didn't reveal anything new to me (liberty is nice, don't be a dick), I was just reading it for the sake of having read it (figured I'd finally get my $4.99's worth out of it, spent years ago).

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When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again: I would have none but knaves follow it, since a fool gives it.

quote:

Originally posted by couch-potato Heh, I tried giving that a go yesterday and quit on page seven. I found the writing hard to follow and the book didn't reveal anything new to me (liberty is nice, don't be a dick), I was just reading it for the sake of having read it (figured I'd finally get my $4.99's worth out of it, spent years ago).

The reason why "On Liberty" doesn't seem to reveal anything new to you is because we now take its premises for granted. It wasn't so before he penned that treatise.

Anyway, I sort of want to be a bit more original about my reviews, and I'm thinking of calling it "Booklash" rather than "Bookswipe" (parodying Charlie Brooker). But is "lash" too strong a word? I've never seen someone use it as a synonymous for "criticise"...

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Indiana Clones Upcoming Sets
[ I May Upload Something Someday ]

Yeah I figured that much, just thought it'd be more enjoyable to read is all.

Lash is fine. I figure with a title you get a bit of leeway so long as the general point comes across. You could also try "Bookburn(er)" or "Bookbukkake"

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When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again: I would have none but knaves follow it, since a fool gives it.

Just finished Will Durant's The Story of Philosophy and now on to this:

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My Set Archive - MY BLOG

I'm reading two at the moment.



I don't like Gibson or fiction, but I am willing to make an exception for steampunk:

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Latest releases:
Endless Cycles [Capital Heaven]
The Charlatan [Morphosis]

quote:

Originally posted by Mr.Mystery

Cool, is it good? I've been thinking of picking them up.

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