BOOKS THREAD

The book is called "Confessions of an Innocent Man: Torture and Survival in a Saudi Prison".  It's on my list too.

 

I got this book from the library off Flanders' recommendation. I'm about halfway through it and even though I have never been much for travel writing, I am really enjoying it. Parts of it are really funny and it makes one yearn for the Auld Sod (or a pint of Guiness).

 

Glad I could recommend it...the part with him trying to get into Bunratty Castle is classic. Won't ruin it for you haven't gotten there yet. ;D

 

Just finished "The Rule of Four."  Decent read.  Reminiscent of Dan Brown's stuff.  At least every chapter didn't end with a cliffhanger.

Started "The Lost Painting" by Jonathan Harr yesterday.  So far so good.

 

I just picked up "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey despite the Oprah stamp on the cover. Sounded interesting. Haven't delved into it yet. Anyone else read it?

 

What is the deal with Su  Doku?  These things have been in Dell puzzle magazines since Christ was a cowboy.  When did they get hip?  ???

 

Hey, i've been to Bunratty Castle.

 

Actually, several years ago Dave Barry did write a book subtitled "A Sort-of History of the United States." Incredibly funny book, especially the footnotes and the discussion questions at the end of each chapter.

 

I have a question: Why do some people swoon so much over Annie Proulx? I always found her stuff to be awkward and halting. I always feel like I'm stumbling over her sentences instead of just reading. I'm trying to put together this short-story collection (sort of like a literary mix tape) for my wife as a home-made Christmas present, and so I went to Borders yesterday and read Brokeback Mountain, the Proulx story (from the collection Close Range) about two gay cowboys that originally ran in the New Yorker (where it won a National Magazine Award) and was made into a movie (staring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhall!) that will drive the red states fucking bonkers when it gets released this winter.

My reaction: Eh ... it was ok. Didn't exactly bowl me over. There were a couple of nice scenes at the end, but it was just ok. I read The Shipping News and had a similar reaction. I just don't think her style is as brilliant as the literary crowd thinks it is. I'm curious if anyone feels the same way, or from anyone who wants to defend Proulx and thinks I'm a clown.

Also, while I'm here, anyone have any great short stories they'd recomend for my literary mix tape?

 

I bought The Shipping News after hearing such great things...and I was not loving it. I got through it, eventually, but it definitely wasn't what I had expected it to be.