BJK&E Book Club
Most of you should be fully aware of the BJK&E charity book club venture - old books for sale available for the bargain price of 50p to Marie Curie in Katy’s Office. And we’re not talking car boot sale style ancient yellow paged books that nobody actually wants to read, these are actually decent acclaimed novels like as We Need to Talk About Kevin.
So in the spirit of book club sharing, I thought I’d blog about the book I’m reading now…. except … I’ve been reading the same book for the last 6 months and I dont think I can bring myself to read anymore. Its called Overtaken by Alexei Sayle. Reasonably witty, reasonably engaging, intelligent enough but nothing in it has gripped me - I would honestly rather be enjoying some trashy chick-lit. I feel wierdly committed to slog through the rest of the book and force myself to find out what happens even though I’ve forgotten all of the characters names already. Why is that? Although, lets face it, nothing’s ever going to be as good as Harry Potter.
What are you reading? What would you secretly rather be reading? Or what book has left a big impact on you?
November 14th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
I am currently reading Zen and the Art of the Motorcycle maintenance, a popular philosophy novel charting the journey and self discovery by the Novelist Pirsig. Astonishing reading but needs some time as it explores some pretty meaty narrative.
Enjoy!
November 14th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
I am exactly the same! Why do you force yourself through a book when you’re obviously not enjoying it? I’m not a big reader as it is, so I don’t know why I put myself off even more trying to get the the end of something dull!
Shamefully, the only book I’ve recently managed to finish in less than a year is the Devil Wears Prada. Now I want to watch the film!
At the moment, I’m intermittently picking up Bill Bryson’s “A Short History To Everything”.
November 14th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Spookily, I’m currently re-reading Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five. It made such an impact on me first time around that I went on to read virtually all of his work, with very few disappointments.
His typical approach was the use of satire, black comedy and ’science fiction’ to convey a largely humanist and insightful view of the world; the good as well as the bad. Very accessible; often profound; alway witty.
I have to confess to shedding a tear when he died last year, “so it goes”, which with hindsight was a deeply ironic thing to have done.
PS. Should I feel bad about having given a load of books to my local Marie Curie shop last month?
November 14th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
I am reading a book called ‘Asshole’ which was given to me by my housemate. It is written by someone who took it upon himself to learn how to become an asshole in order to get places in life because as the saying goes ‘nice guys always finish last.’
I am not sure if it is a good or bad thing that my housemate want me to be an asshole.
It is an interesting read but not really a page turner.
look for me to be knocking you out of the way and being as rude as possible in the coming weeks.
November 14th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Anything by Douglas Coupland. He is a genius!
November 14th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Don’t become an asshole Patrick! Read the Yes Man instead, now that’s an inspirational story of the power of positivity! And is funny.
‘The Game’ is another good one for the guys (looking for tips with the ladies!)
November 14th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I’m reading attonement at the moment. I’ve heard some found it really boring to read, but I’m enjoying it (not sure if that says anything). Love the style and detail.
As far as books that have moved me goes, I have never been moved as much by a book as when I read ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ by Khaled Hosseini. It’s beautiful, hard hitting and a massive tear jerker! If you don’t like crying in public, don’t leave the house with it!
November 17th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Currently reading “the God delusion”. A very interesting read, covering global belief systems including those pre-dating Christianity.
It’s not light reading, in fact it’s a bit like reading a text book, and, as I read before bed, it’s not the light reading fix I crave to send me off. So I’m flicking my way through this months 4-4-2 instead…
November 18th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
I’m reading JarHead at the moment - but prior to that I stormed through ‘The steep approach to Garbadale’ by Iain Banks. Its damn amazing and I cannot endorse it enough! go buy it! (or borrow it from me)
November 20th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Finished my Asshole book…..Now i am going to read Choke by the same guy who wrote the book Fight Club. The movie Choke should be in the theaters soon too i believe.
November 21st, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I still havent read a single page more of Overtaken. I think I may quit on it while I’m behind and raid the BJK&E Book Club