Literature

I've been reading Manufacturing Consent lately after hearing so much about it. It's very interesting through the new introduction and the first part, where the propaganda model is explained, but it drags some as the authors try to apply it to certain historical events, like the 1984 Nicaraguan Election.

Still, it's interesting, and while the model still applies to mainstream media today, the advent of the internet, smartphones, and social media's resulting displacement of mass media has lessened its effectiveness.

Currently trying to finish a book called Les protégés de Sainte Kinga (only available in French I'm afraid, it's recent and really obscure), the story mixes historical fiction with current-day crime fiction. The settings and scenario are interesting, but I'm not too fond of the writing style and the storytelling.

I'm reading a book of short stories by John Sayles, called The Anarchists' Convention. There have been some absolute bangers so far.

Re-reading Kaiju Preservation Society because I needed something light and fun. It still delivers on that promise !

If you haven't read The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green, you gotta.

I'm reading The Bible for Dummies now lol. I wasn't raised religiously, but I do find it important to have knowledge about other people's beliefs. It analyses the bible, but before that it gives you a very good idea of the origin of Christianity and how it's linked to other Abrahamistic religions. Would recommend if you're interested in learning about religion.

Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope and The Count of Monte Cristo by Alenxandre Dumas.

Reading through Attached by Amir Levine, recommended to me by my therapist. It talks about different types of people's ability to form attachments and relationships with others. I've definitely learned a lot about myself so far and I'm only halfway through.

I'm reading (or rather listening to) The Royal Succession by Maurice Druon - it's a historical fiction series about the kings of France in the 14th century. I've really liked the series so far!

Finished the sequel to Becky Chamber’s A Psalm For The Wild-Built. Can’t recommend this series more highly for a glimpse into a calming and peaceful alternative future.

After quitting Reddit finally getting to my book backlog. The Expanse: The Sins of Our Fathers and then got to pick another old Star Trek book.

I’m reading through Le Guin’s Earthsea cycle for the first time, and I’m currently on Tales from Earthsea. Fantastic, unique books.

I just started Klara and the Sun. Also listening to The Amazing Adventures of Kavilier and Clay (Soo good).

Book Club is reading Accelerando (3rd time for me). Just finished Singularity Sky and Iron Sunrise.

Next up: the new Cormac McCarthy, Consider Phlebas.

Nona the Ninth (third book in The Locked Tomb series, which starts with Gideon the Ninth)

I am absolutely loving this series, I had no idea what I was getting into. Solid plot, great style, fun, super clever. Highly recommend.

I am deciding between finishing the long way to a Small angry planet or starting howls moving castle

Just started a series called Slip Runner. Two guys and a ship pickup scrap from alien ships after the war ends.

I like going on Amazon and searching "scifi boxset". You find some interesting stuff.

Bumped, a feminist dystopia where only teenagers can reproduce. The book is very confusing to get into (it's narrated by two teenagers in 2036, so you need to learn alll the slangs) and the writing style rubbed me off as amateurish, but it's been very entertaining nevertheless. It gets even funny when you get what's going on because teens be teens.

Finished up To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini last week. Was a great read, a loooong book though. Just noticed that there is a prequel to the book so perhaps I will read that at some point, though it was not available at my library (at least as e-book).

Currently got nothing to read. And actually due to me being here instead of reddit I am cutting down on internet-time anyway so it would be a good time to start a new book. I have some ideas like Neuromancer, Slaughterhouse five, Project Hail Mary, The Forever War and Arrival but perhaps I'll find something completely different. I also read the Elder Race by Tchaikovsky a few months back and it was great, perhaps I'll read another one of their books next.

I'm currently reading Oblomov by Goncharov, after it I might jump to "Ears of corn under your sickle" by Karatkievič

Roots by Alex Haley The Boat of a Million Years by Poul Anderson Ten Years of Madness: Oral Histories of China's Cultural Revolution by Feng Jicai

A historic description of the life of Finnish executioners. Pretty dope stuff!

Read Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami, and liked the dreamy atmosphere. Currently reading Kafka on the Shore by same author. Many people recommended Norwegian Wood so that is also on the reading list.

Essex Dogs. It's a historical fiction novel about a band of mercenaries aiding England's invasion of France in the 1300s. It's my palate cleanser after finished the third Stormlight Archives novel.

I'm currently working my way through The Infinite and The Divine by Robert Rath. I think it could be enjoyable without knowledge of Warhammer 40k, but it is set in that universe. One of the better extended universe type stories I have read so far.

I also want to start in on some of the programming books sitting on my shelf, and maybe finally start on American Psycho, but so far I've been busier reading comics and stuff on Lemmy.

No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai. Great read so far.