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Calling all keen readers - book club

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  1. #81

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    Hi Chris,

    I was reading Guns, Germs and Steel... but I actually found that he was repeating the same ideas throughout each chapter. It was a bit dry to me.

    NinaSimone, I read A Thousand Suns as you said it was good... I loved the plot and I even shed a few tears at the end! You are right that it is better than Kite Runner. I agree totally.

    So, who's heard of this new book The Celestine Prophecy? Worth reading?

    I am all for meeting up if we can get enough people.


  2. #82

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    Personally, I liked Guns, Germs, and Steel a lot, along with Jared Diamond's other bestseller, Collapse. I suppose it is true that he does repeat the same ideas - as with other 'big idea' books, he starts with his premise, and applies it through various examples throughout the books. I think Diamond's ideas have a lot of merit, although it is true that his central theme in "Collapse" - the fragility of a society that fails to adapt - is undermined a bit by the fact that his examples - the Maya, the Viking Settlers in Greenland, the Easter Islanders - were fragile and isolated to begin with. Still, it makes for compelling reading. The story of the lost Greenland settlements is chilling (ignore the pun please).


  3. #83

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    Personally, I wouldn't read The Celestine Prophecy - New Age drek. Reading it is probably like reading The da Vinci Code - you'd probably be better off watching TV. To each his own, though.


  4. #84

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    Ok, Free Trader, I will get my hands on Collapse, your comments got me intrigued again.

    Who has read Never Let Me Go? By Kazuo Ishiguro. Shortlisted for Booker Prize. I loved it.

    Also, any David Sedaris fans here? I heard he was good.

    I love Terry Prachett too by the way, so if there are any Discworld fans in HK, raise your hand and say Hello!


  5. #85

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    Quote Originally Posted by kayelle:
    Ok, Free Trader, I will get my hands on Collapse, your comments got me intrigued again.

    Who has read Never Let Me Go? By Kazuo Ishiguro. Shortlisted for Booker Prize. I loved it.

    Also, any David Sedaris fans here? I heard he was good.

    I love Terry Prachett too by the way, so if there are any Discworld fans in HK, raise your hand and say Hello!
    I am a big fan of Ishiguro (The Remains of the Day, An Artist of the Floating World, A Pale View of Hills)...I was disappointed with "When We Were Orphans" and I purchased "Never Let Me Go" and still have my copy but actually haven't read it yet. I bought it at the same time as Ian McEwan's "Saturday" and actually read "Saturday" instead. Never Let Me Go might be a good book to read.

    David Sedaris is funny - I've read enough of him, though, I think.

  6. #86

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    I haven't read even one book from Sedaris - where have I been! Freetrader, will you recommend one title to me? LoveNinaSimone said Me Talk Pretty is good. What is your opinion?

    Anyone read Liar's Poker? Good? Bad?

    I have not heard of Ian McEwan. Another author to read up on, thanks for the recommendation.

    Any Prachett fans?

    Perhaps we can even have a general book discussion meet up end of Sept?


  7. #87

    Hi guys,

    good to see new and old names on the thread. Freetrader welcome back and I love Collapse as well. Sedaris was my recommendation and I know his last book was not as good, but to me there still are enough sparks of delight. And Chris good to see you here as well. I won't make your meet this Sunday as I'm racing on that day, but would love to get together some other time. Kayelle, Liar's Poker was a fun read though compared with the derivatives today it was the innocent days.

    Sorry I was consumed by work and sports lately, evident by the late hour and my weary eyes. I am still planning on reading Kafka on the Shore. Kayelle you still have the book? You guys interested in reading this one?


  8. #88

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    I guess you'd like The Celestine Prophecy if you're into spiritual things like New Age or eastern philosophy.

    I'm a big fan of Haruki Murakami, and Kafka on the Shore is one of my favourite Haruki Murakami novels. Now I'm waiting for the translation of 1Q84 to come out.


  9. #89

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    Quote Originally Posted by crescent:
    I guess you'd like The Celestine Prophecy if you're into spiritual things like New Age or eastern philosophy.

    I'm a big fan of Haruki Murakami, and Kafka on the Shore is one of my favourite Haruki Murakami novels. Now I'm waiting for the translation of 1Q84 to come out.
    I like Murakami a lot - I've read most of his short stories in The New Yorker, and I read his book After Dark. Since I like to run, I want to eventually read "What I Think About When I Think About Running" but haven't yet.

  10. #90

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    kayelle I have not heard of Ian McEwan. Another author to read up on, thanks for the recommendation.


    Atonement is my favorite book of his, by the way. I didn't really care for the movie version, even though it followed the book fairly closely, and had a great cast.

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