Guest Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 What was the last book you read? Tell us about it - what did you like (or dislike) about it?Doesn't have to have gay content. The last book I read was Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London (released as Midnight Riot in the US, I think). Great urban fantasy novel about Peter Grant, a London bobby (policeman) who discovers that he has an affinity for magic one night when he takes testimony from a witness to a murder ... who turns out to be a ghost. He is conscripted into becoming an apprentice wizard, the only other member of a division of the force dedicated to solving otherworldly crime, starting with the murder.Funny and thrilling by turns, this book is light reading, which suits me just fine. None of that Twilight nonsense, and simply good fun, with a couple of twists in the tale that caught me by surprise. Not high literature, but not everything has to be. Your turn? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ubermensch22 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 The last book I recall enjoying (and have no reservations in proposing to anyone to give it a go) was Christopher Isherwood's magnum opus "A Single Man". The novel deals with a day in the life of George Falconer, a British-born middle-aged closeted gay man teaching at a University in Los Angeles and how he tries to look for meaning in life after the loss of his lover Jim. Amidst the threat of the Cold War and the general repression of homosexuals during the sixties (which gives the novel an added sense of realism) George's every thought and reaction to his condition and environment, always interspersed by memories of Jim, is so brilliantly expressed and the many understated revelations brought out by it made the reading of this novel very personal to me. I came to this novel, not having heard of Christopher Isherwood to begin with, through the recent 2009 film of the same title that is based on the novel starring Colin Firth as George. I highly recommend anyone reading this to catch the movie as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cube3 Posted February 19, 2015 Report Share Posted February 19, 2015 Luv the movie! :clap: :clap: :clap: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhatefia Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 The Inheritance by Robin Hobb and Megan Lindholm. It's a lighthearted collection of short stories, and some of these tales I find pretty immersive. It's a nice book to bring along on a trip to while away some time; perfect if you want some material to read but cannot commit to finishing a whole novel in one sitting.Hobb is a great storyteller, and the stories she spins from fantasy to the wretched are well depicted and passionate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakandpines Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 trigger warning - neil gaiman. dont really care for his novels (american gods and stardust were *gasp* boring) but his short stories are always good.a tad similar to his other collection, smoke & mirrors, but still worth the buy/read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejszaka Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 (edited) The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova. The book's about vampires. After this, you will find the Twilight series utter crap. Edited February 27, 2015 by ejszaka Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Trigger Warning is on my want list, but I might wait till it's available in paperback. I am very fond of Neil Gaiman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dickieguy Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 Late to the party but i recently read Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. Blew. My. Mind. lumix12345 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butterscotch Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 The last book I read was Maureen F. McHugh's China Mountain Zhang for my book club. A science fiction book set in the distant future wherein China is the dominant country, with four stories loosely intertwined. There are gay characters in the book. Overall I enjoyed the book. This was slightly more than six months ago. I have over 40 books just piling up in my bookshelves (oops). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xLeviathan Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 The last book I read was the fault in our stars...to get a feel of how romance novels are written. It was good though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Bit the bullet and got the Trigger Warning trade paperback from Kino. Second story got me good. *sigh* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azimuth Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Currently trying to finish Hatching Twitter. Mainly office politics drama. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 I' recovering from reading Keigo Higashino's Malice.Higashino has a knack for convoluted plots, and has a sparse, deceptively easy to read style. He turns the mystery novel on its head again in Malice, as he did in both The Devotion of Suspect X as well as Salvafion of a Saint, the previous two books of his that I read. I'm still not used to a mystery where I know who did it almost from the start. Higashino does a brilliant job of dropping clues and revealing bits and pieces, and when the entire picture emerges at the end, it turns out that things were never quite what I thought they were at the beginning.The base story of Malice is quite simple. Children's writer, Nonoguchi, visits his friend Hidaka, also a writer, a couple of days before the latter departs for Canada with his new wife, Rie. They have a conversation, which is interrupted by Ms Fujio, the sister of a man whose death and life featured prominently in Hidaka's latest novel, and although the details were thinly veiled, Fujio was not portrayed in a very good light. Nonoguchi leaves them to their discussion - Ms Fujio wants the book rewritten - and goes home to a meeting with his publisher. He gets a terse call from Hidaka, asking him to come over, which he does after his meeting. When he gets to Hidaka's, the house is empty and locked up. He calls Rie, who has gone ahead to the hotel where the couple are staying as they prepare for their departure, thinking that Hidaka might be there. He isn't, and Rie comes over with her spare key - when she lets Nonoguchi into the house, they expore it together and find Hidaka's body in his office.But that's only the beginning. I finished the novel about half an hour ago, and I'm still chilled to the bone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krude Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 the last book I read was susan sontag's on photography. its non-fiction and it discusses how photography is used as a tool, an expression, and an art form. the current book I'm reading is also non-fiction and it is on Pranayama, on how the yogic pranayama practice can benefit the constitutions of our body. jasonW and xenophile 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krude Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 trigger warning - neil gaiman. dont really care for his novels (american gods and stardust were *gasp* boring) but his short stories are always good.a tad similar to his other collection, smoke & mirrors, but still worth the buy/read. He's wonderful in the graphic novel The Sandman, where he writes about The Endless with Dream as the focal character. In this series, the reader is constantly in the realm of the constant and past as he weaves in stories of Shakespeare and various historical & cultural moments in our time. I read stardust and I liked it, I've also read Anansi boys and its good too.. xenophile 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 Lately r mostly religious and metaphyics. The last novel would be Jilll Copper's Polo some years ago. One that I have not finish was Earnest Hemmingway "For Whom The Bell Tolls" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cube3 Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 For the gay man who reads science fiction: Stephen Baxter's mind-blowing novels! Just finished Moonseed...a little slower-paced than some of his other works, but as is his style, the idea is refreshing and intriguing... luv the surprise endings! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterD Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 (edited) Song of Archilles is a great read, especially for hopeless romantics. *Spoiler alert* Classic love story but with a gay twist: plain boy meets popular boy, popular boy takes plain boy under his care, popular boy's mother rejects relationship and forces him into a straight marriage, love is consummated in a dark cave, both boys go to war, plain boy is killed and popular boy goes out to seek revenge, etc. etc. Poignant ending as well. Penguins aside, you can find the book in the National Library. Adult section of course. Edited July 4, 2015 by MisterD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 72%dark Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 (edited) The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova. The book's about vampires. After this, you will find the Twilight series utter crap."After this"?? hahaha (*looks nervously over shoulder for lynch mob of twihards massing in the distance*)Song of Archilles is a great read, especially for hopeless romantics. Classic love story but with a gay twist: .You should probably preface this with a spoiler alert. But yes! I second the recommendation. Its depiction of the affection between the characters manages to be moving without being maudlin. The prose is on the lyrical side without being overwrought.--Incidentally/interestingly, though Madeline Miller's retelling concentrates for a large part on love, the story of Achilles is also one of rage, as in the opening line of the Iliad, “Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus’ son Achilleus…” Edited July 4, 2015 by 72%dark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterD Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 "After this"?? hahaha (*looks nervously over shoulder for lynch mob of twihards massing in the distance*)You should probably preface this with a spoiler alert. But yes! I second the recommendation. Its depiction of the affection between the characters manages to be moving without being maudlin. The prose is on the lyrical side without being overwrought.--Incidentally/interestingly, though Madeline Miller's retelling concentrates for a large part on love, the story of Achilles is also one of rage, as in the opening line of the Iliad, “Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus’ son Achilleus…” Sorry, the Iliad is too dense for me. I will need a character guide to figure out what is happening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lodger88 Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Fascinating responses! I'm an avid reader as well and currently, I am reading classics that I should have read in my youth. Madame Bovary is first up! Are any of you lads interested in starting up a book group? i.e. Meet once every 3- 4 weeks to discuss a book? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 Book Group sound very interesting, never participate before and are curious about it. Wondering if it possible to have an online or virtual version. Just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lodger88 Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 It's really fun. Typically, a book club comprises of a group of 5-8. Each person gets a turn to pick a book and guides discussions - usually over wine and nibbles. They are great fun. I was in one back in Australia and it's a good way to stimulate the mind and to meet like-minded folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 29, 2015 Report Share Posted July 29, 2015 It's really fun. Typically, a book club comprises of a group of 5-8. Each person gets a turn to pick a book and guides discussions - usually over wine and nibbles. They are great fun. I was in one back in Australia and it's a good way to stimulate the mind and to meet like-minded folks.So It should be meaningless to do it online. It would have taken most of the fun away.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
htw89 Posted July 29, 2015 Report Share Posted July 29, 2015 (edited) I second Song of Achilles. Loved it when I read it many years ago. The rivers of London series is also very quintessentially British. Tons of dry wit. Edited July 29, 2015 by htw89 lodger88 and thedoctor 2 Quote Cogito ergo sum - I think therefore I am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lodger88 Posted July 29, 2015 Report Share Posted July 29, 2015 So any takers? Am happy to host. xenophile 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
common Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 I am interested Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cube3 Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 Recently just started Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series...fascinating premise, mix of magic & technology, reminds me of fantasy writers like Anne McCaffrey...good for holidays! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butterscotch Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 (edited) There is actually an existing book club if you guys are interested? We do LGBT literature and movies; meeting is held every third Thursday of the month. I put my personal reading list on hold. There are 60 books waiting to be read. Edited August 27, 2015 by Butterscotch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 60!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roflparadox Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 What was the last book you read? Tell us about it - what did you like (or dislike) about it?Doesn't have to have gay content.The last book I read was Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London (released as Midnight Riot in the US, I think). Great urban fantasy novel about Peter Grant, a London bobby (policeman) who discovers that he has an affinity for magic one night when he takes testimony from a witness to a murder ... who turns out to be a ghost. He is conscripted into becoming an apprentice wizard, the only other member of a division of the force dedicated to solving otherworldly crime, starting with the murder.Funny and thrilling by turns, this book is light reading, which suits me just fine. None of that Twilight nonsense, and simply good fun, with a couple of twists in the tale that caught me by surprise. Not high literature, but not everything has to be.Your turn?oh gosh I read this too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deconstruction Posted August 28, 2015 Report Share Posted August 28, 2015 Any readers of philosophy here? - I last read Derrida's learning how to live finally (his last interview). He gives an intriguing take on what it means to live in reference to Plato's old injunction of 'to philosophise is to die'. And to those acquainted with deconstruction, it really makes for an interesting read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hello.pseudo Posted August 28, 2015 Report Share Posted August 28, 2015 Tony Parson's Man and Boy. Really good book that shows the fragility of our happiness and strength to move on with life. His books are full of deep issues - divorce, death, family, money, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nipoet Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 I'm currently at a Isaac Asimov phase. Started his Foundation Series, currently continuing his Robot Series. Now reading "The Naked Sun". I have already borrowed the rest of his series and will commence binge-reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cube3 Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 I'm currently at a Isaac Asimov phase. Started his Foundation Series, currently continuing his Robot Series. Now reading "The Naked Sun". I have already borrowed the rest of his series and will commence binge-reading. Ooooh, Foundation is one of the coolest series ever! :thumb: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterD Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 There is actually an existing book club if you guys are interested? We do LGBT literature and movies; meeting is held every third Thursday of the month. I put my personal reading list on hold. There are 60 books waiting to be read. A book club sounds interesting! Though I would prefer a club focused on books in general, rather than just LGBT ones. lodger88 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nusguy22 Posted September 5, 2015 Report Share Posted September 5, 2015 Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China - Jung Chang. Non-fiction, really good insight about her life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syaqifiq Posted September 6, 2015 Report Share Posted September 6, 2015 Marcus Zusak - The Book Thief. I enjoyed the creative writing style and the framing of the story. For those who are familiar with Germany in the WW2 period, the plot becomes alive as it fits nicely into the factual settings. Has anyone read 'Go set a watchman'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aldente Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 The Inheritance by Robin Hobb and Megan Lindholm. It's a lighthearted collection of short stories, and some of these tales I find pretty immersive. It's a nice book to bring along on a trip to while away some time; perfect if you want some material to read but cannot commit to finishing a whole novel in one sitting.Hobb is a great storyteller, and the stories she spins from fantasy to the wretched are well depicted and passionate.I love the inheritance too! A easy pick-up for anyone who isn't able to blow through a full novel. Love the stories that explore gray areas in ethics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandan21 Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 The very depressing book The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Honestly the movie adaption did the book no justice, but the book itself is filled with narratives that make you just be very spiteful of the villain Quote Freelance Reviewer Of AnythingMariah Carey Gif SpammerProbably the person you can talk to about anything x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butterscotch Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 60!!! 65, at latest count :x I just bought 3 graphic novels recently A book club sounds interesting! Though I would prefer a club focused on books in general, rather than just LGBT ones. Yeah I don't mind that as well. If we can garner enough interest from here we could start one? left hand of darkness by ursula k. le guin. a gift from my bestie. although a sci-fi novel, it focuses a lot on the human condition through juxtaposition of two diametrically different civilisations on the same planet, living under the same circumstances. and of course, like most good sci-fi, religion plays a huge role. i always wonder why... We did this for the book club a couple of year back. Did you like it, sayang? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishingfortuna Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 The Magicians series is pretty good. It's basically Narnia for adults, but not as cheesy as it sounds. Really A+ piece of work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 The last book I recall enjoying (and have no reservations in proposing to anyone to give it a go) was Christopher Isherwood's magnum opus "A Single Man". The novel deals with a day in the life of George Falconer, a British-born middle-aged closeted gay man teaching at a University in Los Angeles and how he tries to look for meaning in life after the loss of his lover Jim. Amidst the threat of the Cold War and the general repression of homosexuals during the sixties (which gives the novel an added sense of realism) George's every thought and reaction to his condition and environment, always interspersed by memories of Jim, is so brilliantly expressed and the many understated revelations brought out by it made the reading of this novel very personal to me. I came to this novel, not having heard of Christopher Isherwood to begin with, through the recent 2009 film of the same title that is based on the novel starring Colin Firth as George. I highly recommend anyone reading this to catch the movie as well.aiyo, i watch the film instead of reading the novel.. keen to read the novel, let exchange for another novel with u...pm me. my review is ....being gay is fucking lonely,my own word "awkwardly quiet dry" My awkwardly quiet dry : Back to my room,On the switch to see nobodyOff it to ensure no one around Flip on the night lightto chase off the lonely soundOn my musicto chase off the quiet room I force myself to close eyebut the sleep mode is not thereI force to drink a glass of milkbut lazy to walk to the loneliness fridge i want to sleep and never wake upto my dreamlandwhereby happy is loud soundwhereby sky is brightwhere is my utopia ?????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunkchaser Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 I love Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wozzit Posted November 2, 2015 Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 Anyone read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt? It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction last year. Im not usually into fiction n this is a long book. But I could not put it down. Fascinating n beautifully written story of a young boy and a painting which r caught up in a whole series of surprising events after the boy n his mother r surprised when visiting an art gallery. Only the ending seems slightly contrived - but still a great read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
htw89 Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 (edited) The narrow road to the north. Fairly chilling.Also trying to get through Ulysee but it's a Lil too dense. Rivers of London has a new book in the series!Well Gailman style is very story driven so not everyone likes that. My friend used to say that his novels feel almost like graphic novels.Been tempted to read the goldfinch! Edited November 3, 2015 by htw89 Quote Cogito ergo sum - I think therefore I am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xaldyn Posted November 4, 2015 Report Share Posted November 4, 2015 reading lovecraft's call of cthulu and other stories. i must say there are some creepy shit in there. i'm beginning to understand the meaning behind 'lovecraftian horror'... I'm not a fan of horror books but I've read "Shadow over Innsmouth" by Lovecraft too. And I was so spooked by it I haven't picked up another horror book since. But Lovecraft is on my list after Murdoch, Lawrence, Fitzgerald and Woolf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xaldyn Posted November 5, 2015 Report Share Posted November 5, 2015 shadow over innsmouth is freaky. now i know where all these writers get their inspiration from. i remember reading the book on the bus, and i jumped when a guy's sleeve moved just outside the periphery of my vision. and it was in broad daylight... Yeah exactly, Lovecraft isn't for the faint-hearted. I've also read this one called "The House of Leaves". It's not as scary as Lovecraft but it's still pretty spooky. Don't read it at night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butterscotch Posted November 5, 2015 Report Share Posted November 5, 2015 Yeah exactly, Lovecraft isn't for the faint-hearted. I've also read this one called "The House of Leaves". It's not as scary as Lovecraft but it's still pretty spooky. Don't read it at night Is that the one by Mark Z. Danielewski? I read the synopsis and it sounds very fascinating. The writing style is like Bram Stoker's Dracula, yes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xaldyn Posted November 6, 2015 Report Share Posted November 6, 2015 Is that the one by Mark Z. Danielewski? I read the synopsis and it sounds very fascinating. The writing style is like Bram Stoker's Dracula, yes? Yup, that's the one. Writing style and format are both interesting. Some parts are like a diary and other parts like a newspaper and there are some pages where it's just one random word Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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