What are you reading? - Page 13 - Never Forgotten: a Foster's Home Community

Nyo · 02-14-2009, 08:03 PM

I'm currently reading John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men for English class. So far so good. George bugs the crap out of me

For leisure? Gregory Maguire's Wicked. The book is

Spoiler Below

Less upbeat

than the musical, sorry to say

jekylljuice · 02-21-2009, 05:40 AM

The Pocket Essential: Animation by Mark Whitehead

I picked this up for 24p at a discount book shop...for that price, it was certainly a bargain, and while it does make for a pretty entertaining read, I have to say that I have lost just a little respect for this Mark Whitehead's authority on the matter. Referring to Animaniacs as a "cynical corporate monstrosity" I could forgive, since that at least is just a matter of opinion, but stating that Nick Park's short film Creature Comforts was later spun-off into a series of advertisements for British Gas is just symptomatic of sloppy research. Why? Because those advertisements were for Heat Electric. True, it's a mistake which quite a lot of people seem to make, but for pete's sake, you only had to pay attention to what the characters were actually saying. If not, then the closing Johnny Morris voice-over made it as clear as day.

Oh well, he does at least give props to Craig McCracken for his work on The Powerpuff Girls, describing his output, along with Genndy Tartakovsky's, as the "most enjoyable and risk-taking work" to come out of Cartoon Network. Incidentally, this book was published in 2004, so it (just) predates the arrival of Foster's.

.........

British Gas? Honestly, Mark...

Ccook50 · 02-21-2009, 10:08 AM

The Hitch-hiker's Guide To The Galaxy: The Original Radio Scripts.

koosie · 02-25-2009, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ccook50

The Hitch-hiker's Guide To The Galaxy: The Original Radio Scripts.

Hey I used to have that. It's brilliant. I'd love to own it again. I loved the 'Total Perspective Vortex' and what happens to Zaphod in it.

I've been in a sci-fi mood myself recently, enjoying some short stories by HG Wells, Stephen Baxter, Robert Silverberg etc. Today it was The Door in the Wall by HG Wells which is just amazing.

Government Man · 03-15-2009, 03:28 PM

The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660 - 1783, by Aldred Thayer Mahan (1890). Quite interesting, really, with good accounts of several sea battles. The book is also accused of being the inspiration for the naval arms race between the Germans and the British that led up to World War I.

koosie · 03-26-2009, 02:13 PM

The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K Leguin.

Published in 1971, the novel takes places in the unlikely future world of 2002 where the global human population has reached 7 billion, the Greenhouse effect is wrecking the world's climate and violence in the Middle-East is spiralling out of control. However none of this is necessarily a problem when reality itself can be altered, in this case by a disturbed man's dreams guided by his ostensibly well meaning psychiatrist, who's more than a little guilty of hubris. Watchmen fans may be particularly interested in what happens in chapter 6.

Nathander · 04-01-2009, 10:31 AM

Moral Minds, by Marc D. Hauser

It's effectively a book talking about the evolution of morality in mankind, both as a whole and within different cultures. He more or less argues that man could find a way to better understand morality by using a system similar to how Chomsky explained the evolution and development of language in man.

Good book.

taranchula · 05-12-2009, 11:50 AM

I just finished "What Are You Laughing At: How to Write Funny Screenplays, Stories and More." By Brad Schreiber.

I thought the humor producing portions of my brain could use a little bit of reeducation and this book with it's endorsements from numerous respected writers, entertainers, etc such as Penn Jillet and Larry Gilbert is a good as any place to start.

Dmitri Karamazov · 05-12-2009, 04:47 PM

War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy.

It's pretty good, but I'm rather angry at Natasha Rostov right now.

Spoiler Below

Anatole is a creeper, you idiot! He doesn't love you! Go with Andrei! Go with Andrei!

I yell at my books....

jekylljuice · 05-13-2009, 07:52 AM

No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy

Yeah, I know I was planning to read this a good few months ago, but I wound up being distracted by quite a few other things. I'm not hugely far in, but from what I've read so far, the Coens have been remarkably faithful in their film adaptation. Much of the dialogue was transcribed word-or-word, and the action is almost exactly as McCarthy described it. There is one notable change that I'm already aware of (to do with how a certain character reacts to a situation, rather than the outcome itself, which essentially remains the same), but I still have quite a while to go before I reach it. It'll be interesting to see how McCarthy's orginal vision plays out, particularly since the scene in question, in my opinion, was one of the most striking and powerfully understated in the Coens' film.

02-14-2009, 08:03 PM	#121
Nyo Little Miss Awesome Sauce bang! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lala Land, Sexyworld Posts: 697	I'm currently reading John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men for English class. So far so good. George bugs the crap out of me For leisure? Gregory Maguire's Wicked. The book is Spoiler Below Less upbeat than the musical, sorry to say __________________

02-21-2009, 05:40 AM	#122
jekylljuice Executive Weasel Ball jekylljuice was here. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: the 44th floor (not counting the mezzanine) Posts: 1,568	The Pocket Essential: Animation by Mark Whitehead I picked this up for 24p at a discount book shop...for that price, it was certainly a bargain, and while it does make for a pretty entertaining read, I have to say that I have lost just a little respect for this Mark Whitehead's authority on the matter. Referring to Animaniacs as a "cynical corporate monstrosity" I could forgive, since that at least is just a matter of opinion, but stating that Nick Park's short film Creature Comforts was later spun-off into a series of advertisements for British Gas is just symptomatic of sloppy research. Why? Because those advertisements were for Heat Electric. True, it's a mistake which quite a lot of people seem to make, but for pete's sake, you only had to pay attention to what the characters were actually saying. If not, then the closing Johnny Morris voice-over made it as clear as day. Oh well, he does at least give props to Craig McCracken for his work on The Powerpuff Girls, describing his output, along with Genndy Tartakovsky's, as the "most enjoyable and risk-taking work" to come out of Cartoon Network. Incidentally, this book was published in 2004, so it (just) predates the arrival of Foster's. ......... British Gas? Honestly, Mark... __________________ That's it, The End, But you'll get over it, My Friend.

02-21-2009, 10:08 AM	#123
Ccook50 Foster's Legend Don't forget to turn left at Greenland Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cumming GA Posts: 510	The Hitch-hiker's Guide To The Galaxy: The Original Radio Scripts. __________________ "God forgot to make stupidity painful." --Ivan Stang (Church of the SubGenius)

03-15-2009, 03:28 PM	#125
Government Man Evil Minion in Training The legends...they're true! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The Government Posts: 131	The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660 - 1783, by Aldred Thayer Mahan (1890). Quite interesting, really, with good accounts of several sea battles. The book is also accused of being the inspiration for the naval arms race between the Germans and the British that led up to World War I. __________________

03-26-2009, 02:13 PM	#126
koosie Moon-Calf It was just imagination Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Northern Britain Posts: 695	The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K Leguin. Published in 1971, the novel takes places in the unlikely future world of 2002 where the global human population has reached 7 billion, the Greenhouse effect is wrecking the world's climate and violence in the Middle-East is spiralling out of control. However none of this is necessarily a problem when reality itself can be altered, in this case by a disturbed man's dreams guided by his ostensibly well meaning psychiatrist, who's more than a little guilty of hubris. Watchmen fans may be particularly interested in what happens in chapter 6. __________________ Aw....Snicket

04-01-2009, 10:31 AM	#127
Nathander The Best Character on the Show Hairgel! Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 441	Moral Minds, by Marc D. Hauser It's effectively a book talking about the evolution of morality in mankind, both as a whole and within different cultures. He more or less argues that man could find a way to better understand morality by using a system similar to how Chomsky explained the evolution and development of language in man. Good book. __________________

05-12-2009, 11:50 AM	#128
taranchula Agent: Deep Bloo You guys have your red headed cartoon crushes and I have mine! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Baconland...er I mean Canada. Posts: 2,773	I just finished "What Are You Laughing At: How to Write Funny Screenplays, Stories and More." By Brad Schreiber. I thought the humor producing portions of my brain could use a little bit of reeducation and this book with it's endorsements from numerous respected writers, entertainers, etc such as Penn Jillet and Larry Gilbert is a good as any place to start. __________________ Founder, Owner, President, Chairman, CEO, CFO and Charter member of the "Never Leave Steve" Fan Club! ~Founded: May 21 2006~

05-12-2009, 04:47 PM	#129
Dmitri Karamazov Newly Abandoned Call me Mitya. Join Date: May 2009 Location: Currently Sibera. But soon I shall escape to America. Posts: 12	War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy. It's pretty good, but I'm rather angry at Natasha Rostov right now. Spoiler Below Anatole is a creeper, you idiot! He doesn't love you! Go with Andrei! Go with Andrei! I yell at my books.... __________________ I'm sure at this very minute you're inwardly laughing at me.

05-13-2009, 07:52 AM	#130
jekylljuice Executive Weasel Ball jekylljuice was here. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: the 44th floor (not counting the mezzanine) Posts: 1,568	No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy Yeah, I know I was planning to read this a good few months ago, but I wound up being distracted by quite a few other things. I'm not hugely far in, but from what I've read so far, the Coens have been remarkably faithful in their film adaptation. Much of the dialogue was transcribed word-or-word, and the action is almost exactly as McCarthy described it. There is one notable change that I'm already aware of (to do with how a certain character reacts to a situation, rather than the outcome itself, which essentially remains the same), but I still have quite a while to go before I reach it. It'll be interesting to see how McCarthy's orginal vision plays out, particularly since the scene in question, in my opinion, was one of the most striking and powerfully understated in the Coens' film. __________________ That's it, The End, But you'll get over it, My Friend.