What book are you reading?

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  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    Because Frey doesn't go about dealing with temptation the way he's told to in his recovery 'classes'. For example, as soon as he got out of rehab, he went straightaway to a bar, bought a beer, and just tested his strength with it sitting in front of him. Also, he never got into the whole "higher power" thing...he thought it was a load of horseshit.

    you know why i didn't particularly like a million little pieces? i just found his story too fantastical. he was a little too good to be true. it was too much. it was as if we were meant to pat this man on the back for his resilience and strength. nope, sorry, can't do it.
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • AmentsChickAmentsChick Posts: 6,969
    you know why i didn't particularly like a million little pieces? i just found his story too fantastical. he was a little too good to be true. it was too much. it was as if we were meant to pat this man on the back for his resilience and strength. nope, sorry, can't do it.
    Hey, no apologies!!! :) Everyone likes something different...this is a good thing! :)
    This is the greatest band in the world -- Ben Harper

  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    Hey, no apologies!!! :) Everyone likes something different...this is a good thing! :)

    tis a very good thing AC.

    but didn't you at any time whilst reading AMLP catch yourself thinking something wasn't quite right? i was totally engrossed in it, but for probably very different reasons than you were. :)
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • AmentsChickAmentsChick Posts: 6,969
    tis a very good thing AC.

    but didn't you at any time whilst reading AMLP catch yourself thinking something wasn't quite right? i was totally engrossed in it, but for probably very different reasons than you were. :)

    Nope, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I actually read it before the whole "Oprah controversy"...and once I looked into it, it didn't seem like such a big deal. I really really like James Frey and would buy him a drink if I ever met him. Oh no wait...bad idea!! ;)
    This is the greatest band in the world -- Ben Harper

  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    Hey, no apologies!!! :) Everyone likes something different...this is a good thing! :)

    not if you have family members who think it's real and tell an addict "oh well james frey kicked crack just by sucking it up, why cant you just quit?"

    the book was a 400 page blowjob he gave himself. he was too cool, too badass, too perfect. he's every dumb broad's dream tough guy... a real hardass with a drug problem who turns his life around on sheer manliness for a woman. yeah fucking right. not a single person in his entire rehab was a decent human being or knew shit about beating addiction besides him, if you take his writing for it. it was a complete crock of shit from start to finish, a big self-congratulatory pat on the back that sends the message to mass america that your addicted loved one could quit if they were as tough as james frey, but they're just weak-willed pussies that can't beat addiciton like he did. and it's passed off as reality to people who don't know the difference and now think they know something about the hell of addiction becos they read an oprah book.

    as a novel, sure, it's a good read. but as a real portrait of recovery from addiction, it's about as realistic as the saved by the bell pill-popping episode. his playing with the facts weren't the most important changes. i never cared about the episodes he altered for dramatic effect. i understand that exaggeration from a writer's standpoint. it's the whole attitude and current running throughout... the unrealistic "frey knows more than every drug counselor in hazelden combined" bullshit that bothered me. i know people who are really like that. it's a good way to get dead. i know for a fact he wasn't like that and it's selling a very dangerous message to people who think it's a real path to beating their demons.
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003

    the book was a 400 page blowjob he gave himself. he was too cool, too badass, too perfect. he's every dumb broad's dream tough guy... a real hardass with a drug problem who turns his life around on sheer manliness for a woman. yeah fucking right.

    nope. no little lady, no drugs for me. just give me that root canal. i shit bullets for breakfast, i'll suck up all the pain i knows coming my way.
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • I'm re-reading The Iliad, translated by Richmond Lattimore. I fookin' love it.
  • I'm re-reading The Iliad, translated by Richmond Lattimore. I fookin' love it.
    I just finished that a few months ago. I have been meaning to reread that one, and now I will with the Lattimore version.

    Thanks Fins!! :D
    Rarghstarfarian.
  • PearlJamaholicPearlJamaholic Posts: 2,018
    I read the gunslinger last weekend and started zodiac. gunslinger was great i need to read the rest of the series. zodiac seems ok so far.
  • Ms. HaikuMs. Haiku Posts: 7,265
    I was reading the Sextants of China for a book club, but I decided to attend a lecture of vegetarianism instead. I'm reading Becoming Vegetarian.
    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • rriversrrivers Posts: 3,696
    I read the gunslinger last weekend and started zodiac. gunslinger was great i need to read the rest of the series. zodiac seems ok so far.

    I read Zodiac a few months ago right after I saw the movie. The book was really good.
    "We're fixed good, lamp-wise."
  • FlaggFlagg Posts: 5,856
    rrivers, have you read Blaze (Bachman) yet?
    DAL-7/5/98,10/17/00,6/9/03,11/15/13
    BOS-9/28/04,9/29/04,6/28/08,6/30/08, 9/5/16, 9/7/16, 9/2/18
    MTL-9/15/05, OTT-9/16/05
    PHL-5/27/06,5/28/06,10/30/09,10/31/09
    CHI-8/2/07,8/5/07,8/23/09,8/24/09
    HTFD-6/27/08
    ATX-10/4/09, 10/12/14
    KC-5/3/2010,STL-5/4/2010
    Bridge School-10/23/2010,10/24/2010
    PJ20-9/3/2011,9/4/2011
    OKC-11/16/13
    SEA-12/6/13
    TUL-10/8/14
  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    i just finished reading tim kurkijan's (sp) new book, isn't this a great game. He's one of the ESPN baseball tonight analysts and his book has a lot of hysterical antedotes on his 25 years covering baseball.

    in a similar vein, ernie harwell wrote a book called "diamond gems" that was similarly spectacular. very funny book. you see a LOT happen on the diamond in the amount of time he was covering games.
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    I'm reading 'A gin-pissing-raw-meat-dual-carburetor-V8-son-of-a-bitch from Los Angeles' by Dan Fante.
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    Byrnzie wrote:
    I'm reading 'A gin-pissing-raw-meat-dual-carburetor-V8-son-of-a-bitch from Los Angeles' by Dan Fante.

    may have to borrow that one from you steve, just for the title alone. :)
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • rriversrrivers Posts: 3,696
    Flagg wrote:
    rrivers, have you read Blaze (Bachman) yet?

    Yeah I finished it Saturday. I really enjoyed it. Have you read it?
    "We're fixed good, lamp-wise."
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    I'm reading "Snow Falling on Cedars". I'm halfway through and I really like it.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • Carlos DCarlos D Posts: 638
    The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck.Not his best but good all the same.
    It may be the devil or it may be the Lord
    But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

    www.bebo.com/pearljam06
  • Solat13Solat13 Posts: 6,996
    Finished Into the Wild yesterday. Really good book and a fast read.

    Can't wait to see how Sean Penn treats it as a movie in the fall.
    - Busted down the pretext
    - 8/28/98
    - 9/2/00
    - 4/28/03, 5/3/03, 7/3/03, 7/5/03, 7/6/03, 7/9/03, 7/11/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03
    - 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 10/1/04, 10/2/04
    - 9/11/05, 9/12/05, 9/13/05, 9/30/05, 10/1/05, 10/3/05
    - 5/12/06, 5/13/06, 5/27/06, 5/28/06, 5/30/06, 6/1/06, 6/3/06, 6/23/06, 7/22/06, 7/23/06, 12/2/06, 12/9/06
    - 8/2/07, 8/5/07
    - 6/19/08, 6/20/08, 6/22/08, 6/24/08, 6/25/08, 6/27/08, 6/28/08, 6/30/08, 7/1/08
    - 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 9/21/09, 9/22/09, 10/27/09, 10/28/09, 10/30/09, 10/31/09
    - 5/15/10, 5/17/10, 5/18/10, 5/20/10, 5/21/10, 10/23/10, 10/24/10
    - 9/11/11, 9/12/11
    - 10/18/13, 10/21/13, 10/22/13, 11/30/13, 12/4/13
  • frgntoadfrgntoad Posts: 77
    The Secret Woman
    By VIctoria Holt....it's a girl thing....;)
    I am a loser with high self esteem......
  • AmentsChickAmentsChick Posts: 6,969
    Just finished Thousand Splendid Suns. nfanel...now we can talk about it tomorrow! I SOOOOOOOOOOOO need to discuss this one!!!

    Next book...anyone have any recommendations??
    This is the greatest band in the world -- Ben Harper

  • AmentsChickAmentsChick Posts: 6,969
    Solat13 wrote:
    Finished Into the Wild yesterday. Really good book and a fast read.

    Can't wait to see how Sean Penn treats it as a movie in the fall.

    Glad to hear you enjoyed it...I knew you would!! :D
    This is the greatest band in the world -- Ben Harper

  • Ovid's Metamorphoses
    "Underneath this smile lies everything - all my hopes, anger, pride and shame."
  • Solat13Solat13 Posts: 6,996
    Just finished Thousand Splendid Suns. nfanel...now we can talk about it tomorrow! I SOOOOOOOOOOOO need to discuss this one!!!

    Next book...anyone have any recommendations??

    Was it as good as the Kite Runner?

    I liked our little discussion about that so maybe I'll have to read this and join in ... lol. ;)

    And yes, you were right. I really enjoyed Into the Wild. I really could envision what Chris was going through and really relate to him. It was just such a great story because unlike most people who talk a good game, he really lived it. And how it ended was just so tragic.
    - Busted down the pretext
    - 8/28/98
    - 9/2/00
    - 4/28/03, 5/3/03, 7/3/03, 7/5/03, 7/6/03, 7/9/03, 7/11/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03
    - 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 10/1/04, 10/2/04
    - 9/11/05, 9/12/05, 9/13/05, 9/30/05, 10/1/05, 10/3/05
    - 5/12/06, 5/13/06, 5/27/06, 5/28/06, 5/30/06, 6/1/06, 6/3/06, 6/23/06, 7/22/06, 7/23/06, 12/2/06, 12/9/06
    - 8/2/07, 8/5/07
    - 6/19/08, 6/20/08, 6/22/08, 6/24/08, 6/25/08, 6/27/08, 6/28/08, 6/30/08, 7/1/08
    - 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 9/21/09, 9/22/09, 10/27/09, 10/28/09, 10/30/09, 10/31/09
    - 5/15/10, 5/17/10, 5/18/10, 5/20/10, 5/21/10, 10/23/10, 10/24/10
    - 9/11/11, 9/12/11
    - 10/18/13, 10/21/13, 10/22/13, 11/30/13, 12/4/13
  • AmentsChickAmentsChick Posts: 6,969
    Solat13 wrote:
    Was it as good as the Kite Runner?

    I liked our little discussion about that so maybe I'll have to read this and join in ... lol. ;)

    And yes, you were right. I really enjoyed Into the Wild. I really could envision what Chris was going through and really relate to him. It was just such a great story because unlike most people who talk a good game, he really lived it. And how it ended was just so tragic.

    It really was a sad ending, but Chris made such ignorant and stupid choices, that I *almost* don't feel sorry for him.

    TSS was SOOOOOOOOOO good, but not nearly as good as Kite Runner. LIke I said before, if KR pissed you off...just wait. Books'll be flying all over your house.
    This is the greatest band in the world -- Ben Harper

  • Solat13Solat13 Posts: 6,996
    It really was a sad ending, but Chris made such ignorant and stupid choices, that I *almost* don't feel sorry for him.

    TSS was SOOOOOOOOOO good, but not nearly as good as Kite Runner. LIke I said before, if KR pissed you off...just wait. Books'll be flying all over your house.

    His choices might seem "ignorant," but they were totally consistent with who he was.

    I'm not trying to say he was a hero, but he died an idealistic death and that was how he wanted to go out if he had to. And I think he finally made peace with himself.
    - Busted down the pretext
    - 8/28/98
    - 9/2/00
    - 4/28/03, 5/3/03, 7/3/03, 7/5/03, 7/6/03, 7/9/03, 7/11/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03
    - 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 10/1/04, 10/2/04
    - 9/11/05, 9/12/05, 9/13/05, 9/30/05, 10/1/05, 10/3/05
    - 5/12/06, 5/13/06, 5/27/06, 5/28/06, 5/30/06, 6/1/06, 6/3/06, 6/23/06, 7/22/06, 7/23/06, 12/2/06, 12/9/06
    - 8/2/07, 8/5/07
    - 6/19/08, 6/20/08, 6/22/08, 6/24/08, 6/25/08, 6/27/08, 6/28/08, 6/30/08, 7/1/08
    - 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 9/21/09, 9/22/09, 10/27/09, 10/28/09, 10/30/09, 10/31/09
    - 5/15/10, 5/17/10, 5/18/10, 5/20/10, 5/21/10, 10/23/10, 10/24/10
    - 9/11/11, 9/12/11
    - 10/18/13, 10/21/13, 10/22/13, 11/30/13, 12/4/13
  • frgntoadfrgntoad Posts: 77
    Ovid's Metamorphoses


    Great Book!
    I am a loser with high self esteem......
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    I'm now reading 'Papillon' by Henri Charriere
  • Foxy MopFoxy Mop Posts: 2,823
    Re-reading the entire Harry Potter series in time for the new book launch :D
    Wishlist Foundation

    This is my kind of love...
    ♥♥♥
  • This book is an absolute beauty. she's one of those few writers who can craft a description that is utterly unique - widely overleaping any cliches, but somehow perfectly communicates just what she is trying to create. She pulls the reader in, and you can smell the wind, feel the prickling heat of the summer, as if you're floating right there amongst her thoughts. Captivating.
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