What book is everyone reading at the moment? Part 2.
- Thread starter alex04
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Safe-Keeper
My avatar is not a Drumpf hat
I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom, by Jason Pargin. A socially inept Lift driver, whose life seems to revolve around his Lift job, his edgelord Twitch channel, and his ex-Marine father, who is predictably infinitely disappointed with him, is offered $200 000 by a mysterious cool chick for taking her and her road case from his hometown in California to Washington DC, no questions asked. They must leave at once and leave all trackable electronic devices behind. Through a series of bizarre incidents and coincidences, the two misfits' journey soon becomes the object of a major conspiracy theory amidst Redditors, and soon millions of people are obsessing over the duo, their box, what its its purpose can be, and where it's headed.
I've read half of it so far (if you've read more, please don't post spoilers!), and it's been part dramatic road trip with heavy Stephen King vibes, part commentary about conspiracy theorists, incel culture, insane redditors, and how stories can grow and spiral out of control online. Oh, and how dependent we are on the cell phones and social media that are also destroying our society.
There's some pretty heavy tirades by our incel antihero that were genuenely hard to listen to, especially the ones on sexual assault, so be warned about that. At least Mystery Chick does a good jo at shutting them down, so I don't interpret the book as an alt-right/incel soap box, it reads more like the author wishes to call it out, along with the more... Bizarre posters on Reddit.
Either way, fantastic and ever-engaging read so far. I'm finding myself listening to it in chunks over time because I don't want to consume it all at once.
Oh, and the front cover gave me my new profile picture.
I've read half of it so far (if you've read more, please don't post spoilers!), and it's been part dramatic road trip with heavy Stephen King vibes, part commentary about conspiracy theorists, incel culture, insane redditors, and how stories can grow and spiral out of control online. Oh, and how dependent we are on the cell phones and social media that are also destroying our society.
There's some pretty heavy tirades by our incel antihero that were genuenely hard to listen to, especially the ones on sexual assault, so be warned about that. At least Mystery Chick does a good jo at shutting them down, so I don't interpret the book as an alt-right/incel soap box, it reads more like the author wishes to call it out, along with the more... Bizarre posters on Reddit.
Either way, fantastic and ever-engaging read so far. I'm finding myself listening to it in chunks over time because I don't want to consume it all at once.
Oh, and the front cover gave me my new profile picture.
Spektator
Is that right?
Finished Maskerade, then got Sam the Sudden (P.G. Wodehouse), a zany farce with a large cast and a complex plot. It is short, though, and I finished it in a few hours. It's not in the Jeeves/Wooster league, but amusing enough.
Scorpion
Illuminator
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2013
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- 3,818
I recently discovered channel 64 (Blaze) on British freeview TV. I am quite taken with it and there are a lot of very interesting programs about UFO's and the like. One series is called 'ancient aliens' and there is a book called, Ancient aliens the official companion book, which I purchased and have begun reading.
I also purchased a book mentioned on the channel called, 'technology of the Gods' by David Hatcher Childress, and will read that next.
I also purchased a book mentioned on the channel called, 'technology of the Gods' by David Hatcher Childress, and will read that next.
Spektator
Is that right?
Reading Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë) for the first time and enjoying it. I took a graduate course on British novels of the Gothic sort, and honestly this one is a much better read than Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho, the first on the reading list and a dreadful slog.
arthwollipot
Limerick Purist Pronouns: He/Him
I also went and got the Kindle version of Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion since I can't imagine life without them.
I recognise the word shape, haven't a clue of the pronunciation and it means I never (well very rarely) remember the name of characters in a book, even though I've an excellent memory for plot and story.
alfaniner
Penultimate Amazing
I can't imagine that opening scene of Frodo sitting under the tree reading from a Kindle.
Safe-Keeper
My avatar is not a Drumpf hat
Two thirds of the way through "I'm starting to worry about...". Still a great read. All in all, it isn't a road trip story or thriller as much as it is a life lesson, and a message that despite how easy it is to get the feeling the world is ending, we're still doing better than any humans in the history of humanity, and despite our catastrophising (both on a personal and societal level), things are probably going to go way better than we think. It's my first book by Jason Pargin but I get the impression he really understands both human beings and human society. It gets almost a tiny bit conspiratorial at times with the "this is the way you've been conditioned to think" jargon, but overall, there's so much optimism and wisdom here. The main character has extreme anxiety which makes it easier for the author to use him as an example of overthinking and assuming the worst, but at the same time, I think he is all of us. The book helped me put my own issues and worries into perspective, in fact. I also think I forgot to mention that it's funny. Like, really, cleverly funny.
Oh, and the worms. At some point I probably have to tell you about the worms.
Oh, and the worms. At some point I probably have to tell you about the worms.
I've been reading Unruly for two and a half months, on and mostly off. Halfway through, and can't really recall much about the rulers so far, the info hasn't sunk in. It's fun to read, with witty observations, but still rather academic or theoretical.
Oh, well, I don't think anyone's going to be testing me on King Stephen or Edward II.
arthwollipot
Limerick Purist Pronouns: He/Him
I'm considering that one myself.
You would probably retain more of it, with your historic battle knowledge.
arthwollipot
Limerick Purist Pronouns: He/Him
I'm already full up on books to read on long flights, but I'll add it to my list for the future.
AmyStrange
Philosopher
Hopefully, I'm not overdoing the Frankenstein novel to movie tripe, but there is a new one being release next year. Plus, you can go here to read how someone ranked the five best Frankenstein movies.
The movies are also compared to the novel, which I found interesting, because of my comments about that very thing.
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AmyStrange
Philosopher
Thanks Darat. If I can find it, I'll have to check it out, but there is one part, I don't want to see.
IMO, that part (in the book) was bad enough.
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Safe-Keeper
My avatar is not a Drumpf hat
Oh, I can't do that. It's promised in the first pages and you only have them revealed until well into the book. If I just tell you I'd spoil it for you in case you decide to read the bookdo tell
.AmyStrange
Philosopher
Oh, I can't do that. It's promised in the first pages and you only have them revealed until well into the book. If I just tell you I'd spoil it for you in case you decide to read the book
Thanks, Safe-Keeper. I plan on reading it in the next week or two, and I don't want the surprise ruined.
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Safe-Keeper
My avatar is not a Drumpf hat
Oh, nice! Really hope you like it now that I've sung its praises so strongly
Let me know!