Posts Tagged ‘kindle’

28

The Great Book Project 15 of 20 – Austerlitz by W.G Sebald

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Oh my god. Where the hell do I start with this one? This book was almost the death of my project. I struggled with it so much. But a few days ago I had a chat with a couple of dudes in my work about how I was going to give up on the book – that I was about half way through it and in the depths of dispair. My workmates both gave me a bit of abuse and explained how guff it would be if I threw this book to the side and destroyed the integrity of what I was trying to do. So I just blitzed the final half of the book over the weekend there and today.

Austershitz

There were a few other issues at play here that have all added up to why it has taken me so long to get through it…

I was immediately demotivated my the fact that I couldn’t get this book anywhere in Kindle format. My Kindle has been a great companion to me the last six or so months, so I was gutted when I ended up having to buy this book on ebay for a couple of squid. If you looked at the title of this post you might be fooled into thinking that this is the top 4 book in the Times top 100 books from which I have based my project on, but no, I’ve been putting off leaving my Kindle to the side. Austerlitz is actually number 13. That’s 8 books I’ve read before I’ve had the guts to go back to paper.

Another reason was that I’ve been so busy with Lucid Studio and not had as much time to read as usual. You know what it’s like if you read a book little a bit at a time, sometimes days between reading session. Granted, I would have probably prioritised anything above sticking my nose in this, but I really have been dead busy. Working on my business stuff most nights.

Also, and this might be me getting a bit too personal, I haven’t been 100% the last month or two. Been a bit down so, in my experience, I need to be in the zone emotionally to enjoy relaxing to a book. If I’m feeling down I need to watch telly and veg. Stuff this concentrating palava.

MacBook Pro

Last reason for my book avoiding antics was that I finally got myself a nice shiny new MacBook Pro. You might remember it being on my bucket list. Yes. I finally did it. And as the minutes pass I can’t believe it has taken me so long. Been working on my latest stuff using it and it’s been amazing. I feel so much more productive. I donno what it is about the mac OS, but I just feel it encourages you (subliminally) to do things the right way.

So excuses out the way. What about this god-damn book?

I’m gonna keep this short because the quicker I forget about this the better. Austerlitz is a book written from the point of view of Sebald. It is written as if non-fiction (I’m not sure if it is), and details the life of an architectural historian, named Austerlitz, whom Sebald meets by chance one day in a train station. He portrays this man as an extraordinary human being. Insanely knowledgeable in so many ways. A man who never reached the heights his knowledge should have taken him.

Sadly I found absolutely nothing of interest within the pages. As much as I could recognise the colourful way that Sebald flaunts this geezers knowledge, I couldn’t get through two or three pages without dreaming about giving Angry Birds another shot. I’m not joking here. The WHOLE BOOK is one big paragraph. No chapters. Not one line break. That’s too much for a guy to deal with on the 240 bus at 7:50am.

It’s beyond my intellect to understand how this book made the top 20 of The Times Best books of the decade list.

I’m glad I listened and finished the book for the sake of face, but I’ll be gladly selling this on ebay tomorrow.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

I’m so near the end now. I’m going to read something outwith the project next. Back to my amazing Kindle. Then its onto Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth by Margaret Atwood. See ya soon! (promise!)

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Life in General, The Great Book Project | No Comments »

2

The Great Book Project 11 of 20 – A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

I feel exhausted. Not just because I’m just back from my first gym session in over a week, but just from life in general. Been super busy with my business, I’ve changed to a new team in my part time job at Capita and just the sheer volumes of bloody work involved in keeping a house (who knew?).

Most of the Lads at Gommit’s

I’ve had some fun times in-between though. Couple of weeks ago it was my good mate Grommit’s Wedding. Had a blast. Always great to get the whole bunch under one roof. Also, kudos to them for probably they best wedding meal I’ve ever had. Yum.

So A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius marked my heartbreaking return to paper books. The Kindle store did not stock this book so I had to put it aside and call on ebay to deliver me this chunky, beast of a novel.

(And if this wasn’t bad enough, I was checking my Kindle a few days after I started this latest book (I missed it so) and I noticed a defect on the Kindle screen. I shat it. Contacted Amazon support and they sent me out a brand new Kindle that was at my door within two days. I honestly can’t believe how good the customer service with Amazon was. I’ll be making sure that if I buy anything on-line in the future my first port-of-call will be Amazon. Big up y’all.)

An Unstaggering Moron

I had heard great things about this book. Personal recommendations. So I was looking forward to getting to this point on the list. I opened the book and was initially completely weirded out. The acknowledgements section lasted around 80 pages, and there was also an introductory section titled ‘Suggestions and Rules for Reading this Book’ which had, amongst them, the author outlining pages ‘you can skip if you want to’. Of-course, I suspect this is all intended to be quirky and cool, but I donno man. I was getting the feeling this was the author trying way too hard. But as I came to see was part of the books theme.

This memoir by Dave Eggers outlines his struggle after both his parents die within 15 weeks of each other and he is left to look after his little brother – Toph- on his lonesome. In the memoir he is trying to be the ‘cool’ father figure; He is trying to be the ‘cool’ author to us, the readers; and he is trying to make his way in a ‘cool’ career.

Reading the book you know that it’s all exaggeration and extravagance, his words are part of a plea for us, the readers, to find greatness in his life and works. Hence, the self indulgent title.

I thought it was great in places, especially the beginning, but if truth be told, the more this went on the more I was getting fed up with it. And I promise you it wasn’t because I’ve been desperate to get back to my Kindle.

Rating: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

Next up it’s Life of Pi as I still can’t get Austerlitz or Payback at the Kindle Store :-(

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Books, The Great Book Project | 1 Comment »

9

The Great Book Project 8 of 20 – The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

WOAFT! Last Thursday I got my Amazon Kindle delivered. A few days earlier than Amazon had indicated, I might add. It is a is a belated belated wedding present from my wifey. And before you go blabbing “Oh that’s terrible, Mario has been married for 2 months now”, I need to point out that it was my fault. I didn’t know what I wanted, and by the time I had made up my mind on this badboy there was already a sodding three week waiting list on it. But have no fear. My wait is over – this thing is the bees-knees.

The Big Sleep

If you don’t know already (I’m surprised how many people look at my Kindle with a ‘What-the-fuck-is-that?’ face) the Kindle is an eInk ebook reader. You can download books from Amazon’s library straight to your device and begin reading instantly. Right up my tech-appreciation avenue.

It’s not just me that seems to be liking it though. I’ve taken it into work and as a result there is already a buzz about it. Another workmate has already ordered one based on seeing it in action and there are two other ladies, maybe three (you know who you are) who have indicated their desire to order one.

Don’t get me wrong, I totally get the argument “Nothing beats having a book in your hand and having it on your shelf”, but I thought long and hard about that and decided that the good far outweighs the bad.

So, as I alluded to in my last blog post, I’ve had to change the order I read the books in. Makes more sense for me. I should have went onto W.G Sebold’s Austerlitz but this, or A Heartbreaking work of Staggering Genius which is after that, ain’t in the Kindle store yet. So as soon as they come available I’ll go back to them.

Brucie doin’ a Phil Marlowe

The next one I could read on the Kindle was The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler so that had the privilege of being my first purchase.

This book is a wee gem. I really enjoyed it.

It’s a very complex detective story set in LA. There is loads going on, to the point where sometimes I found myself writing characters names down get their relationships with each other into my thick skull. Multiple crimes and characters criss-crossing along a path where Philip Marlowe is always one step ahead of both you and the characters within. This was refreshing for me as all books prior to this have been relatively linear stories.

It wasn’t just the story I enjoyed on this one though. I actually found myself appreciating the way it was written. The tone kinda reminded me of Max Payne and Sin City. I suppose, since this book was published in 1939, these were actually influenced by Raymond Chandler and not the other way around.

A good start to the Kindle experience. Big up to Steve for the recommendation in the comments on this post.

Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

I’m moving onto One Fine Day In the Middle of the Night by Christopher Brookmyre now.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Books, Life in General, The Great Book Project | No Comments »

1

The Great Book Project 7 of 20 – Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

I’m getting into the swing of things now in my new home. Just recently bought a couch set (I’m sure there is a correct name for that, but can’t remember what it is), and been busy doing DIY stuff around the house. It’s hard to find spare minutes for yourself but when I do I’ve been sitting down to read this next instalment in my project.

Hide your Emotions!!!

Reading Lolita in Tehran is a memoir of Azar Nafisi, an English Lit teacher in the Iranian Capital. The book centres around a private book club that Azar organises to allow her more talented students to have more private voice when discussing various works of western literature. This ‘private voice’ is a haven for these young girls. Throughout the book we find out more and more of the tyranny against the Iranian people. Especially the women.

And this is the central theme of the book. The personal and intellectual oppression of the Islamic regime. The very title gives us a hint at this. In Nabokov’s novel (I haven’t read it but I’ve saw Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation), Lolita meets an older man and he falls in love with her. He is so besotted by Lolita that he refuses to let her live the life of a normal teenager. Lolita is forced to find devious ways to rebel against her oppressor and she eventually leaves him.

Much like Lolita, the girls in this novel have to deal with outrageous suppression in their day to day lives. They can’t show their hair (MY SISTER, GUARD YOUR VEIL. MY BROTHER, GUARD YOUR EYES) not allowed to express emotion, they are forbidden to touch another person in public, even to shake a hand. Many people are jailed or executed for showing signs of spontaneity or free expression.

The book is full of personal anecdotes giving us an idea of just how far and away our society is with that of an Islamic regime. I wont go into them here, but if you are remotely interested in the subject then I would wholeheartedly recommend this book.

Azar Nafisi

This book will stick in my head. It was tough going at times but it has given me a great insight into Islam. It reminded me of that video where the Iranian woman was killed at a protest against the election fixing and the constant issues we hear about human rights violations in Iran. Judging by what Azir Nafisi has seen and heard I’d say their is some serious shit going on that has to stop.

Best one in the project so far!

Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆

I’m not sure what to do about the next instalment in my project. My Kindle is due to arrive in a few days and the next couple of books on my list are not in the Kindle store yet! What I might do is jump ahead and read the ones that are available and then go back whenever they are released (15,000 new kindle books added a week I’m told!).

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Books, The Great Book Project | 2 Comments »

6

The Great Book Project 6 of 20 – Animal Farm by George Orwell

Friday, August 6th, 2010

This book is far and away the shortest in my project so far, yet it has taken the longest to get through. The last few weeks have included my wedding day, honeymoon and the continuing saga of me getting used to the new house and resulting married lifestyle.

Up until two days ago I hadn’t read a word of any book in the house. I’d been too busy, too tired and/or visiting the new expanded family. I’m happy to say I now feel like the madness is calming down I can feel myself becoming more settled.

I did, however, read a couple of books on holiday. Wanted something a wee bit more easy for the poolside. I read Microserfs by Douglas Coupland and The Treatment by Mo Hayder both of which were also recommended to me on this blog. They were both alright. Mircroserfs was full of anecdotes that relates geek stuff to inspirational life-coaching. Right up my street. The Treatment was a disturbing story about child abduction. Kept me reading but really couldn’t care less about any of the characters towards the end.

Lord of the Manor

I had started Animal Farm a few weeks before the wedding but, a couple of nights ago when I went back to it, I decided that I had to start again cause I felt like I had forgotten everything.

As I mentioned Animal Farm is very short so it only took a couple of sittings to finish it. Thought it was a great story. I tried to read it from the ‘Fairy Tale’ point of view but it’s almost impossible not to associate it with its intended allegory of the Russian Revolution. As soon as I finished I had that Smashing Pumpkins song in my head ‘The End is the Beginning is the End’. I love that Orwell alluded to the never ending loop of power: Communism > Rebellion > Democracy > Communism.

I wonder when we’ll get to the next stage of the loop.

I’ve got this urge to watch the Animal Farm cartoon now. Need to try and get my hands on it somehow.

Kudos to Jaggy for the recommendation. It’s about time I had this book in my brain.

Rating: ★★★★★★★½☆☆

Also, the times are a changing on the book reading front. I finally decided what I want for my wedding present from the wife. Was going to get an X-Box but have went for the new Amazon Kindle. My thinking is that it is the future so I may as well be ahead of the game and buy it today, in the present. It’s massive in America. On honeymoon there were loads of Americans kicking about and at least one in every five or six people who were reading a book by the poolside had one. Good enough for me. Due for delivery early September!

Here is the song I was talking about:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Right. I’m away out to get drunk and talk about normal guy stuff like football and cars. Have a good weekend!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in The Great Book Project | 4 Comments »