What are you reading?

OK, Blankbaby readers! Here's a little experiment. Over the last year or so Blankbaby has been somewhat fallow. However, you might have noticed an uptick in posts as of late.

I have no idea how many people still read this blog (to be honest, I never really understood why anyone would read this, but that's a subject for another time), so in an effort to see how popular I am (you like me! You really like me) I thought I ask for a little audience interaction.

As you know, I love to read but I tend to fall into ruts in my reading:

• SciFi (and various sub-genres)
• Fantasy from time to time
• Historical/literary mysteries
• Contemporary Fiction (i.e. 'serious fiction')

Sound off in the comments and let me know what you're reading, or what you've read recently you really enjoyed.

I just finished The Good Thief's Guide to Vegas which is a nice, light read.

Comments

[Vincent Ferrari]

So after missing out for a really long time, I finally have started reading Freakanomics. I like outside the box thinking and boy is this baby loaded with it. I reckon you've probably already read it, though.

I also read "Don't Swallow Your Gum" a book about the medical myths we all believe without proof; pretty eye opening.

And of course every geek should read "Grand Theft Childhood," a book smashing myths about the correlation between video games and childhood violence.

Also check out the book "Sharp Teeth." It's a quick read but a pretty good twist on Werewolves written in a pretty interesting style. Incidentally, all of these are available for your new Kindle :-)

[Chris]

I'm re-reading Four Hour Work Week and Crush It. Both are highly motivating to me, especially since my hobby/side work is accelerating into something bigger. They're just both no-nonsense guys are are straight shooters when it comes to getting your stuff together.

PS: Great blog. @gfmorris dropping your name all the time finally got me over here to check it out.

<-- @chrisfromthelc

[Tyler]

I recently read "1984" by George Orwell. This is a classic so you might've read it before, but it's extremely interesting to see how Orwell "predicted" the future, and the ways it actually turned out - sometimes you feel like the world is actually coming to this (although we're almost 30 years too late! :P)

I love your blog, it's nice and light and your posts are fun. But where oh where is my free TypePad book!

[Lex Friedman]

I just read and enoyjed pretty much all of A. J. Jacobs's books, particularly THE KNOW IT ALL and THE YEAR OF LIVING BIBLICALLY. Both well-executed non-fiction self-experimentation.

Soon, of course, the forthcoming book THE SNUGGIE SUTRA will top reading lists across the country. Just saying.

My current favorite fiction writer is Jonathan Tropper. My recommendation is to rad all of his books.

[Lex]

In case it wasn't obvious, im typing on an iPad. Sorry for the typos.

[Frank Dawson]

RIght now i am reading, "S*#t my Dad says"! very funny book, although, not for the easily offended. Recently finished "Abe Lincoln, Vampire Hunter" ! VEry entertaining!

[oof! blam! argh!]

I just finished Halting State by Charles Stross, and am working my way through my first DiscWorld novel, Unseen Academicals. My commute book is The Child Thief by Brom, and I have an audio book for the walks that I'm too embarrassed to list.

OK FINE IT'S TRAIL OF TIME, A DC UNIVERSE GRAPHIC AUDIO. Gah. It isn't good, but I lose credibility as a comic book nerd if I don't have one going at all times.

[Vincent Ferrari]

Year of Living Biblically was brilliant. I had forgotten about that until I saw your comment.

[Scott McNulty]

I actually haven't read Freakonmics yet, though I think I have a copy somewhere around here.

Funny thing about swallowing gum, when I was a kid I would swallow gum like crazy so my mother forbade me from chewing gum. And to this day I don't chew gum (mostly because I have got in the habit).

Thanks for all the suggestions!

[Scott McNulty]

Chris, I'm not sure my blog is great... but it is pretty darned close!

I've met Gary V. and he is a real pistol.

I'm a little suspicious of the whole Four Hour Work Week, I must admit. It seems like a scam or something. Especially since I am pretty sure Tim Ferris works more than four hours a week.

[Scott McNulty]

I've heard that the Snuggie Sutra is going to be the defining book of our times.

I've never read anything by Jonathan Tropper, but I'll check out his stuff. I have read all of A.J. Jacob's books. They're entertaining but at the end of them I'm always struck that they are little more than gimmicks.

[Scott McNulty]

A book based on a Twitter account... only in America!

[Scott McNulty]

I think I've read Halting State... Charles Stross is a good author. I must admit that I've never read any of the DiscWorld books (I'm a bad geek).

I did see Brom's book in Barnes and Noble the other day. Is it any good?

[[email protected]]

I have been reading a lot! I think you should read some of the Henning Mankel books (that is, if you're asking for recommendations) because it was your recommendation (The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam) that got me on the mystery kick which got me on the Henning Mankel kick. I think I've read them all now. But it was recently.

That doesn't answer your question though. I am currently reading The Selected Works of T. S. Spivet by Reif Larsen (just started yesterday and am loving it), The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan and Fargo Rock City by Chuck Klosterman. I always have lots of thoughts on books, but I think you might really enjoy The Selected Works of T. S. Spivet. It's what John Linnell might write if he were a musician.

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I think it's actually Henning Mankell, now that I think about it. 2 Ls.

[[email protected]]

What is wrong with me? It's what John Linnell might write if he were an author.

[Simon]

I've just finished reading all the Martin Beck novels by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö. They're Swedish crime stories which were written in the 60s, but surprisingly seem pretty modern. There's also 10 of them, so they're good to keep going for a while!

I love modern Japanese fiction, so right now I've just started reading Villain by Shuichi Yoshida.

[oof! blam! argh!]

The DiscWorld novel I'm reading is more about cute turns of phrases than actual plot, but even at its worst, it's good fun.

I like The Child Thief so far, yes - I'm about 1/2 way through. Straightforward myth in straightforward prose. There aren't any passages so inspiring you would underline them, but the story is a good, if barely recognizable mixup of Peter Pan and Arthurian legend.

[Adam]

Starting with the Unseen Academicals is probably not the best way to appreciate a Discworld novel. There's about 20 years' worth of setting and character ideas you'll be missing out on. I think Mort, of the very early books, is one of the best to kick off with.

[oof! blam! argh!]

That is almost exactly what the person who gave me the book said, Adam. She ended up with a spare copy and gave it to me knowing I hadn't read any of the others, thinking I would appreciate Sir Pratchett's sense of humor, and she was right. It may not have been the best place to begin, but starting a 37-book series (even though they apparently aren't interdependent for the most part) would have been too intimidating. Having dipped my toe in, I'm more inclined to go back and try some of the earlier ones.

[chris]

i am all about contemporary philadelphia literature. just finished duane swiz (sic) very compelling graphic novel 'Expiration Date' set in Frankford and before that read 'Closing Time' by Joe Queenan, a fella who grew up in East Falls projects.

There is a legion of celebrated Philly authors who aren't read nearly as well as they should be in their hometown IMHO.
-cgw

[[email protected]]

I recently read a Martin Beck book too.