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Post by John on Dec 29, 2014 7:05:09 GMT
Having spare time during the Christmas period is a good chance for me to catch up on some reading I just re-read Viktor Frankl Man Search for Meaning It is a book that does not take long to read and talks about his experience in a concentration camp, he takes a very strong Existential stance and explains how the experience developed his theories on Logotherphy. An inspiring read but also a very honest and personal account. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27s_Search_for_Meaning |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2014 7:54:16 GMT
The one disadvantage of living out here in France is the lack of new English language books. Reading in French will never be the same.
Well..... when I say lack I mean books worth reading. The Brits out here have loads of 'holiday' books that do the rounds and get redistributed on a regular basis. I haven't got quite that desperate yet.
So, I have started rereading stuff. I am reading books that I have only read once and not revisited for some reason. At the mo its The Butlerian Jihad by Brian Herbert and Kevin J.Anderson. Their continuing delving into Frank Herbert's Dune universe is interesting and they are quite good writers but they just don't have the ability to make me totally suspend disbelief the way Herbert senior had. I can read the original Dune books again and again and never fail to be engaged.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2014 20:24:53 GMT
I mentioned this the other day but I'm reading it yet again so I thought I'd share it here. The Book is "Being in Balance: 9 Principles for creating habits to match your desires" by Dr Wayne Dyer. It's the most influential and uplifting book I've read so far in my life. It's petty short but all the better for that somehow. It's hard to define but it would probably fall somewhere between self improvement and spiritual fulfilment. Here's the Amazon link so anyone interested can take a peek inside. It's peanuts to buy on EBay although the hardback version (still only £3.18) is worth the extra because it's simply beautiful to look at and to hold. www.amazon.com/Being-In-Balance-Principles-Creating/dp/1401910386 |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 29, 2014 20:31:43 GMT
At the mo its The Butlerian Jihad by Brian Herbert and Kevin J.Anderson. Their continuing delving into Frank Herbert's Dune universe is interesting and they are quite good writers but they just don't have the ability to make me totally suspend disbelief the way Herbert senior had. I can read the original Dune books again and again and never fail to be engaged. Agreed - I tried their follow-on books but found the writing dry and not up to Frank Herbert's standard.
I'm currently reading Robert J. Sawyer's Starplex which is not taxing and just a good read. He wrote Flashforward which became a TV series.
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Post by John on Dec 30, 2014 8:28:37 GMT
I mentioned this the other day but I'm reading it yet again so I thought I'd share it here. The Book is "Being in Balance: 9 Principles for creating habits to match your desires" by Dr Wayne Dyer. It's the most influential and uplifting book I've read so far in my life. It's petty short but all the better for that somehow. It's hard to define but it would probably fall somewhere between self improvement and spiritual fulfilment. Here's the Amazon link so anyone interested can take a peek inside. It's peanuts to buy on EBay although the hardback version (still only £3.18) is worth the extra because it's simply beautiful to look at and to hold. www.amazon.com/Being-In-Balance-Principles-Creating/dp/1401910386I read one of his books years ago. I quite enjoy reading people like Ken Wilber a good place to start would be Spectrum of Consciousness Not a light read but good to help you reflect deeper. |
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Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Dec 30, 2014 10:05:31 GMT
The one disadvantage of living out here in France is the lack of new English language books. Reading in French will never be the same. Well..... when I say lack I mean books worth reading. The Brits out here have loads of 'holiday' books that do the rounds and get redistributed on a regular basis. I haven't got quite that desperate yet. So, I have started rereading stuff. I am reading books that I have only read once and not revisited for some reason. At the mo its The Butlerian Jihad by Brian Herbert and Kevin J.Anderson. Their continuing delving into Frank Herbert's Dune universe is interesting and they are quite good writers but they just don't have the ability to make me totally suspend disbelief the way Herbert senior had. I can read the original Dune books again and again and never fail to be engaged. Try the Kindle reader on your PC or the app on your smartphone if you have one. I know a lot of people say it's not the same as a real book, but you get used to it, and you will be spoiled for choice. I almost exclusively read books on my phone now. |
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Post by Tim on Dec 30, 2014 11:03:40 GMT
 I was going to suggest a Kindle for Gordon too, but you beat me to it. Wouldn't be without mine now, in fact I have two! |
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Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Dec 30, 2014 11:09:56 GMT
Aye. Would be lost too without the app on my phone.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 30, 2014 11:36:08 GMT
Try also God is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens. His way of expressing what I think of religion in clear language is refreshing and I mourn his loss as a fascinating journalist of our times. |
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Post by dvh on Dec 30, 2014 11:42:29 GMT
I've just finished re-reading James Joyce's 'Ulysses' for the umpteenth time. If there's a better book out there, I don't know of it. Also reading 'North and South' by Elizabeth Gaskell and various whodunnits and PG Wodehouse for light relief.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2014 11:49:41 GMT
The one disadvantage of living out here in France is the lack of new English language books. Reading in French will never be the same. Well..... when I say lack I mean books worth reading. The Brits out here have loads of 'holiday' books that do the rounds and get redistributed on a regular basis. I haven't got quite that desperate yet. So, I have started rereading stuff. I am reading books that I have only read once and not revisited for some reason. At the mo its The Butlerian Jihad by Brian Herbert and Kevin J.Anderson. Their continuing delving into Frank Herbert's Dune universe is interesting and they are quite good writers but they just don't have the ability to make me totally suspend disbelief the way Herbert senior had. I can read the original Dune books again and again and never fail to be engaged. Try the Kindle reader on your PC or the app on your smartphone if you have one. I know a lot of people say it's not the same as a real book, but you get used to it, and you will be spoiled for choice. I almost exclusively read books on my phone now. I already have a few thousand on the Mac and whilst I still prefer a book, don't find it too bad. An iPad is still on the list but I suppose a Kindle would be cheaper. |
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Post by Tim on Dec 30, 2014 11:59:38 GMT
I suppose a Kindle would be cheaper. Not only cheaper Gordon, but much better for the eyes. You will get eye strain reading from a tablet for extended periods and they have been shown to interrupt sleep behaviour, if you read one before going to bed. But the deciding factor is comfort, a Kindle is very light and easy to hold one handed, which you cannot do with a tablet for very long. If you get one, a Kindle Paperwhite is very hard to beat and is like reading a book visually. I think you would be extremely pleased with it, next best thing to a book for the reading experience and the instant access to a mass of free classic work as well as paid books would keep you busy for the rest of your days  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2014 17:21:15 GMT
I'd second that. I have about 50 unread books on my iPad kindle app. It's just not as easy to read. I tire and my attention wanders quickly. A proper kindle is on my list
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2014 18:44:36 GMT
I have just found out that getting a Kindle will be a total waste of time. I downloaded the app just to see how it all works and tried to order a book. Can't. I live in France so I can only download books in French.
Whilst I understand about copyright restrictions I find this rather annoying. Amazon continue to annoy me at every turn. Every time I order anything from them, they tell me its dispatched and then, usually later the same day, I am told it couldn't be delivered and they refund my money.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2014 19:12:00 GMT
I've no personal knowledge of this but I did Google it and there is discussion here: www.amazon.co.uk/forum/kindle?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx3IRFCNF3E5K2W&cdThread=Tx1YM32146T7TVJThe most useful post appears to be this: You would have to register your kindle to your account on amazon.fr, and then you would be able to download e-books. A quick check on amazon.fr has returned 1 089 076 e-books in English, so I don't think you will necessarily be stuck for anything to read. In fact, there are more English e-books than French e-books.... The quickest way to find out more about kindle on amazon.fr would be to go to 'boutique kindle' and look for the 'Ebooks en anglais et autres langues' link. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2014 19:38:21 GMT
I've no personal knowledge of this but I did Google it and there is discussion here: www.amazon.co.uk/forum/kindle?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx3IRFCNF3E5K2W&cdThread=Tx1YM32146T7TVJThe most useful post appears to be this: You would have to register your kindle to your account on amazon.fr, and then you would be able to download e-books. A quick check on amazon.fr has returned 1 089 076 e-books in English, so I don't think you will necessarily be stuck for anything to read. In fact, there are more English e-books than French e-books.... The quickest way to find out more about kindle on amazon.fr would be to go to 'boutique kindle' and look for the 'Ebooks en anglais et autres langues' link. Thanks, I actually managed to transfer the account to .fr and downloaded a book to test and blow me down it worked. Miracles do happen after all. Its a good thing I don't order stuff from Amazon otherwise as I would now have to pay French Amazon prices which seem, on average, to be 20% more than the UK. Can't win them all. If we need anything from the UK site, I'll get Ronnie to do it as, for some reason, they seem to like delivering to her. Wierd. |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 30, 2014 19:48:20 GMT
I have often bought from amazon.com, amazon.fr, amazon.de and even amazon.jp
Your amazon.co.uk account can be used in any of the amazon organisations.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2014 20:01:44 GMT
I have often bought from amazon.com, amazon.fr, amazon.de and even amazon.jp Your amazon.co.uk account can be used in any of the amazon organisations. But not ebooks unless you change you account to be based on the French site!! Same address and password. Not sure what difference it will make. We shall see in due course no doubt. |
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Post by Chris on Dec 30, 2014 20:39:09 GMT
Some interesting reading going on here. Quite a few of these I would never think of as my kind of thing but I quite fancy singularitys recommendation. That God delusion I didn't really think much of. Bit long winded.
I've posted quite a few of my reads in other threads but just to quickly recap I'm enjoying Tommy MacPhersons autobiography(the kilted killer) just now on kindle. Also well worth a read is Papillion,My Friend the mercenary,One People,Beau Geste and 20000 Leagues under the Sea. Loads more will come to me.
I also recommend Kindle - it's a whole library I can take to the rig with me.
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Post by Tim on Dec 30, 2014 21:29:38 GMT
I have just found out that getting a Kindle will be a total waste of time. Gordon, the free app and the Kindle work very differently and the app is very restrictive compared to the Kindle itself. If you have a UK Amazon account it doesn't matter where your Kindle is when you buy Kindle edition ebooks, I have been in China and bought books that show up on the Kindle almost instantly. You can do this via the Kindle itself (using Wi-Fi) or via the Kindle store online. When you buy a book it automatically syncs with your Kindle (as long as it's connected to a network), or if you have multiple Kindles you select where to send it at the time of purchase. I would suggest getting one and trying it out, if you don't like it, send it back for a refund. Comparing the app readers to a Kindle itself is like comparing apples to oranges - the apps to be blunt are crap compared to the real thing. |
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