Michael chabon's wonder boys is 368 pages and awesome

Marilynne Robinson's Housekeeping and David Markson's Wittgenstein's Mistress.

About as different as you'll find, but both brilliant.

Careful there in grad school, Busto; don't say this aloud.

Recently issued as a Modern Library edition too. A Fan's Notes makes a perfect companion piece to The Great Gatsby, I think.

Finally finished A Storm of Swords today after starting in on the first one A Game of Thrones back in mid July. So far it just seems like one big book although this last one was most satisfying just because it had some resolution although I realize this mega story will never end.

Trying to decide if I wanna jump right into A Feast for Crows tommorrow or take a break from Westeros for a while and read something else for a while. I definitely planned on taking a break but this stuff is sorta like crack making me want more even though it always isn't satisfying. Plus the reviews I have seen on Crows are sketchy. I will definitely read the last 2 at some point. Also its getting a little too "out there" fantasywise for my preferences.

I'll sleep on it and decide tommorrow but I'm leaning towards reading a couple of other quick books first and then jumping back into Westeros.

You have the advantage that you have A Dance with Dragons already out. So Feast for Crows will be better for you than for most.

Huge fan of GRRM. Feast, for me, was like two different books. The first half is made bearable by Jaime's chapters, but then the second half was as good as Storm of Swords. Definitely a good read, but also the worst of the books. It might be hard to get motivated to read it, but it'll be worth it if you can get to the halfway point.

By IJ do you mean Infinite Jest? If so, I finished it within the last month. A funny sidenote: I bought Oblivion on a whim without having any clue who DFW is/was, looked for it everywhere after I started IJ, and then found it as soon as I was finished IJ and have started it.

I do. "Good Old Neon" from Oblivion is so amazing. Also.

double fisting "busy monsters" and "the informers"... very happy right now with both, good mix

The Ultimate Egoist: Volume I: The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon

Thirteen volume set.

Gately. I also love pretty much any place Wallace talks about the sort of grander scheme of addiction.

Have you read the other volumes? If so, which one is the best. I want to start reading him, but I want to start with the best, so that I am motivated to read more instead of giving up right away.
I loved his story Microcosmic God, but that's all I've read by him.

It does indeed stand up, although his preachy bits are a little more cringe-worthy this time round.

No. I've read his stuff, but not this collection. It is in chronological order, so the first volume is his earliest stuff, some unpublished.

they range from awesome to disappointing, but never bad.

At Home by Bill Bryson.

The story of the home and how we live. He is an American authour who got famous writing travel books and now has moved away from them. Very amusing writer, with the bonus that you'll learn something every time you pick up one of his books.
Highly recommended.

just wondering if anyone thinks The Informers is BEE's best book. not saying it is, i'm only about 75 pages in, but just a feeler to see if any BEE fans think that. Because, so far, I can kinda see where that could be reasonable. So far.

So among other things I've been reading Jennifer Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad. I've enjoyed it so far. But it seems to be getting mixed reviews on Amazon. And I'm baffled as to how anyone could see it as, among other things, "lifeless" or "pretentious." So, if you have read AVftGS* -- even if you enjoyed it -- do you get why some might see it as bad?

* I'm asking only those who have read it, because those who haven't read it would be able to say little more than "people have different tastes" or "lol Amazon reviews." And it should be obvious why those replies aren't helpful.

Toothy,

People have different tastes. And why would you pay attention to Amazon reviews?

Good Old Neon and The Depressed Person are absolutely amazing.
And Girl with Curious Hair.

As is the Gately stuff, but not quite as good as the short stories.

Vouch on Markson, also maybe The Prestige for something a little different? It's not exactly like the movie, no surprise there. He's a very talented writer.

How about Girlfriend 44 for something lighter and funnier? It's totally hilarious.

+1 whenever someone mentions The Prestige. Such a good book.

The only novel I can think of that is possibly funnier than Confederacy of Dunces is The Ginger Man, by J.P. Donleavy. Written in the mid-50s. Still funny.

I was laughing so hard during several points of this book, I actually had to put it down and go do other things.

[which is also on several top 100 of the Century lists, for those who care about such things. Not just my opinion.]

It is the definition of a don't-miss for any fans of great Irish literature.

"The Unexpurgated Code: A complete manual of survival and Manners" is also awesomely funny, but not a novel:

'When Some Supercilious C**T Asks Is There Anything Wrong: "Yes, you evil little man, I'm looking at your tie."

How to Prevent People from Detesting You: "Don't try."

"What are you doing, growing that beard?" "I'm not doing a thing; you're shaving every day."