Books: What are you reading tonight? - Page 286 - The Lounge Discussion and Review on Literature, Arts, Culture

Read "Hell House" yesterday on a whim, as it is supposedly the king of haunted house books. Was written by Richard Matheson, of "I Am Legend" fame.

Can't say it was amazing in any way, but it was a pretty good, quick read.

If this IS the greatest book of it's kind, though, I don't think I'll be reading any more of them.

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01-04-2012 , 12:12 PM

#7127

GodSmackJack

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Finished the Tattoo book from Larsson a few days ago. I really, really liked it. I've heard from some people that they thought it took too long to develop but I didn't have that impression. I really felt like I knew the main characters in the story Blomkvist and Salander by the time I finished it.

Now, I'm reading Star Wars - Knights of the Old Republic: Deceived. I'm trying to learn more about the KOTOR lore since I'm playing the game now.

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01-04-2012 , 12:13 PM

#7128

diebitter

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Ineedaride2

It sounds like you have it confused with the Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. That has a terrific first paragraph.

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01-04-2012 , 12:52 PM

#7129

BustoRhymes

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Quote:

Originally Posted by diebitter

It sounds like you have it confused with the Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. That has a terrific first paragraph.

Came here to post the exact same thing.

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01-04-2012 , 02:33 PM

#7130

SnotBoogy

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I have a craving to read something anything about Las Vegas... suggestions?

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01-04-2012 , 02:41 PM

#7131

mrbaseball

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Quote:

Originally Posted by SnotBoogy

I have a craving to read something anything about Las Vegas... suggestions?

A couple of weeks ago I finished "Whale Hunt in the Desert: Secrets of a Vegas Superhost" by Deke Castleman.

An indepth look at Vegas hosts trying to hook highrollers. Not exactly what I was expecting but a very interesting and quick read. Would recommend.

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01-04-2012 , 03:14 PM

#7132

brianr

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There's a cool script set in Vegas floating around out there - even won some awards -

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01-04-2012 , 03:33 PM

#7133

diebitter

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Quote:

Originally Posted by SnotBoogy

I have a craving to read something anything about Las Vegas... suggestions?

Just watch Showgirls imo

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01-04-2012 , 03:55 PM

#7134

BustoRhymes

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Quote:

Originally Posted by brianr

There's a cool script set in Vegas floating around out there - even won some awards -

Damn son, that's cold.

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01-04-2012 , 04:52 PM

#7135

GodSmackJack

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Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbaseball

Yeah that's available on Kindle now. Definitely on my list to read in the future.

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01-04-2012 , 09:39 PM

#7136

SnotBoogy

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thanks mrbaseball that's exactly the kinda book i was needing bout now. have a 3 month old and vegas is about the furthest possibility in life

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01-04-2012 , 10:28 PM

#7137

Ineedaride2

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Quote:

Originally Posted by diebitter

It sounds like you have it confused with the Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. That has a terrific first paragraph.

I did some light browsing into good horror/thriller books, and the couple of sources I found recommended Hell House over Haunting of Hill House. I haven't read the latter, so I can't say which is better.

I may read the other one just so I can definitely say.

Edit: I wouldn't be surprised if Hell House is a little more graphic, and Haunting of Hill House is better written.

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01-04-2012 , 10:33 PM

#7138

diebitter

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oh that's cool. I like Matheson, but I've never heard Hell House called the best haunted house book. Jackson's book is usually held up at that.

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01-04-2012 , 10:43 PM

#7139

BustoRhymes

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I also tried Hell House and was entertained but underwhelmed. Unfortunately, I am Legend set the bar far too high.

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01-04-2012 , 10:59 PM

#7140

Ineedaride2

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May get I Am Legend, then. Never watched the movie, so it will be new to me.

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01-04-2012 , 11:07 PM

#7141

vhawk01

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If you havent watched the movie....good. Hard to think of a better example of the movie being so much worse than the book. They didnt change all that much, except the fundamental purpose of the story, making it into some feel-good victory over the evil vampires instead of what the book is ACTUALLY about, which is something entirely different.

Such a good book, such a typical lame Hollywood movie. Dont see it.

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01-04-2012 , 11:48 PM

#7142

Ineedaride2

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Quote:

Originally Posted by vhawk01

I'm convinced. I'll get it tonight. I'm going BROKE on books lately.

Incidentally, I went to a friends house, and he had one book on display in his living room. It was Fight Club.

I asked, "They made a book outta that?"

He answered, "Not really. It's pretty much the movie."

Confirm/Deny?

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01-04-2012 , 11:48 PM

#7143

NajdorfDefense

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Quote:

Originally Posted by rapidacid

Picked up "The Hunger Games" with zero knowledge about it ahead of time other than seeing the posters at the movies. Super fast read, 30% done after a midnight reading session.

Not as deep as Ender's Game, but in the same vein.

Just read the original - Battle Royale instead. Terrific novel, esp if you're into that sort of ultraviolence.

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01-04-2012 , 11:49 PM

#7144

NajdorfDefense

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PK Dick surprisingly gets no/very little love in this thread I've noticed. Can't go wrong with his novels - famous or otherwise - or the short story collections.

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01-04-2012 , 11:51 PM

#7145

BustoRhymes

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Ineedaride2

Fight Club the film is enormously like the book, but one of those rarities where you can take great satisfaction from either one without detracting from the other.

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01-05-2012 , 12:13 AM

#7146

Ineedaride2

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Quote:

Originally Posted by BustoRhymes

Fight Club the film is enormously like the book, but one of those rarities where you can take great satisfaction from either one without detracting from the other.

One of the horror books I considered was the one where some anonymous figure invited like 15 people to a retreat to write their ultimate novel, and instead, he locked them up in an old theater and they competed Survival style for some reward. There was much depravity, from the reviews I saw. I think it was called "The Haunting" or something similar.

Anybody read this?

Edit: The reason I quoted you is because it was the same author, I believe.

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01-05-2012 , 10:37 AM

#7147

rapidacid

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Quote:

Originally Posted by rapidacid

Finished & gave it 2/5 stars on Goodreads. Won't be reading the subsequent books.

Very juvenile, superficial, predictable. Perfect for a major motion picture!

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01-05-2012 , 10:43 AM

#7148

amplify

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Quote:

Originally Posted by NajdorfDefense

Just read the original - Battle Royale instead. Terrific novel, esp if you're into that sort of ultraviolence.

I enjoyed the plot of Battle Royale but Hunger Games is actually well written.

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01-05-2012 , 06:05 PM

#7149

knivesout

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Quote:

Originally Posted by NajdorfDefense

Finished tAoF last night. It moved from a 6 to a 7/10 by the end of the book. If anyone can explain the presence of it on so many 'best of 2011' lists I'd love to hear it. Promising debut, but nothing more.

I thought the plot was terrible, contrived, and eye rollingly predictable, but for some reason I enjoyed reading it, or at least didn't feel like I had wasted the time.

Finished Kingpin yesterday -- pretty interesting read and accessible to anyone. I think people on this forum would find it particularly interesting because of the role forums played in the hacking world.

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01-07-2012 , 01:07 AM

#7150

Ineedaride2

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Ineedaride2

I'm convinced. I'll get it tonight. I'm going BROKE on books lately.

(In reference to I Am Legend)

Finished it this morning. Gotta say, this is the kind of book I like. Quick read. Well written. Good plot. Familiarity with the main character. No real interruptions in plot. Good ending.

I'll give it an 8.5/10.

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