Can't do it: read Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon, I mean. I started it two nights ago and made a final effort at it this morning but it's.....well, I don't like to label....too blokey for my liking. The research seems admirably detailed (although he could be writing absolute mathematical bollocks for all I know) and I can cope with sketchily drawn (tautology?) characters and fast moving plot switching. But do you know what? It's like reading something written by someone with attention-deficit/Asperger's...or for them...syndrome: I'm not sure which. So with no little annoyance, I shall consign it to the 'help-yourself-anyone' shelf along with various other ill-advised purchases. I know what I'm going to get in replacement: Scarlett Thomas's Popco and AlexanderMcCall Smith's The Unbearable Lightness of Scones - pure undemanding beach pabulum, but with pretty coherent narrative strings. As far as I can tell. Thus far.
Showing posts with label Cryptonomicon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cryptonomicon. Show all posts
Friday, August 14, 2009
Another Useless Doorstop
Can't do it: read Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon, I mean. I started it two nights ago and made a final effort at it this morning but it's.....well, I don't like to label....too blokey for my liking. The research seems admirably detailed (although he could be writing absolute mathematical bollocks for all I know) and I can cope with sketchily drawn (tautology?) characters and fast moving plot switching. But do you know what? It's like reading something written by someone with attention-deficit/Asperger's...or for them...syndrome: I'm not sure which. So with no little annoyance, I shall consign it to the 'help-yourself-anyone' shelf along with various other ill-advised purchases. I know what I'm going to get in replacement: Scarlett Thomas's Popco and AlexanderMcCall Smith's The Unbearable Lightness of Scones - pure undemanding beach pabulum, but with pretty coherent narrative strings. As far as I can tell. Thus far.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Cryptono...no...no!
Still extremely dubious about Cryptonomicon. I read the prologue this morning and felt even more sceptical. I probably need a back up.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Like Father(s)? Like Sun!
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson: that's my holiday book, but I have to admit I'm feeling a bit dubious about it......seems to tick the right boxes, but I am uncomfortably aware that so did the Illuminatus! trilogy.....I did try to read some of Stephenson's Baroque trilogy once upon a time but faltered quite quickly. I'll give this one a go.Two biblioblogger recommendations are winging their (used) way to me:
1) New Testament Studies by C H Dodd, as recommended by Mark Goodacre as essential reading for anyone who is 'seriously interested' in Pauline eschatology (me! I am!) and
2) John J. O'Keefe & R.R. Reno's 'Sanctified Vision: An Introduction to Early Christian Interpretation of the Bible' [recommended in 'Son of the Fathers' blog, by - if I'm not mistaken - Josh Mc Manaway (sp?)] dealing with patristic hermeneutics, very pertinent to my area of study.
I don't think I'll be taking them away on holiday with me: I'm far too shallow and flakey. No pics of me boning up on my PhD stuff on the beach....or maybe.....?
HT Mark Goodacre's NT Blog , Son of the Fathers
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