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... of the time - each section has its own revelation that makes you want to read the next.
>69 Ellie, I haven't read Special Topics in Calamity Physics, but I'm kind of intrigued now with the comments here. I very highly recommend The Thirteenth Tale - the writing style is very classic- ... Well, The Woman in White, The Thirteenth Tale and Special Topics in Calamity Physics are all on my shelves waiting to be read, so it sounds like I'm in for a treat! Maybe not all at once though... ;-) Oops! Just discovered I double posted, so will respond to Ellie below: I predict you'll love Special Topics... and enjoy The Thirteenth Tale--or maybe it will be the other way around? How's that for a wishy-washy prediction? I've been interested in Women in White since reading about it after it was referenced i Special Topics in Calamity Physics. Your comment that you were frustrated by how long the narrator took to tell something very simple makes me think of all the other classics I've read. Don't mind it at ... Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marsha Pessl ... (Hugo 2008)
5) American Gods - Neil Gaiman (Hugo 2002)
5 other awards winners and nominees
6) Special Topics in Calamity Physics - Marisha Pessl (New York Times Best Books of the Year 2006)
7) The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - Haruki Murakami (Yomiuri 1996)< ... ... the Road by Kerouac, both of which I get a hard time for.
I would like to say, however, that I liked White Teeth, Special Topics in Calamity Physics and The Fountainhead. ... w!
Four, Five, and Six by Josephine Tey
"B" is for Burglar by Sue Grafton
Lord Peter by Dorothy Sayers
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross
Angels of Destruction by Keith Donohue
The Girl with the D ... ... in that discussion? Lol. I remember rushing over to your or laytonwoman3rd's thread to defend a book--no, that was Special Topics in Calamity Physics I think. I loved Property; now I'm going to have to go searching for that discussion.
Kambrogi, I accidently started too far back ... I swear I loaned The Stolen Child and Special Topics in Calamity Physics to my mother-in-law, but she says no.
2 boxes of books destroyed by the Post Office in 1980 when I moved back home to California from Connecticut. It still bothers me. 29. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher
30. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
31. When You Are Engulfed In Flames by David Sedaris
32. The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
33. The Secret of Lost Things by Sheridan Hay*
34. The Embodied Mind by Varela, Thompson ... I've had Woman in White on my list since reading Special Topics in Calamity Physics this last fall in which she used this title as a chapter heading. You make me want to read it sooner. 23. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl (514 p.)
The story here is told by Blue van Meer, a high school student whose mother died in a car crash when she was very young and whose father, a brilliant & dynamic poli sci professor, changes universities (not to mention "June Bug" ... ... and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman
Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horowitz
Couldn't Keep It to Myself by Wally Lamb
Special Topics in Calamity Physics
A Gathering Light aka A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradb ... I really liked Special Topics in Calamity physics as well and agree with lycomayflower that there was humor in the narrative. I remember being caught up with the story, too, and just read it straight through. I thought it was a very good read and it is one of the few recently published novels ... I loved Special Topics..., read it twice actually, and recommended it for my book group because of all the literary and popular references. All the asides drove some people crazy, but that's how I think so that's what made the book so good for me. I thought the father was pretentious and ... I read Special Topics in Calamity Physics for a book club at work, although I never made it to the actual meeting. I don't remember being overly-impressed with the work, but I didn't have any incredibly strong feelings against it, too. Maybe it says something about the book that I can't ... Trash-talking about Special Topics over on Stasia's thread. Get on over there and sort them out, so I know why I'm supposed to read it. I don't know about it being the most wonderful book that has ever been produced on this planet, but I did enjoy Special Topics in Calamity Physics :) The title is actually what caught my attention in the first place and the interview or review or whatever it was that I heard on NPR cinched the ... >8 cariola, I saw Special Topics in Calamity Physicsin the public library recently. I couldn't help thinking that of all the titles in all the librairies in all the world and in the world's beyond, that title is the least attractive name for a work of fiction.
Specialised , calamitious and Ph ... I've got you starred as well.
It will be interesting to see what you think of Special Topics in Calamity Physics. It's one of those books that seems to evoke violent passions for or against. (I really hated it . . . ) I have decided to chuck the 'must-read' list. I am not getting them read and have decided a list approach is just not for me. I will eventually get to them, but probably not all this year.
 bonniebooks in 50 Book Challenge : bonniebook's 50 book challenge in 2009, chapter 2 (Jun 23, 2009, 10:39am) ... The Secret River - Kate Grenville (1/10/09)
13. Outliers: The Story of Success - Malcom Gladwell (1/11/09)
14. Special Topics in Calamity Physics - Marisha Pessl (1/12/09) re-read/book group
15. The Scarlet Feather - Maeve Binchy (1/15/09)
16. The Elegance of the Hedgehog - ... ... "star" books (I'm too indecisive), but here--in the order read--are some favorites of 2009 so far:
The White Tiger
Special Topics in Calamity Physics A re-read
Housekeeping vs. Dirt
A Complicated Kindness
Property
The Cellist of Sarajevo
Ex-Libris: Confessions of a Common ... Special Topics In Calamity Physics - Marisha Pessi
Hardcover, $5.97, in a used bookstore. ... Maybe when the kids are older I'll be able to be more comtemplative with my reading again!)
And, no, I haven't read Special Topics in Calamity Physics, but I do love the title. :)
I should have given a precis of The Fern Tattoo above: our narrator has no family (his father died in ... ... but not when you're skimming and Middlemarch is much the same way.
Re: The Fern Tatoo. Some people didn't like Special Topics in Calamity Physics because of all the asides, but I loved it! That's how my mind works--though not so cleverly as hers. Have you read that book? (I guess ... ... additional info. I will pick up The House on Mango Street the next time I see it.
I am glad to see that you enjoyed Special Topics in Calamity Physics. I have that one home from the library now. ... it. And better yet, it was one of those books we can actually have an interesting discussion about as a class.
9. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
This was a wonderful book! I really really enjoyed it, though I can't pinpoint exactly why. It'd be a book I'd be ... I really liked Special Topics--so much so that I recommended it for my book group. I loved all the literary and popular references/asides. I'm not as smart, witty, or well-read as the main character, but my brain works like that, so her way of talking and thinking sounded extremely smart, but ... ... smart rather than slapstick. I really did enjoy the book so much. The writing reminded me of that of Marisha Pessl in Special Topics in Calamity Physics. Have you read that book? That's a book that no one feels neutral about. Either you love it or hate it. I loved it.
Just post the Yi ... My list of books to look at/buy is now in my library under, appropriately enough, Wish List. ... The Secret River - Kate Grenville (1/10/09)
13. Outliers: The Story of Success - Malcom Gladwell (1/11/09)
14. Special Topics in Calamity Physics - Marisha Pessl (1/12/09) re-read/book group
15. The Scarlet Feather - Maeve Binchy (1/15/09)
16. The Elegance of the Hedgehog - ... ...
*Here the post dissolves into complaining about my past lead and my upcoming one.*
Last time I lead (Jan 08), I picked Special Topics in Calamity Physics as my selection. I owned the book but hadn't read it before. I put some posts out about which books I might select among a few I owned ... ... Species - Read 05/24/09
The Fortress of Solitude
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
Coming out of the Ice
Special Topics in Calamity Physics
Arms of Nemesis
The Life and Death of Mary Wollstonecraft
Black Swan Green
Bard
In the Shadows of War
Penmarric
Clocke ... Bought three books:
Lolita - Nabokov
World without end - Follett
Calamiteitenleer voor beginners - Pessl (Dutch translation of special topics in calamity physics) ... Novels or Autobiographies 9/9
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet - Jamie Ford (1/04/09)
Special Topics in Calamity Physics - Marisha Pessl (1/12/09)
Gardens of Water - Alan Drew (2/09/09)
Mister Pip - Lloyd Jones (2/18/09)
Black Swan Gree ... Earth, Air, Fire, and Custard is one of my favorites. Also Special Topics in Calamity Physics. Welcome to the group!
Special Topics in Calamity Physics is on my list to read this year. Glad to know you enjoyed it. ... think you trust my recommendations! We've both liked quite a few of the same books, haven't we? (Crow Lake and Special Topics... come to mind.) I've got quite a few books on my "Authors/Books to Look at" list thanks to you too. I definitely want to read Rats. And Verghese's ... ... The Future of Endangered Species
The Fortress of Solitude
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
Coming out of the Ice
Special Topics in Calamity Physics
Arms of Nemesis
The Life and Death of Mary Wollstonecraft
Black Swan Green
Bard
In the Shadows of War
Penmarric
Clocke ... ... My Latest Grievance. The sharp banter of the daughter in this book reminds me of the protagonist in Marisha Pessl's Special Topics in Calamity Physics. I'm keeping my ears tuned so that I don't miss too much! :) From QPBC:
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl ... parts in which Fredericka is talking to her parents reminds me a bit of the relationship between the daughter and father in Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl, a book whcih I loved (and others hated).
Has anyone read any other books by Elinor Lipman. Which one(s)would ... The only time I can see the point of "A novel" is for those books with the pseudo-nonfiction titles. Like, say, Special Topics in Calamity Physics or A Guide to the Birds of East Africa. But in my own library, I ruthlessly prune it from every title, and I don't think it should be a part of the ... ... by James Ellroy
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin ... or reviews would suffice, since the "Give my work of fiction a title that sounds like a non-fiction work" trend (e.g. Special Topics in Calamity Physics, A Guide to the Birds of East Africa makes looking at titles less than 100% reliable), this is a solution looking for a problem.
Besi ... ... in the Night Time by Mark Haddon.
Also, Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, about an imagined London underground world, and Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessi. Special Topics in Calamity Physics? i very much enjoyed special topics in calamity physics too. Junet Diaz Oscar Waowas born in 1968...close enough? China Meiville was born in 1972 - i like his stuff a lot, but it is often grotesque. ... I think, in terms of overall style and execution, but she's good.
Marisha Pessl. Though, read the first 5-10 pages of Special Topics in Calamity Physics. If you hate it, you will hate the whole book. If, on the other hand, you are delighted by the tone and the hide-and-seek allusions, ... Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl (lost in my TBR pile) ... the movie version).
And I must be the only person on the planet who didn't love The Secret History.
Thanks to LT, Special Topics in Calamity Physics has been on my TBR list for a bit. We'll see if I get around to it in '09.
Anyway, looking forward to seeing what else you read this ... ... index", to the J.K. Rowlings books. But the real tearsure in this calculation are:
On Chesil Beach,Ian McEwan
Special Topics in Calamity Physics,Marisha Pessl
The Road,Cormac McCarthy
Nineteen Minutes,Jodi Picoult
Water for Elephants,Sara Gruen
The Thirteenth Tale ... ... Meyer:11749:565:4.8%
On Chesil Beach:Ian McEwan:2607:127:4.9%
Uglies:Scott Westerfeld:2614:128:4.9%
Special Topics in Calamity Physics:Marisha Pessl:2853:141:4.9%
The Road:Cormac McCarthy:7503:381:5.1%
Nineteen Minutes:Jodi Picoult:3013:153:5.1%
Water for Ele ... ... The Future of Endangered Species
The Fortress of Solitude
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
Coming out of the Ice
Special Topics in Calamity Physics
Arms of Nemesis
The Life and Death of Mary Wollstonecraft
Excellent Women
A Game of Thrones
Black Swan Green
Bard
In ... I too love The Secret History and read calamity physics based on the much-noted parallels therein. I enjoyed it but wish to sound a note of caution: I see it as a cross between the Secret History and The DaVinci Code - it lacks the calm confidence of the Tartt book. That said, I'd still ... ... Gods by Neil Gaiman
6. I am Legend by Richard Matheson
7. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
8. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
9. Atonement by Ian McEwan
Edit: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay is now in the Finis ... Special Topics in Calamity Physics comes to mind with its illustrations, etc. I'm sure I know of more, but it's still early!
The Masters of Rome series by Colleen McCullough each feature illustrations of the players, maps, diagrams and a glossary.
Hola SqueakyChu
I've got Fire in the Blood on my TBR list and am glad to hear that you enjoyed it.
Special Topics in Calamity Physics was my pick for book club last year and no one else who read it liked it (not many read it because of the long size and it was read in January). The ... ... 6 parts planned) and wanted to see what she would have done with the rest of it.
I'm glad to hear you're going to try Special Topics in Calamity Physics. ... also read both Nemirovsky books, and liked them very much as well.
You're also spot on with The Secret History and Special Topics in Calamity Physics. Both books are huge...and creepy! I loved them!! I hope you like them as well. Special Topics in Calamity Physics is a book you'll ... ... if I'll try Suite Francaise any time soon, I have trouble with unfinished novels, they piss me off. I'm definitely putting Special Topics in Calamity Physics higher on my reading list, though.
Robertgreaves - hmmm I've sometimes enjoyed/understood a book more after rereading it at another ... ... feels too good to know I'm keeping track of everything I read for me to abandon it. I've heard a lot of good things about Special Topics in Calamity Physics lately and I see that LibraryThing has it as a recommendation for The Secret History. Hmmm...in the recommendations for The Secret Hist ... ... for the year.
The Secret History is a book I've been wanting to read. It reminds me of and has been compared to Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl which I loved and would totally recommend to you. My ears perked up when I saw you were reading Woman in White, as Marisa Pessl uses it as a chapter heading in Special Topics in Calamity Physics. I read that it is considered to be "among the first mystery novels" and that the phrase "Woman in White" has come to signify a character "who plays a ... Loved Special Topics in Calamity Physics. One of my mom's friends who is very well read recommended it to me so I picked it as my book club read last year. No one liked it but me. The Reader is my choice this year (as others had expressed an interest in reading it and I liked the book so ... 9. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl. 13. Special Topics in Calamity Physics. Needed to reread this for bookgroup this week--not a book to skim if you want to enjoy all the asides along with all the literary and popular references. I love how Blue, the main character and narrator of the story, changes nouns into verbs as ... I recommended Special Topics... to my book group this month. We're a fairly new group (though most of us are old friends) and I thought it would be fun and discussable even if someone didn't like the book, just for the literary and popular references alone. I tried it last year and failed. So here we go again...
1. Special Topics in Calamity Physics is wonderful. I just haven't had enough time to sit and read it for a long, long stretch of time. Work lunches and just before bed isn't enough attention. ... Jhumpa Lahiri
Looks like some Ishiguro fans out there.
Then, with 3:
Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey ... ... it)
House of the Spirits (amazing, period; also still thinking about)
Hotel du Lac (excellent women's literary novel)
Special Topics in Calamity Physics (I know others have panned this novel as being annoying and "precious," but I thought it was outstanding & am still thinking about it)
M ... ... an important work of early 20th-century realism, but, goodness it was no fun to read.
I adored The Thirteenth Tale and Special Topics in Calamity Physics...I hope I'm not hopelessly pretentious! One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
Thud! by Terry Pratchett
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
... but I think you're going to find similar kinds of comments in my postings. (smile)
By the way, I just recommended Special Topics in Calamity Physics to my book group for January, so I'll save your email and share it with our group if you don't mind. I didn't like, and suspected, the ... ... The Secret River - Kate Grenville (1/10/09)
13. Outliers: The Story of Success - Malcom Gladwell (1/11/09)
14. Special Topics in Calamity Physics - Marisha Pessl (1/12/09)
15. The Scarlet Feather - Maeve Binchy (1/15/09)
16. The Elegance of the Hedgehog - Muriel Barbery (1/ ... ... d)
6. Elizabeth Noble - Things I Want My Daughters To Know (read)
7. Marisha Pessl - Special Topics in Calamity Physics (read)
8. William Trevor - Felicia's journey (read)
9. ... mainly because something about the summary reminds me of Confederacy of Dunces. I hope I don't hate it.
I did like Special Topics in Calamity Physics, even though I do understand people's irritation.
I liked The Thirteenth Tale, but I did read it on an airplane while hysterically ... ... Shaffer (LTER)
Mistress of the Art of Death (audio)
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner
Special Topics in Calamity Physics (audio)
Mr. White's Confession by Robert Clark (LTER)
China Road by Rob Gifford (nonfiction)
EDITED to keep list to 10 (plus one ... My best ten - in no special order.
An Ordinary Man – Paul Rusesabagina
Beaufort – Ron Leshem
Special Topics in Calamity Physics – Marsha Pessl
Maus I– Art Spiegelman
Maus II – Art Spiegelman
The Blessing of a Broken Heart – Sherri Mandell ... 66. Hello, Darkness by Sandra Brown
67. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Enjoyed both - hadn't read any Sandra Brown in a long time...
Enjoyed Special Topics also though I too found the writing cumbersome at times and the last 60 pages or so dragged on... 19. The end of Mr. Y - Scarlett Thomas 506 p.
This was the story I expected to read when I read Calamiteitenleer voor gevorderden. I was very disappointed when I read that book.
This story was nice, it contains more formulas than A short history of nearly everything, which is a ... ... way to teach about a family's experiences before, during, and after the Holocaust
2. Books About Young People
Special Topics in Calamity Physics – Marsha Pessl - Many people found this book annoying, but I loved the eerieness and mystery surrounding it.
3. Books about Ot ...
Finished Hello, Darkness by Sandra Brown and have started Special Topics in Calamity Physics... Have only read the intro and first chapter so far but am enjoying her style... ... finished - after reading for a day, putting down, and then picking it back up two months later and reading for a week - Special Topics in Calamity Physics. So now I'm moving on to The Truth by Terry Pratchett, then probably some acting theory for school - An Acrobat of the Heart, The Way ... ... dear! I recently bought The Dante Club because I thought it sounded so interesting! On the other hand its not as bad as Special Topics, so it can't be all bad! Can it?
- TT ... Marriage.
But all in all it has been a good reading year. For what its worth I really liked The Thirteenth tale, Special Topics in Calamity Physics, and The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. Agree with disliking Jodi Piccoult's tabloidesque My Sister's Keeper and the horrid Vanishing Acts ... ... molestation.
And my nominee for the worst so far in 2008 (and I know it will be on the top of many lists of the best): Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl. I'll admit that I didn't finish it; it was so irritating that I just couldn't. It knocked Matthew Pearl's The ... ... quite possible that having a 15-year-old daughter colored my opinion too. I did love Middlesex.
#15 sanja - I loved Special Topics, but to each her/his own. I really love your sentence "I hated both these books with a passion that is indescribable in the English language." I have ... I was waiting for this thread. There are 2 books that I hated very much this year. Special Topics in Calamity Physics and A Wedding in December. I hated both these books with a passion that is indescribable in the English language. ... love good readings.This is
especially true to historical novels,archeology,intellectual biographies,philosophy,physics,mathematics,and of course,books on hobbies.Have ever find in your reading a authoritative book on Underwater Lost Civilizations? I admire your bookish reading. ... I have to send Special Topics in Calamity Physics back to the library because I held off on reading it, and apparently I can't renew it :( (it's an academic library, so this is one of the few books from the 'leisure reading' section) ... World and Other Places by Jeanette Winterson, beethoven was one-sixteenth black (sorry, no touchstone) by Nadine Gordim, Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl and On the Road by Jack Kerouac. However, I'm making myself finish my homework before I start reading, but it's really, ... ... style has evolved so much between this and Making Money, and it's wonderful to see where it all began.
18. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marissa Pessl (11/22/08)
I enjoyed this book. Of of it's biggest criticisms is that it weighs in at over 500 pages, but I think ... Spoilers ahead. And a very angry and grammatically incorrect rant.
So, I finally have an opinion about my #32. Special Topics in Calamity Physics. I hate this book. I absolutely hate it. It's not, really, badly written. Though, it is a bit pretentious. I hate having to look up every ... #71 Surprisingly, I really enjoyed Special Topics, which I read earlier this year and am still thinking about all these months later. As one LTer said in another thread, the metaphors were definitely over the top, but I felt it fit in with the narrator, who was a highly intelligent but socially ... #71, superfancy, I was not a fan of Special Topics in Calamity Physics -- I felt the author tried much too hard to show how clever she is, at the expense of character, plot, and depth. I just started Special Topics in Calamity Physics. So far, I'm not enchanted. It seems to be a mix of cultural references and one-liners. I'll stick with it for another 50 pages and see if it improves. ... is everyone in the same bookclub? :) the poisonwood bible is one of my all time favorties! right now i am reading special topics in calamity physics and when i am finished i am going to read the prophet. This is a newer prize with only two previous winners. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and Special Topics in Calamity Physics. Near as I can tell it's only for American authors. What makes it interesting to me is some of the books up for this year's prize have been offered in the EarlyReview ... From Borders, also w/ the 30% coupon:
Special Topics in Calamity Physics - I know a lot of people don't like it, but it was remaindered! How could I resist?
Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips which I've wanted for awhile
The Death of Ivan Ilych and Other Stories by Leo Tolsto ... The Old Curiosity SHOP
The Kalahari TYPING School for Men
The Cat Who Knew SHAKESPEARE
READING Lolita in Tehran
Special Topics in Calamity PHYSICS ... of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende ... I didn't realise it was already on sale.
Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho because it sounds interesting.
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl. I read this a couple of years ago but had to abandon my lovely hard cover copy in London when I had a packing emergency. ... #203 I'm quite embarrassed to admit that I'd never heard of Special Topics in Calamity Physics now that I see it's owned by over 2500 LTers! Having read the many, varied reviews I am now intrigued and will be looking out for it! ... ying.
# 201 Soupdragon, thanks for the overview. I, too, like stories with geeky schoolgirl protagonists. Have you read Special Topics in Calamity Physics? It's not great literature, but I enjoyed it immensely in part because of the schoolgirl narrator. I think I will put Bilgewater and ... Wow, there are a lot of books I've read and enjoyed mentioned on this thread! Infinite Jest, Special Topics in Calamity Physics, Atonement, and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell to name a few. I have one to add though - I've tried twice to read House of Sand and Fog, and I don't know why but I ... ... books have been in my "to be read" pile for way too long and i have heard nothing but great things about all of them:
special topics in calamity physics
the prince of tides
soul mountain
the group
anil's ghost
charms for the easy life
the crimson petal and the white
don' ... 31. Gentlemen of the Road
I really liked this book. I'll have to read more Michael Chabon.
32. Special Topics in Calamity Physics
I finished this book really late last night and don't quite know what I think of it yet.
The twenty-seven years I spent reading the first 10pp of Special Topics in Calamity Physics should leave the "author" open to legal action, in my opinion. I will file an injunction against her publishers if they bring out another piece of drivel by this woman.
I had to abandon a book my S.O. ... I finished Candice Hern's Just One of Those Flings which I enjoyed very much. I've started Special Topics in Calamity Physics but I don't know how long I'll last until I start another romance. I am thinking of finishing out Karen Hawkins' trilogy, but I'm not looking forward to it. ... I've come to know because of LT
1. Replay by Ken Grimwood Fabulous time travel novel
2. The Book Thief
3. Special Topics in Calamity Physics Long winded, but utimately worth the trip.
4. Ella Minnow Pea ... the writer's bank account to recover some of the advnace to cover your nausea medicine prescription, might I suggest Special Topics in Calamity Physics? Unparalleled in sheer awfulness. I'm enjoying Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl. >90-Run, run, run to the nearest bookstore Sussabmax. :)
63. Special Topics in Calamity Physics
Whoa. Of course, considering Blue's background, (no, not that one, the other one) it seems highly unlikely she would have swallowed whole Hannah's stories about the Bluebloods, not to mention ... 44.) Special Topics in Calamity Physics, Marisha Pessl ****
Engaging, fun, sometimes spooky, and for me a very fast read even at 514 pages. This is one of those books you can't say much about for fear of spoiling it. Recommended. ... read some amazing novels this quarter (so far). These four were 9/10s (which is 5/5 on that scale):
Hotel du Lac
Special Topics in Calamity Physics
Tigana
House of Spirits
Not sure if I'll finish another 9 in the 5 days remaining, but I'm currently reading Fingersmith and T ... ... public library: The Art Of The Engine Driver by Steven Carroll
via bookmooch.com: Vamped by David Sosnowski & Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl borrowed Special Topics in Calamity Physics from my best book buddy. inhaled it. down to the last 30 pages or so. intellectual romp meets juicy mystery. bit digressive at points, but overall well worth it. ... she doesn't have much money. But I won't lend any of my books out to bookclub members again.
I also KNOW that I loaned Special Topics in Calamity Physics to my MiL but she says she doesn't have it, so I think she loaned it someone and forgot. No more books to MiL.
I borrowed Snow Fallin ... The Jane Austen Book Club (well, the movie really, but I read the book too) inspired me to read Austen's book.
I read Special Topics in Calamity Physics last year and someday I want to go through and figure out which books quoted in it are real and which aren't (and read the ones that are ... My first copy of Special Topics in Calamity Physics had about 100 pages duplicated. The 100 pages it should have been were missing. Since I had the book for so long and didn't remember where I bought it I just went and bought another one. ...
Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner - wonderful! The writing is superb, and the story engrossing in an understated way.
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl - also wonderful, notwithstanding the "over-the-top" metaphors and similes that peppered the book. I was prepared NOT ... ... mystery set in London in 1811. So far, I'm enjoying it ~ it's light reading but that's what I need after finishing Special Topics in Calamity Physics, which pretty much blew me away. Only one? I don't think I can do it.
It's between Special Topics in Calamity Physics, Hotel du Lac, and Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell. All three were wonderfully written (yes, I know about the overabundance of metaphors and similes in special Topics, but it worked ... I was also very impressed with Special Topics, SqueakyChu, and look forward to more from this author. It will be hard to top this one, though! ... See has a beautiful way of expressing herself and would like to read more of her works.
Rating - 4 stars
14. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
This is an amazing book on so many levels! Let me begin by saying that this book is not an easy read. It is ... It ended up being Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl, although it took a while to get into the story. 34. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl. LT. 9 stars. Audio. This novel blew me away. I know the author uses a lot of similes and metaphors, and her first person character's voice can sometimes be a bit precious and know-it-all, but it works. I mean, this is a teenage girl ... Still reading London: The Biography by Ackroyd and almost finished with Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Pessl on audio. I finished both Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl and I'm half-way through Barack Obama's Dreams from My Father. Intersting books to read at the same time. One mostly non-fiction, one mostly fiction; both 'autobiographies' of young Americans; one introspective, the ... Heh, I forgot to mention that I'm now listening to ~ and loving ~ Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl, which I've seen panned on some of the LT threads. I agree, it gets just the tiniest bit cloying ~ all that dry wit and preciousness, and I think she went a little out of control ... --> 78
One of the fun things about Special Topics in Calamity Physics is that it doesn't clearly explain all the aspects of the mystery. I particularly like this discussion I found on Blogspot:
Warning: SPOILERS in this Storeetllr in What Are You Reading Now? : What You're Reading the Week of 12 April 2008 (Apr 16, 2008, 8:48pm) Am in the middle of a few: London: the Biography by Ackroyd; Cursor's Fury by Jim Butcher; and Special Topics in Calamity Physics on audio. A nice, well-rounded selection, wouldn't you say? :) reply to #72
I had much the same reaction to Special Topics in Calamity Physics. By the time I got to the end I couldn't put the thing down but it was a really slow starter. I still think it could have benefited from the talents of a good editor but the mystery was very well hidden from the ... ... I went out and bought his earlier book but I think I need to read the Black Swan again (I never re-read books). Started Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl and I'm half-way through Barack Obama's Dreams from My Father and enjoying both. ...
You're right that struggling through a book *sometimes* has its rewards. I was seriously thinking of giving up on Special Topics in Calamity Physics recently. About a third of the way in, I realized I could not stop reading it. A very sinister plot had begun to emerge, and I *had* to ... --> 65
Just curious. Did you finish reading Special Topics in Calamity Physics or did you quit in the middle?
One thing I thought *was* clever was Pessl's use of nouns as verbs. They were so colorful.
I actually started listening to this book on audiotape. When I got near the end, I ... #60, 61- I, too, loved Special Topics . .. -- in the end I embraced its quirks and found the mystery actually quite satisfying.
#65 - I'll be interested to see what you think of Fifth Business. I have mixed feelings -- beautifully written, but for some reason I can't seem to motivate to ... #60, 61 I was one of the people who didn't like Special Topics in Calamity Physics largely because I thought Marisha Pessl was trying way too hard to be clever (and was way too pleased with herself for being so clever). But one of things that I love about LT is that we all have our own ... --> 60
I think it's really a shame that Special Topics in Calamity Physics is so hard to get into at first. Many people give up in the beginning because of all the tangents in that part of the story. To me, it was so worth the extra effort I had to put into reading it.
--> 59
Fire in ... SqueakyChu, Special Topics in Calamity Physics was one of my favorite novels of 2006, and I'm a big fan of Suite Francaise too. I just finished Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl. I loved it! I know many people hated it and thought the writing was under-edited and pretentious. I, on the other hand, found it clever, mysterious, and challenging. It's my favorite read of 2008 so far. ... in my heart and haven't regretted that decision. Maybe somebody else will read it and like it, but I don't.
I read Special Topics in Calamity Physics on the recommendation of a friend. She loved it. I thought it was okay but it could have benefited from a good editor. There were ... I'm listening to the audio of Special Topics in calamity Physics by Marsha Pessl. Boy, is this book either loved or hated!
Many people cannot make it through the whole book because of the incessant similes and tangents. Behind all of these byways, though, is a very interesting story. I'm ... ... esabagina
Looking for Alaska – John Green
Fire in the Blood – Irene Nemirovsky
Beaufort – Ron Leshem
Special Topics in Calamity Physics - Marisha Pessl
Edited to update my list.
... ds
9. The velocity of honey: and more science of everyday life by Jay Ingram
10. Soul by Tobsha Learner
11. Special topics in calamity physics by Marisha Pessl
12. Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
13. The Surgeon of Crowthorne: a tale of murder, madness and the Oxford Eng ... Special Topics in Calamity Physics was a waste of my time. It had hype, it had potential, it had 500+ pages that could have and should have been edited down to at least half. I'm sorry, but must you use 20 pages to describe an idea that quite clearly could have been done equally well with a ... #96 karenmarie: I have not yet started either The Sparrow or Special Topics in Calamity Physics yet, but I am looking forward to diving in to them both! Right now, I am tackling Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling. ... perhaps you?... anyway I'm inspired to get all Georgette Heyer's books.
Noted that you have The Sparrow and Special Topics on your agenda - I found both of them wonderful. ... Chandra, Interred with Their Bones by Jennifer Lee Carrell, The Adventure of English by Melvyn Bragg, Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl and Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling by Ross King. ... Lives for a Day, which so far I'm enjoying. I'm also re-reading (only in this case I'm listening to the audio book) Special Topics in Calamity Physics ... Symposium
14. Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics and Politics
15. Lucretius, On the Nature of Things
16. Aristotle, Physics and Metaphysics
17. Euripides, Hippolytus
18. Aristotle, Poetics ... of Worst Books I've Ever Attempted to Read for several years--tied with The Bridges of Madison County and now, perhaps, Special Topics in Calamity Physics. ... good books, too little time" philosophy.
What books have you abandoned in 2008?
______________
So far for me:
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl. The silly, over the top similes and metaphors were driving me crazy. Somebody stop her, please!
The Yacoubian ... #76 Special Topics in Calamity Physics would top my list for the year so far. ...
d. The Amber Spyglass by Pullman
e. True Names... and other dangers by Vinge
f. Rainbows' End by Vinge
g. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Pessl
h. Strong Poison by Sayers
4. Books about my dissertation topic (this is cheating, a bit)
a. Reconstructing Quater ... I deleted Special Topics in Calamity Physics from my iPod yesterday--really hated it. The literary references themselves didn't bother me (I'm an English professor), just the way they were so pretentiously used, and I HATED those silly similes and metaphors.
I started listening to My Revoluti ... 145:
Killeymoon--I agree about Special Topics in Calamity Physics. I loved it, but since I wasn't listening I could easily skip over all those references to books or articles that may or may not exist! Finished it Sunday... #148 I deleted Special Topics in Calamity Physics from my iPod last night and uploaded Trollope's The Warden instead. If I ever want to give it another try, I can reload it from audible.
Life is too short and time too precious for me to bother reading or lisstening to something I'm really ... #145 Cariola etc: Special Topics in Calamity Physics was one of the books which polarised LThingers in 2006 . People either loved it or hated it. I hated it. I read almost the entire book but was so fed up I didn't bother reading the whodunnit ending. I didn't care! Cariola, fyrefly98 > oh no, I loved Special Topics in Calamity Physics! I think it's a book that polarises people though, you either love it or hate it! I'm not sure it's one that would lend itself to an audiobook format with all those metaphors though. >125 Cariola - if you're already annoyed by Special Topics in Calamity Physics, I'd drop it. It doesn't get any less annoying as it goes, and the actual "mystery" aspect is not interesting enough to merit all of the time spent comparing people's hair to ranch salad dressing. I'm still working on Afterwards, which is wonderful, and I started a new audiobook for my commute and worksouts: Special Topics in Calamity Physics. So far, I hate it. The overload of "creative" metaphors is extremely irritating--and most of them are so over the top that they don't work. Plus ... According to Wikipedia, Marisha Pessl (author of Special Topics in Calamity Physics) is 30. But according to MySpace, she's 29. In either case, the book was published when she was in her 20s. And it's a great read!
(#8: I'm not into reading fantasy, if that helps. There's at least one ... ...
20. The Floating Girl
21. In Sunlight, in a Beautiful Garden
22. Saturday by Ian McEwan
23. Enduring Love
24. Special Topics in Calamity Physics
25. One Good Turn
Nonfiction:
26. A Girl Named Zippy
27. Into Thin Air
28. Mask of Motherhood
29. The Price of Motherhood ... ... series I am currently reading
Sanctuary by Faye Kellerman - another mystery series I am currently reading
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl - another LT recommendation
and finally, Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling by Ross King ... Ties the Knot - Sophie Kinsella 12/04
3. The Wonder Spot - Melissa Bank 27/03
4. Special Topics in Calamity Physics - Melissa Pessl
5. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell - Susanna Clarke
6.
7.
8. I've just finished Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl (totally loved it), and am now going to start on Out by Natsuo Kirino. It's a re-read, and one of my favourites. I loved Special Topics in Calamity Physics, too! It seemed a bit melodramatic at first, but then you realize that's just because she is a teenager, and it becomes less distracting. ... and I have 60 books TBR at home that I've bought. I think I might be addicted to buying books.
So far I've read:
1. Special Topics in Calamity Physics
2. Bank by David Bledin
3. Cabinet of Curiosities
I'm working on The Terror and Big Boned.
Oooh, how was Special Topics in Calamity Physics? I bought it because I've heard such great reviews, but I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. What about it did you love? ... for Lost Lovers by Nadeem Aslam
Restless by William Boyd
The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai
Special topics in calamity physics by Marisha Pessl
Non-Fiction
Shadow of the Silk Road by Colin Thubron
... Random Modern Library top 100)
Lolita
The Brothers Karamazov
7. (Relatively) New and well reviewed - fiction
Special Topics in Calamity Physics
The Kite Runner
8. Just for fun (both fiction and non fiction)
... a little foggy...
Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O' Farrell
Astrid and Veronika by Linda Olsson
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Astonishing Splashes of Colour by Clare Morrall
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Ursula, Unde ... ... This Is To Be Happy Forever by Will Blythe
Surprise Me by Terry Esau
Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Acqua Alta by Donna Leon
Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her by Melanie Rehak
Forever ... ... Baer
Mysteria with stories by Mary Janice Davidson,Susan Grant,P.C. Cast and Gena Showalter
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
The Nightmare Factory a graphic novel based on the stories of Thomas ... ... Russo
Cloud Atlas-David Mitchell
Pride and Prejudice-Jane Austen (first time!)
Plowing the Dark-Richard Powers
Special Topics in Calamity Physics-Marisha Pessl
Honorable mention:
Kafka on the Shore-Haruki Murakami
The Diamond Age and Snow Crash-Neal Stephenson
Glad to ... ... 50(ish) a goal for myself if I didn't know that I'd already done it! :)
Favorite reads of the year: Marisha Pessl's Special Topics in Calamity Physics, Richard Powers' Plowing the Dark, David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion, Richard Russo's ... ... as a teen. (Great choice, #11! I think every teen needs a copy.) For my younger sister-in-law, we bought Marisha Pessl's Special Topics in Calamity Physics. I think she could get into the literary off-beat.
For my husband's grandmother, we bought a big book on the Civil War. She's big ... Working on Special Topics in Calamity Physics... if I were the sort that gave up on novels after 50 pages, it would have been booted, but I'm a chronic completer, and luckily it's (finally) starting to improve.
I've also started listening to A Spot of Bother, but am not far in at all... I've ... ... Jeffrey Eugenides
The Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde
Honourable Mentions:
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
... 19. Calamiteitenleer voor gevorderden - Marisha Pessl 548 p. >120 Goodbye Cleo
I did like Special Topics in Calamity Physics. Although it didn't take off the way I had expected, I found it a solid enjoyable read and I'm not sorry I bought the hard cover early on.
I bought Absurdistan at the same time as STICP. Now that was a clunker, so much so ... I was also dissapointed with Special Topics in Calamity Physics. I was so excited when it came out that I bought it in hardback and than...bleh. That quiz at the end didn't even have any answers! It had such a good premise though, it is a big shame that it stunk!
I couldn't finish reading T ... I have to agree with LizT (#34) and kaelirenee (#38) about Special Topics in Calamity Physics. I read it last year and thought it tried much too hard to be clever for the sake of being clever.
As for On Chesil Beach (#36 momom248), I read an excerpt in the New Yorker and knew I wouldn't ... ... :
The Mommy Wars
Not Buying It
The Tent I love LOVE Margaret Atwood, so this was a major disappointment for me
Special Topics in Calamity Physics-the entire book felt like it was written by the writers of the Gilmore Girls. It got old.
The Making of the Potterverse-sigh-a book ... ... had one redeeming feature, which was that I could read the particularly bad bits out to my husband and share the pain.
Special Topics in Calamity Physics was an OK read, but I found it pretty disappointing, given all the hype. Especially because when we finally got to the much touted murder ... 84. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
This was an odd book. Blue, the main character, is a very gifted girl with an interesting past that involves much travelling around with her Dad. The mystery of her life, and her Dad, is at once more thrilling and more mundane than ... ... of Men
Digging to America
Measuring the World
Definitely NOT prize-worthy:
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox
Special Topics in Calamity Physics
The Echo Maker Yes, I know it won the other thing.
The Thirteenth Tale
The Night Watch
As usual, I kind of hope that the ... ... a Yellow Sun
One Good Turn
The Inheritance of Loss
The Keep
What is the What
A Spot of Bother
The Road
Special Topics in Calamity Physics
While I liked most of these, I was disappointed in One Good Turn (which I had high hopes for after Case Histories), and I thought ... ... was supposed to give before he died. Not as amazing as I'd expected from Calvino, but interesting nonetheless.
22. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
I loved the premise of this book and was bored halfway through and almost angered by the time it ended.
23. Drawing ... ... Barbara Quinn
46. Biomedical Informatics, by Edward H. Shortliffe
47. Why do Men Have Nipples?, by Mark Leyner
48. Special Topics in Calamity Physics, by Marisha Pessl
49. Horseradish: Bitter Truths you Can’t Avoid, by Lemony Snicket
50. The Starter Marriage and the Future of Matr ... ... Cranes
59. Noble Intentions
60. I am the Messenger
61. City of Dreaming Books
62. Slaughterhouse Five
63. Special Topics in Calamity Physics
64. Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom
65. A Winter Haunting
66. The Last Man in the World
67. The Last Universe
In order of reading:
Special Topics in Calamity Physics, by Marisha Pessl
The Virgin Suicides, by Jeffrey Eugenides
Lost and Found, by Carolyn Parkhurst
Journey's End, by R. C. Sherriff
Season of Mists, by Neil Gaiman ... about a day to read it, and it felt a bit stunted--he probably could have run even further with these characters.
20. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Hurm. I thought it didn't nearly live up to the excessive praise on the jacket. It was enjoyable, but a bit too ... 73. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Didn't really like this one. Only the reviews on LT which promised a good ending kept me reading. It was overlong and annoying. The ending didn't really make it worthwhile for me. Shades of The Secret History with the mix of preppy ... ... 2 I read all the way through and felt it was way harder than it was worth and that was The Corrections by Franzen and Special Topics in Calamity Physics ... am in Canberra with Marion Halligan and the Apricot Colonel. I'll be back with Blue and her Dad travelling the USA in Special Topics in Calamity Physics soon. (Not sure how I feel about that one yet). ... add Snowleg by Nicholas Shakespeare and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to the list.
Am getting stuck into Special Topics in Calamity Physics but I'm not sure how long this one will last - it's kind of annoying me. Finally finished the Scott Westerfeld trilogy and am now starting Special Topics in Calamity Physics.
Can anyone tell me why this author's name comes up in red on the touchstones? ... is not something I find particularly interesting. I was most interested by the parallels to my own reading life.
55. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Loved it. Fascinating mystery with a smart, intuitive, and observant heroine, and a truly odd storyline. The fact ... 19. Special Topics in Calamity Physics
Certainly an engaging read that kept me turning pages and surprised me at several places. Didn't really care for the ending, although that might be more because I was too invested in the characters, rather than that it was poorly written or such. Anyway, ... ... whatever it's worth, I agree with you about Kingsolver. I haven't liked anything of hers that I've read.
I just finished Special Topics in Calamity Physics which I certainly found engaging but am not at all sure yet how I felt about the ending. Still the discussion in my bookgroup (online) ... ... the Deathly Hollows, even though I know what happens, mostly. I may not read them back to back, though.
I also have Special Topics in Calamity Physics, and The House of Sand and Fog, and many, many others. I really need to stop buying books for a while, but I just can't seem to help ... I just started Astonishing Splashes of Colour last night and have The Bone People, The Secret River and Special Topics in Calamity Physics waiting to be read thanks to a fruitful visit to the local library. Looks like I'll be busy this week! ... all interrelate. Really great stuff. Highly recommended.
Enough gushing? :) Okay. This weekend I'm going to start on Special Topics in Calamity Physics which I need to read by Wednesday for my book club. Then back to the long-awaited Water Logic (Elemental Logic). ... awesome book. Sarah Vowell is my new god. I am going to start recommending this book to everyone I meet.
Next up is Special Topics in Calamity Physics which I need to read by next Wednesday for my bookclub; then back to Water Logic (Elemental Logic). (Annoying that the touchstone for ... I just left North Carolina in Special Topics in Calamity Physics, and now I'm in Nigeria with Half of a Yellow Sun. #112 SqueakyChu
Special Topics in Calamity Physics is only like The Secret History in that it involves a group of studnets. I liked The Secret History very much but found the other novel gimmicky and vapid. I actually read up to the last ten pages and stopped because I'd been through enough. ... Not sure if it qualifies, maybe in a loose association. Reading Special Topics in Calamity Physics which features a group of golden girls and boys at a private high school and the events leading up to and just after the suicide of their pet teacher and mentor. They're a spiteful and selfish ... >112 squeaky
Special Topics in Calamity Physics was most enjoyable. All the conversation about it here just points to the fact that a good book generates interest in the author's craft as well as the story itself, imho. --> 105
I read and loved The Secret History. I just took Special Topics in Calamity Physics out of the library. Is it worth my reading, do you think? How much like The Secret History is it? Re: Special Topics in Calamity Physics. I ended up really liking it -- However my two negative thoughts:
If you take out the quirk of writing the novel like a "faux" research paper -- would the story stand alone?
And I read The Secret HIstory after Special Topics . . . but I do believe Pe ... Thanks for all the commentary on Special Topics. I'm leaning toward getting it from the library if I can get over there before my vacation next weekend. Yes, it's out in paperback (a requirement for my book club) but still costs $15 and I'm not sure I want to spend that much on a book I might ... rebeccanyc "...the author was way too pleased with her own cleverness."
I did enjoy Special Topics in Calamity Physics but find your comment worth pondering. I'm curious to know if Pessl laid out the entire plot then wrote the story or if both unfolded together for her. I didn't see ... I didn't enjoy Special Topics in Calamity Physics that much, although I did read it all the way through. I thought the plot was kind of forced and the author was way too pleased with her own cleverness. #96 I really enjoyed Special Topics in Calamity Physics, although I don't think it was a Great book. It just came out in paperback, I think. ... most popular pastime. First nonfic that I've read in quite a while. Pretty interesting.
Next up for my bookclub is Special Topics in Calamity Physics and I'm still debating whether to go to the library or just buy it. ... far the best book I've read this year (possibly in the past several years, and that's saying a lot) was Marisha Pessl's Special Topics in Calamity Physics....I cannot recommend this book enough. Finished The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and started Special Topics in Calamity Physics. Talk about complete opposites!
Am also listening to The Sociopath Next Door and Stiff : The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers which are narrated by the same person so it a bit weird to go back and forth. ... not to know too much about a book in advance). We are having a pretty lively debate over it. :)
Our book for August is Special Topics in Calamity Physics which I should probably get my hands on soon. :) ... Lukins
* Amir Baraka & Sonia Sanchez
* Jennifer Egan & Marisha Pessl (I'm definitely going to this one - Special Topics in Calamity Physics was great.)
Thanks in advance for any help! ... Ost (wonky touchstone)
Glenn Kurtz
Marisha Pessl & Jennifer Egan (I'm definitely going to this one - Special Topics in Calamity Physics was great.)
Amir Baraka & Sonia Sanchez
Sheila Lukins
Catherine Corman
Lee Siegel
Christian Jungersen
J.J. ... I just finished Special Topics in Calamity Physics. I enjoyed it very much and blew off pretty much everything to finish it in two days. I teach AP English and I recognize many of my students in Pessl. I hope to see more from her. I haven't decided yet which one of my library books I will go ... ... and the Secret Fan yesterday. The footbinding was disturbing and surreal even for me, with my size 11s. Today I began Special Topics in Calamity Physics. It is pretty good so far.
I am impressed and a little intimidated that you all can read so much. Then I remember that, even though I ... #81 Cariola and #100 ellevee
Special Topics in Calamity Physics was a good read for me as well. I also loved the main character and the nice way the story unfolded. Not too fast, and not too slowly. Even the dust jacket design made me happy! I always wonder about the factoids...much as I ... #81 Cariola: I loved Special Topics in Calamity Physics! Or rather, I adored the main character, and found the story diverting. Anything with so many footnotes and random factoids has to be good. Two new books: Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl and On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan. Both will go on my TBR shelf until I finish one of the four books I'm working on right now. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
A Woman in Jerusalem by A. B. Yehoshua
Shadow Baby by Alison McGhee
I haven't been ranking my reads, other than to make some notes when I've finished the book. I ... ... (the entire quartet is excellent!)
The Whirlpool. Jane Urquhart
White Bone, Barbara Gowdy
I second Special Topics in Calamity Physics. It's an energenic read, perhaps a bit pale at the end, but most engaging overall! Also a fan of Susan Fromberg Schaffer having read ... ... Susan Fromberg Schaffer
In the Time of the Butterflies, Julia Alvarez
Case Histories, Kate Atkinson
Special Topics in Calamity Physics, Marisha Pessl
Went to Costco for dishwasher detergent and Vitamin D tablets. Also bought Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessi and Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier
Touchstone has the wrong author on Thirteen Moons >49 Killeymoon I enjoyed Special Topics in Calamity Physics. It's a great read that builds in interest and excitement. You've also pushed me to scratch my itch on classics and must get my hands on The Magic Mountain for at least a browse--for now. What is it that calls to you with that ... ... Mountain in the weekend (now up to page 402 of 716). As a "reward" (and a complete change) I've just started reading Special Topics in Calamity Physics. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl. It seems to be a "love or loathe" type of book, but I did the page 69 test and was immediately interested.
I've been *wanting* to buy Lamb by Christopher Moore, but I've been in Australia/New Zealand these last few weeks, and I ... ... rug before a flickering fireplace, the question is --- who really gets you going?
Me: It's all about Marisha Pessl, Special Topics in Calamity Physics. Brilliant book, beautiful woman = lethal combination. I just left North Carolina, USA in Special Topics in Calamity Physics, deliberate in the first half and most engaging suspense to the end. I'm now in London with Daniel Isn't Talking. ... story, fast paced and dark. Ending was not as good as the rest of the book, but the rest of the story was great.
33. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl. Young girl obsessed with political historian father, but tries her hand at normal adolescence. Wackiness happens ... ... Jack by Kelly Braffet
Absurdistan by Gary Shteyngart
Twilight of the Superheroes by Deborah Eisenberg
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
I'll start reading some of these when I complete The Lord of the Rings, which I'm currently reading. ... for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo
One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessi
Non-Fiction:
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Personal History by Katharine Graham
H ... ... Dumas
4. Troubles, J.G. Farrell
5. Young Men & Fire, Norman Maclean
And I keep trying to find a way to put Special Topics in Calamity Physics in there, but I can't bring myself to take any of them out. ... I'm sure there are others, but I can't think of them right now.
If I didn't already have such a long TBR list...I read Special Topics in Calamity Physics last year and really liked it; I considered buying a copy and using it as a TBR list for this year (and in the process finding out which ... Finished Marisha Pessl's Special Topics in Calamity Physics at lunch yesterday, and must admit that while I very much enjoyed the first 4/5 of the book, the plot became too far-fetched and disturbing in the final few chapters, then deflated completely with the "Final Exam", which left me ... ... You just have to go with the flow.
I am over half way thru with A Student of Living Things -- kind of gimmicky like Special Topics in Calamity Physics except it is just not really working for me. Feels forced.
I think I will read From Here to Eternity next by James Jones
jmleslie1112 (#58): I too am currently reading Special Topics in Calamity Physics (about 175 pages into it), and am still ambiguous in my judgment. I've become immune to the literary references, as I'm intrigued by the story, but I frequently find myself wishing Pessl would trim her style and ... #58, I too was annoyed by a lot in Special Topics in Calamity Physics, but there are differences of opinion about the book here -- let us know what you think when you finish it. I am 105 pages into Special Topics in Calamity Physics and still unsure if I like the continual literary references of if I find them cloying. I think I will stick with it, but I'm worried it might turn into one of those books that you have to throw across the room in frustration when you come to ... ... that is a perfect description of the way I feel about all of the Cormac McCarthy that I have read.
#113 - I really liked Special Topics in Calamity Physics but it gets mixed reviews. Word of advice -- don't get too worried if you don't get half those literary references -- just go with the ... ... Will Blythe. Currently reading Surprise Me by Terry Esau, Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock, and will start Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl at lunch.
Touchstones are taking forever to load, and I really should get back to work, so I'm not waiting any ... I just finished Special Topics in Calamity Physics my Marisha Pessl - and I have to say that it is a pretty *great* read. It echoed The Secret History in being a book that I not only enjoyed the story of, but wanted to also search out all of the references. It's rare to come across ... Just finished Special Topics in Calamity Physics
I have a lot of historical fiction titles piling up, so I am going with Katherine by Anya Seton ... feel boring, we all know that everyone reads differently and at different rates and so on :)
I'm glad you're liking Special Topics - I really enjoyed it, but I've seen a lot of people talking about how much they disliked it. I am still reading Special Topics in Calamity Physics -- it took me awhile to get into but it's really rolling along now. At first, all the maddening literary and film references I didn't get annoyed me -- now I am used to it and find it a charming if somewhat overdone stylistic quirk.
(I feel ... ... Vanities a try - because I really admired his writing.
Anyway, staying with a collegiate setting I think I will begin Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl jayceebee,
I also read Special Topics in Calamity Physics recently and enjoyed it for the most part. I thought it went on too long, but I always enjoy academic novels.
Smashed is very good, if very grim. I've already had a handful of students asking to borrow it, so it's obviously a topic ... ... books of 2006 by the New York Times! I was so thrilled that 2 books I had read and loved were picked: Mayflower and Special Topics in Calamity Physics (by NC author Marisha Pessl no less!).
By the way, Barter, how do you like Smashed? I finished Special Topics in Calamity Physics last night. The writing was excellent (although I think Pessl may be a bit too enamored of it herself), and I liked the way the novel kept changing in unexpected ways (it's a road novel! it's a coming-of-age story! it's a horror story! it's a murder ... ... and sobbed through the end and for a good while after. Thank you to all the LT-ers who recommended it!
Today I'll start Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl. I've got a number of books on my list to buy based on recommendations here, and I read Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl because of LT (didn't love it though). Special Topics In Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl. I read interesting reviews about this book. I received two requests from my husband--Special Topics in Calamity Physics and The Silver Spoon cookbook. He also gave me The Roald Dahl Omnibus. My daughter gave me Dreams from My Father, by Barack Obama. My mother gave me Jane Austen's Guide to Dating, by Lauren Henderson (presumably a ... I am finishing up Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl and will hopefully then move on to either Mystic River by Dennis Lehane or Pretty Little Dirty by Amanda Boyden. TheAmpersand, you're not the only one here who didn't like Special Topics in Calamity Physics. See http://www.librarything.com/talktopic.php?topic=4764 This week I burned through "Special Topics in Calamity Physics" by Marisha Pessl.
It´s supposed to be the New Hot Thing, but, although it was funny and readable, I was sort of dissapointed. She overwrites, throwing in too-clever figurative language where it´s not needed, and I get the ... amandameale #58, I was one of the people who didn't like On Beauty, but I also didn't like Special Topics in Calamity Physics, although I didn't hate it. I thought it was very clever, but much too pleased with its own cleverness, and that it didn't hang together as a story. If the story had ... ... interests me is when a book polarises opinion like this. The Historian is another which people loved or hated. Another is Special Topics in Calamity Physics. (I hated both of them.) ... Man's War, The Ghost Brigades, and, his newest, The Android's Dream.
It has its share of flaws, but I also enjoyed Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl a lot.
Hmm. That makes five. There are a lot more books that I read that I liked a lot, but mostly they're ... ... Irving and Fast Food Nation. I am also trying to slug through Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Next up will be Special Topics in Calamity Physics. For those of you interested in Special topics in calamity physics, there's a good, although somewhat negative, review of it on Slate (www.slate.com) ... Recently finished Special Topics in Calamity Physics and The Children of Men.
I have Broken English: An Ohio Amish Mystery, The Island of the Sequined Love Nun, and Marie Antoinette all waiting to be started.
Plus am listening to The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid during my ... ... think I can come up with 5, but in the disappointing category I'd list the following.
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk
There were parts I enjoyed in all of these, but I felt each of them lacked ... ... Party by Carol Shields
House of Orphans by Helen Dunmore
The Other Side of You by Sally Vickers
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl ... Hempel
The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud
The Lay of the Land (touchstone not loading) by Richard Ford
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Nonfiction
Falling through the Earth by Danielle Trussoni
The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright
May ... Finished One Thousand White Women and Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths.
Just picked up Special Topics in Calamity Physics. I read Special Topics in Calamity Physics over the weekend, despite thinking I wanted to call it quits on fiction for a while.
I liked it a lot. For about the first 2/3 or 3/4 of the book.
No spoilers, but I thought it just fell apart at the end. I was really sorry about it, too.
Howeve ... Parnassus On Wheels by Christopher Morley is lovely too.
coloradoreader -- thank you for mentioning Special Topics in Calamity Physics...I have a young person who loves books and physics and I think she'll like that book! ... a book that I'd like to read, and if nothing else it's just interesting to see what books are currently popular (like when Special Topics in Calamity Physics had just come out).
I'm glad to hear you're going to read the Immortals series, fyrefly - I was wondering whether you'd like Tamora Pie ... ... my favorite stores, Coliseum? I will really miss it.
In any case, a lot of people here really liked Marisha Pessl's Special Topics in Calamity Physics -- I found it clever, entertaining in spots, but overall disappointing as a story. On the other hand, I also thought I should read it ... As I've said several times (I think), I'm a big fan of Special Topics in Calamity Physics and have recommended it to nearly everyone.
A few days ago I was nearly halfway through Edward P. Jones' new book of stories All Aunt Hagar's Children when Michael Cox'sThe Meaning of Night ... Just finishing The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins and I think I'm going to read Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl next. Picked up Special Topics in Calamity Physics from the library - can't wait to get it started this weekend. I'm listening to The Zahir by Paulo Coelho and Before Midnight by Rex Stout. I'll have to come back to One Thousand White Women. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl: I suggest that it might be enjoyed more by teenagers than adults. Gimmicky, and I was so uninterested in the plot I stopped reading with about fifty pages to go. I can't believe....
... account of the later years of Henry James. I love the way it reads - unpretentious, very smooth. Nearly finished Special Topics in Calamity Physics and I feel ripped off. Something has kept me going (the humour?) but the teeny plot is enormously padded to c.400 pages. Sadly, a waste ... I just finished Special Topics in Calamity Physics---I enjoyed it very much! Now I'm on to House of Paper by Carlos Dominguez. ... of chamomille tea. In fact, as soon as I hit "submit" I'm heading upstairs with my cup of tea to pick up my current read: Special Topics in Calamity Physics--great book, great tea. It promises to be a lovely evening. Now, if my kids will just leave me alone for more than ten minutes... I have a new one to add to this board--Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl. I picked up this book last week after seeing it recommended highly on another LT board. I'm almost halfway through and am enjoying it immensely. It's a story narrated by a very well educated young ... Well, I interrupted my start to Special Topics in Calamity Physics to read The God File by Frank Turner Hollon---very interesting read. I finished that yesterday and now hope to spend a lot of time this weekend making my way through Special Topics in Calamity Physics---in between canning ... I'm jealous of all of you who have read or bought Special Topics in Calamity Physics. I'm dying to read it but my library copy hasn't come in yet.
I'm currently reading The Devil is a Gentleman, which explores fringe religous movements (Christian wrestlers, Satanists, UFO believers). Ther ... ... by his great writing, and not its inherent interest, at least for me.
And just today, based on this group, I bought Special Topics in Calamity Physics. Also dipping into The Shia Revival by Vali Nasr as I try to keep one current events or history book going while I'm reading ... ... I liked it a lot, but it's not without it's flaws. This morning, after reading all the buzz on this site, I purchased Special Topics in Calamity Physics. I guess I'll begin to tackle this one---sounds very interesting. I'm very envious of the time some of you seem to have to read---or ... ... Oates fetish I've developed this year and this was a good as anything of her's I've read, engrossing from front to back.
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl is one of my favorite new books this year, totally addictive, and I read the last 200 pages in one sitting, great ... Pessl's Special Topics in Calamity Physics is one of my very favorite new books this year, and I've been recommending it to everyone. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl: American; humourous; gimmicky; a suicide; a mystery; quite light and enjoyable. In Lucia's Eyes by Arthur Japin: very lovely so far; in the style of Girl With Pearl Earring or Rembrandt's Whore. I usually try to avoid first novels , but...Marisha Pessl's new book Special Topics in Calamity Physics is one of the two or three best novels I've read this year, and I'll be recommending it to everyone, just grandly entertaining. In today's mail from Amazon, a copy of Marisha Pessl's debut novel Special Topics in Calamity Physics.
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