Confess your literary ignorance

[adidaswoody]

In 20 years I've never actually fully read a book.

 

[Pickman's model]

In 20 years I've never actually fully read a book.

and look where you've ended up

 

[QOTH]

Don't let the sugary adaptations put you off. Start at the sharp, cynical end with Our Mutual Friend.

Funnily enough, I love Dickens but I can't get through Our Mutual Friend. Hard Times is my recommendation for non fans of Dickens - it's short, doesn't have too many silly names and has a serious point to it.

I am also consistently defeated by Middlemarch. I always enjoy the start, the whole story of naive, pompous Dorothy and her ill advised marriage is really compelling. Then there's a whole load of stuff about the corn laws and I lose interest.

 

[adidaswoody]

and look where you've ended up

Back when I read I wasnt as tall, I wasnt as smart, I wasnt as strong, I was a virgin, since I've stopped reading I've got hair on my balls man!

 

[Pickman's model]

Back when I read I wasnt as tall, I wasnt as smart, I wasnt as strong, I was a virgin, since I've stopped reading I've got hair on my balls man!

but you still haven't got laid?

 

[adidaswoody]

but you still haven't got laid?

Ask your mom

 

[Pickman's model]

Ask your mom

she wouldn't have anything to do with someone who puts an apostrophe at the end of gonna. or who can't spell mum.

 

[adidaswoody]

She told me to put it there, she said she's well into bad. punctuation?

 

[Pickman's model]

She told me to put it there, she said she's well into bad. punctuation?

if you think people have to be told where to put it then you certainly remain a virgin.

 

[Spymaster]

Ask your mom

I reckon he'd more likely get a positive answer if he asked yours.

 

[adidaswoody]

I put it where I want, nobody can tell me anything

 

[adidaswoody]

I reckon he'd more likely get a positive answer if he asked yours.

Your boyfriend can fight his own battles he doesn't need your help

 

[Pickman's model]

Your boyfriend can fight his own battles he doesn't need your help

whereas you need all the help you can get

 

[DotCommunist]

 

[Orang Utan]

I put it where I want, nobody can tell me anything

No rapists on this thread please. Take your bantz elsewhere

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Funnily enough, I love Dickens but I can't get through Our Mutual Friend. Hard Times is my recommendation for non fans of Dickens - it's short, doesn't have too many silly names and has a serious point to it..

I hate admitting this, but nowadays this is a real virtue for me.

Last long novel I read was about four years ago.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I wonder whether Russian readers struggle with all Dickens' silly names.

 

[bimble]

I wonder whether Russian readers struggle with all Dickens' silly names.

Doubt it they've got loads of books to read by people who are actually worth reading.

 

[DotCommunist]

chuzzlewit always sounded like an insult to me. 'Look at that fucking chuzzlewit, bet he can't find his dick when he is pissing'

 

[adidaswoody]

That's exactly what I visualised when I typed it haha

 

[Treacle Toes]

Oh look... I fucked your mum jokes LOL

 

[tim]

Eric Ambler is often overlooked as the creator of the modern spy novel.
Try The Mask of Dimitrios.

John Steinbeck, some incredible work, Cannery Row being a personal favourite.

Ambler's pre war novels are the best: Mask of Dimitrios, Journey into fear, Cause for Alarm, Epitaph for a Spy; well-plotted and written from a leftish, anti-fascist perspective. They even have good-egg KGB agents (a brother and sister act who turn up to help the hero of two novels); and in others a rough diamond Kemalist police chief, Colonel Haki.

 

[Pickman's model]

Eric Ambler is often overlooked as the creator of the modern spy novel.

yeh. only if you ignore john buchan's 39 steps, greenmantle etc.

 

[Pickman's model]

Oh look... I fucked your mum jokes LOL

more like pathetic statements of desire than jokes i thought, the poor boy

 

[Orang Utan]

He just needs to read a couple of books.

 

[Sprocket.]

yeh. only if you ignore john buchan's 39 steps, greenmantle etc.

True, Buchan's works are equally responsible, especially greenmantle and Mr Standfast but imo Ambler is overlooked.

 

[Pickman's model]

True, Buchan's works are equally responsible, especially greenmantle and Mr Standfast but imo Ambler is overlooked.

yeh i agree ambler underrated: but sadly not the inventor of the spy novel.

however, when i first encountered ambler in 2005/2006 it was very difficult to get a copy of his books. now they have been reissued he's reaching a wider audience.

 

[bimble]

christ that was a bore, i think i gave up.

his journalism and shorter stuff is brilliant though.

Can't really expect to be taken seriously if I sit here and tell you how brilliant it is, now you know I skipped all the sporty bits. But it is!

 

[Sprocket.]

yeh i agree ambler underrated: but sadly not the inventor of the spy novel.

however, when i first encountered ambler in 2005/2006 it was very difficult to get a copy of his books. now they have been reissued he's reaching a wider audience.

I was fortunate that the local library had nearly all his work on offer back in the olden days of the 70s.

 

[D'wards]

I refuse to read anything that wins the booker prize.

Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha was a good read