Aint read that one. I've read four of the novels, some short story compilations and most of the poems - love his writing, he's hard to resist. The casual sexism doesnt bother me one bit. Women is my favourite one.
Confess your literary ignorance
- Thread starter Orang Utan
- Start date
Aint read that one. I've read four of the novels, some short story compilations and most of the poems - love his writing, he's hard to resist. The casual sexism doesnt bother me one bit. Women is my favourite one.
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
utter shit
'Classics' i have no interest in reading (and have heard are bad): The Diceman, and Catch 22. Don't think I'll bother.
D'wards
IT'S YOUR DECISION DANIEL
Yep - those are the three superb. Women was the okay one, Notes From a Dirty Old Man the other awful one. I'll give Hollywood a go. I think I slightly resent the fact that he seems to bed one woman after another, despite being a bit of a revolting old pervy boozer whereas I get precious little action
D'wards
IT'S YOUR DECISION DANIEL
I loved both of these, but I did read them when I was about 17 and less of a cynical old naus than I am now
Novels i would recommend to read before you die - and these are quite short - would be Lolita, A Clockwork Orange, and The Picture of Dorian Gray.
D'wards
IT'S YOUR DECISION DANIEL
Girlfriend in a Coma okay, but Hey Nostradamus better. We Need to Talk About Kevin great after the first 100 pages which is turgid shit
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
Bukowski writes well but I can't get past the misogyny
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Chinaski is a sonofabitch
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
yes, I read Post Office and there's a really nasty rape scene in it. Bukowski's one of those writers who is difficult to separate from his narrators.
D'wards
IT'S YOUR DECISION DANIEL
He did say his stuff is 70% autobiography
Spymaster
Plastic Paddy
For me to enjoy a book/film/play etc, I have to be able to imagine that what's being portrayed has happened or could happen. That the characters are real. It needs to be plausible, so for me, sci fi, horror, and most dystopian stuff doesn't work.
Last edited:
ringo
Macaroni cheese controller
29I've only read 18 off this list of 100 Best Novels (and I reckon I read most of those by the time I was 40 - I've been reading 'middlebrow' fiction for the last 15 years)
The 100 best novels written in English: the full list
Im a bit like this. Really enjoyed Truman Capote's 'In Cold Blood' during summer - it's a journalistic novel about a murder that really happened. Some call it a 'non fiction novel.' Generally I prefer autobiographies to novels. Just ordered 'Lulu in Hollywood' - Louise Brooks writings (she was supposed to be an excellent writer and very unorthodox). Looking forward to reading it. Lulu In Hollywood: Expanded Edition: Louise Brooks: 9780816637317: Amazon.com: Books
Last edited:
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
Catch 22 is great. The Diceman is horrible stupid rapey shit.
bimble
floofy
Doris Lessing's science fiction series (Canopus in Argos ) are this .. starting with Shikasta.
Steel Icarus
ersatz maven
12I've only read 18 off this list of 100 Best Novels (and I reckon I read most of those by the time I was 40 - I've been reading 'middlebrow' fiction for the last 15 years
The 100 best novels written in English: the full list
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I know what you mean. I had a similar problem with Celine. I got a fair way into Journey to the end of the night, but in the end, I couldn't stomach the nasty casual racism and gave up.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I keep meaning to read some of Lessing's sci-fi. The Golden Notebook is one of my favourite books ever, so I'm sure I'd like it.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Thinking again about that ultimately uber-conservative top 100 list, inevitably The Catcher in the Rye is in there. I reread that the other year, and I enjoyed it. It's about a spoit rich brat, but that's ok as long as it's done well, which it is. But comparing it now to Fante's Bandini trilogy, it's pretty shallow fare really. Fante's Bandini books peel back all the layers to expose what it is really like to be an angst-ridden teenager. He never makes any top-whatever list. Lots of great stuff doesn't, which is the problem with canons - in the end, they always expose the cultural and social prejudices of whoever is choosing the list, so they're not really 'canons' at all.
D'wards
IT'S YOUR DECISION DANIEL
I've just had a realisation - I didn't know The Stranger and The Outsider by Camus were the same flipping book. When people have gone on about The Stranger I always say I haven't read it.
I read The Outsider so long ago and have such a bad memory I could have picked up The Stranger and read it again without realising.
I read The Outsider so long ago and have such a bad memory I could have picked up The Stranger and read it again without realising.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday; I can't be sure.
I loved that book. It puzzled and intrigued me in equal measure. I should re-read it.
Exactly. Where's, What makes Sammy run? Sammy Glick is the fucker you love to hate, and the book is a great satire that was banned for years. Never makes these lists.
Dr. Furface
One small step for me
I'm living proof that you can get a degree in literature without ever having read Dickens or Jane Austen. And much else besides.
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
Pardon?
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I think she's replying to me.
Meaning: they keep these lists fairly conventional, like littlebabyjesus said.
Camus is on my list. Hope its not too difficult.
Similar threads
