seeformiles
Lost in the wood
Reading Bob Mortimer’s Autobiography - his gentle and amusing recollections are the antidote to the current climate of gloom.
*What book are you reading? (part 2)
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mod
A modernist
He's just bumped into another (older) kid who should also be at school. Older kid talked him into getting into an old washing machine and then spins it so fast and hurts him. Older kids dad turns up and beat the shit out of him. Once he recovers he sexually abuses Shuggie.
His alcoholic mum has just been introduced to valium.
Yeah....its very bleak and brutal but I'm enjoying it.
Being a fan of Irvine Welsh I prefer his style of writing much more with a colloquial use of the scottish (edinburgh) accent. The way he writes its impossible not to read the characters talking in an Edinburgh accent. Fitba (football) etc.
BigMoaner
What A Load of Old Bollocks
Gk Chesterton’s orthodox. He’s defence of Christianity. He’s so obvious a Tory but he hides it a lot. But I like him. He has some great ideas about “progress” and he’s good at rubbishing so much stuff on the right and left. “If you think progress is so natural and inevitable why do we spend so much effort and agony to try to progress at all?” is a particular favourite.
Kevbad the Bad
Amiable Bowel Syndrome
Just read "The Rock Blaster" by Henning Mankell. An easy read. The life of a worker damaged by an industrial accident in which he loses an eye, several fingers and has a damaged penis. Swedish, lefty, right-on bloke. A meditation on life in many ways, its meaning and lack of meaning.
Yeh, it's from a child's perspective though innit and though you could find something to have a laugh about if you're older and a bit more resilient, a kid wouldn't.
mod
A modernist
I didnt think about that. I cant edit it now. Its only 2 pages from near the start so don't thing its going to reveal much.
It gives people an idea what its like though. The vibe.
But noted. Use spoiler feature in the future.
mod
A modernist
I promise never to do it again. The last thing I want to do is piss anyone off mightily.
rubbershoes
not the only raver in the village
There's a few books to get through. Good reads
ringo
Macaroni cheese controller
I had a feeling I'd like it so bought the box set of 6 books. So far I'm really enjoying it.
BristolEcho
Well-Known Member
Read Shuggie Bain. It was okay, but felt there were bits missing. I'll give his other book a roll.
Going to read High Rise JG Ballard next. Never read any of their stuff before.
Going to read High Rise JG Ballard next. Never read any of their stuff before.
rubbershoes
not the only raver in the village
Ballard is a fantastic writer. High Rise is good. I also like Kingdom Come and Super-Cannes.
Nikkormat
Well-Known Member
I like some of Kipling's stuff, but god, half of these stories were dull as shit.
Now on the third book of Jan Morris's Pax Britannica trilogy, Farewell The Trumpets.
Johnny Vodka
The Abominable Scotsman
Finished "Entangled Life", and rather enjoyed it in the end.
Now on to:
"Rabid: A Cultural History of the World's Most Diabolical Virus" (for non-fiction)
and
Cormac McCarthy's "Cities of the Plain" (for fiction)
Now on to:
"Rabid: A Cultural History of the World's Most Diabolical Virus" (for non-fiction)
and
Cormac McCarthy's "Cities of the Plain" (for fiction)
Winot
I wholeheartedley agree with your viewpoint
Reread High Rise in lockdown. Not one of my better ideas.
izz
Increased Leisure Citizen
Having recently failed to make it much into Moby Dick I tried to watch the two-parter on Amazon Prime. Didn't make it through that either, so the superdupermegaluper dinky pocket-size book goes into the charity box and I'm rereading The Mirror And The Light, once again, Ms Mantel does it for me. From the outset, the sense of doom is quite gripping, as Thomas makes the enemies that will play a part in his downfall and the prose is lovely.
DotCommunist
So many particulars. So many questions.
Drowned World worth a shout also.
BristolEcho
Well-Known Member
I am really struggling with High Rise which I'm a bit annoyed about. I'm halfway through and I guess it's picking up, but there's something about it that's just not grabbing me. Frustrating as it's short and I was thinking I'd get through it nice and quick.
BristolEcho
Well-Known Member
Gave that up. Really don't see why it's rated so highly as I just couldn't buy into it, didn't care about the characters, and generally didn't like the writing style bar the odd nice bit here and there. Will give some of his other books a go.
Chz
Stark Raving Sane
Bunny
By Mona Awad
I'm struggling to describe it. It would be an injustice to leave it at "dark and trippy", but it's the closest I've come to it. Very entertaining work of fantastic imagination. The Kindle lets me highlight turns of phrase I particularly like, and I see I've noted "She gives me the full hate bouquet of her smile. Every fuck you flower."
It won't be for everyone; certainly not if you're looking for a defined plot with beginning and end.
By Mona Awad
I'm struggling to describe it. It would be an injustice to leave it at "dark and trippy", but it's the closest I've come to it. Very entertaining work of fantastic imagination. The Kindle lets me highlight turns of phrase I particularly like, and I see I've noted "She gives me the full hate bouquet of her smile. Every fuck you flower."
It won't be for everyone; certainly not if you're looking for a defined plot with beginning and end.
rubbershoes
not the only raver in the village
Never let me go by Kazuo Ishiguro
By a long way, this is my favourite book I've read this year.
It's about friendship, reality and mortality, and is beautifully written.
By a long way, this is my favourite book I've read this year.
It's about friendship, reality and mortality, and is beautifully written.
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