*What book are you reading? (part 2)

[Dirty Martini]

I'm kind of surprised you've not read it Martini. It's the sort of thing I can see you enjoying

I've picked it up and turned it round plenty of times in bookshops, but always thought: it's Anthony Burgess, I CAN'T.

I should.

 

[Pieface]

Ah, you see I've never read anything of his and all I know about is Clockwork Orange. I'm a philistine you see.

 

[Dirty Martini]

Ah, you see I've never read anything of his and all I know about is Clockwork Orange. I'm a philistine you see.

I've not read that either.

I used to have a prejudice against people I thought of as primarily literary critics/cultural figures writing novels. Silly, but there you go. Which is why I'll never read a novel by Melvyn Bragg (one of the reasons)

 

[Pieface]

I didn't even know Melvyn Bragg wrote novels!

There's a theme in Earthly Powers about the different schools of writers actually, the maverick modernists vs the cheap populists and the paranoia suffered from not being in the groovy gang...

Bit like on here

 

[sojourner]

Which is why I'll never read a novel by Melvyn Bragg (one of the reasons)

Your rationale may be a bit iffy, but if it stops you reading novels by Melvyn, that's no bad thing.

Trust me.

Boiled shite is more interesting than a Melvyn Bragg novel. Truly shocking.

 

[Dirty Martini]

I didn't even know Melvyn Bragg wrote novels!

There's a theme in Earthly Powers about the different schools of writers actually, the maverick modernists vs the cheap populists and the paranoia suffered from not being in the groovy gang...

Bit like on here

It's the eternal struggle!

Kind of a theme of The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano, too. You should give that a go -- very funny, very moving.

 

[Dirty Martini]

Your rationale may be a bit iffy, but if it stops you reading novels by Melvyn, that's no bad thing.

Trust me.

Boiled shite is more interesting than a Melvyn Bragg novel. Truly shocking.

I trust you.

I've got over my prejudice, largely, but it remains in place for that becoiffured bellend.

 

[Pieface]

Bellend is my favoured abusive term of the moment. It's made a definite comeback in casa Pie.

 

[Fictionist]

I'm not the one alluding to things beyond my intellectual capacities.

Sure.

 

[Fictionist]

I'm reading Earthly Powers by Anthony Burgess. He is an astonishing writer. Sometimes so erudite that I lose the meaning of what I'm reading. I cannot yet work out if this is because I'm a bit thick or he's being too clever clogs. I'm suspecting the former....

In any case it's a joy to read in fairly short bursts and it's making me feel like I'm doing some exercise in my brain

Centre of the book is a bitter old queen recounting his life in Europe during pretty much all of the 20th century. Everyone is a bit of a shit and lots of real life characters turn up doing silly things - like Ernest Hemingway shadow boxing round the edge of a dance floor while people are dancing and Ford Maddox Ford overcoming people with his gas rotted lungs from a stint in the trenches. There is plenty of joyous buggery, Roman Catholic guilt and smoking. Rampant sailors are currently featuring heavily and even though I'm making it sound like a Benny Hill sketch the grumpy old turd at the centre of it keeps it grounded. It's very funny even if it does make me feel very stupid indeed

A fellow member of the appreciation society!

 

[Philip Pomper]

Sure.

I will admit that dropping names is beyond me.

 

[ringo]

Now I think I'll read The Fortress of Solitude, because I haven't read a book set in Brooklyn for what seems like weeks

That is a fantastic book, loved it and recommended it to loads of people.

 

[Dirty Martini]

That is a fantastic book, loved it and recommended it to loads of people.

Enjoying it so far, but the humour hasn't kicked in yet Loved Motherless Brooklyn, liked You Don't Love Me Yet.

 

[maya]

There is plenty of joyous buggery, Roman Catholic guilt and smoking. Rampant sailors are currently featuring heavily

sounds fantastic

 

[maya]

I'm reading Daphne du Maurier at the moment.

 

[Fictionist]

I will admit that dropping names is beyond me.

As is much else. Apparently.

 

[starfish]

A Florentine Death by Michele Guterria. Thought id give Italian Detectives a try.

 

[Philip Pomper]

As is much else. Apparently.

At least you didn't edit that last post. I was scared you were going to get all clever on me.

 

[Orang Utan]

i'm reading geek love - katherine dunne
it's about a family of circus sideshow freaks and it's rather twisted.
i bet it's popular amongst goths.

 

[Fictionist]

At least you didn't edit that last post. I was scared you were going to get all clever on me.

It isn't something about which I have to try, my self proclaimed 'failed academic' friend.

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

i'm reading geek love - katherine dunne
it's about a family of circus sideshow freaks and it's rather twisted.
i bet it's popular amongst goths.

it's a fantastic book, i loved it, and i'm not a goth

*i think*

 

[Orang Utan]

me neither and i'm enjoying it too

 

[Orang Utan]

oh, and in my break, i also read let the right one in - FUCKING HELL, IT'S AWESOME!
I absolutely blown away by it - the plot is much more complex than the film and there are some truly horrific, disturbing scenes that go on and on and instensify to such a degree that i had to keep putting the book down but the writing is simultaneously so engaging that the thinning pages on your right alarmed me as i didn't want it to end. the central relationship is much deeper and more transgressive than in the film, the aging alcoholics are much better rounded characters (and much more grim of course) and the motives of the bullies are more fleshed out.
the film is even more admirable after reading the novel as, despite it cutting a lot out and adding a lot more ambiguity, it works on its own. both book and film have inspired a lot of discussion, but i don't think the extra detail in the book should inform what we make of the film. it's hard to convey what i mean here without spoilers, so i urge people to read it cos i want to talk about it!
in the mean time, i'm going to read lindqvist's next one, called handling the undead. it's about zombies, but apparently in the same way let the right one in is 'about' vampires.

 

[ericjarvis]

House Of Suns by Alistair Reynolds. Not his best, but excellent all the same.

 

[El Jefe]

i'm reading geek love - katherine dunne
it's about a family of circus sideshow freaks and it's rather twisted.
i bet it's popular amongst goths.

an utterly fantastic book

 

[Philip Pomper]

It isn't something about which I have to try, my self proclaimed 'failed academic' friend.

Do you take everything you read on the internet at face value, friend? I at least try not to.

 

[Orang Utan]

Philip Pompous

 

[Pieface]

Why is there some sad ass row going on on the book thread?

Anyway - I'm going to read Let the Right One In now OU. I loved the film and had forgotten about it until you posted that!

 

[big eejit]

oh, and in my break, i also read let the right one in - FUCKING HELL, IT'S AWESOME!
I absolutely blown away by it - the plot is much more complex than the film and there are some truly horrific, disturbing scenes that go on and on and instensify to such a degree that i had to keep putting the book down but the writing is simultaneously so engaging that the thinning pages on your right alarmed me as i didn't want it to end. the central relationship is much deeper and more transgressive than in the film, the aging alcoholics are much better rounded characters (and much more grim of course) and the motives of the bullies are more fleshed out.
the film is even more admirable after reading the novel as, despite it cutting a lot out and adding a lot more ambiguity, it works on its own. both book and film have inspired a lot of discussion, but i don't think the extra detail in the book should inform what we make of the film. it's hard to convey what i mean here without spoilers, so i urge people to read it cos i want to talk about it!
in the mean time, i'm going to read lindqvist's next one, called handling the undead. it's about zombies, but apparently in the same way let the right one in is 'about' vampires.

I also read the book after seeing the film (posted about it above somewhere). I agree with what you said. I rather simplified it by saying that the 'film was better than the book'. Reading your post, I'd agree that they're different animals, but I still think the film works better as a single piece, and it is a great interpretation of the book.

I tired to buy 'handling the undead' - saw it adertised half price in the window of a borders shop. Went in and couldn't find it anywhere. Neither could the staff tho their computer said they had six copies.

 

[Dirty Martini]

In between Fortress of Solitude, I slipped in two long stories from the Richard Ford collection of American 'long stories': 'Rosa' by Cynthia Ozick and 'Caroline's Wedding' by Edwidge Danticat. I'd like to read more by Ozick, and Danticat has the best name ever.