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*What book are you reading? (part 2)

London Orbital is sooooo good. Lights Out for the Territory is my favourite by him, especially since so many random things happen during his walks that somehow tie in with what he's writing about. Found his novels much more hard-going, but still worth perservering with, especially Downriver, which is very scathing and funny about the 80s/Thatcher's Britain. Would love to find a copy of his first book, about Allen Ginsberg's time in London in the 60s, but its really hard to find.
 
I have somehow lived my entire life without reading any Iain Sinclair. And he writes about the kind of stuff that I find ultra-fascinating as well. Psychogeography. Must read.
 
I've just finished The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.

It's a brilliant read - a proper old school yarn.

The intricacy and balance of the plotting was spot on even if it is a bit heavy handed for some tastes.

Plenty of sex and murder (and cathedrals and monks and 12c English history) too.

Yeah, it was great basically.
 
When you've finished it, tell us what you think about the ending! :) :cool:

PoG is my feavourite in the series actually... That, and Use Of Weapons.

Really really enjoyed the book and I liked the ending - it was very operatic, which I think suited the idea of the Empire. I also liked the feeling that Gurgeh may never play another game, that Azad had been the culmination of all he had been and was.

Not sure whether to continue with the Culture and start "Use of Weapons" or go for Alastair Reynold's "The Prefect" (which I have out of the library) or Kate Mosse's "Labryinth" which I've just bought from the charity shop for 50p :)
 
Really really enjoyed the book and I liked the ending - it was very operatic, which I think suited the idea of the Empire. I also liked the feeling that Gurgeh may never play another game, that Azad had been the culmination of all he had been and was.

Not sure whether to continue with the Culture and start "Use of Weapons" or go for Alastair Reynold's "The Prefect" (which I have out of the library) or Kate Mosse's "Labryinth" which I've just bought from the charity shop for 50p :)

I'd go for a change with The Prefect. it's a good 'un.

btw, did the huge heav-handed slab of moralising in POG not stand out to you? I know a few people who moaned about it...
 
I'd go for a change with The Prefect. it's a good 'un.

btw, did the huge heav-handed slab of moralising in POG not stand out to you? I know a few people who moaned about it...


It stood out but didn't bother me too much - not being overly familiar with Iain M. Bank's style I wasn't sure whether this was a feature of his writing (though i hadn't noted it as much in "Consider Phlebas" "Inversions" and "The Algerbaist") and my only thought was that he didn't expand upon some events, such as the Azadian girl that Gurgeh met who was also playing the game when I though he would i.e. I wondered if that would have a greater significance later, rather than just be remarked upon.

So though heavy handed for me it didn't overbalance the story or lessen my enjoyment of the book.

He likes anal sex though doesn't he - that seems to get a fair mention in his writing, especially in "The Algerbraist" :D
 
Just started 'Antigone' by Jean Anouilh.

:)

Ha - one of the very first choices of essay title on my Access course asked whether that was an existentialist text. So I immediately went to get it out of the library - and it was IN FRENCH! :mad::D

I dissed Descartes instead :D
 
I cant wait to start reading The Poetics of Space by Gaston Bachelard.

I will probably get bored before I finish it, though, as I inevitably do. I already have my eye on some new books.
 
NW2

Just finished Whit teeth by Zadie Smith and then watched the tv series on you tube - really Good

Can anyone recomend another good book set in and around North West London :)
 
Ha - one of the very first choices of essay title on my Access course asked whether that was an existentialist text. So I immediately went to get it out of the library - and it was IN FRENCH! :mad::D

I dissed Descartes instead :D

It hasn't provoked the same reaction for me. I finished it and went straight to Sophocles (which I will finish later this evening).

:)
 
The Plague Dogs by Richard Adams (of Watership Down fame).

I started it years and years ago when I was in my teens and misplaced the book about a third of the way through.

Its really well written (IMHO) and quite emotional and I am only on about page 50.
 
The Plague Dogs by Richard Adams (of Watership Down fame).

I started it years and years ago when I was in my teens and misplaced the book about a third of the way through.

Its really well written (IMHO) and quite emotional and I am only on about page 50.

Beautifully written. The people who did the Watership Down animation also did Plague Dogs as an animation. Far, far bleaker than the book.
 
The Plague Dogs by Richard Adams (of Watership Down fame).

I started it years and years ago when I was in my teens and misplaced the book about a third of the way through.

Its really well written (IMHO) and quite emotional and I am only on about page 50.

I've got that upstairs and need to start a new book tonight.

Now Plague Dogs vs. Netherland?

Quite the quandary.....
 
Beautifully written. The people who did the Watership Down animation also did Plague Dogs as an animation. Far, far bleaker than the book.

Ooooh!

We have the Watership Down film and I know it virtually word for word (much to the annoyance of anyone watching it with me :oops:) but I didn't know about the Plague Dogs.
Will have to see if we can get a copy :hmm:
 
Now have limited internet access at work, woot. Can't Urban though. Anyway, found myself browsing sfreviews.net Spent Sunday afternoon hunting for titles. Got me unabridged audiobook of Perdido Street Station by China Mieville. Remember DC ^ mentioning him, so thought I'd post.

About a third the way in. Great stuff. Very vivid depiction of the decaying and bezarre city of New Crobuzon and it's eclectic ihabitants.
 
I read Nick Cohens Waiting For The Etonians on Holiday in March and now I'm just getting into a biography of the photographer Bill Brandt
 
I'm reading Kafka's The Trial


All his stuff, short stories and the unfinished one, have just been reprinted. New translations IIRC. Must give this a go one day. Only read The Transformation... Oh, and the Judgement, I think it was. Inadiquate feeling son drowns himself in the Vltava.
 
Don Juan - Lord Byron. I can't help but think that Byron was taking the piss with this, almost goading people to point out just how bad the poetry is. Very strange indeed.

I have decided to put 'Don Juan' away for a short time as I have bought a copy of Bronte's 'Jane Eyre', which I'm starting tonight. Wish me luck!
 
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