*What book are you reading ?

[belboid]

i dont think its that pretentious (not in the first third anyway), just not that great. a surprisingly easy read, tho maybe thats just comparative to his others.

 

[Boogie Boy]

You think? It's one of my favourite books, but it's hardly 'much more ambitious' than NotR, both deal with essentially similar themes (all his novels are just philosophy masquerading as literature, to quote the back of Mysterious Flame of Queen Loanna - which I'm just reading. Very enjoyable, but much slighter, as his novels have become progressively. A shame, but there you go, he could never really do character development, but he does find great excuses as to why he cant!).

Rose is a better novel in many ways, i think, but Pendulum is much more fun if you are coming from a philosophy bent.

I think that the 'Rose' is interesting, and the internal jokes and general playfulness with ideas and meanings can be intriguing, but I found the 'Pendulum' far more satisfying, building on the style seen in the earlier book. I've always found the ending rather moving too.

I found reading 'Loanna' quite painful, it completely failed to generate any huge interest for me, and it quickly became something I read because I wanted to finish it (I always try to finish what I start - although Nicola Barker has had the same effect on me) - not out of a sense of excitement or 'page turning' expectation - similar to my experience of reading the 'Island of the Day Before'.

BB

 

[quimcunx]

The Testament of Gideon Mack.

It's reminded me of words like puddock.

 

[badlands]

have just finished the autobiography of Jack Rosenthal called, By Jack Rosenthal. Its written, brilliantly, as a screenplay. Unfortunately he died of cancer before he finished the last chapter, but his wife, Maureen Lipman bravely and beautifully finished the remaining chapter. Its a wonderful, touching and poignant book by one of the most underrated dramatists this country has ever produced.

 

[tastebud]

Brainaddict got me the new Murakami book 'After Dark' which I'm very happy about & started reading last night

 

[angermanagement]

Thud. Tery Pratchett. Something like between 20 -30 of his Discworld books in a row and even read one twice by accident. I need rehab.

 

[rennie]

I'm about to start reading Harafish by Naguib Mahfouz. I'm addicted!

 

[cyberfairy]

Spent all afternoon reading When We Were Romans by Matthew Kneale from cover to cover. Utterly superb book-gripping, sad, insightful with an eight year old 'narrator' describing his trip to Rome and his mother's flight from demons

 

[The Fourth Bear]

Currently reading The Italian Secretary by Caleb Carr. (A sherlock Holmes story). I know no-one can write Holmes like Conan-Doyle but I like to see how well an author does when they try.

After that I'll be moving on to First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde. I'm a big fan of his, hence the username.

 

[May Kasahara]

Read Liz Jensen's 'The Ninth Life of Louis Drax' over the last few weeks - it was quite good, a nice little puzzle. Louis' voice was much better realised than Dr Dannachet's, though, and Natalie Drax was just annoyingly transparent.

Now reading 'Castle Waiting' by Linda Medley, a beautifully drawn comic series that my wonderful other half found in a bookshop in Amsterdam. The book itself is gorgeous, the artwork is clean and simple, the story is as cosy and enjoyable as a cashmere jumper. It's cool

 

[northernhord]

Nicholas Blincoes Jello Salad (again)

 

[Mandla]

Just finished Spud: the madness continues, by John van Der Ruit and the Kite Runner by Khalid Hossieni - both excellent for different reasons. Just started Bullet Points by Mark Watson - very interesting so far.

 

[fear-n-loathing]

confessions of an economic hitman - not bad not great

 

[quimcunx]

I've read kite runner and bullet points, mads, both good.

I'm reading The Testament of Gideon Mack. Enjoying it and some nice reminders of scottish words I don't hear so often these days.

 

[baldrick]

Dunkirk: fight to the last man - Hugh Sebag-Montefiore.

Only just started it, but very, very interesting. Haven't read much modern British history

Also Bad Faith: A Forgotten History of Family and Fatherland - Carmen Callil.

Nearly finished. Horrifying and scathing in fairly equal measure.

 

[cyberfairy]

Just finished 'The Longest Crawl' by Ian Marchant, an account of travelling from first to last pub in Britain via lots of other pubs. Very good read-enjoyable, intersting and funny if somewhat marred by the hippy lite narrator's occasional descent into slagging off veggies, 'chavs' and saying women weren't ever really into metal music, beers or motorbikes, just pretended to be to please boyfriends

 

[selamlar]

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' - good bit of escapism

 

[sojourner]

Just finished 'The Longest Crawl' by Ian Marchant, an account of travelling from first to last pub in Britain via lots of other pubs. Very good read-enjoyable, intersting and funny if somewhat marred by the hippy lite narrator's occasional descent into slagging off veggies, 'chavs' and saying women weren't ever really into metal music, beers or motorbikes, just pretended to be to please boyfriends

Glad I haven't read it then! I'd have to write a strongly-worded letter of complaint to him. Or post a dog turd

 

[cyberfairy]

Glad I haven't read it then! I'd have to write a strongly-worded letter of complaint to him. Or post a dog turd

He seems like such a nice bloke most of the time in his books as well-guess he entitled to his opinions but as a veggie metal loving bike loving beer liker was a bit miffed

 

[sojourner]

He seems like such a nice bloke most of the time in his books as well-guess he entitled to his opinions but as a veggie metal loving bike loving beer liker was a bit miffed

Well he's obviously NOT such a nice bloke then is he mate?

Wankaaarrrrr!! (him, not you )

 

[Biddlybee]

Not reading it yet, but is 'Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell' a good book?

 

[Orang Utan]

Not reading it yet, but is 'Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell' a good book?

It's quite a good read! That's given me an idea, actually....

 

[ViolentPanda]

Currently reading The Italian Secretary by Caleb Carr. (A sherlock Holmes story). I know no-one can write Holmes like Conan-Doyle but I like to see how well an author does when they try.

After that I'll be moving on to First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde. I'm a big fan of his, hence the username.

Jasper Fforde. Hehe. One of my "cheer yourself up" authors. Brings a little sunshine into my life.

 

[May Kasahara]

Finished 'Castle Waiting' on Tuesday night - thoroughly recommended to anyone who likes clean, simple linework, meandering stories, beautiful books or bearded nuns.

Now starting Rupert Thomson, 'Death Of A Murderer'. Enjoying it so far, although have only read the first few pages.

 

[Dirty Martini]

On holiday I read:

A Question of Upbringing by Anthony Powell, which was enjoyable enough.

Lucky Jim -- I don't know why it took me so long to get round to it. A brilliant comic novel.

A Confederacy of Dunces -- which I only began to like after about 150 pages, when Toole's own voice started to come through. He might have been great had he lived, and if he had, I think COD would have been seen for the hit-and-miss effort it is.

Treasure Island -- I read this in a modernised version as a kid. It's magnificent.

 

[tastebud]

Now starting Rupert Thomson, 'Death Of A Murderer'. Enjoying it so far, although have only read the first few pages.

I read all of his books when I was a teenager. Should maybe check that one out.

 

[May Kasahara]

A Confederacy of Dunces -- which I only began to like after about 150 pages, when Toole's own voice started to come through. He might have been great had he lived, and if he had, I think COD would have been seen for the hit-and-miss effort it is.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I had a weird, queasy balance of enjoying the book and really disliking it, the entire way through. It's a shame he never got to produce more, I think it would have been really interesting to watch his work develop.

 

[Dirty Martini]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I had a weird, queasy balance of enjoying the book and really disliking it, the entire way through. It's a shame he never got to produce more, I think it would have been really interesting to watch his work develop.

I particularly liked the setpieces with the Levys -- some really great comic writing there. I dunno, I think as the book goes on, and Ignatius becomes more vulnerable and likeable, it does begin to feel more controlled. New Orleans itself comes through more strongly too. The first 150 pages, though, are just daft

 

[Dirty Martini]

I'm going to read Diary of a Nobody because I fancy some light late-19th-century suburban fiction.

 

[Boogie Boy]

I'm going to read Diary of a Nobody because I fancy some light late-19th-century suburban fiction.

I found it quite amusing, quite unexpectedly so.

BB