|
Post by newt5996 on Oct 25, 2020 16:21:56 GMT
So I made it through more of Malazan with Deadhouse Gates which I liked more than the first book and now I'm onto Memories of Ice which is where something just clicked. Like I'm only 120 or so pages into this massive 900 page tome, but it's such a captivating read that I just am falling in love with.
|
|
shutupbanks
Castellan
There’s a horror movie called Alien? That’s really offensive. No wonder everyone keeps invading you.
Likes: 5,669
|
Post by shutupbanks on Oct 25, 2020 22:23:43 GMT
Currently reading through The Thirty-Nine Steps (John Buchan) then I plan on getting through Fifty Years of Hancock (Richard Webber) before the festive season. I really like Richard Hannay as our hero and it’s easy to see how this book has greatly influenced many thrillers over the years. And I must admit, as much as my old Mum would chastise me for such a thing I’ve taken to listening to a lot of audiobooks whilst out on my daily walks. In my defence, I like to think I’m exercising both muscles that way. I love the Richard Hannay books. They just get better and better as the series goes on and, yes, you can see a lot of what was going to happen in spy/ thriller fiction unfold here.
|
|
shutupbanks
Castellan
There’s a horror movie called Alien? That’s really offensive. No wonder everyone keeps invading you.
Likes: 5,669
|
Post by shutupbanks on Oct 25, 2020 22:31:41 GMT
The Song Of Phaid The Gambler by Mick Farren. This was originally published in 1981 in the UK then rewritten slightly for publication in the US as two books in 1986 and 87. I’ve only ever had the two-volume version so when I found the single volume edition at a book sale a few weeks back I jumped at it. There’s a substantial difference: one early chapter was completely cut from the UK edition by the US publishers, the break between books occurs mid-chapter, with some minor rewriting of the scene on either side of it and a little bit of exposition. The only reason for the cuts I can think of is that they wanted both books to be of similar length and got rid of what they did because they weren’t essential to the plot and also because the hero is a bit of a git in them and in a shorter book that would alienate the reader. Needless to say I read with both versions in front of me.
I can get some minor changes for different audiences (the Harry Potter books spring to mind) but didn’t realise that the practice was so widespread: this wasn’t a hugely successful book on first release so going to so much trouble seems a little odd to me.
|
|
shutupbanks
Castellan
There’s a horror movie called Alien? That’s really offensive. No wonder everyone keeps invading you.
Likes: 5,669
|
Post by shutupbanks on Oct 25, 2020 22:32:46 GMT
Currently reading through The Thirty-Nine Steps (John Buchan) then I plan on getting through Fifty Years of Hancock (Richard Webber) before the festive season. I really like Richard Hannay as our hero and it’s easy to see how this book has greatly influenced many thrillers over the years. And I must admit, as much as my old Mum would chastise me for such a thing I’ve taken to listening to a lot of audiobooks whilst out on my daily walks. In my defence, I like to think I’m exercising both muscles that way. I love the Richard Hannay books. They just get better and better as the series goes on and, yes, you can see a lot of what was going to happen in spy/ thriller fiction unfold here. I also listen to a lot of podcasts and plays while walking my dog, so I totally sympathise with you on this use of your time.
|
|
|
Post by Ela on Oct 26, 2020 13:22:14 GMT
I recently read the novella Auberon by James S.A. Corey - good background for (and part of) The Expanse series.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Oct 30, 2020 10:56:16 GMT
The Devil and Daniel Webster (Stephen Vincent Benet)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2020 10:28:38 GMT
Shatter the Bones b y Stuart MacBride.
I like Stuart MacBride's books - all brutal police investigations and grim gallows humour. This book in particular is of interest, but I'd better spoiler why, in case there's the slightest chance someone's considering diving in.
{Spoiler} Two celebrities have been kidnapped, by unidentified people wearing protective clothing. Using false names, they address each other as Tom, David, Colin, Patrick and Sylvester. Sounds familiar ... turns out they are specialists in their field, but have in common the fact that they are big Doctor Who fans. True, it may not paint fans in a very good light (!), but I was unaware of the connection when I started reading, so it was a good surprise!
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Nov 24, 2020 16:01:42 GMT
The Reign of the Superman (Jerry Siegel)
The ORIGINAL Superman before Siegel ever brought the famous blue boy scout to life.
There are plot holes a plenty but it’s worth a look for historical significance alone.
|
|
|
Post by muckypup on Nov 24, 2020 16:11:28 GMT
tom allen's (oliver harper) auto/memoir thing.......
it's a bit funny, a bit sad but mostly just a little bit awful, pretty much just like him.
not recommending but a ok distraction if you a fan of him....
|
|
|
Post by johnhurtdoctor on Nov 24, 2020 16:15:02 GMT
The Problem with Men: When is it International Men's Day? (and why it matters) by Richard Herring.
|
|
|
Post by muckypup on Nov 24, 2020 16:22:24 GMT
Currently reading through The Thirty-Nine Steps (John Buchan) then I plan on getting through Fifty Years of Hancock (Richard Webber) before the festive season. I really like Richard Hannay as our hero and it’s easy to see how this book has greatly influenced many thrillers over the years. And I must admit, as much as my old Mum would chastise me for such a thing I’ve taken to listening to a lot of audiobooks whilst out on my daily walks. In my defence, I like to think I’m exercising both muscles that way. nought wrong with listening, would she have said the same about attending a lecture rather than reading a text book....... reading books is lazy these days........why sit idle when you can multi task.....hehehe
|
|
|
Post by muckypup on Nov 24, 2020 16:24:21 GMT
The Problem with Men: When is it International Men's Day? (and why it matters) by Richard Herring. i got the audiobook of this ready n waiting for a listen
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Nov 27, 2020 17:14:50 GMT
The Adventures of Pinocchio (Carlo Collodi)
Very much deserving of its violent reputation. Almost makes me curious to see what it would have been like had Disney just done a straight adaptation.
|
|
|
Post by polly on Nov 27, 2020 19:30:55 GMT
The Adventures of Pinocchio (Carlo Collodi) Very much deserving of its violent reputation. Almost makes me curious to see what it would have been like had Disney just done a straight adaptation. What about the weird live-action version from the mid-90s? I thought that was meant to be more faithful. The only thing I remember is that I didn't like it.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Nov 27, 2020 21:06:17 GMT
The Adventures of Pinocchio (Carlo Collodi) Very much deserving of its violent reputation. Almost makes me curious to see what it would have been like had Disney just done a straight adaptation. What about the weird live-action version from the mid-90s? I thought that was meant to be more faithful. The only thing I remember is that I didn't like it. Have never seen it but I just gave the plot synopsis a look and it seems fairly faithful. Changes a lot of things but yet leaves a lot of stuff out as well. Suppose that’s rather the point of adaptation I guess. Cutting out the filler. Pinocchio is an odd one to adapt because to make it work you almost have to make it kid friendly. The original is so strange and at times extremely graphic that I doubt modern audiences with our sensibilities would appreciate or even approve of a straight completely faithful adaptation.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Nov 29, 2020 22:15:42 GMT
The Wendigo (Algernon Blackwood)
This was brilliant. So atmospheric and a great example of ‘less is more.’
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Dec 2, 2020 9:56:46 GMT
The Call of Cthulhu (HP Lovecraft)
What can I say about this that hasn’t already been said before? It’s a masterpiece.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Dec 4, 2020 12:06:20 GMT
The Devil and Tom Walker (Washington Irving)
Interesting Fact: Stephen Vincent Benet used this story as inspiration when it came to his later story ‘The Devil and Daniel Webster.’
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Dec 4, 2020 17:05:25 GMT
The Monkey’s Paw (William Wymark Jacobs)
The famous story that popularised the now cliché of ‘Be Careful What You Wish For...’
Believe it or not, I remember having to do a play of this in my drama class oh so long ago now. Naturally, we didn’t have a simian to hand to which we could ask to borrow an appendage, so we resorted to using the paw of an old werewolf costume and trimming the fur a bit.
Had the desired effect and we had no complaints, well, aside from my old drama teacher (a true luvvie if ever there was one) who even to this day I can still vividly recall glancing down at the offending article when we presented it to her for approval and dryly remarking;
“And which monkey did you get that from? King Kong, perhaps?”
|
|
|
Post by polly on Dec 4, 2020 18:47:48 GMT
I've started reading Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon. It's less a narrative and more a future history about the evolution of humanity as it rises and falls (and rises again and falls again and...) throughout the eons to come. It's not exactly light reading, but it is interesting so far, and I can't fault the ambition.
|
|