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Post by saffy on Nov 4, 2013 19:24:07 GMT
If not, why not?
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Post by saffy on Nov 4, 2013 19:26:40 GMT
I spoke to my sister the other day, who also downloads some free books from Amazon when they are available. I have to admit to deleting them if they don't capture my attention right away, yet she says she HAS to read them to the very end. (I personally think that's a bit OBD - Obsessive Book Disorder)
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Post by jill on Nov 4, 2013 20:06:17 GMT
Ha! Actually there is a books you are reading thread...I do read stuff, but somehow never get around to posting on that thread.
Anyways, recently read...
Orlando (Virginia Woolf) which is pretty hard to sum up. Tells the tale of a man/woman's journey through several centuries and, as you might have already guessed, transcends all conventions of 'conventional' narrative-time, space and gender (Orlando starts out in the 16th century as a man and becomes a woman). Still can't make my mind up about this book. Admired it's achievements and the craft on many levels and-discovering that it is a personal story, dedicated to Woolf's lover-was touched by it in some ways But I have to admit I was also kind of bored by it at times.
Also just read some short stories by Balzac. That sounds uber pretentious, I know, but really there absolutely nothing pretentious about him. In fact, he is often described as the first truly 'realist' writer and he's an absolute master of suspense (I bet Hitchcock read him). The stories are total page turners and should be read by any aspiring writer who wants to know the secret of how you 'hook' a reader in the opening paragraph and keeps them totally hooked to the bitter end.
I am now half way through a book by Isabel Allende called The House of Spirits. Another mega-drama that spans the ages (4 generations) and takes you through the horrors of Latin American politics, but written as 'magical realism', so a mix of real world hideousness and fairytale. Beautifully written. I'm only half way through, but already I'd give at least one arm to have written this.
PS. I am also slowly reading my way through William Faulkner's back catelogue-Intruder in the Dust, The Sound and the Fury, Absalom. Absalom. If you haven't yet read As I Lay Dying, do-it's absolutely f*cking brilliant.
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Post by GR on Nov 4, 2013 23:16:20 GMT
Yup, there's still "What book are you reading?/recommendation thread", but I guess it doesn't see much action (I last posted in it Oct. 16)...  Just started re-reading Dumas' The Three Musketeers, which I first read about 20 years ago -- my re-read of Hugo's Les Miserables this summer put me in a mood for it, but then I kept putting it off for some reason. |
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Post by Dave on Nov 5, 2013 22:14:07 GMT
I read a little here and there... definitely more since I've had a Kindle!
Currently reading Michael Pennington's/Johnny Vegas' autobiography. A very good read indeed!
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Post by jill on Nov 6, 2013 0:08:18 GMT
I wouldn't mind reading that. Who's Ready for Ice Cream is still one of my all time favourite comedy DVDs-Genius ;D
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Post by Dave on Nov 6, 2013 21:54:49 GMT
I wouldn't mind reading that. Who's Ready for Ice Cream is still one of my all time favourite comedy DVDs-Genius ;D Ha ha, yes, that DVD is insanity. The bullying of Vegas is so tragic... yet funny of course. Directed by Stewart Lee as well! The book is very interesting (and funny)... charting the appearance of the 'voice' in his head which later became the Johnny Vegas alter ego. |
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Just started re-reading Dumas' The Three Musketeers, which I first read about 20 years ago -- my re-read of Hugo's Les Miserables this summer put me in a mood for it, but then I kept putting it off for some reason.
