Books - What are you reading?

+1 for dawkins, haruki murakami and dale's mum. :D

I'm reading threads on this forum. It's all a bit low-brow, to be honest.

Finished. Last Wednesdays daily star is now free.

I'm reading Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake at the moment, a dude just got eaten by owls and a servant got banished from the castle for throwing a cat at his enemy. It's brilliant and so macabre, and I would recommend it to pretty much everyone (Random House did a poor job or proofreading it though).

How's about: if you've just read something that rocked, or are just reading something that rocks your world then let's hear all about it.

Exactly what it should be.

I might read Lanark again. I'm between books. I generally read something light and disposable between books like Cat's Cradle by Vonnegut, but this time I ended up reading some essays by Camus.

If anyone can recommend something dark and funny, I'd appreciate it.

If anyone can recommend something dark and funny, I'd appreciate it.

Have you read 'How the Dead Live' by Will Self? It's about a dead Jewish lady moving to the afterlife suburb of Dulston (er, the same place as the living Dalston) with her calcified unborn foetus and dead ten year old who swears a lot. But it's pretty funny in Self's strange way.

I've said it before and I'll say it again:
The Little Girl and the Cigarette by Benoît Duteurtre is the greatest novel of the 21st Century.

So dark, so funny and bloody well-written:
A death-row inmate becomes a darling of the media (and the tobacco conglomerates) when he demands his right to a final cigarette in a smoke-free prison. Meanwhile, a little girl accuses a petty bureaucrat of sexual perversion when she catches him sneaking a cigarette.

Even Kundera loves it: "What I admire most about The Little Girl and The Cigarette is the clarity with which this novel unmasks the fundamental stupidity of our modern world; the black humor that transforms horror into a fascinating danse macabre."

has anyone read sex, lies, and handlebar tape yet?

I've said it before and I'll say it again:
The Little Girl and the Cigarette by Benoît Duteurtre is the greatest novel of the 21st Century.
"

= 'greatest novel of the last eight years' - ;-)

has anyone read sex, lies, and handlebar tape yet?

I don't think it's out until May - I tried winning one from The Washing Machine Post but no luck...

alright - yeah i'm not necessarily anticipating it will still hold true in 92 more ;)

I've said it before and I'll say it again:
The Little Girl and the Cigarette by Benoît Duteurtre is the greatest novel of the 21st Century.

So dark, so funny and bloody well-written:
A death-row inmate becomes a darling of the media (and the tobacco conglomerates) when he demands his right to a final cigarette in a smoke-free prison. Meanwhile, a little girl accuses a petty bureaucrat of sexual perversion when she catches him sneaking a cigarette.

Even Kundera loves it: "What I admire most about The Little Girl and The Cigarette is the clarity with which this novel unmasks the fundamental stupidity of our modern world; the black humor that transforms horror into a fascinating danse macabre."

Finished it last night. Cynical and funny. Quick read. Good, uncompromising ending. I wasn't sure if there were a load of right-wing sensibilities motivating the narrative, or just a general frustration at how 'sheepish' people have become. I haven't got around to checking out author bios.

~I'm surprised you think the narrative might have a right-wing thrust. To me it seems the opposite - essentially a celebration of individual liberties by way of careful satire of the very real ring-fencing of rights by successive governments here and elsewhere. And yes, the author is clearly frustrated! The author is french and this is the only one translated into English.

has anyone read sex, lies, and handlebar tape yet?

It's next on my book pile. Will report back when I've read it.

~I'm surprised you think the narrative might have a right-wing thrust. To me it seems the opposite - essentially a celebration of individual liberties by way of careful satire of the very real ring-fencing of rights by successive governments here and elsewhere. And yes, the author is clearly frustrated! The author is french and this is the only one translated into English.

Hard to put my finger on it. Maybe Benoit Duteurtre is a 'Le Pen' name...

does anyone here write?

I've dabbled (1.5 novels and a few dozen short stories, poetry, articles, blah).

I'm writing right now as it goes ;)

anything published / online I can look at?

i'm a PRINTER, does that count??

anything published / online I can look at?

There are a couple of whimsical cycling-related pieces knocking around.

Go to 63xc.com or rollapaluza.cc and look for "Fixing the speech chain" and "Peddlars and pushers".

There was a site with some of my short stories, but that's long gone.

That 'fixing the speech chain" is great - short and funny.

This I love:

a turn of the crank
is all that you need to start
a revolution

That 'fixing the speech chain" is great - short and funny.

This I love:

a turn of the crank
is all that you need to start
a revolution

Jesus, where did you dig up that one from?

I am a haikuenger. (there are 'poem for the day' and 'roller haiku' threads on movingtargetzine with more examples)

We need more of the 17 syllable shit here on lfgss...

I'm reading this, it's pretty funny and informative.

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haiku thread sounds good!