Books - What are you reading?

Everybody's reading shit except for me. I'm reading the forum, which is much better. ;)

Everybody's reading shit except for me. I'm reading the forum, which is much better. ;)

I dont think I've ever seen you commit profanity to print, Oliver!

I dont think I've ever seen you commit profanity to print, Oliver!

Luckily, the forum isn't printed. And I certainly have no compunction about using the word 'shit'. I shit you not.

General Lucifer, I'm also reading In Cold Blood, one of the best text regarding crime and the psychology of it.. Really enjoying it. I would recomend to Burnt Silver, by the Argentinian author Ricardo Piglia. This is provably a more psychologicaly constructed text, more based in the mental deviations of the subjects.

Luckily, the forum isn't printed. And I certainly have no compunction about using the word 'shit'. I shit you not.

What is it then? Committed to writing? Its not really writing either.

It is writ on water.

Keats and Yeats are on your side

though it's actually "writ in water". but you knew that....

while wayward lover Wilde is on mine........

while wayward lover Wilde is on mine........

words which could only be your own

youtubing cemetry gates right now........thanks for reminder!

You say "ere long done do does a skid"
Words which could only be your own
And then produce the text
From whence was ripped
Some dizzy whore, 1804

though it's actually "writ in water". but you knew that....

there's always someone, somewhere
with a big nose who knows
and trips you up and laughs when you fall

What is it then? Committed to writing? Its not really writing either.

It's 'committed to a post'. :)

Fellow thread subscribers will note that Balki has not taken umbrage with the claim that reading the forum is better than reading great literature.

Oh, but then no-one else has, either. Hm.

has anyone read the dunciad in four books by alexander pope.

the guido thread=gold

Interested to know what you thought of Disgrace. I couldn't really see why it was being held in such high regard.

I didn't know much of the pretext, but I got fully immersed in it. I'm not all that literary minded, so I can't much judge the relative merits of books, but I was captivated. Obviously the post-apartheid context made it heavily politicised when it was published, he must have captured something which garnered so much attention. I'm reading waiting for the barbarians at the mo.

There are 2 books that I've read, that I'd like to mention. Both are tales fantastical in nature, and both therefore inventive.

THE SILMARILLION by JRR Tolkien (edited together by his son Christopher), was written after The Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit. It was a tale of creation, and how the world of Middle-Earth came into being. It is extremely densely written, and took me possibly five fresh starts, till I could read past the first 20 pages. The leap required for the reader is chasm-like, due to the beginning being so opaque. But once past the very first pages, the novel races along. The story descibes the first God, giving tasks to the lesser gods, and one taking umbrage to this, and abandoning his task. This early rebellion leads the same lesser god to make a people, but because he was not forthright, the humanoids were deformed. It is glimpses at the imagination of JRR Tolkien, that shows an elementary class-driven and possibly even racist intellect, that towered above others. Stupendously imaginative. A fantastic book, but not for the faint-hearted.

The tale of Dr.STRANGE AND Mr.MORRELL regards two magicians, who begin as friendly acquaintances, but emerge as rivals. It tells of a world, where magic has been largely forgotten. One man's desire to see it regain its previous place in society is, over time, a success. It is the telling that is of note, insofar that the world is descibed as if you are sitting in front of it. One can smell and hear the woods, and fields, and old Georgian style houses. There is venom and kindness, decency and deceit. I loved it, though the end seemed written at a different pace from the main part of the book. Excellent, but not perfect.

EDIT: Please note the error of my ways.

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, author Susanna Clarke
an absolutely withering [I][I]Thank You**[/I], to rive gauche[/I]

The Silmarillion is a great book, it took me a couple of attempts as well. Tolkien was an amazing man.

Dr.STRANGE AND Mr.MORRELL, is a good book too.

I didn't know cornish people could read.

Dr.STRANGE AND Mr.MORRELL, is a good book too.

i believe the title is:

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, author Susanna Clarke

and yes it is an absorbing tale, although several reviews have commented on the need for severe pruning, and the end is a disappointment.

She's also produced

the ladies of grace adieu, a collection of short stories

• the pickwick papers - dickens.
  
  
  

Oh. That Pickwick Papers...

Here is a book that I recommend to everyone. Women especially should read it, but so too should men.
It is a short tale, but burdened with a gentle, yet heavy message.

I loved this book, and was made to read it by a Kuwaiti teenage girl, who thought I would like its journey.
She was right. The book is WOMEN AT POINT ZERO, by Nawal El Saadawi.

It truly is eye-opening.

Has anyone read THE BEASTLY BEATITUDES OF BALTHAZAR B by JP Donleavy ?

I'm about a third of the way through but it's quickly becoming one of my favourite books, it's not often that I laugh out loud when reading, last time I can remember since Balthazar was reading General Lucifers reprographic horror stories.
I won't give much away as I wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone, all I'll say is that the writing style is like a cross between 'The Narrow Dog to Carcassonne' and 'Confederacy of Dunces' and equally if not even funnier than both of them.

I read 'Cyclings Gretest Missadventures' last weekend, a collection of short stories about cycling and things not going to plan. Only a third of the stories are worth reading, but that's generally true of any collection of short stories by various authors.

It's definately inspired me to get my cycling tour of europe sorted out. Just wish my touring companion would find some inspiration to....

Just started reading a 'bookazine' [puke] of architectural and urban short stories and essays. called 'Beyond - Scenarios and Speculaions'. Again a mixed bag; some very good, some uber-pretentious.