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Post by Evilluke on Mar 31, 2009 5:39:22 GMT -5
This thread is ace, it always impresses me that the people here are reading interesting and worthwhile stuff and that we're not the meatheads that the media thinks we are.
I'm reading 'Homicide - a year on the killing streets' by David Simon, one of the guys that did The Wire. I don't normally read crime stuff as I find it a bit voyeuristic but this is quite an interesting read and less pulpy than I expected, although I'm not keen on the writing style. However its early days yet.
Going back on the thread -
Dorian Gray (and Wilde in general) is great, but Dan, I'd suggest you avoid the film. Imo it's badly dated and as a product of its times can only hint at some of the themes of the book and the debauches Gray partakes in. I watched it quite a while ago but I seem to remember it lacking any of the sense of menace apart from the feeling of dread I got whenever Sibyl started singing (she does this a lot). My favourite Wilde tale is Lord Arthur Saviles Crime.
The Lord of The Rings is in my opinion a very boring read. I liked the films but they could have been improved by trimming 30 minutes of needless sentimentality off each one.
I've read a few of the Harry Potter books, I thought it would be interesting to see what the fuss was about. The first one is pants, the next couple are quite good, in a kids book kind of way, and then they started to get bloated and boring and I gave up before the last one. I wouldnt say they have any literary merit more than, say, Biggles books.
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Post by DeathUK on Mar 31, 2009 6:42:14 GMT -5
Embarassingly, I am reading Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell. After a hard days thinking I just like to lie in bed and read about slashing, plundering and raping in King Arthur times. I suppose that is a bit the opposite of you guys.
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Post by Evilluke on Mar 31, 2009 6:58:29 GMT -5
Enemy of God is a great book. Early Shieldwall stuff was heavily influenced by The Winter King.
I'm not a big fan of Bernard Cornwell overall but I do like his interpretation of the Arthur legends in that trilogy.
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Post by exsequor on Mar 31, 2009 7:13:50 GMT -5
I wouldn't worry Nick, I just read History and Fiction. The book I last finished was The Gargoyle, the one currently in the book charts and recommended by Richard and Judy.
Enjoyed it though.
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Post by Charlotte on Mar 31, 2009 7:21:22 GMT -5
I quite enjoyed the majority of the Harry Potter books, although I felt that the last couple saw Rowling vanish up her own arse quite comprehensively.
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Post by Wayne on Mar 31, 2009 10:49:41 GMT -5
Ed, Cliver Barker it is then! Cheers, mate.
I only read fiction, pretty much. Having a go at Nietzsche's 'Twilight of the Idols' too but I'm finding it to be heavy stuff.
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Post by Dan on Mar 31, 2009 11:06:54 GMT -5
Cheers for that Luke! Unless the film is full of debauchery and grimnity, then I'll stick with the book.
As a kid, I used to love Biggles! Haha. I bet if I read them back now, they'll be nothing but pro-English propaganda...
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Post by Charlotte on Mar 31, 2009 11:09:56 GMT -5
Biggles books are indeed very "what ho let's bash the darkies before afternoon tea eh" - but quite entertaining in their own way.
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Post by Dan on Mar 31, 2009 11:16:07 GMT -5
Biggles books are indeed very "what ho let's bash the darkies before afternoon tea eh" - but quite entertaining in their own way. ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Nickyboi on Mar 31, 2009 13:41:32 GMT -5
Reading Derrida is extremely difficult in my experience, even more so if you aren't familiar with Husserl. I have absolutely no knowledge of Husserl, and yes, it is exceptionally difficult. Although not as much so as Lacan, which requires pretty in-depth knowledge of Freud and others of his ilk. I can grasp the concepts, but I don't think I can claim to understand all of his reasoning.
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Post by Nickyboi on Mar 31, 2009 13:42:59 GMT -5
This thread is ace, it always impresses me that the people here are reading interesting and worthwhile stuff and that we're not the meatheads that the media thinks we are. Reanimator: moron-free since 2005.
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Post by DeathUK on Apr 1, 2009 5:43:29 GMT -5
Enemy of God is a great book. Early Shieldwall stuff was heavily influenced by The Winter King. I'm not a big fan of Bernard Cornwell overall but I do like his interpretation of the Arthur legends in that trilogy. The Arthur ones are great, but I also love the viking ones, have you not tried them? I thought they were ace.
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Post by ed on Apr 1, 2009 12:52:45 GMT -5
I wouldn't worry Nick, I just read History and Fiction. The book I last finished was The Gargoyle, the one currently in the book charts and recommended by Richard and Judy. Enjoyed it though. I work in a bookshop on Saturdays, and i'm often tempted by Richard and Judy sponsored books. That said, I'm not buying a copy of The Cellist of Sarajevo simply because they printed the R&J sticker onto the cover. Can't be doing with that nonsense. So yeah, they're not necessarily shit books. I save my scorn for people who are buying the Jade Goody books.
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Post by Evilluke on Apr 1, 2009 13:27:36 GMT -5
I love Biggles books, I still have a few. They're remarkably uncomplicated. Last year (I think) I was trying to pick up some more and a bookseller told me they were unlikely to come back into print because Biggles is often blasting ghastly foreigners to bits and generally being un-PC. I have a copy of 'Biggles and The Black Raider' in which he battles some stereotyped primitive Africans so point taken, its a shame though.
Clive Barker - I've never been able to get into this guy, what would you suggest Ed? I've read Nightbreed and hated it, pretty sure I've read something else of his too but the title escapes me.
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Post by ed on Apr 1, 2009 16:20:51 GMT -5
I haven't read Nightbreed, so I can't comment on it. But Weaveworld should offer a fair judgment. If you don't like that, then I guess that Barker isn't for you!
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