empty mirror
remember the jackalope
Just started on Tevis' Mockingbird based on (mumble mumble's) recommendation. Only 18 pages in so far but my interest is fully piqued. My antennae are wriggling. (?)
what are you reading now?
What kind of thing are these then? Tell me more.
Hm, that's a bit tricky...Maybe...Cather was mostly concerned with life in the American hinterland, the frontiers, etc. in the first half of the 20th century. She had an incredible way with atmosphere, a way of giving her characters great depth without actually seeming to, and a lot of her books had a story within the story. The Professor's House is my favorite thus far, it's about a History Professor at a Midwestern University who is in the process of moving from the dilapidated house he's lived in with his family for years into a newer, posher house. Hardly the stuff of drama but really, it's so incredibly emotionally rich and sophisticated and often quite funny--she had a sharp eye and no time whatsoever for pretention. She's without a doubt one of our finest writers and her books have a way of lingering on and on and on.
Ok that was a totally crappy introduction to her but in a nutshell: she was fucking brilliant.
Oh, and Death Comes for the Archbishop is amazing.
Hm, that's a bit tricky...Maybe...Cather was mostly concerned with life in the American hinterland, the frontiers, etc. in the first half of the 20th century. She had an incredible way with atmosphere, a way of giving her characters great depth without actually seeming to, and a lot of her books had a story within the story. The Professor's House is my favorite thus far, it's about a History Professor at a Midwestern University who is in the process of moving from the dilapidated house he's lived in with his family for years into a newer, posher house. Hardly the stuff of drama but really, it's so incredibly emotionally rich and sophisticated and often quite funny--she had a sharp eye and no time whatsoever for pretention. She's without a doubt one of our finest writers and her books have a way of lingering on and on and on.
Ok that was a totally crappy introduction to her but in a nutshell: she was fucking brilliant.
Oh, and Death Comes for the Archbishop is amazing.
slim jenkins
El Hombre Invisible
I Am Legend - Richard Matheson...after hours in Foyles yesterday reluctantly went for this. I say reluctantly because I'm fickle and put off by covers that I hate and I hate this one, not wishing to pick up a 'film book' tie-in - but it is very good 38 pages in. The 'hero' is of English-German stock and has blue eyes...so Will Smith was an obvious choice then...:slanted:
slim jenkins
El Hombre Invisible
Perhaps he really white...just playing a man in black (skin)...sorry...I'll get me coat...
I love that book. Saw the Theatre du complicite put on a show based on it in London years ago. I cried like mad.
The same theater company introduced me to Daniil Kharms - more absurdist than Schulz, but also a favorite of mine now. If like you dark nonsense, he's pretty great - The Man In The Black Coat was the collection I had but I think there's a newer translation out that's meant to be better.
Mr. Tea
Let's Talk About Ceps
crackerjack
Well-known member
empty mirror
remember the jackalope
Glad you are enjoying it. I think when you get closer to the end, the Kafka-esque-ness may become more evident.
Engrossed in this Mockingbird book, thanks Polystyle Desu.
IdleRich
IdleRich
Just started reading Institute Benjamenta by Robert Walser - actually, I say just started but it's very short so I've almost finished it as well. I'm hoping that it will help me understand the film of the same name that bamboozled me a couple of years ago although to be honest so far there isn't that much of a resemblance, it seems as if the film was more of an "inspired by" than a literal adaptation.
I'm enjoying this thread. I mentioned to one of my friends (actually, more like a friend of a friend really) when I was reading that Street of Crocodiles thing and described it and she expressed an interest in it so I'm going to lend it to her - she won't know that ultimately (or maybe not ultimately but previously or something) her reading it is entirely down to some guy or girl I've never met (Empty Mirror) mentioning it on a message board.
Similarly I've invested in the Daniil Kharms book that Ripley recommended - just kind of following the links in this thread leads off in interesting semi-related directions.
I'm enjoying this thread. I mentioned to one of my friends (actually, more like a friend of a friend really) when I was reading that Street of Crocodiles thing and described it and she expressed an interest in it so I'm going to lend it to her - she won't know that ultimately (or maybe not ultimately but previously or something) her reading it is entirely down to some guy or girl I've never met (Empty Mirror) mentioning it on a message board.
Similarly I've invested in the Daniil Kharms book that Ripley recommended - just kind of following the links in this thread leads off in interesting semi-related directions.
im reading the magic mountain by thomas mann at the moment. im really, really enjoying it so far - only about 100 pages in though.
i still have so much catching up to do on classics, it will be forever before i am at the stage of recommending stuff to people that isnt already widely known as that, im sure.
i still have so much catching up to do on classics, it will be forever before i am at the stage of recommending stuff to people that isnt already widely known as that, im sure.
STN
sou'wester
It's a great book. There are some rather boring bits in which the author shows off his knowledge of bell-ringing or something but it's one of the few novels that I have bothered to read twice (ooh, look at me!).
IdleRich
IdleRich
I thought that this was the sort of book that you would be well up on. I've no problem with bell-ringing, when I was growing up some of my friends were into it (I lived in a very small and boring village) and I went up and watched them doing it sometimes - actually that was pretty boring now I come to think of it. One of them got a huge tattoo of a bell on his leg (and one of a cup of tea on the other).
