what are you reading now?

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wg-

Well-known member
Been reading Ballard "Cocaine Nights" over Xmas after finding out in was set in Costa del Sol. It's interesting reading his attempt at a noir- at least that's what it seems like so far to me- though I think the distain for the region is a bit misguided

Gibraltar as the mythical world full of crooks as opposed to it actually being the Costa itself is an interesting/misguided perspective

Still on the lookout for more southern coast crime stuff, none of it quite hits though
 
C

catalog

Well-known member
Yeah might not be quite what yr after but he's bit earlier gen than ballard and similar kind of story in that he rejected his aristocratic roots.

Iain sinclair refs him a lot, as one of the great London writers.

And he put him in a film.



He has a good look. Not many can pull off beret (paging @woops)

niONMmp.jpg
 
W

wg-

Well-known member
I have just been trying to read more esoteric crime novels recently, for want of a better term. By Southern coast I mean Costa del sol really but there doesn't seem to be as much of it around as you'd think given what it's like

"Arthouse Sexy Beast"

Not necessarily enthralled by the background of Ballard as interesting as it is, but this lad seems like he had a mad life, I will give him a go
 
Corpsey

Corpsey

bandz ahoy
It's interesting reading multiple books at once, you can't help but start making connections between them all.

Also, I took up 'David Copperfield' again last night and I felt like I had a bit of an insight into how the original audience would have read it—a chapter a week, or whatever it was. Cos I couldn't really remember what I'd just read and you notice that Dickens reminds you in certain ways. I wonder if some people would have read 'DC' from chapter 32 onwards or something, like people take up soap operas at episode 456 nowadays.

Still reading: The Two Towers, David Copperfield, The Pike
 
jenks

jenks

thread death
wg- said:
I have just been trying to read more esoteric crime novels recently, for want of a better term. By Southern coast I mean Costa del sol really but there doesn't seem to be as much of it around as you'd think given what it's like

"Arthouse Sexy Beast"

Not necessarily enthralled by the background of Ballard as interesting as it is, but this lad seems like he had a mad life, I will give him a go
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You might enjoy Izzo https://www.europaeditions.com/news...y-be-the-most-lyrical-hard-boiled-writing-yet
 
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jenks

jenks

thread death
Corpsey said:
It's interesting reading multiple books at once, you can't help but start making connections between them all.

Also, I took up 'David Copperfield' again last night and I felt like I had a bit of an insight into how the original audience would have read it—a chapter a week, or whatever it was. Cos I couldn't really remember what I'd just read and you notice that Dickens reminds you in certain ways. I wonder if some people would have read 'DC' from chapter 32 onwards or something, like people take up soap operas at episode 456 nowadays.

Still reading: The Two Towers, David Copperfield, The Pike
Click to expand...
Yep I think it’s the mark of a good writer to give you a few gentle reminders about who characters are etc - especially in a big book.
 
Corpsey

Corpsey

bandz ahoy
This should go in the dickens thread I suppose but steerforth is a great (or at least intriguing) character. All charm and buoyancy but already hints that behind it all lie a miserable self -loathing. Like with @luka 😃

Unfortunately I've seen the film so I already know what happens. (Of course, you realise very quickly how much they have to take out of any film or TV adaptation.)
 
O

okzharp

Well-known member
I started Perdido Street Station last night, it's pretty tasty... the interior walls of this building are described as "lachrymose", love that, all the Mervyn Peake comparisons starting to make sense
 
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