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Have you read "The Shining", yet, Cobester? That and "'Salem's Lot" are my favorite of the 'short' books I've read of his. (I've really only read a handful of King's stuff, though my wife has them all).
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Haven't read the Shining yet either! How does it hold up to the movie, Lardy? I heard its completely different, and famously, King hated the movie rendition by Kubrick. I do like the movie mainly because its Jack Nicholson at his crazy best before that became repetitive.
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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Yeah, it's very, very different! Some aspects of the movie were totally changed from the book, for better and for worse. I thought the book was about the creepiest thing I'd ever read, definitely unsettling if you read late at night all alone! Trust me, knowing the movie inside and out, won't spoil it for you at all!
-------------------- "Suck it, depressos!"--M. Lash
From: The Underbelly of Society | Registered: Jul 2003
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Just finished Les Miserables. Awesome piece of work. Hugo goes off on tangents at times, but well worth reading, especially if you like the musical.
From: New York, NY | Registered: Jul 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Virgin Lad: No one has an opinion on Slaughterhouse 5 for me and Cobalt?
I liked "Slaughterhouse 5" as all over the place as it was. From what I remember, it's not big on plot or resolution, but an interesting read with ideas that you find yourself the better for having in your head. In terms of Vonnegut, I'd also recommend "Cat's Cradle" - more plot-centric and again, very cool ideas.
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: So since I was traveling this week I took along Kerouac's "On the Road", which I bought a few months ago (as readers of this thread may recall). I was initially hesitant that I might not enjoy it as much as if I read during my teens.
I read "On the Road" as an adult and found it meandering. My wife was big into it as a younger person, not for the angst, but for the "freedom" of the characters' lifestyle. As an adult, and having met people like that, she feels the characters are just kinda losers and totally irresponsible.
From: New York, NY | Registered: Jul 2003
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Currently reading "The Third Policeman" by Flann O'Brien.
I picked it up after seeing it featured in "Lost" and I'm quite glad I did. It reminds me a good deal of Samuel Beckett's "Molloy" in its absurdist logic... but I'm a sucker for that sort of thing.
-------------------- See Here for the latest update on the 2013 Chicago Gathering (now including tentative attendance list)
Registered: Feb 2008
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I read "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Wilde, as well as "A Woman of No Importance" and "Lady Windermere's Fan" (I was on a Wilde short-story/play kick). All were excellent, typical examples of Wilde's incredible wit. And they were all fun too! That's the best part about it. Wilde never once loses his sense of fun and using literary techniques to make his stories even more so.
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Virgin Lad: No one has an opinion on Slaughterhouse 5 for me and Cobalt?
I liked "Slaughterhouse 5" as all over the place as it was. From what I remember, it's not big on plot or resolution, but an interesting read with ideas that you find yourself the better for having in your head. In terms of Vonnegut, I'd also recommend "Cat's Cradle" - more plot-centric and again, very cool ideas.
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: So since I was traveling this week I took along Kerouac's "On the Road", which I bought a few months ago (as readers of this thread may recall). I was initially hesitant that I might not enjoy it as much as if I read during my teens.
I read "On the Road" as an adult and found it meandering. My wife was big into it as a younger person, not for the angst, but for the "freedom" of the characters' lifestyle. As an adult, and having met people like that, she feels the characters are just kinda losers and totally irresponsible.
Jillikers! I didn't realize you were married by now Drake! (I knew you were engaged). Congrats buddy!
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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Actually, on Saturday! (Two days from now). Part of what reminded me to check this thread was when I was going shopping for books to read on the honeymoon, in between, well, you know...
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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Just started, "The Time Traveler's Wife," last night, in prep for the release of the film this winter. Wow. For her debut novel, Audrey Niffenegger has a very engaging prose style. I'm twenty pages in, and already engrossed. I'm really looking forward to getting into this one.
-------------------- See Here for the latest update on the 2013 Chicago Gathering (now including tentative attendance list)
Registered: Feb 2008
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quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: PS - Ultra Jorge, you are needed! What other books from the "High School rereading list" would you reccomend to me? I'm kinda looking for another enjoyable surprise like Great Gatsby.
PPS - How was Voltaire's Candide?
Voltaire's Candide was great. I have problems with many of those older workers keeping my interest. This one did. Voltaire manages to make it funny, witty, interesting and you certainly get the harsh criticism that makes you think as well. Good stuff.
Currently STILL reading Tale of Two Cities. Man the first two books were a bit painful. Finally getting into it.
I took a break from it and read Suite Francais which I I liked but not sure if I recommend. If you want to learn more about France during the Nazi occupation it's great. It has some good parts but it bordered on what I call a chick book/lifetime reading.
From: Tampa | Registered: Mar 2004
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An article in the back of a recent issue of Ed Brubakers "Criminal" led me to a paperback imprint called Hard Case Crime. Everything they publish is pulpy, noirish crime fiction, each book a light 200-page or so read. They alternate publishing older materal from the genre's heyday in the 50s and 60s with brand new material written for the imprint. So you'll get some Mickey Spillane, some Max Allen Collins (known for Ms. Tree in comics) mixed with some guys you've never heard of. The covers are all painted and feature an appropriate pulpy image, generally highlighted by a mysterious, sultry woman.
(Stephen King fans might be interested to know that HCC scored a major coup by getting him to write one. It's called "The Colorado Kid".)
Since I enjoy Brubaker's stuff and things like Sin City, I bought a couple of lots of HCC on eBay for a total of 8 books for about $14 including shipping. The lot includes King's entry.
So far, I've read two of the eight: "Fade to Blonde" by Max Phillips and "Little Girl Lost" by Richard Aleas. Both did what a book of this genre should doby providing engaging first-person dialogue from the protagonist, nice twists, engaging mysteries, seedy underbelly characters, moral ambiguity and mysterious women. Here are their covers:
Of the two, I definitely recommend "Little Girl Lost" the most. While I figured out the twist earlier than the one in the other book, the ride getting to it was really enjoyable. The lead is a young P.I., John Blake, whose high school sweetheart is found murdered on the roof of a strip club. The process in which we learned what happened to the girl in the ten years since they stopped dating leading to the murder is really engaging. The stripper who helps John break the case is particularly interesting and written as smart and resourseful without resorting to any cliches. It really left me wanting to read more about those characters.
Oh, neither book has had any really explicit sexual content (i.e. no really graphic X-rated descriptions), but do expect a liberal amount of the f-word and what-not in the realm of colorful expletives!
I'm hooked! I think I'm going to join their book club, so I can get a monthly fix!
-------------------- "Suck it, depressos!"--M. Lash
From: The Underbelly of Society | Registered: Jul 2003
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Since last I checked in on this thread I've read:
The Quick Red Fox A short but sharp story from John MacDonald about his main character Travis McGee. Didn't draw me in like his other McGee stories, and even though the plot is some what quaint by today's standards (it was written in the 1960s), you can't go wrong with MacDonald. Great characters, dialogue, plots, and consequences.
Silent Prey by John Sandford I've read four or five of the Prey series and the first one in the series was top notch stuff. I read this one out of sequence so it was kinda spoiled for me. Still not a bad read though, it didn't measure up to the others in the series.
Ghostwalker by Erik Scott di Bie A stand alone Forgotten Realms novel in the "Fighters" series. Decent enough fantasy tale with enough twists to put it above standard fantasy tales.
Legacy of the Force: Invincible by Troy Denning A rather terse novel for the epic LotF storyline. Since I read the first eight in the series I guess I was "in for a pound" as the metaphor goes that is. Kinda felt like the page quota was met and the story had to be ended. Definitely left wanting at the end of this one and not in the good way.
Broke down and picked up Mr. Monk and the Two Assistants by Lee Goldberg I had a gift certificate to use and since I enjoy the TV series I figured what the heck. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I giggled most of the way through it and even though the killer is easy to figure out, a nice twist is supplied that takes the book in a totally unexpected direction. I highly recommend this book, but only for those that are already Monk fans.
Also read A Clash of Kings by George rr Martin Second in an epically detailed fantasy series that is just tough to put down.
And I read Slay and Rescue by John Moore Another really enjoyable read. Best tongue in cheek author that I've read.
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