They go off in a huff! Or decide they don't like anything they've ever said and want it GONE. Yes, it's happened several times since I became a mod. It's commoner than you might think.
its also pointless because nothing is really gone and we mods can restore deleted posts, so all a thread trashing tantrum acheives is to get banned to no purpose anyhoo - lets go back on topic...
In addition to the Sci-fi novel, and the Bad Rom, I have been requested to read/rev Empress Theresa by Norman Boutin. If I get mind cancer/aids/syphilis, please do me the courtesy of doing me like they did Old Yeller.
Just picked up The Secret Commonwealth, Phillip Pullman's latest, from the library. There is something like a six month waiting list in my local "branch" so I went few miles down the road to one in an area of largely social housing. Seems like they are not Pullman fans there (c:
Finished Gilgamesh and Joan of Arc. Really good stories, though Gilgamesh was so short. Left me wanting more. So I brought Mythology: Timeless Tales Of Gods And Heroes by Edith Hamilton. It's not poetry, but I still have The Poetic Edda and Paradise Lost to fill those pains.
On to my last Shakespeare play of the month: As You Like It. Hoping this one finishes off my month well. I was not the biggest fan of Othello, so I pray I'm not disappointed here too. Time to finish the month strong here before I dive into historical and philosophical work next month.
The last book I read was Titus Alone and it was the worst reading experience of my life. The series is a masterwork save for that book. Now I'm starting Cold Hand in Mine by Aickman.
Interesting. I think Titus Alone, as I said in my previous post, might be the worst book I ever read. I despised it in every way. A lot of people agree with me that it should never have been published. It's an atrocity. Peake was ill when he wrote it. Titus Groan and Gormenghast, however, I consider to be top tier literature in every respect. Sublime.
Well, yes... As I progress, the book's deficiencies become increasingly apparent. Its ancestors are clearly far superior. I wouldn't say I despise it, not at all, though I realize it isn't what it could and should have been. I don't think it's fair to say it shouldn't have been published (unless of course it went against Peake's wishes, I really don't know the history of this thing). I certainly think it has its merits. I'm still working through it, so the final verdict will have to wait. As for Titus Awakes, I think I'll be skipping that one. Do you happen to have read Boy in Darkness, and if so, how is it? In other news, I'm making my way through Skagboys and I'm loving it. Irvine Welsh can write is what I'm saying. The language is thrilling, if a bit challenging to parse. Whatever it is, it isn't standard English. "Ah ken the junk gits bad press, but ah think it's barry. It's easy tae criticize something fae outside, but yuv goat tae experience eveything in life, ken?" Easy enough to understand, but you've got to stop and think a bit if you're not familiar with the parlance. Far from hampering my enjoyment of the book, it rather enhances it. It lends it charm and personality, and I love getting into new dialects and slang and whatnot. Certainly I'm learning some new words. As for the actual story so far, the thing that strikes me is that it feels very real. Relatable (if repugnant) characters, and everything so far has been very vivid and evocative. I'm still in the introductory stages, so if there is a plot it hasn't got rolling just yet.
I'll concede that the ending, whilst not great by any means, did have something going for it. It's just the nonsensical and underdeveloped characters that I dislike intensely. I think I'm so passionate about this since Gormenghast is one of my favourite works of fiction. Titus Alone feels like a mockery. Titus' pain in searching for his lost home, his regret, is exactly what I felt when reading the book. But that's not a good thing. If you're interested, I wrote a somewhat ranty but in-depth post on Reddit entitled 'Oh, Titus Alone...' on the CastleGormenghast sub, although it does have spoilers. People share their opinions liberally there, I think. I have yet to read Boy in Darkness but I want to; it's not available on Kindle though, my favoured reading platform. This is interesting, it looks like you're reading a book with Scottish dialect? I'm Scottish myself and use those words quite often. Ah dinnae ken wut yer on aboot. Ock, away ye go. Gies yin eh them. That sort of thing!
I might give it a look when I've finished the book. The way I view Titus Alone is like a preliminary sketch of a painting that never got finished. It would have been a really neat painting, but alas... I still find some enjoyment in it. I would, as a knee-jerk reaction, call it Scottish slang, yes. It's set in Scotland after all, so it stands to reason. It's very charming, and as a linguistics enthusiast it's interesting to see the parallels between this Scottish, if that is indeed what it is, and Norwegian; the words bairn and broon, at the top of my head, I know there were some other things.
I’m reading The Children of Blood and Bone, The Similars, and Fingersmith. The first and third are only ones I chose- my sister handed me the second when I came to visit and am expected to finish it before I leave. Not quite my cup of tea, but it’s interesting.
This topic reminds me of the upsetting fact that I started on Brian Jaques' Redwall almost a year ago and still haven't finished it. I should really get back to that.
I've decided to start on "Little Women" By Alcott as I've got an idea for a story centered on a group of sisters. For now the project is called "Sisters among thorns" and we'll see if I develop it further.
I am reading Bombs Away. The first book in the Hot War series by Harry Turtledove. It a great book and he is my favorite writer. I love Alternate history and he is the best.
Just finished Dan Wells The Devil's Only Friend (I love that series, and that book is no exception.) Trying out a new author next. Simon Morden, Down Station. As I am like 2 pages in I cannot give a good estimate on my thoughts so far.
A bit of philosophy and literary criticism this month. Start off with this week with Book X from Plato's The Republic and Ion. Also The Poetics from Aristotle.
I'm not reading anything right now. Got no energy for it but I hope to be able to pick it up again next year.
The Force, by Don Winslow. Supposedly one of the ten best crime novels of the decade. So far, a gripping read.
"And Be A Villain" by Rex Stout Spoiler This was his "Murder on the Orient Express." One of the best Noir Mystery has to offer. Spoiler Not to mention it's a personal favorite because Nero Wolfe butts heads with his Moriarty if in a very tangential way. Man murdered on a radio program by drinking a horrible soda-type beverage called Hi-Spot. -SIN
