Well, I've at least heard the Scorpions song based on it! (Probably not based on it actually, but it is called Gorky Park. Or maybe it's Winds of Change, but they do mention Gorky Park).
Currently reading The Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamen by Howard Carter. It’s written by the guy who discovered Tutankhamen’s tomb. The tomb wasn’t discovered until 1922. This is a long time considering he might have been buried circ. 1323 BC and would have eluded many excavations, archaeologists and robbers for thousands of years before he was eventually found. Many of the other tombs had already been discovered by this time and plundered by robbers so that there wasn’t any treasure left to find by the 1900’s. Although the pharaohs did their best to elude the robbers over time, with false passages and booby traps, many tombs had already been found and plundered by this time, their goods stolen and sold and in some cases the sarcophagus too. Stealing treasure from the pyramids of Egypt and disrupting the tombs of the kings and queens buried there is illegal in Egypt but this was done anyway across 100s of years. So when Howard Carter discovers the tomb of Tutankhamen relatively untouched and unnoticed until 1922, this was a huge deal. The treasure was still in tact, the sarcophagus too. He also says that there was entry to the tomb in the early days of Tutankhamen’s burial, however the tomb managed to escape the plundering of the tombs that came 100s of years afterwards, so this king was rather lucky! Howard Carter describes what a big deal this was, how the tomb wasn’t buried in no obvious location , goes into detail how the tomb was found, the treasures that were found, photos of the entrance and condition that the tomb was in, how they excavated the treasure and what they decided to do with it. Put it into museums in London, Paris and NY. Then they had to release an article in the Times to dispel rumours regarding what was being done with the treasure. Also he was discovered beneath the hut of a common servant in a obscure point of the Valley of the Kings. It’s only by chance he would have ever been discovered at all. Then he describes what the archaeologists did with the objects to preserve them. And there are pictures too. Interesting work of not non-fiction if anyone wants a read.
I finally got around to reading War of the Worlds this past weekend. Very engaging book. I've seen 3 direct adaptations, and one indirect (Battle of Los Angeles). My favorite is still the 1953 version with Battle of LA close behind. Both capture the apparent hopelessness that features so strongly in the book.
just finished reading Part II of The Wishing Pool and all I can say is : GIF LINK (since the media thingy isnt working, apparently)
Have you e Have you ever read a book and cast it in your head as you did? When I read Gorky Park I did come up with Dennehy in that role. The cast wasn't bad at all. I thought it was OK, but could see that had I not read the book I would have been totally confused during the flick.
Listening to the radio a few weeks ago and the regular history show came on, presented by one of those types that cause listeners to realise they are keenly interested in some subject they'd never known much about prior to the show. Presenter had a few guests to discuss Katherine Mansfield, an author from New Zealand who, they argued, was hugely influential in the development of the modern short story, writing in early 20th Century and, they argued, should be discussed in the same hushed tones as Joyce as innovator. To my shame, I'd never heard of her before but one to look out for. This year is the centenary of her death. A few days later, glancing through used books in charity shop, there's In A German Pension, her first collection written in 1911. I've read the first few "stories" and it's hard to believe they were written over 100 years ago, very modern in tone, nuance and subtle humour. So far so recommended.
Five books in to a twelve book series by Vince Milam about his hero Case Lee, a retired Delta force operator who accepts private detective-type assignments that always turn into situations requiring his former skills. Pretty good action fare if you like the genre, but the most interesting thing to me is that (so far) each book has been better-written than the last, at least by my standards, in ways that suggest he reads and considers the Amazon reviews he receives, especially the less-than-5-star ones. One place where he stands out is that each book is a stand-alone and he does a great job of filling in new readers without dragging old readers through all the same details they already know. Bonus: all 12 are available on Kindle Unlimited. ETA: I think someone here recommended this series already, but I can't find the post.
I just finished "The greatest beer run ever." By John "chic" Donahue. Like many epic bad ideas it starts in a bar. A group of locals decide they are going to show support for their friends fighting in Vietnam by delivering a beer to them. From there it gets crazy as one man tries to track down his friends fighting in the war. A really fun read, and oddly enough I know a few people crazy enough to try something like this.
I have. When I was in Junior High we had do to a book report and turn it into a movie poster with a cast and everything. I did Sphere by Michael Crichton and picked two of the 4 stars correctly before they made it into a movie years later. I think it was Sharon Stone and Samuel L Jackson I got right but can't remember.
Technically not reading. But I read a page or two of Spare by Prince Harry to find out what dirt he’s about to dish about the royal family. Book is a number 1 seller under non-fiction.
I've decided to read some thrillers, because I'm pretty sure the novel I'm ready to query is a thriller, but it's also borderline horror? I thought a few thrillers would help me know how to pitch it better and maybe even give me a new comp title or two. I started with Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney. It was a good book, four star, but the tension and "thriller" elements were tame, I thought. Does anyone have any suggestions on domestic type thrillers that involve genuine peril? I'm looking for edge-of-your-seat thrills here. Any ideas?
You might want to check out The Woman Who Lost Her Soul by Bob Shacochis. It's kind of a longer book, but there were definitely points where I felt on the edge of my seat. And it is so well written that it's pretty easy to get through. It was a pleasure to read. Actually, one of the best novels I have ever read. It's up there at least. I think I read it in a week.
I think Se7en is considered a horror/thriller, isn't it? I mean, it's a movie, and apparently not based on a book, but still it's got a story. I believe both Alien and Jaws are also considered thrillers, because in each case the person trying to 'solve the crime' or figure out how to stop what's happening, is also a victim being chased, or is trying to save potential victims before it's too late. By which definition the first two Terminator movies are also thrillers. Time After Time, which I just talked about on the Movies (x3) thread recently, is also a thriller. And several of these also qualify as slashers.
I enjoyed The Girl in 6E. Though during most of the book they implement her job (cam girl) and mental health (she's concerned about murdering people) as the thrill, more than mortal peril.
Hello All, I have just finished reading Kafka's Metamorphosis. I enjoyed the story. One line that sticks out to me which i really don't understand and hoping someone more intelligent than me can explain. After Gregor Dies and the family are talking about being free. The house servant says something along the lines of "Don't worry about the creature in there, its been taken care of". Anyone have any insight as to what this means?
I think it means that Gregor's body had been disposed of. There won't be a funeral. The servant saw a butcher boy come up the stairs right before that, and then the family wandered away for a stroll or something, and I always assumed she paid the kid to chop up the body and throw it out with the animal carcasses. That's how I read it. They didn't consider Gregor worth mourning, not really. He was just a mess that had to be cleaned up.
Ahh ok the butcher boy makes sense. I didn't know if she stole the corpse and sold it to a circus. I know that sounds a bit odd and is in no way mentioned. But I know in those times oddities were sold to circuses. but your explanation makes more sense. Interestingly whilst trying to research what it could of meant, I came across so much dissection of this story and supposed underlying meaning, I found it funny. And got me thinking when it comes to classics do people go over the top in trying to find meaning i.e the apple, the violin, the fur picture etc.
Burnt by Kevin severson and Tyler Ackerman. The book felt like it was just act 1 of a story, and it was mainly backstory. While they were setting up what could be good, there needs to be more to a novel, than that. 2.5 out of 5, as the concept was interesting but the structuring was unsatisfying.
Yeah, I always thought they should have sold him to a museum. He's got to be worth a lot. That would be a horrific ending too, people come by and look at the remains of Gregor and shudder. Maybe most don't even think he's real . . . It is funny when people overanalyze the story though, I agree. There is no way on this earth that every single detail is a metaphor. People like doing that with Kubrick too, and though the double-meanings are definitely there, they're not everywhere. Sometimes it's just the setting and characters being made real.
Thrillers are almost always combined: like murder/mystery thrillers like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, techno/spy thrillers like the classic James Bond series or Tom Clancy's stuff, sci fi/monster thrillers like Alien or It Came From Outer Space (shortened to just It in remakes), etc. So what kind of thriller are you looking for and/or media?
The old fantasy anthology of Thieves World edited by Robert Lynn Asprin was a potluck of genre short stories, all in a fantasy setting. If you an find any of the anthologies in the series they are worth a read.
