The Book thread...

mrj · Post by **mrj** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:01 pm

flippo wrote: The Curious insciedent of the dog in the night time. I bought this by accident it was another book by mistake (still can't find the original book! If anyone knows of a book set in tasmania, loosley centered around a dog that has run away, with a confusing timeline and writing style please let me know!). Anyway it's writen froim the perspective of a young boy with Autism and it's kinda interesting from that point. Would make a good school book instead of the fucking crap they got us to read.

I read that. Was pretty good huh.

Post by **system** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:09 pm

flippo wrote:Anyone read the sequels of 2001? recomend them?

sure do - 2010 and 3001 were both good. can't really remember 2061 that well.

flippo wrote:Or any other Sci-Fi'sh books that are well and truley out there and head-fucky please recomend to me

any greg egan, philip k dick or larry niven book is worth a read, given that criteria.

Post by **system** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:10 pm

re read 'the compleet molesworth' again recently.

ah brilaint book, as any fule may kno.

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:20 pm

system, have you read philip k dick's portrait of dorian grey?

i got told to read it, have read a dorain tale by will self (did not like)

but im a big k dick fan so might try it!

C.I.A. · Post by **C.I.A.** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:25 pm

read Wicked. Was pretty good.

Brain · Post by **Brain** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:31 pm

ghetto kitty wrote:system, have you read philip k dick's portrait of dorian grey?

i got told to read it, have read a dorain tale by will self (did not like)

but im a big k dick fan so might try it!

?????????????

I have read all of dick's books but have never heard of 'portrait of dorian grey'. More info kitty

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:33 pm

same here brain...
wierd huh?

you know the old story of dorain grey, gets painted in a portrait, but as he ages, the portrait ages with him etc etc, so its the idea of humanity and wearing your life on the outside etcetc??

ill go back to guy who rec'd it and seek more info...

Post by **system** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:46 pm

ghetto kitty wrote:system, have you read philip k dick's portrait of dorian grey?

i got told to read it, have read a dorain tale by will self (did not like)

but im a big k dick fan so might try it!

do you mean the will self relick of oscar wilde's original 'picture of dorian grey'? never heard of the pdk version.

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:48 pm

yes and yes....

methinks ive been given a dodgy tip off!

witty_pseudonym · Post by **witty_pseudonym** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:21 am

marching powder - not bad. terribly written, but i suppose it wasn't meant to be a feat of literary genius. very quick read, and many

moments. also a few

moments. i'm trying to get my bro to go there when he goes to bolivia later this year, but apparently they've cracked down (no pun intended) heaps on tourists. 6.5/10

currently on:

Inhaling the Mahatma, by Christopher Kremmer. Awesome. I'm such a fiend for a book about India.

Really well written, evocative, great mix of personal narrative and political/historical commentary. loving it. might have to read The Carpet Wars.

Midnight's Children, by Salman Rushdie. Holy...complicated! Chops around, so many characters, amazingly written as always, but one i'm going to have to stick with and dedicate more time to I think. He's a fucking master with words though.

man it's nice being able to read whatever I want!!

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:29 am

witty_pseudonym wrote:marching powder - not bad. terribly written, but i suppose it wasn't meant to be a feat of literary genius. very quick read, and many moments. also a few moments. i'm trying to get my bro to go there when he goes to bolivia later this year, but apparently they've cracked down (no pun intended) heaps on tourists. 6.5/10

This morning was one of those moments where I wish the train just kept on going... getting into this book, even if only 30-40 pages in.

Haven't noticed the writing being that terrible. It's by no means outstanding, but as you alluded to, it seems to be an easy read. Scary sounding "justice" system all the same, I.e. user pays.

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:00 pm

Reading Snuff by Chuck Powloski on PT and Porno by that Wlesh guy who wrote trainspsotting of which Porno is the follow up.

Post by **system** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 3:33 pm

Blaxter wrote:Reading Snuff by Chuck Powloski on PT and Porno by that Wlesh guy who wrote trainspsotting of which Porno is the follow up.

both good, 'porno' i found to be the better. great ending for 'snuff' though!

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 3:36 pm

Both dodgy looking for train reading though.

Andrez · Post by **Andrez** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 4:03 pm

C.I.A. wrote:read Wicked. Was pretty good.

Ha Ha - reading that one right now, too!

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:09 am

Direktor wrote:
witty_pseudonym wrote:marching powder - not bad. terribly written, but i suppose it wasn't meant to be a feat of literary genius. very quick read, and many moments. also a few moments. i'm trying to get my bro to go there when he goes to bolivia later this year, but apparently they've cracked down (no pun intended) heaps on tourists. 6.5/10
This morning was one of those moments where I wish the train just kept on going... getting into this book, even if only 30-40 pages in.

Haven't noticed the writing being that terrible. It's by no means outstanding, but as you alluded to, it seems to be an easy read. Scary sounding "justice" system all the same, I.e. user pays.

LOVED this book. Highly recommend.

gnat · Post by **gnat** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:56 am

mum found me a 1966 copy of sylvia plath's the bell jar at a market in the mountains

the first year the book was published under her name and not her pseudonym

pretty chuffed

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:04 pm

ohh thats a score gnatty!

i was a wee bit obsessed with her when i was a young angsty poet

(now im just an old jaded one

)

gnat · Post by **gnat** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:06 pm

lol gk-i went to uni with her niece!

i collect old books. got some mad classics

C.I.A. · Post by **C.I.A.** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:11 pm

gnat wrote:mum found me a 1966 copy of sylvia plath's the bell jar at a market in the mountains

the first year the book was published under her name and not her pseudonym

pretty chuffed

Nais! That reminds me... I have to get my copy of the bell jar off my brother. Got my copy at a market too!

She is amazing.

I love her poetry and I hate poetry.

elysium · Post by **elysium** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:16 pm

Spot and The Balloon.

I really like this book. Explores the relationship between a dog and a red balloon. An insightful, sensitive narrative that touches on issues of infatuation and then loss, as **spoiler alert** Spot's obsessive fixation on the balloon ends tragically when he smothers it with his love.

3 stars

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:29 am

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:40 am

I lol'd Ely - farkhen funny

mrj · Post by **mrj** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:22 pm

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss, 61 pages. Beginner Books, $3.95

The Cat in the Hat is a hard-hitting novel of prose and poetry in which
the author re-examines the dynamic rhyming schemes and bold imagery of
some of his earlier works, most notably Green Eggs and Ham, If I Ran the
Zoo, and Why Can't I Shower With Mommy? In this novel, Theodore Geisel,
writing under the pseudonym Dr. Seuss, pays homage to the great Dr.
Sigmund Freud in a nightmarish fantasy of a renegade feline helping two
young children understand their own frustrated sexuality.

The story opens with two youngsters, a brother and a sister, abandoned
by their mother, staring mournfully through the window of their
single-family dwelling. In the foreground, a large tree/phallic symbol
dances wildly in the wind, taunting the children and encouraging them to
succumb to the sexual yearnings they undoubtedly feel for each other.
Even to the most unlearned reader, the blatant references to the
incestuous relationship the two share set the tone for Seuss's probing
examination of the satisfaction of primitive needs. The Cat proceeds to
charm the wary youths into engaging in what he so innocently refers to
as "tricks." At this point, the fish, an obvious Christ figure who
represents the prevailing Christian morality, attempts to warn the
children, and thus, in effect, warns all of humanity of the dangers
associated with the unleashing of the primal urges. In response to this,
the cat proceeds to balance the aquatic naysayer on the end of his
umbrella, essentially saying, "Down with morality; down with God!"

After poohpoohing the righteous rantings of the waterlogged Christ
figure, the Cat begins to juggle several icons of Western culture, most
notably two books, representing the Old and New Testaments, and a saucer
of lactal fluid, an ironic reference to maternal loss the two children
experienced when their mother abandoned them "for the afternoon." Our
heroic Id adds to this bold gesture a rake and a toy man, and thus
completes the Oedipal triangle.

Later in the novel, Seuss introduces the proverbial Pandora's box, a
large red crate out of which the Id releases Thing One, or Freud's
concept of Ego, the division of the psyche that serves as the conscious
mediator between the person and reality, and Thing Two, the Superego
which functions to reward and punish through a system of moral
attitudes, conscience, and guilt. Referring to this box, the Cat says,
"Now look at this trick. Take a look!" In this, Dr. Seuss uses the
children as a brilliant metaphor for the reader, and asks the reader to
re-examine his own inner self.

The children, unable to control the Id, Ego, and Superego allow these
creatures to run free and mess up the house, or more symbolically,
control their lives. This rampage continues until the fish, or Christ
symbol, warns that the mother is returning to reinstate the Oedipal
triangle that existed before her abandonment of the children. At this
point, Seuss introduces a many-armed cleaning device which represents
the psychoanalytic couch, which proceeds to put the two youngsters'
lives back in order.

With powerful simplicity, clarity, and drama, Seuss reduces Freud's
concepts on the dynamics of the human psyche to an easily understood
gesture. Mr. Seuss' poetry and choice of words is equally impressive and
serves as a splendid counterpart to his bold symbolism. In all, his
writing style is quick and fluid, making _The Cat in the Hat_ impossible
to put down. While this novel is 61 pages in length, and one can read it
in five minutes or less, it is not until after multiple readings that
the genius of this modern day master becomes apparent.

retzie · Post by **retzie** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:41 pm

witty_pseudonym wrote:Midnight's Children, by Salman Rushdie. Holy...complicated! Chops around, so many characters, amazingly written as always, but one i'm going to have to stick with and dedicate more time to I think. He's a fucking master with words though.

One of my favourite books ever, ever, ever

. Must read again.

Mind you, I'm a bit shitty with ol' Rushdie at the moment. Started reading The Enchantress of Florence (his latest) and while it's beautifully, often hilariously, written, it's got the distinct whiff of self-aggrandizing cock-strokery (his other trademark). Same reason Fury is rubbish tbh. Dunno whether to drag on through it or abandon all hope

system wrote:
Blaxter wrote:Reading Snuff by Chuck Powloski on PT and Porno by that Wlesh guy who wrote trainspsotting of which Porno is the follow up.
both good, 'porno' i found to be the better. great ending for 'snuff' though!

Glue FTW!

elysium · Post by **elysium** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:23 pm

mrj

brilliance!

Hardy · Post by **Hardy** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:27 pm

Blaxter wrote:Reading Snuff by Chuck Powloski

Was a bit disappointed by that book. But it's a quick read so it didn't hurt so bad.

Andrez · Post by **Andrez** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:51 pm

mrj wrote:The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss, 61 pages. Beginner Books, $3.95

Ha Ha Ha - nice synopsis!!

I love The Cat in the Hat - but even better, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. That's so whacked-out.

gnat · Post by **gnat** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:50 am

my life amongst the serial killers by helen morrison, forensic psych and criminal profiler

brilliant interesting read, better than john douglas. chapters on gacy are fascinating and chilling

can't.stop.reading

mrj · Post by **mrj** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:56 am

elysium wrote: mrj

brilliance!

lol, wish I could claim that as my own, alas not the case, just something I stumbled across one day, not sure who wrote it tho.

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:03 pm

Thanks to good buddy OB1... reading 'Tales of Ordinary Madness' by Charles Bukowski at present.

Anyone else given Bukowski a go before?

I like his style. This book is a collection of short stories, but I'll be hunting down some more of his work in the future.

Kind of reminds me of an older Hunter S. Thompson. Well written, interestingly crazy stories but with little regard for traditional grammar.

Brain · Post by **Brain** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:33 pm

Bukowski - 'Ham on Rye' and 'Post Office' are my favorites. Both great autobiographical works.

'Tales of Ordinary Madness' was made into a movie in the early eighties and was pretty good. Also check out the movie 'Barfly' if you haven't already seen it - Mickey Rourke does a good Bukowski impersonation.

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:40 pm

Sweet, cheers Brain.

How was 'Tales of Ordinary Madness' made into a film? Was it lots of short films?

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:42 pm

Direktor wrote:Thanks to good buddy OB1... reading 'Tales of Ordinary Madness' by Charles Bukowski at present.

Anyone else given Bukowski a go before?

I like his style. This book is a collection of short stories, but I'll be hunting down some more of his work in the future.

Kind of reminds me of an older Hunter S. Thompson. Well written, interestingly crazy stories but with little regard for traditional grammar.

Bukowski is the king of literature.
Check out the movie thatr was released a few years ago. Classic stuff.
The man lived for booze, words and women.
Me mellowed a little in his old age but kept his wits all along.

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:47 pm

bukowski is an alcoholic womanising cunt but i love him. always have.

tales of ordinary madness always the intro book, i spent a day on acid once reading the entire copy of
'man bites dog' i think it was called aloud to a room full of trippers, then pausing for discussion. fun.

recent reads of mine

'I talk pretty one day' by david sedaris
I fucking love this guy. he makes daggy so cool, must read more. highly recommend for all the witty/cynical types here. (you know who you are

)

also
"the boat' by Nam Le.
this is fucking GREAT. short stories too, but so varied. highly recommend.

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:50 pm

Cool, have added 'Barfly' to my Bigpond list - cheers.

'Man Bites Dog' wasn't Bukowski was it? I thought that was a foreign language film, although I've only seen the movie - crazy!

I shall investigate...

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:02 pm

it was dog/man/god something...

three words...

um.

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:59 pm

Factorum by CB is one of the bestest books ever.

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:15 pm

Factorum eh?

Shall check... hopefully my library has some stock.

Noticed that one of his major influences is Hemingway. Always been interested in Hemingway, but have never sated the interest with any of his work... what's the word?

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:21 pm

Factorum is for anyone who has ever worked a shitty meaningless job.

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:24 pm

:handsup:

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:26 pm

No offence intended, but thats wy I recomended it. We have all probably done our fair share of temporary careers.

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:28 pm

No offence taken.

You've lived a pretty sheltered life if you've never done a dead end, dead head job IMO...

Post by **system** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:46 pm

Direktor wrote:Factorum eh?

Shall check... hopefully my library has some stock.

Noticed that one of his major influences is Hemingway. Always been interested in Hemingway, but have never sated the interest with any of his work... what's the word?

try one of his books/poems and see what you think.

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:55 pm

Yeah, will do... was just interested in people's thoughts.

Brain · Post by **Brain** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:39 pm

Direktor wrote:Sweet, cheers Brain.

How was 'Tales of Ordinary Madness' made into a film? Was it lots of short films?

The film uses a couple of short stories from the book and strings them together.

youthful_implants · Post by **youthful_implants** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:39 pm

I'm reading Burning Bright which is a new novel byTracey Chevalier who I am a massive fan of. She wrote 'Girl with a Pearl Earing' which was made into a pretty medicore fillm but her historical fiction is massively vivid and visual - highly recommended.

Post by **system** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:01 pm

finishing neal stephenson's "anathem" atm.

Post by **huge** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:37 pm

read a couple more. Gold by Dan Rhodes. not too bad. he's a good writer for sure.

and The Boat by Nam Le. fucking amazing book. unbelievably good.

apophenian · Post by **apophenian** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:19 pm

system wrote:finishing neal stephenson's "anathem" atm.

Yeah just started it - did you like it?