Books 2nd Edition, Foreword by m0r1arty Options

[maian]

Persepolis: A Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi

An absolutely spellbinding account of Sartrapi's life as a young girl growing up in Iran during the cultural revolution, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and the Iran-Iraq War told through the medium of the graphic novel. Sartrapi's simple visual style helps to undercut the harsh reality of her story and makes the experience easily understandable even for readers who have no prior knowledge of the period.

Wonderful.

This post has been edited by maian: Mar 29 2008, 10:29 AM

[Starscream`s Gho...]

I managed to pick up a copy of World War Z for £1.70 - before I read it, any good?

[Sostie]

I managed to pick up a copy of World War Z for £1.70 - before I read it, any good?

It's marvellous. You'll hate it

[Atara]

Over two days I ploughed through Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, and what a marvellously bloody (or bloodless) romp it was. I liked the fact that it was much leaner than the TV series, focusing more on Dexter's search for the Tamiami Killer than on his relationship with his foster father and only occasionally taking a detour allowing for Dexter to kill other serial killers. I understand that the TV series had to pad out the basic story somewhat, but a lot of the stuff that irks me about it were handled much better in the novel. Great stuff.

I bought this on Saturday and devoured it in a matter of hours on the bus to and from work on Monday. I loved it, and will be buying the others very soon.

I also love the TV series, I fancy Dexter... it is all wrong.


Also; World War Z is great, I picked it up in Waterstones and at the till discovered it is a signed copy, which was an extra bonus.

This post has been edited by Atara: Apr 3 2008, 09:42 PM

[maian]

I also love the TV series, I fancy Dexter... it is all wrong.

It's really grown on me but there are moments that test my patience. Mainly the flashbacks, many of which kind of feel like padding. I still find it hugely enjoyable, though, and I can't wait to see what they do with Season 2 when they move away from the books.

[Sostie]

It's really grown on me but there are moments that test my patience. Mainly the flashbacks, many of which kind of feel like padding. I still find it hugely enjoyable, though, and I can't wait to see what they do with Season 2 when they move away from the books.

From what I have heard, getting away from the later books is a good thing.

[mcraigclark]

I managed to pick up a copy of World War Z for £1.70 - before I read it, any good?

Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes.

[thirtyhelens]

^ What he said, squared.

[Starscream`s Gho...]

Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes.

Ok, I'm not sure I get what you mean - is that a yes?

[Zoe]

I don't think I've mentioned Tokyo by Mo Hayder, which I read a few weeks ago.

I'd highly recommend it. More than a thriller it's a fantastically written novel, with wonderfully evocative prose, fascinating characters and compelling pacing.

It's about a young English girl, who's led an incredibly sheltered life, so obsessed with the horrors of the Japanese invasion of Nanking she travels to Tokyo in search of missing cinefilm footage of the atrocities. Whilst trying to pry the information out of an academic, she winds up working in a hostess club and is drawn into a dangerous world of the Yakuza.

For what's listed as 'crime fiction' the book is suprisingly multi-layered, full of strong themes and the exploration of big ideas. It's genuinely chilling in places, and has many striking images, that stay with you long after you've put the book down.

It reads like a film, in the best possible way, and would transfer to the screen brilliantly (though the final reveal might be a little too graphic for even the most hardened viewer).

Then again, I thought 'The Ice Harvest' would make a great film...

[maian]

I don't think I've mentioned Tokyo by Mo Hayder, which I read a few weeks ago.

Sounds interesting.

*Looks at piles of unread books*

Maybe I should read some of the books on my 'too read' list before adding new ones.

[mcraigclark]

Ok, I'm not sure I get what you mean - is that a yes?

Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes.

[Julie]

Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes.

I imagined that in the voice of Zanta.

[Atara]

It's really grown on me but there are moments that test my patience. Mainly the flashbacks, many of which kind of feel like padding. I still find it hugely enjoyable, though, and I can't wait to see what they do with Season 2 when they move away from the books.

I agree, even before I read it I found some of the flashbacks a bit pointless.

Are the following books not meant to be up to scratch, then?

[princess_shrek]

*Looks at piles of unread books*

I moved all my books into the spare room so they could lay the new carpet. Now I want to paint the walls before putting the bookshelves back, but there's this yearning to get at my books and find something to read ...

... then again I have to go into Blackwells later to pick up a text book so maybe I'll just buy some more