Books 2nd Edition, Foreword by m0r1arty Options

[Shack]

Not going to happen. Seems the film will take place just before/right as the outbreak begins. The main character will be zipping around the world trying to prevent the outbreak from taking hold. Disappointing.

When I was down in Cornballs earlier in the month, we heard plenty o whispers that Brad Pitt was filming it in Falmouth just down the road.

I'd have preferred a documentary type film, but then it's quite a hard book to film.

Now onto Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. It's great so far.

[Raven]

I tore through The Spy Who Came In From The Cold by John Le Carre over the last three days.

Just picked up a copy of this, along with a copy of The Complete Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm.

[Shack]

I'm now going on to The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, because they sound like awesome books.

Having read your review, I picked this up on Tuesday. I'd finished it by Friday morning, it's really good. There's a few concessions to the teen market, but it's a cracking read. You're very right about the pace, it never lets up! My main concern as I read about the film yesterday was that it might be softened slightly. I hope the primal side is all kept.

I'll have to get the other books too.

[maian]

I think they probably will soften it, if only because some of the violence would be a bit too extreme for the demographic that the film will be going after, but I think that they could keep the intensity of the story without conceding too much. I just hope that they keep as much of Katniss' tracker jacker hallucinations in as possible, because those are really messed up in a way which could translate well to a film adaptation.

[Everlong]

I think it will be toned down graphically a bit, especially a few deaths... Rue in particular, and Cato's. But keeping the tone.

I agree, the trippiness and hallucinations brought on by Tracker Jackers will probably translate to the film rather well.

I'm a little way into 'Catching Fire' myself. Liking it so far, will probably finish the rest of the book this week, almost as fast as I finished Hunger Games (that was done in a few days on commutes).

Speaking of which, the trailer debuts in America tonight.

This post has been edited by Everlong: Aug 28 2011, 03:17 PM

[Shack]

I did really like the trackerjackers bit, I didn't know which bits were real at all. Demographic is going to rule in part, but hopefully they'll keep up the pace.

I feel there's more in the Gale story, but I think that'll be extended in the second book.

[Raven]

John Le Carre - The Spy Who Came In From The Cold - I felt I was swimming in a sea I didn't understand. I liked it, but I wasn't sure what the hell was going on. I think my concentration was flagging.

I felt kind of the same when I read it, but I think that's at least partially intentional since it places you in much the same position as the characters. I get the feeling that it's more rewarding on a second read, once you know where it's going.

Finished this in the wee hours of this morning, very good.

I didn't have any problems following it, and I was pretty sure how it was going to unfold from about mid-way through, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. For anyone planning to read it I would definitely recommend reading Call For the Dead before hand, as it is referenced pretty heavily in this book. Looking forward to The Looking Glass War now!

Kraken by China Mieville.

Just finished it. Loved it. Completely mental fun, full of great little concepts, and weird/immoral/intense/heroic/cowardly/'Add your description here' characters. It's all about a museum curator Billy, who tended to a Kraken which one night, gets stolen. Suddenly he's taken by all sorts of monsters and weirdos from the underworld, before being rescued by colleague Dane. Then it's a mad dash around London searching for the giant kidnapped squid.

Features such moments as our heroes fighting off the nasties with an actual star trek phaser, and a gangster who happens to be a talking Tattoo. Bonkers.

I read this earlier this year, and am still not sure what to make of it.

The book has a lot of interesting concepts in it, some interesting characters and a good deal of humour and satire, but I can't say I found the overall experience of reading it very enjoyable. In places it was a bit of a slog.

[Shack]

I read this earlier this year, and am still not sure what to make of it.

The book has a lot of interesting concepts in it, some interesting characters and a good deal of humour and satire, but I can't say I found the overall experience of reading it very enjoyable. In places it was a bit of a slog.

I'm reading it now and I know what you mean. There's elements of Will Self about it and I do find myself drifting off when I'm reading it from time to time, but then something good happens to pull me back in.

[Jessopjessopjess...]

I read this earlier this year, and am still not sure what to make of it.
The book has a lot of interesting concepts in it, some interesting characters and a good deal of humour and satire, but I can't say I found the overall experience of reading it very enjoyable. In places it was a bit of a slog.

I'm reading it now and I know what you mean. There's elements of Will Self about it and I do find myself drifting off when I'm reading it from time to time, but then something good happens to pull me back in.

I think that is the nature of Mieville's work, in my experience. "Perdido Street Station" is a stunningly weird and original book but massively overwrought at times, as is "The Scar" which I probably enjoyed more but which again was 150 pages too long. I have recurring dreams about Silas Fennec's abilities with the statue. However, I found "Iron Council" inconceivably dull and couldn't even finish it.

[Raven]

I think I found Kraken a hard read because the language was needlessly complex.

I'm not sure if that makes much sense . . .

[mcraigclark]

needlessly complex.

See: Thomas Pynchon

[Everlong]

See: Thomas Pynchon

Gravity's Brainblow.

As for Kraken, it was my first Mieville, and I've got City and The City and Perdito Street Station waiting to be read. Know what you mean about it being complex, some parts got a bit jumbled and seemed to trip over each other, mostly the descriptive parts.

I still got very much into it though and once I got past the wordiness of it, grew to love it.

This post has been edited by Everlong: Sep 5 2011, 12:14 PM

[Raven]

I must say, I've not been inspired to go looking for any of his other books, though I might be tempted by a sequel to Kraken, should he write one.

After a few years.

Possibly . . .

[Shack]

Tricky one. There are bits when reading that I feel aren't that important (the dream bits and the historical bits) and that's when I zone out.

The bits with Goss, Subby, the female officer who's name escapes me and Dane all have plenty of merit, it's the bits inbetween and the wiffling on that I don't like.

[Schlubalybub]

I've started reading the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Perhaps I should have started at the beginning, but I am really enjoying this collection of short stories.