Books 2nd Edition, Foreword by m0r1arty Options

[jem]

Obasan by Joy Kogawa. So beautiful. Very poetic, but intense and painfully sad. Now my second favorite book after DUNE.

A reminder of our past and how much we are capable of hate.

[ipse dixit]

I've just read Wuthering Heights. They're all a bunch of bastards, aren't they? I can't see why people would name their children after Heathcliff. My sympathy runs out pretty quickly and the great romance gives way to nothing but vicious misery. Still I rather enjoyed it. Been ages since I've read something worthy and literary like.

[sweetbutinsane]

Neverwhere is a very good book as well, and it works far better than the TV series.

On the Pratchett side of things, if you liked The Colour of Magic I'd suggest reading through the rest in order starting with The Light Fantastic as it is a direct sequel to TCoM.

If you want to skip ahead a few books I've always thought Mort, Guards! Guards! and Wyrd Sisters are good starting places.

I am really, really enjoying Neverwhere so far. I almost refused to go into Maths after my hour break because I was sitting reading it and didn't want to put it down.

I think I'll try The Light Fantastic next then. That is, if my local library has it...

[bigfatrich]

Can anyone help me, please? I'm after the name of the short (children's) story which, IIR, has a repeated line "give me back my hand". It's about a guy who's in bed and hears a noise. Sorry for the vague description.

[Lucky Jackson]

Can anyone help me, please? I'm after the name of the short (children's) story which, IIR, has a repeated line "give me back my hand".  It's about a guy who's in bed and hears a noise.  Sorry for the vague description.

Is it definitely 'give me back my hand'? I recall something similar with 'Who's got my toe?' Also about somebody in bed hearing a noise, and the line is repeated. I couldn't tell you where from though, sorry.

[bigfatrich]

Is it definitely 'give me back my hand'? I recall something similar with 'Who's got my toe?' Also about somebody in bed hearing a noise, and the line is repeated. I couldn't tell you where from though, sorry.

It could be that as using Google on "give me back my hand" only brings up Evil Dead links!

[ipse dixit]

I know the story you mean, but I didn't realise it had a name. Thought it was just a campfire ghost story.

[Zoe]

I've just read Wuthering Heights. They're all a bunch of bastards, aren't they? I can't see why people would name their children after Heathcliff. My sympathy runs out pretty quickly and the great romance gives way to nothing but vicious misery. Still I rather enjoyed it. Been ages since I've read something worthy and literary like.

They're a pair of cnuts.

I much prefer the Tess style of romance, all self-sacrifice and big milky jugs.

[bigfatrich]

They're a pair of cnuts.

I much prefer the Tess style of romance, all self-sacrifice and big milky jugs.

Hardy was talking about her eyes when referring to "huge orbs", right?

[Raven]

I am really, really enjoying Neverwhere so far. I almost refused to go into Maths after my hour break because I was sitting reading it and didn't want to put it down.

I think I read it pretty quickly myself, and I must give that another go at some point.

As for Pratchett, after you have finished with The Light Fantastic, the next book - Equal Rites - features one of the Discworld's best characters - Granny Weatherwax!

Ah, to be starting all over once again!

[Raven]

I've recently finished reading After Dark by Japanese author Haruki Murakami.

I've not read any of his books before, and ended up picking this up after becoming intrigued by the cover synopsis whilst trying to find a book to pad out a Waterstone's three-for-two offer.

The story takes place between midnight and dawn and tells of a girl called Mari and of her relationship with her sister Eri, who has been in an unnaturally deep sleep for the past two months. It's not very long, and is fairly gentle in the way it is told, but it has an intensity to it that makes you want to read on.

I also like the way it describes the night life of a Japanese city, and it also has some interesting and memorable characters.

I liked it, especially the way it was written, and I will be looking up more of Murakami's books in the future.

[sweetbutinsane]

Finished reading Neverwhere yesterday and I absolutely loved it! I was actually kind of disappointed when I finished because I wanted there to be more.

I think I might go and buy American Gods now...

[maian]

I think I might go and buy American Gods now...

Very good book. Quite different in tone to Neverwhere and Stardust, though.

I finished The Lonely Dead by Michael Marshall. It wasn't as good as The Straw Men, probably because it's much less structured and kind of goes all over the place, it also sees one of the best characters from the first book become increasingly sidelined and undergoes a character transformation that I, personally, did not like. Still, Marshall brings his usual wit, biting social commentary and sense of humour and things go along at a very quick pace. It's just a shame that it didn't live up to its predecessor.

[maian]

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.

[curtinparloe]

Bought a book on low budget film making by Josh Becker (worked on Evil Dead). More money I don't have.