Read, read, read!!!! education, imagination, humour

Izzy HaveMercy · 06 Mar 2010, 22:11

Tarantino meets The Da Vinci Code!

Over-the-topness galore, a fine read!

IZ.

Izzy HaveMercy · 06 Mar 2010, 22:16

markfiend wrote:
Terry Pratchett: The Truth.

It seems to me that Mr Pin and Mr Tulip bear more than a passing resemblance to Mr Croup and Mr Vandemar from Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere.

I thought the very same when I read Neverwhere... 'hmmm, where did I see these two before?'

I also received this today

... will start in that very soon!

IZ.

07 Mar 2010, 12:23

A review of Tim Lovejoy's "autobigraphy": http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/145/29/

A work of comedy genius. (The review, not Lovejoy's book.)

10 Mar 2010, 13:09

markfiend wrote:A review of Tim Lovejoy's "autobigraphy": http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/145/29/

A work of comedy genius. (The review, not Lovejoy's book.)

Frightening.

10 Mar 2010, 13:14

a really good read

and about a gazillion times better than the dreary/dodgy 70s tv adaptation

Maisey · 11 Mar 2010, 18:25

Izzy HaveMercy wrote:
markfiend wrote:
Terry Pratchett: The Truth.

It seems to me that Mr Pin and Mr Tulip bear more than a passing resemblance to Mr Croup and Mr Vandemar from Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere.
I thought the very same when I read Neverwhere... 'hmmm, where did I see these two before?'

In fairness I think that's deliberate. There are a few concepts which NG and TP interchange. I don't think of it as plagiarism, I think about it as a Gaiman/Pratchett villain archetype tradition.

Maisey · 11 Mar 2010, 18:26

Currently back on the Pratchetts. Going to be followed be a holiday to Robin Hobbland.

Debaser · 11 Mar 2010, 20:10

Maisey wrote:
Izzy HaveMercy wrote:
markfiend wrote:
Terry Pratchett: The Truth.

It seems to me that Mr Pin and Mr Tulip bear more than a passing resemblance to Mr Croup and Mr Vandemar from Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere.
I thought the very same when I read Neverwhere... 'hmmm, where did I see these two before?'

In fairness I think that's deliberate. There are a few concepts which NG and TP interchange. I don't think of it as plagiarism, I think about it as a Gaiman/Pratchett villain archetype tradition.

SPOOOOOOOOKY

Was having the VERY same conversation on an English course today.

Second day of a course all about picture books for older children. Here's today's main text - it's fab (being the girlie swot like I is I'd already read it when it was first published a couple of years ago

)

And a web page to boot

http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/index.htm

Big Si · 11 Mar 2010, 20:21

I haven't read anything about SPAM yet

Andie · 11 Mar 2010, 20:24

Twenty-eight years after its original release, "The Clash's London Calling" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame as a 'recording of lasting qualitative or historical significance'. It has topped polls for the best album of the seventies (and of the eighties). It regularly makes the top five in Best of British album polls. And it has placed, on average, in the mid twenties in the Greatest Albums of "All Time" polls for the last twenty - something years. No mean feat when artists the stature of "The Beatles" and "Bob Dylan" have many of the top slots, and so many other ground-shaking, heart-breaking and mind-expanding albums fail to make the lists at all. 'Iconic' is a much abused word, but the cover of "London Calling" has a genuine right to claim it: Q voted Pennie Smith's cover the best rock'n'roll photograph of all time in 2002, and the instantly recognisable image of Paul Simonon smashing his bass guitar has inspired countless imitators (including Mickey Mouse). Joe Strummer once remarked that "The Clash" didn't made it big it in the traditional way, by shipping multi-platinum, but rather 'in the culture'. "London Calling"'s songs are rich in lyrical and musical allusion, and since the album's release, that wealth has trickled back down into our everyday lives, in ways both obvious and subtle. "The Beatles" had their lumps felt in "Revolution in the Head", and "Bob Dylan" had his hinterland explored in "Invisible Republic". Now "The Clash"'s finest hour and five minutes gets a book telling when, how and where it was made, detailing the stories behind its songs, placing the album in contexts personal, musical and socio-political, noting its impact upon release, and considering the ripple effects since, both in The Clash members' own careers and 'in the culture'.

Well that's my weekend sorted

Izzy HaveMercy · 11 Mar 2010, 23:00

Maisey wrote:
Izzy HaveMercy wrote:
markfiend wrote:
Terry Pratchett: The Truth.

It seems to me that Mr Pin and Mr Tulip bear more than a passing resemblance to Mr Croup and Mr Vandemar from Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere.
I thought the very same when I read Neverwhere... 'hmmm, where did I see these two before?'

In fairness I think that's deliberate. There are a few concepts which NG and TP interchange. I don't think of it as plagiarism, I think about it as a Gaiman/Pratchett villain archetype tradition.

True. They fit so well together they made GOOD OMENS a lovely read

IZ.

Maisey · 12 Mar 2010, 03:38

Indeed! The very book I'm reading right now.

One might say that Lister and Hastur (The Duke's Of Hell) fit the Pin/Tulip model, but they aren't developed enough to really tell.

Nadia81 · 13 Mar 2010, 06:20

I always pictured Mr Croup and Mr Vandemar something like The Gentlemen from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

sziamiau · 13 Mar 2010, 08:15

Nelson's Way: Leadership lessons from a great commander by Stephanie JOnes and Jonathan Gosling.

Stephanie is a great friend of mine and she gave me the book a year ago and finally getting around to reading it

Brideoffrankenstein · 15 Mar 2010, 22:23

Obviousman · 15 Mar 2010, 22:29

Brideoffrankenstein wrote:

In a good way?

Amos Oz really is such a great writer

Brideoffrankenstein · 15 Mar 2010, 22:43

Obviousman wrote:
Brideoffrankenstein wrote:
In a good way?

Oh yes, it's about a girl growing up in communist China (true story) and well I did communism for history A level so I am aware of what went on but it just leaves me without words what some people went through

Obviousman · 16 Mar 2010, 18:58

Brideoffrankenstein wrote:
Obviousman wrote:
Brideoffrankenstein wrote:
In a good way?

Oh yes, it's about a girl growing up in communist China (true story) and well I did communism for history A level so I am aware of what went on but it just leaves me without words what some people went through

Hmm, I should give it a read before I visit the place then, I guess...

17 Mar 2010, 10:45

Between books at the moment. I had pondered reading Foucault's Pendulum again but I'm not really in the mood.

Hmmmm

17 Mar 2010, 10:49

markfiend wrote:Between books at the moment. I had pondered reading Foucault's Pendulum again but I'm not really in the mood.

Hmmmm

How about this? I think I might order it.

17 Mar 2010, 10:54

I don't like Mark Commode.

17 Mar 2010, 11:06

markfiend wrote:I don't like Mark Commode.

I wouldn't get that then.

Have you read this?

I thoroughly recommend it if you haven't.

17 Mar 2010, 12:34

Oh there you go. I've read American Psycho (naturally) and one of Ellis's others (can't remember which

) so thanks, I'll give it a go.

lazarus corporation · 22 Mar 2010, 23:26

Hellblazer: Pandemonium arrived through my letterbox today - good to see Jamie Delano back at the wheel.

Holly_DelRey · 22 Mar 2010, 23:45

Hom_Corleone wrote:
markfiend wrote:I don't like Mark Commode.
I wouldn't get that then.

Have you read this?

I thoroughly recommend it if you haven't.

American Psycho is one of my favs so I think I'll get this book

I'm a huge Chuck Palanuik fan but read all his books.

Waiting for the new one out in May. Can't wait :]
If you haven't read any of his books, I highly recommend him