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Post by Admin on Apr 23, 2019 21:46:55 GMT
 It's Wednesday. |
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Post by Shenguin on Apr 23, 2019 22:27:47 GMT
Morning Everyone! I hope you're all well and have a happy Wiggler Wednesday.
I recently finished John Lanchester's The Wall. Compelling in parts, but lacking any psychological verisimilitude, and often very clunkily written. I thought it was a more than a bit meh. I read The Debt to Pleasure by him ages ago and seem to think I liked it but I don't really remember it now. I have Capital but have never actually gotten round to reading it. What opinion should I have of John Lanchester's work in general?
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Post by RollingEscargot on Apr 23, 2019 22:39:08 GMT
Sounds like Lanchester is your classic curate's egg. Oval and patchy, like your physiognomy.
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Post by Faceless on Apr 24, 2019 5:30:19 GMT
I have The Wall on my reading pile. I've not started it yet, but have now decided am going to rate it very highly just to be disagreeable.
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Post by Shenguin on Apr 24, 2019 6:38:08 GMT
Sounds like Lanchester is your classic curate's egg. Oval and patchy, like your physiognomy. Your face is your physiognomy. |
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Post by RollingEscargot on Apr 24, 2019 7:11:33 GMT
I have read Mr Phillips by John Lanchester. It was a bit meh, so considerably better than your face.
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Post by MrTiddles on Apr 24, 2019 7:26:11 GMT
Hullo, a bit damp & chilly here.
Book chat: I'm now reading Air Battle for Dunkirk, by Norman Franks. A complete change from being in Changi Prison.
'I did a stern attack on it - it was a Heinkel 111 - and it very rudely shot back at me.'.
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Post by BabyfarkmcGeezak on Apr 24, 2019 7:42:21 GMT
Book wankers.
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Post by Shenguin on Apr 24, 2019 7:53:03 GMT
Hullo, a bit damp & chilly here. Book chat: I'm now reading Air Battle for Dunkirk, by Norman Franks. A complete change from being in Changi Prison. 'I did a stern attack on it - it was a Heinkel 111 - and it very rudely shot back at me.'.Douglas Bader giving a talk to a class in a convent school. Nun (interrupting his talk): Children, a Fokker was a type of plane the Germans used. Bader: Yes ma'am, but these fockers were in Messerschmitts. |
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Post by gongfarmer on Apr 24, 2019 7:56:47 GMT
#BookWankerChat
Started 'Midnight in Chernobyl' audiobook for the commute yesterday. Slow starter, with chapter 1 introducing all the 'players', ie a list of about 200 Russians and their various jobs. Reminded me of the Muster of Armies section of the Iliad.
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Post by amipal on Apr 24, 2019 8:09:09 GMT
Morning all.
TVchat: 30 Rock and Maniac.
Gameschat: zilch.
Bookchat: none.
DIYchat: some sanding.
OTTMchat: I went to bed early.
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Post by Faceless on Apr 24, 2019 8:11:33 GMT
I am reading Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban. I want to like it, but don't.
In that sense it reminds me of other books that I wanted to like, but didn't.
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Post by Shenguin on Apr 24, 2019 8:46:40 GMT
I am reading Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban. I want to like it, but don't. In that sense it reminds me of other books that I wanted to like, but didn't. I think we can all agree, your dislike of Riddley Walker is because of your shortcomings, not the book's. |
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Post by MrTiddles on Apr 24, 2019 9:30:10 GMT
Douglas Bader giving a talk to a class in a convent school. Nun (interrupting his talk): Children, a Fokker was a type of plane the Germans used. Bader: Yes ma'am, but these fockers were in Messerschmitts. That's a truly awful joke, much like your Johnson. |
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Post by Sheep2 on Apr 24, 2019 9:34:38 GMT
Faceless
It took me quite a while to get into Riddley Walker. The way it is written is quite impenetrable at first.
Its probably worth persevering with. It's maybe more memorable, than an actually enjoyable book
Mr Phillips. That is the one about the accountant who loses his job?
It is a bit dull, but fairly well written
Other books
A Time of Blood - John Gwynne
Hot books with maps action. Gwynne is pretty good if you like books with maps.
A History of Rome in Seven Sackings Matthew Kneale
Hot city burning action. I quite enjoyed it.
Metropolis Phillip Kerr
Hot Police procedural in Berlin in the 1920s. Read all the PK book immediately.
Permafrost Alastair Reynolds
Cold sci-fi time travel action. Only a novella but it is Al, so it is ace.
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Post by cobblers on Apr 24, 2019 9:39:19 GMT
I am reading The Shortest History of Germany. It is very good if, like me, your understanding goes “Teutoborg, Protestants, Fancy Castles, Opera, Bad Guys 1, Cabaret, Bad Guys 2”
I mean, I’m not reading it now, I’ve been reading it in the garden in between sips of cider. Consequently my retention of the finer details is patchy, at best.
I’ve also been repairing a geetar which almost certainly hasn’t been cleaned since 1975. It certainly hasn’t been cleaned since I pinched it off my brother in 1995. I don’t know if I can bring myself to clean the fretboard, there’s history there. Strata of family filth.
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Post by MrTiddles on Apr 24, 2019 9:48:19 GMT
I got my Kung Fu Annual from 1976 out the other day for an airing. A gem of psychological insight, social commentary, philosophical analysis, and good humour. 4*
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Post by Felice Landry on Apr 24, 2019 10:58:36 GMT
I got my Kung Fu Annual from 1976 out the other day for an airing. A gem of psychological insight, social commentary, philosophical analysis, and good humour. 4* Don't say "Kung Fu" five times |
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Post by Faceless on Apr 24, 2019 11:01:05 GMT
FacelessIt took me quite a while to get into Riddley Walker. The way it is written is quite impenetrable at first. Its probably worth persevering with. It's maybe more memorable, than an actually enjoyable book I'm going to stick with it, just so I can disagree with shenguin from a more informed position. |
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Post by MrTiddles on Apr 24, 2019 11:32:12 GMT
I got my Kung Fu Annual from 1976 out the other day for an airing. A gem of psychological insight, social commentary, philosophical analysis, and good humour. 4* Don't say "Kung Fu" five times I was going to ask why, but I think I've worked it out. Lunchblog: Corned beef sandwiches x 2 |
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Post by Shenguin on Apr 24, 2019 11:47:45 GMT
Your face is from a more informed position.
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Post by stxdpr on Apr 24, 2019 11:53:13 GMT
Best books with maps? Or will GRR Martin pass away before finishing the series like the wheel of time?
Books; Random Jack Reacher book and Bosch. Tv series of bosch is much more like the books than what the films did with reacher, will the tv version be any better though?
Also on the tv front is anyone watching american gods? One for viewing without the headphones on crowded trains.
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Post by Ozymandias Kane on Apr 24, 2019 12:18:17 GMT
say "Kung Fu" five times!  "?".."!"..Hmmm.. (Lurks silently in the background). |
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Post by amipal on Apr 24, 2019 12:39:20 GMT
Lunch: smoked ham and emmental sourdough thing from Waitrose.
Quiet in here today.
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Post by Shenguin on Apr 24, 2019 12:44:15 GMT
Lunch: leftover pasta from last night.
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