The Literature Thread

[Memento Mori]

Sorry for constantly turning this in the Stephen King thread, but if anyone is interested in hearing his stuff discussed in much, much more depth, then Consequence of Sound is running a podcast that is going over his books in order. They are fans, and give the material due deference (they spend almost nine hours talking about Night Shift, for example ), but are also critical when necessary. I'm currently on the first of three episodes which look at The Stand.

The episodes are listed here, and presumably available wherever you usually get your podcasts from (pretty sure they're on iTunes).

https://consequenceofsound.net/podcasts ... sers-club/

It's not a perfect podcast - the girl's voice is a bit whiny, but she makes a lot of very good points and has an excellent perspective on most stuff. They also talk over each other a bit when they get excited. But I've been really enjoying it.

I had a listen to this and found it quite interesting. Only problem is I now see their point about King describing every single woman in his books by their tits. Started The Gunslinger again the other day and he does it in there too.

Yeah, it's a bit of an issue. I've just finished their Stand three-parter and found it generally pretty interesting. Sometimes I think over-analysis is irritating, but I think this is cool, especially as the material is so old. They do a decent job of judging it as being of its time, too.

Next episode is the Dead Zone, but I've not read it yet so will probably skip that one.

(DT update: now on Wolves of the Calla. Loving it so far...)

What did you think of Wind Through the Keyhole?

[Poser]

What did you think of Wind Through the Keyhole?

Loved it! Didn't want it to end, in fact. I like the 'young Roland' stuff a lot.

[Lex-Man]

1Q84 - This was an interesting read, but when I look back on it, it turned out to be a bit of a disappointment, there was a lot of potential for these characters, but it never really developed, and the sex stuff in it was just weird at times. 5/10 Whilst I was actually reading through it though I may have been inclined to give it something of a higher rank.

Is that a book called 1Q84 or is it a typo of 1984?

Because 1984 deserves a much much higher score.

A book called 1Q84 by that Japanese dude. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1Q84

Having read 1984 a month ago, you had me trying to remember if the sex stuff in it is weird

You don't think it counts as weird sex if your big brother watches you do it?

What if he's just listening?

[Tomous]

Just finished Into Thin Air. I find Everest fascinating and love the recent film on the 96 disaster so I've been meaning to read this for awhile. Thought it was extremely well written and really couldn't put it down for 2 days. I know there was a lot of controversy around some of the opinions he put forward so I tried not to take everything as gospel. Has anyone read The Climb? I'm interested to read the counter view.

[samoza]

I read a ton of random stuff, mostly lowbrow. Random read this week is Open by Andre Agassi, a really intense read that makes me think that he must suffer from depression. Bullied by his father, bullied by his coach, bullied by himself and a surrounded by sycophants. A slightly gruelling read, but an interesting one.

Tried The Dark Tower books a few years ago, but stopped after the first one. Never gripped me. People have told me they get better after the first book, but my rule of thumb is that I should not have to read a bad book, just to get to the decent stuff - reading is not a Mass Effect game.

[Moggy]

Tried The Dark Tower books a few years ago, but stopped after the first one. Never gripped me. People have told me they get better after the first book, but my rule of thumb is that I should not have to read a bad book, just to get to the decent stuff - reading is not a Mass Effect game.

The first book isn't bad, it's just that the others are better.

The first book is also pretty short, it's not a great commitment to read in order to get to the others in the series.

It's not for everyone, but I adored the Dark Tower series.

[Errkal]

Love the series proper excited for the film, the trailers and stuff look incredible!

[Gemini73]

Recently finished The Whale Road by Robert Low. Having enjoyed the TV series Vikings my father recommended this, (part one in a series of four), and I'm glad he did. Very good.

Before moving onto the next in the series I decided to first check out Gaimen's American Gods. About half way through. Liking this a lot.

[Poser]

What did you think of Wind Through the Keyhole?

OK, finished Wolves of the Calla. I really need to dedicate more time to reading

I mostly liked it a lot...

Was a bit disappointed with the payoff. For a book to spend so long building up to a battle that is over within the space of a few pages was a little bit disappointing. Glad he referenced 'Seven Samurai' at the end (or Magnificent Seven) as the book is basically just that, with some other back story stuff thrown in.

The Star Wars references are interesting, too, especially as the ending was pure Empire Strikes Back.

It was interesting to read Callahan's story, though I'm not sure how I feel about the flicking into New York stuff (might not bode well for the imminent film, I realise ) - a bit too much detail/time spent discussing how to acquire the deeds for a property in Manhattan when, in the end, it turns out they can just ask for/take it in a semi-threatening way.

I've just done a single chapter of Song of Susannah. Funny that it's a completely direct continuation (there were bigger jumps from chapter to chapter in Wolves... than between these two books), much like from Waste Lands to Wizard and Glass. I've heard not-so-great things about this book so I'm slightly trepidatious.

[Rex Kramer]

Flowers for Algernon is 99p on the Kindle store today, if anyone is interested.

[Errkal]

Finished "the Green Mile" yesterday, really enjoyed it. I need to watch the film again as not seen it in ages.

Starting "End of Watch" later to finsh the Bill Hodges trilogy, really enjoyed the last 2 so fingers crossed it is another good'un

[Poser]

Im reading book 1 of the dark tower at the moment myself. It not really gripping me. I keep falling asleep when i try and read it. I dunno, im just really feeling it. First book in ages ive kinda felt like giving up on

Fair enough, if it's not to your taste then I doubt you'll suddenly love the following books, either.

[samoza]

I struggled with Book 1 of Dark Tower too, but people said it gets better. I did not try myself.

Finished a Proof copy of Adam Robert's Real World Murders. Had some interesting concepts as the government of a Matrix style virtual world are sparring again the real world government. The issue was that the PI mystery devolved into a bad action movie.

Now reading Tina Fay's autobiography and it is a very breezy and funny book so far.

[sawyerpip]

Im reading book 1 of the dark tower at the moment myself. It not really gripping me. I keep falling asleep when i try and read it. I dunno, im just really feeling it. First book in ages ive kinda felt like giving up on

Fair enough, if it's not to your taste then I doubt you'll suddenly love the following books, either.

I actually read wizard and glass back in 1998, cause my mam bought it for me for Christmas I had no idea it was part of a series of books. I cant remember what i thought of it tho. Ill try and finish the gunslinger as i generally love Kings books. I was enjoying it until the flashbacks to young Roland. For whatever reason they just kinda bore me

It's funny you say that because Wizard and Glass is just one long flashback to young Roland

[Poser]

Im reading book 1 of the dark tower at the moment myself. It not really gripping me. I keep falling asleep when i try and read it. I dunno, im just really feeling it. First book in ages ive kinda felt like giving up on

Fair enough, if it's not to your taste then I doubt you'll suddenly love the following books, either.

I actually read wizard and glass back in 1998, cause my mam bought it for me for Christmas I had no idea it was part of a series of books. I cant remember what i thought of it tho. Ill try and finish the gunslinger as i generally love Kings books. I was enjoying it until the flashbacks to young Roland. For whatever reason they just kinda bore me

It's funny you say that because Wizard and Glass is just one long flashback to young Roland

It is slightly older Roland, I guess, and is an outstanding (and exquisitely grim) story in its own right.

Stylistically, so much of Dark Tower is flashbacks, though, that if non-chronology annoys you in any way at all, then it'll be a tough read.

[Moggy]

Im reading book 1 of the dark tower at the moment myself. It not really gripping me. I keep falling asleep when i try and read it. I dunno, im just really feeling it. First book in ages ive kinda felt like giving up on

Fair enough, if it's not to your taste then I doubt you'll suddenly love the following books, either.

The following books are a different style though.

[Poser]

Im reading book 1 of the dark tower at the moment myself. It not really gripping me. I keep falling asleep when i try and read it. I dunno, im just really feeling it. First book in ages ive kinda felt like giving up on

Fair enough, if it's not to your taste then I doubt you'll suddenly love the following books, either.

The following books are a different style though.

Yeah, fair point. But Gunslinger is quite short and if he's struggling to get through it... I dunno. Can't convert 'em all

I'm really looking forward to doing Gunslinger again when I finish.

Wolves of Calla spoiler...

The bit when they find the 'Salem's Lot novel and Callahan is freaking out because his story is being presented as fiction... bit too far, for my tastes. I can see what he's doing there but it felt a bit like he was laying it all on with a trowel a touch.

[samoza]

Started Reading 'London's Falling', about 60 pages in I realise I have read it before. Looked up my reviews and saw that I got the promo copy in 2013. I only gave it 2 stars so it never stuck in my mind. Onwards to the next book which is a Harlan Coben thriller.

[<]:^D]

Flowers for Algernon is 99p on the Kindle store today, if anyone is interested.

worth 20 times that; beautiful book.

[<]:^D]

right, because Poser and co seem intent on turning this into a Stephen King thread: recommend me a book from him. ive never read anything by him before. go!