The Literature Thread

[Tafdolphin]

You know what, it could be.

Also The Epic of Gilgamesh? Not that epic (88 pages on my Kobo)

[Memento Mori]

You read any Ellroy, Taf?

[Tafdolphin]

White Jazz a good decade ago. He's definitely on my list. Got to get to Hammett's books too at some point.

[Memento Mori]

White Jazz is part four of The LA Quartet and probably the weakest of that series but I liked it.

[Tafdolphin]

WHY SO MANY NOIR NOVELS

I am loving it though.

[Memento Mori]

More than you think. Ellis did The LA Quartet set in the 50s, then Underworld USA set in 60s/70s which had a few of the characters from the The LA Quartet, now he's doing a new LA Quartet set in the 40s with characters from both series.

[Tafdolphin]

Sounds like some Dark Tower gooseberry fool.

Give me those one off books where everyone dies.

[Rocsteady]

Just finished Norwegian Wood. That was great. Beautiful writing

[Lex-Man]

I started reading a Rory Stuart book about his time as the deputy governor of a province of Iraq. I surprised he wasn't killed out there as he seems to be wandering around without any security and groups of people gather to try and murder him.

[Rex Kramer]

Just finished Norwegian Wood. That was great. Beautiful writing

Lovely book, I can't decide between that, Kafka on the shore and Hard Boiled Wonderland as to which is my favourite Murakami.

[Moggy]

You know what, it could be.

Also The Epic of Gilgamesh? Not that epic (88 pages on my Kobo)

It's like dog years though. You have to multiply the pages on an eReader by 7 to get the number for clay tablets.

[Zilnad]

Any recommendations for Japanese history books? Played a lot of Shogun Total War back in the day and watching Age of Samurai recently and Ghost of Tsushima have made me want to read up on the history in more detail.

[Xeno]

Any recommendations for Japanese history books? Played a lot of Shogun Total War back in the day and watching Age of Samurai recently and Ghost of Tsushima have made me want to read up on the history in more detail.

This is an oldish read but it's A History of Japan by George Sansom. 3 volumes goes from the very start to the Meji restoration in 1868.

[Tomous]

Just read Classic Scrapes by James Acaster and laughed so much it hurt at times.

Looking for more funny book recommendations if anyone has any? tia

[Dowbocop]

I've really been struggling to read during the pandemic as I have been commuting by car, but I ended up reading The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom on a whim while I was on holiday. Just intended to read the first chapter and then suddenly I was halfway through it. I read it all in the space of a day (only 200 pages). Really enjoyed it, a modern(ish) take on Its a Wonderful Life/A Christmas Carol, but based around birthdays and not Christmas.

[rinks]

Just a heads-up: if you're on O2, you can get three months' free Kindle Unlimited. (Might be available to everyone - it didn't ask for a code once I got to Amazon.) Until Sunday. New customers only.

[Memento Mori]

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood novelisation by Tarantino- It's weird, it's really weird and Tarantino is completely unconstrained by any editor. He's apparently treated this as a director's cut of the film but there's so much unnecessary bullshit and bizarre character choices.

About 100 pages in of a 300+ page book, Tarantino just decides to just talk about the end of the film (and presumably the end of this book) and the positive effect the attention had on DiCaprio's character's career. I mean sure most people reading this will have probably watched the film, but why would you do that? Give the character the epilogue at the end of the book!

During the beginning of the book when DiCaprio is talking to the Al Pacino agent character (the scene is set in his office here rather than the bar it was in the film), there's also a long aside about Brad Pitt's character Cliff going on a date with the receptionist to watch a Swedish arthouse film which was originally banned because it had an unsimulated sex scene. Tarantino reviews the film for about three pages. He was a fan.

Also in an anecdote about where Cliff got his dog from- it's revealed that Cliff is a serial killer who's murdered three people. So that's a thing.


This book is more fascinating and revealing than an actual Tarantino autobiography ever could be.

[Curls]

Just read Classic Scrapes by James Acaster and laughed so much it hurt at times.

Looking for more funny book recommendations if anyone has any? tia

I listened to the Audiobook of this. I can't imagine actually reading the book, so much better to hear it in his voice.

Fissle?

[Curls]

I recently read a book called the First 15 Lives of Harry August.

A nice fiction imo. It's basically about a guy who everytime he dies, is born on the exact same day and relives his life, but has memories of his past life. I loved the concept and the chapters are short Dan Brown style. I kept going quite easily. I feel a bit more could have been done with it though, and was it was a bit disappointing it ended how it did, I was hoping for more character development perhaps. All in all an 8 out of 10.

[Memento Mori]

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood novelisation by Tarantino- It's weird, it's really weird and Tarantino is completely unconstrained by any editor. He's apparently treated this as a director's cut of the film but there's so much unnecessary bullshit and bizarre character choices.

About 100 pages in of a 300+ page book, Tarantino just decides to just talk about the end of the film (and presumably the end of this book) and the positive effect the attention had on DiCaprio's character's career. I mean sure most people reading this will have probably watched the film, but why would you do that? Give the character the epilogue at the end of the book!

During the beginning of the book when DiCaprio is talking to the Al Pacino agent character (the scene is set in his office here rather than the bar it was in the film), there's also a long aside about Brad Pitt's character Cliff going on a date with the receptionist to watch a Swedish arthouse film which was originally banned because it had an unsimulated sex scene. Tarantino reviews the film for about three pages. He was a fan.

Also in an anecdote about where Cliff got his dog from- it's revealed that Cliff is a serial killer who's murdered three people. So that's a thing.


This book is more fascinating and revealing than an actual Tarantino autobiography ever could be.

So I've finished this and apart from that reference 100 pages in, the ending of the film isn't in the book.