Pablo

For me to read something less than or around 100 pages it has to promise something special in its blurb. If it does, I'm in. It's all relative though. I've read some books that could be used as house foundations but they've had the depth of puddles.

Well there's isn't much mystery here, but murder...no more than your average war-zone really. Strangely it's pronounced Tullybuddy.

Alrighty, I've finally finished the 'Navidson Report' section of House Of Leaves and although the story itself is pretty gripping, I feel it could have been far more effective had it been condensed into a short story or maybe a novella. If you're interested, it reads like a collision between The Blair Witch Project and Poltergeist. Where my absolute infuriation with the book lies is in the vast swamps of pointless information, lists, appendices, reversed and sparse text (What a waste of paper), foreign quotations, irrelevant poetry, and so much more that pollute the rest of the book. I realise that there are those of us who will enjoy reading said information, but it cannot be denied that the impact of the main story thread is reduced to nill due to these massive distractions. Luckily any of the sections of the book can be read through without paying mind to the others. This, to me, is the only way to go, returning to the start to read each thread, should you wish. One of the other aspects of the book concerns a character, Johnny Truant (if I remember correctly) who is unlikable and pretentious, serving, from what I made out, only to inject the book with street-credibility. On the plus side, the attempts by the author to factualise the story, using interviews, references, newspaper clippings, etc, are very effective, in the same way that the hyping of The Blair Witch Project was. Overall, a massive dissapointment. Save your money - book it out of the library.

After some thought, I've only really came up with one suggestion BookJumper, which I'd imagine you've already read. Life Of Pi by Yann Martel, I am confident, is the book you're looking for. Sorry I can't be of more help, but the exclusion of graphic scenes and harsh language really narrows down my pile. I hope you find the book that does not exist, but if you don't, let me know, and I'll start work on it right away. I may even call it The Book That Does Not Exist!

Hiya 5timeslucky, pleased to meet you. Karin Slaughter?! What a name! She was destined to get into violence! Where'd 5timeslucky come from, by the way?

How's it goin' SillyBegger? You're only just down the road from me. I'm in a wee village called Tullibody - you might have seen it on Crime-Watch at some point! Anyway, welcome, come on in, pour yourself a drink and enjoy the banter.

Typically it's only after submitting a post that you remember what you were actually supposed to be discussing. Anyway, I don't think anyone mentioned Amelie, and although it probably won't fit everyone's 'fantasy' bill, it can't be denied that it's like an explosion in a feel-good factory.

Looks like you're in the right place here BookJumper! Pans Labyrinth, Big Fish, Spirited Away...some great suggestions. I reckon if us lot were to have a movie night-in it wouldn't be bad at all! I'll bring the Pinot. What's everyone else having?

Heather...that's a beautiful name you have there. Do you share the flower's characteristics as well?

By the way Sedge, who is that gorgeous woman in your avatar? I recognise her but can't put a name to her face. Is she a weather lady?

Soon enough he is stalking doorways, leading the dancing moon of Jed's flashlight with the barrel of his rifle, and always listening. Corners, however, only reveal more corners, and Jed's light only targets ashen walls, though soon enough they all begin to detect that inimitable growl, like calving glaciers, far off in the distance, which at least in the mind's eye, inhabits a thin line where rooms and passageways must finally concede to become a horizon. "The growl almost always comes like the rustle of a high mountain wind on the trees," Navidson explained later. 'House Of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski.

I agree whole-heartedly Michelle. To be honest I've only joined this excellent forum recently and already I've posted two short stories, although my intentions, I'm sure you'll agree, are true. My love of reading and discussing literature is the primary reason for me joining. I hope that didn't sound too paranoid, or guilty for that matter! I do, however, feel that the avid readers that frequent this site, along with myself, are the perfect audience for aspiring writers, as they are so familiar with the written word, and in an ideal position to offer advice. For me it is an honour to read the unpublished work of others, and it opens up previously untapped veins (excuse the expression), but getting back to your point Michelle - I concur that this should not be a place for egos or showmanship of any kind. Just readers and writers enjoying each others company over a selection of good books.

Life Of Pi ~ Yann Martel - 15 year old boy, stranded at sea with Bengal Tiger for company. Full of witty anecdotes, wonderful narration, and tips for surviving this scenario should you end up braving it! Adventure writing at its finest. Cold Skin ~ Albert Sanchez Pinol - Strange, page-turning horror/mystery set on a remote island in a lighthouse. Minimal characters and themes allow the seige-mentality plot to drive forward. Has the feel and style of a classic. Illium ~ Dan Simmons - Epic sci-fi fused around Homer's Illiad. The battle of Troy, lunar exploration, politically minded Gods, distant worlds, alien beings, living machines, sandals, swords, spaceships...It's huge! The Science Fiction ~ H.G Wells - Four classic tales bound in one book. The Time Machine, War Of The Worlds, The First Men In The Moon, and The Island Of Dr Moreau. Fantastic imagination bring these strange worlds to life. The Great And Secret Show ~ Clive Barker - Epic dark fantasy territory here. A vast array of well-realised characters - heroic, evil and unwitting, draw events towards an apocalyptic finale. Very thematic.

Hiya tbain, love that avatar, by the way! I've been like yourself lately, struggling to get into full length books. Instead of reading, I've taken to writing some short stories. I'd be honoured if you read them. 'Ryan' is in the Writers Corner, under the thread 'A slice of flash fiction if you fancy...' 'In The Chamber Of The World' is also there under the thread 'Short story here for reading...' I'd be pleased to hear any comments you might have.

Stephen King - Massively over-rated! In his favour he has tackled a fairly wide range of genre's (The Body, The Dark Tower Series, The Stand), and he even has some stories that are very clever (Needful Things), but to me his writing style is what lets him down. He gets engrossed in detail sometimes, adamant that he must spell out every single aspect, and his pacing can sometimes jar. For me, a far better alternative is Clive Barker. His imagination is boundless (The Great And Secret Show, Imagica, The Thief Of Always, Weaveworld) and his horror is pure (The Hellbound Heart, The Books Of Blood). Book Jumper is right in her point elsewhere - King's output, whether due to contractual demands or not, has been declining steadily for years. A writer that churns out average work in volumes simply to meet deadlines is not being true to the art of writing. He doesn't get my respect. It's also an easy, familiar option to pick up King's next book, rather than look for hungrier authors with more lead in their pencils.

Some great jokes there guys. Here's another: Daffy duck, on a dirty weekend in a hotel, calls reception and asks for some condoms. The receptionist asks "Shall I put them on your bill?" "Don't be thuckin thupid" Daffy says. "I'd thuffocate."

So anyway this guy walks into a bar...

Cold, frozen and terrified. Food hard to come by. Wildlife extremely hostile. Scurvy rife, cannabalism a growing option. Wish you were here. Join the crew of the ships, Terror and the Erebus, bound in ice for 3 years while searching for the north-west passage in 1845. Survival never looked so appealing! 'The Terror' by Dan Simmons.

I've just started reading this in the hope that it'll be what I'm usually looking for, something diffferent. I've got to be honest here though - I'm only thirty odd pages in, and it's really starting to annoy me with the endless irrelevant facts and footnotes. I want to read it through but its pretentiousness is fast becoming the sludge I'm getting stuck in. On flicking through the book it's clear that the typical type format does not apply here, and I'm hoping that this basic and unoriginal (Irvine Welsh has being doing it for years) 'gimmick' isn't the reason for all the hype. Hopefully I'll make it to the end, since the premise, at least, does interest me.

Who would be considered a strict horror author then? Richard Laymon (randy teenagers being chased by psycho killers ), James Herbert, and Clive Barker? These are the only authors that I know of that have been branded as horror, though I'm sure there are dozens more out there. Got to pull you up a bit there. I can't speak for the other two but Clive Barker's style far transcends the basic laws and style of the horror genre. Most of his output, in fact, could be classed as dark fantasy. When it boils down to visionary, metaphysical writing he's in a very exclusive club. I'm surprised at how comfortable you are with labelling writers' styles, having, in so many words, confessed yourself to following media 'branding.' Sometimes its better to focus on the areas/genres that really interest you.