bobblybear Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Feeling a bit miffed by The English Monster. It's a fictionalised account of The Ratcliffe Highway murders, but the author has put a supernatural twist on it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 ^^^^^^^^^^^^irritating!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Yes, very much so! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marie H Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 I stand by your right to criticise any writer Marie! Thanks poppyshake, I think I must be sounding a bit terse and tetchy with my posts at the moment Oh dear the overwhelming snobbishness of her books (especially Malory Towers/St Clares) sailed right over my head as a child. I used to dream about boarding with those girls when in effect .. I'd have been relegated to the kitchen .. pocketing the scraps to take home to my poor old mum who'd been lamed by her gin soaked husband. Enid never considered the working classes would read her books .. she didn't think we could I have to admit that I loved the St Clare's novels as child, and It took me years to realise how hideously snobbish. They were I do find Wyndham's writing is similar to Enid Blyton, and I think it was his Cockney working-class bit (which was very much as coming from the Dick Van Dyke School of British Character Acting ) Yes .. but ... where was I? .. oh yes .. *STATING THE OBVIOUS ALERT* we all like what we like and vice versa and books that enchant one can disgust others (I had a terrible Mervyn Peake experience recently .. that is I had a nice time with him but hardly anyone else did ) We're not wishy washy with our opinions .. we love our books and authors too much and, as you say, it breeds interesting discussions I agree, we're not wishy-washy with our opinions, and its great when we discuss/disagree . I think I must vent my spleen slightly too strongly sometimes . I also got rather wound up about Jorge Luis Borges's Fictions earlier this week, and after that I was still as mad as a wet hen when I finished Trouble with Lichen . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marie H Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 And, btw, I'm sorry if I sounded huffy, didn't mean to at all! I totally agree with Kay, et als re the variety of opinions being a good thing. No pontalba, you didn't sound at all huffy, and I am glad that we can give out with our opinions here! Definitely diversity babies . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marie H Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Feeling a bit miffed by The English Monster. It's a fictionalised account of The Ratcliffe Highway murders, but the author has No wonder you are miffed! *sigh* Maybe the publishers were hoping to go for the YA market... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Just reading back the thoughts on Enid - I loved her books as a child, read Famous Five, Malory Towers and St Clare's, and never noticed any snobbishness! But then, the last time I picked one up I was probably 11! Not sure if I should go back to them and see what you mean or live in blissful ignorance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aguran Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 I've started reading The castle by franz Kafka which will be my first book of 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 (edited) Finally, I have found out the problem I had with The Secret History! The paperback copy I have, found after three days of searching, has print that is too small, too pale, and the paper is crummy.......causing the font to ever so slightly bleed. So, I gave up and downloaded the kindle copy. Now, I'm cruising along. Edited January 27, 2014 by pontalba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordie9 Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Ive finished Stephen Kings The Long Walk , enjoyed it more second time around. Im going to start another Bachman book Roadwork. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Well, finished The Secret History finally! Awesome! And I see you gave it a rather great rating... Wohoo! Finally, I have found out the problem I had with The Secret History! The paperback copy I have, found after three days of searching, has print that is too small, too pale, and the paper is crummy.......causing the font to ever so slightly bleed. So, I gave up and downloaded the kindle copy. Now, I'm cruising along. Awesome, again! I hope it continues I finished The Rosie Project yesterday, what a marvelous read! Then I picked up The Line of Beauty, I'm about ~50 pages in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sadia Tahna Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 So I have my TBR list for the next few weeks. I've added Misery by Stephen King and The great Gatsby by Fitzgerald. Misery is suppose to be a psychological thriller. I've never read anything by King so I'm looking forward to it. Gatsby is of course a classic. I hear its really good. I'll reach for them once I finish people of the book by Geraldine Brooks. The constant pressure regarding my studies has made me a very slow reader. Need to read more books every week. I need to stop feeling pathetic about not reading enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Picked up a copy of The Black Cloud by Fred Hoyle on Saturday and am planning to start it tonight. Looks like an old school end of the world British science fiction novel, in the same vein and Wells and Wyndham. Here's hoping! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 I'll be watching to see what you think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 I'm actually enjoying Paper Towns by John Green, I wasn't expecting too after disliking Looking For Alaska so much.. But there is a revenge seeking ex girlfriend in there which appeals to my sense of justice.. x That's great to hear, Paper Towns is on my TBR. So glad you're enjoying it, Chaliepud. There are some passages towards the end of the book that are among my favourite ever written. Can't wait to see what you think of it once you've finished! Athena, definitely check it out, amazing book! I finished reading The Program by Suzanne Young, which got a lot better once it got into the action. Still not sure if I'd pick up the next installment, but won't be giving it as scathing a review as I originally anticipated. Also finished Dante and Aristotle Discover The Secrets Of The Universe by some guy with three names I can never rememeber. Benjamin something. It was an unusual read, definitely one that I probably should have spent more time on instead of tearing through to get to the end, but a very good book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sofia Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Finished Burial Rites, which I really enjoyed. Started Sisterland last night. I purchased Hollow City (half price on Nook) & Orphan Train (deal of the day) but need to read a couple library books first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marie H Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 (edited) Just reading back the thoughts on Enid - I loved her books as a child, read Famous Five, Malory Towers and St Clare's, and never noticed any snobbishness! But then, the last time I picked one up I was probably 11! Not sure if I should go back to them and see what you mean or live in blissful ignorance Ah, I loved the days of St Clare's - midnight feasts, sport matches (who cared if I didn't have as clue what lacrosse was , making someone an apple-pie bed ( )jolly times they had etc. But I don't think that Enid never came across working class children, and never thought that they would read her books. . It was great to read them, it was the reading matter in summer holidays, I don't think I should go back - life seemed different when I was 11 . Good or bad, I'm never sure Edited January 27, 2014 by Marie H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Begins Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 About 18% into Starship Troopers. It will be nice to read something under 500pgs for once! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Many8 Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 I'm reading The book thief by Zusak! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordie9 Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 (edited) So I have my TBR list for the next few weeks. I've added Misery by Stephen King and The great Gatsby by Fitzgerald. Misery is suppose to be a psychological thriller. I've never read anything by King so I'm looking forward to it. Gatsby is of course a classic. I hear its really good. I'll reach for them once I finish people of the book by Geraldine Brooks. The constant pressure regarding my studies has made me a very slow reader. Need to read more books every week. I need to stop feeling pathetic about not reading enough. Misery is absolutely brilliant book, one of my favourites. So is the film, Kathy Bates plays the role of Annie Wilkes perfectly like it was made for her, she fully deserved her Oscar for it!! Hope you enjoy it!!! Edited January 27, 2014 by geordie9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 I finished The English Monster. That's going to be tough to review! I think I need something light and easy next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Ah, I loved the days of St Clare's - midnight feasts, sport matches (who cared if I didn't have as clue what lacrosse was , making someone an apple-pie bed ( )jolly times they had etc. But I don't think that Enid never came across working class children, and never thought that they would read her books. . It was great to read them, it was the reading matter in summer holidays, I don't think I should go back - life seemed different when I was 11 . Good or bad, I'm never sure I never understood what their fascination with condensed milk was Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 My Mum and her brother and sister used to have condensed milk sandwiches (during the war) - they decided one Christmas a few years ago to try them again aand all thought they were disgusting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaliepud Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 My Mum and her brother and sister used to have condensed milk sandwiches (during the war) - they decided one Christmas a few years ago to try them again aand all thought they were disgusting! My Dad used to have sugar sandwiches and has done the same! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookmonkey Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 I found a charity shop in town that had books for 50c each today. And they had The Girl with the dragon tattoo so I snapped it up, and a few others as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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