atticjnr Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 (edited) Today I finished a Terry Pratchett and started on another fantasy book called "Dragon... umm, something" and as you can guess, it is another stereotypical fantasy book and I found myself guessing everything that was about to happen and I was only about 30 pages of around 800 in. I decided I needed to broaden my bookish-horizons, so to speak, and went to Foyles where I spent about an hour looking through the Classics, as I have previously really enjoyed a few even though it isn't a type of book I read regularly, and decided on three books. I just wanted to know if anyone has read them and what their views on them were. I apologise if there are separate threads for these; I just thought getting them all in the same place would be useful for me. (That sounds very self-centered. I apologise again.) The books are: Norman Collins - London Belongs to Me Ken Kesey - One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Oscar Wilde - Complete Shorter Fiction (I know this isn't an individual novel but anyone with views on his shorter works would be grand.) Thanks Edited October 25, 2009 by atticjnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanwa Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 Hiya! I can't answer for the first as I've not read it. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is fantastic, and Wilde is a genius. Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 Someone posted recently about London Belongs to Me and it sounds brilliant - and as Vanwa said, you can't go wrong with Wilde (and I'm sure Nollaig will be along before long to agree too! ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atticjnr Posted October 25, 2009 Author Share Posted October 25, 2009 Ah thank you. I have started London Belongs to Me and so far I'm enjoying it and the whole concept of the story intrigues me. I know Wilde is a genius; I have read Dorian Gray ages ago and loved it, which reminds me it's due for a re-read when I find who I lent it to. I may add to the posts about London Belongs to Me when I find it and have finished the book. Any other reads that are set in old London, similar to LBTM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is one of my favourite books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peacefield Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 Ditto to what Kylie said! One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest most definitely is excellent . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 Ah thank you.I have started London Belongs to Me and so far I'm enjoying it and the whole concept of the story intrigues me.... I may add to the posts about London Belongs to Me when I find it and have finished the book. Any other reads that are set in old London, similar to LBTM? LBTM is certainly mentioned in the first couple of posts on my reading thread. I loved it! Another one I equally enjoyed was Michael Moorcock's Mother London. The reviews listed as the three most helpful on Amazon say everything I would want to say (and better!), so suggest a quick perusal of those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libri vermis Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is the only one I have read. An excellent read, and has a lot more to offer than the movie did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephanie2008 Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest is on my list to buy Although I haven't read any on your list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuggleMagic Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 I have recently read One Flew Over. I didn't find myself desperate to read it or particularly turning the pages quckly but I am SOOO glad I kept with it. If you want characters that you will want to back and get behind then read this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atticjnr Posted October 26, 2009 Author Share Posted October 26, 2009 Ah thanks everyone for letting me know. I am really enjoying LBTM and think already I can safely say that I would recommend it, especially if anyone has an interest in 30's London! It's really interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green_Shoe Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - there was also a movie, wasn't it? I haven't read the book yet but it's on my TBR list already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libri vermis Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - there was also a movie, wasn't it? I haven't read the book yet but it's on my TBR list already. Yes, the movie starred Jack Nicholson and a number of other pretty well known actors. Danny De Vito was one and Christopher Lloyd was another, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Read Oscar Wilde. Short stories (I love The Canterville Ghost), plays (I love The Importance Of Being Earnest), and his only novel, The Picture Of Dorian Gray. If you don't love him, your soul is about as reedeemable as Dorian's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Ah thanks everyone for letting me know. I am really enjoying LBTM and think already I can safely say that I would recommend it, especially if anyone has an interest in 30's London! It's really interesting. I can't recommend it... as I haven't read it! However, I have my eye on this, which is non-fiction (I don't know if that appeals to you or not?). It was written in about 1950. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ned Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 I highly recommend Oscar Wilde Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueK Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 (edited) Ah thanks everyone for letting me know. I am really enjoying LBTM and think already I can safely say that I would recommend it, especially if anyone has an interest in 30's London! It's really interesting. Great choice of book atticjnr. I love Norman Collins and once you have finished LBTM, - a film of it was made years ago with Richard Attenborough as Percy - you may enjoy Bond Street Story. I don't know how easily available it is as it's been out of print for a while (I think) but it is a lovely story. If you are also interested in books set in 30's London, then you really MUST read Angel Pavement by J B Priestley, my all time favourite book. It is set in a fictitious road in London and centres around the comings and goings of a group of people who work in a firm in Angel Pavement, the writing is just glorious. Edited October 28, 2009 by SueK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was indeed a movie, starring Jack Nicholson. It is excellent - the book is also terrific and well worth reading:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fruska Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 You can't go wrong with Oscar Wilde. I defy anyone to read The Happy Prince without sobbing loudly! The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband are quite rightly hugely popular but Lady Windermere's Fan is my personal favourite...absolutely heartbreaking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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