Nollaig Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Kylie I look forward to your thoughts on both Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and The Road - I haven't read any Cormac McCarthy but I have No Country For Old Men and I know he has a very distinctive writing style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 13, 2010 Author Share Posted January 13, 2010 I was a bit wary of reading this because I'd heard McCarthy doesn't use a lot of punctuation and I'm very big on correct grammar. However my desire to read it won out. I'm trying to ignore the fact that he doesn't use an apostrophe in don't and yet he uses them in other words. And he doesn't use quotations to show that a character is speaking (indeed, he doesn't even tell us which character is speaking) but it's easy enough to work out as there are only two characters and one is a child. In short, despite the above rant, I'm enjoying McCarthy's writing style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 13, 2010 Author Share Posted January 13, 2010 I just wanted to make a note of the books I have on order at the moment: From Booktopia (ordered Saturday 9th): Macbeth by William Shakespeare Telling Tales by Melissa Katsoulis From The Book Depository (first two ordered Monday 11th, second two ordered Thursday 14th): The Plucker by Brom The Halting State by Charles Stross Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi Coraline by Neil Gaiman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirinrob Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 The McCarthy style regarding dialogue, is similar to Thomas Wharton, except Wharton indicates its dialogue by using a hyphen at the start of each line of dialogue and usually (but not always)indicates who is speaking. I found it reasonably straight forward, if unconventional when i recently read 'Salamander' by Thomas Wharton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AbielleRose Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 Macbeth by William ShakespeareCoraline by Neil Gaiman I'm most interested to hear your thoughts on these two. Have you ever read Shakespeare before? Coraline was such a great movie. If the book is half as good I just may be stealing this one from you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 I studied Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing in high school. I still have my MAAN book, but not Macbeth, which isn't really surprising because I hated it at the time. I think I will have a much better appreciation of it this time around because my reading tastes have matured so much. I'm really looking forward to reading it again, and I bought a version that I think will have a lot of notes to help me along the way. I remember my friend and I acted out the scene from when Macbeth has just killed somebody. I was Lady Macbeth. My Dad made us some daggers out of wood and we coloured them blood-red with textas. I still have them. I recently recorded Orson Welles' version of Macbeth so I'll watch that after we've read and discussed the text. We studied MAAN a couple of years later, and I enjoyed that one much more. I understood it better and loved the humour in it. I saw Coraline for the first time recently and I loved it so much that I immediately wanted to read the book. I'll definitely let you know how it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 I was looking over my bookshelves last night and noticing books that I don't really fancy reading anymore, or ones that I've read and not enjoyed. Because space is at a premium at the moment, I thought I'd make a list of books to potentially weed out and sell/give to charity. (Actually, I plan on going to IKEA this weekend and buying another bookcase. So I'll have plenty of space again soon, but I'd still rather get rid of some books.) Isaac Asmiov: Pebble in the Sky Isaac Asimov: The Rest of the Robots Isaac Asimov: The Stars Like Dust Jean M Auel: The Clan of the Cave Bear Jean M Auel: The Mammoth Hunters Jean M Auel: The Valley of Horses Clive Barker: Abarat Clive Barker: Everville Clive Barker: Galilee Philip K Dick: The Divine Invasion Philip K Dick: I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon Philip K Dick: The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch Philip K Dick: The Transmigration of Timothy Archer Ian Fleming: Casino Royale Ian Fleming: Diamonds are Forever Ian Fleming: Goldfinger Ian Fleming: Moonraker Ian Fleming: You Only Live Twice Aldous Huxley: The Grey Eminence Aldous Huxley: Point Counter Point Aldous Huxley: Those Barren Leaves DH Lawrence: Sons and Lovers Stanislaw Lem: Hospital of the Transfiguration Stanislaw Lem: More Tales of Pirx the Pilot Henry Miller: The Tropic of Cancer Henry Miller: The Tropic of Capricorn Jodi Piccoult: Vanishing Acts Nicholas Sparks: A Walk to Remember It's not so much that I never want to read these books (except maybe Sons and Lovers; Lady Chatterley's Lover put me off Lawrence well and truly), but realistically I know these books are on the very bottom of my TBR pile, so is it worthwhile having them sitting on my shelves for many years to come, contributing to my guilt over how many unread books I have? I tend to have a problem where, if there's a book by an author that I want, I start buying up every other book they've written when I don't even know if I'll like any of their stuff. Case in point: I wanted I, Robot by Isaac Asimov and ended up buying all these other books that I'm really not interested in reading. One of my goals this year is to stop doing that. I also have a lot of the above books in electronic format, so if I changed my mind one day, at least I still have them in one format. And I think they're almost all secondhand too, so I won't feel too much of a financial loss by getting rid of them. There are about half a dozen other books not listed that I've read in the last few years that I was unimpressed with, so I'll also get rid of those. Now, has anyone read any of these and wants to try to convince me to keep them? I warn you, it better be a very good reason because I'm not feeling too kind towards them at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirinrob Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 I'm not going even going to try and convince you - dump the lot. Some I've tried and given up on 'Sons and Lovers' immediately springs to mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 Thanks sirinrob, I need all the encouragement I can get. Now that I think about it, I thought I had already given away Sons and Lovers. Either I need to update my TBR list, or I'm really bad at getting rid of books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 I recently recorded Orson Welles' version of Macbeth so I'll watch that after we've read and discussed the text. Oooh, you've just reminded me that I have an (unwatched as yet) version on DVD starring Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench which came free with a newspaper. I shall have to watch that after I've read Macbeth. Thanks! I gave up on a Roddy Doyle book several years ago after struggling with the lack of speech marks. I found it really got on my nerves, even though he does use a dash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 (edited) I think you should dump the lot if you don't fancy those books anymore. One question though: have you read any of the James Bond books (especially Casino Roayle)? I hate the movies, but CR is on 1001 Books so I've always wondered if I should give it a go anyway. Have you read it, is it any good and worth the read? It's not so much that I never want to read these books (except maybe Sons and Lovers; Lady Chatterley's Lover put me off Lawrence well and truly), but realistically I know these books are on the very bottom of my TBR pile, so is it worthwhile having them sitting on my shelves for many years to come, contributing to my guilt over how many unread books I have? Now there's a sentence I could not agree more with! I feel so bad for the poor people back in the days who had to read this because it was the thing to read, and then must have felt so betrayed and robbed of their precious time. I tend to have a problem where, if there's a book by an author that I want, I start buying up every other book they've written when I don't even know if I'll like any of their stuff. Case in point: I wanted I, Robot by Isaac Asimov and ended up buying all these other books that I'm really not interested in reading. One of my goals this year is to stop doing that. I wish you good luck with that! Edit: Almost forgot! Nice to see Helter Skelter on the book order list Also, how did you get wind of Telling Tales? I was browsing goodreads just now and searched for other Finnish people who are online and I happened to see this girl Minna who's just only recently read that book and I noticed the whole title of the book (Telling Tales: A History of Literary Hoaxes). Now that sounds interesting!! Edited January 14, 2010 by frankie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 If you don't think you'll read them dump them. I think it's a shame to see Asimov and Huxley getting dumped, but since I was surprised they were actually on the pile, it makes sense that you'd want to get rid of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 Oooh, you've just reminded me that I have an (unwatched as yet) version on DVD starring Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench which came free with a newspaper. I shall have to watch that after I've read Macbeth. Thanks! Glad to be of assistance! One question though: have you read any of the James Bond books (especially Casino Roayle)? I hate the movies, but CR is on 1001 Books so I've always wondered if I should give it a go anyway. Have you read it, is it any good and worth the read? Oh, I forgot this was on the list. Maybe I should keep just the one then, as I haven't yet read any of the James Bond books. I know one or two people around here have read them (stand up and be counted please!) and I think they were given reasonably good reviews. Also, how did you get wind of Telling Tales? I was browsing goodreads just now and searched for other Finnish people who are online and I happened to see this girl Minna who's just only recently read that book and I noticed the whole title of the book (Telling Tales: A History of Literary Hoaxes). Now that sounds interesting!! I think I randomly came across it while I was browsing an online bookstore. It sounds perfect for me so I couldn't resist! I already have one book that details a famous Australian literary hoax, but it'll be good to have a book that goes right back in history. I think it sounds great and I can't wait to receive it. I think it's a shame to see Asimov and Huxley getting dumped, but since I was surprised they were actually on the pile, it makes sense that you'd want to get rid of them. It's late here and I'm tired, so I'm easily confused at the moment. What do you mean by this? I thought you were saying it was a shame to dump them because you like these authors? But then why are you surprised they're on my pile? I actually have a whole stack of both Asimov and Huxley (classic Kylie: buy every book by the author that I can lay my hands on), and I'm thinking of only getting rid of a select few. I'll still be keeping the 5 books of Asimov's Foundation series that I have, and I'll be keeping another 4 or 5 Huxleys. The ones listed above are just the ones I realistically know I won't get to in a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 Try not to think in terms of dumping them Kylie. You are re-homing these books. I think it's a really good idea. I had a clear out about 6 months ago, and the books I said bye-bye to (after much thought and debate) can no longer mock me from their shelves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 It's late here and I'm tired, so I'm easily confused at the moment. What do you mean by this? I thought you were saying it was a shame to dump them because you like these authors? But then why are you surprised they're on my pile? I just had NO idea they'd be your sort of thing! It's awesome, so it's a shame you don't feel they're worth keeping, but since I wouldn't have recommended them in the first place (due to not knowing you liked them), it's probably not the most obvious genre you like, so there's not so much harm in getting rid of them. Did that make more sense? I'm not a massive fan of either, but they're both authors I'd read, yeah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 Oh, I forgot this was on the list. Maybe I should keep just the one then, as I haven't yet read any of the James Bond books. I know one or two people around here have read them (stand up and be counted please!) and I think they were given reasonably good reviews. Dump them now! I've read Casino Royale and it was dull, badly written and misogynistic and completely put me off reading any more (I still love the films though, as they are a different breed). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 I too have read Casino Royale (there is a review thread of it somewhere) - and I agree that it was dreadful! James Bond was so thick in it that he didn't see something coming that I spotted a mile off - and I'm not even a secret agent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 I too have read Casino Royale (there is a review thread of it somewhere) - and I agree that it was dreadful! James Bond was so thick in it that he didn't see something coming that I spotted a mile off - and I'm not even a secret agent! That sounds so stupid that I'm more intrigued than I was before I'll just think it's a parody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 I think it's a really good idea. I had a clear out about 6 months ago, and the books I said bye-bye to (after much thought and debate) can no longer mock me from their shelves! It will certainly be nice to give myself a little breathing space, especially now that my TBR pile is rapidly approaching 600. I just had NO idea they'd be your sort of thing! It's awesome, so it's a shame you don't feel they're worth keeping, but since I wouldn't have recommended them in the first place (due to not knowing you liked them), it's probably not the most obvious genre you like, so there's not so much harm in getting rid of them. Did that make more sense? I'm not a massive fan of either, but they're both authors I'd read, yeah. I'm glad I surprised you. I'd really love to read more sci-fi, and I've been expanding into a lot of new authors recently, but they always seem to take a backseat to the rest of my TBR pile. I'm a particular fan of Huxley's because he's written a few dystopians, although a lot of his books sound really interesting (hence me buying them). Hmm, I might have to rethink Huxley... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 Like Frankie, I think I'm intrigued even more by Casino Royale now. Maybe I'll bump it up the TBR pile and try to get through it quickly. If I don't think much of it (which I won't, by the sounds of it), then I'll happily re-home (thanks Chrissy!) the lot. My bookish goals for the weekend: Go through my books and put into a box the ones I no longer intend to read. Remove all traces of them from my online reading lists. Go to IKEA and buy myself a new Billy bookcase. I won't be able to assemble it yet because this is going to be a modified bookcase and I need my Dad's help. He doesn't know this yet. Finish reading The Road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 I went through my books and ended up removing over 20. Some of them I have read and won't be reading again, and I gave a huge pile of them to my ex. The others will be going to charity. I have managed to reduce my TBR pile from 590 to 566. Yay! I still have some re-jigging to do of my reading lists, so that total will probably change again. I finished reading The Road first thing on Saturday morning and thought it was great - more comments to come. I'm now reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I'm about 80 pages in and enjoying it. I received my LibraryThing Early Reviewers copy of Aldous Huxley's After the Fireworks, so I guess that should get moved nearer the top of my TBR pile. And I bought my Billy bookcase from IKEA but am yet to put it together (I need more tools!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 590 -> 566, good job Kylie! I love those Billy Bookcases from Ikea, but I need glassdoors for my bookcase because I'm allergic to dust so can't buy the regular kind and the glassdoor versions are always much more expensive I think you need to take new pics of you library when you get the bookcase all sorted out! Too bad about the hammer, you must've had a real "D'oh!!" moment when you came home from the hardware store... *a little giggle* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 19, 2010 Author Share Posted January 19, 2010 It was definitely a d'oh moment , especially when I had even thought about getting a hammer while there (I don't have many tools in general) but I decided I would be OK with it. I've put together enough bookcases by now to know that I will need a hammer, but I just didn't think of it! The glass doors look nice, but they're definitely pretty expensive. And once you have a few bookcases the cost adds up. How do you store your books at the moment? I would hate to be allergic to dust; it just gets everywhere and is very hard to avoid. It must be very difficult for you. I'm 155 pages into The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and getting more and more hooked. And I now have 8 books on order from here and overseas. I think (hope!) they'll start arriving next week at the latest. I'm excited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Happy reading Kylie, you sound very organised ~ good times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 It was definitely a d'oh moment, especially when I had even thought about getting a hammer while there (I don't have many tools in general) but I decided I would be OK with it. I've put together enough bookcases by now to know that I will need a hammer, but I just didn't think of it! Well it's easy enough to forget something like that! Remember the hammer Lorelai gave (?) for Rory when she went to raise that house for school credit? Maybe you should get one of those. It'll make a nice decorative piece for your apartment when you're not using it Hmph, btw, didn't you say your Dad was going to help you put the bookcase together? Don't tell me he doesn't have a hammer? I don't think the glass doors look nice, I'd much prefer the regular kind =/ I'm using this bookcase (I don't even know if it's a real bookcase) I bought years ago which has glass doors, it's so ... deep? ... that I can fit two rows of books on one shelf. Also, I had to empty my underwear drawer so I'd have more room, I keep my thrillers, fantasy novels and smaller paperbacks there The dust thing is not too bad, but I have noticed that in some secondhand bookshops I'll start sneezing if I spend too much time there, and I think I couldn't work in one And I now have 8 books on order from here and overseas. I think (hope!) they'll start arriving next week at the latest. I'm excited. Nice I do hope they come this week though, of course. Happy reading Kylie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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