sirinrob

Welcome WrongIslander Look forward to your comments

To add to the list 'A Fraction of the Whole' Steve Toltz - this just gets funnier and funnier as you read through the novel.

Hehe I'm the nerd ( geek whatever ) that goes for niche books - Beckett, Pynchon, Borges, Hesse and various authors in German that aren't translated. However i do enjoy some authors that are on the edge of mainstream Fforde, Moers, Zusak and Szeb. Wont touch hyped at all.

finished 'The Brief Wondorous Life of Oscar Wao' by Junot D

Like your style of review, and your candidness. Would seem we have similar taste, being fellow readers of 'Gravity's Rainbow'. At the moment I'm reading round the world, discovered some writers I like and others I don't. Given your experience, can you suggest any good Cuban or Haiti writers?

Yes that had passed through my mind, it seems Bradbury's intention was to point to that fact that the society was dying and we know what happened in the end.

Something I've noticed, is a lack of young people in the city. Other than Clarissa, the short mention of school and the cafes and the joyriders, the society seems to be 'sterile'. Mildred certainly doesn't want children and Mrs Phelps has apparently had several abortions. It strikes me as an odd facet of the society - almost an aversion to children.

I've bitten the bullet and now I'm in the planning phase of writing a fantasy novel - gulp. It means I'll end up reading even more now as I'll need to research various topics I would like to include

As for 'Gravity's Rainbow' I have read it - trick seems to be to get past the first 250 pages, then it starts to make sense:roll:

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

Suggestions for 1980's non-fiction 'Chaos' by James Gleick, 'Set In a Silver Sea' Arthur Bryant, 'The Living Planet' David Attenborough

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

Thomas Kinsella, though by no means young, is still writing damn good poetry. The Pepincaster poems take some beating for their depth in my view.

It is good, but not quite vintage Balzac. For that read Cousin Bette. I liked the review - have you read my review of 'La Vendetta?? ETA I've become a Balzac fan so thoughts on his work are always appreciated:D

unfortunately, trudging through 'The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao' by Junto Diaz. So far its pants, overated rubbish. However to earn my Dominican Republic tick need to finish it, or I feel I've cheated

I'd like to take up this challenge, I'll go for Fair Dinkum level Quick question to count do authors have to be born in Australia?

Ok we'll have to agree to disagree:D

Ok from a learners/intermediate point of view your point is valid , but , like yourself , advanced /fluent in a target language don't you find parallel translation annoying? Speaking personally, I'd rather read the original and enjoy the discovery rather than be fed what a translator thinks is the meaning, as they can, and often do, misrepresent the context.

Finished 'Creole' by Jos

Set against the end of the slave trade in Angola, this epistolary novel charts the adventures of one Fradique Mendes, at once a Portuguese aristocrat and an adventurer. The events in the novel span Angola, Europe and Brazil. At the start , the protagonist lands in Angola, naive to how the society there behaves. He soon learns and amongst other things falls in love with Ana Ol

Agreed, but I never understand the need to have parallel text, why not just have the translated text and be done with?

On the Millie suicide point Chrissy, I beg to differ , she was either in the parlor with the wall or had the seashells in her ears ( recollect how the morning after she had them in) . I believe subliminal messages that somehow dulled the memory affected her and /or a drug administered during her 'resuscitation'. For me Mildred represents the non-thinking , conformist types in society. I see that type everyday, all aping each other and talking he same banal rubbish. ETA As you all might have gathered I have strong views on the issues raised in the novel.

The paperback editions of Classics I prefer are the 'Oxford Classics'. The covers are attractive and the paper quality is good, though as Kell says you can get beautifully bound editions, best places for them are secondhand bookshops or specialist publishers. The green 'Penguins' I wont touch with a longboat pole - its longer than a barge pole

I didn't know the paperback version of the Snow was unavailable . The alternative I mentioned whilst not as comprehensive seems to get good reviews. Personally I would buy a German only edition, I have an aversion to parallel texts, which both of these are.

If you want a book then the 'The Poetry of Rilke' by Edward Snow seems to be praised, but get the paperback version, as it seems the hardback ,as a book, is not good quality. Also there are loads of online resources, simply Google Rilke poems ETA Found this as well 'The Selected Poetry (Picador Classics)' (Paperback). Its not a complete collection, but is comprehensive.