Timstar
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Posts posted by Timstar
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Had a great bank holiday, such lovely weather! Went for a picnic and walk along the river Cam. Also went to the Botanical Gardens which were so peaceful
Back to work today though
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awesome, another series to start!
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Lawless, not bad, not amazing.
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Great review, glad you liked it
I read Of Mice and Men last year and loved it! I have had East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath on my TBR pile since. What's next? let me guess... Necessary Evil? -
Iron Man 3. It was good fun but a bit over-the-top... even for an Iron Man film
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Tim, I found The Desert Spear ok in length, but gave up with The Daylight Wars - so if you find the former too long, don't bother with the 3rd one!
Yeah I'm in two minds, I am invested in the characters and storyline and would like to see what happens... but would just like to find out sooner
I have a library reservation that is at least a couple of months away so i'll see how I feel then. -
That's probably because Wolfgang Petersen completely removed that side of the story from Troy
That's true but the whole film is awful! I did find myself thinking how can a 3000 year old poem be so much better than a multi-million pound film with so many great actors... (and Orlando Bloom). But it's not just the film, I had an idea of the story from seeing it so much in popular culture but it really surprised me.
That's just the way it is, I think. I certainly read that comment many times when I was deciding which translation to buy. You have to take into account, I guess, that - in its original form - it was probably chanted, so repetition would have formed part of that because it allowed the audience to join in as well.
That is true, I was thinking about this, how it would have been delivered originally. Didn't think of audience participation though!
You really should give David Gemmell's Troy trilogy a try. The women in his version are incredibly strong characters.
It's on my wishlist!
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Yeah, that's a good way to summarise The Desert Spear, there isn't enough pay-off to make it worthwhile.
Also listened to The Iliad audio book which I enjoyed immensely. Translated by Stephen Mitchell and read by Alfred Molina (Doc. Ock himself). I knew the general story but I admit I was a bit ignorant, I didn't realise that the story didn't contain the Trojan horse/sacking of Troy or the death of Achilles. I also didn't realise how much the gods meddle with the battles, right now to the individual fights, either saving directly or spurring on one side.
I also found the gods very fickle, they would choose to help one side then get bored or feel bad for the other side and help them. They were also very easily swayed by humans or other gods by simply being asked 'What you doing? Why you doing this? Can you...not?'. I'm generalising but you get the idea. I have never read another translation so it is hard to compare. This version was good and easy to follow but there were a lot of repeat sentences (whether this is down to the translation or not I don't know) for example someone would ask someone to take a message to someone else, they tell the messenger the message then we hear the messenger tell the recipient the same message word for word even if it is a few paragraphs long. This happened many times and seemed very unnecessary.
The story is crammed with vivid similes that truly paint a beautiful picture time and time again, especially during the battle scenes which were long and plentiful. I loved how it gets right down to the individual, stating who slays whom and how. If it is an unknown character it would say a bit about them as they died, ... son of so-and-so, from where-ever with a bit about either their job or family in very much a sentimental way that helps you connect with the horror, violence and waste of it all.
One thing I didn't like, but the story can't really be blamed for it, is the treatment of women throughout. I know it is just the time it was written in but they are seen very much as possessions to be traded and used, won or lost. Yet, ironically, the whole war is over a woman. Whether this irony is intended or not, I'm not sure.
Overall 9/10
Although I'm getting towards the end of my plan I think it was a bit too ambitious as I have now lost the will to read the final few that are on there, probably because they have been on my 'to read soon' list for so long. So I'm not giving up but I am gonna take a short break from it, I realise this kind of defeats the purpose but never mind.
I got Wool by Hugh Howey from the library and started that last night. I have also been reading through a few stories in Joe Hill's 20th Century Ghosts which are bizarre to say the least but I would say they are on par with Clive Barker's Books of Blood. I will be starting Red Seas Under Red Skies audio book tomorrow which I can't wait for!
In purchasing news I bought Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny and Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King which was the last book I needed from the 2007 Hodder collection
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The hardback is just over 800 pages . . .
Right, that's it then. Thanks for the excellent review, Tim. What little enthusiasm I might have had for reading The Desert Spear has just disappeared completely.
Glad to have influenced you but hope it's not the wrong way... unless you loved TPM i'm guessing you wouldn't really enjoy this.
It's a shame cause it's such an original story but so many fantasies these seem to go for a lenghty novel as a given. As oppose to the 70s, 80s when most were 200-300 pages
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The Desert Spear - Peter V. BrettSynopsis
The Deliverer has returned, but who is he?
Arlen Bales, formerly of the small hamlet of Tibbet’s Brook, learnt harsh lessons about life as he grew up in a world where hungry demons stalk the night and humanity is trapped by its own fear. He chose a different path; chose to fight inherited apathy and the corelings, and eventually he became the Painted Man, a reluctant saviour.
But the figure emerging from the desert, calling himself the Deliverer, is not Arlen. He is a friend and betrayer, and though he carries the spear from the Deliverer’s tomb, he also heads a vast army intent on a holy war against the demon plague… and anyone else who stands in his way.
Review
After thoroughly enjoying the originality of The Painted Man I was looking forward to reading the sequel, it started off quite interesting, not following the main characters from TPM but exploring the world and characters that live in the desert that Arlen briefly visited in the previous novel. The events begin some 30 years before the main events of TPM and follows Jardir through his training and rise to power in the desert.
This was a refreshing beginning as oppose to carrying on right were the previous book left off, the problem is it went on far too long... It was 33% on my Kindle before some of the old characters came back and the story was back on track. The section was needed as it set up the events of the book but like the rest of it, it just spent far too long doing it. The length of the story is enough to rival some epic fantasies such as Jordan and Martin but the scope of events simply isn't. I'm not sure how much longer TDS is than TPM but it felt a LOT longer, i'm not the fastest reader but I would get an hour of so in just to have gone up 1 or 2% and have very little happen.
What I liked about TPM was that the scope wasn't 'epic' it was a more personal and simple fantasy that was easy to get stuck into, TDS would have been the same it was at least 1/3 shorter if not more. I enjoyed the events and I enjoyed the writing and characters but just the whole way through I was willing it to hurry up. I didn't come close to giving up like Kingkiller but I was finding myself wishing that I was further through. It is hard to look past that and think of the positives, so I will just say I did enjoy it and I will read the sequel... I just hope it is shorter.
Overall 7/10
N.B - There was also too much jargon to learn that the desert folk use, couldn't remember a lot of it until about half way in.
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I am still trying to get hold of a copy of Heroes Die... for a reasonable price.
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In the pub the other night, we discussed, deliberated and cogitated - and came to the conclusion that it's been going downhill since about halfway through Tom Baker's run
Very true... the new series can't compare. The Jon Pertwee years were my favourite, especially with the Brigadier.
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Game of Thrones 3x04. Good stuff! Best ep since the end of season 1, for me.
Amazing wasn't it!!
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The last good episode/s were the Silence at the start of series 6, not felt the desire to re-watch any since then. I must of watched the first 5 at least 3 to 4 times.
I've also noticed with the new series there are no 'sub-companions' back on earth for them to go to, like Mickey or Jackie etc... Most of whom were great and gave the stories such heart. I know they are doing something with Clara's back story that may be why she doesn't have any family but they should have at least one person for them to go back to.. In series 5 it was Rory until he came along as well then they realised they didn't have anyone so suddenly put his Dad in...which didn't work particularly well.
Hopefully the end of the this series and the 50th anniversary will lift it up again cause if not I probably won't be watching anymore. Although why they haven't bought Jack back for the 50th is beyond me, he was ready and eager to do it but didn't get asked :S
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It has been going downhill ever since Russell T. Davies left, last good season was 5. I don't like that they keep changing the 'rules' to suit their story lines like a grumpy, petty Tardis which can fly :S He also uses his sonic screwdriver wayyy too much. Clara is OK, I don't hate her but she isn't winning me over like Amy did.
The Winter Warrior was the best so far in the season so far but even that was about average. Last weeks was good up until the very end which was completely unnecessary.
I also don't like the new opening credits, the music and visuals used to give me goosebumps it was so good, now it's just weird.
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I've not listened to the Painted Man audiobook... was it really that bad? I am about 2/3 into The Desert Spear, it is ok but very slow.
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Needful Things - Stephen King (Narrated by the Author)Synopsis
There was a new shop in town. Run by a stranger.
Needful Things, the sign said. The oddest name. A name that caused some gossip and speculation among the good folks of Castle Rock, Maine, while they waited for opening day.
Eleven-year-old Brian Rusk was the first customer and he got just what he wanted, a very rare 1956 Sandy Koufax baseball card. Signed. Cyndi Rose Martin was next. A Lalique vase. A perfect match for her living room decor.
Something for everyone. Something you really had to have. And always at a price you could just about afford. The cash price that is. Because there was another price. There always is when your heart's most secret, true desire is for sale .
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Whilst listening to this I was reminded of a great line from Heath Ledger's 'The Joker' in The Dark Knight - "You see, madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little…push." The owner of a new store in town, Leland Gaunt, 'pushes' a number of the townsfolk then just sits back and watches and the madness and mayhem unfolds.
The book takes a while to set up for the pay-off but it is one hell of a pay-off that makes it all worth while. It begins slow and detailed but you soon learn that King hasn't wasted a word. The character set up and development was critical to the believe-ability of the story. Set again in the fictional Maine town of Castle Rock, King, as usual includes numerous nods to his previous work including Cujo, The Body, Shawshank to name but a few.
The story is fantastic, as Leland subtlety plays the townsfolk off against each other with small pranks that in themselves are harmless but when it happens to certain person and is portrayed as a malice act by an enemy of that person...it's the spark that lights the dynamite. In this manner the depths of the human psyche are explored and the evils that people are capable of too each other are brought into the spot light.
As the towns begins to turn on itself, the violence is over-the-top in the usual King style. Old grudges come to heads, friendships
fall apart and religious beliefs become more than war of words. The imagery is unique yet vivid and profound.Not the best King novel by far but a great idea that is delivered perfectly.
Overall - 8/10
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Pygmy by Chuck Palahniuk has the weirdest language and style i've ever read.
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Harrison Ford Interview on the new Star Wars
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Glad you liked it! I've no doubt you'll like Red Country as well. Do you recommend reading them in order then? The only one i've read is Red Country and was planning on The Heroes next but would it better to read the First Law then BSC and The Heroes?
Abercrombie and Martin are my most anticipated authors at the moment!
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Not sure if this is good news or not... the last couple of seasons weren't great. It won't down hill with the Writers strike and never recovered. 1st season is still brilliant though!
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Just started watching this with the Wife and we are both enjoying it a lot! Not too keen on Clare Danes though, not a great character and not a great performance.
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Do you think he would share it...
...unlikely to be honest
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It's my Wife's birthday today, baked a cake for the first time ever!
Classic Doctor Who
in Music / TV / Films
Posted
Some great episodes there! Hope you enjoy them