| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Newo
~ Abstract Brain ~
Spain
2674 Posts |
 Posted - 04/04/2004 : 10:16:30
|
Did you finish VGL, Offerw?
--
"You one of those right-wing nut outfits?" inquired the diplomatic Metzger.
Fallopian twinkled. "They accuse us of being paranoids."
"They?" inquired Metzger, twinkling also.
"Us?" asked Oedipa.
|
|
|
offerw
* Dog in the Sand *
South Africa
1264 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2004 : 10:22:07
|
Not yet, I'm about halfway through. I'm enjoying it so far, still to soon to say if it deserves to have won the Booker prize.
wilhelm |
 |
|
|
offerw
* Dog in the Sand *
South Africa
1264 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2004 : 11:31:23
|
Done.
Lots of jokes concerning obese Americans, television journalism and stupid kid Vernon Little. It was entertaining but nothing exceptional. When last did a realy good book win the Booker prize?
wilhelm |
|
|
|
Newo
~ Abstract Brain ~
Spain
2674 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2004 : 10:13:01
|
What stuck in my craw was at the beginning of the book he makes fun of Jean-Claude Van Damme films in which he kills the bad guy and runs off with a panty model at the end, only to have his main character do that very same thing - maybe it was some ironic foreshadowing thing, but I doubt it. I felt in the first few chapters it was shaping up to be more than that. As for Booker prize, I don´t really think any prize is a worthwhile estimation of anything, especially something as arbitrary as art. What won the Booker of Bookers (best in 25yrs) was Midnight´s Children, which I couldn´t finish. I like some of Salman Rushdie´s stuff and found some inspiration there, but generally I find reading him to be a pain in the arse.
--
"You one of those right-wing nut outfits?" inquired the diplomatic Metzger.
Fallopian twinkled. "They accuse us of being paranoids."
"They?" inquired Metzger, twinkling also.
"Us?" asked Oedipa.
|
Edited by - Newo on 04/18/2004 10:14:26 |
|
|
|
offerw
* Dog in the Sand *
South Africa
1264 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2004 : 11:07:57
|
I cannot read Rushdie at all, maybe because English is my second language and I find I have to concentrate hard to understand what he writes, sometimes read the page twice. Atonement and Life Of Pi were two Booker winners which I enjoyed but neither were stunners. Ever read JM Coetzee's Disgrace? A proud South African winner but the book was harsh and heartless.
Which Irish writers do you like Newo? Do you know Ronald Frame and Colm Toibin? Toibin is an enemy of a friend of mine. Hehe.
Sorry, I've just read Frame is Scottish. I always believed he was from Dublin.
wilhelm |
Edited by - offerw on 04/18/2004 11:27:46 |
|
|
|
GypsyDeath
Zapped Profile
3575 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2004 : 12:22:48
|
I never found much worth in booker prize winners. None of them have ever appealed to me.
Boys go to Jupiter, Get more stupider,
Girls go to Mars, Become rock stars
Wanna fuck and fight in the basement? |
|
|
|
Newo
~ Abstract Brain ~
Spain
2674 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2004 : 04:18:40
|
My favourite Irish writer is Beckett, I find him funny and sad and cruel and brave and I don´t think there´s anyone else like him. Other than him, there´s Flann O´Brien, a comic who wrote a hilarious column for the Irish Times years ago under the name Myles naGopaleen. I´m reading his At Swim-Two-Birds at the moment and enjoying. Oh and boring answer but Joyce also, I think my writing improves immensely after putting down one of his books.
I´ve read a story by Coetzee and thought Hey why haven´t I read more of this guy? Is there any novel of his you recommend as a starter?
--
"You one of those right-wing nut outfits?" inquired the diplomatic Metzger.
Fallopian twinkled. "They accuse us of being paranoids."
"They?" inquired Metzger, twinkling also.
"Us?" asked Oedipa.
|
|
|
|
offerw
* Dog in the Sand *
South Africa
1264 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2004 : 06:20:13
|
I am yet to read something by Beckett. Ulysses and Finnegan's Wake still sits unread on the bookshelf, I feel like I'll have to enroll in some literature studies course to come to grips with those novels. Dubliners I've read, it was excellent.
The Coetzee novel I enjoyed most was The Live And Times Of Michael K. Waiting For The Barbarians is seen as his best novel by most. I'd say any one of these two novels would be a good place to start. Coetzee has been an Academic most of his live and I think it shows in his work. He writes in a sparse way, no fussy sentences or clever tricks. The politics of this country always feature strongly in his novels.
wilhelm |
|
|
|
Newo
~ Abstract Brain ~
Spain
2674 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2004 : 05:05:14
|
If you´re going to read Ulysses, best advice I can give is if there´s a passage you don´t understand keep reading and let the language wash through you and there´s always second and third and so on readings. Too, if something doesn´t make sense, try reading it aloud as Joyce was quite musical so sometimes the words are there to be sung, chanted or rhymed.
Owen
--
"You one of those right-wing nut outfits?" inquired the diplomatic Metzger.
Fallopian twinkled. "They accuse us of being paranoids."
"They?" inquired Metzger, twinkling also.
"Us?" asked Oedipa.
|
|
|
|
realmeanmotorscutor
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1764 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2004 : 06:48:19
|
Dubliners was pretty good, Portrait of The Artist was great and Ulysses in an immense waste of time. I don't mean to be rude but people who claim to like Ulysses are lying to themselves. They are convincing themselves that there is something to like or that, because it it such a scholarly work, they ought to like it. Joyce was way too GD self-indulgent and he ought to have been shot for assuming any of us would give a damn about his "genius."
 "I joined the Cult of Popeye / The CoF required my good eye" |
|
|
|
Newo
~ Abstract Brain ~
Spain
2674 Posts |
Posted - 04/26/2004 : 02:04:50
|
I don't think that's rude (if I was the type to find something like that offensive I'd prolly be writing in caps now), and if you didn't find anything to like about Ulysses that's fine but speak for yourself, mister. Tho I did use to live in Dublin so maybe the readings are more colourful for it.
Owen |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Vernon God Little
