Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading?

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

Oh yes. I read on the beach and by the pool, and it was very relaxing. If I did it at home, I wouldn't have gotten all the free meals/drinks, wouldn't have been in that nice comfy bed, wouldn't have gotten a tan, and would have had to leave both my work and personal cell phones on. Worth the money

Glad to hear you enjoyed yourself.

Although, for me, my bed at home is always the most comfy.

BOb

[Zipr]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Ignatius J. Reilly is certainly one of the most outrageous comedic characters ever devised.

It hard to imagine that John Kennedy Toole was able to capture Ignatius' madness but not see his own enough to get help. Maybe it was his own madness that enabled him to build this character??

[BenG]

Originally Posted by kainne

I recommend a book I just finished, The Ruins by Scott Smith I really enjoyed it
& have been told it's way better than the movie. Also finished The City of Ember which was also good but I think the movie was better.

I didn't really care for the movie version but being from the South I can relate to what seemed to be

Spoiler:

cannibalistic kudzu.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Zipr

It hard to imagine that John Kennedy Toole was able to capture Ignatius' madness but not see his own enough to get help. Maybe it was his own madness that enabled him to build this character??

Perhaps J.K. Toole, like his character Ignatius, was unwilling to admit he needed help. It was more difficult in those days; mental illness carried a much greater social stigma, coupled with the fact that the success rate of therapy was not as high as it is now, largely due to the current generation of psychoactive and antipsychotic pharmaceuticals.

[WT Sharpe]

Just finished reading MetaGame by Sam Landstrom. I thought it was a bit longer than it needed to be and filled with details that were probably of more interest to gamers than someone like me, but it became more interesting as it went along and the story had a ending that was near perfect.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by BenG

I didn't really care for the movie version but being from the South I can relate to what seemed to be

Spoiler:

cannibalistic kudzu.

Spoiler:

Yep, I watched that take over the U.S. on "Life After People"

[Katti's Cat]

Just finished 'Altar of Eden' by James Rollins. Although interesting concept I think it's one of his weaker books. So anyone interested, wait till it's heavily discounted or you can get it from the library.

[lilac_jive]

I'm reading "Lord of Scoundrels" by Loretta Chase, which is supposed to be one of the best historical romances. So far it's not disappointing.

One thing I forgot to point out earlier - I read "The Great Gatsby" when I was on vacation and I loved it. What a phenomenal book. I highly recommend it if you haven't read it yet.

[recluse]

Just finished "The Totem" by David Morrell. Great book, atmospheric and very scary. Will be reading "A Flock of Crows is Called a Murder" by James V. Viscosi next.

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by recluse

I just finished rereading "Ghost Story" by Peter Straub. Even after the 5th time, it's still a great horror novel. Since there are no decent horror novels being published lately, I'll probably wind up rereading "The Totem" by David Morrell. Reading recommendations gladly accepted!

Have you read Floating Dragon by Peter Straub? I personally preferred it to Ghost Story (though I liked both)?

Cheers,
Marc

[recluse]

I actually have that book on my shelves, but never read it! Will start it at the next opportunity. Have you read "Shadowland"? I'ed like to hear your opinion of it.

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by recluse

I actually have that book on my shelves, but never read it! Will start it at the next opportunity. Have you read "Shadowland"? I'ed like to hear your opinion of it.

Oh, yes. Yes I have. But it was a long, long time ago, when it first came out (I must have been about 11-12 maybe?). I don't remember much at all. I remember it feeling like Peter Straub had written out the details of a child's dreamscape/nightmare...sort of "first-person".

I could be wrong though, as many books have been run through the shelves since then, not to mention water under the leftovers of burnt bridges.

Have you read it? Should I read it again?

Cheers,
Marc

[recluse]

You hit the nail right on the head! A child's dreamscape/nightmare is the most fitting description of "Shadowland" I've ever heard. I haven't read it in years myself, my copy having been borrowed and destroyed. I think you would enjoy rereading it. It was always one of my favorites.

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by recluse

You hit the nail right on the head! A child's dreamscape/nightmare is the most fitting description of "Shadowland" I've ever heard. I haven't read it in years myself, my copy having been borrowed and destroyed. I think you would enjoy rereading it. It was always one of my favorites.

He's always sat in my memory as an author I read during my teen years that deserves rereading through hindsight. Koko is another that I reckon might grab different, clearer light through age.

Cheers,
Marc (40 in three months)

[recluse]

"Koko" is another excellent book. I enjoyed both "Mystery" and "the Throat" also, which are part of the "Blue Rose" trilogy with "Koko".
I recommend them all highly.

Jon (47 in 8 months)