Book recommendations...
Posted by: Voltaire on 13 June 2009
The previous thread 'what book are you reading' has been closed but may I please recommend this book...?
I am not even going to spoil it with a spoiler...well worth a read imho and I read a lot.
I am not even going to spoil it with a spoiler...well worth a read imho and I read a lot.
I have never read any of this guys stuff and I have thought of him as a tosser but having read
I have changed my mind.
My appreciation of this book may be because I recognize the scene and the times and the people and the fear because (unlike soo many others) I emerged unscathed; plus I love the original 'The picture of Dorian Gray' by Wilde. But I also think that Self is a decent writer, not perfect, but a damn good writer.
Not for the prude; but for the open minded an hurtfully honest novel set against the AIDS epidemic of the 80's and 90's and exploring the extremes of the human condition. It has faults, but they are so few and so small as too render the book a success.
G
PS-I recommended this book to a 'friend' and they quickly stated that they could 'never read a book about the gays and the AIDS because they couldn't relate'
I replied that I couldn't read 'Watership Down' because I have never had Myxomatosis...
I have changed my mind.
My appreciation of this book may be because I recognize the scene and the times and the people and the fear because (unlike soo many others) I emerged unscathed; plus I love the original 'The picture of Dorian Gray' by Wilde. But I also think that Self is a decent writer, not perfect, but a damn good writer.
Not for the prude; but for the open minded an hurtfully honest novel set against the AIDS epidemic of the 80's and 90's and exploring the extremes of the human condition. It has faults, but they are so few and so small as too render the book a success.
G
PS-I recommended this book to a 'friend' and they quickly stated that they could 'never read a book about the gays and the AIDS because they couldn't relate'
I replied that I couldn't read 'Watership Down' because I have never had Myxomatosis...
quote:Originally posted by Voltaire:
The previous thread 'what book are you reading' has been closed but may I please recommend this book...?
I am not even going to spoil it with a spoiler...well worth a read imho and I read a lot.
For years this was one of my favourite books. I read both the original and the revised versions. It seems that Fowles was never quite happy with the conclusion, in particular, and the revised version doesn't really do much to make it any clearer. Hence a frustrating read in many ways, with so many questions left for the reader to answer. But fascinating all the same and open to endless analysis.
It's fascinating to spot later books where the Magus was an obvious influence. Donna Tartt's The Secret History being one notable example.
It struck a particular chord for a young man, as I was. It became something of an obsession for a while, especially with the degree of mystique surrounding it. I ended up buying all kinds of first editions of the various versions and have always meant to go back and read it again in later life. Not sure whether it will still have the same effect though...
quote:Originally posted by Voltaire:
I have never read any of this guys stuff and I have thought of him as a tosser but having read
I have changed my mind.
My appreciation of this book may be because I recognize the scene and the times and the people and the fear because (unlike soo many others) I emerged unscathed; plus I love the original 'The picture of Dorian Gray' by Wilde. But I also think that Self is a decent writer, not perfect, but a damn good writer.
Not for the prude; but for the open minded an hurtfully honest novel set against the AIDS epidemic of the 80's and 90's and exploring the extremes of the human condition. It has faults, but they are so few and so small as too render the book a success.
G
PS-I recommended this book to a 'friend' and they quickly stated that they could 'never read a book about the gays and the AIDS because they couldn't relate'
I replied that I couldn't read 'Watership Down' because I have never had Myxomatosis...
Curiously I'm reading this at the moment too, my first Self. The opening chapters felt like Withnail and I but although at times he uses his flashy language just because he can I am generally enjoying it. It has more bite and serious intent the more you read.
Bruce
quote:Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
Curiously I'm reading this at the moment too, my first Self. The opening chapters felt like Withnail and I but although at times he uses his flashy language just because he can I am generally enjoying it. It has more bite and serious intent the more you read.
Bruce
I think that Self displays moments of incredible insight and truth, then he spoils it by writing something trite and pastiche and bourgeoisie (just like my last sentence in fact...).
I also feel that the Diana references are unnecessary to the plot and are cruel barbs directed from the writer to the recipient via the reader, a rookie mistake in the world of creative writing.
Other than that, the book utterly encapsulates both sides of a cruel irony; the gay freedom of the 80's and the subsequent payback of the over crowded HIV prisons of the 90's.
The book also creates some convincing characters which at first may seem absurd caricatures but which, on further investigation are merely exaggerated examples of people we all know!
Overall a good book,I hope you enjoy it Bruce.
I recently read and enjoyed this :-
Very well written and very amusing. The hero's an unlikely 72 year-old Laotian coroner. Highly recommended!
Also this -
A funny-sad story that'll make you seriously consider giving up drinking!
Very well written and very amusing. The hero's an unlikely 72 year-old Laotian coroner. Highly recommended!
Also this -
A funny-sad story that'll make you seriously consider giving up drinking!
This is extremely good, and is quite possibly essential reading for all of us who lurk in this forum:
Along with Orwell, this chap was the greatest English writer of the 20th century:
.
All his works are worth reading, but these I recommend without reservation:
- an hilarious satire on journalism.
A satire of the lives and loves of the upper and mercantile classes, as well as Establishment institutions. Like all his works it is beautifully and sensitively written.
A brilliant (yes!) satire (yes!) of decadent young London society, which of course resonates powerfully today...
This might be his masterpiece, based on Waugh's experiences in the War.
Even Orwell, who detested many of Waugh's reactionary views, said that he was "about as good a novelist as one can be".
.All his works are worth reading, but these I recommend without reservation:
- an hilarious satire on journalism. A satire of the lives and loves of the upper and mercantile classes, as well as Establishment institutions. Like all his works it is beautifully and sensitively written. A brilliant (yes!) satire (yes!) of decadent young London society, which of course resonates powerfully today... This might be his masterpiece, based on Waugh's experiences in the War.Even Orwell, who detested many of Waugh's reactionary views, said that he was "about as good a novelist as one can be".
And a trio of 20th century Russian masterpieces. All very long but thoroughly worth the effort.
Enjoyed these recently
Latest very good reads:
Fiction
Nonfiction
Fiction
Nonfiction
Working my way through this:-
Very interesting perspective.
Very interesting perspective.
I am humbled by the talent.