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  • LudovicoLudovico
    Posts: 15,123
    Just finished rereading The Invisible Man and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. And The Bottle Imp. Now onto The Penguin Book of Witches. I'm already on a countdown to Halloween reading program, in case you haven't guessed.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    Heat 2… A masterpiece.
  • mattjoesmattjoes Julie T. and the M.G.'s
    Posts: 7,021
    I recently read Joseph Conrad's short story, The Informer. I was motivated to read it after having watched the 1996 film adaptation of The Secret Agent. I'd already read the source book of that.
  • CrabKeyCrabKey
    Posts: 1,993
    After many years I am re-reading Thomas Gifford's The Wind Chill Factor. This a brilliant thriller I've always thought should have been a film, but there is so much going on it this novel, it would be better as a multi-part series. I look at the waste of something like The Citadel and wish TWCF could make it to the screen. Gregory Peck acquired the screen rights in the mid-seventies, but the film was never made.

    I am so impressed by the originality of this novel. Anyone who likes thrillers and hasn't discovered this one yet is in for a treat.
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    Posts: 5,970
    I just finished rereading Oliver Twist. It's my favourite Charles Dickens novel and one of the first proper novels I read when I was younger as I was obsessed with the story and watched all adaptations of it. It's really interesting to rediscover all the elements that most adaptations leave out.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,183
    The Count of Monte Cristo
    The Robin Buss translation of Alexandre Dumas's original text.
    irlhrusoywlz.jpg
    What can I say, except that this is one of the very best books ever written, a story of revenge told with patience and exceptional character development. It must also have laid the foundation for tons of modern stories. I cannot believe how lively the text, almost 180 years old, still is. These 1243 pages were among the most fascinating I have ever read.
  • LudovicoLudovico
    Posts: 15,123
    Lots and lots and lots of Halloween stories. New and old.

    Specifically, I'm rereading Man Size in Marble by Edith Nesbit. I read it every October: https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0602511h.html
  • Mathis1Mathis1
    Posts: 7,430
    Conan The Barbarian: The Official story of the film ( John Walsh)
    It only took 40 yrs to produce this!!! 🤣
    My Missus ordered this for me as a Christmas present, but it only arrived now! Still, worth the wait. I was aware of the other similar books John Walsh had produced, one on 'Flash Gordon,' one on 'Escape from New York', and one I gave to my brother last year for his birthday on 'Dr. Who and the Daleks' This tome is a nicely illustrated comprehensive behind the scenes look at Arnies first big hit, I remember it well, loved it on first viewing in the cinema and still do ( though why its not released on 4k when its crappy remake is, is a mystery!) There are a lot of photos I hadn't seen before, and Walsh does a good job breaking it down into sections, origins, production, post and legacy! Havent read it all yet, but enjoying it immensely and must give the film another look soon! I may even shell out for the book on 'Escape from New York' another of my favourites of the 80's!
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,264
    "There's a war going on but no one can see it" by Huib Modderkolk, Dutch title 'het is oorlog maar niemand die het ziet'. I'd reccommend it to everybody. It's worrysome to say the least, and it's real.
  • RevelatorRevelator
    Posts: 2,918
    Here are the 10 best books I read in 2023:

    The Noble Revolt: The Overthrow of Charles I (2007) by John Adamson. A deep dive into the aristocratic conspiracy that helped bring down a king and start a civil war.

    Peerless Among Princes: The Life and Times of Sultan Süleyman (2023) by Kaya Şahin. The first English-language biography by an Ottoman scholar; immediately definitive.

    Ramesses II, Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh (2023) by Peter J. Brand. A lengthy but very readable and judicious biography.

    Old Calabria (1915) by Norman Douglas. A trek around the benighted southern parts of Italy, rendered in ornate prose.

    Discriminations: Essays And Afterthoughts (1974) by Dwight MacDonald. Superbly written essays on culture and politics by the great critic.

    The Swiss Family Perelman (1950) by S.J. Perelman. The great American humorist drags his family around the world; complaints ensue.

    Shadows On The Grass (1977) by Simon Raven. Accurately described as "the filthiest cricket memoir ever written."

    Perfect Behavior: A Guide for Ladies and Gentlemen in All Social Crises (1922) by Donald Ogden Stewart. An uproarious send-up of etiquette manuals.

    Napoleon: The Man behind the Myth (2018) by Adam Zamoyski. An excellent, genuinely balanced biography.

    The Exploits and Adventures of Brigadier Gerard (1903) by Arthur Conan Doyle. The wittily-told adventures of one of Napoleon's most egotistical yet valiant soldiers.
  • TorgeirtrapTorgeirtrap
    edited March 26 Posts: 17,756
    Spent the first two days of my easter vacation rereading Knut Nærums «Døde menn går på ski» («Dead men Walk on Skis» – 2003), the crime parody novel (and homage) of the crime fiction novels by André Bjerke.

    9788202492267.jpg?w=960

    The film adaptation of the novel is currently in cinemas here in Norway, but I doubt I'll be able to watch the film until it's available on Blu-ray/digital. The novel is great though. Nobody does parodies like Knut Nærum. Next up on my reading list is the follow-up of «Døde menn går på ski», «De dødes båt» («Boat of the Dead» (2008).
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,280
    ^ Great stuff. That looks like a Bond novel cover a bit!
  • TorgeirtrapTorgeirtrap
    Posts: 17,756
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    ^ Great stuff. That looks like a Bond novel cover a bit!

    It really is! I don't think any of Nærum's novels have been translated to any other languages unfortunately. At the same time, I think a lot of the humour that makes his novels such a fun read, isn't really that translatable.

    As for the cover, this one and several others of Nærum's books, are illustrated by Steffen Kverneland. In the spoiler tag are the other covers Kverneland has illustrated – just for this series of novels: «De dødes båt» («Boat of the Dead»), «Voodoo på vestkanten» (Voodoo on The West Side») and «Den gåtefulle Oberon Qvist» («The Mysterious Oberon Qvist».
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  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,634
    Robin by Dave Itzkoff. A bold historical inside look at a beloved, but deeply flawed soul. Highly recommended.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,183
    Dune
    Yes, I can be pressured into reading a book by a good movie adaptation. But 24 books!?

    I had never read Dune, but my appreciation for the recent film made me do it: I bought all 24 books in the Dune collection. At 600 pages or more for almost all of these books, this collection has set me up for a major 2024 reading challenge. I'm not confident that I will be able to go through them all in 8 months.

    I am about halfway through the first book, and I like it so far. Great plot, even if Herbert's prose isn't the best I have read so far.
  • LudovicoLudovico
    Posts: 15,123
    Tremor of Intent by Anthony Burgess and Fight Write by Carla Hoch.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,280
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Tremor of Intent by Anthony Burgess and Fight Write by Carla Hoch.

    I need to read that one myself some time. I've read it shares characters with Burgess's later TSWLM screenplay.
  • LudovicoLudovico
    Posts: 15,123
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Tremor of Intent by Anthony Burgess and Fight Write by Carla Hoch.

    I need to read that one myself some time. I've read it shares characters with Burgess's later TSWLM screenplay.

    Yes it does. It's completely out there as a spy novel, like a Bond novel on acid.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,280
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Tremor of Intent by Anthony Burgess and Fight Write by Carla Hoch.

    I need to read that one myself some time. I've read it shares characters with Burgess's later TSWLM screenplay.

    Yes it does. It's completely out there as a spy novel, like a Bond novel on acid.

    A Bond novel on acid sounds good. His TSWLM film screenplay was pretty mad too, so that fits. :)
  • LudovicoLudovico
    Posts: 15,123
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Tremor of Intent by Anthony Burgess and Fight Write by Carla Hoch.

    I need to read that one myself some time. I've read it shares characters with Burgess's later TSWLM screenplay.

    Yes it does. It's completely out there as a spy novel, like a Bond novel on acid.

    A Bond novel on acid sounds good. His TSWLM film screenplay was pretty mad too, so that fits. :)

    As out there as his TSWLM script was, I think some of its spirit found its way in NTTD. And I think the TSWLM we got could have benefitted from keeping more ideas of the Burgess script.
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,264
    Guards! Guards! by Terry Pretchett. Yes, a Discworld novel. Love them.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,634
    Batman Arkham Knight: The Ridder's Gambit. By Alex Irvine. A tie-in novel set between Arkham City and Arkham Knight, it follows the Riddler trying to take over Gotham after certain happenings in Arkham City. I like the use of the ensemble cast, no villains are wasted. Ironically, Irvine said he let his kids help pick out what villains to use. They have great taste, and Irvine knew how to write them well. I like the switching between Batman and Robin, it was great to see how the events of Arkham City affected both of them. The police force and the media play an enjoyable role. Vicki Vale isn't the screaming dismal she was as Kim Basinger was! So an enjoyable Batman and Robin story, properly of their best stories together of the last 20 years.

    Home and Alone by Daniel Stern. One of the better autobiographies I've read in a while. Funny, with a bit of drama and ego clashing. Stern of course talks about Marv and Home Alone 1 & 2. Some interesting viewpoints, but I'd recommend just reading as a lot of things are surprising in his life. Who can't relate to that? Also, he must still hang around Joe Pesci, as he swears as much as Pesci does!
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    Mistress of Modernism: The Life of Peggy Guggenheim
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,634
    A question from Goodreads and myself:

    Do you read for escapism, entertainment, or education?

    I say all three, in particular with James Bond!
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    A question from Goodreads and myself:

    Do you read for escapism, entertainment, or education?

    I say all three, in particular with James Bond!

    Definitely all three.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,183
    peter wrote: »
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    A question from Goodreads and myself:

    Do you read for escapism, entertainment, or education?

    I say all three, in particular with James Bond!

    Definitely all three.

    Seconded.
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,264
    Mostly educational/facts of interest. Escapism and entertainment a lot less, as I've come so few writers who can actually entertain me proper. As soon as it feels formuleac I tune out, which sadly encompasses most writers these days. Hence my love for Fleming (and lack thereof for continuation novels).

    Right now I'm reading about the utterly amazing life of Snouck Hurgonje (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiaan_Snouck_Hurgronje)

    No fictional writer can come up with this stuff.

    The books of Tim Jeal about Livingstone and Stanley are both absolute gems. Again, no fiction can beat proper real stories at all.

    Ok, so maybe it is for entertainment more then to learn, it's just that I love a good (true) story.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,634
    If it’s Stephen King, my mom will at least want to know what it’s about. While she doesn’t read as much as she’d like, Stephen King is usually an exception. I’m hoping some day my parents will read some of the list that I gave them. There’s too many to list here, for now.
  • CrabKeyCrabKey
    Posts: 1,993
    The Whip Hand, a Rex Carver Mystery, by Victor Canning. A contemporary of Fleming whose breezy writing style and crackling dialogue make for an enjoyable read. The Rex Carver mysteries are not easily found but definitely worth the effort.
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,264
    Making Money, a discworld novel, Terry Pretchett
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