The GOT Book Club

[Amokachi1995]

If you're after something a bit more "poolside" this summer I've just read and enjoyed Bull Mountain by Brian Panowich.

It's about a hillbilly crime family. Well paced and written in an interesting way.

 

[LEONARD]

Re-reading 'Great Expectations' by Dickens.

The opening scene , Magwitch confronting Pip in the graveyard, still sends shivers down my spine.

David Lean captures this well in his film adaptation.

 

[Jebus_lives]

Re-reading 'Great Expectations' by Dickens.

The opening scene , Magwitch confronting Pip in the graveyard, still sends shivers down my spine.

David Lean captures this well in his film adaptation.

@dholliday bleak house I found a hard read...

 

[dholliday]

.

@dholliday bleak house I found a hard read...

oh aye, i've only done Hard Times...excuse the obvious pun, but i had a hard time with it! The names alone are such a grind to read.

not a Dickens man here.

 

[Jebus_lives]

.

oh aye, i've only done Hard Times...excuse the obvious pun, but i had a hard time with it! The names alone are such a grind to read.

not a Dickens man here.

I think you could, at a stretch, say that the tedium and long winded prose at the start of Bleak House was a deliberate reflection of Chancery and court structures, but it was painful.

 

[BigMick]

i've read the obvious 3. Orwell's timeless warning multiple times. The charming Hobbit & the painfully cringe Alchemist (probably gave that up before the end, it's really short anyway).

Ulysses is unreadable...anyone ever actually read it?

If you think Ulysses is unreadable, try Finnegan's Wake!

 

[dholliday]

I think you could, at a stretch, say that the tedium and long winded prose at the start of Bleak House was a deliberate reflection of Chancery and court structures, but it was painful.

has me thinking of Satanic Verses. Spectacularly surreal beginning, reminded me of Bulgakov's Master & Margarita. After that, it was just page-after-page of the densest prose i've ever seen. I could see what he was getting at, but it wasn't worth continuing the pain.

 

[Jebus_lives]

has me thinking of Satanic Verses. Spectacularly surreal beginning, reminded me of Bulgakov's Master & Margarita. After that, it was just page-after-page of the densest prose i've ever seen. I could see what he was getting at, but it wasn't worth continuing the pain.

I read the satanic verses, not sure id ever revisit. I've not read Master & Margarita - what's it about?

 

[dholliday]

If you think Ulysses is unreadable, try Finnegan's Wake!

Eco's Foucault's Pendulum is another one with a rep. Haven't seen any text of it myself.

 

[wm02]

has me thinking of Satanic Verses. Spectacularly surreal beginning, reminded me of Bulgakov's Master & Margarita. After that, it was just page-after-page of the densest prose i've ever seen. I could see what he was getting at, but it wasn't worth continuing the pain.

Rushdie novels tend to have a similar arc. Absolutely fantastic opening chapters. The first 100 pages of his Midnight’s Children are up there with best works of fiction I have read

 

[dholliday]

I read the satanic verses, not sure id ever revisit.

oh wow, did it get good, did you enjoy it?

I've not read Master & Margarita - what's it about?

The Devil comes to Moscow (not a spoiler).

It's written as a fantasy, with clear satirical notes on the state of play back then in Bulgakov's homeland (Stalin's Soviet Union being atheist).

Like a darker sharper Animal Farm, and also with much more humour. There's tons of great dialogue, a fantastic 'magic show' scene, and a beautiful passage around the middle, involving Margarita (you'll know which bit when you get to it).

A relatively easy read, 300-400 pages. And a must, considering what you've already read.

I can't remember which translation i read, it's sometimes useful to compare reviews as they can be quite different, especially from Russian. For example i've twice-read Zamyatin's We...but only enjoyed one (the other being too dry).

 

[dholliday]

The first 100 pages of his Midnight’s Children are up there with best works of fiction I have read

it couldn't hold that quality for the rest?

Stephen King often has excellent first-halves, then let down by nonsense second-halves. He's always an easy read, mind...so you tend to finish his books regardless.

 

[Jebus_lives]

oh wow, did it get good, did you enjoy it?


The Devil comes to Moscow (not a spoiler).

It's written as a fantasy, with clear satirical notes on the state of play back then in Bulgakov's homeland (Stalin's Soviet Union being atheist).

Like a darker sharper Animal Farm, and also with much more humour. There's tons of great dialogue, a fantastic 'magic show' scene, and a beautiful passage around the middle, involving Margarita (you'll know which bit when you get to it).

A relatively easy read, 300-400 pages. And a must, considering what you've already read.

I can't remember which translation i read, it's sometimes useful to compare reviews as they can be quite different, especially from Russian. For example i've twice-read Zamyatin's We...but only enjoyed one (the other being too dry).

No I didn't really enjoy the Satanic Verses. I appreciate the significance, but I wouldn't say it was of great significance to me.

I'll check out Master & Margarita.

I find I batch read by authors from particular countries - I think stylistically and thematically they tend to be similar so easier to follow..

 

[Jebus_lives]

Rushdie novels tend to have a similar arc. Absolutely fantastic opening chapters. The first 100 pages of his Midnight’s Children are up there with best works of fiction I have read

I liked Midnight's Children. The opening is superb.

 

[wm02]

it couldn't hold that quality for the rest?

Stephen King often has excellent first-halves, then let down by nonsense second-halves. He's always an easy read, mind...so you tend to finish his books regardless.

Wasn’t quite that for me, but rather the book turns rather dark as a reflection of Rushdie’s views on India, Pakistan, partition of Bengladesh.
Very well written but the first 100 pages or so are simply exquisite. One of the best examples of magical realism