The GOT Book Club

[sdk]

I was going to buy this book but a number of reviewers said that the venerable Mr Smith frequently descends into rambling tirades. Although, that could be its strength.

What is your opinion?

Apparently, "Excavate! The wonderful & frightening world of the fall" is a good read.

One person's rambling tirade is another person's discursive analysis, of course, but it's a fair criticism either way. It's a pretty loose collection of chapters in which Smith flits from one topic to another and no larger narrative ever really coheres. I liked it enough because I miss hearing from the old genius reprobate, but had I gone in with my heart set on a life story I would've been disappointed. If I had to choose between this book and Steve Hanley's The Big Midweek: Life Inside the Fall, the latter would win, no contest, for being more informative, more coherent, and (somewhat surprisingly) funnier.

Excavate! looks interesting, though it seems to be more of a free-ranging series of essays related to/inspired by the Fall than a conventional band history. Maybe I'm wrong, though; I only looked at it briefly. You can preview parts of it on Google Books: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Excavate/6sncDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1

 

[Andy is the King]

One person's rambling tirade is another person's discursive analysis, of course, but it's a fair criticism either way. It's a pretty loose collection of chapters in which Smith flits from one topic to another and no larger narrative ever really coheres. I liked it enough because I miss hearing from the old genius reprobate, but had I gone in with my heart set on a life story I would've been disappointed. If I had to choose between this book and Steve Hanley's The Big Midweek: Life Inside the Fall, the latter would win, no contest, for being more informative, more coherent, and (somewhat surprisingly) funnier.

Excavate! looks interesting, though it seems to be more of a free-ranging series of essays related to/inspired by the Fall than a conventional band history. Maybe I'm wrong, though; I only looked at it briefly. You can preview parts of it on Google Books: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Excavate/6sncDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1

The old genius reprobate

Thanks for those insights. I'm a book lover & I'll probably end up getting both Renegade & The Big Midweek. Lot's of books out now on punk / post-punk / underground, etc.

From a similar neck of the woods as the genius reprobate, I'll also get around to this

 

[sdk]

Lot's of books out now on punk / post-punk / underground, etc.

Yeah, it's awful growing old.

 

[Andy is the King]

Yeah, it's awful growing old.

Yes it is

 

[coollino]

Half way through The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, v good

 

[DualityNSNO]

@MrPerfectNot does this count? Or did you mean a different type of thread

 

[wm02]

Half way through The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, v good

Great novel— good reminder that I should re-read it. Very important author in the Southern Gothic tradition

Believe she was quite young when she wrote it— early 20s iirc

 

[wm02]

Just finished reading this one. Overall, a quick and enjoyable read—it did feel as though some aspects of the data revolution were missing though:

 

[MrPerfectNot]

@MrPerfectNot does this count? Or did you mean a different type of thread

thank you for the reminder of this - it would work great - if there are folks who want to talk through that particular book at a more detailed level, we could do a thread for that.....

 

[DualityNSNO]

thank you for the reminder of this - it would work great - if there are folks who want to talk through that particular book at a more detailed level, we could do a thread for that.....

I mean only one way to know - talk about it lol

*I personally haven't read the one you suggested but it seems people have so...

 

[coollino]

Great novel— good reminder that I should re-read it. Very important author in the Southern Gothic tradition

Believe she was quite young when she wrote it— early 20s iirc

Yeah I've been trying for years to work out my kind of book, and it's definitely southern gothic. Should have been fairly obvious seeing as I like that style of film and some music, but there we go

 

[COYBL25]

Great novel— good reminder that I should re-read it. Very important author in the Southern Gothic tradition

Believe she was quite young when she wrote it— early 20s iirc

Mid twenties and it was her standout book.

We studied it in English at school, but not at exam level.

Our English teacher, who was a top bloke, used to bring books in that he`d read and liked, for us to discuss ( off syllabus ).

He got me into Southern Gothic and the likes of Cormac McCarthy, for which I`m eternally grateful to him.

Non of which was on our syllabus lol

 

[coollino]

Mid twenties and it was her standout book.

We studied it in English at school, but not at exam level.

Our English teacher, who was a top bloke, used to bring books in that he`d read and liked, for us to discuss ( off syllabus ).

He got me into Southern Gothic and the likes of Cormac McCarthy, for which I`m eternally grateful to him.

Non of which was on our syllabus lol

Blood Meridian is my next book

I basically have my brother and mate chucking books at me to read next lol

 

[LostLegend]

One person's rambling tirade is another person's discursive analysis

Can happen a lot with the varied writing styles each author has. Not every tale is going to be for everybody.

I tried that "The Three-Body Problem" by Liu Cixin recently as it had been getting all sorts of rave reviews and high praise.
Gave up half way through the first book. Lots of characters sitting around talking at great length about theoretical physics and huge sections taking place in this virtual reality world. It gets VERY esoteric at times all sorts of political and sociological undercurrents hidden away in different corners of the narrative.
I imagine it would be great if you are the type of person who loves digging through vague story threads for their 'TRUE' meaning, but I found the whole thing a chore to read.

 

[davek]

The old genius reprobate

Thanks for those insights. I'm a book lover & I'll probably end up getting both Renegade & The Big Midweek. Lot's of books out now on punk / post-punk / underground, etc.

From a similar neck of the woods as the genius reprobate, I'll also get around to this
View attachment 209998

I love Cooper Clarke but I found that a disappointment, tbh.

Staying on the Manchester theme, this was good...if you can put up with Paul Morley's verbosity!