Now reading...

[Jazzmoose]

Finished James Cain's DOUBLE INDEMNITY last night...

So what's your ending preference, the movie or the book?

The movie. Maybe Raymond Chandler's contributions jazzed it up for me? Plus Cain's Phyllis gains with Barbara Stanwyck's portrayal IMO; I didn't find Walter's motivation in the novel quite as credible as it is in the movie. I liked the book, but I'd rank the film as even better.

Actually, I felt his motivation in the novel more satisfying than in the book, but as for the ending, I prefer the movie, and while both endings would have worked in the book, I can't see the book ending working on film.

[jlhoots]

Jonathan Evison: West Of Here

[jazzbo]

Though I've read about 100 Simenon novels of one type or another, I don't think I've read this one before, found it in my "archive." Mine has the same cover with the exception that mine says 25 cents on the cover!

Edited March 13, 2011 by jazzbo

[BruceH]

If Anthony Boucher liked it, that's good enough for me.

[jazzbo]

I know what you mean.

It's depressing. But it's suposed to be.

[Matthew]

I've again been reading, in a hit-and-miss-manner, the two volume book, The Annotated Sherlock Holmes by William S. Baring-Gould, which I vastly prefer to the American annotated version done by Leslie S. Klinger that came out awhile back. I just think the one by Baring-Gould has a much better feel to it, the "tone" is more alive and correct. The Klinger version tries to be way too hip for my taste. When I first read it, there was a footnote that referenced the Seinfeld Show, and I hated that. Maybe I'm just too use to Baring-Gould, or too old fashioned, but give me British restraint and understatement anytime. This is a Desert Island book for me.

[Jazzmoose]

I'm not familiar with the book, but the idea of finding a reference to Seinfeld in a Sherlock Holmes book annoys the heck out of me.

[Kalo]

I've again been reading, in a hit-and-miss-manner, the two volume book, The Annotated Sherlock Holmes by William S. Baring-Gould, which I vastly prefer to the American annotated version done by Leslie S. Klinger that came out awhile back. I just think the one by Baring-Gould has a much better feel to it, the "tone" is more alive and correct. The Klinger version tries to be way too hip for my taste. When I first read it, there was a footnote that referenced the Seinfeld Show, and I hated that. Maybe I'm just too use to Baring-Gould, or too old fashioned, but give me British restraint and understatement anytime. This is a Desert Island book for me.

Just picked this up at my local thrift store. I'm thrilled, because I recall really wanting this when it first hit the bookshops in the 1970s and I was a boy of little means. I'm looking forward to revisiting the Holmes canon...

I'm not familiar with the book, but the idea of finding a reference to Seinfeld in a Sherlock Holmes book annoys the heck out of me.

Hear hear!

[Elissa]

Just polishing off the Tiger's Wife, which is as good as everyone's said. Also over the last week quite enjoyed Blood, Bones and Butter and The Believers, and would recommend both.

[Serioza]

[Jazzmoose]

I picked this up last week at a local used book store.

This should be even more fun now that I'm old and bitter!

[ghost of miles]

[alankin]

Hakan Nesser - Borkmann's Point: An Inspector Van Veeteren Mystery

I enjoyed this one. Has anyone read any of the others in this series?

Edited March 27, 2011 by alankin

[ghost of miles]

[ejp626]

I wrapped up Shamsie's Burnt Shadows -- very powerful but somewhat depressing novel. I was expecting a different (happier?) ending.

The Lamplighter - Anthony O'Neill

My wife has been getting rid of some airport books in preparation for our upcoming move, and I've been dropping them off in the donation pile at the library. I decided to read this one, since it had a bit of a different vibe. It's set in Edinburgh in the early part of the 20th C. around the time when electricity was still just a fad and streets were still lit by gas light. This aspect was kind of squandered. Anyway, I hated, hated, hated this book. It is a total cheat on every level. The plot, such as it is, insists that you take supernatural beings seriously. I guess this is ok if that's what you know you are getting from the start, but to insert this into the middle of a police procedural seems very wrong to me. But mostly it wasn't the least bit frightening or eerie. I just can't believe it such good blurbs from reviewers and such a high number of 4 and 5 star reviews on Amazon.

I will be returning to Lolita and wrapping that up, then will be working through my own stack of books that I intend to read once, then give away.

[jlhoots]

Nick Stone: The King Of Swords (prequel to Mr. Clarinet)

[jazzbo]

Spent a lot of time traveling and sitting in hospital waiting rooms this week; read three books.

Just started part one of a trilogy

[Matthew]

Spent a lot of time traveling and sitting in hospital waiting rooms this week; read three books.

This one looks interesting, how is it?

[jazzbo]

Not as interesting as one might think. It's sort of schizophrenic, not cohesive. An overview of the "re-emergence tour" of '74 with The Band, with a sprinkling of rabbinic and extra-rabbinic thought to prop up a rather flimsy argument that Dylan is really following a Jewish singer/poet tradition with more intent than I believe likely.

Edited April 8, 2011 by jazzbo

[Stefan Wood]

[aparxa]

I don't know about the movies with Deneuve and Signoret, but the two books I have just finished Belle de Jour (Joseph Kessel) and Thérèse Raquin (Emile Zola) are masterpieces.

[Jazzmoose]

Spent a lot of time traveling and sitting in hospital waiting rooms this week; read three books.

Hope everything's okay.

I started rereading Joe Haldeman's Worlds trilogy this week; I lost one of the books years ago and finally picked it up so I could do so.

One of two authors I've always wanted to try but never seem to find, along with Effinger.

[Matthew]

Not as interesting as one might think. It's sort of schizophrenic, not cohesive. An overview of the "re-emergence tour" of '74 with The Band, with a sprinkling of rabbinic and extra-rabbinic thought to prop up a rather flimsy argument that Dylan is really following a Jewish singer/poet tradition with more intent than I believe likely.

Thanks for the review, and ditto to what The Moose has to say.

[jazzbo]

I was traveling to Ohio to be with my folks for four days centered around a partial mastectomy performed on my mom due to the discovery of a cancerous lump.

All that went well, but now she faces four weeks of radiation, possibly followed by chemotherapy. The whole situation has been pretty stressful for my Dad. He had some stroke like symptoms a few weeks ago, that ultimately they don't believe was a stroke; he was at the hospital with my Mom for her last pre-operative appointment when it happened. They're both 79. This is going to be a pretty tough time. My previous experience with cancer care has made it rather hard for me to be hopeful and positive. . . but I'm doing my best.

[Elissa]

I don't know about the movies with Deneuve and Signoret, but the two books I have just finished Belle de Jour (Joseph Kessel) and Thérèse Raquin (Emile Zola) are masterpieces.

both films extraordinary too