Dr. Rat Posted May 20, 2005 Report Posted May 20, 2005 I'm not sure, but I think it was in Havana Bay, the one set in Cuba ... Smith is one of the few current "mystery/thriller" writers I'm still geeked on, it seems like he concentrates on the writing as much as the plotting ... I used to read a lot of Ellroy, for example, but American Tabloid really turned me off ... it seemed like he was phoning in a fair amount of that. Ellroy has always been up and down. Some of his really early stuff where he helped pioneer the serial killer genre is really kinda lazy in the thinking department, if you asked me. American Tabloid definitely marked a sort of turning point. I didn't mind it so much as you seem to have--I think I was hopng he'd turn into some sort of Tim Powers-esque fantasist (al la Last Call and Declare), but he probably doesn't have it in him. He's just not capable of the sort of lightheartedness that'd take. Thanks for the Havana Bay tip, --eric Quote
paul secor Posted May 29, 2005 Report Posted May 29, 2005 Robertson Davies: What's Bred in the Bone Quote
jazzbo Posted May 29, 2005 Report Posted May 29, 2005 (edited) "The Gnosis or Ancient Wisdom in the Christian Scriptures," by William Kingsland. (A Theosophist work). Edited May 30, 2005 by jazzbo Quote
Matthew Posted May 30, 2005 Report Posted May 30, 2005 (edited) Reading Graham Green recently, and enjoying it: The Heart of the Matter, The Quiet American & The Human Factor. Does anyone think that the new movie version of The Quiet American is worth buying? Edited May 30, 2005 by Matthew Quote
brownie Posted May 30, 2005 Report Posted May 30, 2005 Reading Graham Green recently, and enjoying it: The Heart of the Matter, The Quiet American & The Human Factor. Does anyone think that the new movie version of The Quiet American is worth buying? ← Forget about the remake and try to get hold of the original one by Joseph Mankiewicz with Michael Redgrave and Audie Muphy. A black and white classic. Another incredible movie adaptation from Graham Greene is 'The Ministry of Fear' by Fritz Lang (1943) set in wartime London with Ray Milland. Stunningly breathtaking! Quote
Alfred Posted May 30, 2005 Report Posted May 30, 2005 I'm just reading the fourth Reginald Hill novel in a row. These Dalziel & Pascoe stories are very funny with excellent plots. Highly recommended! My favo(u)rite! Quote
alankin Posted May 30, 2005 Report Posted May 30, 2005 Robertson Davies: What's Bred in the Bone ← Interesting writer. Haven't read this one, but read "The Deptford Trilogy" (Fifth Business/The Manticore/World of Wonders) a few years ago. Found a paperback of "The Salterton Trilogy" for 50 cents a few months ago, but haven't gotten to it yet. Anyone else read any of these? Quote
paul secor Posted May 31, 2005 Report Posted May 31, 2005 Robertson Davies: What's Bred in the Bone ← Interesting writer. Haven't read this one, but read "The Deptford Trilogy" (Fifth Business/The Manticore/World of Wonders) a few years ago. Found a paperback of "The Salterton Trilogy" for 50 cents a few months ago, but haven't gotten to it yet. Anyone else read any of these? ← What's Bred in the Bone is the first Davies I've read. I enjoyed it and I'll be reading others. I rarely read two books consecutively by the same author, so it may be several months before I get to another Davies. In the meantime, I'd be interested to read what titles others might recommend. Quote
jlhoots Posted May 31, 2005 Report Posted May 31, 2005 (edited) Jennet Conant: 109 East Palace (Robert Oppenheimer and the Secret City of Los Alamos) Edited May 31, 2005 by jlhoots Quote
Dr. Rat Posted May 31, 2005 Report Posted May 31, 2005 Robertson Davies: What's Bred in the Bone ← Interesting writer. Haven't read this one, but read "The Deptford Trilogy" (Fifth Business/The Manticore/World of Wonders) a few years ago. Found a paperback of "The Salterton Trilogy" for 50 cents a few months ago, but haven't gotten to it yet. Anyone else read any of these? ← I read pretty much all the Davies I can get ahold of. Deptford is probably the high point. What's Bred in Bone is part of another trilogy focussed on the art world and academia, which is also first rate. Salterton is earlier and is good, but the focus is more on small town life at the start, then gradually expanding the horizons to Davies' more Jungian preoccupations. I've also read for few other stray books and am thinking about grabbing a collection of his newspaper articles from the local book shop. He's one of the writers I never get tired of. Excellent at the craft, and with an observation of two about life & art that really get me thinking. He doesn't get a big head and neglect the craft, though. --eric Quote
ghost of miles Posted May 31, 2005 Author Report Posted May 31, 2005 Reading Graham Green recently, and enjoying it: The Heart of the Matter, The Quiet American & The Human Factor. Does anyone think that the new movie version of The Quiet American is worth buying? ← Forget about the remake and try to get hold of the original one by Joseph Mankiewicz with Michael Redgrave and Audie Muphy. A black and white classic. ← That's interesting...I've heard the exact opposite! I'll probably end up watching them both... Quote
kinuta Posted June 2, 2005 Report Posted June 2, 2005 Anyone thinking of reading 'The Skull Mantra' my advice is don't bother. I couldn't read more than ten pages at a time without nodding off. Currently Henning Mankell ' The Return Of the Dancing Master '. Quote
ghost of miles Posted June 5, 2005 Author Report Posted June 5, 2005 I'm a real junkie for all things WPA and Federal One-related, so this new one is right up my alley (and in my neck o' the woods): Quote
Kalo Posted June 6, 2005 Report Posted June 6, 2005 (edited) Right now I'm re-reading Italo Calvino's The Baron in the Trees for my book group. Read it during college and loved it. I am enjoying it now, too. Lots of fun. Dr. Rat Posted May 31 2005, 08:55 AM (alankin @ May 30 2005, 03:10 PM) QUOTE(paul secor @ May 29 2005, 09:49 AM) Robertson Davies: What's Bred in the Bone Interesting writer. Haven't read this one, but read "The Deptford Trilogy" (Fifth Business/The Manticore/World of Wonders) a few years ago. Found a paperback of "The Salterton Trilogy" for 50 cents a few months ago, but haven't gotten to it yet. Anyone else read any of these? I read pretty much all the Davies I can get ahold of. Deptford is probably the high point. What's Bred in Bone is part of another trilogy focussed on the art world and academia, which is also first rate. Salterton is earlier and is good, but the focus is more on small town life at the start, then gradually expanding the horizons to Davies' more Jungian preoccupations. I've also read for few other stray books and am thinking about grabbing a collection of his newspaper articles from the local book shop. He's one of the writers I never get tired of. Excellent at the craft, and with an observation of two about life & art that really get me thinking. He doesn't get a big head and neglect the craft, though. --eric I read all of Deptford a few years ago and enjoyed it immensely. I haven't read any more of his fictions, but would highly recommend his non-fiction, which is filled with a kind of congenial gusto for life and literature that is very engaging. Edited June 6, 2005 by Kalo Quote
paul secor Posted June 12, 2005 Report Posted June 12, 2005 Alec Wilkinson: My Mentor - A Young Writer's Friendship with William Maxwell Quote
jlhoots Posted June 12, 2005 Report Posted June 12, 2005 Megan Abbott: Die A Little Wired: Contemporary Zulu Telephone Wire Baskets Quote
Jazzmoose Posted June 16, 2005 Report Posted June 16, 2005 Wait a minute; back up: did he say Contemporary Zulu Telephone Wire Baskets? Quote
jlhoots Posted June 16, 2005 Report Posted June 16, 2005 Wait a minute; back up: did he say Contemporary Zulu Telephone Wire Baskets? ← Yes I did. Fascinating art form. Beautiful work done in Africa using multiple different colors of telephone wire. Seeing is believing. Really. Just started Nicole Krauss: The History Of Love. She's Jonathan Safran Foer's wife. Both intriguing young writers. Quote
Jazzmoose Posted June 16, 2005 Report Posted June 16, 2005 I'll be darned...I just did a google search and have to admit I'm intrigued! They remind me of those sand painting things sort of... Quote
jlhoots Posted June 17, 2005 Report Posted June 17, 2005 I'll be darned...I just did a google search and have to admit I'm intrigued! They remind me of those sand painting things sort of... ← I was so intrigued I bought one by one of the "masters" profiled in the book. My wife & I really like it. Prices are still pretty reasonable. BTW I have no vested interest of any kind. Quote
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