tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35009574.post3323577663024159555..comments2023-10-24T14:51:45.756+02:00Comments on Bloggertropolis: Book Me, DannoStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02133900289384226725noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35009574.post-88302868960233537392008-04-25T08:32:00.000+02:002008-04-25T08:32:00.000+02:00Laura, as Amanda will tell you, Elizabeth Knox is ...Laura, as Amanda will tell you, Elizabeth Knox is one of New Zealand's most fabulous writers - The Vintner's Luck is a real joy. <BR/><BR/>Emma, I think 1984's inherent dullness is a the cause of the barrier for me... I just can't summon up any enthusiasm to want to read it. I just feel I <I>should</I> read it!Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02133900289384226725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35009574.post-1454028914539061522008-04-25T02:35:00.000+02:002008-04-25T02:35:00.000+02:00Only reason I read 1984 was because I was school t...Only reason I read 1984 was because I was school then and we were forced to read it in 1984 to be topical. It has some pertinent themes but it's a pretty dull read.<BR/><BR/>I agree, Angela Carter is just so brilliant.MommyHeadachehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03924035710478459520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35009574.post-85044064770252086552008-04-25T02:06:00.000+02:002008-04-25T02:06:00.000+02:00Ah, Elizabeth Knox...one of ours I believe? I real...Ah, Elizabeth Knox...one of ours I believe? I really loved that book as well, thanks for reminding me of it!The Sagittarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05513045101496737031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35009574.post-25643764737917319272008-04-24T19:36:00.000+02:002008-04-24T19:36:00.000+02:00Good list, Steve.Angela Carter's a little too emot...Good list, Steve.<BR/><BR/>Angela Carter's a little too emotionally chaotic/surreal for me, much though I felt the quality of the writing when I attempted her novels.<BR/><BR/>I will definitely take up your recommendation of The Vintner's Tale though.<BR/><BR/>Sorry Gina, but since you tagged me, I am not making a decent fist of this meme - it's so impossible to narrow my favourite books down. I might well have to wimp out!The Poet Laura-eatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07779308486569849157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35009574.post-69608507441174163402008-04-24T18:47:00.000+02:002008-04-24T18:47:00.000+02:00That's as good a reason as any not to read a book,...That's as good a reason as any not to read a book, Eve! We have Animal Farm too... I ought to read that too as it's another classic!Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02133900289384226725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35009574.post-41032061855228069762008-04-24T18:28:00.000+02:002008-04-24T18:28:00.000+02:00I haven’t read ANY of the books you mentioned :- )...I haven’t read ANY of the books you mentioned :- ) I remember reading Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ as a kid, and in my grandma’s bookshelf, ‘1984’ was there too – but it looked boring… heheh ;-)<BR/>But reading reluctant blogger's comment, I just noticed that 1984 is the year I was born; so maybe there's no need for me to read it either.. ;-)-eve-https://www.blogger.com/profile/01051512896652327719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35009574.post-81308196888148535372008-04-24T09:53:00.000+02:002008-04-24T09:53:00.000+02:00I must admit, TimeWarden, I was sad too that Sebas...I must admit, TimeWarden, I was sad too that Sebastian seemed to disappear in the middle to latter stages of the TV adaptation... Karen (who has read the book assures me he is far more "present" in the equivalent stages of the novel. <BR/><BR/>The DVD boxed set featured a nice interview / documentary with some of the cast members filmed fairly recently... I've always loved Nickolas Grace's role as the Sheriff in Robin Of Sherwood but I'm not sure I can watch it now without hearing him stutter his way through phrases like "you m-m-meaty boys"! <BR/><BR/>I didn't mind Charles dominating the screen time and didn't find him boring though his reserve - his biggest fault - deliberately grated... but then most of the characters, I suppose, kickstarted their own personal tragedies with their various character flaws. The series was certainly opulent and I daresay it would cost a phenomenal amount to make these days - the £10 million budget at the time was seen as excessive but the time and money, I think, was well spent. <BR/><BR/>If you want to get into Carter I recommend starting with The Magic Toyshop or The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman... both excellent introductions to Carter's brand of storytelling. The Company Of Wolves still sends shivers down my spine. The Magic Toyshop featured Tom Bell and is another worthy addition to anybody's movie collection.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02133900289384226725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35009574.post-83464014185636112522008-04-24T09:39:00.000+02:002008-04-24T09:39:00.000+02:00I've read "Brideshead", too. I have a copy with th...I've read "Brideshead", too. I have a copy with the TV series cover, as I used to collect these things! I loved the TV series, at the time it was originally broadcast, and my memory of it is that, like its subject matter, it is luxuriously opulent. I was always disappointed, however, that we didn't get to see more of Sebastian in the middle-to-latter stages of the story simply because Charles is so boring! My recollection of the novel is that Waugh comes over as a bit of a snob, obsessing about the right sized brandy glass etc.<BR/><BR/>I even own the soundtrack of "Brideshead" on vinyl, the best thing about that being the glorious accompanying full-colour booklet. Geoffrey Burgon's score does tend to sound like all his other scores, especially when in Oxford. He's a jazz trumpeter, as well as composer, hence the main theme is for high baroque trumpet. (His first work for telly was a couple of early Tom Baker "Doctor Who" stories.)<BR/><BR/>Funnily enough, one book I've always wanted to read is Waugh's "The Loved One", a very black comedy published two years after "Brideshead". It's about the excesses of a Californian funeral business and was a major influence on Eric Saward's "Revelation of the Daleks", one of my favourite "Doctor Who" adventures.<BR/><BR/>Never read any Carter but am aware of her reputation and have seen the two films you mention, "The Company of Wolves" many times. Love the reworking of "Little Red Riding Hood" with the exception of Angela Lansbury!<BR/><BR/>I set the end of "1984", "Newspeak", to music as part of my Masters degree, obviously having to edit the text and changing the tense to the present on the advice of my tutor. It was quite amusing having a professional singer singing about the abolition of sexual intercourse! I still haven't actually read the whole book though!!TimeWardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06853837867256272087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35009574.post-52794163555420052112008-04-24T07:56:00.000+02:002008-04-24T07:56:00.000+02:00Hi Tris, totally agree. The woman had a genius for...Hi Tris, totally agree. The woman had a genius for resurrecting fairytales and her writing abilities were extraordinary... shame she was cut down in her prime.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02133900289384226725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35009574.post-43696490025926108092008-04-23T22:48:00.000+02:002008-04-23T22:48:00.000+02:00Hi Steve - I have to agree about Angela Carter - m...Hi Steve - I have to agree about Angela Carter - magical, powerful, visceral, sensual - how more adjectives can I throw at her writing? What a shame she died so young...Tristanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14235856654790610822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35009574.post-7717639185624768562008-04-23T21:09:00.000+02:002008-04-23T21:09:00.000+02:00You never know, David, you never know - glad you c...You never know, David, you never know - glad you caught the error in time though! Happy book hunting!Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02133900289384226725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35009574.post-72194503628807457302008-04-23T21:02:00.000+02:002008-04-23T21:02:00.000+02:00Funny, I just noted it before I read your comment....Funny, I just noted it before I read your comment. Saved an embarrassing trip and question to the good people at the book store I suspect.<BR/>Who knows maybe I might have stumbled upon an interesting author with the first name "Angel"<BR/>Cheers!Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02250044610162724765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35009574.post-64287318278064824552008-04-23T15:48:00.000+02:002008-04-23T15:48:00.000+02:00David my big apologies - it's Angela Carter not An...David my big apologies - it's Angel<B>a</B> Carter not Angel and the fault is entirely mine: a typo that I have now corrected. Her work should be available in the states so I hope you find something!<BR/><BR/>Oh glorious indeed Gina - and thank you for the meme. I actually really enjoyed it though since posting have thought of loads more books: Lorna Doone is another huge favourite of mine as is the Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb. It's good to muse about books once in a while. I think I have constantly put off reading 1984 because is sounds so grim and life un-affirming... but maybe I'm wrong? I really ought to bite the bullet and just read the damned thing!Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02133900289384226725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35009574.post-21429203697349538452008-04-23T14:22:00.000+02:002008-04-23T14:22:00.000+02:00Glorious eh? Thanks for doing the meme and you di...Glorious eh? <BR/><BR/>Thanks for doing the meme and you did it so beautifully too. <BR/><BR/>I suspect you have not read 1984 simply because you were too young to do so before it happened. I am sure I read it in 1982 when everyone else was doing so. It is, at least, quite short! I have also read Brideshead although it left no lasting impression on me. <BR/><BR/>I have never read The Vintner's Luck but on the basis of what you say I think I should. So I will buy a copy and take it with me next time I go on holiday (wonder if that will be before you read 1984???).<BR/><BR/>Thanks, Steve - you're a starAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35009574.post-41348967149641258612008-04-23T13:03:00.000+02:002008-04-23T13:03:00.000+02:00I'm off to bookstore to check out Angel Carter.Tha...I'm off to bookstore to check out Angel Carter.<BR/>Thanks, and thanks for the visit.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02250044610162724765noreply@blogger.com