TST "Book Club" anyone?

[Zeock]

I have just finished 'The House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski.

This book (considered a horror novel) contains an embedded narrative built around a fictional documentary about a house whose dimensions change.

It is written mainly in an academic style, with hundreds of footnotes, ergo it is a notoriously hard book to read due to its format, and the vocabulary can sometimes be complex. On the other hand, the underlying narrative is far more informal, and there are plenty of (intentional) spelling errors.

I absolutely loved it, and I would recommend this book because the description of the house is superb (I could practically smell said house). Danielewski masterfully concocts dread in the reader and the characters alike.

9.5/10.

​

 

[rob666]

I'm currently on Mirriam Margolyes autobiography. She crazy.

She doesn't think much of the Disney parks does she!
One big freebie with vip escorted queuejump, and she still thought the place was absolute hell.
And made her feelings very clear!

 

[RicketyCricket]

I've never been much of a reader in adulthood, especially fiction. But I've been reading a lot this year to stop me from doomscrolling all the time.

Decided to read the A Song Of Ice And Fire series, as I somehow never managed to watch Game of Thrones and I'm now completely obsessed. Got through all 7 books and 4000 pages in just over 6 months, which is wild for me.

It's a complicated story, with sometimes confusing timelines and a huge number of different characters. But the writing style really works for me. 20-30 minute chapters from the viewpoints of the key characters, most of which ending with a cliffhanger.

Spoiler

I physically had to put down the book in shock and re-read the chapter a few times during the infamous Red Wedding

Onto the TV series now and curious to see which direction it takes, as the books end on about season 5 of the TV series.

Don't think I'll ever find anything as immersive but I'm making my way through some Stephen King classics. Just finished 11.22.63 which was very good, would definitely recommend. Just started Salems Lot and will report back when finished!

 

[Alix]

I’ve been remiss and not updated this for a while…I’ve read a few things since last posting but of particular note are:

Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens 8/10
Bit of a murder mystery type thing set in the US. I enjoyed it although it was a bit predictable.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe - Fannie Flag 8/10
I’d describe this as a bit of a drama with a disappearance/murder thrown in, there are a couple of plot lines going on, both interesting and it was quite a quick read.

I’ve also failed (refused) to finish 2 books. A little life which is so terribly bleak I just couldn’t, and the slap which is just so terribly written and full of dreadful characters I didn’t want to.

Safely back in the Discworld at the moment re reading Snuff which is about acceptance and justice for people seen as lesser than others. It’ll soon be time for my annual re-read of the Hogfather too.

 

[Zeock]

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe - Fannie Flag 8/10
I’d describe this as a bit of a drama with a disappearance/murder thrown in, there are a couple of plot lines going on, both interesting and it was quite a quick read.

I enjoyed the film version of this. I didn't know that it was originally a book, so I will read it fairly soon.

 

[Zeock]

I have just finished reading 'The Exorcist'. I personally found it much better than the film, due to its superior pacing. Unlike the film, I didn't find the book to be bathetic (which is my main criticism of the film), due to the excellent description of the high stakes involved in the exorcism, and the emotional toll that the process takes on the characters. I found the dialogue solid for the most part, and the characters were well-rounded, which added to the realism (if you can call a book about an exorcism realistic). However, there were a few missing full stops in the edition that I was reading, which did annoy me a little.
8.5/10.

 

[NuttySquirrel]

I have just finished reading 'The Exorcist'. I personally found it much better than the film, due to its superior pacing. Unlike the film, I didn't find the book to be bathetic (which is my main criticism of the film), due to the excellent description of the high stakes involved in the exorcism, and the emotional toll that the process takes on the characters. I found the dialogue solid for the most part, and the characters were well-rounded, which added to the realism (if you can call a book about an exorcism realistic). However, there were a few missing full stops in the edition that I was reading, which did annoy me a little.
8.5/10.

I've never understood how you can get typesetting errors in classic works. Surely by now the thing has been proofread enough times?

Ah good old bathos, memories of GCSE English flooding right back. Though all I can remember now is that it has nothing to do with baths...

 

[rob666]

I get bathos in the bath, every time I look in the mirror.