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Book News
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The Guardian looks at the summer reads of a few folk this summer, what are yours as you lie next to the haystack chewing straw with a pitcher of lemonade by your side, the lazy sound of the summer in the hazy summer air around you (or alternatively you may read indoors) View guardian
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Miller
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I particularly liked the style of Joseph O'Connor's recommendations (though not the books): 'I will be revisiting two acclaimed masterworks by leading English storytellers: The Alastair Campbell Diaries (Hutchinson) and Ian McEwan's On Chesil Beach (Vintage). One is a somewhat controversial work about a tender love affair, a troubled honeymoon and the loneliness of marriage. The other is On Chesil Beach.
Quite.
For two choices, I'd recommend Home by Marilynne Robinson, (Virago). Elegiac and moving, about faith, fear and hope. Stunning, profound writing that haunts.
And for something quite different, Time in Carnbeg, (Polygon), short stories by Ronald Frame, illustrating the characters of a small, fictional Scottish town as they play our their roles on its streets and in its houses. Sounds quaint and cosy, perhaps. It's anything but. Deceptive, subtle writing.
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Joe 90
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I can't believe I'm saying it, but I am reading a book on Philosophy/Analysis entitled 'Planet Narnia' It is a detailed analysis of CS Lewis' works, in particular the seven Chronicles of Narnia. If anyone is under the misapprehension that Lewis just dashed off these books, they would be sadly wrong. The seven books contain the aspects of the seven medieval astrological bodies, (Sun, moon, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Saturn) cunningly woven into the overall plot, but also subliminally spelt out in the description, and even the dialogue. (For example in the Lion, Witch and Wardrobe, Lewis used the benign, cheerful influence of Jupiter. Festivities abound after the end of the 100 years of winter. High King Peter swears 'by Jove' and so on.) If nothing else, Michael Ward's book is a masterclass in symbolic writing. Amazon listingSadly, holidays approach and I'm almost finished. Better start again.
This post was last edited by Joe 90, 20 Jul 2010, 09:11
my website
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sulcus
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Quote: Joe 90, Tuesday, 20 Jul 2010 09:10I can't believe I'm saying it, but I am reading a book on Philosophy/Analysis entitled 'Planet Narnia' It is a detailed analysis of CS Lewis' works, in particular the seven Chronicles of Narnia. If anyone is under the misapprehension that Lewis just dashed off these books, they would be sadly wrong. The seven books contain the aspects of the seven medieval astrological bodies, (Sun, moon, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Saturn) cunningly woven into the overall plot, but also subliminally spelt out in the description, and even the dialogue. (For example in the Lion, Witch and Wardrobe, Lewis used the benign, cheerful influence of Jupiter. Festivities abound after the end of the 100 years of winter. High King Peter swears 'by Jove' and so on.) If nothing else, Michael Ward's book is a masterclass in symbolic writing. Amazon listingSadly, holidays approach and I'm almost finished. Better start again. Yes and if you play the Rolling Stones LPs backwards you can clearly hear the voice of Satan talking and if you play the Beatles backwards there's the message "Paul's dead" clearly enunciated...
"A,B&E", "Not In My Name" and "52FF" (flash fiction anthology) all available on Amazon Kindle"How a psychopath makes sweet love. I can get you ringside. Royal box even."
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Joe 90
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Quote: sulcus, Tuesday, 20 Jul 2010 11:57Quote: Joe 90, Tuesday, 20 Jul 2010 09:10I can't believe I'm saying it, but I am reading a book on Philosophy/Analysis entitled 'Planet Narnia' It is a detailed analysis of CS Lewis' works, in particular the seven Chronicles of Narnia. If anyone is under the misapprehension that Lewis just dashed off these books, they would be sadly wrong. The seven books contain the aspects of the seven medieval astrological bodies, (Sun, moon, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Saturn) cunningly woven into the overall plot, but also subliminally spelt out in the description, and even the dialogue. (For example in the Lion, Witch and Wardrobe, Lewis used the benign, cheerful influence of Jupiter. Festivities abound after the end of the 100 years of winter. High King Peter swears 'by Jove' and so on.) If nothing else, Michael Ward's book is a masterclass in symbolic writing. Amazon listingSadly, holidays approach and I'm almost finished. Better start again. Yes and if you play the Rolling Stones LPs backwards you can clearly hear the voice of Satan talking and if you play the Beatles backwards there's the message "Paul's dead" clearly enunciated... You miserable, bitter, twisted cynic you... I'm off to the Conspiracy Theory Society Summer Fair. Unless the secret agencies stop me.
This post was last edited by Joe 90, 20 Jul 2010, 12:26
my website
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Pinkfox
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Much as I would love to be sitting by a haystack with a pitcher of ...  , I'm indoors. It doesn't matter though, as I intend to travel back in time to Roman Britain again. I shall be reading the first of our Doug's (Douglas Jackson, for those who don't know) Hero of Rome. If it's as good/brilliant as his last two, ( Caligula and Claudius) I shall be in for a treat.
Keeper of the Enchanted Pool by Lucy Fox, is available now from all major book retailers.I blog a little, too.My website
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sulcus
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Can anyone tell me what a Summer Read actually is? I mean how is it suppose to differ from a September read? Reading on the beach I understand, but let's face it, beach reads are generally superficial & light so as not to interfere with falling asleep in the sun and dashing in and out of the sea or to refill at the bar... Summer reads is just another dreary old marketing tool. Besides, the sand gets in between the pages so the book won't sit flush anymore....
This post was last edited by sulcus, 03 Aug 2010, 22:37
"A,B&E", "Not In My Name" and "52FF" (flash fiction anthology) all available on Amazon Kindle"How a psychopath makes sweet love. I can get you ringside. Royal box even."
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Turnip
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Summer read...makes me feel fine...blowing through the chasms in my mind. My wife and I are fighting over Colin Bateman's 'The Day of the Jack Russell'. This afternoon we're going to Khan's bookshop in Kilkenny where we'll fight over any other Bateman books we can get our hands on. Flavour of the holiday month for me.
Back to my roots.
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