tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313308317341676614.post4338033249621214978..comments2023-10-29T21:17:39.857+11:00Comments on There's a bug in my ink bottle: 2007 Reading RoundupNicki Greenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05933295866435745305noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313308317341676614.post-395067534025804092008-01-06T16:55:00.000+11:002008-01-06T16:55:00.000+11:00I agree with you about "Take a Girl LIke Me". I j...I agree with you about "Take a Girl LIke Me". I just could not finish it, such a disappointment after "Lucky Jim". I also read recently "The Old Devils", also by Kingsley Amis, which was marginally better, won the Booker Prize (of all things) in 1986 or thereabouts but was also, in the end, quite ordinary.<BR/><BR/>I also have kept a list of the books I've read, probably for the last 3 years. My reading has definately tailed off in the last year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313308317341676614.post-77261263663042061742007-12-23T00:02:00.000+11:002007-12-23T00:02:00.000+11:00If only you would have made it throught The Illumi...If only you would have made it throught The Illuminatus trilogy of the Harlan Ellison omnibus.fabulous heretichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04305188818596946733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313308317341676614.post-30645199868028652592007-12-22T10:56:00.000+11:002007-12-22T10:56:00.000+11:00Thank you so much, Blair! I'll definitely be plung...Thank you so much, Blair! I'll definitely be plunging into this list. I'm especially keen on your graphic novel recommendations, because I think my education needs furthering in this area!<BR/><BR/>Funnily enough, I got half-way through <I>1599 - A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare</I> in August and lost interest a little - maybe because it was a bit similar to <I>Will in the World</I> but less juicy. But I'll pick it up again and give it a better go. <BR/><BR/>King Dork - I really want to read that - it sounds fabulous. <BR/><BR/>And a merry Christmas to you and yours. I hope little G got his Christmas tree! xNNicki Greenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05933295866435745305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313308317341676614.post-63997352521375080852007-12-22T10:10:00.000+11:002007-12-22T10:10:00.000+11:00Okay, here are some recommendations based on what ...Okay, here are some recommendations based on what you've been reading:<BR/><BR/><B>1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare</B>, by James Shapiro (A wonderful account of the year when Shapiro argues that Shakespeare worked on four masterpieces: the completing of Henry V, the writing of Julius Caesar and As You Like It, and the drafting of Hamlet.)<BR/><BR/>Have you read David Mitchell's <B>Number9Dream</B>, the book before <B>Cloud Atlas</B>? It's not quite as good, but still wonderful.<BR/><BR/>And have you read Lethem's latest novel, <B>You Don't Love Me Yet</B>? It's a bit slighter than <B>Fortress of Solitude</B>, but a very funny, whimsical look at the life of a rock band.<BR/><BR/>How about more Auster? His best in recent years I think was <B>The Book of Illusions</B>. There is an incredible graphic novel adaptation of <B>City of Glass</B>, the first volume of <B>The New York Trilogy</B>, by Paul Karasik and David Mazzuchelli.<BR/><BR/>Best graphic novels I've read this year: <B>Palomar: The Heartbreak Soup Stories</B>, by Gilbert Hernandez, <B>Laika</B>, by Nick Abadzis, <B>Exit Wounds</B>, by Rutu Modan, <B>Meow, Baby!</B>, by Jason.<BR/><BR/>Best novels or short story collections I've read this year: <B>Darkmans</B> by Nicola Barker, <B>Then We Came to the End</B>, by Joshua Ferris, <B>The Yiddish Policeman's Union</B>, by Michael Chabon, <B>King Dork</B>, by Frank Portman, <B>Absurdistan</B>, by Gary Shteyngart, <B>Twilight of the Superheroes</B>, by Deborah Eisenberg, <B>The Road</B>, by Cormac McCarthy.<BR/><BR/>Merry Xmas!<BR/><BR/>BlairAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313308317341676614.post-39918659817749541142007-12-21T18:49:00.000+11:002007-12-21T18:49:00.000+11:00Hi! I just read your adaptation of "The Great Gats...Hi! I just read your adaptation of "The Great Gatsby' and loved it! Well done! I love the strange characters and sepia-ness of it all. There's a total freedom you use to make this world that really inspires me. <BR/>About the book list. Have you seen shelfari.com? You can create a shelf and add books to it. What you said about keeping track of the books you read I totally feel you on that. Shelfari is nice because it has pictures. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com