#1258

I think he shoulda just stuck to poetry personally. Suits him a lot better - says everything he really ever said in a book and is much more memorable/striking for its succinctness. Used to really like listening to recordings of his bemused/sozzled drawl.

1 Like
#1259

If On A Winter’s Night is such a good book. And Cosmicomics is a great collection of bizarre godly alien spacey type stories.

1 Like
#1260

Conflicted based on what I’ve read so far of DFW (some short stories, Broom, some non-fiction) - I’ve liked most of it a lot. I think even when he’s being a bit tediously cleverer-than-thou, he’s very readable and I think there’s a tremendous empathy in a lot of what he’s written. The latter point complicates things greatly though given that that side of his fiction clearly wasn’t reflective of his actual life, and the stuff he did that can’t be fully justified by the fact that he was really struggling with his mental health. Makes it kind of difficult to reconcile at times.

Keep meaning to read IJ.

#1261

Really want to read some Italo Calvino now, saw so much yesterday in bookshops, could have easily picked some up if I only knew yesterday that I wanted to read some :frowning:

3 Likes
#1262

You forgot to include Dostoevsky’s actual best work.

1 Like
#1263

Remember being intrigued just by seeing a title of his recently. Based on what I’ve seen in the thread, sounds up my straße

thank you thread

thread

1 Like
#1264

Which of these well known long novels are you more likely to read?

  • Infinite Jest
  • War and Peace
  • I have read IJ
  • I have read W&P
  • I have read both (dishonest option)
  • Neither

0 voters

#1265

The neapolitan novels are all one book and probably the best book you could ever wish to read, thank you.

4 Likes
#1266

Read War & Peace last year as part of @AQOS’s “let’s all read War and Peace” club.

I’m grinding my teeth with rage just thinking about it now.

8 Likes
#1268

It’s a great book you philistines.

1 Like
#1269

Let’s save this argument for when he inevitably pops up in the top 50.

1 Like
#1270

And Tolstoy’s league position is going to knock David Dicking Wallace into an infinite hat.

#1271

No. 49

Octavia E Butler

  • Kindred
  • Xenogenosis
  • Patternmaster
  • Bloodchild and Other Stories
  • Fledgling
  • Earthseed
  • Other
  • None
  • Heard of, not read
  • DKWYA, P

0 voters

3 Likes
#1272

DKWHIP. Big fan of the name Octavia though.

1 Like
#1273

Already on my to-read list.

My to-read list makes me look better than my actual read list.

4 Likes
#1274

Read War and Peace last year, it’s incredible (I nearly cried on a train ffs).

Read half of Infinite Jest, got bored.

#1275

I’ve got a signed Terry Pratchett t-shirt. My mum queued up for ages at a signing in Croydon Waterstones to get it, while I was at school. She also sewed over the signature before its first wash so that it would last forever. Excellent mumming. Though she should have let me bunk off.

My dad gave away my signed copy of Men-at-arms to a charity shop. Bad dadding. Childhood Pratchett obsession started with Truckers, Diggers and Wings. Need to re-read them.

7 Likes
#1276

I mean this is down to the marketing people really isn’t it

Having said that, they are page turners.

I’m usually unimpressed with a lot of modern writers, especially hyped ones, but Ferrante is excellent.

She’s got a fantastic sense of character and drama, the books manage to be very accessible as well as quite intellectual (they delve into a lot of political/sociological issues in Italy)

3 Likes
#1277

only read pattern master, liked it but it was her debut and felt like she was capable of much better, will probably read more

#1278

Looking forward to a big Octavia E Butler fan explaining why she’s so great/where to begin with her. Reckon I’d like her stuff

3 Likes