Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?

[Scepticalscribe]

I really enjoyed Moonglow so this is next...

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ya know, i liked the film although it took some critical beatings...

Well, as I may have written elsewhere, in general, I am not a fan of movie adaptation of books I have liked (or loved). I rarely - indeed, hardly ever - watch them.

Most of the time, Hollywood massacres the book, or merely traduces it, or reduces the narrative to its most basic and predictable elements, or omits huge chunks and/or significant characters in the work, or - worst of all - sometimes even tries to change the ending if it is insufficiently saccharine.

There have been a few rare examples where the source (the book) was treated with respect, but these are exceptions, not the rule.

 

[AVBeatMan]

Well, as I may have written elsewhere, in general, I am not a fan of movie adaptation of books I have liked (or loved). I rarely - indeed, hardly ever - watch them.

Most of the time, Hollywood massacres the book, or merely traduces it, or reduces the narrative to its most basic and predictable elements, or omits huge chunks and/or significant characters in the work, or - worst of all - sometimes even tries to change the ending if it is insufficiently saccharine.

There have been a few rare examples where the source (the book) was treated with respect, but these are exceptions, not the rule.

This looks interesting. I'm in the office at the moment so the article will have to speak for itself. I've not read the book but think I might.

Tom Hardy to star as Times war reporter

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/676b84d8-7247-11e7-83f1-667fddf1d78f

 

[keithneese]

Currently reading Joseph Finder's novel "The Switch". If you are in to technological thrillers, I would highly recommend it.

Devil's Bargain by Joshua Green should arrive by tomorrow. It comes on a recommendation from my father.

 

[Lone Deranger]

Dark, intense and haunting.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Dark, intense and haunting.

Yes, that looks extremely interesting; must look into ordering it.

 

[0388631]

Many years ago we had a distant family friend who was in the Stasi back in the day. It was then I learned to trust my gut when meeting people for the first time. If it swirls in me, tis a danger in front of me. He later succumbed to dementia and passed due to complications from pneumonia. Can't say I was sad at hearing about his death.

Few people in my life have caused me skin to crawl as much as that dodgy bastard. DJT is a close third.

 

[pachyderm]

Many years ago we had a distant family friend who was in the Stasi back in the day. It was then I learned to trust my gut when meeting people for the first time. If it swirls in me, tis a danger in front of me. He later succumbed to dementia and passed due to complications from pneumonia. Can't say I was sad at hearing about his death.

Few people in my life have caused me skin to crawl as much as that dodgy bastard. DJT is a close third.

who is DJT ?

 

[arkitect]

who is DJT ?

Donald John Trump.
[doublepost=1501496336][/doublepost]

Dark, intense and haunting.

Excellent book.

Did you ever watch the TV series Deutschland 83?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Many years ago we had a distant family friend who was in the Stasi back in the day. It was then I learned to trust my gut when meeting people for the first time. If it swirls in me, tis a danger in front of me. He later succumbed to dementia and passed due to complications from pneumonia. Can't say I was sad at hearing about his death.

Few people in my life have caused me skin to crawl as much as that dodgy bastard. DJT is a close third.

I know what you mean.

Yes, on a mission in Georgia several years ago, I met someone like that; on the surface, he was polished, charming, outrageously handsome, and - I found it hard to explain to myself as everyone seemed to like him - but, I loathed him on sight, as, for some inexplicable reason, he made my skin crawl.

Officially, he was a German diplomat, and his subsequent conduct showed that he was a two-timing creep, but, as I didn't completely detest everyone who cheated smugly on their wives, it wasn't just that; unofficially, years later, it came to my ears that he had had the sort of murky background that justified my unease.

As for DJT: Well, a loathsome excuse for a human being.

 

[Lone Deranger]

Did you ever watch the TV series Deutschland 83?

No. I've never heard of it, but now I'm keen to check it out. I did find an interesting documentary on YouTube called 'That was the GDR - A history of the other Germany.'

 

[ThisBougieLife]

John Fowles is one of my favorite writers. He's known mainly for The French Lieutenant's Woman (at least as the source of the movie), and a story called The Magus (which, despite its less interesting second half, is one of my favorite books of all time). He was an experimental post-modern writer, and his style is sometimes seen as hit-and-miss. But I like all I've read so far, and I intend to read the rest. I've just started A Maggot, his final novel, a story told part in interviews, articles, and normal prose about a murder and disappearance in the 18th century:

 

[arkitect]

John Fowles is one of my favorite writers. He's known mainly for The French Lieutenant's Woman (at least as the source of the movie), and a story called The Magus (which, despite its less interesting second half, is one of my favorite books of all time). He was an experimental post-modern writer, and his style is sometimes seen as hit-and-miss. But I like all I've read so far, and I intend to read the rest. I've just started A Maggot, his final novel, a story told part in interviews, articles, and normal prose about a murder and disappearance in the 18th century:

Ah! Another quality read.

I first came across it in a small bookshop in Kathmandu in the mid 80s. Read most of it sitting in the courtyard of the Kathmandu Guest House drinking hot chocolate.
Ah… good memories.
Hope you enjoy it. Though I have to confess it is a very opaque novel at first.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Donald John Trump.
[doublepost=1501496336][/doublepost]
Excellent book.

Did you ever watch the TV series Deutschland 83?

Deutschland 83 was brilliant; I write as someone who rarely watches TV but I was absolutely riveted by that series - terrific production values, solid history and a stunning soundtrack (which I subsequently bought as a double CD set and copied for my sister-in-law who is German and who loved it).

Also - re movies about the former DDR - do take a look at "The Lives of Others" (which I thought outstanding) and "Goodbye Lenin" which was very good and came complete with a bitter-sweet note (and an amazing soundtrack courtesy of Yann Tiersen).

 

[arkitect]

Deutschland 83 was brilliant; I write as someone who rarely watches TV but I was absolutely riveted by that series - terrific production values, solid history and a stunning soundtrack (which I subsequently bought as a double CD set and copied for my sister-in-law who is German and who loved it).

Also - re movies about the former DDR - do take a look at "The Lives of Others" (which I thought outstanding) and "Goodbye Lenin" which was very good and came complete with a bitter-sweet note (and an amazing soundtrack courtesy of Yann Tiersen).

Yes, I'm also someone who very rarely watches anything on TV these days.

"Goodbye Lenin" is another excellent recommendation.

 

[pachyderm]

Donald John Trump.
[doublepost=1501496336][/doublepost]


ha! tru dat!

 

[0388631]

I know what you mean.

Yes, on a mission in Georgia several years ago, I met someone like that; on the surface, he was polished, charming, outrageously handsome, and - I found it hard to explain to myself as everyone seemed to like him - but, I loathed him on sight, as, for some inexplicable reason, he made my skin crawl.

Officially, he was a German diplomat, and his subsequent conduct showed that he was a two-timing creep, but, as I didn't completely detest everyone who cheated smugly on their wives, it wasn't just that; unofficially, years later, it came to my ears that he had had the sort of murky background that justified my unease.

As for DJT: Well, a loathsome excuse for a human being.

Ah, a womanizer. Some of the most profoundly disgusting people I've come across have been the most polished and courteous people on the outside. Trusting your gut instinct is usually a sound idea. I take it his murky background involved something like my example?


On DJT: Couldn't agree more if I tried to. When I was a young lad and had first come to the states, we were told any person, even a woman, could one day become President. I didn't know it implied just about anyone. I fear the position is now tainted for a few administrations to come.

Deutschland 83 was brilliant; I write as someone who rarely watches TV but I was absolutely riveted by that series - terrific production values, solid history and a stunning soundtrack (which I subsequently bought as a double CD set and copied for my sister-in-law who is German and who loved it).

Also - re movies about the former DDR - do take a look at "The Lives of Others" (which I thought outstanding) and "Goodbye Lenin" which was very good and came complete with a bitter-sweet note (and an amazing soundtrack courtesy of Yann Tiersen).

Sounds very similar. Had to look it up. Is this the program with a Peter Schilling theme opening?

Yes, I'm also someone who very rarely watches anything on TV these days.

"Goodbye Lenin" is another excellent recommendation.

Ah, yes. The one with the coma. I have not seen this, but my wife did. She recommended I watch it but I never got around to it. I've mentioned before that we have an international satellite that gets quite a lot of European channels spanning from the UK to some in Eastern Europe. I usually carry on with a film or the news, but there's been a few good French satires here and there. Arte makes some interesting stuff.

Come to think of it, I'm often recommending shows or films, but never end up watching them. Books are the same. I began a book last week, got 48 pages in and stopped. I keep telling myself I'll finish it off soon. I'm at day 9.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Ah, a womanizer. Some of the most profoundly disgusting people I've come across have been the most polished and courteous people on the outside. Trusting your gut instinct is usually a sound idea. I take it his murky background involved something like my example?


....

Yes, it was. A sleaze personally and professionally.

Nevertheless, I do recommend both "The Lives of Others" and "Goodbye Lenin" - two excellent movies that deal (intelligently - and quite movingly in parts - with the bitter sweet integrity of art) with the topic of the old DDR.

 

[0388631]

Yes, it was. A sleaze personally and professionally.

Nevertheless, I do recommend both "The Lives of Others" and "Goodbye Lenin" - two excellent movies that deal (intelligently - and quite movingly in parts - with the bitter sweet integrity of art) with the topic of the old DDR.

Ah.

I've seen The Lives of Others. Quality film. I was thinking of rewatching it just last week. I'll have to take you up on your suggestion. I take it from the post likes I got that I was thinking of the correct Deutschland show? I may or may not have seen an episode. Peter Schiller's song was played non stop when it came out and gained resurgence after he re-released an English version. It had become a very popular song with the free-love and anti-war people in those days. It died out in the mid 1990s except for a minor resurgence for a couple of weeks. Coincidentally, people did play it and request it a lot after DJT was voted in. Suffice to say, I've heard the song in both German and English, mostly German, at least a few thousand times. Probably flipped away from the channel when it aired in the US. Having done some reading earlier, it appears there is work being done on something called Deutschland 86 and then one for 89.

How did you say you came to buying it? I'm only seeing individual episode purchases off of Amazon. It's a shame the French haven't done any serious show about the time period since they had a fairly heavy hand after the war. The SDECE had their fingers all over Africa and the East Bloc.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Ah.

I've seen The Lives of Others. Quality film. I was thinking of rewatching it just last week. I'll have to take you up on your suggestion. I take it from the post likes I got that I was thinking of the correct Deutschland show? I may or may not have seen an episode. Peter Schiller's song was played non stop when it came out and gained resurgence after he re-released an English version. It had become a very popular song with the free-love and anti-war people in those days. It died out in the mid 1990s except for a minor resurgence for a couple of weeks. Coincidentally, people did play it and request it a lot after DJT was voted in. Suffice to say, I've heard the song in both German and English, mostly German, at least a few thousand times. Probably flipped away from the channel when it aired in the US. Having done some reading earlier, it appears there is work being done on something called Deutschland 86 and then one for 89.

How did you say you came to buying it? I'm only seeing individual episode purchases off of Amazon. It's a shame the French haven't done any serious show about the time period since they had a fairly heavy hand after the war. The SDECE had their fingers all over Africa and the East Bloc.

I googled the soundtrack of Deutschland 83, and ordered a double CD (not DVD) set from Amazon, as I wanted the actual soundtrack.

 

[skinnerband]

https://www.amazon.com/Natchez-Burn...UTF8&qid=1501702102&sr=8-3&keywords=greg+iles

 

[AVBeatMan]

Finished Hillbilly Elegy. As a book I found it easy to read, a bit boring in places but overall enjoyable. At the end I found myself liking the author and kind of agreeing to what he was trying to say. It's basically a book about the disadvantaged white working class in the Appalachian region and about the social mobility that took them to the factories in Ohio. His story is about how he escaped this social "class", went to collage and got a good job. He points out that he had the help of his grandparents and points out that without help people are stuck with their lot and do it expect any better.

He had some interesting things to say about "payday loans" in that used correct, they can be of great help. The problem is, however, that, like credit card companies, they rely on those who are unable to use the, "correctly ".

 

[rhett7660]

Just finished Stephen King's "The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger". I will have to admit, I was very disappointed in the ending. However having said that, I am thinking about starting Book II to see if it gets any better from the mediocre ending of book I. I enjoyed the book all the way up until the final two chapters, with the last being more disappointing then anything else.

Of course this could have been his plan all along to get others to read the rest of the series.....

 

[AVBeatMan]

The worst thing, for me, with ending a book is that it takes me so long to decide what to read next! Do I want to read fiction, non fiction, history, thriller, a classic, Stephen King or Daphne Du maurier. As I write this, not a clue!

 

[rhett7660]

The worst thing, for me, with ending a book is that it takes me so long to decide what to read next! Do I want to read fiction, non fiction, history, thriller, a classic, Stephen King or Daphne Du maurier. As I write this, not a clue!

I hear yeah on this one......... I have a few graphic novels I am going to read next then I have a feeling it will be the next DT from Stephen King.

 

[AVBeatMan]

I hear yeah on this one......... I have a few graphic novels I am going to read next then I have a feeling it will be the next DT from Stephen King.

I always fancied The Dark Tower but heard it's a bit of a slog. Your review does not inspire confidence either! Maybe one day....