What are you reading?

[Dukat]

I've read the book but not seen the show. I thought the book was ok. Most of Gregory Maguire's stuff that I've read has been only ok. I think he tries too hard. (That being said, I did really like Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister.

Ditto. I think Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister was really well realized, much more cohesive and consistent with the narrative than the other Maguire novels I've read. Of course, it helps that I have a real interest in the Northern European Renaissance, and this book evoked that atmosphere very well without bogging down too much. When I have recommended Maguire to friends, it has been this novel. I bought it for my Dad a few Christmases ago, and he really liked it, too.

[Codefox]

I honestly don't think I could bring myself to read anything else by him.

[Dukat]

I honestly don't think I could bring myself to read anything else by him.

If I had read Wicked first, I'd be right there with you.

[Codefox]

Its shocking that they made the musical so good too! The idea was brilliant...just needed teh right execution

[Moxie]

I honestly don't think I could bring myself to read anything else by him.

If I had read Wicked first, I'd be right there with you.

I'm with you, Dukat. I read Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister first, which is why I was looking for more - very disappointing.

[g33x0R]

`Neverwhere' and `American Gods' are *great*! :-) [Okay, I did sleep once or twice on my way through `American Gods'. It's pretty thick.] Kind of wonder if the film of `Neverwhere' is good. Seen that?

I thought it was very good, a well done adaptation.

It was. :-)

Not quite how I'd pictured things, and I'm not sure why they changed some of the things they changed [some of it obviously was for length, and trimming extraneous details], but it does stay close to the original story. I guess a bit more of a subdued performance.

"Prepare to die. But first you shall have the nice tea!" fell a bit flat because he didn't do the silly voices. Just an example.

You know what's a perfect follow-up to that? `Bedazzled' :-) No, the other one. Peter Cook was a pretty convincing angel, I think. Spoiler warning on the second link.

[Sorry, guess this should have gone in the `What are you watching?' thread...]

If you liked American Gods, I think you'd really like Anansi Boys if you haven't read it yet. Something about his take on things really works for me. He finds humor and horror in the everyday.

Still meaning to get that one; don't let me forget. The preview about Fat Charlie is good [appears in his other books as promotional material].



Cheers,

Patrick.

[Dukat]

You know what's a perfect follow-up to that? `Bedazzled' No, the other one. Peter Cook was a pretty convincing angel, I think. Spoiler warning on the second link.

[Sorry, guess this should have gone in the `What are you watching?' thread...]

As far as I'm concerned, that's the only "Bedazzled"! OK, I'm not really quite that draconian about it, but the original was just so much better than the remake in my opinion. Peter Cook and Dudley Moore were a tremendous comic team. No matter how talented Brendon Fraser was at being a chameleon or how spiffy the make-up jobs were, that version fell flat when I had the other so firmly in mind. I don't understand the mentality behind most remakes, anyway. Why redo anything that's already very good the way it is? I'm glad you liked "Neverwhere". Film/television adaptations of books are never completely satisfying, but I really thought that one did better than most.

On a mostly unrelated side note, ever seen "Harold and Maude"? Something about the humor of "Bedazzled" made me think of it. Yeah, yeah, ought to be in "What are you watching?" but the tangent started here. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

[Codefox]

In the past week I read "A Game of Thrones" and "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". Both were great...glad there's more in both series for me to read!

[g33x0R]

You know what's a perfect follow-up to that? `Bedazzled' :-) No, the other one. Peter Cook was a pretty convincing angel, I think. Spoiler warning on the second link.

[Sorry, guess this should have gone in the `What are you watching?' thread...]

As far as I'm concerned, that's the only "Bedazzled"!

I actually haven't seen the remake, or read much about it. Maybe I should, for comparison.

OK, I'm not really quite that draconian about it, but the original was just so much better than the remake in my opinion. Peter Cook and Dudley Moore were a tremendous comic team. No matter how talented Brendon Fraser was at being a chameleon or how spiffy the make-up jobs were, that version fell flat when I had the other so firmly in mind. I don't understand the mentality behind most remakes, anyway. Why redo anything that's already very good the way it is?

I'm thinking money, and the use of another film's established reputation to make some. Otherwise, yup.

I'm glad you liked "Neverwhere". Film/television adaptations of books are never completely satisfying, but I really thought that one did better than most.

Yeah. If I'm aware of a book and screen version of something, I'll try to watch it before reading it, and that's why. Don't want the book spoiling the movie, but that hardly ever happens the other way around.

Turns out Neil Gaiman had a hand in the `Neverwhere' series before doing the book though. Didn't know that before.

On a mostly unrelated side note, ever seen "Harold and Maude"? Something about the humor of "Bedazzled" made me think of it. Yeah, yeah, ought to be in "What are you watching?" but the tangent started here. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Been meaning to, seems appropriate since the Czech lady friend is a bit older than me [but nowhere near *that* much older]. Probably wouldn't want to see it with her though, because I don't think she likes to be reminded that there's an age difference. After one glance at the cover [after unwrapping it] I could see that her copy of `In Praise of Older Women' wasn't going over well at all, in spite of her noble efforts to make appreciative noises about it. Still a very good story though.

Oh well.

Hey, I managed to mention a book in this one. :-)



Cheers,

Patrick.

[g33x0R]

`Neverwhere' and `American Gods' are *great*! :-) [Okay, I did sleep once or twice on my way through `American Gods'. It's pretty thick.] Kind of wonder if the film of `Neverwhere' is good. Seen that?

I thought it was very good, a well done adaptation. If you liked American Gods, I think you'd really like Anansi Boys if you haven't read it yet. Something about his take on things really works for me. He finds humor and horror in the everyday.

I think he's good at taking ordinary situations and bending them, just a little. Never seems to break anything unless it's necessary. That can be scary, or funny, or both, depending what the characters need to get through the rest of their day, and which way things bent.

`Anansi Boys' was great, btw. :-) Another one where he takes an ordinary, boring life and bends it, just a little. Really, you'd expect things to get weirder for the son of an African god, and they do, but not all at once. I like the way he puts sane, sensible characters in insane situations and lets them deal with it.

Did most of my reading in the company of Molly the exceptionally gentle cat who, having the consistency of melted cheese, would ooze into my lap and fall asleep when I wasn't looking. Made Tiger seem all the more ridiculous. ;-) I think she appreciates my reading habits [because I sit still long enough for a really good nap]. Probably doesn't appreciate my laughing habits though, at least not when she's using my stomach as a back-rest.

I didn't see `Good Omens' in the book-store, but was looking under `G' and Terry Pratchett probably got top-billing on that one. So I'll know where to look next.



Cheers,

Patrick.

[Starline]

I'm currently reading Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard, by Chip Heath.

It's about how the human mind reacts to change and why we as people can be stubborn and stick to old bad habits, even when you want to change. It's pretty darn interesting so far.

[Dukat]

I think he's good at taking ordinary situations and bending them, just a little. Never seems to break anything unless it's necessary. That can be scary, or funny, or both, depending what the characters need to get through the rest of their day, and which way things bent.

Yes, he is. Clive Barker is sort of his evil twin, only he often breaks his toys.

Really, you'd expect things to get weirder for the son of an African god, and they do, but not all at once. I like the way he puts sane, sensible characters in insane situations and lets them deal with it.

Exactly. Fat Charlie is a good everyman, or as his loathsome boss would say, "Absatively!"

Did most of my reading in the company of Molly the exceptionally gentle cat who, having the consistency of melted cheese, would ooze into my lap and fall asleep when I wasn't looking. Made Tiger seem all the more ridiculous.

I wish at least one of our cats was a good reading partner, but none of them are. One is a kneader, one a compulsive head-butter, and the youngest is a shredder of anything that isn't all about entertaining him. He particularly enjoys slapping books. Even better if he can sneak up and catch us off guard. He likes it when we jump.

I didn't see `Good Omens' in the book-store, but was looking under `G' and Terry Pratchett probably got top-billing on that one. So I'll know where to look next.

On the cover of mine, Gaiman got the first mention, but who knows how it might be filed in a book store, or even if it was filed? People jumble the shelves up all the time. I used to work in a bookstore. It was a superb way for me to go broke.

[Codefox]

I read "A Clash of Kings" (book after "A Game of Thrones") last weekend but I think I need to reread it. I read most of it on the plane from Australia and I am pretty sure I missed parts of it. I'm going to read it again...starting on the plane ride back to Australia tomorrow. But I won't force myself to read when I feel myself getting tired this time...

[Dukat]

I read "A Clash of Kings" (book after "A Game of Thrones") last weekend but I think I need to reread it. I read most of it on the plane from Australia and I am pretty sure I missed parts of it. I'm going to read it again...starting on the plane ride back to Australia tomorrow. But I won't force myself to read when I feel myself getting tired this time...

I've heard good things about the series. Some friends of ours have the game based on it, but we couldn't really get into playing it because they have a toddler who was in a mood from hell that particular game day. Ever since, we've been wrapped up in Arkham Horror, Blood of Dracula, Chez Cthulhu, or various permutations of Munchkin. We'll try it again one of these days.

[Codefox]

Highly recommend it...one of the best fantasy books I've read. And I love Arkham Horror (as well as everything else you mentioned there... )