Dum de dum
So a while back I asked for your ideas on what literary gems I could spend my time reading, however as I wasn't showered with suggestions I ending up resorting to my normal selection, so this is what I got:
Turning Thirty - Mike Gayle - fantastic, loved it, laughed out loud at parts, rang so true in so many ways
In search of an impotent man - Gaby Hauptman - s'alright, interesting premise but disappointingly obvious ending, plus translation from German makes it a little 'clunky' at times
Solomon Grundy - Dan Gooch - brilliant, very unusual idea but with a great view of life and sharp to boot
Wasting Time - Sarah Harris - disappointing, no where near as funny as I thought it would be, too narrative for my liking and a rushed and obvious ending again
Obviously nothing earth shattering intellectual there. So moving on from thhose, I've now got the following:
Spencers List - Lissa Evans
Brand new friend - Mike Gayle
and 3 books on poetry
Any further suggestions?
6 comments:
Ooh Solomon Grundy born on a Monday... he's a comic book character you know, named after the nursery rhyme he's a horrible monster who causes the Justice League of America all sorts of trouble.
Fount of useless knowledge - that's me!
wv- bdaubbum, made me giggle.
I'd give American Gods by Neil Gaiman a try.
Neil Gaiman has also written a few comics in his time, but none featuring Solomon Grundy so far as I know.
Oh yes, American Gods is fantastic, and Gaiman's Stardust too. I have to say that Stardust is one of my favourite books of all time. I'm also a huge fan of Gaiman's Sandman comic book series. You can get it on trade paper back from most large book stores.
I'd recommend anything and everything from Pratchett's Discworld series but 'Guards Guards' is a good starting point.
I'm also a big fan of Stephen King's short stories. You can get them in compilations like Nighmares and Dreamscapes, Skeleton Crew, Everything's Eventual and Nightshift.
There you go, not very highbrow, but definitely a lot of entertaining reads for you there!
The latest Amis is incredibly moving - and much less OTT than his usual style (I think he's angling for the Booker again...) It's called The House of Meetings.
I only seem to read books that have been out for ages - comes from raiding the chazzer shops, I guess. But I've really enjoyed Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre and House of Sand and Fog by Somebody Dubos III. The House of Sleep by Jonathan Coe is a belter too..
Happy reading Jools...
Bob
I just read The Accidental by Ali Smith and really liked it.
Hmm methinks I'm going to have to have a go at this Neil Gaiman chap as everyone keeps banging on about him, and his blog is quite nice!
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