I think I have read all of his novels by now. He only has Let Me In, Handling The Undead, Harbor and Little Star published here in the US. I liked his 'Author's Note' at the end of Let The Old Dreams Die- seems like he's got a great sense of humor!
What Are You Reading?
- Thread starter Dana Jean
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Floating Dragon by Peter Straub. After reading Bukowski's Post Office and being rather disappointed, I wanted/needed something complex with lots of great writing, well-developed characters, and plenty of scares. Straub always delivers!!
You are welcome! Ill give you a guide tur of Stockholm.He's one of my favorites, though I don't think his style is much like Mr. King's. He's darker...creepier. And not a drop of sentiment. Closer to Mr. Hill, actually. I have to say, the more Swedish authors I read, the more I enjoy. I think I need to travel there
There is one more novel and one more collection at least
What If by Randall Munroe. A sort of "Dear Abby for mad scientists." A collection of answers to hypothetical questions. For example: "What would happen if the Earth and all terrestrial objects suddenly stopped spinning, but the atmosphere retained its velocity?" Just starting it and it's going to be fun!
Answer: Everyone would die.
Answer: Everyone would die.
I would love that! I've been bugging my mom to look into her genealogy stuff--I'm very curious about my great grandmother who came to America from Sweden with a tiny baby at around 16. It would be interesting to know and see where she came from.
Not here in the US, unfortunately. Hopefully the others will be translated eventually!
Took a short break from "20th Century Ghosts" (I'm really into it, but don't want to finish too quickly) and just started "Color of Law" by Mark Giminez. I'd never heard of him before, but this plot sounds good so I'm giving him a chance.
Just read a book by an acquaintance (through my writing gig) in return for a review. I gave him a blurb for the back for now. It's called Atlas Dropped The Ball and, yes, it's an anti-Galt tale.
A lot of families emigrated from Sweden to the States in the mid to late 19,th century, say 1870 to 1900 about, because of bad times in sweden. My brothers wifes family was one of them. was your great grandmothers family one of those?I would love that! I've been bugging my mom to look into her genealogy stuff--I'm very curious about my great grandmother who came to America from Sweden with a tiny baby at around 16. It would be interesting to know and see where she came from.
The Resort - Sol Stein (1980)
This is a grab bag read. A few years back, the wife of one of the guys at work was cleaning house and throwing away a bunch of her old paperbacks. She asked me if I wanted them and I took them. I was familiar with some of the titles but there were quite a few books in this collection that I didn't know anything about. So I have this big pile of paperbacks that I didn't buy and when I feel like a reading something random, I grab one of these books. So this is one of those grab bag reads. From the description on the back cover, it's about Nazis running a resort in California. I'm only 30 pages in and I haven't been introduced to the Nazis yet.
This is a grab bag read. A few years back, the wife of one of the guys at work was cleaning house and throwing away a bunch of her old paperbacks. She asked me if I wanted them and I took them. I was familiar with some of the titles but there were quite a few books in this collection that I didn't know anything about. So I have this big pile of paperbacks that I didn't buy and when I feel like a reading something random, I grab one of these books. So this is one of those grab bag reads. From the description on the back cover, it's about Nazis running a resort in California. I'm only 30 pages in and I haven't been introduced to the Nazis yet.
Started John Ajvide Lindqvists Latest. Himmelstrand. It is named after a rather well know Swedish singel songwriter. Translated it means heavenbeach or skybeach but it is a name so Shouldnt be translated. The action takes place at a camping. Four cars in a camping with trailers and everything are not were they should be. They are at a field stretching past the horizon . The sky is blue but strangely enough there is no sun. The longer they stay the stranger they act. How to get out? Where are they? How far are you prepared to go. Not sure exactly were this is heading yet but Lindqvist is always interesting.
Sounds like a great tale, Kurben! I hope it gets translated into English soon!
I finished The Bazaar of Bad Dreams last night. I loved this collection. Several very strong stories here. SK blew me away on more than one occasion.
Finished Himmelstrand. Ajvide Lindqvists strength is that he is different. It is just a lack of fantasy that make some call him swedens Stephen King. They are Very different. But it was interesting. But I gotta think a little about what he meant in some sections. Very unlike almost anything......
I'm not sure why, and she came alone. With a tiny baby! I can't imagine that! Somehow she ended up in Wyoming, and married an English hunter/trapper/mountain man. They had two girls together, and the girls were never allowed to leave the homestead. My great grandpa was the first man they'd ever seen, aside from their father, when he rode onto their land, so naturally he had to marry one of them (lol).
I very much hope we get that one--it sounds interesting!
After two years of off-and-on reading, have at last finished the foul epic brick that is Juliette, by de Sade. Clocks in at just under twelve hunnerd pages of smallish print, but that ain't why it took me so long. One simply can't/shouldn't/doesn't read this junk in a few long, leisurely sittings like you would a big King 1000 pager. Can't be done, and not just because it's so disgusting and evil.
Nay, the damn thing gets tedious and boring, when read at long intervals, what with all those philosophical dialogues--seriously, characters make speeches that last for twenty, thirty pages. The erotic passages aren't erotic at all--not unless you're some kinda ghoul--and its ALL telling, never showing, mere ideas of sexual brutality sketched out in a few nondescript paragraphs. Description is limited to oddball positions, inane devices, and obsessive numbering. Repetition becomes some twisted theme running through the whole work, as ideas and arguments are constantly beaten into the reader's head.
After about six hundred pages the book picks up some steam and actually starts telling a 'story'. I mean, by this time the reader is numb to all the carnage, and hangs grimly on for the rest of the ride--eager to see just how far this monster will go. He doesn't disappoint; the last 200 or so pages build to the most depraved climax I've ever read. At last, I believe, we become aware of de Sade's winking eye and morbid sense of humor. Even he doesn't buy this insane crap, but hey! he's taking the ride as well, and is just as fascinated as the reader.
I found myself cackling like Renfield many times near the end, as the crazy old pervert tried topping himself again and again. Now that it's over, I need a shower, and maybe some electroshock therapy.
Nay, the damn thing gets tedious and boring, when read at long intervals, what with all those philosophical dialogues--seriously, characters make speeches that last for twenty, thirty pages. The erotic passages aren't erotic at all--not unless you're some kinda ghoul--and its ALL telling, never showing, mere ideas of sexual brutality sketched out in a few nondescript paragraphs. Description is limited to oddball positions, inane devices, and obsessive numbering. Repetition becomes some twisted theme running through the whole work, as ideas and arguments are constantly beaten into the reader's head.
After about six hundred pages the book picks up some steam and actually starts telling a 'story'. I mean, by this time the reader is numb to all the carnage, and hangs grimly on for the rest of the ride--eager to see just how far this monster will go. He doesn't disappoint; the last 200 or so pages build to the most depraved climax I've ever read. At last, I believe, we become aware of de Sade's winking eye and morbid sense of humor. Even he doesn't buy this insane crap, but hey! he's taking the ride as well, and is just as fascinated as the reader.
I found myself cackling like Renfield many times near the end, as the crazy old pervert tried topping himself again and again. Now that it's over, I need a shower, and maybe some electroshock therapy.
Have you ever read a book that you wish you hadn't? Not because it's bad, but because it fundamentally changes your view of the author? I'm reading one for review right now that is down to the bone disappointing--full of racial stereotypes and disjointed storytelling. This is an author who has written several books that I greatly admire (one is in my top 15 books ever), but now... not sure I can read the stories the same way again. I'm hanging in there grimly, hoping a point is being made and there will be some clarity at the end, but it sure reads like it's done in deadly earnest right now. If it was done from a character perspective, I'd say, "Yeah, a character can say/do things the author would never espouse. They're not the same person," but this is in narrative outside of the main character's head or POV--it's a 'telling about another character' passage. Makes me sad. It doesn't matter who the author is, it's just sad.
Just finished Days of Infamy by Harry Turtledove where the japanese not only kicked Pearl Harbour into small piecesl but actually went on to invade and occupy the Islands. Then the war in the pacific went in a slightly different way. Well made. And viewpoints from both sides which i like.
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