Recommend a book to your fellow NOOLiners — Forum Archive

1 Aug 2002, 12:22

Originally posted by hibster > Originally posted by Easy E> > > > Originally posted by Budvar Huber> > > > > > > Originally posted by Easy E> > > > > > > > > > > > > > or Thomas Harris's Red Dragon/Silence of the Lambs/Hannibal, > > > > > > > > > > > > Don't you find Hannibal a bit of a letdown. I mean, Red Dragon was great and so was The Silence but Hannibal dissapointed me with the reinvention of Lecter as a clavicembalo playing, all things fine expert East European Nobleman whose parciality to human flesh is all too understandable due to sad experiences in his childhood? > > >

But there had always been allusions to Lecter's tastes (in terms of finery :)) in Silence of the Lambs - Hannibal was the first real chance for Harris to flesh out the character (these puns are getting worse) and tell us more about the background to the strange Lithuanian genius.

i agreed with the first comments - i found haniball to be a real let down after the other two, especially after such a long gap. & the whole thing with clarise at the end was daft.

Indeed, the film's ending was better, more credible too.

1 Aug 2002, 13:40

Originally posted by ROCKET MICK SKINHEAD , SKINHEAD ESCAPES and SUEDEHEAD...for anyone who remembers these from the 70's.ALL put into ONE volume .RICHARD ALLEN on N.E.L has been republished.CLASSIC :DENGLAND'S DREAMING Jon Savage...some GREAT LITTLE STORIES!THE UFO EXPERIENCE..A SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY J.Allen HynekProof that ROCKET has been here ALREADY!:DIN SEARCH OF THE TROJAN HORSE Michael Wood.....yes it is TRUE!DR Air Wair Martens with Booncing Soles...A brilliant free gift with my NEWEST PURPLE and BLACK FOOTPRINT Pair from a GREAT shop in MANCHESTER.All your favourites wearing the boots ,like a WHOS WHO! Hubert you WOULD love this.HARDBACK EDITION only so not for the beach or the Jobcentre!

:nod: :nod: :nod: Aye Rocky man, of course I do - I have ALL the Richard Allen books needless to say - from when I was just a little kid hanging about with older skinheads in the area....things is, I've read them so many times now, y' knaa? They were just pipped to the post as me fave all time book by "Kes" (I mean, how much does a kid relish swearing legitimately in class in front of yer English teacher?? Answer me that!!! :lol: ) simply cos there's so many titles I canna' pick out a single specific one as my favourite! ;)

:smoker:

1 Aug 2002, 13:46

Originally posted by Kez-bah I have original, tatty copies of Skinhead, Skinhead Girl and Boot Boys - all originally belonged to my dear old ma when she herself was a Skinhead Girl. She had many more (the whole series, I think) but my fatha did his usual trick of 'borrowing' them (i.e. flogging them to his mates) when they were courting.These books are dead nasty Mick!

:eek: :eek: Yer MA was a "Skinheed Girl" as well??!! That's champion! Fookin' hell - just what is it aboot the North East where almost everyone I know seems to have some sort of bootboy/bootgirl connection? My elder brutha Iain was the first Skinhead in our family - it was he who got me following his crew aal over South Shields an' gettin' into trouble :lol: And lest we forget - Charley comes from South Shields! :nod: I also got to meet Mensi from Angelic Upstarts there once at a skin/oi!/scooter rally ..Aye... them were happy days indeed....

:smoker:

1 Aug 2002, 15:12

1 Joy Division to New Order....nice wee book (Cheers Muffster)

2 Book fer a holiday "The Lisbon Lions" 1966-67

3 Fave book ever read? "JFK - Mafia/Cia Conspiracy?" over 800 pages (with hardly any pictures :lol: ) absolutely fantastic book, but with all the information you have to take in - you'll have to read it at least twice! Lee Harvey Oswald was that important - there was hardly anything in this book about him, it concentrated on his links to the Mafia, Cia, FBI and the KGB......I'd recommend it to everyone - fascinating stuff!!

1 Aug 2002, 17:23

gotta be REPOSSESSED... JULIAN COPE its fuckin hilarious

1 Aug 2002, 21:04

Originally posted by HOOKYS WALLET gotta be REPOSSESSED... JULIAN COPE its fuckin hilarious

Haven't seen that one, though I do have Head On, which I also find to be amusing.

Nice picks on 100 Years of Solitude, also one of my faves, along with Crime and Punishment.

Spear of Destiny, by Trevor Ravenscroft, is a wild book to read. It's about the occultic machinations behind Hitler.

2 Aug 2002, 03:53

Three others I had forgotten about, but found last night living together in a bookcase next to my NO videos, are

My Legendary Girlfriend Mr Commitment Turning Thirty

all by Mike Gayle. All recommended.

2 Aug 2002, 04:17

What kind of books are they Erick?

2 Aug 2002, 04:52

1. Currently reading The Man Who Walks by Alan Warner. Been a bit slow finishing it though as I'm a Grauniad man on the tube in the morning, and a Standard man on the tube home, and I never really read indoors as a rule. Don't seem to find the time.

Perennial sucker for Brit Lit though, and contemporary Brit Lit at that. Can't stand wimp fiction the likes of Nick Hornby and Mike Gayle. Why everyone thought it was such a step forward for Nick Horny to write as a woman in his latest book, I don't know, as I thought he'd been doing it for years. And Mike Gayle made me laugh once in an article, perhaps six-seven years back, when he said "No one really lives that Loaded Lads lifestyle ... it's just made up, isn't it." No Mike, when you're a married 27 year old journalist working on a shite local newspaper in SWINDON, course no one you know lives that Loaded Lads lifestyle. Mug. Why these people basically want to write "Oooh, I'm ugly and can't get a girl and can't fight for toffee," is beyond me. Wimp lit, thumbs down.

Prefer to stick with the likes of Irvine Welsh, Alan Warner, Duncan McLean, Toby Litt (deadkidsongs is a must for anyone who lived their childhood through the 70's).

If people really enjoyed Glue there's some of the book's cut chapters at Irvine's 'official' website - irvinewelsh.net. However, Irvine does grate on me with his 'Scottish language has a natural rhythm' rubbish. Not if you're English, Irvine! Sometimes have to re-read whole sentences to catch the gist. You ken?

From across the pond will always read Jay McInerney and Bret Easton Ellis. But my current fave is Chuck Palahniuk. A truly unique writer. American Skin by Don de Grazia is a sooperb one-off, just hope he deems to follow it up. Oh, and let's not forget Richard Allen was an American too - and apparently about 50 years old. And he rattled of those Skinhead books, one every 20 days or something. Still, they're classics from a bygone era. I grew up with those reads.

2. Holiday reads? I'm a big one on biographies - read Frank Skinner's most recently and he's not quite the knob I thought he'd be - and will happily pick up a Stephen King for a plane trip. Bubblegum for the mind, just what you need when you want to unwind.

**3.**Favourite ever read has to be American Pyscho. Pure escapism with the ultimate anti-hero. And funny as f***. Only book I could probably ever re-read.

Mind, I can also heartily recommend this little read --> Shameless Plug! <-- :laugh:

No, actually, it's sh*te.

Hooky sent me a letter about this at the time of its release, but said it 'was as good as My Legendary Girlfriend' or something - think he meant it nicely but it got my back right up. :mad: :laugh:

2 Aug 2002, 04:56

Originally posted by Hubert Mickle > Originally posted by Kez-bah> I have original, tatty copies of Skinhead, Skinhead Girl and Boot Boys - all originally belonged to my dear old ma when she herself was a Skinhead Girl. She had many more (the whole series, I think) but my fatha did his usual trick of 'borrowing' them (i.e. flogging them to his mates) when they were courting.> > These books are dead nasty Mick!

:eek: :eek: Yer MA was a "Skinheed Girl" as well??!! That's champion! Fookin' hell - just what is it aboot the North East where almost everyone I know seems to have some sort of bootboy/bootgirl connection? My elder brutha Iain was the first Skinhead in our family - it was he who got me following his crew aal over South Shields an' gettin' into trouble :lol: And lest we forget - Charley comes from South Shields! :nod: I also got to meet Mensi from Angelic Upstarts there once at a skin/oi!/scooter rally ..Aye... them were happy days indeed....

:smoker:

:nod: Ma&Pa Akas were both Skins in the early 70's when they first met. My ma apparently caused a bit of a stir in her day as one of the first Skinhead girls who followed Sunderland - being from Newcastle, she was a bit ahead of the Makems :lol:
She tries to hide the pics of her in this era from me, now that she's a respectable middle-aged lady, but I've hunted them down -she looked a right radge :lol: They were well into all the reggae and ska stuff at this time, but by the time I came along they'd moved on to the Northern Soul and Disco stuff. Have you seen that book Spirit of 69, Hubert? It covers the history of Skins, the fashion and the music. I bought it (for ny uni dissertation!)and really set the parents off on a reminisce :lol:

Come to think of it, my dad 'borrowed' that book too and I've not seen it since...... :skeptic:

2 Aug 2002, 04:57

Stupid question Al, but is the author co-incidental?

I guess you were keen (for a couple of reasons) on the film 'Trainspotting' and the book 'Ecstasy'? Have you ever seen 'Romper Stomper'? ... I'm starting to think you were in it!

:hat:

2 Aug 2002, 05:08

Originally posted by Huntsman Stupid question Al, but is the author co-incidental?I guess you were keen (for a couple of reasons) on the film 'Trainspotting' and the book 'Ecstasy'? Have you ever seen 'Romper Stomper'? ... I'm starting to think you were in it!

:laugh: I am Hando!

No, really, I could never stomach that tattoo. Ouch.

Ecstasy is a truly trite book though, isn't it? And I believe he actually apologised for that one a couple of years later.

2 Aug 2002, 05:17

My bird digged his shit, I've always thought them a bit predictable and even a bit boring. She gave me 'Ecstasy' to read and I must say it was even worse than I thought. It could be argued that its release (culminating in the height of youth/drug/look cool and do nothing culture) dented the genre somewhat.

Why couldn't he write a nice book about nice people getting married and eating volute vaunts and mini sausages on sticks?

Read any Kafka? ... quite interesting.

:hat:

... and Al, I'm only guessing but I imagine you might have just one little tattoo somewhere?

2 Aug 2002, 05:43

Originally posted by Huntsman Read any Kafka? ... quite interesting.... and Al, I'm only guessing but I imagine you might have just one little tattoo somewhere?

Yes, have read most a sizeable chunk of Kafka's output - Trial, America, Metamorphosis, etc. But prefer to stay clear of weightier tomes nowadays - give me 4-4-2 or The Sun any day! Life's too short..

And, no, I really don't do tattoos. Actually, I can't do tattoos. I have a phobia of needles bordering on the ridiculous. Required a couple of days off work a few years back cos I got into such a state over one tiny injection. And don't mention blood-tests, I simply go to pieces over them. And not comically so, like some scaredy-cats do, I mean I really ... go ... to ... pieces. Not a pretty sight. I'd make for a terrible diabetic.

2 Aug 2002, 06:07

Got to agree with you Al about Mike Gayle. I read My Legendary Girlfriend after getting it free with some ladies magazine and my GOD how annoying was the lead character? I read it in a total state of frustration. Sooo wanted to beat him about the head with a blunt object :mad:

He's as bad as the seemingly thousands of 'Chick-Lit' (urgh) writers taking over Waterstones since the Bridget Jones phenomena. Totally unimaginative crap. Only one I make exceptions for is Marian Keyes. At least she makes me laugh.

Like Nick Hornby though. Can't help it - sorry!

2 Aug 2002, 06:07

Al, do you remember Eilish Hassett ?

2 Aug 2002, 06:09

Two "literary" connections here......

a mate's ex was namechecked in the first Mike Gayle book, he had been to school with her. Roxanne Bright-Thomas, not the sort of name you can conjure up out of thin air !

Yvonne, one of the central characters in Iain Banks' "Complicity" was modelled entirely on someone I know who is a friend of his.

2 Aug 2002, 06:15

Funny, my business partner 'Al' is a diabetic so I often witness the injection of his belly, or other section of his anatomy. I'm not a brave person but I can handle the odd needle without bother, I can understand your plight, an old school friend of mine used to faint when a needle was aimed at him. Phobias are odd things ... and rarely echo the persons real character. Given I still think you are a big friendly bear your reticence of needles adds to this image.

Get this Al, I was at the dentist recently and they drilled a hole in a 'bad' tooth (I mean, bad) - in order to 'numb' the tooth i.e. it was so bad I could feel the drilling, they inserted a needle about the size of a house directly onto the nerve. This was after they had punctured the roof of my mouth with a needle which looked like a filler gun you'd use to seal a bath! ... I stayed cool though, perhaps because I'd gone insane.

Kafka though Al, what's it all about? ... Metamorphosis, wasn't that the book where he woke up and was an insect? - metaphors ahoy!

I can understand your wanting to read lighter subjects, heavy books are for those who really want to escape, the older you get, the more you've learnt, the less you are likely to be taken with a books story, to be drawn in by the story. After all, you can see the end coming after page 3.

Well that's my theory and I'm stuck with it.

:hat:

2 Aug 2002, 06:42

Originally posted by Huntsman Funny, my business partner 'Al' is a diabetic so I often witness the injection of his belly, or other section of his anatomy. I'm not a brave person but I can handle the odd needle without bother, I can understand your plight, an old school friend of mine used to faint when a needle was aimed at him. Phobias are odd things ... and rarely echo the persons real character. Given I still think you are a big friendly bear your reticence of needles adds to this image.Get this Al, I was at the dentist recently and they drilled a hole in a 'bad' tooth (I mean, bad) - in order to 'numb' the tooth i.e. it was so bad I could feel the drilling, they inserted a needle about the size of a house directly onto the nerve. This was after they had punctured the roof of my mouth with a needle which looked like a filler gun you'd use to seal a bath! ... I stayed cool though, perhaps because I'd gone insane.Kafka though Al, what's it all about? ... Metamorphosis, wasn't that the book where he woke up and was an insect? - metaphors ahoy!I can understand your wanting to read lighter subjects, heavy books are for those who really want to escape, the older you get, the more you've learnt, the less you are likely to be taken with a books story, to be drawn in by the story. After all, you can see the end coming after page 3.Well that's my theory and I'm stuck with it.

Correct HUNTSMAN every thing i read these days i just KNOW that a beautiful girl will get her KIT OFF! SUN READER from CHORLEY :D

2 Aug 2002, 06:52

Originally posted by Easy E Al, do you remember Eilish Hassett ?

Yes. Couldn't tell the difference between Finsbree / Finchley. :laugh:

2 Aug 2002, 07:03

Originally posted by Al Jarvis > Originally posted by Easy E> Al, do you remember Eilish Hassett ?

Yes. Couldn't tell the difference between Finsbree / Finchley. :laugh:

Karen's ex-flatmate. Small world eh ?!

2 Aug 2002, 07:26

Originally posted by Huntsman Funny, my business partner 'Al' is a diabetic so I often witness the injection of his belly, or other section of his anatomy. I'm not a brave person but I can handle the odd needle without bother, I can understand your plight, an old school friend of mine used to faint when a needle was aimed at him. Phobias are odd things ... and rarely echo the persons real character. Given I still think you are a big friendly bear your reticence of needles adds to this image.Get this Al, I was at the dentist recently and they drilled a hole in a 'bad' tooth (I mean, bad) - in order to 'numb' the tooth i.e. it was so bad I could feel the drilling, they inserted a needle about the size of a house directly onto the nerve. This was after they had punctured the roof of my mouth with a needle which looked like a filler gun you'd use to seal a bath! ... I stayed cool though, perhaps because I'd gone insane.Kafka though Al, what's it all about? ... Metamorphosis, wasn't that the book where he woke up and was an insect? - metaphors ahoy!I can understand your wanting to read lighter subjects, heavy books are for those who really want to escape, the older you get, the more you've learnt, the less you are likely to be taken with a books story, to be drawn in by the story. After all, you can see the end coming after page 3.Well that's my theory and I'm stuck with it.

I think we may have lost Jarvo at this point. Having just been the dentist for a temporary filling, I'm not sure I'm going back after that.

2 Aug 2002, 09:37

Originally posted by Easy E Two "literary" connections here......a mate's ex was namechecked in the first Mike Gayle book, he had been to school with her. Roxanne Bright-Thomas, not the sort of name you can conjure up out of thin air !Yvonne, one of the central characters in Iain Banks' "Complicity" was modelled entirely on someone I know who is a friend of his.

iain banks is a favourite author, but did prefer the crow road to complicity.

in fact the crow road has to be up there in my top 5.

2 Aug 2002, 10:38

Originally posted by hibster > Originally posted by Easy E> Two "literary" connections here......> > a mate's ex was namechecked in the first Mike Gayle book, he had been to school with her. Roxanne Bright-Thomas, not the sort of name you can conjure up out of thin air !> > Yvonne, one of the central characters in Iain Banks' "Complicity" was modelled entirely on someone I know who is a friend of his.

iain banks is a favourite author, but did prefer the crow road to complicity.

in fact the crow road has to be up there in my top 5.

Ooh, I've actually met Iain Banks. Had the same agent. Nice bloke. Personally don't think he can ever better the Wasp Factory though. A modern classic, IMO.

2 Aug 2002, 11:05

'Had the same agent'.

Al are you an author?

:hat:

2 Aug 2002, 11:12

I rarely read fiction books, don't ask me why, I'm a big movie fan and watch too many movies, but I never got really into books.

But there is one exception, I read all 4 Harry Potter novels in less than 6 weeks, and believe me, that is because they are good, because I don't read fast at all.

2 Aug 2002, 11:15

Have you bought an owl yet?

:hat:

2 Aug 2002, 11:16

The last book I read was my US history textbook
For the holidays, JD Salinger's Nine Stories, Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow, or Mick Middles' From Joy Division to New Order
Fave book: alternates between Gravity's (though I'm not sure just what the book's about, it's a great distracting read) and The Great Gatsby. The best music books I've read have been John Densmore's autobiography, Victor Bockris' bio on Lou Reed, Charlie Gillett's The Sound Of The City, Nik Cohn's Rock FRom THe Beginning, and England's Dreaming

2 Aug 2002, 11:23

Originally posted by Huntsman 'Had the same agent'.Al are you an author?

Not really, cos I'm not writing at the mo'. I use the term 'had the same agent' but technically we still 'have' the same agent. Iain is still churning out lots of words, but I'm still sitting on the first 20k words of a novel that I've been sat on for nearly 2 years now. I'll finish it off one day, when I have time. And inclination. I am such a lazy bastard.

2 Aug 2002, 11:41

Okay Al your starting to sound like an author ... no more semantics.

Have you had a book published, if so, what is it, or what are they?

:hat:

Don't be shy now!