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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 1994
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 02:17 am:   

I just finished Digging The Vein by Tony O'Neill. He's an English guy who played keyboards with Mark Almond, Kenickie and Brian Jonestown Massacre. The book is his story of heroin addiction in (mostly) LA. It got a rave review in Uncut magazine, which is why I bought it.

However, I won't be recommending it to anyone. It is reasonably well written, but there are many better written books on heroin addiction and I guess I've reached my limit with the genre.

It also seems even more bitter and self-pitying than most books by ex-junkies. 'Society is wrong and they just don't understand the free spirit of the drug users' is the general thrust of it.

You might think that's just how he thought when he was on junk, but he says nothing to clarify things if he thinks differently post-heroin. Quite the opposite in fact, this is what he wrote in the "Thank you" page. "And finally to all the junkies, thieves, whores, malcontents, fuck-ups, burnouts, psychos and drug dealers: we are truly the last free men and women on this stinking cop and politician-ridden planet."

O'Neill strikes me as a self-regarding, self-obsessed man with finely matched chips on both shoulders.

It would have been interesting to hear how he got work in the pop video business in Hollywood (which funded his addiction at first) but he just says he did it and gets straight into the drugs.

The book also has the worst editing I have ever seen. There are so many spelling mistakes, missing words and misplaced apostrophes that it reads like a proof rather than published copy. Did anyone even try to edit it?

Only worth reading if you are of an age to be impressed by a junky's life and lies and have not read too many other such books before.
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Stuart Wilson
Member
Username: Stuart

Post Number: 153
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 08:46 am:   

A worthy but slightly dull biog of Tom Stoppard by Ira Nadel, also author of a worthy but slightly dull biog of Leonard Cohen, which in this case could be subtitled The Man Who Had Everything And Then Got Felicity Kendal Into The Bargain, however if you love his plays as much as I do (considering it's unlikely I will ever get to actually see any of them) then it's full of information, often repeated several times over the course of a few pages - as Padraig notes above, editing seems to be a dead art.
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Michael Bachman
Member
Username: Michael_bachman

Post Number: 1040
Registered: 01-2005
Posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 05:17 pm:   

Wise Guy. The book came out in the mid 80's and Marty bought the rights to it and made Goodfellas.

The real Henry Hill is still battling alcoholism, but is opening up restaurants and has churned out three books now. Talk about a life on the edge.
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2037
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 08:39 am:   

I read that around the time Goodfellas came out Michael. Just before I think. I have a book written by his children but have not read it yet. It's called On The Run, A Mafia Childhood.
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Matthias
Member
Username: Matthias

Post Number: 246
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 01:38 am:   

Pillars of the Earth - Follett
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Peter Azzopardi
Member
Username: Pete

Post Number: 162
Registered: 09-2004
Posted on Friday, February 15, 2008 - 05:56 am:   

I recently read Peter Carey's latest, His Illegal Self, and on page 247 there is a mis-acknowlegment of the Go-Betweens: "Trevor loved a band called the Saints. He played them over and over: I'm from Brisbane and I'm rather plain." Oops. Most of the novel is set in a Queensland hippy commune in the early to mid seventies. Rather sloppy of Carey and his editors I thought, though it is a great book nonetheless.
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2048
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Friday, February 15, 2008 - 08:47 am:   

That is a crap mistake to make.
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2051
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 09:06 am:   

Death In December by Michael Sheridan. It's a true story of a Frenchwoman who was murdered in south west Ireland on December 23, 1996. No-one has been convicted, or even charged, with the murder. It's a crime that shook Ireland to the core when it happened as it was a particularly gruesome murder. I was in the area it happened in - west Cork - a week after it happened. The book is very good. I've had the book for four years (my brother left it with me after he finished it while visiting me in Sydney) but only got around to starting it on Friday night.
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frank bascombe
Member
Username: Frankb

Post Number: 247
Registered: 01-2007
Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 05:53 pm:   

I'm enjoying very much the Fred Vargas crime series set in Paris
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Ewan Talisker McEwan
Member
Username: Ewan_mcewan

Post Number: 4
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 12:55 am:   

Vargas's illustrations for Playboy were excellent, too.
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frank bascombe
Member
Username: Frankb

Post Number: 250
Registered: 01-2007
Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 03:00 pm:   

Are we talking of the same Vargas??
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XY765
Member
Username: Judge

Post Number: 433
Registered: 01-2006
Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 04:23 pm:   

Just finished Paul Auster's Brooklyn Follies. Not among his best but an OK read.
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Ewan Talisker McEwan
Member
Username: Ewan_mcewan

Post Number: 10
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 05:38 am:   

Easy Sudoku - Will Shortz
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Ewan Talisker McEwan
Member
Username: Ewan_mcewan

Post Number: 27
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 11:05 pm:   

Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time - Valeri Berrtinelli
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Dr Girlfriend
Member
Username: Doctor_girlfriend

Post Number: 33
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 12:27 am:   

so, I heard she told Larry King: "I kissed a girl, her lips were sweet/She was just like kissing me"

I bet Eddie van Halen is both a little pissed off and a little turned on by that revelation.
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Jeff Whiteaker
Member
Username: Jeff_whiteaker

Post Number: 1040
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 12:45 am:   

Living, Studying, and Working in Italy - Travis Neighbor Ward & Monica Larner

I'm in for an Odysseyian voyage of bureaucracy and paper work if I actually go for it.
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Allen Belz
Member
Username: Abpositive

Post Number: 939
Registered: 09-2006
Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 01:37 am:   

A New Life - Bernard Malamud
The Elementals - Michael McDowell
Be Here Now - Baba Ram Dass (umpteenth reading)
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Randy Adams
Member
Username: Randy_adams

Post Number: 1554
Registered: 03-2005
Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 01:41 am:   

Go for it, Jeff! Maybe Andrew Kerr will see this thread. I recall an astonishing account from him before the last French national election about the obstacles to finding employment in France, and he was just entering from another member state of the EU.
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Stuart Wilson
Member
Username: Stuart

Post Number: 162
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 11:19 am:   

You SURE you want to live, study and work in Italy, Jeff??

Flogging your naked back with barbed wire has much the same effect...
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Jeff Whiteaker
Member
Username: Jeff_whiteaker

Post Number: 1121
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - 04:10 pm:   

Funny you say that, Stuart, as I'm slightly less sure now, given that I've learned that it's totally impossible for US citizens to obtain work visas in Italy, and that all the US folks who are teaching in Italy are working under the table. But, I'm still determined to find a way to spend some meaningful length of time there. Of course if I could just find and marry an Italian citizen, that would make things a wee bit easier!
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Stuart Wilson
Member
Username: Stuart

Post Number: 178
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Thursday, March 27, 2008 - 08:55 am:   

Married to an Italian AND live in Italy...wow Jeff, I sense powerful masochistic feelings here!

I can't understand why it should be hard for an American to get a work visa here...

However, if you require a native spouse, just send me a photograph and the details of your bank account and I'm sure we can work something out...

Actually, on consideration, the photo probably isn't really even necessary...
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Jonathan Evans
Member
Username: Jon

Post Number: 165
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 27, 2008 - 11:02 am:   

Jeff...you can spread your list a bit wider. You can marry anyone from the EU as they'll have the right to work in Italy!!!! I'm sure you'll get a permit if your wife's entitled to work there.

On the same principal...If anyone can find me a wife in Australia or New Zealand I'd apprecialte it.

Cheers
Jon
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spence
Member
Username: Spence

Post Number: 2248
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 27, 2008 - 11:39 am:   

The Go-betweens songbook.
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Jeff Whiteaker
Member
Username: Jeff_whiteaker

Post Number: 1123
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 27, 2008 - 04:17 pm:   

Ha! Stuart, you crack me up! You know, I once wrote a song called "The Boy Who Loves Pain" - maybe it was subconsciously about me...

The reason it's so difficult for any non-EU citizen to obtain an Italian (well, EU) work visa comes down to a bureaucratic catch-22. When applying for a work visa, you have to have already found an employer who says they will hire you. The problem is, few employers, and virtually no schools, are willing to hire you and then wait the 9-12 months it takes for the visa to be approved. That means that schools are forced to hire American (and Australian, New Zealander, etc..) ESL teachers illegally and pay them under the table. People generally look the other way, but I've heard of rare instances when a tax inspector visits a language school to check up on employees and the non-EU teachers are fired instantly. Sounds like a fun time, huh?

But you live in Italy, Stuart. And you live there voluntarily, I'm assuming? You must be quite the masochist yourself then!
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Svein Inge Saether
Member
Username: Springrain

Post Number: 31
Registered: 08-2006
Posted on Thursday, March 27, 2008 - 10:46 pm:   

Spence: It's not out yet, right?
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Stuart Wilson
Member
Username: Stuart

Post Number: 179
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 04:38 pm:   

You should see my wife's rack of whips, Jeff...

Actually, I went through exactly what you describe in Spain, before the EU barriers were relaxed, and my boss was too stupid to legalise us properly - teachers were told that if "anyone looking official turned up at reception, we should all hide in the broom cupboard." Ah, great days. But I was caught off guard one day by two scruffs who I thought had come about the boiler - instead they were Valencia's answer to Starsky and Hutch and they gave me "three days to leave the country." Dramatic stuff.

Anyway, Jeff, what part of Italy are you interested in, and why?
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Jeff Whiteaker
Member
Username: Jeff_whiteaker

Post Number: 1129
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Monday, March 31, 2008 - 05:32 pm:   

Stuart, that is wild! I can totally picture it. I, myself, envision being tackled in front of class by Italy's immigration police (or tax evasion unit, more likely) during a school-wide raid, although I know in reality it'd be far less dramatic, but still hellish.

I'd be happy living in several cities/towns in Italy, primarily Florence, Siena, Bologna, or Perugia. I like the University feel of those towns, and that they have a pulse, and that so much of their rich history remains intact. But honestly, I'd be up for living anywhere that's not some depressing industrial town. I've been to Italy three times, all totaling about 2 1/2 months, and I have a long-running fascination with Italian art and architecture (particularly Medieval and Renaissance), the food, the history, the varied and often gorgeous geography, and, of course, the culture, which given my comparatively dull WASP-y background, I find alternately refreshing and slightly disorienting.

I'd like to think I have a sense of the grim reality I may be confronted with if I go there to teach; that I can see through the glorified Francis Mayes-ian everything-is-so-beautiful-and-quaint facade. If anything, that makes it a bit more fascinating. But who knows?
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Stuart Wilson
Member
Username: Stuart

Post Number: 181
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 10:28 am:   

Yes, have a read of Roberto Saviano's book Gommorah, about about the organic entrenchment of organised crime in the Italian economic system - the country's biggest earner, apparently. He's a brave 29-year old journalist who decided to speak his mind, and now lives under constant threat of death. I saw him interviewed on TV, and really it made me want to move back to Sweden!

Despite my experience in Spain, however, I've never heard of any Americans being deported for illegal teaching - the police have their hands full with more important things (like chasing me and my dog out of the public gardens, hmmmmmm).

Meanwhile,I know a couple of schools around where I live,not far from Perugia, so I'll try to make some inquiries.
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Jeff Whiteaker
Member
Username: Jeff_whiteaker

Post Number: 1131
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 07:34 pm:   

Stuart, I've heard about Gommorah, but haven't read it. It's mind-boggling how vast and deeply rooted organized crime is in Italy. I've read that something like 1/3 of southern Italy's economy relies on the black market.

I would imagine police do have their hands tied with other things. I recently read an article about an American tourist in Italy who was fined 1000 euros for buying a fake designer belt!

That's insanely nice of you to offer to make inquiries, but I should mention it'll probably be a good year before I'm in a position where I can make the move. But I massively appreciate any help I can get!
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Stuart Wilson
Member
Username: Stuart

Post Number: 182
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Wednesday, April 02, 2008 - 08:21 am:   

Yes, I'm working on a telephone opening line like "Would you like to hire an American guy that posts on the GoBetweens message Board...hello? hello?"

It might be easier to find an Italian bride after all! Although they would expect to be immediately swished off to Desperate Housewives land, I suspect, rather than stay here in Italy.

But aren't you a musician as well, Jeff? I think Spence or Randy mentioned something...you could always busk! Probably make more money than a teacher, too!
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Ewan Talisker McEwan
Member
Username: Ewan_mcewan

Post Number: 115
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Wednesday, April 02, 2008 - 04:30 pm:   

Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs - Elisa Wall
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Lewisdhead
Member
Username: Lewisdhead

Post Number: 23
Registered: 01-2007
Posted on Wednesday, April 02, 2008 - 04:35 pm:   

Just finished the second novel buy Willy Vlautin (Richmond Fontaine)called Northline. A little disappointed though. Found it a bit tiresome. It's kinda gritty or at least trying to be but not sure he pulled it off. Preferred his first "A Motel Life".
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Jeff Whiteaker
Member
Username: Jeff_whiteaker

Post Number: 1135
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Wednesday, April 02, 2008 - 05:53 pm:   

Stuart, you mean I can earn my living in Italy competing with those cheesy 'living statue' street performers for the attention and money of disoriented tourists? Yay! Exactly the direction I've always envisioned for myself!

Yeah, I am a musician, though I can't say I ever made any money being one. Funny though, I've only ever really busked twice. Way back in my university days, my friend/bandmate and I played our songs on a corner of Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, to a largely indifferent but intermittently bemused stream of passersby. The first time we made about $12 and bought lunch. The second time we made about $1.25 and never bothered again.

Maybe I'd be better off as a cheesy 'living statue' street performer. Sigh...
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Stuart Wilson
Member
Username: Stuart

Post Number: 191
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2008 - 08:59 am:   

What is the what by Dave Eggers, a tale of epic suffering told through the eyes of a young Sudanese boy who sees his way of life violently destroyed and together with thousands of others must face an odyssey from danger to danger and refugee camp to refugee camp until finally he arrives in the “Promised Land” of the USA.
Another book that will make you feel ashamed to be human, of course, as part of a race that will, for example, casually massacre defenceless villages and throw children down wells in order to clear a place for oil drilling, but Eggers, apparently working together with the real-life central character, manages to establish a beautiful narrative tone, combining charm and innocence with the heart-breaking sadness, and providing moments of warm friendship and comedy amidst the almost unbelievable cruelty and wretchedness of his everyday life. It’s a tremendous achievement, though I often felt like closing it up and hiding it under a pile of cushions somewhere to avoid considering the world we’ve created.
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spence
Member
Username: Spence

Post Number: 2271
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 12:06 pm:   

I really enjoyed reading Robert Forster's introduction to the Gobees songbook. A great book it is too. It would have been nice to have had colour photography though, but at least someone has put out the god damn thing, better late than never. Anyhow, I wish it were possible to read Robert's blog. Where is it!? I know he writes for newspapers, but if he had a blog, now that would be something. His articulate nature and humour would see thousands, nae millions flocking to subscribe to his posts, purlease, Bobby, gawan, do one will ye!?
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Matthias
Member
Username: Matthias

Post Number: 252
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 01:55 pm:   

Spence, tell us more about the guitar / song book? I'm hoping for the U.S. distributor to be named before I shell out $65 to purchase and have it shipped from Germany. Is it just chords boxes or is it guitar tab? Is there bass tab included too? Enlighten us.
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spence
Member
Username: Spence

Post Number: 2276
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 09:27 pm:   

Well, Matthias, its a large format book, the cover is a really vintage photo of R&G.There's some great rare vintage photos throughout, like the cover of the lost album. There's one great large photo of the two in whats like a listening booth except its a room, its very funny, as robert's face is obscured by the cover of an alm he is obviously checking out and nxt to him is G with what looks like a large UFO on his head intensely listening to summit on his headphones.
Its in German and English, split 2 column page. That in itself makes it slightly difficult to read (maybe its just me). Robert does an intro. The rest of the text is an overview of GB's plus press ragouts and tidbits from vaious musical sources.
Plus an up-to-date discography. Then its into the tabs. They are bit on the small size me thinks. Guitar chord shapes and musical notation.
To sum up, hell, 10 out of 10 for providing the god damn thing for the fans in the first place, it must've taken a lot of hard work, I think Andreas from Tuition must've put in the hours (he is a fantastic chap who adores GB's, Its great that he is behind something like this rather than some disassociated hip journo pleb) I'd have laid it out and done it differently, but that's what I say about everything being a so called designer.
Whatever, buy it and you've got it, don't, then you won't. Got it!?

Oh, I would have provided a CD too, with a narration of the whole thing, for people with poor eyesight or who are blind, or for those of us who just want to lie down and listen to the history of this fantastic mondern day VU.
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Matthias
Member
Username: Matthias

Post Number: 253
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 - 12:36 pm:   

Thanks Spence for the thorough review. Next question, what have you played in the book?
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spence
Member
Username: Spence

Post Number: 2277
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 - 08:20 pm:   

er none yet mate!

i have started a cover of cattle and cane though. based upon an idea i had a couple of years ago. its sort of orchestral based.

looking forward to dipping into the songbook at some point though. scanning the chords in the notation quickly, its funny how so many songs feature the same chords. like Keef says, all rock n roll is based round ead/b, he's right.
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spence
Member
Username: Spence

Post Number: 2279
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Monday, April 14, 2008 - 11:17 am:   

For Kev, Randy and aony other Fall fans...\newurl{http://music.guardian.co. uk/rock/story/0%2C,2273418%2C00.html,htt p://music.guardian.co.uk/rock/story/0,,2 273418,00.html}
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spence
Member
Username: Spence

Post Number: 2280
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Monday, April 14, 2008 - 11:18 am:   

The fall link again

2273418%2C00.html,http://music.guardian. co.uk/rock/story/0,,2273418,00.html
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Ewan Talisker McEwan
Member
Username: Ewan_mcewan

Post Number: 137
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Saturday, April 19, 2008 - 04:44 pm:   

Lush Life - Richard. Best. Book. Ive. EVER. Read.
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Rob Brookman
Member
Username: Rob_b

Post Number: 1120
Registered: 08-2006
Posted on Saturday, April 19, 2008 - 06:50 pm:   

I just bought that the other day, ETM. Can't wait to dig in. Obviously, the reviewers praising it did not lie.
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Andrew Kerr
Member
Username: Andrew_k

Post Number: 339
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 04:59 pm:   

"Fifty Thousand Reasons" by John Carney. See
http://www.tangents.co.uk/tangents/main/ 2006/50000/index.html

Passionate obsessive writing at its best!

Reason49 is Davy Henderson/Fire Engines and gives a good taster. I came across the site after reading Val Wilmer's excellent autobiography "Mama said there'd be days like these: My life in the Jazz World" She is Reason2.

And Alan Horne/Postcard at Reason18...
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Mark Leydon
Member
Username: Mark_leydon

Post Number: 169
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Friday, June 13, 2008 - 01:26 am:   

Finished reading Cormac McCarthy's 'The Road' a couple of weeks ago and I'm still haunted by it. What a magnificent book. Chilling but utterly compelling. Puts me in mind of another post-apocalypse book I read when a kid called 'A Canticle for Leibovitz' by Walter M Miller which was also a wonderful book. But the astonishing beauty of McCarthy's writing - simple but poetic - takes 'The Road' to a whole other level. A genuine American classic.
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Ewan Talisker McEwan
Member
Username: Ewan_mcewan

Post Number: 206
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Friday, June 13, 2008 - 01:37 am:   

Im obsessed with Cormac McCarthy and read the Road about a year ago. I also had trouble shaking it. What a strange and haunting combination of terror and beauty.

I was chuffed to find out that he lives in Santa Fe and likes to have huevos rancheros in my favorite restaurant up there (La Fonda's).
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Peter Collins
Member
Username: Tyroneshoelaces

Post Number: 151
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Friday, June 13, 2008 - 10:36 am:   

I'm reading The English Civil War: A People's History by Diane Purkiss. I was impelled into reading a bit more about this era by seeing the awful film To Kill a King, about the execution of Charles I, which even I could see was full of historical holes. The book is an interesting slant, attempting to look at the effect on the lower classes as well as their 'betters'.
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Ewan Talisker McEwan
Member
Username: Ewan_mcewan

Post Number: 210
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Friday, June 13, 2008 - 05:20 pm:   

Elmore Leonard - "Up in Honey's Room".
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Simon Withers
Member
Username: Sfwithers

Post Number: 61
Registered: 08-2005
Posted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - 02:28 pm:   

"I Start Counting" by Audrey Erskine Lindop, a psychological thriller from the 1960s, made into a film starring Jenny Agutter, which has yet to make it on to DVD.
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frank bascombe
Member
Username: Frankb

Post Number: 321
Registered: 01-2007
Posted on Friday, June 20, 2008 - 02:16 pm:   

The Road is very haunting I read it last year and somehow has the lasting effect on you, probably the best book I've read in a long time, reading the Sebastian Faulks-James Bond book, well written and great escapist fun. I've laso just finished Engleby written by him, that is another good book which I found slightly reminiscent of PAtricia Highsmith
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Ewan Talisker McEwan
Member
Username: Ewan_mcewan

Post Number: 235
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Tuesday, July 01, 2008 - 02:58 am:   

Im readin what must be the best escapist fiction Ive ever come acrost: Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child. So good it should be illegal.
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frank bascombe
Member
Username: Frankb

Post Number: 327
Registered: 01-2007
Posted on Tuesday, July 01, 2008 - 04:01 pm:   

LK/ETM I was just looking at the Lee Child book in Sainsburies as getting ready for some escapist fun in a few weeks on hols, what is a good one to start with ??
By the way still enjoying the Momofuku, such a return to form that it has been ignored.
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Catherine Vaughan
Member
Username: Catherine

Post Number: 458
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Tuesday, July 01, 2008 - 11:06 pm:   

Crime amd Punishment - Dostoyevsky. I'm testing Robert's theory, going to see who I look like when I'm finished.

It's early days yet (he's still only casing the joint, no crime's been comitted), so no discernible physical changes noticed yet!
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frank bascombe
Member
Username: Frankb

Post Number: 330
Registered: 01-2007
Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2008 - 10:27 am:   

Good for you Catherine I've started it but never finished it several times! same as Ulysses for that matter and Atonement
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2168
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2008 - 10:53 am:   

Don't give away the plot Catherine! Some of us might one day want to start that book (I can't possibly imagine finishing it though. I can't even get beyond about 30 pages in Cormac McCarthy books).
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Peter Collins
Member
Username: Tyroneshoelaces

Post Number: 155
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2008 - 06:15 pm:   

I would urge anyone to read Crime and Punishment. Contender for best novel ever written.
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Ewan Talisker McEwan
Member
Username: Ewan_mcewan

Post Number: 238
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2008 - 10:01 pm:   

Monsieur Frank, start anywhere theyre all good. And theyre all self-contained and can be understood on their own, though it is a series that builds in some ways. If your a stickler for that kinda thang, you might wanna go back to the first, "Killing Floor", which is aces. Just be sure you have a lot of time - it helps to take the phone off the hook....
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frank bascombe
Member
Username: Frankb

Post Number: 332
Registered: 01-2007
Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2008 - 10:58 pm:   

Cheers my man-will take a few on my hols and maybe Crime and Punishment
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Ewan Talisker McEwan
Member
Username: Ewan_mcewan

Post Number: 263
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2008 - 05:01 am:   

"Theme issues" of some magazines. The Believer's music issue, which has highly diverting articles on American Black Metal, the band Souled American and the fine art of liner note writing.

And, Oxford American's best of the South issue has a great piece entitled, "Insider's Guide to Prison Food". Not too surprisingly, it doesn't sound very good.
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Allen Belz
Member
Username: Abpositive

Post Number: 1103
Registered: 09-2006
Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 07:07 pm:   

Was at the bookstore yesterday and skimmed the collection of the comic book "Wanted," due to morbid curiosity after some things I'd read. Turns out they were true...Hollywood watered down the characters and concept of the books, but in this case that was a good thing. In the original story a young put-upon, cuckolded office drone falls in with a gang of super-villains who proceed to imprison all the superheroes and run riot over the planet. The main character gets to take violent, kick-ass revenge on all his tormentors (including a bunch of Latino street punks and plenty of women), and the story ends with him addressing the reader directly, sneering at them for not having the balls to abandon their humanity and get on the winning team like he did. The last panel is a full page close-up of him with a big Whoo-Hah grin on his face and underneath is the words "This is my face as I'm f**king you up the a**". The end. If there was an ounce of irony to any of it, it escaped me. Ewg...even a day later it still makes me feel like having a long shower.
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Stuart Wilson
Member
Username: Stuart

Post Number: 220
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 12:40 pm:   

The Boer War, Tom Pakenham's rivetingly meticulous account of a filthy bloody business wherein, of course, the British invented the concept of the concentration camp. Lots of richly portrayed characters, many interesting quotes: "You only have to sacrifice the nigger absolutely, and the game is easy." (The British governor of the Cape Colony). Poor bloody locals; poor bloody infantry, all going down with astounding bravery in Mauser fire for other men's gold and diamonds.
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Michael Bachman
Member
Username: Michael_bachman

Post Number: 1224
Registered: 01-2005
Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 05:11 pm:   

A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn - the Last Great Battle of the American West by James Donovan

Flat out the most entertaining book I've read about Custer and the Battle of the Little Bighorn, and I've got close to a dozen of them in my book collection. It's not as techincal as far as the time-motion movements of the various troops and Native Americans as some, but the characters are really brought to life and the book reads like a novel. It was just published this year, so it takes advantage of all the recent findings (spent bullets and casings) and forensic analysis of each object found. The last section covers the inquiry court and cover-up by the US Army after the battle. Highly recommended despite a few misses by the editor.
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Michael Bachman
Member
Username: Michael_bachman

Post Number: 1226
Registered: 01-2005
Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2008 - 08:01 pm:   

Stuart, I'll check out The Boer War next week. When looking for it I'll apply rule .303
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2207
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Friday, August 01, 2008 - 10:25 am:   

Should Have Got Off At Sydney Parade - Ross O'Carroll-Kelly. Ross O'Carroll-Kelly is a character created by Irish journalist Paul Howard. It's a very funny book. I got it for $1 in Sydney! Oh, Sydney Parade is a place, and train stop, in Dublin, close to Landsdowne Road stadium.
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spence
Member
Username: Spence

Post Number: 2543
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Sunday, August 03, 2008 - 07:29 pm:   

Mark E Smith - renegade.

Bloody hell. The guy really has turned into Bernard Manning (without the bigoted/racist elements that BM had in abundance.)
Its just one long rant about how he knew everything and continues to know everything, and, that no one else in the universe apart from a few old codgers he knows down his local knows a damn thing about life and, The Fall!

He kinda reminds me of MORRISSEY in that documentary 5 years ago, prancing around in his big car, moaning about the fu8ckin Queen of England. He's turned into a really miserable winey, bastard.

I was expecting, some laughs, there are a few, but Christ, its depressing. To sum up, don't buy it, great cover, but no inner, but buy the Fall records, and the TV docu was good, he is TWAT but I love him.
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Jonathan Evans
Member
Username: Jon

Post Number: 212
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Sunday, August 03, 2008 - 09:52 pm:   

I shamefully have to admit I don't do too much reading these days and when you see what I'm reading currently you'll see why my brain's melted.

For work I'm currently reading a lovely book called "Survey Research Methods" by Floyd Fowler, and he's got a fourth edition coming out soon!!!!!! The hours just fly by, can anyone beat this as the most boring thing they've had to read?

In non-work terms I'm re-reading "Touching From A Distance" about Ian Curtis.

Cheers
Jon
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frank bascombe
Member
Username: Frankb

Post Number: 344
Registered: 01-2007
Posted on Friday, August 08, 2008 - 05:36 pm:   

LK just to let you know I really enjoyes Lee Childs Killing Floor, however improbable,I look forward to the next one in the list
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Ewan Talisker McEwan
Member
Username: Ewan_mcewan

Post Number: 287
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Monday, August 18, 2008 - 07:06 pm:   

"The Spies of Warsaw" - Alan Furst.
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Ewan Talisker McEwan
Member
Username: Ewan_mcewan

Post Number: 392
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2008 - 07:31 pm:   

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson.

Gott-damm good! Swedish people rock.
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Ewan Talisker McEwan
Member
Username: Ewan_mcewan

Post Number: 407
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2008 - 04:43 pm:   

When You Are Engulfed in Flames - David Sedaris. LOL funny - nobody does this kind of thing better.
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Rob Brookman
Member
Username: Rob_b

Post Number: 1252
Registered: 08-2006
Posted on Sunday, October 05, 2008 - 10:36 pm:   

For a guy who claims his main sources for literature are sold on a newsstand, I'm a bit surprised you're single-handedly keeping this thread going, ETM. I feel like I should help out, so:

"The Anglo Files" - Sarah Lyall

A very funny and sharp-eyed look at the British by a former correspondent for the NY Times. Really fine stuff...
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Lewisdhead
Member
Username: Lewisdhead

Post Number: 36
Registered: 01-2007
Posted on Wednesday, October 08, 2008 - 04:13 pm:   

Things the Grandchildren Should Know by Mark Oliver Everett
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2368
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 - 01:14 am:   

A Secret History Of The IRA by Ed Moloney. Excellent so far.
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spence
Member
Username: Spence

Post Number: 2638
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 - 09:09 am:   

Q magazine. They have redesigned the look of it, the typography is pretty good, easy to read, they have obviously taken a leaf out of Word's book, the content seems more intersting than before,its less trashy now, less of the usual bollocks, sill can't beat Word. I remember not being too fond of Wor when it came out, however Kev got me interested and I am glad he did. Its the first time I have bought Q in over a year. The only bollocks element though is Pat 'fu&kin' Kane and his dreary reviews, I mean, how can you trust a man, who used to sing lyrics like and I quote: ""You said, you recall about seven years ago now
You said, that you we're so tough
And I loved it, ooh
Loved you for putting me down in a totally new way
Down with, the bad old, sad old days
(Get away now)
But now, too much pain for too little gain
And I feel like I'm gonna fight back right now"

His reviews are rich considering he along with Deacon Blue and Runrig rined the image of Scottish pop msic for ever!
Wooahhhhhh!
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C Gull
Member
Username: C_gull

Post Number: 118
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 - 06:50 pm:   

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett - all about the Queen starting to read after discovering the mobile library visits the back door of Buck Pal. Very funny
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Stuart Wilson
Member
Username: Stuart

Post Number: 236
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Monday, October 13, 2008 - 04:55 pm:   

Reading Philip Roth and listening to Bob Dylan and Nuts to the Nobel committee.
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Jeff Whiteaker
Member
Username: Jeff_whiteaker

Post Number: 1413
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Monday, October 13, 2008 - 05:08 pm:   

Finishing up "Rip it Up and Start Again," Simon Reynolds' post-punk survey. A lot of stuff in there I more or less knew already, but it's interesting to see how he sums things up and gets to the root philosophies of the massive genre's many sub-genres. Don't always agree with this opinions (he slags off the Teardrop Explodes but loves the Meat Puppets!?!?), and unfortunately he really glosses over Australia, save for a few obligatory paragraphs about the Birthday Party, but it's a fun read overall.
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2379
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 - 10:05 am:   

Get off the fence and tell us what you really think of Pat Kane Spence.
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Allen Belz
Member
Username: Abpositive

Post Number: 1201
Registered: 09-2006
Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - 07:19 pm:   

Doonesbury Flashbacks

The entire first 25 years of the strip (1970-1995) on one CD-ROM. Razor-sharp, hilarious, warm, with characters who feel like friends. An amazing achievement.
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Jonathan Evans
Member
Username: Jon

Post Number: 243
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 06:44 pm:   

Reduce Reuse Recycle by Nicky Scott, just to prove I'm a hippy at heart! If I do my bit now I might be able to go on holiday to Australia (hypocrit)......

Cheers
Jon
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Ewan Talisker McEwan
Member
Username: Ewan_mcewan

Post Number: 425
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Monday, October 20, 2008 - 03:10 am:   

"The Brass Verdict" - Michael Connelly. Impossibly wonderful and soulful mystery novelist, who concentrates on the vagaries of the legal system in L.A. and all of the ridiculous, rich pageant of its denizens' lives. This one is like all the rest of Mr. Connelly's: rich, engrossing, and unless you have some kind of compelling life obligation, likely to be read straight through in a sitting...
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Allen Belz
Member
Username: Abpositive

Post Number: 1235
Registered: 09-2006
Posted on Monday, November 03, 2008 - 11:19 pm:   

I'm about to begin "The Replacements: All Over But the Shouting - An Oral History."
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joe
Member
Username: Dogmansuede

Post Number: 544
Registered: 07-2006
Posted on Tuesday, November 04, 2008 - 12:51 am:   

i'm on my perennial "catching up on books i should've long read" kick, currently enjoying a clockwork orange. four artist/song names spotted thus far.
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Ewan Talisker McEwan
Member
Username: Ewan_mcewan

Post Number: 500
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 04:13 pm:   

I got one of my early X-mas presents, which turned out to be a Kindle (e-book reader). Very nifty little gadget, and kinda scary, the way you can conjure up any book you can think of on it, virtually out of thin air. So, I'm reading the Obama book on it, which is really good. The guy can write...
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Catherine Vaughan
Member
Username: Catherine

Post Number: 491
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 07:38 pm:   

Ewan, don't you know you're not supposed to open until Christmas? Naughty boy!
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Ewan Talisker McEwan
Member
Username: Ewan_mcewan

Post Number: 503
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 09:28 pm:   

It was naughty of me, you're right, but I wanted to make sure the gift I was giving the person in return was adequate. Sadly, it's not. This year, a deluxe nail scissor set ain't gonna cut it, even if it does come in a handsome black pleather binder!
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Ewan Talisker McEwan
Member
Username: Ewan_mcewan

Post Number: 539
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2008 - 12:33 am:   

"Outliers" - Malcolm Gladwell. Don't know what you call this genre Gladwell has promulgated - social scientific infotainment? Whatever, it makes for an unputdownable read, which is really cool for a non-fiction book. I think this is another classic that'll sit proudly next to Tipping Point and Blink on the bookshelf...
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2466
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2008 - 06:33 am:   

Just started a book on Paul Weller by Paulo Hewitt. It caused the end of their 30 year friendship.
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joe
Member
Username: Dogmansuede

Post Number: 590
Registered: 07-2006
Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2008 - 10:04 am:   

catch 22. and it's hitting a little too close to home.
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David Gagen
Member
Username: David_g

Post Number: 209
Registered: 02-2007
Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 12:54 pm:   

Just finished "Sound Of One Hand Clapping" by Richard Flanagan. What a brilliant book. Now reading Collected poems of Walt Whitman. "Song of Myself" This poem is magnificent.
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Ewan Talisker McEwan
Member
Username: Ewan_mcewan

Post Number: 558
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 06:07 pm:   

Agreed David, Whitman is magnificent and everybody should be exposed to his stuff. He wins the poetry slam of the Godz!

My Stroke of Insight - Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor
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Allen Belz
Member
Username: Abpositive

Post Number: 1370
Registered: 09-2006
Posted on Saturday, January 31, 2009 - 04:03 am:   

The Rough Guide to the Velvet Underground, by Peter Hogan

Picked this up at the library. Like a number of you on this board I'm sure, I've been down this particular rock and roll road more than once, but it hasn't gotten boring yet, and this is a nicely concise, evenhanded telling of the tale. I even learned some things I didn't know, or had forgotten. Drinking game for those whose intention is to be under the table in 30 minutes flat: take a drink every time another famous person is mentioned and is followed by the words ",with whom Nico had an affair."
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Michael Bachman
Member
Username: Michael_bachman

Post Number: 1367
Registered: 01-2005
Posted on Saturday, January 31, 2009 - 03:46 pm:   

I read Catch 22 when I was a senior in high school when the US was still fighting in Vietnam, so it was relevant back then for me.
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Simon Withers
Member
Username: Sfwithers

Post Number: 106
Registered: 08-2005
Posted on Saturday, January 31, 2009 - 10:08 pm:   

The Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell. Very disappointing so far.

Catch 22 is a fantastic novel - and it you've not read them try Good as Gold and Something Happened too.

Ewan - recently finished The Brass Verdict. great book, huge fan of MC.
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skulldisco
Member
Username: Skulldisco

Post Number: 78
Registered: 10-2008
Posted on Friday, February 06, 2009 - 08:45 pm:   

The latest book by Simon Reynolds, Totally Wired - Post Punk Interviews, its billed as a companion piece to his Rip It Up book from a few years ago.
http://totallywiredbysimonreynolds.blogs pot.com/2008/11/from-author-of-best-sell ing-postpunk.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_soXI82GSn1A/SY YGFnaS91I/AAAAAAAABI0/tAtz-vNwIIc/s1600- h/totally+wired+cover.jpg



He's also started a new blog fro The Guardian, his first piece is on Animal Collective. The comments section makes for interesting reading - dont think they like him much.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblo g/2009/feb/06/simon-reynolds-animal-coll ective
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spence
Member
Username: Spence

Post Number: 2889
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Friday, February 06, 2009 - 09:12 pm:   

I GOTTA ADMIT, I loved rip it up book, however his review on his Guardian blog I think, of recent Factory boxset pissed me off. Yes they is shite on it, of course, that was what Factory was all about, although, really no one know the Factory manifesto until had passed. The way he (Reynolds) slags pretty much everything in sight, is very annoying. I won't go into the detail, I would rond a table in a pub, but it pisses me off, these failed wannabe musicians (not you Padraig!), slagging something that changed the musical landscape. Period.
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Jeff Whiteaker
Member
Username: Jeff_whiteaker

Post Number: 1541
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Friday, February 06, 2009 - 09:47 pm:   

I'll have to check out the Reynolds Totally Wired book. I really enjoyed Rip it Up, but like Spence, sometimes Reynolds pisses me off. On the one hand, he's attempting to survey a musical era from historic, objective standpoint, but then it's really jarring when he just starts slagging various bands that he doesn't like or that aren't weird enough for him. He can be harshly dismissive of certain bands or songs, but he couches it almost as if it's fact, and I found that frustrating.
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Simon Withers
Member
Username: Sfwithers

Post Number: 112
Registered: 08-2005
Posted on Friday, February 06, 2009 - 10:53 pm:   

Val McDermid's A Darker Domain, featuring the character Brodie Maclennan Grant...

I'm enjoying it more than the last book I read, Patricia Cornwell's Book of the Dead (it didn't get any better after my last posting).
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skulldisco
Member
Username: Skulldisco

Post Number: 79
Registered: 10-2008
Posted on Friday, February 06, 2009 - 11:47 pm:   

Interesting you should say that he dismisses stuff that isnt weird enough Jeff. I think he likes a lot of mainstream stuff, some of which is bullshit - Kanye, Missy E, Pulp (no thats not a mistake,they suck and are mainstream), vampire weekend,portishead.

Spence - Facory was an enigma - sublime stuff like JD,NO, some Happy Mondays and ACR, and early Durruti Column. But also dross like Crispy A, James,early Happy Mondays,The Wake, and too many JD carbon copies to mention
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Jeff Whiteaker
Member
Username: Jeff_whiteaker

Post Number: 1542
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 12:50 am:   

Kev - I just got the impression that for Reynolds and his Rip it Up book, things have to surpass a certain degree of weirdness in order for it to fit *his* definition of post-punk. And it seemed like whenever a post-punk band veered into poppier terrain, he'd slag them.
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Stuart Wilson
Member
Username: Stuart

Post Number: 263
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 12:35 pm:   

The Last Cigarette – Simon Grey
Penultimate grumpily comic memoir from the recently deceased playwright and diarist, with deliciously withering descriptions of beach life in Greece and street life in New York and the usual fascinating nuts and bolts detail about mounting a play, this time a high-profile Broadway revival of his first big success back in the Sixties, and glimpses of his more famous contemporaries, including Harold Pinter’s dying rages, Stoppard gleefully discovering a hidden room for smokers in an American restaurant, the turbulent love life of Alan Bates, Grey’s invariable on-stage alter ego; though the motor of the book, as the title suggests, is his committed inability to give up the vice that will eventually kill him.
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Mark Leydon
Member
Username: Mark_leydon

Post Number: 214
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 11:34 pm:   

A brilliant article by Matt Taibbi in the Rolling Stone about global economic crisis - see link below.

"The global economic crisis isn't about money - it's about power. How Wall Street insiders are using the bailout to stage a revolution"

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/sto ry/26793903/the_big_takeover/8
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Mark Leydon
Member
Username: Mark_leydon

Post Number: 215
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 11:34 pm:   

Here's the proper link:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/sto ry/26793903/the_big_takeover
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2671
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Monday, March 23, 2009 - 12:34 am:   

Thanks for the link Mark. Matt Taibbi is a great writer.
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spence
Member
Username: Spence

Post Number: 2976
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Monday, March 23, 2009 - 09:19 am:   

Yes thanks Mark, these paras stood out for me:

The most galling thing about this financial crisis is that so many Wall Street types think they actually deserve not only their huge bonuses and lavish lifestyles but the awesome political power their own mistakes have left them in possession of. When challenged, they talk about how hard they work, the 90-hour weeks, the stress, the failed marriages, the hemorrhoids and gallstones they all get before they hit 40.

"But wait a minute," you say to them. "No one ever asked you to stay up all night eight days a week trying to get filthy rich shorting what's left of the American auto industry or selling $600 billion in toxic, irredeemable mortgages to ex-strippers on work release and Taco Bell clerks. Actually, come to think of it, why are we even giving taxpayer money to you people? Why are we not throwing your ass in jail instead?"

But before you even finish saying that, they're rolling their eyes, because You Don't Get It. These people were never about anything except turning money into money, in order to get more money; valueswise they're on par with crack addicts, or obsessive sexual deviants who burgle homes to steal panties. Yet these are the people in whose hands our entire political future now rests.

Good luck with that, America. And enjoy tax season.
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Michael Bachman
Member
Username: Michael_bachman

Post Number: 1410
Registered: 01-2005
Posted on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 - 03:20 pm:   

Latest update on the AIG bonus folks. 9 of the top 10 US bonus hand outs from AIG will be returned, and 11 of the top 15. A large quantity of the other bonus folks are in the UK though, so it might take pressure from the English press to recover those funds.

The crooks will never be tossed in jail because of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act that passed in 1999 (it deregulated banks and repealed portions of the Glass-Steagall Act which had regulated the financial services industry). It really caused a lot of the toxic motgage mess as the act removed the Depression-era laws separating banking, insurance and brokerage activities. This resulted in the crazy bank derivatives trading that plunged the US economy into the toilet. Phil Gramm was also one of five co-sponsors of the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000, which allowed a loophole for the Enron scandel to occur. Gramm's wife Wendy was on the board of drirectors at Enron. Phil Gramm was also John McCain's most senior economic adviser until July of last year when he stepped down after taking heat for stating "We have sort of become a nation of whiners, you just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline."
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Andrew Kerr
Member
Username: Andrew_k

Post Number: 420
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 11:32 am:   

"Feedback : The Velvet Underground: legend & truth" by Ignacio Julia.

A wonderful book (and a beautiful object also!), written by the Catalan Velvets' expert, who has interviewed every member of this seminal group over the years. His Sterling Morrison interview is particularly informative.

My only criticism would be slightly too much emphasis on the solo years of Lou Reed, whose solo output has never really grabbed me much.
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Simon Withers
Member
Username: Sfwithers

Post Number: 122
Registered: 08-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 05:24 pm:   

Killer Poker: No Limit!
Killer Poker: Short-handed

And yes, there is an exclam in the first book title. I took up poker about three years ago. I'm pretty competitive and after having to give up football - 40+ year old knees and football aren't a good match - I needed an outlet for my competitive nature. I don't play online; I play once a week with friends for a fiver each, winner takes all. And thanks to my reading I've won in 7 of my last 10 games. Woohoo!

Aside from that, I'm reading the latest in the First Ladies Detective Agency series.

And talking of books - I had a bit of a clearout last week, took a load of stuff to a carboot sale. But before going I checked on Google/eBay that I wasn't selling any rarities at silly prices. I'm glad I did. Turned out I have a very rare first edition of Girl in a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. It's only 10 years old but was released with a typo on the rear of the book ("earing") and most of the copies were pulped. For sale from Ł300 upwards. It didn't go in my 50p books pile!
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spence
Member
Username: Spence

Post Number: 2992
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 05:43 pm:   

Mojo last night, states The Rockingbirds are due a comeback! Wahey! loved them, Dave morgan and greenwood Goulding from the weather prophets on rhythm section, fronted by Alan ad Sean's dulcit tones and there's even lap steel gotta make sense.

I know Randy took delivery of Monochrome Set lost Weekend, so please to read that its rereleased, its not the greatest album, but to get my hands on Andiamo, one of my fave instrumentals evvvvvar!! Can't wait!

Uncut has completely fu*in lost it, they bound to go under, mind you considering the ad space they effin sellin, probably not, there's literally no music in this mag, Christ on a bike.
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Pádraig Collins
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Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2680
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 11:31 pm:   

Spence, I'll have to refer your "literally no music in this mag" comment to the Pet Hates section. Randy's "literally expanded world" will have to go there too. Just sayin'.
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spence
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Username: Spence

Post Number: 2996
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Friday, March 27, 2009 - 08:13 am:   

U got me Pad, good spot!!
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Andrew Kerr
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Username: Andrew_k

Post Number: 424
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Friday, April 03, 2009 - 12:06 pm:   

Article on The Sound.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblo g/2009/apr/03/the-sound-white-lies-cure
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2768
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Friday, May 01, 2009 - 02:02 am:   

R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz, & Country. Great, informative book and a terrific 21 track CD with it too.
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Andrew Kerr
Member
Username: Andrew_k

Post Number: 427
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Monday, May 04, 2009 - 12:33 pm:   

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/johntusainte rview/mccullin_transcript.shtml

Transcript of an interview with Don McCullin, one of England's greatest photographers, in which he talks candidly of his unease with his work. "There is nothing to be claimed and nothing to regret, except that we go on treating our fellow human beings so badly"
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spence
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Username: Spence

Post Number: 3099
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Wednesday, May 06, 2009 - 01:43 pm:   

Randy's, neatly and emotionally written Brisbane journals. A great read Randy, you should write for a living! One Sammy Davis Jr! What was the boy thinking!!??
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spence
Member
Username: Spence

Post Number: 3101
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Wednesday, May 06, 2009 - 01:53 pm:   

And now this!: http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/20 09/05/wilco-war-jay-bennett-sues-jeff-tw eedy-for-50k.html
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Geoff Holmes
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Username: Geoff

Post Number: 493
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Thursday, May 07, 2009 - 01:47 pm:   

Yeah late as usual, but I just read Kevin Rudd's article in the Monthly from February.
Had me saying YES out aloud ALL the way through it!
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Mark Leydon
Member
Username: Mark_leydon

Post Number: 226
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Friday, May 15, 2009 - 05:11 am:   

A brilliant article by a NY Times finance reporter describing how he himself got caught up in the sub-prime mortgage nightmare that has brought global financial system to its knees.

"New York Times economics reporter Edmund Andrews describes his journey to the heart of the American nightmare--debt, default, and dread. It's a journey that tens of millions of other Americans are now intimately familiar with."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/magazi ne/17foreclosure-t.html?_r=2&hp=&pagewan ted=all
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Randy Adams
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Username: Randy_adams

Post Number: 2006
Registered: 03-2005
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 02:21 am:   

Inspired by Kevin's recent allegations that LK et al. has been reincarnated as VEP, I started poking around in our old archived threads of 2005 and 2006. And was transported. What a clever lot we were! The thread on criminally underrated Oz bands is priceless.
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2824
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 - 11:55 am:   

Caught in my shadow: 19 unjustly unheralded sidemen
http://www.avclub.com/articles/caught-in -my-shadow-19-unjustly-unheralded-sideme n,28556/?utm_source=homepage_recent_feat ures
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Mark Leydon
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Username: Mark_leydon

Post Number: 234
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Tuesday, June 09, 2009 - 11:58 pm:   

Matt Taibbi's brilliant response when some hack journalist on the Wall Street Journal had the gall to call Hank Paulson a 'national hero' for the way he handled the financial crises in the last month's of the Bush adminstration.

Among other things, Taibbi calls the journalist (Evan Newmark) a 'a craven, bumlicking ass-goblin'. Now that has to be one of the great put-downs of the year!

Below is a brief excerpt - but you can read the whole thing here:

http://trueslant.com/matttaibbi/2009/06/ 08/mean-street-it%E2%80%99s-time-to-ensh rine-hank-paulson-as-national-hero-deal- journal-wsj/


Exactly what part of Paulson’s record is heroic, Evan? The part where he called up SEC director William Donaldson in 2004 and quietly arranged to get the state to drop capital requirements for the country’s top five investment banks? You remember that business, right, Evan? Your hero Paulson met with Donaldson and got the rules changed so that Goldman and four other banks no longer had to abide by the old restrictions that forced banks to actually have a dollar or two on hand for every ten or so they lent out. After that, it was party time! Bear Stearns in just a few years had a debt-to-equity ration of 33-1! Lehman’s went to 32-1. By an amazing coincidence, both of these companies exploded just a few years after that meeting, and all of the rest of us, Evan, ended up footing the bill, thanks to a state-sponsored rescue of Bear and a much larger massive bailout of Wall Street in general, necessitated in large part by the damage caused by the chaos surrounding Lehman’s collapse.

Meanwhile your own Goldman, Sachs ended up with a 22:1 debt-to-equity ratio a few years following that meeting, a number that would have been much higher if one didn’t count the hedges Goldman bought through a company called AIG. Thanks in large part to Paulson’s leadership in his last years as head of Goldman, the company was so massively over-leveraged that it would have gone under if AIG — which owed Goldman billions when it went into its death spiral last September — had been allowed to collapse. But thanks to Hank Paulson, who heroically stepped in and gave AIG $80 billion the same weekend he allowed one of Goldman’s last key competitors, Lehman, to collapse, Goldman didn’t have to go without that money; $13 billion of the AIG bailout went straight to Goldman. So I guess we have Paulson to thank for the fact that he used about $13 billion of our taxpayer money to essentially bail out his own fuckups. I mean, that’s heroism if I’ve ever seen it. Audie Murphy has nothing on that. Sit your asses back down, Harriet Tubman, Thomas More, Gandhi and Jesus Christ. Hank Paulson is in the house!

...If anyone besides Paulson had been running Goldman Sachs earlier in this decade — if a person with a serious brain injury had been in his place, for instance, or a horse, or a head of lettuce — we’d all be better off today, because there wouldn’t be so many toxic Goldman-underwritten mortgage-backed CDOs on the market. We, all of us, are paying the freight for assholes like Paulson, and like you, for that matter. And while we’re getting over it, slowly, you’re really not helping when you open your mouth and pat yourself on the back for all the good deeds you’ve done. Spare, us, okay? Just give it up.
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2849
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 - 06:58 am:   

That is awesome Mark! Thanks for posting it. Matt Taibbi's a great writer. Something I read of his on Iraq a few years back inspired me to put my size 12 (13 in US sizes) boots where it was needed when I was writing about the Cronulla riots.
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Mark Leydon
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Username: Mark_leydon

Post Number: 235
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 - 07:12 am:   

Would love to read your Cronulla riot piece Pádraig - is it still floating round somewhere?
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2852
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 - 11:09 pm:   

I've just emailed it to you Mark. If anyone else wants to see it let me know.
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Catherine Vaughan
Member
Username: Catherine

Post Number: 507
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 - 11:12 pm:   

A craven bum-licking ass goblin? Sounds like someone I used to work with...
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2857
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Monday, June 15, 2009 - 07:06 am:   

Just bought Lovesick Blues, the life of Hank Williams by Paul Hemphill.
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spence
Member
Username: Spence

Post Number: 3169
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Monday, June 15, 2009 - 10:06 am:   

Factory Records - The complete graphic album. A visual history about the image of Factory. A real joy for me, as I have spent the last 27 years wondering about the sleeves and the imagery, and here are the answers, well, some...
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David Gagen
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Username: David_g

Post Number: 240
Registered: 02-2007
Posted on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 - 10:57 pm:   

Read the first 10 pages of Ulysses today. Am in Dublin and it being Bloomsday, I sat in a courtyard and listened to dozens of people reading from the book. I tried to read it 20 yrs ago and gave up at page 100. But I am now convinced it has to be read out loud with an Irish voice and it kinda makes more sense. Wonder how far Ill get this time!
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2859
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 10:46 am:   

David, thanks for reminding me of Bloomsday. In it's honour (a day late) I'm posting up one of the first ever pieces I did for The Irish Times a decade ago - a colour piece on Bloomsday 1999. I'll post the piece at www.myspace.com/padraigcollins

Hope you had fun.

Check out the Dawson Lounge pub on the Stepen's Green end of Dawson St. It's underground, beneath Ron Blacks.
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David Gagen
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Username: David_g

Post Number: 241
Registered: 02-2007
Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 04:12 pm:   

Just read your peice Padraig. The day here was bright and sunny, lots of period costumes etc. I agree with a comment in your peice about it being meant to be read out loud with the Irish voice (as I wrote earlier). I found it easy to listen too, quite funny in places (obviously only heard selected readings) and listening to it was definitely easier than reading it. Though Ill not give up so easy this time.
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Rob Brookman
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Username: Rob_b

Post Number: 1391
Registered: 08-2006
Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 06:50 pm:   

Nice piece, Padraig. Brought back some memories - I struggled through "Ulysses" in college until my prof was kind enough to host a reading of it (portions, obviously) at her house one night. Although she wasn't Irish, there was general agreement it made a huge difference in our ability to understand (and enjoy) the book, which I now, three reads later, consider one my all-time faves.

I had a similar experience in same class with Faulkner's "Sound and the Fury." And years earlier with Shakespeare. Sometimes it just helps to hear someone read passages of certain works.
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David Gagen
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Username: David_g

Post Number: 242
Registered: 02-2007
Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 09:21 pm:   

Possibly anything based on poetic imagery should be read out loud.
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2861
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 11:08 am:   

Thanks lads. It genuinely means a lot to me that you read and liked that.
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Stuart Wilson
Member
Username: Stuart

Post Number: 291
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 03:40 pm:   

It's the same with Beckett, I think, the early novels really come alive when you find a voice for them. Maybe it's cause the Irish are such great talkers??
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skulldisco
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Username: Skulldisco

Post Number: 234
Registered: 10-2008
Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 07:02 pm:   

Energy Flash - Simon Reynolds
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Catherine Vaughan
Member
Username: Catherine

Post Number: 512
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 09:01 pm:   

Welome to Ireland David!!! Are you here for long?
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2862
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 09:27 am:   

Buy today's Irish Times if you're still in Ireland David - you'll love my piece on camels! The rest of you can read it online here http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/worl d/2009/0619/1224249121615.html
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David Gagen
Member
Username: David_g

Post Number: 243
Registered: 02-2007
Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 01:59 pm:   

Intersting article Padraig. They already have huge culls of buffalo in NT by air, and even wild cattle. Interesting point of view of Christian Aboriginal groups with respect to the camel. Many of the native flora and fauna is being destroyed by introduced species especially in delicate environments like arid lands. How did you come about writing on the topic Padraig?

Thanks Catherine. I have been in Ireland for 3 weeks now. Ive been keeping a low profile! been Belfast, derry, Gallway, Cork, Dublin. Seen the inside of too many bars, none of them cheap! Done a lot of historical things, like cemetries and gaols, bars, museums, political stuff, bars, art galleries, bars, live music in bars, staying in hostels. Shouldve contacted you Catherine but ive enjoyed Ireland a lot (as my empty wallet can testify!)

Sposed to be leaving for London tomorrow.
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2863
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 11:22 pm:   

I heard a report on ABC NewsRadio David and thought it was fascinating. I followed it up from there.
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Charles Coy
Member
Username: Coy

Post Number: 136
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 12:58 am:   

Padraig..loved the camels article in the Irish Times,friends of mine travelling through the centre of OZ have related some scary stories of camel attack.Enjoyed the article...thank you.
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2865
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 02:53 pm:   

Thanks Charles. It's a very cute picture of the camel isn't it?
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Andrew Kerr
Member
Username: Andrew_k

Post Number: 448
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 02:58 pm:   

Yes, interesting camels article. Once again we have completely messed around with nature and now have the consequences.

Where I live in SW France hunting is a massive pasttime and some Sundays you can hardly go for a walk without risking your life! But a lot of what is shot is bred for that purpose and released into the woods, and when the hunters are not terribly efficient the farmers get upset 'cause their crops are eaten by deer and wild boars.

I once saw a documentary on a species of seabird in the Orkneys, where its main foodsource had been fished out of existance by humans and it now turned to eating the young of another species of bird. I find that extremely sad.
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spence
Member
Username: Spence

Post Number: 3177
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Monday, June 22, 2009 - 09:51 am:   

Its like Swifts here in the uK, as the property rennovation, new builds etc and the like took hold over the last 10 or so years, people (dare i say builders/construction firms) failed to reapply or create new homes for the swift, which they almost always contnually come back to after their migration, and now the swift population has been halved.
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Michael Bachman
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Username: Michael_bachman

Post Number: 1519
Registered: 01-2005
Posted on Thursday, July 02, 2009 - 10:43 pm:   

Into The Wild - Jon Krakauer
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XY765
Member
Username: Judge

Post Number: 573
Registered: 01-2006
Posted on Friday, July 03, 2009 - 09:28 am:   

Michael I read Into The Wild about 10 years ago, really good book, very bleak though.

I'd been in San Francisco for about a month and about to get a Greyhound bus from there to Seattle and then on to Vancouver Island. Needless to say I didn't go out into the rainforset trying to find myself after reading it!

The film isn't a patch on the book.
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Andrew Kerr
Member
Username: Andrew_k

Post Number: 457
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Friday, July 03, 2009 - 10:24 am:   

Re: Into the Wild

What made it for me a great book were the parallels that Krakauer draws with his own life. The chapter when he describes his (insane) solo climb of the ice mountain in Alaska is breath-taking.

He acknowledges that he could have gone down the same path as McCandless.

I had no desire to see the film in the sense that with that aspect gone, it was just the story of a confused + selfish kid with some naive notions (OK gross over simplification I know!)
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XY765
Member
Username: Judge

Post Number: 574
Registered: 01-2006
Posted on Friday, July 03, 2009 - 11:31 am:   

Yeah Andrew I was watching the film before I made the connection with the book, my memory ain't great sometimes.

I thought the film veered onto shaky ground with the emphasis on his relationships with family and friends....the book is miles better.
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Michael Bachman
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Username: Michael_bachman

Post Number: 1520
Registered: 01-2005
Posted on Monday, July 06, 2009 - 06:03 pm:   

I just didn't understand why McCandless would want to go into the Alaskan wild without a map. He died needlessly in that bus within a few miles hike of the river cable crossing.
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2921
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Wednesday, July 08, 2009 - 04:01 am:   

This hilarious Onion story: Radiohead Denies Influencing Local Band http://www.theonion.com/content/news/rad iohead_denies_influencing_local
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2943
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Monday, July 13, 2009 - 01:46 am:   

Do Travel Writers Go To Hell. An entertaining and easy read. I'm flying through it.
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 3033
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Monday, August 10, 2009 - 06:28 am:   

The number 3 most read story on the Irish Times website today. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/worl d/2009/0810/1224252312918.html
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 3035
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Monday, August 10, 2009 - 10:40 am:   

Now number 1.
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 3051
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 07:57 am:   

Top 100 Irish-Australians named http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/worl d/2009/0819/1224252870389.html
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skulldisco
Member
Username: Skulldisco

Post Number: 373
Registered: 10-2008
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 04:55 pm:   

The Glamour Chase. Biography on Billy McKenzie, which amazingly enough I picked up yesterday from the charity book stall we have at work for the princely sum of 50p.
This prompted me to play Sulk last night. I still maintain that this album "sounds" like shit, thankfully most of the songs prevail. The drum sound is astonishingly bad, even for the 80s.
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spence
Member
Username: Spence

Post Number: 3313
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 07:55 pm:   

Great book kev, is it the large thick format version? Hope you enjoy it.

Sulk, for me Kev, regardless what your thoughts on the drum sound, (incidentally i think suit the tuns very well) is unlike anything else that has ever existed in the modern music world, and is in my top 10 of all time, even though I probably have a top 1000 albums of all time pop pickers!
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frank bascombe
Member
Username: Frankb

Post Number: 444
Registered: 01-2007
Posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 - 03:55 pm:   

Just finished reading the Haruki Marukami-What do I think about when I'm running ( or something like that) and just started David Byrne's Bicycle Diaries, being him I thought itwould be interesting and enlightening in the fact that he comes at things form interesting angles.
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Stuart Wilson
Member
Username: Stuart

Post Number: 302
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 09:46 am:   

A new copy of the Billy McK biog would cost you 128 quid on Amazon, so you got a pretty good bargain there!
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Allen Belz
Member
Username: Abpositive

Post Number: 1620
Registered: 09-2006
Posted on Monday, August 31, 2009 - 10:23 pm:   

Inherent Vice

Shocking but true: Big Tom Pynchon comes out with a new novel only two years after his last one. Word is that it's comparatively very accessible...and much shorter than average. I'll be starting on it tonight.
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 3115
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 - 12:41 am:   

Just started reading Nick Hornby's Juliet Naked and am enjoying it a lot. Just finished Piers Morgan's Don't You Know Who I Am? Also very good.
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Geoff Holmes
Member
Username: Geoff

Post Number: 557
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 - 09:41 am:   

Just finished "Breath" by Tim Winton. I tried to read "Dirt Music" a couple of years ago but only got about 10 pages in. "Breath" is another story...so to speak! I read about half of it in one sitting.
I have now started "Vagabond Holes - David McComb and the Triffids". It's a compendium of different articles by the likes of Robert Forster, Nick Cave, David Nichols and even a blog entry of rambling by Steve Kilbey! Seems good so far and a perfect format before lights out. It's only just out here - I had to order it in from Fremantle Press. There's also a book of McComb poems too called "Beautiful Waste" but I haven't tried to get that yet. It's only just out here too.
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frank bascombe
Member
Username: Frankb

Post Number: 451
Registered: 01-2007
Posted on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 - 11:20 am:   

I read Breath on holiday this year an excellent atmospheric book with a darker side. If you like That the Excellent Robert Drewe's Shark Net is also worth reading part memoir.Set again in Perth/fremantle area.
Now reading 8 day in December Sebastien Faukes. Lined up on the berdoom table is Nick Cave new book.
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 3120
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 - 11:31 am:   

I can really recommend Juliet Naked to anyone on this board. Some of it is so akin to some of the shenanigans and characters who populate this board it's like Hornby is a secret lurker here! But I'm sure other boards about similarly non-mainstream artists are just like the book too.
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Stuart Wilson
Member
Username: Stuart

Post Number: 312
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Monday, September 28, 2009 - 09:20 am:   

Jonathan Rigby's Both Ends Burning is an enjoyable song by song Roxy biog that mainly rehashes bits and bobs from old music paper articles but scores with his eloquent and amusing descriptions of the songs themselves, which do what all this type of book should do and send you tumbling back to the music itself; and has even convinced me, after giving up on Ferry and co following Siren, that the final Vaseline-greased-attempt-to-shag-the States Trilogy might be worth listening to - and, true enough, Manifesto already sounds better than I thought it would.
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joe
Member
Username: Dogmansuede

Post Number: 706
Registered: 07-2006
Posted on Saturday, October 10, 2009 - 11:26 am:   

geoff, i'm also reading vagabond holes at the moment... which i can't put down. their records are all the more gutting to listen to alongside, but i can't stop that either.
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Allen Belz
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Username: Abpositive

Post Number: 1687
Registered: 09-2006
Posted on Sunday, October 18, 2009 - 03:28 pm:   

No Wave: Post-Punk Underground New York 1976-1980
by Thurston Moore & Byron Coley

Photo essay about the aforementioned period, with interviews from many of the participants, including Lydia Lunch (still half-fulla-shit after all these years, but a pioneer), the great Arto Lindsay, and Eno, giving his side of the great No New York controversy. Nicely put-together and designed, too.
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Randy Adams
Member
Username: Randy_adams

Post Number: 2177
Registered: 03-2005
Posted on Sunday, November 15, 2009 - 11:40 pm:   

Vagabond Holes--David McComb & the Triffids

This arrived yesterday along with Robert's book. I'm reading this one first. It contains a memoir of McComb by Robert. I don't think it's what he'd like to hear but the man sure can write a eulogy!
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peter ward
Member
Username: Peter_ward

Post Number: 104
Registered: 06-2005
Posted on Friday, November 20, 2009 - 09:33 am:   

A Book on The Go-Betweens, a third of the way through and they haven't mentioned Grant McLennan, let alone Tim Mustapha. David Nichol's book was a lot more informative, I'll stick with it though..

http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/12120 36
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Andrew Kerr
Member
Username: Andrew_k

Post Number: 508
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Friday, November 20, 2009 - 09:41 pm:   

Tried to read Greil Marcus' "Invisible Republic" about Dylan/Band 'Basement Tapes'. But gave up and just listened to the 5CD bootleg version instead.

Frankly a lot of impenetrable pretentious rubbish. The book that is not the music.

Peter, 'The Go-Between' by LP Hartley is a fine read...
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Michael Bachman
Member
Username: Michael_bachman

Post Number: 1676
Registered: 01-2005
Posted on Saturday, November 21, 2009 - 02:51 pm:   

On it's way to me:

Woe To Live On by Daniel Woodrell. Ang Lee used this book as a basis for his 1999 movie Ride With The Devil.
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Andrew Kerr
Member
Username: Andrew_k

Post Number: 514
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Friday, November 27, 2009 - 07:38 am:   

An emotional interview with Liz Fraser

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/nov /26/cocteau-twins-elizabeth-fraser-inter view

Mentions the Nash (Hotel International) in Grangemouth where her and Guthrie first met. My best friend at uni was the son of the owner of that place and I helped out serving in the bar a couple of times; it was a wild place with a mixture of local Falkirk neds and Scandanavian sailors. But had some wonderful gigs !

I remember showing a video of the Cocteau Twins on the OGWT to my pal's father and him struggling to believe that it was really 'wee Lizzie'. He told him that the Cocteaus used to give him a fiver to practice in the disco during the day and he gave them a tenner to go away 'cause it was such a horrible noise.

Her background is certainly miles away from the soft fluffy Liberty pattern world that we imagine that she might live in.

And the mention of that duet with Jeff Buckley ("All Flowers in Time") is interesting; at the end of it you can clearly hear her saying 'oh my god' in a voice that suggests that she thinks that this is a lot of rubbish. I am not a Buckley believer, but I find it a powerful piece of music. Back to that argument about the artist having the right to control their output...
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Andrew Kerr
Member
Username: Andrew_k

Post Number: 525
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 - 12:34 pm:   

All the tributes to French filmmaker Eric Rohmer, who died at the start of this week.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/jan/ 12/eric-rohmer-gilbert-adair

Goodbye to a true original spirit.
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Michael Bachman
Member
Username: Michael_bachman

Post Number: 1722
Registered: 01-2005
Posted on Sunday, January 17, 2010 - 12:34 pm:   

True Compass - Edward Kennedy
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Jerry Clark
Member
Username: Jerry

Post Number: 984
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Monday, January 18, 2010 - 10:21 am:   

Nick Cave's 'The Death Of Bunny Munro'. It's all quite debauched & rotten to the core. I love it!
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Geoff Holmes
Member
Username: Geoff

Post Number: 630
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 - 05:46 am:   

The 10 Rules of Rock 'n' Roll - Robert Forster.
He certainly seems to have an encyclopaedic knowledge (and appreciation) of music! He even had praise (faint) for Delta Goodrum!
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Andrew Kerr
Member
Username: Andrew_k

Post Number: 532
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Sunday, February 07, 2010 - 07:31 pm:   

Interview with the great Gil Scott-Heron. He's back with a new album that is apparently pretty wonderful.

And his father played football for Celtic in the 1950s...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/feb /07/gil-scott-heron-comeback-interview
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Allen Belz
Member
Username: Abpositive

Post Number: 1764
Registered: 09-2006
Posted on Sunday, February 07, 2010 - 09:04 pm:   

Thanks for that...have been a Gil fan for many years.

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