Book Talk discussion

Hi, Jon! *looks around*
It's a small group, us readaholics, yes?

Hi everyone.

I have read 5 books in the last 10 days.
I have read the instructions on my toothpaste tube 23 times.
I don't know what book I am going to read next and this is causing me severe distress.

My name is Chris and I'm a readaholic.

Hi Chris!

Hi, Chris!

i put a movie's subtitles on, even when i speak the same language, after ordering food i keep the menu to read cover to cover, and i drink my beer in a glass, but always, ALWAYS leave the bottle so i may peruse the label at my liesure. i leave no fortune cookie un cracked.

my name is Hans and i'm a readaholic.

Hi Hans!

Hi, Hans!

Sometimes, I read the labels in the underwear I'm wearing.

Hi Hans!

Recluse, you must be very flexible. ; P

I just yank the tags off first. ;)

I was going to say if can read the tag you aren't wearing them right. They don't go on your head!

Too late! :P

Last night I finished Inside the Outside. This was a 5 star read for me.
Extremely well written and the character development was deep. I loved some characters and outright hated some others. I will advise against anyone with a weak stomach reading this one, but heartily recommend it for anyone else.
Plus, two typos! That's it! Very well edited.

I am beside myself trying to figure out what to read next! I sort of went on a buying frenzy and have about 10 books that I want to start. And now I just added Inside the Outside to that list!. I may just put the names on pieces of paper and draw from a hat. But it is a good problem to have, right?

Right!

Chris, that's not a problem. It's heaven. : )

He'll figure it out eventually. :P

Ok. Decided to read a classic that I somehow missed when it came out. Boy's Life.

Great choice!

This was the list I was looking at, so you can see it was a hard decision

Boy's Life or Mine
The Light at the End by John Skipp
Fluke by James Herbert
Iron Butterflies Rust by Lee Thompson
I, Lucifer by Glen Duncan
Currency of Souls or Kin by Kealan
Spirit or Descendant by Graham Masterton
Deep Night or Midnight Solitare by Greg Gifune
The Memory Tree or Miranda by John R. Little
Desert Places by Blake Crouch
Dweller by Jeff Strand
Burden Kansas by Alan Ryker
Creative Spirit by Scott Nicholson
Inside the Outside by Martin Lastrapes
The Gentling Box by Lisa Mannetti

and that's just the horror!

I see what you mean.
You're indecisive.

LOL! All of those books are sure to be good so it was a hard choice!

Never mind. Taking my ball and going back to my cave. Hmph.

I'm just messing with you, you big crybaby.

I alternate between books I really want to read and new authors I've never tried before.

On the subject of new authors, I am intrigued by Burden Kansas and Inside the Outside. They both sound nicely vicious.

I'm trying to find some new authors doing novel length quiet horror.
I've had my fill of viscious for the time being.

How about The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez Reverte? I first thought of Shadow of the Wind but I see you have already read it.

Thanks!
That sounds perfect.

Or Ian McEwan's The Cement Garden or The Comfort of Strangers
Or if you want a classic Emile Zola's Therese Racquin

Chris wrote: "On the subject of new authors, I am intrigued by Burden Kansas and Inside the Outside. They both sound nicely vicious."

That's a perfect word that describes both of those books to a 'T'.

BTW, Boy's Life is an awesome choice. I know that you will LOVE it. : )

Chris, I was looking at your shelf the other day. I saw a lot of Ian McEwan there.
I have to admit that I am not a fan. I read Atonement, I think, and I hated it.
(Was that the one where the hot air balloon crashed and no one would believe the guy that someone was stalking him?). If it's that book, I hated it. : )

That was Enduring Love. I like him. I would recommend another book but I am not sure why you didn't like him so you might not like any of his books. Cement Garden is very good and I liked Saturday also. Both of those are very tense.

The Cement Garden was very interesting and dark, but I remember the ending felt a bit flat.

One of McEwan's books has an incredible opening, but I didn't buy it at the time and don't remember its name. It starts off with something like "my idea of fun." Which turns out to be a hilariously dark and disgusting response to whoever's asking involving grotesque body violations and a tidal wave of hysterical contempt. I was laughing a lot when I read it on a bookstore shelf years ago, but already at my limit for purchases that day. I thought it was brilliant at the time.

Not sure what that book was but I am certainly intrigued...

You know what? That might not be McEwan! Will research further.

... oop, now I'm pretty sure it's Will Self's "My Idea of Fun." er ... My bad!

Hi Marc!

Chris, ok, so it was Enduring Love. Thanks.
I read it quite a while ago. Maybe I should try it again sometime.
Oh, actually I did read Atonement, I just looked at the book description. I remember thinking it was just ok.

Chris wrote: "Or Ian McEwan's The Cement Garden or The Comfort of Strangers
Or if you want a classic Emile Zola's Therese Racquin"

Loved The Cement Garden.

Making a note about the others.

Whatever happened to Richard Christian Matheson?

I remember his novel, Created By.

I'm reading Portent, because I found in on my bookshelf and I didn't know I had it.

So there.

I'm rereading my own stuff. Some rough form, but I like it mostly.

Funny thing, I feel guilty writing when I want to do more reading. Now that can't be right!

Doesn't sound right....

Yeah I'm pretty messed up on confidence sometimes.

We all are at times.
Don't let it get you down.

Marc wrote: "Yeah I'm pretty messed up on confidence sometimes."

Trying not to. Not good so far at the first 50. Maybe after the next 50 ...

Marc wrote: "Yeah I'm pretty messed up on confidence sometimes."

Who isn't?

Kealan wrote: "Marc: It happens everyone, or at least to me. Right around the 50 page mark, I ask myself why I'm bothering at all. Then I realize Recluse has already printed out the T-shirts declaring my utter ge..."

Doubt is the hobgoblin of weak minds.

You know you are as good as the best and better than the rest.
Do you care if they don't know it?
Piffle!
One does not wallow in the ignorance of the masses, one finds a high place to urinate brilliance down upon them!

Bwahahahaha!

Kealan wrote: "Recluse: I spoke to RC Matheson a few years back and his response to the "Where Are You Now?" question was "writing scripts." So I guess he's writing scripts although he does have a story in HE IS ..."

Thanks!

So what is everyone reading?
I am close to finishing We Need to Talk About Kevin. Not out and out horror, but the story is horrifying.

The White Devil

There are some good reviews on that one, Jon.
Any good so far?

I'm enjoying it.
Plan to pick up his first book, A Good and Happy Child