Its October and Im Octobreading....
I didn't either. I heard Heath was in it and then my expectations were suddenly too high for what it really was.
it's not in the same league as the requiem for a dream or trainspotting movies, but it stands up pretty good on it's own. Geoffrey Rush is great in it, as he is in everything he does.
I didn't either. I heard Heath was in it and then my expectations were suddenly too high for what it really was.
it's not in the same league as the requiem for a dream or trainspotting movies, but it stands up pretty good on it's own. Geoffrey Rush is great in it, as he is in everything he does.
Yeah I have to say I really enjoyed it for the fact that it was the one drug movie I didn't feel like I was trippin on drugs and I did enjoy Geoffrey Rush in this movie as well with his "Yellow Jesus".
The Waterproof Bible by Andrew Kaufman
Delirium by Laura Estrepo and November by Gustave Flaubert.
The score takes care of itself (Bill Walsh)
Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton.
Hot damn! I didn't even know that existed!
When I pick up any book for the first time, I always open it to a random point in the middle and begin reading. I've done this for years, and it's always served as an accurate gauge to the level of writing the author is demonstrating. For the most part, every book is designed to begin with what's called a "hook," which is why most authors will always tell you in their workshops and seminars, "Always begin with action." The idea, if it's not obvious, is to suck the reader in to the point of purchase.
Regarding Candy, I did not have this option. The first 13 pages were missing, and then another 40 or so subsequent pages, randomly torn out by the last reader. The eventual pitfall of purchasing books on Amazon, I'm afraid, and so Davies' writing was put to the random entry point test in every instance of another four or five or six missing pages. There's no complex way of saying this: Davies can write his ass off, and he will suck you in even under the less than ideal circumstances of omitted pages and fragmentation.
Candy is exactly what it says it is on the cover: a story of love and addiction. Naturally, one's mind jumps to the other two big junk novels in natural comparison, Requiem for a Dream and Trainspotting, but where Selby Jr. makes the reader crawl through his poor formatting choices and Welsh culture shocks our eyes and minds with Gaelic, it's Davies that gives us the most accessible text with his smooth and dreamy prosaic style, submerging the reader in warm pools of joy and harsh junkie sickness.
Out of the three, Requiem still reigns king, but only in regards to its film adaptation.
Davies' Candy accurately conveys the junkie lifestyle, its swelling highs and desperate lows more poignantly than I've ever had the pleasure of reading. This is a story of perceived love, but mainly it is a struggle between two people and their ability to connect when chemicals aren't involved. They scam and steal and sell themselves all in the name of love, but it's a love that steadily decays them with every injection. They are aware of the consequences, yet, continue to push the proverbial envelope in the name of devotion, a devotion not necessarily to each other.
There is joy in this novel, hope that is both realized and unrealized, and by the end you've been run ragged by these experiences. Candy does everything a novel is supposed to, and by way of a the man-woman-junk dynamic, a few things I haven't seen before.
Great read. Highly recommend.
I'm so glad you liked it. It's one of my favourite books of all-time. would definitely be in a desert island list. It's good to hear all you guys talking about an australian author with such high regard.
Shame you didn't like the movie. maybe it was too australian? but, surely it couldn't be that because the language in the book has a very australian tone to it. I thought the movie was fantastic. Heath was great in it. each to his/her own though.
Luke Davies adapted the novel to screen, too.
But yes, the book. glad you dug it. He's a fantastic author. You should check out his other two novels: Isabelle the Navigator and God of Speed. They're both great too, although Candy is still my favourite.
The American Pastoral by Philip Roth.
Hot damn! I didn't even know that existed!
I miss that Niners teams
The Trainspotting adaptation was worlds better than Requiem. Requiem tried too hard.
Started Candy by Luke Davies a couple days ago. I'm flying through it. It is a pretty easy read. And I can see why you would love this book Matt. The style is right up your alley. Also see the Bukowski influence - but that's all it is. Not an imitation - it's totally it's own story.
Oh yeah. It's not even overly bukowski-esque in style. it's just got that down-to-earth, honest voice. very working class, everyday person kind of thing (not that being a junkie is normal or anything).
I'm glad you're liking it, Pete. I'm worried about the discussion. I have been so flat-out lately. Uni is swamping me with assignments, and the Clevenger intensive is heating up. I hope i can put enough time into making some decent discussion points. Feel free to help me book club dude.
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
I bought the prequel last week :
Ludwig, I was just reflecting on the book that you sent me a few years ago, The Thin Man, and how much I enjoyed it. I've read it five or six times since then.
There is hope, but not for us.
Hot damn! I didn't even know that existed!
I miss that Niners teams :(
Enjoy the master's playbook :
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2944734/1985-49ers-Offense-Walsh
And the private lesson, featuring a few friends :
Nothing could please me more. Dashiell Hammett is such an neglected hero of american literature.
I finished Dead in the Family (SS: book 10) this morning. I think it took me a week to read all 10. I am fairly certain that Eric Northman is the perfect man. Aside from the whole undead thing, but I think I could forgive him that.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
Jane I love noir. And The Thin Man just might be my favorite. Such good prose in that one.
Yes, but I don't like how he has long hair, it's too Fabio. I think the telly version is hot though.
I bought the first season of True Blood on Dvd today, to carry on with the obsession.
This morning I'll be starting On Moral Fiction by John Gardner, which Phil got me for my birthday.
There is hope, but not for us.
Just started John Dies at the End by David Wong. Heard a lot of good things about this book, read a lot of good reviews. The first few pages started out strong enough, but let's see if he can keep it up for like 450 more. I hope it's good, though, because I'm really in the mood for some good horror.
John Dies is pretty funny and overall very entertaining, but it does drag in the late-middle for sure. Definitely a worthy read, though.
The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back has utterly consumed me, because I'm a geek and this is my grail. Every bit as good as the first book by the same guy (at $85, it had better be). Ridiculous levels of detail, day-by-day production progress reports, script draft and "story conference" comparisons to see how ideas evolved, model prototypes, matte paintings, etc., and of course the wicked-cool behind the scenes pics. But the best part is a 15-page transcript of a day the director wore a mic while shooting the big carbon-freezing scene: none of the actors are speaking to one another, so they're coming up to him with all their catty/needy issues, changing the dialogue behind each others' backs, none of the equipment's working, etc. Way better than reality TV.
Just picked up Anarchy Evolution : Faith, Science, and Bad Religion in a World Without God by: Greg Graffin , Steve Olson
One of the perks to living in a town where hardly anyone knows or appreciates Greg Graffin: I happened to pick up a signed first edition copy! It was the only one, just chilling there on the shelf. I actually got lucky, I put back the one I had because it had a tear on the dust jacket. Lucky me.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
Miami Purity by Alex Hendricks. Nearly finished it and its not bad.
Mesopitamia by Arthur Nersesian, Damn I love this guys books.
Fooled by Randomness (Nassim Nicholas Taleb) : smart and well written.
I started reading this Killing Monsters: Why Children Need Fantasy, Super Heroes and Make-Believe Violence.
I should have started reading it, like, a week ago, because I know after tomorrow I won't care about it anymore till next Halloween. Oh well.
Pretty good so far.
I've been meaning to read that for years. I've even started it a couple times but got distracted by something else.
I should have started reading it, like, a week ago, because I know after tomorrow I won't care about it anymore till next Halloween. Oh well.
Pretty good so far.
This sounds great. I want to check it out.
I should have started reading it, like, a week ago, because I know after tomorrow I won't care about it anymore till next Halloween. Oh well.
Pretty good so far.
This sounds great. I want to check it out.
it's by some guy called Gerard Jones. and it's November 1st now and i'm still reading it, so that's good.
The Palace of Dreams by Ismail Kadare.