Westwood's Culture Corner

Going to see it tonight. I need a new book. Any ideas?

i could do with some new readin but it has to be ok for my daughter

why is that mate?

it's harking back to the Basics board when SP made the world's nicest post. He is really dyslexic so his daughter reads to him. Nice.

I saw recently that Vigo Mortensen has been cast in the film version of Cormac MaCarthy's "The Road". so I dug it out again for a look.


Such a great book. Not sure how old your daughter is SP cos it's very bleak. It's not rude but it's very dark. But one of the best Post Apocalyptic books ever written. It's so well written it's won loads of awards despite basically being Sci Fi I suppose. But it's only Sci Fi in the sense that maybe "The Wasp Factory" or "The Bridge" by Ian Banks is Sci Fi. i.e not very really.

It basically is about perhaps one of the greatest universal fears, about having to protect your family above all other things. It resonates with me because in the late 70's and early 80's there was a very real threat of nuclear war and programmes like "Threads" and "When The Wind Blows" were very alarming. I used to have terrible dreams about it all.

I think "The Road" is the only book that's made me blub. In sort of a watching a sad film lump in the throat way not a pass me a hanky way

I'm not selling it well am I?

it's one of those you should defo read once in your life type books.

I have to say American literature has really left the rest of the globe standing lately. And I don't say that lightly.

I am currently reading The Beckoning Silence by Joe Simpson and mountaineering chap from sheffield. Tis really good. His other book touching the void is also a great read if you like books about human suffering and survival.

touching the cloth

Sherrers wrote:touching the cloth

I refrained, but glad to see someone was thinking along the same childish lines

Sherrers wrote:touching the cloth

That was a serious post and all you can do is mock. Can someone ban him please.

MarkD77 wrote:

Sherrers wrote:touching the cloth

I refrained, but glad to see someone was thinking along the same childish lines

and this one aswell.

We read quite a lot of 'dark' books as kids. I mean never mind some Fairy Tales which are actually pretty horrific when you think about it. Trying to remember some now...

What sort of books do you go for, TB?

im currently reading

ska'd for life and last night a dj saved my life

bigdaddy wrote:What sort of books do you go for, TB?

oh you know. Cookery Books, Embroidery Books... Etiquette... Girls stuff

I like Ian Banks as mentioned earlier. Dickens. I have a guilty pleasure with Paulo Cuelo even though I know it's bollocks. I like Gabriel Garcia-Marquez but who doesn't. I don't know really. I'm a bit of a book bandit. Will nick someone's and run off with it.

Token Bird wrote:I'm a bit of a book bandit.

Ha ha, thats class I have visions of people sitting on park benches reading in the sun. When suddenly out of the blue the Book Bandit strikes then dashes into the sunset. Class!!

Scottish wrote:

Token Bird wrote:I'm a bit of a book bandit.

Ha ha, thats class I have visions of people sitting on park benches reading in the sun. When suddenly out of the blue the Book Bandit strikes then dashes into the sunset. Class!!

It used to be Newspapers but she got sent down for rustling.





Sorry.

thats so bad, its good

Al wrote:We read quite a lot of 'dark' books as kids. I mean never mind some Fairy Tales which are actually pretty horrific when you think about it. Trying to remember some now...

Yeah we read some dark stuff as kids. I can't remember what is was called but it was about a boy who was sick and he lived in a girl's drawing and there were these well scary cyclops monoliths in the drawing which meant you couldn't leave the house...

Marianne Dreams??? could be called something else.

Lord of The Rings was pretty scary when I was 7. So was William Peter Blatty's books about the Exorcist. The books were LOADS scarier than the films. Especially the one "Legion" don't know if it was the 2nd or 3rd.

We read "The Long, The Short And The Tall" when we were very young as well which is pretty hairy.

When the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy was on Radio 4 we all used to listen to it religiously. My brother was scared of it for some reason.

I wouldn't recommend any of these to your daughter though SP. You'd love em though.

shes 12 and as u can iamgine these days, is more mature than i am

i will take them suggestons ta, i awlays find the book is beter than the film (in your head)

Sherrers wrote:I can't remember what is was called but it was about a boy who was sick and he lived in a girl's drawing and there were these well scary cyclops monoliths in the drawing which meant you couldn't leave the house...

Marianne Dreams??? could be called something else.

that rings a bell!

When you think about it all 'classic' kids tales are well dark. It's only the newer ones that are soft and cuddly.

and good lord and right on-topic it's been made into an opera

(note totally non scary cyclops monoliths)




well remembered Sherrers

that's it! one window was scribbled out and the boy sat behind it. Spooky.

An opera! tsk. tut. fiddlesticks.

but its a kids book tho yeah?

more of a teenager's book I'd say although I couldn't say without having a look.

it's perfect for your daughter mate, the main protagonist is a young lass and it doesn't patronise the reader one bit.

Might be an idea to read The Hobbit before it comes out as a film maybe?

My Dad used to read us Treasure Island and The Count Of Monte Cristo and do all the voices (badly )

*goes misty*

ive never read the hobbit, will have to change that

love the count of monte cristo, proper tale of revenge

V for Vendetta can't be wrong

this forum is almost at critical nerd-mass but I have to say the Hobbit is excellent as an entry-level thing to Tolkein. Sherrers knows I hate all that shit (the lord of the rings is impossible) but the hobbit is just a cracking tale.

christ I know! i do need to reign it in sorry.

house music! football!

Al wrote:this forum is almost at critical nerd-mass but I have to say the Hobbit is excellent as an entry-level thing to Tolkein. Sherrers knows I hate all that shit (the lord of the rings is impossible) but the hobbit is just a cracking tale.

Agreed. It is a great read.

my daughter says you are all mad old blokes but she like the suggests

I will get em today


thanks u r a good bunch