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Re: THE REEL SOCIETY BOOK CLUB

Posted: June 24th, 2015, 12:30 pm
by numbersix
So I don't get to read novels for fun these days, as I have to spend a lot of time reading for work. And usually not novels. On occasion I get book manuscripts to read, most of which are Irish and not great.

Having said that there are one or two I'd recommend:

The Mark and the Void, by Paul Murray: Out this month, it's a book about a French banker living an empty life during the economic boom and the bust. He's followed by a writer who wants to feature the banker in his novel, but his real motives are much more suspicious. It's a very amusing take on the economic crisis and art in general. Imagine if Charlie Kaufmann remade Margin Call.

The Glorious Heresies, by Lisa McInerney: A first novel by this Cork (south of Ireland) based writer. It's a multi-character story where all the characters are connected to a dead body, and how they are all let down by parental figures, including the state. The writing is lively, funny, and often violent. Imagine Pulp Fiction but set in a small city in Ireland.

I'm currenly reading Young Skins by Colin Barrett, a new Irish writer. It's a collection of short stories all centred around a small, imaginary Irish town. The tales are all very melancholic, mostly about young men who have missed opportunities as they drag themselves around. Often poignant, there's great talent in the writing.


Besides that, I usually try to focus on classics or cult classics, so I'm not aware of modern writers as much as I should be. The Revenant is my next novel as it was lent to me and I like reading books before seeing the film adaptation to see what decision were made. Earlier in the year I read Light in August by William Faulkner, one of my favourite writers. And one day I hope to read The Satanic Verses, if I ever get time.

Re: THE REEL SOCIETY BOOK CLUB

Posted: June 24th, 2015, 1:57 pm
by Shrykespeare
Currently reading:

Defective (The Institute Series Part 3) by Kayla Howarth - ARC - beta reading

The Coldest Heart by Helen Rena

Dawn of Rebellion (Part 1) by Michelle Lynn

Re: THE REEL SOCIETY BOOK CLUB

Posted: June 25th, 2015, 2:54 am
by Buscemi
I haven't read anything in a while (Victorian novels assigned for classes soured me a bit) but I did just write a one-page short story.

They Stole My Pants

They stole my pants. Those motherfuckers stole my pants. And they were good pants too. $200, they cost. Fitted and specially tailored. Assholes probably can't even fit into them. Why the hell would they want my pants? Shits and giggles? Nah. They are more clever than that.

I did get a good look at their license plate though. I looked up the plate and managed to find an address. So I go get myself a lead pipe, drive over, and proceed to knock on the door.

"Where the fuck's my pants?" I yell.

"Your pants?" the guy asks.

"Yeah," I answered. "My damn pants."

He opens the door and I proceed to bash his head in. The guy is sobbing and is very remorseful.

"Your pants are in the bedroom," he told me. "I'll go get them."

I have a grin on my face as the guy brings me my pants.

"Here's your pants," he tells me. "By the way, did you really have to hurt me to get your pants?"

I was dumbstruck. "I guess you're right," I replied. "Sorry."

I dropped the lead pipe and left. I returned home, hung up that pair of pants, and never wore them again.

That was a true story. Only everything was changed to protect the innocent and the not-so-innocent.

Re: THE REEL SOCIETY BOOK CLUB

Posted: June 25th, 2015, 3:54 pm
by undeadmonkey
:shock: :| :? :?: :!:

Re: THE REEL SOCIETY BOOK CLUB

Posted: June 25th, 2015, 4:01 pm
by Buscemi
It's a commentary on overreactions.

Re: THE REEL SOCIETY BOOK CLUB

Posted: July 17th, 2015, 9:58 am
by numbersix
I just finished reading The Revenant. Most of you will recognise it as the forthcoming Inarritu feature starring Leo Di Caprio and Tom Hardy, due out at the end of the year.

The novel is about a fur trapper named Hugh Glass who is abandoned by two of his work colleagues and left to die. Only he doesn't, and boy is he pissed. On his journey of vengeance he comes across a variety of people and groups, giving us a sense of the harshness of explorers in 19th Century Northern USA. It's an easy read, propelled by the question of whether Glass will get his revenge, although the writer seems more interested in the history of the land and the mechanisms of survival at the time. The characterisations aren't particularly strong, meaning the story lacks depth, but it's nonetheless somewhat entertaining.

Having just seen the film adaptation's trailer, it looks like it will make the most of the intimidating landscapes. I'd be very surprised if this was an Oscar film, though. Poor Leo will have to face another year without an Oscar.

Re: THE REEL SOCIETY BOOK CLUB

Posted: August 26th, 2015, 5:15 pm
by Chienfantome
I've a read a couple of books this summer.
"The Girl on the Train", the one that is being turned into a movie with Emily Blunt. Word of mouth and reviews are solid, but I found the book quite disappointing. It's an honest mystery story about this woman taking the train everyday and always looking at a couple who she imagines is the perfect couple every time the train passes in front of their garden and they see them there. Until one day, she discovers they are not a perfect couple.
Characters are quite annoying, and although I wouldn't go as far as say the end is obvious, you see it coming quite too clearly.

I read another book which had defects but was much more interesting, it's a French book entitled "Chasseur de Noirs", "Black Hunter" in english I guess, written in the early 80's. It is set on Reunion Island, a French territory located in the Indian Ocean, near Madascagar. The book is set in the 18th century, when France "colonized" the island. There was no people living on the island when the French took it and settled on it, but they brought African slaves there. The book is about a Frenchy born on the island a couple of generations after the French arrived, and his relationship to the African slaves. narratively, the book has a big problem, as the guy actually tells us his story from jail where he is waiting to be judged and possibly executed, and he always makes references to what brought him there without ever saying it clearly. You kind of guess it, but he only really say it in the last 50 pages.
Anyway it's an interesting book about the story of this Island, well maybe it interests me a bit more because I actually have family living on that island, my father's sister, but it really is an interesting book on the "construction" of that island, and on slavery. It is written as if it is a true notebook written by the prisoner, and sometimes it feels real enough that you think it really could have been true.

And right now I'm in the middle of Stephen King's "11/22/63", his time-travelling adventure about an English teacher from 2011 travelling to the early sixties to try and prevent the assassination of JFK.

And I very recently ordered a book on Amazon called "Ethan's secret". I wonder what's that like... ;)

Re: THE REEL SOCIETY BOOK CLUB

Posted: August 26th, 2015, 6:11 pm
by Shrykespeare
Chienfantome wrote:
And I very recently ordered a book on Amazon called "Ethan's secret". I wonder what's that like... ;)

You're good, Chien. I know the author, and he says it's AWESOME....


Just finished "The Coldest Heart" by Helen Rena, and my God, was it bizarre. It didn't make a lick of sense to me until the three-quarter mark, at which point, it all became clear. It really was diabolical how ambitious it was written.

It's YA paranormal - Four teens with superhuman abilities are sold at birth and raised in a disused mall, where they are forced to develop their powers or be killed when they turn 16. The four escape, only to find themselves in the most bizarre city since Inception. Truly strange things happen at every turn, and if you can wrap your mind around it, said mind will be blown when it's over.


Currently reading "Emerge: The Awakening" by Melissa Craven. Very good, but a LOT of backstory.

Re: THE REEL SOCIETY BOOK CLUB

Posted: August 27th, 2015, 5:30 pm
by Chienfantome
Shrykespeare wrote:You're good, Chien. I know the author, and he says it's AWESOME....
Well then, I hope the plane will soon deliver it to me ;)

Re: THE REEL SOCIETY BOOK CLUB

Posted: August 28th, 2015, 11:59 pm
by Shrykespeare
Just wanted to mention: Ethan's Secret has a perfect 5.0 Average rating with 13 reviews.

Holy shit.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZVUQTT0/

Re: THE REEL SOCIETY BOOK CLUB

Posted: November 27th, 2015, 2:58 am
by Buscemi
I don't normally buy books (I do read them though) but I ordered Film Listography a couple days ago and it should be coming in today. Has anyone else ever heard of it?

Re: THE REEL SOCIETY BOOK CLUB

Posted: November 27th, 2015, 5:12 am
by Chienfantome
Never heard of it. Probably wasn't published here.

Re: THE REEL SOCIETY BOOK CLUB

Posted: November 27th, 2015, 7:14 am
by Leestu
Hadn't heard of it before but I think I'm gonna suggest it to the right people as a good gift idea.