F.U.B.A.R.
Bluelight Crew
One of my favourite autobiographies....
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What are you currently reading? v2
- Thread starter Marmalade
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One of my favourite autobiographies....
pinkpapaver
Bluelighter
She watched a skinny young guy with red hair come into the bar. For a split second she thought it was the spade, but it was just another product of that white skinned ginger factory they had somewhere in Scotland.
(from skagboys)
(from skagboys)
mydrugbuddy
Bluelighter
Finished The Picture of Dorian Gray the other night. Without doubt the best book i've listened to for ages, infact the only book i've actually completed for ages. The narrator is excellent, absolutely brilliant, he adopts different voices for all the characters, and really brings it to life with the emotions and passion that he injects into the reading. It is so stylishly and elegantly written, and full of great quotes, insights, epigrams and paradoxes.
Dorian himself is a paradox, loathed by some respectable members of society who get up and leave the room in pointed fashion when he arrives, but admired and becomes a trend setter for others, they copy his clothing and style of wearing things. People exclaimed "That's Dorian Gray!' when they passed him on the streets of London. He became infamous, known all over town, all the way through society from the manors of the ariistocracy to the lowest and roughest of drinking and opium dens where he hung out with thieves and other criminals.
I want to obtain more Oscar Wilde materials now. Dorian Gray was his one and only novel, but he's written a number of plays and short stories (i think) and what would appear to be an autobiographical account of his time in prison; 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol'. The guy only lived to be 46. He lived from 1854 - 1900. If he'd have lived longer i wonder how many other works of genius he'd have produced.
Dorian himself is a paradox, loathed by some respectable members of society who get up and leave the room in pointed fashion when he arrives, but admired and becomes a trend setter for others, they copy his clothing and style of wearing things. People exclaimed "That's Dorian Gray!' when they passed him on the streets of London. He became infamous, known all over town, all the way through society from the manors of the ariistocracy to the lowest and roughest of drinking and opium dens where he hung out with thieves and other criminals.
I want to obtain more Oscar Wilde materials now. Dorian Gray was his one and only novel, but he's written a number of plays and short stories (i think) and what would appear to be an autobiographical account of his time in prison; 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol'. The guy only lived to be 46. He lived from 1854 - 1900. If he'd have lived longer i wonder how many other works of genius he'd have produced.
Last edited:
Inflorescence
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2013
- Messages
- 2,513
Given up totally on The Demon, I really think you have to be in a certain frame of mind/mood to read Hubert Selby JR.
Just finishing up -'Speak for England', by James Hawes and await my copy of 'Dusk Music' by Rob Chapman to arrive.
Crazy drug fueled Amazon buying fest the other week....I love a teetering stack of new books. Very exciting.
You should never feel guilt about spending money on books and music..the only truth I have ever spoken and mantra I have kept.
Just finishing up -'Speak for England', by James Hawes and await my copy of 'Dusk Music' by Rob Chapman to arrive.
Crazy drug fueled Amazon buying fest the other week....I love a teetering stack of new books. Very exciting.
You should never feel guilt about spending money on books and music..the only truth I have ever spoken and mantra I have kept.
Shambles
Bluelight Crew
Please tell me that's an actual quote. The boy wonder dun did good if he made it to such lofty heights :D
mydrugbuddy
Bluelighter
'Tis by Frank McCourt.
It seems to be the middle installment of his autobiographical stories that started with Angela's Ashes and ended with Teacher Man. Angela's Ashes was the brilliant and inspiring tale of the hardships and poverty he suffered in his Limerick childhood where many a good Irish man was taken by the demon alcohol, spending his wages on drink instead of providing for his family. The downstairs of their house got flooded by sewer water every winter and the family had to burn their own furniture and structural timbers of the house to keep warm.
At the start of Tis Frank is emigrating to the USA age 18, a priest befriends him on the ocean voyage, gets him a job, tries to abuse him, and blames him for the abuse. Im an hour and a half into it, (2 segments out of 19 so it is going to be a marathon read/listen) and Frank has currently lost his job as some kind of cleaner in a grand hotel because he has an eye infection caused by infected dandruff, and under doctors orders he has had to have all his hair shaved off and scrub his scalp with medicated soap, and now looks too freakish and unwell to be working at such a public facing job. He is telling the tale through the perspective of a shy, lacking in confidence, very naive 18 year old but one who is also highly intelligent in his take on things.
America, land of the free ? He cannot even eat and drink in the cinema which he is currently most irked about.
Being fresh "off the boat" he is currently having trouble with American customs such as not being allowed to eat and drink in the cinema, or even at his bedsit lodgings. Life is one fuck of a struggle for him atm, but i know that he will somehow turn things around. Teacher Man was all about looking for ways things could be done and achieved, and not looking for reasons why they couldn't. Very inspiring stuff.
It seems to be the middle installment of his autobiographical stories that started with Angela's Ashes and ended with Teacher Man. Angela's Ashes was the brilliant and inspiring tale of the hardships and poverty he suffered in his Limerick childhood where many a good Irish man was taken by the demon alcohol, spending his wages on drink instead of providing for his family. The downstairs of their house got flooded by sewer water every winter and the family had to burn their own furniture and structural timbers of the house to keep warm.
At the start of Tis Frank is emigrating to the USA age 18, a priest befriends him on the ocean voyage, gets him a job, tries to abuse him, and blames him for the abuse. Im an hour and a half into it, (2 segments out of 19 so it is going to be a marathon read/listen) and Frank has currently lost his job as some kind of cleaner in a grand hotel because he has an eye infection caused by infected dandruff, and under doctors orders he has had to have all his hair shaved off and scrub his scalp with medicated soap, and now looks too freakish and unwell to be working at such a public facing job. He is telling the tale through the perspective of a shy, lacking in confidence, very naive 18 year old but one who is also highly intelligent in his take on things.
America, land of the free ? He cannot even eat and drink in the cinema which he is currently most irked about.
Being fresh "off the boat" he is currently having trouble with American customs such as not being allowed to eat and drink in the cinema, or even at his bedsit lodgings. Life is one fuck of a struggle for him atm, but i know that he will somehow turn things around. Teacher Man was all about looking for ways things could be done and achieved, and not looking for reasons why they couldn't. Very inspiring stuff.
Sammy G
Ex-Bluelighter
Gotta love the Lemmy autobiography, aye.
I've known of the existence of this book for quite some time (Stephen Fry has a tendency to bang on about it), but obviously it's of more immediate relevance to me now, so I finally got a copy:
Really gripping stuff, and it offers the unique perspective of a doctor with experience of both providing and receiving treatment for bipolar disorder. Obviously it's invaluable for those who suffer the condition, but it's also been widely read by psychiatrists looking for a patient's view of the illness and its treatment, as well as those who might merely be curious.
Fantastic.
Chatative
Bluelight Crew
I mentioned it in Gibberings but I am reading - 'Cold' by Ranulph Fiennes
Ranulph Fiennes is probably the most famous Polar Explorer of our time & has undertaken many other feats including Everest & the North Face of the Eiger, which if you know anything about Mountaineering, is no mean feat. In fact the Guinness Book of Records describes him as "the world's greatest living explorer".
I've been an avid 'armchair mountaineer' for years & Ranulph Fiennes previous book, his Autobiography, "Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know" is probably the reason for that.
According to the reviews, the two books cover a lot of the same subject matter but to me this doesn't matter. So far, I find it is from a slightly different perspective & has many small excerpts that were not in the last book. If you are even remotely interested in adventure books, then I'd pick up a copy of his Autobiography as a starting point... excellent read.
The other book I've had on to go for a long time & have just picked up again is - "Hendrix - Setting the Record Straight" by John McDermott with Eddie Kramer. I'd done a lot of research, found some person who seemed to know his stuff & recommended this book. I'm only 60 pages in but it is fascinating stuff. It might be a bit heavy going at times for someone who isn't an avid fan though.
Ranulph Fiennes is probably the most famous Polar Explorer of our time & has undertaken many other feats including Everest & the North Face of the Eiger, which if you know anything about Mountaineering, is no mean feat. In fact the Guinness Book of Records describes him as "the world's greatest living explorer".
I've been an avid 'armchair mountaineer' for years & Ranulph Fiennes previous book, his Autobiography, "Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know" is probably the reason for that.
According to the reviews, the two books cover a lot of the same subject matter but to me this doesn't matter. So far, I find it is from a slightly different perspective & has many small excerpts that were not in the last book. If you are even remotely interested in adventure books, then I'd pick up a copy of his Autobiography as a starting point... excellent read.
The other book I've had on to go for a long time & have just picked up again is - "Hendrix - Setting the Record Straight" by John McDermott with Eddie Kramer. I'd done a lot of research, found some person who seemed to know his stuff & recommended this book. I'm only 60 pages in but it is fascinating stuff. It might be a bit heavy going at times for someone who isn't an avid fan though.
Rio Fantastic
Bluelighter
Just finished this
Can't decide if it was a brilliant, beautiful masterpiece or overhyped modernist nonsense. Possibly somewhere between the two. Only one thing I know for sure and that's that Joyce was brilliant and possibly insane.
Can't decide if it was a brilliant, beautiful masterpiece or overhyped modernist nonsense. Possibly somewhere between the two. Only one thing I know for sure and that's that Joyce was brilliant and possibly insane.
pinkpapaver
Bluelighter
one day i'll read it. I have Dubliners and I've read one story from it. I'm re reading one flew over the cuckoos nest. scary stuff. excellent though and simultaneously reading the hitchikers guide to the galaxy. hitch hiker sems to be lacking in plot. it's alright but.
Green Taffy
Bluelighter
Recently read Naguib Mahfouz's "the thief and the dogs" which was pretty fukkin good tbh
SandyFrank
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2013
- Messages
- 98
Does "Heat" magazine count as a book?
Seriously. It's incredibly hard to find around these parts, so chancing upon the odd copy is akin to catching a glimpse of the famed Shangri La. It's my nourishment. (Please know that I am kidding, though I do love my trash.
)
Seriously. It's incredibly hard to find around these parts, so chancing upon the odd copy is akin to catching a glimpse of the famed Shangri La. It's my nourishment. (Please know that I am kidding, though I do love my trash.
)Haha, nowt wrong wi' a bit of trash my guilty pleasure is Patricia Cornwell novels.
For uni I'm reading a few books on pilgrimages around the 14th century. For myself, I'm reading a book called 'The Library at Night' which is a collection of essays on various aspects of libraries. I probably mentioned that. Been out of it most this week.
my guilty pleasure is Patricia Cornwell novels.For uni I'm reading a few books on pilgrimages around the 14th century. For myself, I'm reading a book called 'The Library at Night' which is a collection of essays on various aspects of libraries. I probably mentioned that. Been out of it most this week.
*dharmabum*
Bluelighter
Funnily enough I've just started reading A History of Reading by the same author. I'm not far in but it's been really enjoyable so far. What are your thoughts on The Library at Night? (I've got a copy on its way to me atm!)
gannetsarewe
Bluelighter
I am re reading The Name of the Rose best book about libraries I ever read.Haha, nowt wrong wi' a bit of trash
For uni I'm reading a few books on pilgrimages around the 14th century. For myself, I'm reading a book called 'The Library at Night' which is a collection of essays on various aspects of libraries. I probably mentioned that. Been out of it most this week.
SandyFrank
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2013
- Messages
- 98
Haha, nowt wrong wi' a bit of trash
For uni I'm reading a few books on pilgrimages around the 14th century. For myself, I'm reading a book called 'The Library at Night' which is a collection of essays on various aspects of libraries. I probably mentioned that. Been out of it most this week.
Did you read the one about Jack the Ripper by Cornwell? I know a lot tried to debunk it, but I still found it a good, historical yet trashy read! Hiya, btw!