Vincent’s Comments (group member since Nov 16, 2013)

Vincent’s comments from the Literally Geeky group.

I read a lot of CYOA knock-offs rather than the actual brand, and clearly remember one where there just wasn't ANY way to win! No matter what I tried. I think it was broken.

lemon drizzle or GTFO

'The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman' by Denis Theriault. It's quite short, the language used is amazing, and it's got loads of (and is partly about) haiku. I loved it.

I know what this book club needs - a wrestling autobiography.

I choose Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling by Bret Hart.

I'm close to the end of Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson, which came out in the early 90s.

In terms of influence, I reckon there's a hell of a lot in Ready Player One that owes itself to this book; it's another sort of 'enter the Matrix' thing where you put goggles on and go into the Metaverse, but it's a tense thriller which basically has a massive go at organised religion, so I'm down.

Also stylistically and considering when it was written it reminds me a whole lot of Microserfs too, the way the characters speak to each other and the attempted descriptions of the future we'll live in. I've got an awful feeling the ending will let me down, but fingers crossed - so far it's the best book I've read all year.

It's actually a non-fiction one strangely enough, but I've just today decided from looking at my Goodreads list that I'll never manage to finish Supergods by Grant Morrison.

Considering the more populist tone of the medium, he makes reading comics sound really wanky. I'm not necessarily looking for that kind of subtext when reading comics. I'd read a book instead if that were the case.

I'm almost finished with For The Win by Cary Doctorow.

I was hoping for a good book about the game world colliding with real life, with interesting characters and situations.

So far I've had a 400-page economics lesson. And not even an interesting one.

And far, FAR too much use of the phrase "waggled their chin" for no apparent reason except bad editing. Can't say I recommend this one.

I have three suggestions:

A book I love that you've mentioned on previous eps - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

My favourite book ever ever ever - Microserfs by Douglas Coupland

A book about book clubs - Shelf Monkey by Corey Redekop - BOOKCLUBCEPTION

For me, 'so-good-they're-bad' films are over in 90 minutes, and if you really hate it you can just switch off.

Books require an active involvement and investment that I wouldn't have the time or will to carry on with. I'll give up on a book much faster than a film if it isn't doing my brain a service.

War With The Evil Power Master gets my vote. And incidentally is the name of my new jazz fusion trio.

Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks by Ethan Gilsdorf - one man's quest to rediscover a lost Geeky youth through online gaming, D&D gatherings and LARPing etc. Only halfway through but loving it.

And Transmetropolitan. Spider Jerusalem is becoming my personal hero.

If I don't get to see Elf, Scrooged and a Muppet Christmas Carol then it just isn't Christmas.

I was only kidding about the Arnie film btw, it is pretty pish.