UK Book Club discussion

(I'll never make it. Never.)

Stephen Fry, The Liar, finished 02/08/2010

, Amsterdam by Ian McEwan, finished 01/30/2010

Was the Liar any good? I like Stephen Fry but have never read any of his books.

If you like Stephen Fry, you'll like this book, it's funny, witty, and sometimes a tad melancholic. The story takes a suprising turn after a while...

No. 3
Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad, finished February 11th

Have you read The Stars Tennis Balls by Stephen Fry? I really enjoyed it. It was not at all what I expected from Fry. That and Making History (a time-travel scifi) are my favs.

No, this was my first book of Stephen Fry. As I liked it a lot, I'll definitely read them sooner or later, thanks for the recommendation.

Jo, you probably know (EDIT)Coppola(end of EDIT) adapted the novella into a movie called 'Apocalypse Now', transferring the plot to Vietnam in 1969.

I honestly have to tell you that I liked the movie better. Still, while the beginning is slow, the book does get more and more interesting, and once the plot finally arrives at where the protagonist meets Kurtz, there are some passages so beautifully written I read them several times (only Proust, Shakespeare and Th. Mann make me do that, normally!) Four stars, just.

Let me know what you thought of it after you've read it.

#4, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen, finished 2/14/10

#5, Maeve Brennan, The Visitor, finished 2/15/10

grebrim wrote: "Jo, you probably know Scorsese adapted the novella into a movie called 'Apocalypse Now', transferring the plot to Vietnam in 1969.

I honestly have to tell you that I liked the movie better. Still,..."

Heart of Darkness - good stuff, but very different from the film, best to think of them as completely different animals...
(BTW it was Francis Ford Coppola who directed 'Apocalypse Now' - I'm a bit of an anorak, I know)

Sorry, of course you're right, I'm always confounding the two.

#6 The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde
finished 02/22/2010

What did you think of The Picture of Dorian Gray? I read it recently

I loved it, like you obviously did too, Zoe. Classic books do not become easier to read normally, as customs and environments change and allusions are no longer understood, but in Dorian Gray, I found so many things that you can still relate to that I couln't stop reading it.

I thought Dorian Gray was great too, I have read so many different classics since I got my first Sony Reader which came with 100 classics and I have added many others from manybooks.net and they are spread over 2 Sony Readers now

Hi Lynne,
I'm thinking about purchasing an an eReader as well. Have you had any problem adapting to the electronic paper? Would you say your eyes tire faster when you reading on it?

Hi Grebrim

I actually adapted quite well and because I got the light cover for each of them too I can read anywhere too. By changing the font size I also find my eyes don't get as tired as reading a book. I also find it easier to read one handed which is a bonus if like me you enjoy a good read in a cafe, enjoying a large latte!

Excellent point Lynne, although I confess I might rather use that free hand to hold a cigar or a glass of whine...thank you!

#7 Neige by Maxence Fermine, finished February 25th, 2010

grebrim wrote: "Excellent point Lynne, although I confess I might rather use that free hand to hold a cigar or a glass of whine...thank you!"

Think the glass of Rose wine for me too!

Lynne wrote: "Think the glass of Rose wine for me too!"

I'll second that :)