2226 replies to this topic

[Qwerty]

Moonraker. Damn good book.

Be sure to add your review in the .

[Skudor]

The Prestige by Christopher Priest, the 1995 novel that is the basis of the film coming out this Friday. Astonishing work, like a literary magic trick. Structurally fascinating and with amazing plot twists and concepts. It is definitely the sort of book that makes you want to flip to the beginning a re-read sections to see how the author has "tricked" the reader like a stage magician. Obviously, I can't say any more about it... I hope the movie lives up to its source (but it's directed by Christopher Nolan, so I'm not that worried).

In the main I enjoyed The Prestige, but one of the big twists was too obvious (though it should work better in the movie). Didn't feel the sci-fi/fantasy elements sat comfortably with the tone of the rest of the novel either.

I agree with the sci/fi - it just didn't fit.

Spoiler

(although it has been done with atoms or electrons or something equally tiny, I believe)

You can guess the twists, but that's because no-one has cheated with the twists. Apart from that one big requirement to suspend disbelief I thought the plot worked really well and came together perfectly in the end.

I'm reading 'When the Snow Melts', Cubby Broccoli's autobiography. Haven't gotten to the real Bond bits yet. Amusing to read that he had to choose between Michael Caine and Sean Connery for a bit part in a movie in 1956 and chose Caine.

[DaveBond21]

Stephen King - The Dark Half (for the 2nd time).

[Bon-san]

Currently in the midst of a blitz of Ruth Rendell short stories (came across a huge collection of shorts under the title Collected Short Stories, which includes the likes of The Fallen Curtain, The Fever Tree, A New Girl Friend, etc.). En toto, these are nothing short of brilliant. Rendell is my new hero. She's a wonderful counterpoint to Agatha Christie. Rendell stories: modern (yet timeless), psychologically complicated, often focussing on the middle and lower classes, with a very subtle progressive bent. Christie stories: antique (yet timeless), rather unconcerned with psychology except as it befits Poirot or Marple to utilize a tidbit of it, usually focussing on the upper classes, with a mostly apolitical point of view.

I will always love Dame Agatha, as she is the master of wit and style. But Rendell's writing is so intelligent AND engaging that she is giving the old master a run for her money. Rendell even has a firm mastery of intricate, ironic plotting, which was always Christie's forte.

I also have a thing for Ngaio Marsh. And I haven't even made my way to Margery Allingham, Dorothy Sayers or P.D. James yet.

[bond_girl_double07]

I just finished reading my first book by Gabriel Garcia Marquez called "Memories of My Meloncholy Whores". Surprisingly good (but I get the feeling that it's a little superficial compared to some of his other stuff..)

[Double-0-7]

I finally started reading Silverfin. This is a very good read, thanks Qwerty!

[Qwerty]

I finally started reading Silverfin. This is a very good read, thanks Qwerty!

Glad you're enjoying it. Be sure to post your review on the forums.

[Kilroy6644]

The Bloody Crown of Conan, by Robert E. Howard. This is the second of three volumes. I don't know why, but it's taking me a long time to get through these books. I guess it's because I don't do much reading lately.

[Monkeyfoahead]

I have to read Farewell To Manzanar for my English class, it is a very slow book, and extremely boring. I threw it out of my tree stand today as a said "Farewell Farewell To Manzanar." It kinda broke the binding, so I'm out fifteen bucks

Edited by Monkeyfoahead, 13 November 2006 - 12:05 AM.

[MR. BOND 93]

Last good book read: Casino Royale

Book reading right now: Lord of the Flies (for school)

[Double-0-7]

I finally started reading Silverfin. This is a very good read, thanks Qwerty!

Glad you're enjoying it. Be sure to post your review on the forums.

I certainly will.

[DaveBond21]

Stephen King - The Dark Half (for the 2nd time).

[MR. BOND 93]

I'm planning on reading CR again sometime soon.

[bond_girl_double07]

Casino Royale so it's fresh in my mind for Friday

[TortillaFactory]

Stein's Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas. And I'd better hurry up, because I've got a paper due on it tomorrow.

Bah, school.

[Monkeyfoahead]

I just finished reading Velocity by Dean Koontz. It had very good plot elements, and gripping action, it was a little disturbing in some parts though, but overall a very good read.

Edited by Monkeyfoahead, 05 December 2006 - 09:23 PM.

[Bryce (003)]

"The Teeth of the Tiger" - Tom Clancy

[Damien Hunt]

"The Bourne Ultimatum" - Robert Ludlum

[TortillaFactory]

Chuck Palahniuk's Survivor, again. Chucky always stands up to a second examination. There's a very confusing (officially sanctioned) explanation for the temporal twists at the beginning and end, but I still can't figure out if I've made sense of it.

[Kilroy6644]

Catching up on National Geographic again.

[Qwerty]

My Bio book.

[bond_girl_double07]

Ruby by Francesca Lia Block.. Really Good so Far!

[Harmsway]

Well, I'm a *huge* Hannibal Lecter fan. I adore Thomas Harris' Lecter series thus far; he has a great imagination for characters and for doing the unexpected, as well as a phenomenal sense of atmosphere.

I don't know what quite happened with HANNIBAL RISING, though. Harris couldn't have turned out a duller, more formulaic, and predictable book. I was expecting something exciting and unique, but this is essentially every revenge story you've ever seen, and not even told in a particular fashion.

The characters aren't that interesting. Child Hannibal *is* interesting, but even Hannibal loses his appeal as he ages (he becomes increasingly dull as the novel progresses, moving from child prodigy to a simple revenge-seeking slasher equivalent). Harris attempts to set up a kind of romantic interest in Lady Murasaki, a mentor-like figure for the young Hannibal, but it ultimately fizzles rather than succeeds. There's no meat to it - her character is dull, and their interactions have no depth to them.

What hurts is that there are a few passages and moments by Harris that are truly golden. They're not many, but they're enough to remind you of the previous novels and how interesting this novel potentially could have been had Harris actually done something unexpected with it. But there's nothing unexpected here.

In fact, if you've read HANNIBAL, you pretty much understand Hannibal's origin as well HANNIBAL RISING develops it. Nothing here expands your understanding of the character, nothing here enlightens you on who he is. It will give you a greater understanding of the events around what was revealed in HANNIBAL, but beyond that, all this material feels horribly extraneous. Quite simply, the way this book is written, it just didn't need to exist, and it doesn't need to be read.

How disappointing. If the film is anything like this novel (and I fear it may be - Harris wrote the screenplay as well as the novel), we're going to have quite a stinker on our hands.

[Loomis]

Looking around for other reviews, I can't find any (strange, as the novel - one of the most anticipated of the year - is already out), but I see the Bloomberg headline (for an article I can't access) "Hannibal Lecter's Unhappy Youth Revealed in Toothless Prequel".

Seems you're not alone, Harmsway. Disappointing that this book isn't up to scratch. I guess I'll wait for the paperback.

Funnily enough, I'm currently reading SERPENTINE by Thomas Thompson, a "true crime" (although it seems hugely implausible in places) account of the globetrotting life and crimes of Charles Sobhraj, a charming, sophisticated con artist and serial killer who must surely have been one of Harris' inspirations for Lecter (if he wasn't, then all I can say is that the coincidence is extraordinary). The style is also very Harris (the book was published in the late '70s, I believe) - elaborate, often exquisitely beautiful writing, combined with more than the occasional outpouring of outrageously purple prose, and the travelogue feel would do Fleming proud.

BTW, a teaser trailer (in German) for HANNIBAL RISING has hit the net:

http://www.tobis.de/...eite.php?id=101

Looks awful. Straight-to-video stuff. Granted, they don't actually show us much footage, but then again that's probably fairly telling, just a couple of months before release (only now we're getting the teaser?). One wonders what a visual stylist like Ridley Scott or one of the new breed of fashionable Asian horror directors (e.g. OLDBOY's Chan-wook Park) could have made of this material.

[Harmsway]

Looks awful. Straight-to-video stuff. Granted, they don't actually show us much footage, but then again that's probably fairly telling, just a couple of months before release (only now we're getting the teaser?).

Well, it's disappointing, to say the least. I'll see it out of obligation, but not out of real desire. It does look like it will be more entertaining than the book was.

One wonders what a visual stylist like Ridley Scott or one of the new breed of fashionable Asian horror directors (e.g. OLDBOY's Chan-wook Park) could have made of this material.

It would still be crap with a beautiful visual sense. Don't get me wrong - there are plenty of beautiful visual images in HANNIBAL RISING (mainly in the first third), and I could see those scenes working very well in the hands of someone like Scott, but it would still just be polishing a turd unless the novel got a heavy revision.

[Kilroy6644]

The Conquering Sword Of Conan, Robert E. Howard. The final book in the complete collection of Howard's Conan stories.

[DaveBond21]

Skeleton Crew - short stories by Stephen King (for the 2nd time).

[Qwerty]

Well, I'm a *huge* Hannibal Lecter fan. I adore Thomas Harris' Lecter series thus far; he has a great imagination for characters and for doing the unexpected, as well as a phenomenal sense of atmosphere.

I don't know what quite happened with HANNIBAL RISING, though. Harris couldn't have turned out a duller, more formulaic, and predictable book. I was expecting something exciting and unique, but this is essentially every revenge story you've ever seen, and not even told in a particular fashion.

The characters aren't that interesting. Child Hannibal *is* interesting, but even Hannibal loses his appeal as he ages (he becomes increasingly dull as the novel progresses, moving from child prodigy to a simple revenge-seeking slasher equivalent). Harris attempts to set up a kind of romantic interest in Lady Murasaki, a mentor-like figure for the young Hannibal, but it ultimately fizzles rather than succeeds. There's no meat to it - her character is dull, and their interactions have no depth to them.

What hurts is that there are a few passages and moments by Harris that are truly golden. They're not many, but they're enough to remind you of the previous novels and how interesting this novel potentially could have been had Harris actually done something unexpected with it. But there's nothing unexpected here.

In fact, if you've read HANNIBAL, you pretty much understand Hannibal's origin as well HANNIBAL RISING develops it. Nothing here expands your understanding of the character, nothing here enlightens you on who he is. It will give you a greater understanding of the events around what was revealed in HANNIBAL, but beyond that, all this material feels horribly extraneous. Quite simply, the way this book is written, it just didn't need to exist, and it doesn't need to be read.

How disappointing. If the film is anything like this novel (and I fear it may be - Harris wrote the screenplay as well as the novel), we're going to have quite a stinker on our hands.

Looking around for other reviews, I can't find any (strange, as the novel - one of the most anticipated of the year - is already out), but I see the Bloomberg headline (for an article I can't access) "Hannibal Lecter's Unhappy Youth Revealed in Toothless Prequel".

Seems you're not alone, Harmsway. Disappointing that this book isn't up to scratch. I guess I'll wait for the paperback.

Funnily enough, I'm currently reading SERPENTINE by Thomas Thompson, a "true crime" (although it seems hugely implausible in places) account of the globetrotting life and crimes of Charles Sobhraj, a charming, sophisticated con artist and serial killer who must surely have been one of Harris' inspirations for Lecter (if he wasn't, then all I can say is that the coincidence is extraordinary). The style is also very Harris (the book was published in the late '70s, I believe) - elaborate, often exquisitely beautiful writing, combined with more than the occasional outpouring of outrageously purple prose, and the travelogue feel would do Fleming proud.

BTW, a teaser trailer (in German) for HANNIBAL RISING has hit the net:

http://www.tobis.de/...eite.php?id=101

Looks awful. Straight-to-video stuff. Granted, they don't actually show us much footage, but then again that's probably fairly telling, just a couple of months before release (only now we're getting the teaser?). One wonders what a visual stylist like Ridley Scott or one of the new breed of fashionable Asian horror directors (e.g. OLDBOY's Chan-wook Park) could have made of this material.

What a shame. I remember being very excited when I first heard about this (from Harmsway in fact).

By the way, is that link working for everyone? I can't get a page to come up.

[Harmsway]

What a shame. I remember being very excited when I first heard about this (from Harmsway in fact).

Well, I am going to be charitable and re-read the novel (the Newsweek review, which *adored* HANNIBAL RISING, has inspired me to do so). After all, I was expecting something quite different than this novel offers, so I want to see how it is on its own terms. It's short enough that I can re-read it fairly quickly, so it's not like it would be a major trial. And if I become bored again, I can always cease reading.

But that trailer is seriously awful. It could just be how it's edited (which is VERY poorly), but if the movie is really like that, I don't have a whole lot of faith. It looks so dull as to make RED DRAGON seem like the most stylish thriller of our time. I hold out some hope that it'll suprise me in the end, but not much.

But anyway, it seems that Thomas Harris will write *another* Hannibal Lecter novel. There are two possible options with that. Option 1: A novel set between the events of HANNIBAL RISING and RED DRAGON. Option 2: A novel set after the events of HANNIBAL. Personally, I'm hoping for the latter - it would certainly be the more interesting option.

[Loomis]

Personally, I'm hoping for the latter - it would certainly be the more interesting option.

Definitely. Although it seems hugely unlikely, since Harris would be unable to sell the film rights. Effectively unable, because of how Ridley Scott's HANNIBAL ends. Still, I suppose a film version of such a novel could find some way or another of shoehorning the ending of Harris' HANNIBAL into its beginning.

At any rate, something tells me that Young Hannibal isn't really going to catch on, and that they'll at some point soon try to lure Hopkins back for one more film rounding off a Hannibal and Clarice trilogy. Given that it's hard to imagine Harris putting pen to paper on Lecter again for a few years, another Hopkins Lecter flick would probably be an original story by another writer or writers.