Mercian In Anglia
Well-Known Member
took me a couple of goes to get into it, but once I did then wow, incredible.
'And The Ass Saw The Angel' by Nick Cave may appeal if that's your sort of thing.
took me a couple of goes to get into it, but once I did then wow, incredible.Easily gets in my top ten books, but it`s without doubt one of the darkest books I`ve ever read. At no point in the book, is there a moment of lightness, it`s just non stop, brutality, darkness, depravity and bleakness.
It`s crying out to be made into a film, but from what I`ve read, everyone that`s attempted to make it into a film, just can`t find a way around keeping the film true to the book and somehow getting it through the sensors.
Have you read McCarthy`s - Border Trilogy ?
Probably his " lightest " work, but some of his most beautiful writing.
Once you read these three books and in particular - All the Pretty Horses, it`s easy to see why his books are already being studied at degree level in the States.
If you like 'The Road' I'd recommend 'The Parable of The Sower' by Octavia Butler, could almost be set in the same world. Not dissimilar to 'The Handmaid's Tale' in some respects too.10 books i recommend, not necessarily my top ten but first 10 great reads that popped in my head
The Road - Cormac McCarthy
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Marabou Stork Nightmares - Irvine Welsh
The Bridge - Iain Banks
For Whom the Bell tolls - Hemingway
The Siege- Helen Dunmore
The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
The Big Nowhere - James Elroy
The Underground Railroad - Colson Whitehead
Heart of the Matter - Graham Greene
Great read, that. Try 'The White Spider' by Heinrich Harrer if you want something similar- also a true life mountaineering survival tale.Just finished 'Into Thin Air' by Jon Krakauer, about the 1996 accident on Everest. Brilliantly written and an incredible story
It did leave me thinking you have to be more than a bit bonkers to attempt what those guys attempt, but I got the impression they'd rather die trying to climb these peaks than live not trying at all.Great read, that. Try 'The White Spider' by Heinrich Harrer if you want something similar- also a true life mountaineering survival tale.
And if you enjoyed 'The Handmaid's Tale', her follow up 'The Testaments' is excellent, just read it two weeks ago.If you like 'The Road' I'd recommend 'The Parable of The Sower' by Octavia Butler, could almost be set in the same world. Not dissimilar to 'The Handmaid's Tale' in some respects too.
Nice one. I'll check it outIf you like 'The Road' I'd recommend 'The Parable of The Sower' by Octavia Butler, could almost be set in the same world. Not dissimilar to 'The Handmaid's Tale' in some respects too.
I enjoyed The Testaments as an easy read but thought it was not in the same league as Handmaid's. In many ways i found it similar to the follow up to The Siege..(i forget the name).. a good accompaniment but would never be able to match the darkness and dread of the original. And as for the Handmaid's TV show....they should have just ended at the end of season 1 like the book finishes.And if you enjoyed 'The Handmaid's Tale', her follow up 'The Testaments' is excellent, just read it two weeks ago.
Many years ago I thoroughly enjoyed 'The Windup Girl' by Paolo Bacigalupi; I recall it being a terrific exploration of a sort of mix of environmental catastrophe / economic groaning type dystopia. I just purchased a few more books by the author so looking forward to seeing his other works.
Sequel is good too- sadly the author died before she could finish the final part of the trilogy.Nice one. I'll check it out
Also similar to The Road is Juice by Tim Winton. An ex-soldier/vigilante in a post-apocalyptic Australia tells the story of his life to his captor. Like Mad Max if it was even more righteous about climate change.If you like 'The Road' I'd recommend 'The Parable of The Sower' by Octavia Butler, could almost be set in the same world. Not dissimilar to 'The Handmaid's Tale' in some respects too.
I largely agree with your comments, in that 'The Handmaid's Tale' is uniquely excellent in comparison.I enjoyed The Testaments as an easy read but thought it was not in the same league as Handmaid's. In many ways i found it similar to the follow up to The Siege..(i forget the name).. a good accompaniment but would never be able to match the darkness and dread of the original. And as for the Handmaid's TV show....they should have just ended at the end of season 1 like the book finishes.
I really enjoyed* The Road, glad I read it before watching the film which I didn't think was up to much in comparison.
* as much as you can enjoy something while your anxiety rises with each page
I'd like to hear more about this Parable. 2 books I think? It's on my "read eventually, time permitting" list.If you like 'The Road' I'd recommend 'The Parable of The Sower' by Octavia Butler, could almost be set in the same world. Not dissimilar to 'The Handmaid's Tale' in some respects too.
I think for me, it was because it managed to meld various genres (there's some science fiction, survival, creating a new religion etc.), plus it was very prescient in terms of how populist politics in the USA would start to dominate- reads like it was written in 2023, not 1993.I'd like to hear more about this Parable. 2 books I think? It's on my "read eventually, time permitting" list.
What makes it stand out in this genre?
If you like Triffids then 'The Seeds of Time' by same author is worth a go.Reading Day of the Triffids now. But also reading the spark notes and watching youtube videos on Blood Meridian. Really enjoyed it. Going to start the Road next.
Midwich Cuckoos also is a masterpiece (my favourite other than Triffids, and a pretty good film adaptation too, to be fair). Also the lesser know Trouble with Lichen is well worth a read.If you like Triffids then 'The Seeds of Time' by same author is worth a go.
Thanks, might look that up. Tend to listen to audio books in the car, eyesight getting a bit worse, which would be easier.If you like Triffids then 'The Seeds of Time' by same author is worth a go.
Wyndam wrote many books and short stories. John Wyndham - WikipediaThanks, might look that up. Tend to listen to audio books in the car, eyesight getting a bit worse, which would be easier.
Don't know if the author also wrote "Night of the Triffids", again I only heard the radio play which was OKish, but not a patch on the original story.
Has this been picked up recently, I swear there is something similar available now on I think the media,defo something is pricking my curiousity on this subject?Dead Mountain : The Untold True Story of the Daytlov Pass Incident ( Donnie Eichar )
In 1959, nine experienced young Russian hikers, set off on a three day hike, on the edge of Siberia. When they never returned, a search party was organised and eventually they were all found dead.
Some were partially clothed and had frozen to death, some were fully clothed and had frozen to death and three of them suffered severe injuries consistent with being beaten to death. One of them was missing her tongue.
All of them were found, scattered and some distance from their tent, which apart from a rip which had been made from inside, was completely intact. Some of their clothing showed signs of being contaminated with radiation.
Prior to them arriving in the area, a series of incredibly bright glowing lights had been seen in the sky.
As was par for the course at the time, the investigation was shut down by the Russian authorities and that was it, case closed.
The author, an American became fascinated by story and took it upon himself to self fund a meticulous investigation into what happened, trying to debunk all of the common theories - aliens, weapons testing, collective madness, brought on by poisoning etc.
I saw a documentary based on this book a few years ago and it`s something that`s always fascinated me.
It`s a serious factual book, but the author examines every detail of what happened so meticulously, that it`s like reading a real life whodunit.
I also believe that he`s solved what happened to them, which has nothing to do with aliens or government testing, but a set of perfect deadly weather conditions.
Has this been picked up recently, I swear there is something similar available now on I think the media,defo something is pricking my curiousity on this subject?
Just put this on my reading list, thanks.
Have you read Iain Banks first book...?
No, but just grabbed it from Oxfam. Nice one.
DOH don't know how I missed that!Think it was on the Trump thread about the Queen and Prince Andrew.The highlight was Hills Gif. Think everything has been deleted now
Let me know what you think, as it`s a book I always try and read at least once a year.
To me it`s Banks at his finest, dark and unsettling.
I won`t say anymore about it !!!
Looks good. Have just added it to my basket for next time i do a book order
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?