Apr 2024
2:53pm, 23 Apr 2024
85,666 posts
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Diogenes
I've not read that, LN, but I currently have Bad Actors in flight.
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Apr 2024
3:05pm, 23 Apr 2024
21,344 posts
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Chrisull
I've read the entire Sportswriter/Independence Day/The Lay of the Land/Let me be Frank with you (oh actually have I read the 5th one Be mine? I can't have, it only came out last year, I thought he'd sworn off him) Frank Bascombe series. The first one is the best, and its pretty concise as well, and has a famous eponymous opening line, (like Moby Dick and several other famous novels), dealing with the death of his son (his other son) I'm surprised Ford is still writing Bascombe, he seems to dissolve a little more in each book into non-being. While Bascombe was a sharply defined character he seems to have become more a cipher for Ford's (admittedly always entertaining) ruminating.
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Apr 2024
3:16pm, 23 Apr 2024
85,667 posts
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Diogenes
Sounds like an astute summary to me.
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Apr 2024
10:42pm, 23 Apr 2024
67,652 posts
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LindsD
Still waiting for it from the library #notausefulcontribution |
Apr 2024
7:06am, 25 Apr 2024
14,615 posts
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Little Nemo
Finished THH, will review when I'm back home. Then it will be time to tackle ID!
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Apr 2024
7:52am, 25 Apr 2024
54,034 posts
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McGoohan
As I just posted on its own thread, This Is Memorial Device is now a play on at Hammersmith Studios. I say 'play' but it appears to be a one-man show (ably supported by several mannequins as far as I can tell). riversidestudios.co.uk I guarantee he gets into a fist-fight with at least one of those mannequins. |
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Apr 2024
9:13am, 25 Apr 2024
67,661 posts
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LindsD
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Apr 2024
6:12pm, 25 Apr 2024
21,353 posts
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Chrisull
Current readers of Independence day - here is a tangential recommendation - the latest Backlisted podcast episode on "A Marsh island" - by Sarah Orne Jewitt, is excellent and is apparently an example of American literary regionalism of which the backlisted presenters also name Richard Ford as an exponent. They actually read out the Wikipedia definition of American literary regionalism which made me laugh out loud and chimes with my earlier comment on the Bascombe books: "A focus on the setting of the story, often to such a degree that it appears little else happens beyond description of the setting and people" This isn't to say I don't like the Bascombe books, I absolutely do. Now to go onto Amazon to see how much the 5th one is retailing for... Anyway great episode and guest Noreen Masud is exceptionally observant and very funny, and has pretty much convinced me I need to read her book "A flat place" now too. Not to mention A marsh island as well. |
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Apr 2024
9:44pm, 25 Apr 2024
85,716 posts
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Diogenes
I agree Chris, one of the best episodes and discussions there’s been.
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Apr 2024
9:46pm, 25 Apr 2024
2,402 posts
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DazTheSlug
A Marsh Island has a pretty rubbish rating on Goodreads - but I've read The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett and can recommend that one
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