Stories: Life in Books

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  • Richard Llewellyn,

    Question: What did the poet say to Luke Skywalker?
    Answer: “Metaphors be with you.”

    Gnarf gnarf ...... Sorry.

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report

  • Riddley Walker,

    glad we've Byroned that out. Who is Peanut Butter, Kimosave?

    AKL • Since Feb 2007 • 890 posts Report

  • Ben Austin,

    So where is the emo bashing thread then? Aside from the Wikipedia: Emo(Slang) discussion?

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report

  • merc,

    Gentlemen, your poesy sides are showing!

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    "And Andrew, if you continue to quote Alanis, our cyber friendship is over, mmmkay."

    Yeah sorry Merc, I'm no Morissette fan, and I HAVE read some poetry - mostly because I had to though. and would be hard pressed to quote anything these days (Augustan poetry did strike me, as a fellow student put it once, as little more than rupert bear rhymes.)

    I'm more inclined towards Shelley & Tennyson than Byron. Although I can't deny that some of Shakespeare's sonnets are somewhat more than admirably structured...

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • merc,

    Oh Ben, I don't know, too tired now, sighs, fey glance out window.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • merc,

    Augustan sucks, simple. However, whatever grabs you. Shelley had a huge impact on The Chartists...
    But hey, our cat is called Bysshe.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    My first dog was called Shelley :)

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • hamishm,

    The Worst Journey in the World, by Appsley Cherry-Garrard

    That's a good book, The depression that Cherry- Garrad entered at the end of his life was a terrible shame.

    Poetry : John Cooper-Clarke, Sam Hunt, Auden and Frost do it for me.

    Since Nov 2006 • 357 posts Report

  • merc,

    Ah redeemed by Dog.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Richard Llewellyn,

    Hey, that was the name of my first dog too! :)

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report

  • merc,

    Spooky man,
    I put my monkey on the log
    in order that he do the dog
    he wagged his tail and shook his head
    and did the cat instead
    he's a weird monkey
    wants my money, calls me honey.
    Bob Dylan, All This And WW3
    I'm not a big Bob fan but I was moved by the moment.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Stranger in a Strange Land certainly had an impact on me: as I explained in the post last year about my grandfather, he gave the book, and it was a real trip.

    But I probably got more out of The Moon is a Harsh Mistress --- TANSTAAFL was a pretty important principle.

    I'm not nearly as much of a longform reader, especially of fiction, as most of the people posting here, but as a kid I pretty much cleaned up the Fendalton Public Library's sci-fi section. I was always more interested in ideas than plot.

    James White's Second Ending (beaten out for a Hugo by Stranger in a Strange Land!) fair did my head in too ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Riddley Walker,

    i knew a girl up the road called Shelley when i was in primary school, her dad drove a really cool bronze Valiant

    AKL • Since Feb 2007 • 890 posts Report

  • merc,

    Master Riddley you are a poet, hint, everyone knew a girl up the road called (insert girl name here) and a father with a (insert muscle car here).
    Anyhow, like any brave young poet would, what did you do about it?

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Riddley Walker,

    yeah but this is true.
    liike most young poets i lost interest i guess, i think i liked the Valiant better. we were only 5. nothing a good THRASHING wouldnt fix though i'm sure

    AKL • Since Feb 2007 • 890 posts Report

  • merc,

    Dude, it's all about the car..."I got a 59 Chevy with a 387 and a Hirst on the floor..." (Bruce Springsteen). Now I must away,
    Enough or Too Much!
    William Blake (The Master)

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Chris Bell,

    Rob Stowell wrote:

    [Hoban's] children's books are near perfect. The Francis books and "How Tom beat Captain Najork and his Hired Sportsmen" are classics.

    Of course I agree, in light of which am almost inclined to let the following slide:

    I'm not such a fan of Russell Hoban's adult novels (sorry Riddley- good but not great)

    but I just can't. Rob, have you read Pilgermann, or Kleinzeit, or The Lion of Boaz-Jachin and Jachin-Boaz?

    And are you saying Riddley Walker is good but not great, or addressing the Riddley on this forum?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 49 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    "Hey, that was the name of my first dog too! :)"

    Utterly fantastic coincidence! I suppose your sister had a horse called Byron at some stage too?

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    "Ah redeemed by Dog."

    Merc, I really want to ask "What if Dog was one of us"

    But I want us to remain friends.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • Rob Stowell,

    Chris- yeah, they are all good books Pilgermann, or Kleinzeit, or The Lion of Boaz-Jachin and Jachin-Boaz - and Riddley Walker is a classic... but not, for me, a loved one. (My wife and her mum would both disagree.)
    It is a matter of taste of course :-)
    I'd also throw in some Murakami- Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World is, in a twisted way, in same the Hoban vein, but somehow lighter.
    I just love Hoban's children's books: I'd say they were the greatest ever if it weren't such a subjective thing and foolish-seeming statement. But even endless re- reading to kids, they make me smile and feel emotional and are gently ironic in a very complicated and satisfying way.
    Re-reading Uncle has also been terrific, but I think you need to read it aloud to a family, a chapter or two at a time, preferably in front of the fire. And you have to read Uncle in an incredibly pompous voice.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Before anyone finalises judgment on Allanis Morisette, why not watch the video of her cover of "My Humps"?

    Seriously.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Neil Morrison,

    Who would have thought. But it does figure, don't ya think?

    Since Nov 2006 • 932 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie,

    "I got a 59 Chevy with a 387 and a Hirst on the floor..." (Bruce Springsteen)

    Hirst?
    Hurst.
    http://www.hurst-shifters.com/

    Memorable kidlit: Anything Tove Jansson.
    Moomins. Hattifatteners. Hemulins. The Mymble. The Groke. Salome the Little Creep. The meerschaum tram.
    Wonderful stuff.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Before anyone finalises judgment on Allanis Morisette

    Hating on Alanis is sooo '90s, anyway.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report

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