You have to start somewhere - a list

[Penfold]

Currently reading The Hunger Games as per our conversation.

Almost finished book one.

Very Orwellian in its portrayal of a post-apocalyptic dystopian society and does a great job of showing the suffering of the many in servitude of the few.

Themes include oppression, the punish of ongoing generations ..... Typical 'sins of the fathers' type being visited on your sons etc and morals of wealth vs poverty. I find it quite Running Man coupled with some Lord of the Flies undertones creating an interesting mix.

It's wonderfully descriptive and does a great job in setting the scene and the senses of those involved. It becomes almost unputtadownable once the games start.

More to follow...

[Sithvid]

What pen said I have read all 3 hg books really captivating.


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[Benny]

So on the back of The Hunger Games I thought I'd stick with a theme, giving Aldous Huxley's Brave New World a go. A few chapters in and it's fairly grim already. Anyone read it?

[Penfold]

Did you read the Hunger Games? perhaps that would be a good one to start so we're in sync on the ones we're both going to read.

Brave New World.... hmmm read it over 20 yrs ago. probably time to revisit it. After THG?

[Benny]

Did you read the Hunger Games?

I did.....
http://www.deadmen.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?37141-The-Book-Thread

Quite enjoyed it really, to the point I'll watch the film to disappoint myself

[Penfold]

Doh missed it.

The movie just doesn't live up to the book imo. There's no depth to the character and the interplay between Kathniss and Peter is explored so much more in the book.

[Penfold]

Finishing Book 2 and not finding it nearly as enjoyable as the first to be honest.

Going to take a break from book 3 and go read Catcher in the Rye I think.

[smilodon]

Pickwick Paper done and review to be written over breakfast tomorrow.

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[Benny]

So now we're moving, feel free to argue with my reviews (and vice versa). So knowing that a couple of you have read the Hunger Games and also Wasp Factory, what did you think?
The latter was crap IMHO, the twist was poor and again I felt like I was waiting for the punchline.

It would appear Mr Smilo that I'll need to read Pickwick, it sounds alright

Whilst I'm chatting, I'm finding Brave New World arduous, I was hoping it would be more like The Island, but whilst the concept is the same, it's not captivating. I think that perhaps the movie has set the scenery in my imagination and as this conflicts, it's not working out. I may drop it and come back unless someone tells me to stick with it.

[smilodon]

I'm scanning the list to see what to read next. Still in the mood for more old classics. It's a bit of a cheat as I read it when I was a kid but I'm tempted to read through Treasure Island again. The basic story is well known from films and TV but I'm struggling to remember the book at all.

[Gortex]

I am about 3/4 of the way through Bleak House so should be able to add my thoughts on it and then tackle something that you guys have read. Am thinking of starting The Great Gatsby as fancy something a bit shorter than what I am reading at the moment.

Treasure Island is an excellent read and would recommend it.

[Benny]

I want someone to read 'The Silver Sword'. I read it as a kid and can't for the life of me remember any detail other than it was a good read. (Same for I Am David - it would appear my youth was all about World Wars).

[Penfold]

Sure.

I remember I am David. Read that at Prep School. Worth re-reading.

One Day in the life of Ivan Denisovich is not dissimilar if you want that kind of stuff (although a true story about Russian prisoner in the Gulag).

[Benny]

I find something kinda compelling about triumph over adversity. I've read every book I can find on prison memoirs akin to 'Banged Up Abroad'. It started with Marching Powder, which if you haven't read is an eye opener.

I think that's why I like this challenge, it will steer me away from the factual into fantasy and see what the other half of my brain does all day.  

(I may well try that one though Pen, you know, one last non-fiction before I fully commit!)

[Penfold]

I often have two books on the go at once - one sensible proper one (innit) and something lighter be it fiction or fantasy.

I read the fiction and fantasy at thrice if not more the pace of the others but it's down to my mood. I think having done A levels and a degree in English + Classics forced me to read a whole lot of books I wasn't really into. I've revisited some of them and much prefer them now I'm not trawling them for critical analyses or to find examples of crass literary devices such as 'non sequiturs' for example which is incredibly dull.

Professionally, I think you may find 'What Colour is Your Parachute' interesting. Yes I know it's about changing careers and job hunting but given the more self-confessed unpleasant aspects of your job with firing, it may be worth a look.