Would you judge a person by what they read?

[Rich 12]

If you've not heard it already you need to listen to Jeff Wayne's adaptation ...... Preferably through a large stereo with a bloody good sub

 

I have the double CD mate, and had it on tape before I dscovered CDs, not recommended to be played on a dark night, it WILL scare the bejeezus out of you.

 

Iirc the original 1950s Radio broadcast of War of the Worlds actually had people convinced it was a REAL news story about invaders from Mars.

 

It's just a shame that apart from the Stage musical of the Jeff Wayne version, there hasn't, to date, been a good interpretation of the original book on the big screen IMO, the original 1953 movie had almost no connection to the book apart from the way the Martians died at the end, at least the Tom Cruise version had the Tripods.

[Nodens 10]

How can you possibly judge someone who's read a wide variety of books?

 

You can't judge a book reader by the cover.

[Suffragette1 10]

There's a fair bit of snobbishness in the arts, from dismissing those who fail to appreciate the further extremes of modern art to those who turn up their noses at the Patricia Cornwell fans. Not aimed at you, Halibut, but some do have funny definitions of what qualifies as trash or as acceptable literature, often sweeping aside entire genres as lowbrow without bothering to separate the Conan Doyle wheat from the the Dan Brown chaff.

 

Differentiate on the basis of poor prose, rubbish narrative and lumpen dialogue by all means (Dan Brown, I'm talking about you) and of course on personal taste, but do please lose the sniffy attitude to vast tracts of the best seller aisles.

 

Lv 'n' hugs Hecate, who's currently re-reading a page-turningly excellent Christie.

Hey, nowt wrong with Cornwell, well her ealier books anyway. Apart from the fact Scarpetta is humorless and her hideous neice even more so. Best character is Marino.

 

Actually I think broad reading (even if it includes chic lit, she says between clenched teeth, is fine. Just not exclusively though.)

[Swan_Vesta 11]

I have the double CD mate, and had it on tape before I dscovered CDs, not recommended to be played on a dark night, it WILL scare the bejeezus out of you.

 

Iirc the original 1950s Radio broadcast of War of the Worlds actually had people convinced it was a REAL news story about invaders from Mars.

 

It's just a shame that apart from the Stage musical of the Jeff Wayne version, there hasn't, to date, been a good interpretation of the original book on the big screen IMO, the original 1953 movie had almost no connection to the book apart from the way the Martians died at the end, at least the Tom Cruise version had the Tripods.

 

Good lad - I remember listening to it from my Dad's mighty stereo set up and had a shiver going up my spine as I heard the "Bam Bam Bam Baaaaaaaaaam!"

 

It rocks!

[Guest]

Hey, nowt wrong with Cornwell, well her ealier books anyway. Apart from the fact Scarpetta is humorless and her hideous neice even more so. Best character is Marino.

 

Actually I think broad reading (even if it includes chic lit, she says between clenched teeth, is fine. Just not exclusively though.)

Her later Scarpetta books are certainly very poor both in terms of story and the writing. I think she's lost interest in the characters. Kathy Reichs too. Pity.

[Suffragette1 10]

Her later Scarpetta books are certainly very poor both in terms of story and the writing. I think she's lost interest in the characters. Kathy Reichs too. Pity.

 

I only read Kathy Reichs' first book, which I found hard to read to be honest. The constant translations annoyed me, but maybe that's because I speak French.

 

I have since got into Karen Slaughter, her characters are more developed and less one dimensional. I love Val McDermid, my god, The Place of Execution must be one of the best books I've ever read, I so did not see the twist at the end. I also love the Tony Hill series although the TV version was crap.

 

Re Scarpetta, I didn't like the fact that Benton predictably came back from the dead. And all Cornwell's ravings about evil are totally over the top.

[Alastair 12]

My mum had the theory that children should be encouraged to read as much as possible and that it didn't matter exactly what they read, just that they should read.

 

So amongst other things I read loads of DC and Marvel comics as a kid. I still believe it doesn't matter what people read so long as they read. There's a lot of snobbishness about when it comes to books, just read what you enjoy.

 

I'm currently reading Flash of the Cathode Rays by Per Dahl about JJ Thomsons discovery of the electron, not everyones cup of tea

[Mathom 10]

I've read every book on Jack the Ripper.

 

I once took a book called 'Carnal Knowledge: The Politics of Rape' with me on a weekend break to Prague and left said book on plane. Rang up BMI and once I gave them my seat details, I mumbled the title to them. How embarrassed was I, I'm sure they thought it was some porn, but really your Honour, it wasn't, it was feminist treatise on rape.

 

Have you even read From Hell? If so I am impressed by your taste

 

Your choice of holiday reading is a bit like mine. I read about The Road in the Sunday paper on holiday, bought it next day, read it and felt seriously disturbed (I might even get rid of it, it was such a disturbing book I want to have my memory wiped). To get my mind off it I went and read....wait for it....The Children Of Hurin*. God. *smacks head*

 

 

 

 

*If anyone thought Tolkien was all about jolly Hobbits and happy Tom Bombadil singing in the wildwoods then go and read The Children Of Hurin...it's a long way from uplifting.

[Ouija 10]

I'm never put in the position to judge people by what they read as I never seem to meet people who like reading. In fact most of the people I know seem to find the thought of picking up a book utterly repellent and can't understand what I find enjoyable about it.

 

I don't read many serious books, so a reading snob would probably look down on the stuff I like. But as long as I like it, I don't care!

[Jessica23 10]

Oooh, this is a tough question. I try not to, and have a very good relationship with someone who up until 2 months ago Did Not Read, but I suppose in some inner part of me there is judgement going on.

 

It's totally pointless, though. There's always someone out there who considers what you consider to be heavyweight reading lightweight nonsense. Fact.

[Jessica23 10]

Duplicate post...

[Suffragette1 10]

Have you even read From Hell? If so I am impressed by your taste

 

Your choice of holiday reading is a bit like mine. I read about The Road in the Sunday paper on holiday, bought it next day, read it and felt seriously disturbed (I might even get rid of it, it was such a disturbing book I want to have my memory wiped). To get my mind off it I went and read....wait for it....The Children Of Hurin*. God. *smacks head*

 

*If anyone thought Tolkien was all about jolly Hobbits and happy Tom Bombadil singing in the wildwoods then go and read The Children Of Hurin...it's a long way from uplifting.

The Road - argh, how bleak, depressing and disturbing is that? I read the Kite Runner (depressing, harrowing and bleak) followed by A Thousand Splendid Suns, even more depressing, bleak and harrowing to the extent that I found myself agreeing with Bush's foreign policy. Am I a masochistic glutton for punishment or what? Then read On Chesil Beach (depressing) followed by Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance (depressing).

 

I once foolishly read a biography of the Bulger killers which kept me awake at night. Why do I do it to myself? It drives Mr S nuts, as he clambers into bed, to find me wide eyed and in a blind rage and full rant mode. I followed that with Jane Thomlison's first autobiography.