Only just found about this, but William Gibson’s new novel has been announced. It’s called ‘Spook Country’, and this is the very Graham Greene/John Le Carre-esque UK cover (the US one is a bit more “cyber”). As you may know from past posts, I am a huge Gibson fan, so I’m rather pleased it’s outContinue reading “Good news: William Gibson is back”
Category Archives: Books and reading
Books I’ve Read, 2007
Every year starts off as a journey (and ends as an uphill battle), so in the spirit of setting out on a quest, I’ve started 2007’s reading off with a travel book, all about Iran – sure to be a country on our minds this coming year. As ever, I’ll update the list with theContinue reading “Books I’ve Read, 2007”
Books of the Year 2006
It’s the Books of the Year post! This is the second time I’ve tried to write this; the first time I began, I wanted to try and put in a bit of context, do something a little bit different from just a straight-forward ‘This was good’ list, and it ended up turning into thoughts onContinue reading “Books of the Year 2006”
Genre Bending
Just because Top Of The Pops is dead doesn’t mean the Top 10 is no longer a cultural force to be reckoned with. Everyone loves a list, and the Guardian is no exception. Their Books site often posts up ‘Top 10s’, list of books on a specific theme, written by an author with a relatedContinue reading “Genre Bending”
Robots, Monsters, Etc.
All my travelling recently has given me an opportunity to do a lot of reading, so the big list of books I have recently bumped off has been updated. One that doesn’t show up, becuase you can’t really ‘read’ it as such (it’s more for appreciation and chuckling purposes), is the lovelywonderful ‘Robots, Monsters, Etc.’,Continue reading “Robots, Monsters, Etc.”
Japanese Reading
Koishikawa Korakuen Originally uploaded by Sifter. Regular readers will know I have quite an interest in Japanese things – stemming probably from my love of Nintendo when I was a child (well, a much younger child than I am now). However, as well as the bright lights and blinking sounds of Mario, I’ve also enjoyedContinue reading “Japanese Reading”
Writing: In Cold Blood, In Hot Blood
Half way through the film Capote, I did find myself wondering if ‘In Cold Blood’ would have happened had Capote had a weblog, because for most of the film he’s not writing. (Of course, I’m assuming the film’s depiction of In Cold Blood’s creative process is true); but for the vast majority of the film,Continue reading “Writing: In Cold Blood, In Hot Blood”
Books I’ve Read, 2005 – 2006
Not sure where I’ve seen this idea, but it’s out there somewhere on the web, and it struck me as a good one. So that I can keep track, this is a list of the books I’ve read since 2005, starting in late [April, I think?? It’s very long…] – Current. The Tale of Genji,Continue reading “Books I’ve Read, 2005 – 2006”
Took the words right out of my mouth
Was given Edward Gorey’s The Unstrung Harp as a present recently. It’s very funny and sinister. And it pretty much sums up where I am up to right now… original
Frankenstein
Nearing the end of Frankenstein, now. As usual with the Penguin Classics, there’s a fairly long academic-ish intro. Since it’s a reprint of a late-80s/early-90s edition, the intro seems a bit dry at times (esp. compared to the fireworks and bombast of late 90s lit. theory). Couple of interesting quotes though, such as the followingContinue reading “Frankenstein”