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Post by Maerin on May 2, 2008 13:01:28 GMT -5
I started reading that a couple of years ago, but dropped it because it made me tired. I originally bought it because the bloke at the book stall said he didn't believe anyone could finish it. I had a similar experience with that trilogy a few years ago, though I did persevere through to the end. The problem I had with the trilogy was, while it does have all the qualities Zipp describes (and a lot in it did make me laugh), it has those qualities in overly abundant quantity. The quantity is so high it tends, on occasion, to metaphorically beat the reader over the head with those qualities. After a while (about the middle-end of the second "book"), the barrage got so relentless that one starts to get numb to it (which means the books start to lose a lot of their entertainment value).
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Post by zipp on May 3, 2008 11:31:00 GMT -5
I started reading that a couple of years ago, but dropped it because it made me tired. I originally bought it because the bloke at the book stall said he didn't believe anyone could finish it. I had a similar experience with that trilogy a few years ago, though I did persevere through to the end. The problem I had with the trilogy was, while it does have all the qualities Zipp describes (and a lot in it did make me laugh), it has those qualities in overly abundant quantity. The quantity is so high it tends, on occasion, to metaphorically beat the reader over the head with those qualities. After a while (about the middle-end of the second "book"), the barrage got so relentless that one starts to get numb to it (which means the books start to lose a lot of their entertainment value). I'm simply fascinated by it. I'm sort've treating it like a drug experience, though. I just go with the flow of whatever's happening on the page at the moment, and similarly forget everything that came before and expect nothing to come next. It's a very "in the moment" read. The books that I felt beat one over the head with their style were the "Hitchhiker's GTTG" series. I began to hate that series after a short time, even with the laughs. But I ended up loving "So Long and Thanks for All the Fish." That one was actually poignant and interesting in addition to being funny, and I personally think it should've ended the series (instead of the poorly written "Mostly Harmless")
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Post by eviltb on May 4, 2008 2:46:45 GMT -5
Am aiming to pick up Alan Moore's The Killing Joke since its being re-released with a new colour scheme from colourist Brian Bolland. I remember reading the original and getting totally blown away by it, will be interesting to see it with the new colours, which are apparently supposed to be more subtle and life-like.
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Post by Doomy on May 4, 2008 3:42:53 GMT -5
Y'know, I've never read TKJ. Is it strictly fanboy stuff or worth getting even if you don't usually read Batman?
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Post by eviltb on May 4, 2008 4:25:03 GMT -5
Not really, to be honest I dont read a lot of DC stuff, having only picked up maybe 2 or 3 titles (none of them being Batman). The book gives a deeper insight into the Jokers origin and why he is as insane as he is.
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Post by zipp on May 4, 2008 12:45:53 GMT -5
Y'know, I've never read TKJ. Is it strictly fanboy stuff or worth getting even if you don't usually read Batman? Oh, totally worth it. I don't read Batman at all (though I love the character) and I own the Killing Joke. It's an incredible addition to the comic world.
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Post by Agrarvyn on May 5, 2008 12:36:01 GMT -5
Even Douglas Adams admitted the problems with the THHGTTG books. His life was in turmoil whilst he was writing some of them, so a lot of the material ended up as blatant "author-on-board" stuff, to their clear detriment.
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Post by Samildanach on May 5, 2008 20:34:13 GMT -5
Yeah, as I understand it he was planning to write a sixth book, with a more satisfactory conclusion to the series. I hated Mostly Harmless the first time I read it, but I kind of enjoyed it the second time. I still dislike most of So Long... If I could, I would kick Fenchurch to death. In the face.
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Post by zipp on May 6, 2008 1:04:25 GMT -5
Yeah, as I understand it he was planning to write a sixth book, with a more satisfactory conclusion to the series. I hated Mostly Harmless the first time I read it, but I kind of enjoyed it the second time. I still dislike most of So Long... If I could, I would kick Fenchurch to death. In the face. See, I really didn't like So Long the first time, but now it's my favourite of the series. By far the most meaningful, and I liked Fenchurch. I thought she was wasted in the last book.
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Post by Beowuuf on May 6, 2008 2:12:29 GMT -5
As in just ditched The Salmon of Doubt collection is interesting, I liked the start of the latest dirk gently mystery cDirk Gently was a great character, and both books have their strong points
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Post by Samildanach on May 6, 2008 16:59:54 GMT -5
Yeah, though they never match the highest points of the Guide series, I find the Gently books much more consistent in quality, as opposed to the hit-and-miss nature of the Guide. Salmon of Doubt looks like it might have turned out to be the best of the Gently series.
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