Books

[ochoill]

Just read Child of God by Cormac McCarthy. It's a pretty short book and a fast read. Kind of a combination of Blood Meridian and No Country For Old Men in a lot of ways. Really enjoyed it. His writing is just levels above most authors.

Yeah I loved Child of God, only read it last year.  Only one of his I struggled with so far is "All The Pretty Horses".  Didn't have the patience at the time, moved on to something else.

[ochoill]

Started Neuromancer the other day, had it on the shelf a while.  Already enjoying it, the writing is lush and - maybe because of how used to seeing the aesthetic we would be nowadays - the imagery vivid.

Neuromancer has one of the best opening lines of any book. Great description.

I loved Solaris, wasn't sure about Slaughterhouse Five, I must give it another look, it was one of my Dad's favourites.

Just coming back on this because I am still dragging my heels through Neuromancer.  I enjoy it while I am reading it but nothing particularly makes me want to pick it up now while I am in the middle section of the book.  First parts were great though.  Will finish it out.  Usually I only read one thing at a time but I've started into a few other bits alongside this just to get over the hump of it (which might equally just be my own mind as much as the book itself).

[Eoin McLove]

Just read Child of God by Cormac McCarthy. It's a pretty short book and a fast read. Kind of a combination of Blood Meridian and No Country For Old Men in a lot of ways. Really enjoyed it. His writing is just levels above most authors.

Yeah I loved Child of God, only read it last year.  Only one of his I struggled with so far is "All The Pretty Horses".  Didn't have the patience at the time, moved on to something else.

I think I bailed out on All the Pretty Horses. Must revisit.

[Emphyrio]

Started Neuromancer the other day, had it on the shelf a while.  Already enjoying it, the writing is lush and - maybe because of how used to seeing the aesthetic we would be nowadays - the imagery vivid.

Neuromancer has one of the best opening lines of any book. Great description.

I loved Solaris, wasn't sure about Slaughterhouse Five, I must give it another look, it was one of my Dad's favourites.

Just coming back on this because I am still dragging my heels through Neuromancer.  I enjoy it while I am reading it but nothing particularly makes me want to pick it up now while I am in the middle section of the book.  First parts were great though.  Will finish it out.  Usually I only read one thing at a time but I've started into a few other bits alongside this just to get over the hump of it (which might equally just be my own mind as much as the book itself).

I struggled with Neuromancer. Don't think I even finished it.

[Pat Twisted Wrath]

Anyone recommend any Lovecraft? Was out for a walk and listened to Call of Cthulhu on Spotify. Thought it was fine... Wonder if its worth exploring his stuff any further...

[Pat Twisted Wrath]

Or any recommendations for cosmic horror stuff generally? Ive been reading nothing but non-fiction for the last year and could do with a change!

[Goosebumples]

Anyone recommend any Lovecraft? Was put for a walk and listened to Call of Cthulhu on Spotify. Thought it was fine... Wonder if its worth exploring his stuff any further...

If you're an audiobook guy HP Podcraft have some excellent story readings for free, a particular favorite of mine is haunter in the dark.

Bbc radio did a fantastic rendition of at the mountains of madness and shadow over innsmouth too that are both top tier.

Cant go wrong with any of them imo!

[Maggot Colony]

Or any recommendations for cosmic horror stuff generally? Ive been reading nothing but non-fiction for the last year and could do with a change!

The Fisherman by John Langan is one of the best cosmic horror novels I've read in recent years. Stephen King's Revival is equally great.

If you're looking for short stories then A Mountain Walked: Great Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos is a very strong Lovecraftian anthology.

[Pat Twisted Wrath]

Cheers lads, I'll check those out 

[Carnage]

If you're looking for short stories then A Mountain Walked: Great Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos is a very strong Lovecraftian anthology.

The same editor (S.T. Joshi) has a series of short story collections called Black Wings Of Cthulhu, I think there are six volumes. The two I've read are hit and miss as all of these things are, but some good stuff to be found.

[Born of Fire]

Just read Child of God by Cormac McCarthy. It's a pretty short book and a fast read. Kind of a combination of Blood Meridian and No Country For Old Men in a lot of ways. Really enjoyed it. His writing is just levels above most authors.

Yeah I loved Child of God, only read it last year.  Only one of his I struggled with so far is "All The Pretty Horses".  Didn't have the patience at the time, moved on to something else.

The only McCarthy I've read so far is the last 2 he came out with The Passenger and Stella Maris. I liked the setting of the former but found it dull enough otherwise. I liked Stella Maris much more despite the format, Alicia was just a much more interesting character than Bobby.

I have copies of All The Pretty Horses and The Road. I know The Road is unrelentingly grim but sounds like I won't fare much better with All The Pretty Horses!

[Mooncat]

So far I've read No Country For Old Men, Blood Meridian, and Child of God. Loved them all. I have The Road at home too, but haven't gotten around to it. No Country is the most straightforward read out of the three. The film follows it pretty closely.

Blood Meridian is one of the toughest books I've ever read. The kind of book you start several times and quit on before you actually finish. It's definitely the most impactful one though. Almost more an experience than a book. You just have to accept it's tough to follow and then just roll with the experience from sentence to sentence rather than any huge overarching understanding, almost like abstract art.

I keep hearing Suttree is really good, and the mention a few comments back there is another to add to the list. I must pick it up.

[mishima]

Started Neuromancer the other day, had it on the shelf a while.  Already enjoying it, the writing is lush and - maybe because of how used to seeing the aesthetic we would be nowadays - the imagery vivid.

Neuromancer has one of the best opening lines of any book. Great description.

I loved Solaris, wasn't sure about Slaughterhouse Five, I must give it another look, it was one of my Dad's favourites.

Just coming back on this because I am still dragging my heels through Neuromancer.  I enjoy it while I am reading it but nothing particularly makes me want to pick it up now while I am in the middle section of the book.  First parts were great though.  Will finish it out.  Usually I only read one thing at a time but I've started into a few other bits alongside this just to get over the hump of it (which might equally just be my own mind as much as the book itself).

I struggled with Neuromancer. Don't think I even finished it.

Aye I'm in the same boat. Read it years and years ago and felt like I didn't appreciate it so I gave it another go a couple of years ago. Did nothing for me. Couldn't get into it at all.

Currently on Post Captain. Book 2 out of 20(!!!) in the Aubrey Maturin series (Master and Commander is based on these novels).
Digging them so far but the naval warfare terminology is a bit much!

And seeing as Dan Simmons died last month, I figured I should read more than just Hyperion and The Terror (both of which I enjoyed, especially The Terror), so I've started into The Song of Kali. A few chapters in and I have a good feeling about it.

[open face surgery]

Blood Meridian is one of the toughest books I've ever read. The kind of book you start several times and quit on before you actually finish. It's definitely the most impactful one though. Almost more an experience than a book. You just have to accept it's tough to follow and then just roll with the experience from sentence to sentence rather than any huge overarching understanding, almost like abstract art. 

Spot on.

[Don Gately]

So far I've read No Country For Old Men, Blood Meridian, and Child of God. Loved them all. I have The Road at home too, but haven't gotten around to it. No Country is the most straightforward read out of the three. The film follows it pretty closely.

Blood Meridian is one of the toughest books I've ever read. The kind of book you start several times and quit on before you actually finish. It's definitely the most impactful one though. Almost more an experience than a book. You just have to accept it's tough to follow and then just roll with the experience from sentence to sentence rather than any huge overarching understanding, almost like abstract art.

I keep hearing Suttree is really good, and the mention a few comments back there is another to add to the list. I must pick it up.

Blood Meridian is excellent , I went half way through before and eventually restarted it and found it far easier to read second time around.
Love his western novels including the border trilogy bar the second half of the Crossing which drags but the opening 100 pages or so is McCarthy s finest writing . The Road is an easy read , but don't think it's anywhere near his best. Suttree is excellent as I said , it's a funny book in ways its almost like Bukowski meets Faulkner hard to describe but actually my favourite of his.