I loved both those books, but I really had to get over the style of both in the early pages.
I don't want some elaborate "found manuscript" set-up or cutesy narrative element. Just tell the story dammit.
No. You're missing the point. The design of the thing is functional. The plan is not to shoot you. The plan is to get the girl. If there's no girl, then the plan, well, is like the room.
Early ,'Objects In Space'
Literary Buffistas 3: Don't Parse the Blurb, Dear.
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
megan walker - Nov 04, 2010 9:09:55 am PDT #12842 of 28498
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist
Amy - Nov 04, 2010 9:11:06 am PDT #12843 of 28498
Because books.
The actual text in Eggers's book was good, but the author's notes and appendices and blah blah blah BLAH really made my teeth itch.
lisah - Nov 04, 2010 10:01:03 am PDT #12844 of 28498
Punishingly Intricate
You know what book is awesome? Room! Has anyone else read it?
Dana - Nov 04, 2010 10:07:07 am PDT #12845 of 28498
I haven't trusted science since I saw the film "Flubber."
I want to but my library doesn't seem to have it.
Polter-Cow - Nov 04, 2010 10:18:30 am PDT #12846 of 28498
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
I don't want some elaborate "found manuscript" set-up or cutesy narrative element. Just tell the story dammit.
So not a House of Leaves fan either? (Personally, I heart narrative conceits.)
The actual text in Eggers's book was good, but the author's notes and appendices and blah blah blah BLAH really made my teeth itch.
Whereas I loved them and found them hilarious. I tend to enjoy metanarrative, though, although sometimes it can be annoying, I agree.
Volans - Nov 04, 2010 10:21:28 am PDT #12847 of 28498
move out and draw fire
I love House of Leaves and hated A Heartbreaking Work... so much so that I haven't finished reading it. Eggers just annoyed the crap out of me; it wasn't the narrative conceit per se, more that I just wanted to slap him.
Laga - Nov 04, 2010 11:15:22 am PDT #12848 of 28498
You should know I'm a big deal in the Resistance.
I love it when the author calls me, "reader".
Consuela - Nov 04, 2010 4:02:00 pm PDT #12849 of 28498
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix
I couldn't read Heartbreaking Work (bounced hard off the first 30 pages), but I really loved The Book Thief. That said, I suspect Zukas could have done more with the conceit.
Megan, I know I'm a little late, but I recommend Marc Reisner's Cadillac Desert or The Most Dangerous Place for California Dreaming. I have often suggested that the state should give copies of CD to new arrivals as they cross the border.
DavidS - Nov 04, 2010 5:57:43 pm PDT #12850 of 28498
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
A short, interesting video interview with Bernard Cornwell of the Sharpe novels. (He also discusses the American Revolution and the historical basis for Arthurian legend.)
erikaj - Nov 04, 2010 6:03:19 pm PDT #12851 of 28498
"already on the kiss-cam with Karl Marx"-
How about Raymond Chandler for "California Dreaming" Of course, Raymond Chandler is often my answer to every question, even as I'm finding "Farewell My Lovely" OMG-racist in addition to the sexism I know to handwave. I love it when Marlowe ranks on the rich guys, though...it's made of win.(Although I think he'd HATE that expression.)