tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post5022693204051673413..comments2023-10-03T11:41:21.191+01:00Comments on The Truth About Lies: ReadingJim Murdochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-45128185929849512522014-11-05T13:27:28.120+00:002014-11-05T13:27:28.120+00:00I’ve read The Ocean at the End of the Lane and Smo...I’ve read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/653201835?book_show_action=false" rel="nofollow"><i>The Ocean at the End of the Lane</i></a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16790.Smoke_and_Mirrors" rel="nofollow"><i>Smoke and Mirrors</i></a> and I used to own every <i>Sandman</i> comic as well as the two Death spin-offs. Checking Wikipedia I find I haven’t read much else comicwise, <b>Ken</b>. I’ve seen the adaptations of <i>Neverwhere</i>, <i>Mirrormask</i>, <i>Stardust</i> and <i>Coraline</i> and, of course, his excellent work on <i>Doctor Who</i> but that’s about it. I’ve no doubt I’d enjoy reading anything by him—he never disappoints—but there are only so many hours in the days. My daughter speaks highly of his novels; she bought me <i>Smoke and Mirrors</i>.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-8841197854312052692014-11-04T20:00:51.468+00:002014-11-04T20:00:51.468+00:00Another good one. :) Nice to see Neil Gaiman here...Another good one. :) Nice to see Neil Gaiman here. Have you read much of him? (There's probably a brace of reviews on here). I would highly recommend 'The Ocean at the End of the Lane' and 'The Graveyard Book'. I feel you might like them both though not on the toilet or in the bath or...Ken Armstronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07775956557261111127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-81099130410577638952014-10-30T20:18:44.749+00:002014-10-30T20:18:44.749+00:00ps - I admit I'm something of a sprawler too. ...ps - I admit I'm something of a sprawler too. You have to do something with the rest of you when the nose is in the book. Gwil Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03305768121713053837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-58878705322875529012014-10-30T20:15:53.985+00:002014-10-30T20:15:53.985+00:00Jim, the mickey? me? not guilty your honour, but m...Jim, the mickey? me? not guilty your honour, but maybe we'll get treated to the chair sprawling photo one day? I look forward to that!Gwil Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03305768121713053837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-69060452319814902062014-10-30T14:42:51.173+00:002014-10-30T14:42:51.173+00:00It would be untrue to suggest that I never get cau...It would be untrue to suggest that I never get caught up in what I’m reading, <b>Annie</b>. I do wish it happened more often. There have been a few instances this year were I’ve got excited by what I was reading: <a href="http://jim-murdoch.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/you-me.html" rel="nofollow"><i>You & Me</i></a> by Padgett Powell was just wonderful as was <a href="http://jim-murdoch.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/the-h-bomb-and-jesus-rock.html" rel="nofollow"><i>The H-Bomb and the Jesus Rock</i></a> but these books are rare. Of course most books have their moments, a line or a paragraph or two but I’m just a hard guy to impress. I’m the same with films. I, for example, thoroughly enjoyed the last <i>Star Trek</i> film but I still couldn’t stop myself keeping a track of things I’d mention to my wife when I talked to her about it (she must’ve been in the States at the time) like fact that the Enterprise was under water at the start of the film for no other good reason that the Enterprise emerging from the water made a heckuva sight onscreen. Made no sense otherwise.<br /><br />A couple of people have said they were going to frame poems of mine, <b>Kass</b>. Not sure if they ever did but that they’d even make the suggestion was nice. One girl wanted to leave a copy of my short story ‘Over’ in her loo so people could read it whilst engaged in their business. I talked her out of that. But it was still flattering in its way.<br /><br />And, <b>Gwilliam</b>, you’re taking the mickey, yes? That’s the chair in my office. I mostly read in the living room these days but if I get up in the night that’s where I read so as not to disturb the bird more than I have to although usually I’m sprawled in the chair with a leg halfway up the bookcase but that doesn’t make a great photo.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-16847586089821558712014-10-29T21:16:45.054+00:002014-10-29T21:16:45.054+00:00No time time to read this just now, but must say t...No time time to read this just now, but must say that's a cool photo at the top. Gwil Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03305768121713053837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-33990371736088224572014-10-29T19:31:34.327+00:002014-10-29T19:31:34.327+00:00Such wonderful thoughts here. I got a little emoti...Such wonderful thoughts here. I got a little emotional thinking of anyone framing a poem of mine. What a warm fatherly gesture.<br /><br />The Neil Gaiman lecture was so good. I especially liked his reference to people who read developing EMPATHY. I felt a little strange watching Neil online, but all forms of media have their place, as long as we preserve libraries.Kasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05233330248952156754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-52574959826250966222014-10-29T15:11:59.308+00:002014-10-29T15:11:59.308+00:00Your mentioning that you're always very consci...Your mentioning that you're always very conscious that you're reading a book, and Milo's comment that he can't turn his brain off noticing what authors do or do not do well does not mean a particular phrase, line or passage in a book can't utterly take you so deeply <i>into</i> the story that you actually forget you're reading/evaluating the printed word. This phenomenon of instantly establishing resonance with the reader, keeping him/her glued to the literal 'scene' (or idea) described or implied (such that the reader stops to reflect or is momentarily stunned with an insight), may or may not depend upon the quality of the writing (though it's usually the better-written stuff that accomplishes that). The power of mere words to take us consciously, totally, <i>elsewhere</i>, where it's just us and the words themselves, as transporters, all else being peripheral! It actually occurs more frequently than one thinks, I think. Every writer's dream -- to get the reader so involved he forgets he's reading.awynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01541564613932885469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-49053506232420991872014-10-27T11:59:26.622+00:002014-10-27T11:59:26.622+00:00It is horrible isn’t it, Milo, this urge to reshap...It is horrible isn’t it, <b>Milo</b>, this urge to reshape everything in our own image? I want to rewrite just about everyone I read. But there are the exceptions, writers like Murnane, Brautigan and Beckett, people with such a unique voice that you know who you’re reading after two or three lines. I <i>love</i> when I come across a text like that. So rare. And, oh yes, the same goes for TV although I don’t so much want to rewrite that. I’ve never really been interested in anything other than words. My one stage play has one set and one character—it’s essentially a dramatic monologue rather than a play—and I’m fine with that. I’ve been reading a lot of dialogue novels this year and I have to say I find them so refreshing. <br /><br />And, <b>Philip</b>, I’m a lot better than I used to be. I used to get bored so quickly and I still do if the author waffles on and on about things that aren’t really pertinent (IMHO) to the story. That’s why I think the novella is such a gem. Two days—three at a push—and you’re done. I’ve read a lot of novellas this year in fact if the figures on Goodreads are to be trusted the average length of the hundred and eleven books I’ve read so far this year has been just over 200 pages.<br /><br />I’ve never read anything by Crisp and really all I know about him was contained in the two dramas <i>The Naked Civil Servant</i> and <i>An Englishman In New York</i>. I don’t understand homosexuality—I don’t have much time for men in general (woman are <i>far</i> more interesting and attractive)—but I do understand what it’s like to be different and not understood and I suspect that’s why I’ve always had a soft spot for Crisp. I’ve just checked on Amazon and am surprised to see how much he’s written. Must investigate further.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-13829705682792990312014-10-27T11:21:05.616+00:002014-10-27T11:21:05.616+00:00Good post. I do not read as much as I should; ten...Good post. I do not read as much as I should; tend to close my eyes after twenty minutes as I become tired. But it's so good to read.<br /><br />My thoughts on education are that all children should be taught how to read (and write) over and above all other disciplines. If you can read you can then teach yourself whatever interests you.<br /><br />Why force maths, geography, history, sports et al on kids who may just be bored with such things? Instead just get them to listen to you reading them a story. All children LOVE a story. Get them interested in reading one for themselves. Cultivate a desire to read above all else.<br /><br />One of my favourite authors is Quentin Crisp, the late great "Stately Homo of England". He was such an HONEST person and a brave chap. However, I recall that he once said that reading is a waste of time! Can't believe he said that, but he did. Still, I'll overlook that lapse; I'm sure he meant well - somehow.<br />PhilipHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06811831703263176415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-63859454617932112032014-10-26T16:41:56.940+00:002014-10-26T16:41:56.940+00:00I believe we have the same Ikea armchair, sir. I l...I believe we have the same Ikea armchair, sir. I like the spring it puts in my seat. Since I've started pursuing my writing with a vengeance, it's difficult for me to read for enjoyment. I can't turn off my brain when it wants to pay attention to what authors do well and what they don't do so well. Even when I watch TV, I'm either impressed by the writing or annoyed by it. I need a break from thinking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-41476784031722917522014-10-26T13:58:18.917+00:002014-10-26T13:58:18.917+00:00I stand corrected, Martine. No, you’re quite right...I stand corrected, <b>Martine</b>. No, you’re quite right. It underlines what my mum said. We are the sum of all our experiences even the ones long forgotten; everything counts.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-11061893498072874192014-10-26T13:38:53.339+00:002014-10-26T13:38:53.339+00:00Thanks for this, a very uncompromising argument fo...Thanks for this, a very uncompromising argument for the importance of reading. I have to disagree with you on just one point, it was not a waste of time to read things you have now forgotten; they mattered at the time and may still have had an impact on all sorts of things about your life even if the story or characters have faded away. martinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14260048849955077472noreply@blogger.com