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Hocus Pocus, by Kurt Vonnegut. Kaleidoscopic weirdness from one of the giants of 20th Century American writing. Vonnegut is one of the few writers who still draws me to the SF genre. (Well, not any more, sadly, as Timequake is likely to be his literal as well as literary swansong.) Tobytook

Back on topic Took advantage of a nice 3-for-2 offer at Waterstone's yesterday, having been bookless since the middle of last week. Luckily, I even found two that were actually on my To Read list. Year Of Wonders is Geraldine Brooks' first novel, set in a small Derbyshire village in AD...

Yes, that's it all right. The overall idea was a good one, if a bit heavy on the schmaltz (Hollywood at work, probably, rather than the author). But it went on and on and on and never really decided if it wanted to be an outright shoot-'em-up or a deep meditation on the nature of humanity. So...

Personally, I can't really concentrate properly while any song (i.e. something with actual lyrics) is playing. It's a bit like trying to read while someone's talking to you. For that reason, I only listen to classical or modern instrumental music while my head's in a book. Weird, though - maybe...

Long time going nowhere Is that the same Postman that's a strong candidate for Worst Film Ever? Is the novel similarly awful, or is it a textbook case of Good Book = Bad Film? By the way, yes: Færie Tale it was - thanks for that. I tend not to read generic sci-fi or fantasy these days...

Hey Ell. Long time no yakkety. I've just finished Ann Patchett's Bel Canto. (Review to appear in the relevant section sometime soon.) Definitely the best book I've read so far this year - despite a staggeringly ill-conceived epilogue that does its best to eclipse the overall quality...

Hey Mike. Welcome to The Book Forum. Quick question: what was that one-off horror story about The Wild Hunt that Feist wrote (after the "Magician" trilogy, I think)? Read it when I was fifteen or so. Lucky for me that you're a fan of him; hopefully your recall is clearer than mine. I...

Following his death in a car crash last year, sweeping critical acclaim for his final novel (Austerlitz) and now the release of his last work, a 128 page poem (After Nature), mean that WG Sebald joins the ranks of countless other writers by achieving fame posthumously. Not that he ever courted...

That might partly explain why the top-selling (and therefore, it could be argued best) RPGs* often spawn quite decent novels. I'm thinking primarily of the sprawling D&D universe, including Forbidden Realms etc, and sci-fi games like Cyberpunk. (*RPGs = Role Playing Games, just in case...

Message received, Darren Got it, boss. For anyone coming to this thread for the first time: please know that there is absolutely nothing serious about any of its content. Just a slight clash of personalities between myself and the user bebe. Tobytook

Good idea, bebe Focus on the good things about me. I knew you cared! And, ohhh, you remember our first fight. :) That's so sweet. Tobytook - basking in the sunshine of your love

Ugly but cool I'm just down with it. Not kidding, though - it is a new thing. Suggest you search for it as a two-word phrase, though, rather than wordtraining it together. Try a google. The example I gave is but one application. Sometimes emphasis is on the first word, sometimes the...

Yes, I know it's cute. That's the tragedy, you see... I'm hugely disfigured in the face and upper body. My mum was addicted to mercury during her pregnancy. And the bitter truth is that I'm desperately in love with you, bebe, and I'm horribly afraid that your existing scorn of me would...

That'll be The Faraway Tree series, I'd say. Tobytook

Hey Mike, Completely forgot about the Dragonlance books. I must have read seven thousand of those when I was a young teenager, and they totally slipped my mind until you mentioned them. Excellent, mate. Cheers for that. Actually, weren't some of them - the first and second trilogies...

During all police investigations it is necessary to visit a strip club. Most dogs are immortal. If being chased through town, you may take cover in a passing St. Patrick's Day parade at any time of the year. All grocery shopping bags contain at least one stick of French Bread...

Yeah, that's bebe, isn't it? Ouch!! Low blow, low blow! Bebe, don't come any closer - I was just kidding!! No, no! - DON'T HURT ME!! Auugghh! ;) Tobytook

Yeah, Hewitt did seem to have a big yellow "S" under his shirt yesterday. It was like he was playing swingball, with the ball on a line attached to his racket. I don't think he could have played it out if he'd shut his eyes! Next year, though. Oh yes. Tobytook

Cheers for the follow-up, Darren. Sadly, no. Still glitched out. Doesn't impact upon the system noticeably, though, so I sort of forget it's there. Bit like Homer regards Maggie. Tobytook

Fascinating stuff, obarz. (And good question, too, Ell.) It's a shame you were reluctant to pursue the discussion into the wider themes of the book industry in general - I was having fun. But I respect your desire to keep the thread focused. As for these percieved "attacks", though...