Anyone have opinions on Romain Gary?
His writing manages to turn a somewhat interesting life into (mercifully) forgettable tedium.
Going with The Fall, once my favourite Camus.
― pomenitul, Monday, 5 April 2021 13:33 (two years ago) link
This is Giovanni's Room for me.
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Monday, 5 April 2021 14:12 (two years ago) link
I had to read The Fall in a class. Kind of a nauseous (heh) book, and I don't know that I would enjoy rereading it, but I also don't think I would have developed my abiding interest in the moral dilemmas of post-war French society without the formative influence of Camus. Not seeing much else here that sparks joy, although I suspect Zama would be up my alley (I've owned a copy for a couple of years that I've never touched)
― Mark E. Smith died this year. Or, maybe last year. (bernard snowy), Monday, 5 April 2021 14:12 (two years ago) link
I think Shrinking man was actually on tv here last night. I wondered if it was the same thing.Hoped it might be on again soon cos I saw one scene towards teh end.
― Stevolende, Monday, 5 April 2021 16:26 (two years ago) link
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski)
Right on. Very surprised I had to read this far down the thread to see someone else saying it. It's a no-brainer for me.
― emil.y, Monday, 5 April 2021 16:42 (two years ago) link
Sadly never read that one. I voted for Train to Pakistan, which I don't remember the details of clearly but do recall being strongly affected by
― rob, Monday, 5 April 2021 16:45 (two years ago) link
A jolt to have Matheson, Bester & Vance lined up like that, if you are nerdcore enough to recognize them as Grand Masters of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Vance is the overt Fantasist at tymes; the other two always have at least some sort of Scientific Romance as launching pad. Can't quite remember if The Shrinking Man the novel shares w The Incredible Shrinking Man flick the exposure of Man to nuclear pollution, a result more of bomb tests than Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I think, but either way, that's life, so deal with it, as the Man does, in the methodical Matheson way, with cosmic realization at end not so much allegorical as organic experience continued, at least for now.The Stars My Destination is prob even better or more to my taste, a richer broth, a headier brew, but as always will go w best remembered, so for this year it's Matheson again.
― dow, Monday, 5 April 2021 17:18 (two years ago) link
Ending of the Shrinking Man film is so trippy that I can only imagine it must come from the novel.
― Daniel_Rf, Tuesday, 6 April 2021 10:46 (two years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Wednesday, 7 April 2021 00:01 (two years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Thursday, 8 April 2021 00:01 (two years ago) link
Wherein We Elect Our Favourite Novels of 1957
― Daniel_Rf, Thursday, 8 April 2021 10:37 (two years ago) link