h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm not so much concerned that LotR is boring...more that it is poor literature. There's so little in it!

It's not even that there's too little in it, there's just too much book for the story!
Tolkein did like over-describng the scenery.

i think thats why the hobbit annoyed me. it doesnt help that i have a habit of skim reading most books which is why i can read fast

It's not very often I'll give up on a book, but I did find LOTR a bit too flowery in places. Don't get me wrong, it's an excellent story, but he did go on a bit! I think Return of the King is the longest book I've ever read - took me six months

solid?
it only takes me that long if i read other books at the same time! it onlt took me 2 week to read gone with the wind y margaret mitchell

I have a habit of reading more than one book at a time and to be honest I put Return...aside for a while to give my brain a rest

yeah im same i think i have 8 books on the go at the min!

I'm a slow reader but an avid one.

In general I read a book every 10 days or so, and have done since the age of about (oooh) seven. The only exception was when my twins were born and I read one book in the next 18 months.

The Scar by China Mieville. Just finished Perdido Street Station by just named. Very descriptive author with brilliant twists and plot. Reccommended for anyone with a strong stomach.

Why exactly do some of you read books? My mother "skips" books & has always read several in a week, BUT when you ask her about a certain facet of the book, she either bluffs or changes the subject!

Teachers: I thank 2 of them - one in my 3rd year at Junior who "read" The Hobbit to us &, I think, fired all of us with the enthusiasm to read LoR (most at a later age!). The second, at secondary school - O Level, Romeo & Juliet, Lord of the Flies &, as with someone earlier, I can't remember the poetry bit either!! - she taught it with so much enthusiasm in class that we were really gripped by the play/stories - she pointed out all the "foretelling" phrases, etc., - they came alive.

I agree partially to LoR as "a bit flowery", BUT when I read it is to get completely lost in another land, life, etc - away from reality - therefore "description" is essential to be able to picture in your mind what the author is trying to convey as the kind of land/atmosphere where the story takes place. So on that basis he did NEED to put in description. The same goes for description of a character or even feelings.

LoR is an epic:

Who has read War & Peace? I have it on the shelf as the 3rd to read from now - any advice? I knew a 7 year old that had read, understood & could describe just about everything from it! 'fraid I'm not anywhere near that ...... talented?

I have read W&P. Can't remember a thing about it, except that later on when I did Russian A-level and we studied Chekhov, I realised that Tolstoy can take 15 pages to describe someone turning a doorknob - Chekhov can have a whole story done and dusted in 3 pages, and you know everything you need to know about the characters, the setting etc etc.

As for LoTR. Surely we can't allow knocking of Britain's Favourite Book. Or Germany's Favourite Book, for that matter.

I'm afraid I'm one of those who reads it every year (except for the 2 years when the Gruesomes were born) and loves it. It is overly flowery, the narrative can be tediously boring, he skips over bits you really want to know about. And there is Tom Bombadill. But it is still the best thing I've ever read - I love to lose myself in Middle Earth for a week or two. As I get to the second half of ROTK I find that I slow down to make it last longer.

Oh, outed myself there!!

Reddyfreddy: O-level texts often stay the same for two years in a row, in defence of your teacher

Right, back to the Ragged Trousered ones for me.

How you finding it Sho?

Woody Allen: 'I just learnt to speed read. Last night I read War and Peace. It's about some Russians'

Walk before you run. Start with Anna Kareinina (marvellous!)

Hey thanks for the advice - I will read AK first.

Don't worry 'bout outing yourself! Christopher Lee has read LoR every year since goodness knows when AND he's proud of it!

By the by: I had the original poster which got trashed when I moved, I then bought another, but the edges of the border had been cut. Any ideas where I could get a copy of the original from?

Back to Pompeii - it's about to go!

Just started 'Empire' by Niall Ferguson

started 'Sons and Lovers' by DH Lawrence

Ah! Sons & Lovers was the other O-Level book I had to read - can't remember much about it now - I don't think I particularly enjoyed it then, but hey, everyone's different - enjoy

I did not like the other Lawrence book - Women in Love (?) and gave up after the third chapter but am giving Lawrence another go. Hope this one has more to offer...

What I'd like in my stocking:

'The Malayan Trilogy' - Anthony Burgess
'The Surgeon's Mate' - Patrick O'Brian
Something by Richard Dawkins (thanks to whoever it was who reminded me)
The Kenneth Williams Diaries

What I've accidentally discovered at the back of my wife's wardrobe:
'Himalaya' - the book of the Palin. Oh dear. Tact required.

Intending to read 'The War Against America' - Philip Roth sometime over Xmas.

And while I'm here: Can anyone identify this book for me? The main character is a polysexual Soho rent boy and it was written by someone who was the only black guy in his school in Orkney.

I looked up Yahoo: "Orkney Authors", which threw up among others: "Boreas Books". This one had a section purely for authors from Orkney or who have connections with Orkney. The names there may bump your memory or throw up a description - I would look around for you, but I've got to now.

That'll teach for nosing around in people's wardrobes - how d'you know it's for you anyway? (On the plus side: at least you are prepared - the TV series was extremely good, not sure if it would be as good reading it though - best of luck!)