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

Hi,
Noticed your posts on current reading matter. I enjoyed A widow for one year in 99 and still remember many of the descriptions and dialogue.
If you've read Garp, it's funny how car accidents twist the lives of the heroes....
OWEN MEANY is my absolute favourite Irving Book, read in 1990 and still fixed firmly in my memory.
The fourth hand, out in paperback last year had elements of Widow and bits of Son of the circus in it, funny also how many recurring themes throughout the books, lust, sex, wrestling, strange names!

Although I'm not usually a great fan of US writers, John Irving captivates me 9 times out of 10 - enjoy!
Harpo

Hi

Actually, I'm not at all sure about this book. I'm finding it somewhat heavy going at the moment. The narrative structure is interesting but some of the writing is (I hesitate to use the 'b' word so shall I say, less than riveting?) Having said that, there have been moments when I've found it very funny and wished I had a pencil with me so that I could note the clever use of words.

I'm told that 'Owen Meany' is very good but I haven't read 'Garp'.

I've just read something called 'The Cloud Sketcher' which I enjoyed very much. I intend to pass it on to a friend who's an Architect. Hand his wife might find it interesting.

I'm a great fan of Ian Rankin and Francis Fyfield...I don't know if you've come across them? As a result of reading one of Rankin's books, I went on a visit to see the medieval streets that exist underneath Edinburgh...I'm always impressed by writers who research thoroughly.
Nice of you to reply

Is Ian Rankin the guy who writes the stuff that's been televised starring John Hannah as a troubled 'tec? [can't remember his name]
Not read Frances Fyfield by my wife's read a couple [we have different tastes, so I tend not to read what she does and vice versa]
Experimented a bit with Iain Banks [loved the Crow Road] and also like Salman Rushdie, although you have to be patient with Salman while he wanders round the recesses of his mind for 400 pages before the denouement. Haroun and the sea of stories is a good introduction, can be read as a children's story or a commentary of the whole Satanic Verses affair [Apropos of which, I used to read SV on the bus to add some excitement to my life - I live in Bradford where some of the madder sections of the populace decided to publicly burn it!]
Thanks for the recommendations - I too like well researched stuff

Yes that's Rankin but I didn't watch it...I think many novels are best as just that...the written word.

I don't think I'd care for Salma Rushdie at all

Has your wife read any of Anita Shreve? I've come lately to her..always thought it would be romantic drivel but it's surprisingly well written.

Not someone I've seen in the collection - will have a nosy when next in a bookshop [to pick up harry potter 5!]
Thanks again!

OMG...what can I say?

Then there's no hope for you at all!

I tried to read one to see what the fuss was about, couldn't get past the first page lol Never seen any of the films either

I'm assuming that you're either right in the middle of HP or have already finished it

Just to say that Widow just got a bit more interesting (I'm perservering )

Not bought it yet!
Will get it before summer hols, but not that obsessive! Anticipation part of teh fun. Anyway, been far too occupied this weekend. Our twin children are 8 years old today and it's been a long party....
Glad you're still being patient with widow. More parallels with Garp and Son of the circus in the talks to prostitutes, if my memory serves me correctly....
Enjoying White Teeth by Zadie Smith, daren't pick it up in my lunch-hour, need to read at least 2 hours at a time [much to my wife's discontent when I sit in bed with the light on]

She's about to research the prostitutes

Twin eight year olds!!! And you're still standing???

Staggering!
A trip with 4 eight-year-olds to Lightwater Valley on a hot Sunday, followed by a pizza in Harrogate, returning to Silsden at 8.30

There'll be tears before bedtime....
But then

I'd forgotten you live in Bradford. I thought Silsden was more into the Dales and that there was a reservoir there. Must be somewhere else. :o)

Sounds like Hell...your day...not Silsden

Silsden's on the edge of the dales between Keighley and Shipton - there is a reservoir halfway up the hill the goes over to Addingham. You sound as if you know it - what part of the North East are you then? Actually work in Bradford, but people tend to know where that is rather than Silsden.
Silsden's nice, moved there 15 years ago from Bradford where we were broken into twice in 2 years.

County Durham...practically on the Pennines.

I think my children may have sailed at Silsden..which is why I know it.

Not sure there's been any sailing on there in my memory, but there are a few reservoirs around where it does take place. Durham's a lovely city, I last went there about 3 years ago for a day conference at the county hotel, but my Dad was born in Sunderland and still has a cousin there. I go up once or twice a year to look at the state of Marsden Rock and play on the beach. Apart from the city, not looked at much of Inland Co. Durham

Bought HP last night, my wife's gone into hiding with it. Add that to my son's fascination with his new gameboy [finally gave in to his request] and my daughter having her head in a succession of books, I've no-one to talk to except in cyberspace!

LOL and then only during the day!

We've had the lot GameBoys...Playstations...Computer Games etc

Did I ask you what you do for a living?

No you didn't, but I'll tell you anyway
Quite boring sounding really, Info Systems for a Building Society, good for the nosey!
Noticed from your page you're a teacher, can you give me any tips for breaking a cycle of butterfly minds down the male side of my family? My son is bright, expressive, but has trouble realising his great talent on paper! [I think like me he gets bored with the mundane so doesn't do his paperwork!]
He also goes off at tangents , but then that's me too, looking at the progress of this thread!

You have a son as well? How old is he?

I'm afraid this sounds like the male syndrome...I see it every day. There are one or two exceptions but, in the main...

Generally, if they're reasonably bright they manage very well and do quite well in Higher Education...it's just getting them there

I speak with experience having two boys and a girl

Encourage him to read...anything...watch the news/current affairs etc and discuss things with him re Life/the World/the Universe etc

Sorry...not much good I know...especially if he's only six

I like tangents... Except in English lessons lol

Just the twins, girl/boy of 8
He reads voraciously on subjects he's interested in, and comprehends well, it's just the conversion to paper that's a problem....

The children are quite good now, both in terms of holding intelligent conversations and shared interests.

Ok so it's a boy thing! I had an argument with his form teacher last year whose excude was 'oh he's a boy'... I know girls tend at the moment to outperform boys in academic things, but I know he's got the ability, it's just finding the right motivator

Thanks for the tips

One of each...clever you!

Thought you'd like to know - I took Chapel this morning. The theme was the 'Inner Man' - the topic Harry Potter