Saki (117)
Well I like him. 
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I think 'Tobermory' was one of the short stories I studied for my O'Level English Lit.
At least it was in a collection of 21 Great Stories (edited by Abraham H. Lass and Norma L. Tasman), some of which were study pieces and of course, it was impossible not to read the whole collection.
War by Luigi Pirandello was probably my favourite, but that's pretty unfunny, as is There Will Come Soft Rains by Ray Bradbury.
The Two Bottles of Relish by Lord Dunsany might be your sort of thing. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber might be another.
At least it was in a collection of 21 Great Stories (edited by Abraham H. Lass and Norma L. Tasman), some of which were study pieces and of course, it was impossible not to read the whole collection.
War by Luigi Pirandello was probably my favourite, but that's pretty unfunny, as is There Will Come Soft Rains by Ray Bradbury.
The Two Bottles of Relish by Lord Dunsany might be your sort of thing. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber might be another.
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jac_the_gripper: I think 'Tobermory' was one of the short stories I studied for my O'Level English Lit.
I read that quite a while ago, but I listened to an audio version on Youtube the other day. In fact I've listened to quite a few of his stories on Youtube. And I do prefer short stories, so that's another plus mark. jac_the_gripper:
The Two Bottles of Relish by Lord Dunsany might be your sort of thing. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber might be another.
I know of Walter Mitty, of course, but never thought of reading it. My taste is very British so I'm not sure how I would find it. Someone once recommended Kurt Vonnegut to me -I can't remember the title- but I abandoned it after a couple of chapters. The Two Bottles of Relish by Lord Dunsany might be your sort of thing. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber might be another.
I'm too embarrassed to say who my first obsession was when I originally latched on to older books. I will look into Lord Dunsany.
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Circlip: I read that quite a while ago, but I listened to an audio version on Youtube the other day. In fact I've listened to quite a few of his stories on Youtube. And I do prefer short stories, so that's another plus mark.
I know of Walter Mitty, of course, but never thought of reading it. My taste is very British so I'm not sure how I would find it. Someone once recommended Kurt Vonnegut to me -I can't remember the title- but I abandoned it after a couple of chapters.
I'm too embarrassed to say who my first obsession was when I originally latched on to older books. I will look into Lord Dunsany.
I got the reading bug (late in age as I'm a bit dyslexic) because my school class had registration in the library. I just happened to sit next to shelf full of Nevile Shute books that I became obsessed with.I know of Walter Mitty, of course, but never thought of reading it. My taste is very British so I'm not sure how I would find it. Someone once recommended Kurt Vonnegut to me -I can't remember the title- but I abandoned it after a couple of chapters.
I'm too embarrassed to say who my first obsession was when I originally latched on to older books. I will look into Lord Dunsany.
That would be extraordinarily uncool if it weren't for the fact that Billy Connelly taught himself to read at the same age because he had a bookstore delivery job - inbetween errands he'd hunker down out of the way which just happened to be next to a shelf full of Nevile Shute books.
I read Walter Mitty in an English accent, completely unaware that I was translating, if I remember correctly. I even had Walter waiting for his wife outside of small mid-20th century English shops. It's only now you mention it, that I realise I got my bias all wrong in liking it.
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jac_the_gripper:
I read Walter Mitty in an English accent, completely unaware that I was translating, if I remember correctly. I even had Walter waiting for his wife outside of small mid-20th century English shops. It's only now you mention it, that I realise I got my bias all wrong in liking it.
Sometimes on Amazon you can read a sample of the book, I'll have a look to see if I can get a taste of it.I read Walter Mitty in an English accent, completely unaware that I was translating, if I remember correctly. I even had Walter waiting for his wife outside of small mid-20th century English shops. It's only now you mention it, that I realise I got my bias all wrong in liking it.
Seeing as you've made absolutely no attempt to prize my secret out of me, you leave me no option but to divulge it voluntarily. It was Barbara Pym.
There, you've got it out of me, are you satisfied now?
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Circlip: Sometimes on Amazon you can read a sample of the book, I'll have a look to see if I can get a taste of it.
Seeing as you've made absolutely no attempt to prize my secret out of me, you leave me no option but to divulge it voluntarily. It was Barbara Pym.
There, you've got it out of me, are you satisfied now?
No, I didn't attempt to prize it out of you, but I did manage to prise the prize all the same. Seeing as you've made absolutely no attempt to prize my secret out of me, you leave me no option but to divulge it voluntarily. It was Barbara Pym.
There, you've got it out of me, are you satisfied now?
I've not read Barbara Pym, but I think I might.
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Have you got any particular Barbara Pym recommendations?
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jac_the_gripper:
I've not read Barbara Pym, but I think I might.
Some books are better than others. I think Excellent Women was what got me started. All her stories tend to be about "clergymen" and the women who gravitate round them, but the emphasis is on the women more than the clergymen. The humour is very subtle and a lot of people wouldn't even recognise it as humour, but that's what I prefer. There also always seems to be at least one anthropologist in the story, I have no idea why. I've not read Barbara Pym, but I think I might.
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jac_the_gripper: Have you got any particular Barbara Pym recommendations?
Yes, see above. 
I have actually got another recommendation but I don't want to inundate you, and it will give me an excuse to try to grab your attention tomorrow.
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Circlip: Some books are better than others. I think Excellent Women was what got me started. All her stories tend to be about "clergymen" and the women who gravitate round them, but the emphasis is on the women more than the clergymen. The humour is very subtle and a lot of people wouldn't even recognise it as humour, but that's what I prefer. There also always seems to be at least one anthropologist in the story, I have no idea why.
She sounds funny aleady. I've just purchased An Academic Question from ebay. It's said to be wry and amusing.
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Circlip: No, this Saki is as British as you can get.
I sleep much better after a bit of reading as well. Like you said you can get the classics very cheap these days. Have you tried Kingsley Amis and Martin Amis? There's a lot of humour in both of them, usually dark humour.------ This thread is Archived ------
snowlynx: I sleep much better after a bit of reading as well. Like you said you can get the classics very cheap these days. Have you tried Kingsley Amis and Martin Amis? There's a lot of humour in both of them, usually dark humour.
Yes, I've read them both, although a long time ago. Kingsley Amis's humour doesn't really appeal to me, but that's just a matter of taste, and I know that many people find him very funny. Martin I'm not keen on at all. I didn't see any humour in his books, I'm afraid. I think I read London Fields and possibly Time's Arrow, but I'm not absolutely sure about that. He was quite a rising star at the time I read the books, and I was a bit disappointed in them. I'm sorry to say that if he's a particular favourite of yours. 
I'm sure you would be equally unimpressed be Barbara Pym.
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jac_the_gripper: She sounds funny aleady.
I've just purchased An Academic Question from ebay. It's said to be wry and amusing.
Oh dear, I feel responsible, what if you don't like her? I've just purchased An Academic Question from ebay. It's said to be wry and amusing.
I haven't read that. I understand it was compiled from her manuscripts and notes or something, after her death, so I don't know how typical of her work that is expected to be. I'll tell you what: if you don't like it, I'll give you your money back.
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Circlip: Yes, I've read them both, although a long time ago. Kingsley Amis's humour doesn't really appeal to me, but that's just a matter of taste, and I know that many people find him very funny. Martin I'm not keen on at all. I didn't see any humour in his books, I'm afraid. I think I read London Fields and possibly Time's Arrow, but I'm not absolutely sure about that. He was quite a rising star at the time I read the books, and I was a bit disappointed in them. I'm sorry to say that if he's a particular favourite of yours.
I'm sure you would be equally unimpressed be Barbara Pym.
Would you believe I've never heard of her, I must check her out.I'm sure you would be equally unimpressed be Barbara Pym.
Have you read Brideshead Revisited? I expected a lot because of the superb TV adaptation and I wasn't disappointed, great book.
Maybe we should have some sort of book club on here?
I'd sure appreciate any you'd recommend as you know your stuff. Actually those two M. Amis books you read were the ones I read too.
Maybe Orwell was the best of them all.
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snowlynx: Would you believe I've never heard of her, I must check her out.
.
Yes, I very much believe it. I can't remember how I came across her. If you like action, adventure, or high drama, she's not the one for you..
snowlynx:
Have you read Brideshead Revisited? I expected a lot because of the superb TV adaptation and I wasn't disappointed, great book.
No, I haven't, but I too enjoyed the TV series. I read Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh, because I heard it was brilliantly funny. It wasn't, I'm afraid.Have you read Brideshead Revisited? I expected a lot because of the superb TV adaptation and I wasn't disappointed, great book.
snowlynx:
I'd sure appreciate any you'd recommend as you know your stuff. Actually those two M. Amis books you read were the ones I read too
People are always making this mistake with me, I obviously appear to be far cleverer and well informed than I am. I'd sure appreciate any you'd recommend as you know your stuff. Actually those two M. Amis books you read were the ones I read too
I'm not very well read at all, and my taste is very narrow, and becoming increasingly so, so I don't know that I could make any useful recommendations to you. I do enjoy little conversations like this though.
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Circlip: Yes, I very much believe it. I can't remember how I came across her. If you like action, adventure, or high drama, she's not the one for you.
No, I haven't, but I too enjoyed the TV series. I read Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh, because I heard it was brilliantly funny. It wasn't, I'm afraid.
People are always making this mistake with me, I obviously appear to be far cleverer and well informed than I am.
I'm not very well read at all, and my taste is very narrow, and becoming increasingly so, so I don't know that I could make any useful recommendations to you. I do enjoy little conversations like this though.
Growing up in the west of Ireland we had only Irish TV stations, no British. Then about 1980 we got BBC and ITV and so on. One of the first things was Brideshead, what a series that was.No, I haven't, but I too enjoyed the TV series. I read Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh, because I heard it was brilliantly funny. It wasn't, I'm afraid.
People are always making this mistake with me, I obviously appear to be far cleverer and well informed than I am.
I'm not very well read at all, and my taste is very narrow, and becoming increasingly so, so I don't know that I could make any useful recommendations to you. I do enjoy little conversations like this though.
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KarloradoFL: Actually, the Hillerman mysteries take place all over the 4 corner states (Arizona. Colorado, New Mexico and Utah). One mystery ends up on an old decrepit unused military base and another ends up on the Indian Reservation in the Grand Canyon. I learn a lot about my Native American Heritage through these books.
There's a definite sense of enthusiasm when you talk about this, Karl, I think that's great. Is there much tension in these stories? I can't tolerate high levels of tension, and I can't cope with being taken on rollercoaster rides of emotional highs and lows. Gentle undulations are as much as I can bear. Hence Barbara Pym. You don't say how much Native American blood you have in you, but I get the impression it is a source of pride for you.
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Circlip: There's a definite sense of enthusiasm when you talk about this, Karl, I think that's great. Is there much tension in these stories? I can't tolerate high levels of tension, and I can't cope with being taken on rollercoaster rides of emotional highs and lows. Gentle undulations are as much as I can bear. Hence Barbara Pym.
You don't say how much Native American blood you have in you, but I get the impression it is a source of pride for you.
In my profile I put 13%. It was my father's mother's mother. My father had slightly dark skin and my grandmother even darker. I tan red because of this. My father's father came to America from northern Germany and all my mother's grandparents came to America from the area that is now Czechia and Slovakia. It was part of the Austrian Empire (Kingdom of Bohemia) back when they lived there. You don't say how much Native American blood you have in you, but I get the impression it is a source of pride for you.
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KarloradoFL: In my profile I put 13%. It was my father's mother's mother. My father had slightly dark skin and my grandmother even darker. I tan red because of this. My father's father came to America from northern Germany and all my mother's grandparents came to America from the area that is now Czechia and Slovakia. It was part of the Austrian Empire (Kingdom of Bohemia) back when they lived there.
That's quite a mixture. My father was Latvian, but I don't really see myself as anything but British. I've noticed that in your country people often like to describe themselves as Italian American, or Irish American, or whatever, but I feel no affinity with Latvia at all. ------ This thread is Archived ------
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I read everything on a Kindle device, and there are several reasons for this: It is cheaper, convenient, and I don’t accumulate loads of finished books. Some books that are out of copywrite are very cheap, and in some cases even free; consequently, that is what a lot of my reading has consisted of. I have come across a surprising amount of really good stuff in this way, but I think the best gem I have found is a chap called Saki, or H.H Munro. I’m not sure he would appeal to many people in this day and age, but I have come to revere the man.