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Post by Patrick on Nov 25, 2008 13:44:23 GMT
I adore books, but I don't have a lot of patience in Libraries. So tend to come across things by accident rather than by a deliberate search. Anyway - bumped into this book t'other day and was intrigued by it - the description and the first couple of pages. Now, as my library takes donations it had two copies of this and I'd been flicking through the crappier one - so I picked up the slightly neater one to take away with me. It wasn't until I got home that I saw the "Richard and Judy Book Club" sticker in the bottom right hand corner! It just goes to show were prejudice can get you - had I picked up that book first and seen the sticker it would have been back on the shelf quicker than you can say "Quiet Please" with an embarrassed look over my shoulder to make sure no one saw me! As it was - I'm now halfway through it already and am thoroughly enjoying it - what's worse - I notice one of the labels that Amazon place upon this novel - is - (Oh the shame!) - "Chick Lit"I confess! I'm in touch with my feminine side! Alright? Um. Oh? The Book? I was attracted by the main character's obsessive compulsion to count things. I've not had that myself - but I've had plenty of OCD tendencies. A lot better now than they were (albeit well hidden) during my school days, I still have the odd moment though - when a general routine starts tipping towards compulsion! The rings on the gas hob are one thing that springs to mind! Along the same lines - if you had one of these clever clever cars that locks and unlocks itself automatically via the keyfob just from you being near to it - how could you make sure it was really ever locked? Every time you'd try and check the door handle it would just unlock again! You'd permanently have to have someone with you (without the key to go back and check!??)
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Post by Alpha Hooligan on Nov 25, 2008 15:01:47 GMT
Seek help. Immediately!
AH
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Post by housesparrow on Nov 25, 2008 16:30:16 GMT
"Along the same lines - if you had one of these clever clever cars that locks and unlocks itself automatically via the keyfob just from you being near to it - how could you make sure it was really ever locked? Every time you'd try and check the door handle it would just unlock again! You'd permanently have to have someone with you (without the key to go back and check!??)"
For some reason I thought that silly idea had been abandoned for that reason, so don't fear on that account.
I also once picked up a "Richard and Judy Good Read" by mistake. I abandoned it, and I'm now wondering whether it was the label that put me off.
Do I need to get help too?
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Post by Patrick on Nov 28, 2008 14:34:23 GMT
Summary of the book so far. Grace counts everything. from the footsteps it takes to walk to places, to the bits of coconut on top of a cake - the latter then defining how many bites she can eat the cake in. She has at one point lost her job through this compulsion. However she meets a man, a nice gentle chap who begins to help her out - puts her in touch with the right people. Of course part of the treatment involves drugs which slowly turn her into a bit of a Zombie. Albeit a normal Zombie who does normal things. Like watch telly all day At one point her Mother has an accident and in Grace's increasingly befuddled state she realises that how she feels is not good. So, after a traumatic day at the hospital where her sister, brother in law and boyfriend are discussing putting her mother into sheltered accomodation, Grace chucks the B/F, cancels her support group, cancels the therapist and chucks her pills down the loo and starts counting again - with a subtle difference - she does let a bit more variety into her life and - gets a job - a data entry processor working (with numbers) from home. That's as far as I've got. The writing is in that casual Australian style (from whence the author comes) and keeps you cosily trundling through it. You feel for the main character - and the style of writing draws you in - for instance; Grace's slow befuddlement - as you read you think that the whole book is getting suffocating. It's not bad, it's not scientific and can be a bit soapy. I'd like to see whether this came out of any kind of personal experience. It would be a bit of a fraud otherwise. If not - then it's a fair representation.
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Post by motorist on Nov 28, 2008 14:49:37 GMT
Sorry, I found the synopsis boring but I did pick up on the zombies
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Post by trubble on Nov 28, 2008 16:42:35 GMT
What's the thing about the gas rings on the hob?
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Post by everso on Nov 28, 2008 17:45:38 GMT
What's the thing about the gas rings on the hob? Woah!
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Post by everso on Nov 28, 2008 17:48:44 GMT
If this is confession time, I actually did start "My Booky Wook" by Russell Brand. I found it on the bookshelf in my son's room after he'd gone back to Australia earlier this year. (I shall have to slap him about it a bit when he comes home next June for actually buying it in the first place) It's the biggest load of old twaddle and I gave up after about 20 pages. In my defence, I was desperate at the time because I didn't have a bedside book to read.
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Post by trubble on Nov 28, 2008 18:12:20 GMT
Oh if it's confession time...I bought a bottle of soy sauce with a label on it saying 'One of Delia's Cheats'. It was my usual brand so I resented it.
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Post by Patrick on Nov 29, 2008 19:35:47 GMT
I have to run my hand up and down the hob knobs and I usually have to do it about 2 or 3 times to make sure they're turned off, at the end of the evening. Not quite as silly an idea - as once when Mother In Law was staying I discovered she hadn't turned one off properly.
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Post by trubble on Nov 30, 2008 16:18:20 GMT
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Post by Alpha Hooligan on Nov 30, 2008 17:49:43 GMT
This thread is actually a stark reminder that I have not read a book for several month's...I have around a dozen brand new novels that I haven't even touched. I need to get back into the habit, as it's good for my little brain. AH
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Post by Alpha Hooligan on Nov 30, 2008 17:51:03 GMT
Sorry, I found the synopsis boring but I did pick up on the zombies I think the likes of you and I are hardwired like that. AH
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Post by motorist on Nov 30, 2008 17:58:51 GMT
Sorry, I found the synopsis boring but I did pick up on the zombies I think the likes of you and I are hardwired like that. AH Speaking of which, Saara wanted me to knock up a pressies list (we only have each other to get for now). I spotted this brilliant massive compilation of zombie comic stories. It had to go on the list, of course ;D Oh yes, and the people who came up wiht the "Zombies!!!" board game, have come out with "Humans!!!" where you play the Zoms - on the list as well ;D
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Post by Alpha Hooligan on Nov 30, 2008 18:12:47 GMT
Mate, you NEED this novel from your good missus... Day By Day ArmageddonIt's written by a serving US soldier, so he has some good knowledge, but more importantly, the book is great! It's written like a journal so easily picked up when you've got 5 minutes if you are rushed (although I consumed it in one day). Pick it up from amazon or play. You will not regret it. You can read the first chapter here... www.tacticalunderground.us/AH P.S. You haven't picked one of those "the walking dead" graphic novels have you? There are several I believe, quite good by all accounts.
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Post by motorist on Nov 30, 2008 19:54:03 GMT
Added to the list now
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Post by Alpha Hooligan on Nov 30, 2008 20:04:40 GMT
Good man, I am convinced you will enjoy it...it's not all mindless, gung-ho marine action, it's very realistic IMO...the main character does the sort of things a sensible person would do in a full on zombie-holocaust situation.
AH
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Post by motorist on Nov 30, 2008 20:43:54 GMT
Good man, I am convinced you will enjoy it...it's not all mindless, gung-ho marine action, it's very realistic IMO...the main character does the sort of things a sensible person would do in a full on zombie-holocaust situation. AH Throw the slower moving people at them and run? ;D
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Post by everso on Dec 1, 2008 18:33:23 GMT
Alpha and Moto - you need to read The Pickwick Papers on the run up to Christmas. It's one of my favourite all time books.
No zombies though - unless you count The Fat Boy.
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Post by Alpha Hooligan on Dec 1, 2008 18:42:08 GMT
Any set-piece infantry battles or massive naval engagements?
Any acts of pure heroism, one man standing against the might of an empire, rescuing helpless princesses or the like?
Any objects of immense power created by long dead races?
Any evil sorcerors/demi-gods risen to bathe the land in blood?
These are all important factors for me...I won't pick up a book unless it has a few of the above contents.
AH
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