What Book Did You Last Read?

[Rusted]

Originally Posted by Jack the Pin

The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock

Pollock began writing late in life. He lives in the Ohio back country where poverty, ignorance, and violence are the standard by which people live. His writing is concise, his subject matter macabre, and he has an eerie gift for capturing the strange world of outcasts, deranged and charismatic religious fanatics, and serial murderers. This novel, his first, is about as far away from the current American literary standard of smarmy postmodernism as you can get. He writes with grit, with heart, and with blood. And he doesn't flinch.

Originally Posted by Caustic Coffee

I just finished this about a month ago. This one of the finest books I've ever read, ever. The textured way he describes such a stark, often vicious culture perfectly contrasted the ugliness of the story. Beyond great writing, it was a great plot and a satisfying conclusion. I couldn't wait to read to the end and then I just wanted to read it again.

Looks like I've found my next book. This sounds like something I'd enjoy.

[voodoo_dolly]

Originally Posted by Caustic Coffee

I just finished this about a month ago. This one of the finest books I've ever read, ever. The textured way he describes such a stark, often vicious culture perfectly contrasted the ugliness of the story. Beyond great writing, it was a great plot and a satisfying conclusion. I couldn't wait to read to the end and then I just wanted to read it again.

Have you ever considered a career in writing book reviews?

[Caustic Coffee]

Originally Posted by Rusted

Looks like I've found my next book. This sounds like something I'd enjoy.

I'm eager to hear what you think.

Originally Posted by voodoo_dolly

Have you ever considered a career in writing book reviews?

Ha, thank you.

I actually do write book reviews for Punk Place, Poets and Writers and School Library Journal, just not that often. I'm hoping to be a regular reviewer for Publishers Weekly next fall, fingers crossed.

When a book is amazing, the adjectives and comparisons just flow out of you; when it sucks, you have to fight to think of something good to say, because you kind of sound like a dick when you just hammer a book through the whole review. The bad reviews seem like they'd be amusing to go wild on, the way some of us enjoy tearing Rob Zombie apart, but the publications won't accept them if they aren't measured criticisms.

[Renacimiento]

Originally Posted by Caustic Coffee

When a book is amazing, the adjectives and comparisons just flow out of you; when it sucks, you have to fight to think of something good to say, because you kind of sound like a dick when you just hammer a book through the whole review. The bad reviews seem like they'd be amusing to go wild on, the way some of us enjoy tearing Rob Zombie apart, but the publications won't accept them if they aren't measured criticisms.

This is so as you say, when you enjoy something, like a book in this case, words, feelings and thoughts are unleashed naturally, like an explosion of sensations difficult to contain. An internal obligation forces you to express what you felt.

When something does not work for you, you have to make an enormous effort to avoid defects and find something worthwhile good to say. When you have to think too much about something, is a sign that is not working, at least not insofar as you thought.

[voodoo_dolly]

Gracefully Insane: The Rise and Fall of America's Premiere Mental Asylum

The history of McLean, home to such famous individuals as Sylvia Plath, Ray Charles, James Taylor, Susanna Kaysen (author of Girl, Interrupted), and Anne Sexton.

McLean also played as the muse for The Bell Jar and Girl, Interrupted.

It was an okay read but I think I'd rather read about a low class mental hospital full of dangerous experimental psychiatry and sub standard living conditions versus an upscale asylum for the rich.

[Freddy_Lives]

Michael Crichton - Eaters Of The Dead

[SplitBreast]

Originally Posted by Jack the Pin

The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock

Pollock began writing late in life. He lives in the Ohio back country where poverty, ignorance, and violence are the standard by which people live. His writing is concise, his subject matter macabre, and he has an eerie gift for capturing the strange world of outcasts, deranged and charismatic religious fanatics, and serial murderers. This novel, his first, is about as far away from the current American literary standard of smarmy postmodernism as you can get. He writes with grit, with heart, and with blood. And he doesn't flinch.

Originally Posted by Caustic Coffee

I just finished this about a month ago. This one of the finest books I've ever read, ever. The textured way he describes such a stark, often vicious culture perfectly contrasted the ugliness of the story. Beyond great writing, it was a great plot and a satisfying conclusion. I couldn't wait to read to the end and then I just wanted to read it again.

Picked up this and Knockemstiff (short story collection) because of you guys. Both were excellent. I'd recommend The Devil All The Time to pretty much everyone.

[Klown]

[Mr. Bill]

I don't think this guy actually watched some of the films he's 'reviewed' in this book. Also the cover is very misleading since he doesn't just cover slasher films, there are films such as Demons, Evil Dead, Dawn of the Dead and Dracula in there.

[Cebonation04]

Originally Posted by Mr. Bill

I don't think this guy actually watched some of the films he's 'reviewed' in this book. Also the cover is very misleading since he doesn't just cover slasher films, there are films such as Demons, Evil Dead, Dawn of the Dead and Dracula in there.

Glad I passed on that then.