Review What Book Are You Reading?

ant-mac

Member: Rank 9
Who would be touching "whom" AM :emoji_hugging: and of course he would have his own ideas regarding women in any form (or should I say "position"). But I never doubted the dancing bunnies would be a hit.... how can anyone not love them??
Yeah, I know it's supposed to be "whom", but I'll stick with "who" anyway. Rules regarding the English language are constantly changing and evolving. This is true not just since the middle-ages, but since the middle of last century and even the middle of last year. It is the everyday usage of the language by the general population that sets and often resets those rules. And in our world of modern technology and instantaneous global communication, those rules of usage are changing and evolving faster than ever before.

English is the largest, most complex language in existence, with the greatest diversity and the most variations in accents and dialects from the different countries and regions where it is spoken, in terms of phonetics and phonology. This also applies to the vocabulary, grammar and spelling that is in use in all those countries and regions - and yet English-speakers from around the planet are still able to communicate with each other fairly well.

So, who will be touching who, Janine?

And I've never noticed 007 showing a personal preference for any particular position in any of the novels or short stories by IF. Of course, you must remember that IF was constrained to a certain degree in his writing by the morals and standards of the mid 1950s through to the mid 1960s.

And as to dancing bunnies... I'm fairly sure that there are people of different age groups, cultural backgrounds and religions who probably wouldn't approve of them. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure Hugh Heffner probably loves them... :emoji_wink:
 

Elessar

Member: Rank 2
I finished Disclosure and am waiting for the shipping of Five patients.
Overall, Disclosure is a good read and I enjoy the thrill of the race, or the thoughts about genders and power.
 

ant-mac

Member: Rank 9
I finished Disclosure and am waiting for the shipping of Five patients.
Overall, Disclosure is a good read and I enjoy the thrill of the race, or the thoughts about genders and power.
I hope you enjoy FIVE PATIENTS. If you don't, I get the feeling that I'm going to feel awfully guilty for some reason.
 

Janine The Barefoot

Wacky Norwegian Woman
I'm fairly sure that there are people of different age groups, cultural backgrounds and religions who probably wouldn't approve of them
No doubt about that AM. As a woman, I should probably disapprove just because it's kind of sexist. But I like to think of them as our own "Rocketts", from Radio City Music Hall and like them for the sheer fun of it all. But that's also just me doing my own reinventing of sorts and I'm aware of that too. And the "whom" thing is probably the result of correcting so many English papers... I also have issues with the misuse of their, they're and there.... what can I say? I had a Uni. Prof. that "counted" those as "incorrect" on the papers she collected and her TA stopped reading and gave us a "C" at 3 mistakes. Thesis papers counted a lot towards our grades and I held onto an almost perfect GPA until graduation. That kind of programming stays with you after you've done it for enough years.... It's kind of like "a lot" being two words and not one. I still have a really hard time starting sentences with the word And.... so yeah, I've got issues too!
 

ant-mac

Member: Rank 9
No doubt about that AM. As a woman, I should probably disapprove just because it's kind of sexist. But I like to think of them as our own "Rocketts", from Radio City Music Hall and like them for the sheer fun of it all. But that's also just me doing my own reinventing of sorts and I'm aware of that too. And the "whom" thing is probably the result of correcting so many English papers... I also have issues with the misuse of their, they're and there.... what can I say? I had a Uni. Prof. that "counted" those as "incorrect" on the papers she collected and her TA stopped reading and gave us a "C" at 3 mistakes. Thesis papers counted a lot towards our grades and I held onto an almost perfect GPA until graduation. That kind of programming stays with you after you've done it for enough years.... It's kind of like "a lot" being two words and not one. I still have a really hard time starting sentences with the word And.... so yeah, I've got issues too!
Why should you disapprove of them just because of your gender? If you like something, then you like it. It's called personal opinion or taste and we're all entitled to have it. If someone else disagrees, then that's their personal opinion or taste to which they're entitled. Just so long as they don't try to ruin our fun.

"Their", "there" and "they're" are easy to understand, as is "it's" and "its". I dislike using "and" or "but" at the beginning of a sentence - I favour "however". "A lot" are two words and so are the words "all right". The only place where I still use "whom" is in the phrase "to whom it may concern". I hate text speak and type out all words in full - complete with punctuation - on text messages. And as strange as it may seem, I actually think that the American spelling of certain words is more logical and sensible than the original British versions.

When I was younger, I preferred the concept of a static language that was constant and unchanging. However, while it pleased certain obsessive compulsive aspects of my personality, it is simply untrue. Language is constantly changing and evolving and it has taken a certain amount of effort on my part to unbend, unwind. and accept that. Of course, I've always harboured a certain bias against certain words, punctuation marks with regard to language and I'm not about to give those up!

I'll meet you on the front step of the clinic and we can undergo our treatment for being eccentric individuals together. :emoji_wink:
 

Gavin

Member: Rank 6
VIP
I'm currently on a Michael Crichton fever. Have read almost all of his works during a short time (except some early books which don't sound interesting to me, and which have also received mostly negative reviews). At the moment I'm on Disclosure. I don't know what to read after that. I have also started on Blindsight of Peter Watts but after quite a few page it still hasn't gripped me yet. Normally, good authors grip it within a dozen of page maxixum, no matter if they talk about science or psychology or hobbits.
A lot of his later stuff got a bit preachy. Next was basically a long (fairly incoherent) rant about current trends in gene technology. I mistakenly read State of Fear which turned out to be a climate change denial textbook. I enjoyed The Andromeda Strain, The Great Train Robbery, Airframe, Timeline (despite the fairly ordinary movie), Sphere (ditto on the movie - despite excellent casting), Jurassic Park (of course). Of his posthumously released stuff, I enjoyed Pirate Latitudes, Micro gave me nightmares, and I haven't read Dragon Teeth yet.
 

ant-mac

Member: Rank 9
A lot of his later stuff got a bit preachy. Next was basically a long (fairly incoherent) rant about current trends in gene technology. I mistakenly read State of Fear which turned out to be a climate change denial textbook. I enjoyed The Andromeda Strain, The Great Train Robbery, Airframe, Timeline (despite the fairly ordinary movie), Sphere (ditto on the movie - despite excellent casting), Jurassic Park (of course). Of his posthumously released stuff, I enjoyed Pirate Latitudes, Micro gave me nightmares, and I haven't read Dragon Teeth yet.
Yeah, STATE OF FEAR was a real surprise - and quite a disappointment.

I never thought he'd be a climate change denier. I expected better of him.
 

ant-mac

Member: Rank 9
I have completed reading the ninth book in the James Bond series, THUNDERBALL.

Due to the brief span of time between which this novel was written and the film adaption was made, there is - thankfully - not too much difference between the two versions. And now it is time to move on to THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, which chronicles the love life of Vivien Michael and her brief encounter with James Bond.

“This is the first time I’ve eaten a woman. They’re rather good.”
 

ant-mac

Member: Rank 9
I have completed reading the tenth book in the James Bond series by Ian Fleming, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, which chronicles the love life of Vivien Michel, as well as her brief encounter with James Bond at The Dreamy Pines Motor Court, on a back road in the Adirondack Mountains, in the northern part of the USA.

This is probably considered to be one of the lesser entries in the book series, but it is still vastly superior to the film version of this story. In fact, about the only thing the book version has in common with the film version of this story is the title.

“Now don’t burn yourself up, Mister Horowitz. No need to sing the weeps.”
 

Gavin

Member: Rank 6
VIP
Just working my way through the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. A wonderfully weird alternate universe England, where Neanderthals and Dodos have been un-extinted(??), the Crimea War didn't end in 1856, and people can travel into books, complete with a book universe policing department (Jurisfiction).
 

Sunflower007

Member: Rank 3
:emoji_grinning:~ I just finished reading by ear Down The Rabbit Hole-Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a former Playboy Bunny by Holly Madison. It was an excellent book and more than a tell all but with its awesome life lessons. I decided to read this book since I saw Holly Madison on a talk show that I watch often the Wendy Williams show. She went to that show discussing her new book and spoke about some of the issues she had with Hefner & his controlling ways.
I remember that years ago I use to watch the Girls Next Door on E! and Holly Madison was my favorite out of all the girls. I always thought in my mind that it couldn't have been all that fun in the Playboy mansion. Also sense that Hefner was a control freak too. This book definitely proved my point.

Holly describes it all from her start off from fresh out of college, getting by before she moved into the mansion, as well her relationship with Huge Hefner/Chris Angel, and friendships & play bunny enemies. Holly pours her heart & soul through in her tale. Holly Madison let her readers know that she could achieve her goals all by herself and not to let money, power & emotional abuse take total control of her. It was great having Holly tell us how she brush herself off to try again to aim for a better life. The book was a great conversation.

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"Well you may not see me when you come back

I could be sharing someone else's pillow
And my love for you is better than diamonds
To you everything I bestow"

By: Mundy


 

ant-mac

Member: Rank 9
I’ve completed reading the eleventh book in the James Bond series by Ian Fleming, ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE. This is easily one of my favourite - if not my favourite - 007 novel. Thankfully, they did not stray too far from the original source when they came to make the film version of it. In fact, Ian Fleming actually wrote this book in Jamaica whilst the first film in the Eon Productions series of films, DR NO, was being filmed nearby.

And now for YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE.

“I said, ‘no conversation’. Take off those clothes. Make love to me. You are handsome and strong. I want to remember what it can be like. Do anything you like. And tell me what you like and what you would like from me. Be rough with me. Treat me like the lowest whore in creation. Forget everything else. No questions. Take me.”
 

Sunflower007

Member: Rank 3
:emoji_relaxed: ~ Now I am currently reading The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks. It has been a long time since I've read a Nicholas Sparks novel. He is one of my favorite author's. I luv:emoji_purple_heart: his writing, its heartfelt and precious. :emoji_clap:




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:emoji_musical_score:

"Well you may not see me when you come back
I could be sharing someone else's pillow
And my love for you is better than diamonds
To you everything I bestow"


By: Mundy
 

Sunflower007

Member: Rank 3
:emoji_grimacing: ~ The last book I've finished reading was The Vegas Diaries by Holly Madison. It was a good book and definitely worth the read. Holly Madison tells about her time of leaving the Playboy mansion & Hugh Hefner's control. Her start off with Las Vegas. Also her finding ways to get back on her feet with relationships and show business all on her own will, brains, and passion:emoji_dancer:. I didn't buy this book. I only borrowed it from my local library.


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:emoji_musical_score:

"Well you may not see me when you come back
I could be sharing someone else's pillow
And my love for you is better than diamonds
To you everything I bestow"


By: Mundy
 

ant-mac

Member: Rank 9
YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE

James Bond has finally tracked down his most famous nemesis, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, to a castle in a volcanic corner of Japan. He has come face-to-face with him and finally taken his revenge for the death of his beloved wife. However, during his escape from the castle of death, he fell from the sky into the sea and has lost his memory. He has also unknowingly fathered a child to a Japanese fishing girl, but instead of settling down with her, he has instead chosen to seek answers to his past in a place that stirs feelings of familiarity within him - Russia.

Many of the events or incidents in the film version of this story take their inspiration from the original novel by Ian Fleming, but that is about as strong as the link can be said to be between the two very different versions. Unfortunately, many of the most enjoyable elements of the novel are completely missing from the film. Such a shame.

And now for the next book in the series, THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN.

“Die, Blofeld! Die!”
 

ant-mac

Member: Rank 9
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN.

After failing to assassinate the head of the British Secret Service, James Bond is sent to a special hospital in the English countryside to be de-programmed from the brainwashing he received whilst in Russian control. He is then sent on a mission to kill a Cuban assassin, Francisco "Pistols" Scaramanga, who is believed to have killed several British secret agents. Along the way, he goes undercover as Mark Hazard and is reunited with his American friend Felix Leiter and his former secretary, Mary Goodnight.

The film version of this story has very little in common with the original book version, apart from the title. In the book, published after the death of Ian Fleming, Francisco Scaramanga is just an overblown thug and a nasty Cuban hit man with plans to climb the ladder of the Caribbean crime world. He also doesn't have a diminutive assistant called Nick Nack, because James bond is his assistant. And thankfully, there is no sign of anyone even remotely resembling Sheriff JW Pepper!

And now for the final James Bond book by Ian Fleming, OCTOPUSSY AND THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS.

“The name is Leiter, Mister Felix Leiter. Temporary accountant on loan from Morgan Guarantee Trust to the Thunderbird Hotel. We’re just checking up on your credit rating, Mister Hazard. Would you kindly, in your royal parlance, extract your finger and give me some evidence that you are who you claim to be?”
 
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