Comments on Ken Armstrong Writing Stuff: A Couple of Books at Bedtime

In case I get busy today.... HAPPY 4th of JULY BI...

2009-07-04T14:57:49.137+01:00

In case I get busy today....

HAPPY 4th of JULY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

May you get all you wish for and then some. :)

x

The Secret Scriptures was on my to get list...

2009-07-01T10:10:23.853+01:00

The Secret Scriptures was on my to get list anyway. Your review just confirms that - and moves it up a few places. Plus, I really think I must now add Millions. Two excellent reviews. Would that all reviews were as well constructed and targeted! (i have the same system, incidentally, of a Day Book (usually poetry) and a night book (never poetry) Though I have been thinking that it might be more convenient the other way around.

My brain can't handle reading two books at the...

2009-07-01T04:05:55.451+01:00

My brain can't handle reading two books at the same time. Before college I could do it, did it a lot. I'd read several books at the same time when I was a kid, now I don't know how I did that. I can only keep so many things straightened out in my brain at the same time, nowadays. I'm doing well if I am reading one fiction and one non-fiction.

Jena Isle: The 'Brain Honing Strop' is a ...

2009-06-30T09:27:57.575+01:00

Jena Isle: The 'Brain Honing Strop' is a potent image indeed. :) I remember the strop in the barber shop when I was young, was fascinated by it. British people (and me) would then occasionally say 'Throwing a Strop' for having a temper tantrum. Must see how they figured that out. :)

Reggie: I hear that that is the saddest film ever so bring a box of tissues and be brave. :)

Hm... I'm not sure I'm the type that could...

2009-06-30T03:24:25.827+01:00

Hm... I'm not sure I'm the type that could read two books at once. I mean my own thoughts are so muddled in my head that reading two stories seems like something that would just confuse me completely.

These two do sound quite interesting though. Right now, I'm considering going over to the bookstore tomorrow to pick up 'My sisters' keeper'. A book that (and I'll be honest), I doubt I ever would have known about if they hadn't made a movie about it. But I think I'd like to read it first before going to see it.

:) Hi Ken!

Hi Ken, Profound post, I have to go find my brain...

2009-06-30T01:16:29.470+01:00

Hi Ken,

Profound post, I have to go find my brain-honing strop...lol...I've slowed down on my reading because my eyes could not put up with the strain and I don't have ample time, But I don't give up on that dream of being able to read again to my heart's content.

BTW, I've tweeted this great post! All the best.

Niamh: I knew something was coming but not that...

2009-06-29T12:41:30.126+01:00

Niamh: I knew *something* was coming but not that. I very much like his play 'The Steward of Christendom' but it might not be to all tastes. Interesting thematic streams through all his work...

Hey ken, I recently read The Secret Scripture and ...

2009-06-29T12:28:48.213+01:00

Hey ken,
I recently read The Secret Scripture and thought the same about the 'twist' (which I kinda saw coming but kept telling myself that I must be wrong!). Aside from that I enjoyed it immensely and will look forward to seeking out some more of Sebastian Barry's work :)

Hope: I'm working hard on that. If I manage ...

2009-06-28T21:07:23.829+01:00

Hope: I'm working hard on that. If I manage it, you won't have to pay at all. That's a promise. :)

Finn: Same as that! I used to have a tube/train book as well. God, I got through so many books in those days. It's slower now. I'm enjoying Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and, yes, the family tree is helping. :)

Like the idea of a Day Book and a Night Book...I&#...

2009-06-28T18:48:14.372+01:00

Like the idea of a Day Book and a Night Book...I've got a Home Book and a Bag Book.

(That used to work better when I was a subway commuter not a driver though: turns out the police don't like you propping up a volume on the steering wheel as you drive).

Well thanks to admitting the correction because I ...

2009-06-28T16:47:36.333+01:00

Well thanks to admitting the correction because I thought I was going nuts to have read "hang". :) [Oh, leave the unintentional pun alone].

Between you and Rachel, I'm going to have a mile long book list. Last week I ordered a book, but I felt bad about it. Here the author had spent so much time putting words on paper, only so I could buy it a couple of years later for $2 [1.42 EU]...the shipping was $3.99. [2.84 EU].

I promise if you write the book of your dreams, I will buy it well before it hits the DISCOUNT bin. :)

Jim: Thanks. I had to fix that, sorry. If I w...

2009-06-28T16:36:28.774+01:00

Jim: Thanks. I *had* to fix that, sorry. If I was any use, I would have let my typo stand so that your comment could be more fully appreciated... but then I said, what the hell. :)

(I had typed 'Hand its head' rather than 'Hang its head' which was, as Jim rightly pointed out, a bit Freudian of me.)

"[P]enis hand its head" - ...

2009-06-28T16:22:50.555+01:00

"[P]enis hand its head" - there's got to be something Freudian going on there, ol' son.

As for the topic in hang ... sorry hand ... the one that jumps to mind is The Prisoner, a novel by Thomas M Disch, purportedly a novelisation of the TV series but really other than No.6's abduction in London it's its own thing and a very literate and intelligent book it was as I recall. I immediately rushed out and bought one of Disch's own books - a dystopian novel called 334 which I hated.

Susan: Some of the action of Secret Scripture is ...

2009-06-28T15:27:58.592+01:00

Susan: Some of the action of Secret Scripture is set in the now Clarion Hotel, now the site of hula watching videos, if I recall correctly.

If I could write a book like Millions, I would be happy...

These two sound too good to pass up. I've been...

2009-06-28T14:40:36.365+01:00

These two sound too good to pass up. I've been wanting to pick up a book or two for our trip next week (as if I'll have time with the kids along, but there's always hope...) and I think you've sorted it. Thanks!