The 'Currently Reading' Thread.

[Michael_3165]

Average based on my own experience of ppl and the huge criticisms online. Wee aren't talking about woke whites who would buy this and review. We are talking about the everyday person on the street. But do try again.

Also I am only stating what the authors tell us is true. Finger point at them. You wouldn't tell BAME woman that her experiences aren't valid would you? 

If you dont like my attitude that's also OK

 

Sam Harris' podcast 207 is basically my point stated much more articulately 

Edited August 3, 2020 by Michael_3165

[Keith Houchen]

32 minutes ago, Michael_3165 said:

I don't believe in it

There you go   but seriously, I was confusing you with bono, my apologies. I got it wrong. You didn’t come across well in that thread but at least you’re trying to educate yourself on the subject. The more uncomfortable the material makes white people feel, the better in my opinion. 

[Michael_3165]

1 hour ago, Keith Houchen said:

There you go   but seriously, I was confusing you with bono, my apologies. I got it wrong. You didn’t come across well in that thread but at least you’re trying to educate yourself on the subject. The more uncomfortable the material makes white people feel, the better in my opinion. 

As long as its based on facts then yes I totally agree. 

I'd have known if I had said something like that. I'm normally fairly close to the edge but intentionally avoid going over it. That I will admit. 

Have a superb day 

[SuperBacon]

I hope you have a shit day myself @Keith Houchen

[Mr_Danger]

I finished Neverwhere yesterday on Audible. Not my favourite but still good. The world building is excellent and as always Gaiman’s narration really brings it to life but the story was a little weak. In fact it felt a bit like Neil Gaiman fan fiction, just really good fan fiction. The epilogue was fucking pants though. I’m really surprised BBC haven’t adapted this starring James McAvoy.

[HarmonicGenerator]

6 hours ago, Mr_Danger said:

I finished Neverwhere yesterday on Audible. Not my favourite but still good. The world building is excellent and as always Gaiman’s narration really brings it to life but the story was a little weak. In fact it felt a bit like Neil Gaiman fan fiction, just really good fan fiction. The epilogue was fucking pants though. I’m really surprised BBC haven’t adapted this starring James McAvoy.

I’m pretty sure it was BBC who did the Neverwhere radio drama a few years ago starring McAvoy. Great cast and well worth a listen - Natalie Dormer, Sophie Okenedo, Tony Head, Cumberbatch, and I think Christopher Lee as well.

Edited September 11, 2020 by HarmonicGenerator

[ReturnOfTheMack]

I enjoyed the original series of Neverwhere. Sure the effects could be a tad ropey, but par for the course for BBC2 in the mid 90s. Plus it has Peter Capaldi and Tamsin Greg, so I'm sold even now.

[Keith Houchen]

“Currently Reading”

[Mr_Danger]

45 minutes ago, Keith Houchen said:

“Currently Reading”

From a man who get’s his chips from a kebab shop no less.

[BomberPat]

I like Neverwhere, but I read it immediately followed by American Gods and it felt like watching an author mature - Neverwhere felt like some good ideas delivered in a pretty heavy-handed fashion, while American Gods tackled a similar conceit while still building a strong story throughout. I may have to revisit it, but I remember tiring of the "name of a tube station, only literal" gimmick towards the end of Neverwhere. Some good characters, though, and I likewise have a soft spot for the old BBC shoestring budget version.

I'm currently reading How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney, and it's fantastic stuff, though as it was written in 1972 a lot of its early premise is based on being very optimistic about the potential of socialism in the developing world, which is just depressing reading with hindsight. While in style it's very different, it reminds me of Ibram X. Kendi in how well laid out its arguments are, and how it makes you stop and consider why things are the way they are and make you reconsider long-held beliefs or assumptions. 

[Keith Houchen]

27 minutes ago, Mr_Danger said:

From a man who get’s his chips from a kebab shop no less.

I get kebabs from a chip shop, get out of that one, Rommel. 

[Carbomb]

56 minutes ago, BomberPat said:

I'm currently reading How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney, and it's fantastic stuff, though as it was written in 1972 a lot of its early premise is based on being very optimistic about the potential of socialism in the developing world, which is just depressing reading with hindsight. While in style it's very different, it reminds me of Ibram X. Kendi in how well laid out its arguments are, and how it makes you stop and consider why things are the way they are and make you reconsider long-held beliefs or assumptions. 

There is very little that makes me angrier than when I think about how the US and Europe destroyed post-colonial Africa's and South America's democratic processes and replaced them with corrupt dictators to continue their imperialist strangleholds via proxy. All the good work by Kwame Nkruma, Samora Machel, Cheddi Jagan, and others across the global South, undermined or undone because they were left-wing. 

Beacons of democracy indeed.

[BomberPat]

Yep - US intervention and colonialism is something that shouldn't be allowed to go undiscussed whenever you hear people talk about Socialism or Communism having "failed", too. 

[hallicks]

On 9/11/2020 at 6:43 AM, Mr_Danger said:

I finished Neverwhere yesterday on Audible. Not my favourite but still good. The world building is excellent and as always Gaiman’s narration really brings it to life but the story was a little weak. In fact it felt a bit like Neil Gaiman fan fiction, just really good fan fiction. The epilogue was fucking pants though. I’m really surprised BBC haven’t adapted this starring James McAvoy.

I enjoyed it but I felt the main character was mostly peripheral and a bit of a damp squib generally. Maybe that's the point, I dunno. It felt like everyone and everything around him was interesting and he was just kinda there. 

[Mr_Danger]

26 minutes ago, hallicks said:

I enjoyed it but I felt the main character was mostly peripheral and a bit of a damp squib generally. Maybe that's the point, I dunno. It felt like everyone and everything around him was interesting and he was just kinda there. 

Yeah that’s how I felt about him, deliberately dull and uninteresting so that the reader (or ear readers as we like to be known) would be able to see this fantastical world through his eyes. It’s just that like Pat mentioned I worked my way backwards to Neverwhere so on the back of God’s it wasn’t as fantastical or well written as I anticipated. He also had a fair few Americanisms in there, were they in the original or has he slipped them in for the Audible audience?

Surprised there’s not a follow up, you’d think with all that Amazon money he’s been hoovering up it’d be in the works. The stuff with Door’s sister wasn’t resolved at all.