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Anonymous
Guest
I did mean the commentaries 
Kynisk Sokol
Ancient Mariner
Shadow said:
I just finished that one today, and yes, I'm too tired to talk about it now.
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Anonymous
Guest
They sound like you meant them, Mav. ^_^Maverick said:
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Anonymous
Guest
SilentLucidity said:
No. I lied all the way!
Onhell
Infinite Dreamer
Great book Duke, did you get a copy of both Part One and Two? Most editions come that way now anyway, but just wondering.
As for me I've spent way to much time on the Crime of Father Amaro (too slow and wordy) so I've put it down and moved on to Legion, the official sequal to The Exorcist.
As for me I've spent way to much time on the Crime of Father Amaro (too slow and wordy) so I've put it down and moved on to Legion, the official sequal to The Exorcist.
Onhell
Infinite Dreamer
Ok, So I've Finished Legion and I have to say I was very surprised. I've seen the movie (The Exoricist III) twice and they are vastly different. Now this is rather normal in most book to movie transitions, but I usually attribute it to the fact that the author and screenwriter are different people. In the case of the Exorcist very little is changed and I thought it was because Blatty himself wrote the screenplay, the movie is so faithful to the book that, I've said it before and I'll say it again, it is of the few movies that does the book justice. The Exorcist III screenplay was also written by Blatty however it is vastly different from the book!
In the book we follow Kinderman, the detective from the first instalment as he questions the existence of evil all trhough the book as he brakes into these random rants that are rather insightful. We learn the background of the Gemeni Killer who was killed 12 years prior but possessed the body of Father Karrass to continue his work, we learn about Vincent Amfortas, a doctor who is researching pain. The book emphasizes the limitations of science and how in fact there is still some wonder left in this world.
Oddly the book is more... out there in respect to spirits and demons and what is real and what isn't than the movie, also the book is called Legion rather than having an "Exorcist" title because there is no exorcism in the book. In the movie some "Father Morning" comes out of nowhere to try and exorcise the Gemeni Killer from Damien Karras' body... no such thing in the book, completely different and a more... realistic ending (within the parameters of the fiction it is working in). The Movie only follows the storyline of the murders and we don't even learn the whole picture about the killer.
In the book The Exorcist, Blatty leads us to believe it was all psychological but leaves just enough mystery to make us wonder if it was really a demonic possession, in the movie he potrays it as a true possession all the way through. In Legion, it is the opposite, the spirit world is real or at least what we perceive as reality is more nebulous than we thought, in the Movie, the only "supernatural" thing is the fact the the Gemeni is back even though he's been dead for 12 years and he possesses catatonic patients in the hospital he is staying in to do his deeds, other than that, Kinderman is rather stubborn that he believes in Facts and what he can see rather than some religious mumbo jumbo...
all in all a great book that is sadly out of print (I found it at a second hand bookstore after looking for it for 3 years). If you can find it READ IT! specially if you've seen/read the first and seen the "third" movie.
In the book we follow Kinderman, the detective from the first instalment as he questions the existence of evil all trhough the book as he brakes into these random rants that are rather insightful. We learn the background of the Gemeni Killer who was killed 12 years prior but possessed the body of Father Karrass to continue his work, we learn about Vincent Amfortas, a doctor who is researching pain. The book emphasizes the limitations of science and how in fact there is still some wonder left in this world.
Oddly the book is more... out there in respect to spirits and demons and what is real and what isn't than the movie, also the book is called Legion rather than having an "Exorcist" title because there is no exorcism in the book. In the movie some "Father Morning" comes out of nowhere to try and exorcise the Gemeni Killer from Damien Karras' body... no such thing in the book, completely different and a more... realistic ending (within the parameters of the fiction it is working in). The Movie only follows the storyline of the murders and we don't even learn the whole picture about the killer.
In the book The Exorcist, Blatty leads us to believe it was all psychological but leaves just enough mystery to make us wonder if it was really a demonic possession, in the movie he potrays it as a true possession all the way through. In Legion, it is the opposite, the spirit world is real or at least what we perceive as reality is more nebulous than we thought, in the Movie, the only "supernatural" thing is the fact the the Gemeni is back even though he's been dead for 12 years and he possesses catatonic patients in the hospital he is staying in to do his deeds, other than that, Kinderman is rather stubborn that he believes in Facts and what he can see rather than some religious mumbo jumbo...
all in all a great book that is sadly out of print (I found it at a second hand bookstore after looking for it for 3 years). If you can find it READ IT! specially if you've seen/read the first and seen the "third" movie.
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Anonymous
Guest
Right now I'm reading Pendragon 4. The Reality Bug. I'm almost done with it (less than 50 pages remaining) I've already bought the next one Pendragon 5. Black Water. I don't know how much books there will be, but so far there are 7 books.
Here's the website about these books. http://www.thependragonadventure.com/
Here's the website about these books. http://www.thependragonadventure.com/
Kynisk Sokol
Ancient Mariner
Today, I finished reading Bret Easton Ellis' Less Than Zero. Set in Los Angeles in the early 1980's, this coolly mesmerizing novel is a raw, powerful portrait of a lost generation who have experienced sex, drugs, and disaffection at too early an age, in a world shaped by casual nihilism, passivity, and too much money a place devoid of feeling or hope.
Clay comes home for Christmas vacation from his Eastern college and re-enters a landscape of limitless privilege and absolute moral entropy, where everyone drives Porches, dines at Spago, and snorts mountains of cocaine. He tries to renew feelings for his girlfriend, Blair, and for his best friend from high school, Julian, who is careering into hustling and heroin. Clay's holiday turns into a dizzying spiral of desperation that takes him through the relentless parties in glitzy mansions, seedy bars, and underground rock clubs and also into the seamy world of L.A. after dark.
The diary-like style of the prose is very effective at revealing Clay's state of mind throughout the story: a foggy daze, colored by a faint sense of disgust. There are plenty of moments when we wonder at characters' motivations - they often seem to be just adrift in a sea of filth. But none of them are much given to self-analysis; perhaps they don't believe it's worth the effort. Not only were their lives usually a mess but everyone around them, even their parents, were as lost as they were. Where do you go when any friend or relative you might turn to for help is suffering too and has nothing to offer you in terms of a way out?
For those thinking of getting into Brett Easton Ellis, this is a great place to start. Not as good as Rules of Attraction, and not as hard to swallow as American Psycho or Glamorama, this falls somewhere in between. This is basically a companion piece to the Informers but overall a better book. Ellis really is a stroke of genius but not for everyone by any means.
Also, I read The Bell Jar by Slyvia Plath. It tells the story of a young Esther Greenwood at the beginning of her mental decline. She first recognizes its oncoming during a summer of interning at a magazine company in New York City. Trying to fit in with the other interns, as well as dealing with boys and co-workers prove to be a struggle at times for Esther. And later, when the real depression and suicidal thoughts set in, readers are invited into a dark world, one created realistically and with honesty by Ms. Plath. For me the most interesting aspect of the book is the way Plath delves into the psyche of this woman who is losing a grip on reality. It's surprisingly and disturbingly sad and funny at the same time. I could relate to some of her apparent disinterest but other than that I've never been exposed to someone who has been deemed by society to be "officially" crazy. The most tragic element of The Bell Jar is how closely it parallels Plath's own experience. Plath went through a traumatic experience with electric shock therapy and did eventually end her own life at the age of thirty. The characters seem to closely relate to her family members, as Plath had an overbearing mother like Esther's and lost her father, a European insect expert, at a young age. Overall, a well-written tale of how someone "normal" can fall from grace.
NP: Tangerine Dream - Movements Of A Visionary
Clay comes home for Christmas vacation from his Eastern college and re-enters a landscape of limitless privilege and absolute moral entropy, where everyone drives Porches, dines at Spago, and snorts mountains of cocaine. He tries to renew feelings for his girlfriend, Blair, and for his best friend from high school, Julian, who is careering into hustling and heroin. Clay's holiday turns into a dizzying spiral of desperation that takes him through the relentless parties in glitzy mansions, seedy bars, and underground rock clubs and also into the seamy world of L.A. after dark.
The diary-like style of the prose is very effective at revealing Clay's state of mind throughout the story: a foggy daze, colored by a faint sense of disgust. There are plenty of moments when we wonder at characters' motivations - they often seem to be just adrift in a sea of filth. But none of them are much given to self-analysis; perhaps they don't believe it's worth the effort. Not only were their lives usually a mess but everyone around them, even their parents, were as lost as they were. Where do you go when any friend or relative you might turn to for help is suffering too and has nothing to offer you in terms of a way out?
For those thinking of getting into Brett Easton Ellis, this is a great place to start. Not as good as Rules of Attraction, and not as hard to swallow as American Psycho or Glamorama, this falls somewhere in between. This is basically a companion piece to the Informers but overall a better book. Ellis really is a stroke of genius but not for everyone by any means.
Also, I read The Bell Jar by Slyvia Plath. It tells the story of a young Esther Greenwood at the beginning of her mental decline. She first recognizes its oncoming during a summer of interning at a magazine company in New York City. Trying to fit in with the other interns, as well as dealing with boys and co-workers prove to be a struggle at times for Esther. And later, when the real depression and suicidal thoughts set in, readers are invited into a dark world, one created realistically and with honesty by Ms. Plath. For me the most interesting aspect of the book is the way Plath delves into the psyche of this woman who is losing a grip on reality. It's surprisingly and disturbingly sad and funny at the same time. I could relate to some of her apparent disinterest but other than that I've never been exposed to someone who has been deemed by society to be "officially" crazy. The most tragic element of The Bell Jar is how closely it parallels Plath's own experience. Plath went through a traumatic experience with electric shock therapy and did eventually end her own life at the age of thirty. The characters seem to closely relate to her family members, as Plath had an overbearing mother like Esther's and lost her father, a European insect expert, at a young age. Overall, a well-written tale of how someone "normal" can fall from grace.
NP: Tangerine Dream - Movements Of A Visionary
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Anonymous
Guest
I finished reading Ray Bradbury's Farenheit 451 a few days ago. It's another one of those classic dystopias, next to George Orwell's 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. The vision is, as expected, very dark. It deals with a fireman, Guy Montag, whose job it is to ignite books. Books are banned in this world, and anyone who possesses any is a criminal. The people are kept from thinking with their 'parlor family' (some sort of television that runs all the time) and other nonsensical activities. Montag eventually develops a sort of neurosy which he tries to hide from his boss, Captain Beatty, and tries to share with his wife, Mildred.
I won't go too deep into it, but I have to say I was not too fond of Bradbury's style of writing. He uses too many metaphors for my taste. But then, that's just me.
However, there was one passage in the book that really impressed me:
I won't go too deep into it, but I have to say I was not too fond of Bradbury's style of writing. He uses too many metaphors for my taste. But then, that's just me.
However, there was one passage in the book that really impressed me:
He saw or felt the walls go dark in Millie's face, heard her scream because in the millionth part of time left, she saw her own face reflected there, in a mirror instead of a crystal ball, and it was such a wild and empty face, all by itself in the room, touching nothing, starved and eating of itself, that at last she recognized it as her own and looked quickly up at the ceiling...
DeadlySinner
Trooper
Yes, he is.
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Anonymous
Guest
Marley And Me by John Grogan. If you have dog,or had one, check it out.
The Burning Girl by Marc Billingham
Second Genesis by Jeffrey Anderson,M.D. and am re-reading/skimming The Descent by Jeffrey Long because of the movie that comes out next week which is based on it.
The Burning Girl by Marc Billingham
Second Genesis by Jeffrey Anderson,M.D. and am re-reading/skimming The Descent by Jeffrey Long because of the movie that comes out next week which is based on it.
Onhell
Infinite Dreamer
I just finished reading "The Alquimist" by Paulo Coelho and I have to say never has a book filled me with such happiness, love and hope. As you all know my birthday was last week, however after my birthday I was overcomed by what I can only discribe as a "mid-life crisis". I'm 23 and still not done with my college education, working two crappy jobs that barely give me enough to live on my own, the only two real relationships I've had betrayed me in worst possible ways and I no longer knew where my life was headed. I don't remember ever feeling so alone and bitter.
Then I continued reading this book about a young man who is a sheppard, before that he spent 16 years in a seminary because his family wanted him to become a priest. He told his father he didn't want to become a priest, that he wanted to become a sheppard and travel, so he did. Then he had a the same dream twice and that is where his real journey begins. In his dream he is told to go to Egypt where he'll find a treasure, which he'll find if he follows his Destiny. In his travels he is mugged, caught in a war between two Muslim tribes and has to stay several years working at a glass shop to make up money and several months in an Oasis after crossing great part of the desert. In othe words.... He was never told the journey would be easy. In fact he faced death more than once, however the Alquimist told him, "So what if you die? If you don't die today you'll die tomorrow, but at least you'll die in search of your treasure and fulfilling your destiny. Many people die never realizing they had a treasure to look for and a destiny to fulfill." In other words he had purpose and could die with dignity.
Even though the book clearly has a religious slant it reminded me of the words of one of religions greatest critics... Nietchze. Who in Thus Spaketh Zarathustra he tells the tight-rope walker who fell to the ground (I'm paraphrasing A LOT) "Have no fear for you will die, but you die doing what you were meant to do." The tight-rope walker also died fulfilling his destiny.
The story has helped me refocus my goals, my dreams and of course Life is not an easy road. The young man traveled from Spain to Egypt and back to Spain. He met a lot of people who all taught him something different about himself and the world, he also meets the love of his life to whom, After coming back to Spain leaves ones again to be by her side.
I too have traveled far from home, and I must not lose patience with a bump in the road. It all happens for a reason, at least I believe that, and I simply have to stay true to my heart and listen to it closely to live out what i percieve to be my purpose and fulfill my Destiny. I truly recommend this book to everybody. Extremely easy read but every page is full of wise advice.
Then I continued reading this book about a young man who is a sheppard, before that he spent 16 years in a seminary because his family wanted him to become a priest. He told his father he didn't want to become a priest, that he wanted to become a sheppard and travel, so he did. Then he had a the same dream twice and that is where his real journey begins. In his dream he is told to go to Egypt where he'll find a treasure, which he'll find if he follows his Destiny. In his travels he is mugged, caught in a war between two Muslim tribes and has to stay several years working at a glass shop to make up money and several months in an Oasis after crossing great part of the desert. In othe words.... He was never told the journey would be easy. In fact he faced death more than once, however the Alquimist told him, "So what if you die? If you don't die today you'll die tomorrow, but at least you'll die in search of your treasure and fulfilling your destiny. Many people die never realizing they had a treasure to look for and a destiny to fulfill." In other words he had purpose and could die with dignity.
Even though the book clearly has a religious slant it reminded me of the words of one of religions greatest critics... Nietchze. Who in Thus Spaketh Zarathustra he tells the tight-rope walker who fell to the ground (I'm paraphrasing A LOT) "Have no fear for you will die, but you die doing what you were meant to do." The tight-rope walker also died fulfilling his destiny.
The story has helped me refocus my goals, my dreams and of course Life is not an easy road. The young man traveled from Spain to Egypt and back to Spain. He met a lot of people who all taught him something different about himself and the world, he also meets the love of his life to whom, After coming back to Spain leaves ones again to be by her side.
I too have traveled far from home, and I must not lose patience with a bump in the road. It all happens for a reason, at least I believe that, and I simply have to stay true to my heart and listen to it closely to live out what i percieve to be my purpose and fulfill my Destiny. I truly recommend this book to everybody. Extremely easy read but every page is full of wise advice.
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Anonymous
Guest
This is really great, Onhell. I enjoyed reading your little review, and I mostly appreciated the lines:
Great wisdom in your readings.
Onhell said:
Great wisdom in your readings.
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Anonymous
Guest
I appreciate your personal message, Onhell.
It goes to show how a work of art can bring you back to yourself, to what is important. In fact, I think this message should be used as 'advertisement' for culture, for what real art is about.
It goes to show how a work of art can bring you back to yourself, to what is important. In fact, I think this message should be used as 'advertisement' for culture, for what real art is about.