What are you currently reading?

[Jean]

Jean has begun a Crichton epidemic

thanks to you, my friend!

[WeDealInLead]

King - Under The Dome
Bradbury - Machineries of Joy
Lebbon - Faith in the Flesh
Lebbon - Jack London 2

[John Blaze]

King- Rose Madder
Crichton - Andromeda Strain
Rice - Interview

[Dan]

Full Dark, No Stars -King
The Island of Doctor Moreau audiobook - Wells

[Jean]

reading Sphere

I feel like I've died and gone to heaven. I can't imagine a better book to read.

[Mattrick]

F. Scott Fitzgerald's unfinished novel 'The Last Tycoon'.

[mae]

reading Sphere

I feel like I've died and gone to heaven. I can't imagine a better book to read.

Can't wait for your full-fledged and eloquent review in the MC thread.

[Jean]

[Brice]

Knowing Jean's love of both horrors and the japanese culture I think he should see if he can find a copy of the japanese horror anthology listed on my reading list. Of particular note in japanese mystery/weird fiction is nearly anything by Edogawa Rampo ...say it quickly(there is only one of his stories here). There are many more gems here too.

[Jean]

I think I've read all known Edogawa, but I will see if there's something by someone else I've missed. Yes, bears adore horror and are very partial to anything Japanese!

Spoiler:

[Brice]

TOC:

Spoiler:

1.Secrets Of The Metropolis (foreward)
2.Earthquakes, Lightening, Fire, and Father (introduction)-Higashi Masao
3.Bizarre Reunion-Akutagawa Masao
4. The Diabolical Tongue-Murayama Kaita
5. The Face-Tanazaki Jun'ichirō
6. Ghosts Of The Metropolis-Toyoshima Yoshio
7. Doctor Mera's Mysteerious Crimes-Taro Hirai
8. The Midsummer Emmissary-Minagawa Hiroko
9. In Thy Shadow=Hisao Juran
10. Spider-Endo Shusako
11. The Talisman-Yamakawa Masao
12 The Arm-Kawabata Yasunari
13. Expunged by Yakumo-Akae Baku
14. A Sinister Spectre-Morohoshi Daijiro

Forgive my ignoring the diacriticals. I am lazy.

[Jean]

oh great!!! I'll look for them now

[Brice]

Now I must find the first two volumes myself.

[Jean]

what is the exact name of the anthology?

[Brice]

KAIKI: Uncanny Tales From Japan Volume 3:Tales Of The Metropolis-Edited by Higashi Masao

[divemaster]

Knowing Jean's love of both horrors and the japanese culture I think he should see if he can find a copy of the japanese horror anthology listed on my reading list. Of particular note in japanese mystery/weird fiction is nearly anything by Edogawa Rampo ...say it quickly(there is only one of his stories here). There are many more gems here too.

I think I've read all known Edogawa, but I will see if there's something by someone else I've missed. Yes, bears adore horror and are very partial to anything Japanese!

Have either of you seen the movie The Mystery of Rampo?

The Mystery of Rampo
Directed by Kazuyoshi Okuyama
Starring Masahiro Motoki, Naoto Takenaka, and Michiko Hada
In Japanese with English subtitles
Film: 5 stars (out of 5)

I love it when a director shows me something new--reaches me in a novel way. The Mystery of Rampo certainly fits the bill. In reading a couple of reviews prior to watching this film, I was led to believe that it would be at best an exercise in trying to follow stream-of-consciousness, overly pretentious filmmaking; or at worst, plotless incoherency.

I did not find that to be the case at all. Of course it is a rather unconventional film that owes a lot to the school of Metafiction. But I never felt lost or manipulated, or felt that the director (Kazuyoshi Okuyama) and cinematographer (Yasushi Sasakibara) were just showing off. I think I could deconstruct what happened plot wise (well, most of it anyway) if I were so inclined. But that’s not the point. I’d rather sit back and revel in the experience and allow myself to appreciate what I think the director is trying to show me.

Basic plot: A mystery writer (Rampo, played by Naoto Takenaka) creates a story where a woman murders her husband by allowing him to suffocate in a trunk. He tries to get his story published but the Japanese censor board is having none of it. Frustrated, he burns his manuscript.

The next day, he reads a story in the newspaper where a woman named Shizuko (Michiko Hada) murders her husband by allowing him to suffocate in a trunk. He is flummoxed because no one but him had any clue about his story.

Rampo endures further insult to his artistic integrity as his previous works are made into ridiculous screenplays and insipid movies. You can see his disillusionment as he attends publicity parties and press events. Is it no wonder that he would rather fall into a fantasy world where his artistry and imagination can break the limitations placed on him by society?

It is at this point that the film veers into the realm of the imagination where characters are not bound by the constraints of reality. Is fantasy imitating life or is life imitating fantasy? Is he writing the story or is the story writing him? Or are they inexorably intertwined?

I've seen this movie many times--it is gorgeous and captivating film. Hada’s beauty is transcendent. I agree with one reviewer who said "just about every scene in the film could be framed and sold as an art poster." Akira Senju’s score (played by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra) is a perfect fit and some of the prettiest music I’ve ever heard in a film.

*Trivia note:* Edogawa Rampo was a real person. It is the pseudonym for acclaimed Japanese mystery writer Hirai Taro who took the name as an inside joke. Say “Edogawa Rampo” slowly (slurring over the “wa” helps) and with the inflection of a Japanese trying to speak English for the first time and see if you can’t come up with Taro’s favorite author.

[Jean]

No, I haven't seen it! I sure want to

and grrr, I can't find the book...

[Brice]

I've never even heard of it before.

[Garrell]

Finished "A Clash of Kings"-GRRM, now starting "A Storm of Swords"-GRRM

[thegunslinger41]

Just started reading "The Wind-up Girl." Opinions on this book without spoilers of course. It's a bit slow so far.

Gabriel

[WeDealInLead]

I'll get to it one of these days. It won all sorts of awards so I'm guessing it should be good. I've only read Shipbreaker by him and it was good. YA but competent and not dumbed-down.

I'll take China Mievielle over Bacigalupi in the title for the up and coming future classics deathmatch. Check out Railsea. It came out a couple of months ago. He's a master world builder and he'll do it in 300 pages or less. He's got very creative ideas and an original approach to writting.

[TwistedNadine]

Jumped on the bandwagon and re-read Crichton's Prey. Interesting - I liked it better first time thru.
Now reading the anthology Stories - love the first story so far...

[jhanic]

I finished The Dark Tower (book 7) and am about 1/3 of the way through The Wind Through the Keyhole. I decided to read them in the order they were written.

John

[becca69]

I just started A Face In The Crowd and then my Kindle died! Now what to read?

[CRinVA]

Just read I The Tall Grass and A Face in the Crowd.

I have started listening to Mockingjay, the third and final book in The Hunger Games trilogy!

there was a book on the counter at work with a note saying Free so I took it - will get to it when i can. It's The Cuckoo's Egg by Cliff Stoll. Its an action, spy thriller (computer espionage) and it's quoted as a NY Times Best Seller.

Also have The Woman, by Jack Ketchum and The Passage, by Justin Cronin sitting on my nightstand!