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Tempeststurm

So you didn't get the joys of 50 pages on the battle of Waterloo, or the history of a convent in Paris, or a discussion of the relevance of the monasteries to 19th century France?

I was promised the battle of Waterloo, but my patience with turgid writing (to that point, at least) put me off. This is only the third book in my life that I've not completed, the other honorary members being: Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children and Joyce's Ulysses. I would have finished Ulysses, but I was far, far too young and impatient to understand it at the time, so I should finish it at some stage.

Wait, I also put down "The Joys of Making Jam" recently. But I was just skimming, honest.

Reply 2321

Tom

Craghyrax

What!?

I don't have mod powers in here

Glad to hear it :p:

I just thought three posts in a row might prove an irresistable temptation.

Craghyrax

I just wanted to know what genre and which author corresponded to the title you mentioned

You cannot possibly seriously be telling me you've not heard of Catch-22.

I don't care how rude it is to say that :p:

You MUST have, surely. But in the face of evidence to the contrary: Heller, war-novel, funny and strange by turns, and one of the most famous english-language books of the last century. It is (fairly obviously, I guess) where the phrase catch-22 comes from.

Reply 2322

Tom

Also: I just saw on Amazon that there's a new Pratchett out on the 1th of October. Woohoo! :woo:

Reply 2323

Craghyrax

fumblewomble

So you have mod powers in some places but not in others?

Yes. All minimods do (the purple mods) They get assigned to mod particular forums in which they have specific experience or high activity.

Previously globals could mod everywhere but didn't have access to certain administrative tools (they're the royal blue mods which you no longer see very often; eg Helenia), whereas supermods could mod everywhere and have admin tools. (the pale blue ones) They've kept the minimods and supermods as they were and phased out the globals now.

The area I have moderator powers in is all of University and University Courses. An unfortunate side effect of this is that they couldn't easily stop me from having mod powers in the PS Help section, which is moderated on an entirely different system. So I keep winding other Helpers [like Tom] up by merging their posts and keeping things tidy even though I refrain overall from taking part in how its managed.

I work closely with the other Universities mods who mod Universities and HE Colleges (which this forum is in) but I have to post report in here if I see something that needs sorting, same as other users.

By the way, did you get your application guide stuff sorted out?

Reply 2324

mwiko

I really, really want to like Catch 22.. but I put it down, picked it up again and was completely lost. Non-linear timelines... cheesh..

Reply 2325

Catsmeat

Craghyrax

I really enjoyed Les Miserables

. This might be because I'm a Christian and I found some of its meaning quite profound at the time. I was also very bored at the time, so read through loads of extremely waffley classic novels at the time out of sheer desperation :p:

I can see that. I shouldn't complain, really, seeing as my big, big weakness is for Russian literature and that is predominantly bleak and slowly paced (though Russian short stories are absurdly good, I've found).

Craghyrax

I definitely missed alot the first time I read it; years ago. I've seen Phantom of the Opera since then, which instantly changed the book entirely.

This might help, I imagine. That's why Soul Music and Moving Pictures were more immediate for me. An author for all minds, I suppose.

Craghyrax

Really? I much prefer his mid-level work. The stuff based in Ankh Morpork with the City Watch and the Unseen University... I never really got on with Rincewind :no:

Love Vimes :love:

And don't you mean Equal Rites?

(I blame Firefox changing my words, 'guv :p:

). I do really enjoy the Watch books; he's had so long to develop the characters. However, there is just something so much more elemental about the early novels; the magic and magicians still make the Discworld for me, so I guess that's why. Lucky, then, that the next novel is Wizard (or 'Wizzard', ha) based.

Craghyrax

Sadly my French and German aren't good enough to get any of the subtleties, although I did try a few times, as we had French Asterixes at home of titles we didn't have in English. I did often wonder, though, how much was lost in translation, and also whether some of the hilarious English puns were missed out on in the French.

That is true; the English characters in Asterix were very, well, Powell and Pressburger, lot's of "what?", and "old fruit". Hmm.

Reply 2326

Craghyrax

Tom

Also: I just saw on Amazon that there's a new Pratchett out on the 1th of October. Woohoo! :woo:

Reply 2327

scarlet ibis

Oh catch 22 is great. Funny and terribly horrific in places. Its basically about the sheer madness of war.

Reply 2328

fumblewomble

Craghyrax

By the way, did you get your application guide stuff sorted out?

Thanks for the explanation.

The stuff in my profile? Nah, couldn't be bothered with it in the end - I want to be able to fiddle with it myself and add to it when I like so getting mods to do it doesn't suit me. I got the tactical college choice thing in though and someone has already told me that they've read it there.

Reply 2329

Tom

doublepost

somehow I managed to re-post rather than edit :s-smilie:

Reply 2330

Craghyrax

Tom, I've heard of the phrase obviously, but didn't realise it was a book :no:

Catsmeat

Wait, I also put down "The Joys of Making Jam" recently. But I was just skimming, honest.

Catsmeat

I still need to get round to reading War and Peace

Catsmeat

This might help, I imagine. That's why Soul Music and Moving Pictures were more immediate for me. An author for all minds, I suppose.

Soul Music was awesome!!! Bought it recently again. Susan is one of my favourite characters. I pride myself on a similar personality :sly:

I got inordinately excited when Pratchett named one of Susan's school children in Thief of Time (another favourite) after me! :nutcase:

- rare occurence, if you know my name.

Catsmeat

(I blame Firefox changing my words, 'guv :p:

Oh really? Cool. I love the Librarian and Cohen the Barbarian :biggrin:

And "the Heavenly Guard who stomp on the fingers of the terminally inquisitive"... and.. and.. . :love:

Catsmeat

That is true; the English characters in Asterix were very, well, Powell and Pressburger, lot's of "what?", and "old fruit". Hmm.

It works

Reply 2331

Canned Door

Whilst we're on Pratchett, does anyone know anything about the theatre production of Nation that's being put on in the National Theatre at the moment?
I think I'll probably just try and get a ticket for the NT:Live (broadcast to certain cinemas live - in cambridge, the arts playhouse across from emma) in January if it's any good. I've not even read Nation yet. I used to keep so well on top of his books. :frown:

But the earlier ones tend to be better anyway.

Reply 2332

harr

I made a poor show (generally a no show) at fancy dress things last year, but currently have a strong urge to attach a toothbrush to my face and go as Hitler. Not entirely certain it would go down well...

Craghyrax

Really? I much prefer his mid-level work. The stuff based in Ankh Morpork with the City Watch and the Unseen University... I never really got on with Rincewind

Love Vimes

And don't you mean Equal Rites?

+1 apart from the Rincewind bit

Reply 2333

Slumpy

Craghyrax

I definitely missed alot the first time I read it; years ago. I've seen Phantom of the Opera since then, which instantly changed the book entirely.Really? I much prefer his mid-level work. The stuff based in Ankh Morpork with the City Watch and the Unseen University... I never really got on with Rincewind :no:

Love Vimes :love:

And don't you mean Equal Rites?

Vimes and Vetinari are always my favourite ones, but Weatherwax stuff is pretty good too I think.

Reply 2334

Tom

Craghyrax

Tom, I've heard of the phrase obviously, but didn't realise it was a book

Well, go and read it. 'Tis one of those ones you should.

War and Peace too, though you'll need to set aside some time for that...

Reply 2335

Tempeststurm

Death has to be my favourite.

"I meant," said Iplsore bitterly, "what is there in this world that makes living worthwhile?"

Death thought about it. "CATS," he said eventually, "CATS ARE NICE."

Reply 2336