Ramblememe January 27: two books everyone should read

[brutti_ma_buoni]

This question posed by snickfic. J'accuse

Comments

[shipperx]

I read the Bryson Shakespeare book a couple of years ago and appreciated it. (I read it as a palet cleanser after that terrible Shakespeare movie that came out a few years ago with Derek Jacobi saying that there was no way that Shakespeare actually wrote his plays.)

Liked the book, but my fave Bryson books remain A Short History of Nearly Everything and At Home.

[brutti_ma_buoni]

Yes, it's not actually my favourite Bryson either. But it strikes at the heart of what my life's about: the impossibility and excitement of reconstructing the more distant past.

[beer_good_foamy]

YES to Bryson's Shakespeare - and for exactly those reasons, too. I'm always puzzled when people claim Shakespeare can't have written what he wrote because we know so little about him; just how much can you expect to know about a reasonably popular entertainer from 400 years ago?

I keep reading the Discworld books in the wrong order. I don't think I've read Men At Arms yet, but it's about time for me to read another one...

[brutti_ma_buoni]

Oh, yay, I'm glad you like the Bryson. It's not that it's deep or complex, it's just wonderfully sane.

I missed out Men At Arms for ages, confusing it with Guards! Guards!, which I had read. Worth it. Not specifically because anything other than mid-period Pratchetty goodness, but that is plenty.

[velvetwhip]

I've read neither and ought to rectify that.

Gabrielle

[brutti_ma_buoni]

Hope you enjoy at least one!

[brunettepet]

I haven't read either *bookmarks*

[brutti_ma_buoni]

Hope at least one is enjoyable!

[gillo]

I was a bit underwhelmed by the Bryson, I must admit. Lit Crit is not bollocks, it's lit Theory that takes that prize. The thing that fascinates me about Shakespeare is how he evades identification. Jonson or Marlow - or Shirley, Middleton et al for that matter - show us quite a lot about themselves. Shakespeare just disappears into his characters, who are not him.

I think I like Monstrous Regiment better than MaA, but I read them all, because you are right about Pterry. I loved the cameo of one of my favourite classic children's writers in his latest, BTW.

[brutti_ma_buoni]

I think we've disagreed about the Bryson before. Afraid it's exactly that lightly underwhelming quality that I like - it's an awful lot more genuine than most of what's written on the subject.

I think Monstrous Regiment is magnificent, but it doesn't really introduce you to the Discworld in all its riot and splendour; too self-contained. I wouldn't give it people as a first DW book. Second or third, definitely. :-)