£3, £5

[gabrillowise]

Originally Posted by earmuffin

Jane and Michael... banks

*nod*

[njw]

haha i just found this...

genius.

[Rich]

Fopp exists soley on the sales of 'The Catcher in the Rye' and 'Donnie Darko'.

*actually, thats a load of pish. 'American History X' and Gang of Four.

[ubermensch]

Originally Posted by Rich

Fopp exists soley on the sales of 'The Catcher in the Rye' and 'Donnie Darko'.

*actually, thats a load of pish. 'American History X' and Gang of Four.

At least 'The Catcher in the Rye' is an amazing book, worthy of modern acclaim. It's a pity that a lot of writers have used it as a template since its publication. Some of the books sold in Fopp are total pish, lapped up by stupid art students and people wanting to be cool. I hate the majority of modern writers (pretty much from the 80s onwards, with some exceptions). Whereas writing used to be a sort of progressive art, i.e. many 'renaissances' over and over again, it doesn't seem to be going anywhere really. Nothing really strikes me as being original anymore.

I remember reading 'Generation X' by Coupland and thinking it was a really great book, but all the books of his that I've read since have been total fucking dirge.

[Rebelius]

you should read harry potter

**or on a slightly more serious note, Pratchett.

[ubermensch]

Originally Posted by Rebelius

you should read harry potter

**or on a slightly more serious note, Pratchett.

I actually like Harry Potter! And Pratchett, to an extent.

[Rebelius]

well then... they're since the 80s

what about His Dark Materials?

[ubermensch]

Originally Posted by Rebelius

well then... they're since the 80s

what about His Dark Materials?

Hahaha, I know that. I didn't say I hated every modern writer, I just find the trends in a lot of modern writing unnecessarily convoluted and shit. Having a glance through my book collection, it's mostly stuff that pre-dates the sixties; this is most probably due to studying my degree more than anything else, but there you go. Modern writers that I DO like:

Umberto Eco
Oliver Sacks (not known foremost for being a writer, but his stuff is awesome nonetheless)
Philip K Dick
Jonathan Safran Foer
J.K. Rowling
Terry Pratchett (preferably the earlier stuff)
Susanna Clarke
Seamus Heaney
Jostein Gaarder
Neil Gaiman

Not a list of particularly scholarly writers (apart from Eco and Sacks). Whereas I used to read for reasons other than pure enjoyment, I don't have to do that anymore thankfully. I haven't read any Philip Pullman.

[Mike - Indi Rev]

Originally Posted by ubermensch

I remember reading 'Generation X' by Coupland and thinking it was a really great book, but all the books of his that I've read since have been total fucking dirge.

Have you read Microserfs? I've got 4 or 5 of his books and that one is probably my favourite. I saw a newer one of his in Borders the other day that looked to be a bit similar in theme to Microserfs that I'll try and pick up soon.

[scottyboy]

Originally Posted by ubermensch

At least 'The Catcher in the Rye' is an amazing book, worthy of modern acclaim. It's a pity that a lot of writers have used it as a template since its publication. Some of the books sold in Fopp are total pish, lapped up by stupid art students and people wanting to be cool. I hate the majority of modern writers (pretty much from the 80s onwards, with some exceptions). Whereas writing used to be a sort of progressive art, i.e. many 'renaissances' over and over again, it doesn't seem to be going anywhere really. Nothing really strikes me as being original anymore.

I remember reading 'Generation X' by Coupland and thinking it was a really great book, but all the books of his that I've read since have been total fucking dirge.

nobody reads books to be cool. surely.

personally i really like a lot of writing since the eighties; pratchett, foer, murakami, (haruki... ryu is good too), andrew crumey are fairly original in my opinion.

since we have a little coupland appreciation thread running parallel to attempts at social satire: although i'd agree none of coupland's books match generation x, only one or two i thought were boring (elenor rigby, shampoo planet). the others i really enjoyed.

[Lynnie]

Originally Posted by Mike - Indi Rev

Have you read Microserfs? I've got 4 or 5 of his books and that one is probably my favourite. I saw a newer one of his in Borders the other day that looked to be a bit similar in theme to Microserfs that I'll try and pick up soon.

Do you mean Jpod? I was never tempted to read that.

Ill join in in the coupland discussion...I only really like girlfriend in a coma. I read shampoo planet and life after god and i was disappointed in them.

I think fopps a great place to pick up books and if it means that people are going read books, be it to look cool or not, it can only be a good thing. Better exercising your brain than leaving it to rot...

[Johnny5]

Originally Posted by ubermensch

Who has read the amazing budget books section in FOPP? I have.

This entitles me to talk extensively about Chuck Palahniuk, Hunter S Thompson and other modern writers, and to quote them in everyday rhetoric regarding my futile feuds on Myspace. The past? Who cares, you're all oblivious, future-obsessed asswits.

Aren't I so avant garde and witty? I feel almost obliged to talk about cubism, futurism, scientology... In fact, FOPP is the cultural epicentre of all desperate intelligentsia.

Gosh guys, I feel so intelligent.

Yet, at the same time, I feel almost obliged to go read other phenomenal writers such as Coupland and Banks, because my wallet has allowed me to feel almost intelligent today. Should I start with classics? No, let me elaborate on the already stagnant present. Should I allow the past to describe the future? No, let me eleborate on the present's ability to describe nothing. Vacuous uniformity.

Thank god for student loans and their compatibility with FOPP's bargain books range. Thank God, thank god, Thank Godd, thank Gadd?

Bile in a handkerchief, possibly relieved as a result of stimulation from laughter. You're pathetic.

Hahahaha, fucking fantastic. Grade A.

[Keerin]

Coupland's a wanker stuck in one style which quickly gets boring. Same as Chuck Palahniuk. yawn.