Guy Portman's Blog, page 24
August 11, 2017
8 Macabre Books
This week’s post is dedicated to 8 macabre books. I have added pithy comments/fictitious commentary below each.
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Yes, that child is levitating.
Still Life: Adventures In Taxidermy
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If you are seeking a ‘fascinating romp through the world of stuffed animals’ then look no further.
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What a terrifying creature!
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This book is best tackled on an empty stomach.
Pride And Prejudice And Zombies
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I wonder what Jane Austen would make of this.
August 4, 2017
7 Books for 7 Moods
This week sees the fifth instalment in my series of posts devoted to books for different moods. Here are more 7 books for 7 moods/states of mind. Click on the links to read my reviews.
In the mood for a Transgressive classic? (Perhaps you have seen the film but not read the book)
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
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A Clockwork Orange is a ground-breaking and controversial work set in a dystopian near future. It leaves many questions to ponder concerning behaviourism, free will and the pu...
July 28, 2017
15 Author Quotes about Ebooks
It was not so long ago that some were predicting that the end was nigh for printed books. However, in the UK at least, it is being reported that ebook sales are now declining whilst sales of printed books are on the rise.
The other day I came across this excellent quote by Stephen Fry (see below) about Kindle. This got me thinking about what my fellow authors think about ebooks/ebook readers. On conducting some research I discovered these perceptive and amusing author quotes on the subject. H...
July 21, 2017
7 Books for 7 Moods
This week sees the fourth instalment in my series of posts devoted to books for different moods. Here are more 7 books for 7 moods/states of mind. Click on the links to read my reviews.
Are you in the mood for something different? If so then you might like this humorous and vulgar parody of the detective/mystery genre:
Pulp by Charles Bukowski
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This, Bukowski’s last book, is a noir detective tale featuring a rude and argumentative private eye. Dedicated to bad writing, Pulp employs a compe...
July 14, 2017
Sepultura
I am pleased to announce that my fourth novel, Sepultura, will be released on Saturday, December 2nd. Sepultura is the sequel to the satirical, black comedy, Necropolis. It sees the return of Necropolis’s sociopathic protagonist Dyson Devereux. I will be revealing more information over the forthcoming months.
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For a limited time only I am continuing to offer a free copy of Sepultura’s prequel Necropolis to everyone who signs up to my newsletter. Click here to do so.
Click here to see the 46 r...
July 7, 2017
Dark Fiction (Part III)
This week sees the third instalment in my Dark Fiction series.
Definition: Dark fiction is concerned with the sinister side of human nature. It is often distinguished from the mainstream horror genre in that it tends not to be fantasy-orientated. Dark fiction may contain elements of black or satirical humour.
Here are six works of dark fiction. Click on the links to read my reviews.
The Pearl by John Steinbeck (1947)
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The Pearl is a parable about the darker side of human nature, in which th...
June 30, 2017
The 9 Books I’ve Read in 2017
We are half way through 2017 already. Time flies. As is my habit at the half-way point, I am dedicating this blog post to the books that I have read so far this year. The following 9 books are presented in the order in which I read them. Click on the links to read my reviews.
Stalin’s Englishman: The Lives of Guy Burgess
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Genre: Non Fiction
This biography of the notorious spy Guy Burgess recounts his life from birth through to premature death in Moscow, aged fifty-two in 1963. After spendin...
June 23, 2017
20 of Literature’s Funniest Quotes III
This week sees the third and most likely final instalment in my Literature’s Funniest Quotes series. Here are 20 humorous quotes from literature.
A melancholy-looking man, he had the appearance of one who has searched for the leak in life’s gas-pipe with a lighted candle. — The Man Upstairs and Other Stories by P.G. Wodehouse
Selfish, adj. Devoid of consideration for the selfishness of others. — The Unabridged Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce
It’s safe to assume that by 2085 guns will be...
June 16, 2017
Dark Fiction (Part II)
Dark fiction is concerned with the sinister side of human nature. It is often distinguished from the mainstream horror genre in that it tends not to be fantasy-orientated. Dark fiction may contain elements of black or satirical humour.
Here are six works of dark fiction, some of which are humorous, some of which are anything but. They are presented in the order in which they were published. Click on the links to read my reviews.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (1899)
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Heart of Darkness i...
June 9, 2017
My Favourite Books (Part III)
This week sees the third instalment in my favourite books series. Click on the links to read my reviews.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
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Brave New World utilises erudite social commentary to explore mankind’s inherent nature. Huxley’s portentous vision has proven to be prescient in its prediction of a science-controlled, consumer culture.
My Review: Brave New World is set in a society where everything is controlled. The parentless, manufactured, free-loving population are dependent on a...
