Creative Reviews discussion
The Attic
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Welcome to The Attic!!
Phil wrote: "As to the most insane, I'd nominate Brave New World "I love that book - I've read it several times. Every once in awhile I'll just get a desire to read it again. Styx put out an album ... oh, maybe 10 years ago or so called "Brave New World" or something similar and whenever I listen to it I have to re-read the book! LOL One I remember reading in English class was "The Day no Pigs Would Die," and I remember that one being pretty weird, at least to me at the time. The English teacher we had from 8-11 grade was big on literature and speech communication, not so much on grammar and the like - we were doing grammar in 12th grade, much to the chagrin of the new English teacher, who was amazed that we didn't know how to diagram sentences - but, lordy me, we were well-read!
Orczy was tremendous! Did you see the Pimpernel adaptations with Richard E Grant as the Pimpernel? I feel justified in exclaiming "Tremendous Percy" at this point!!Book with odd title was "The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat" by Oliver Sacks (the neurologist who wrote the story they adapted as the film "Awakenings"). Fascinating, fascinating stuff - short case histories of weird neurological misfires of the brain, but really respectfully told and utterly baffling. Not obscure but definitely a good title!
Though as a child, the funniest was at the age of nine reading a book whose title was written "My horse FLICKA" (the first 2 words on one line, the next on the line below in caps and not specially spaced out). A kid came right across the library to check she wasn't misreading it - which it turned out, she was. Capitals L and I when too close together look awfully like a U....!
JAC
J.A. wrote: "Orczy was tremendous! Did you see the Pimpernel adaptations with Richard E Grant as the Pimpernel? I feel justified in exclaiming "Tremendous Percy" at this point!!Book with odd title was "The Ma..."
I thought Richard Grant was pretty good -- was he related to Hugh?
Oliver Sacks I liked too -- including his other books, like "Uncle Tungsten" about his childhood in London, and one, the title escapes me, about using music as therapy.
I think the horse story was "My Friend Flicka". Someone once told me that the word, if translated directly, would (in an earlier time) have been regarded as obscene.
While we're reminiscing, does anyone remember The Saint series, by Leslie Charteris? In my early teens I thought he was the epitome of cool. If I remember right, George Sanders played him in a number of movies.
I remember the Saint!! Saw the reruns as a kid and it was funny to see Roger Moore in his youth! He had an eyebrow like the original Dan Dare's eyebrow!Dunno about the films though as I never saw any of the original ones...did you see the highly disappointing remake of the film, with Val Kilmer sadly miscast, in the 90s I think?
JAC
J.A. wrote: "I remember the Saint!! Saw the reruns as a kid and it was funny to see Roger Moore in his youth! He had an eyebrow like the original Dan Dare's eyebrow!Dunno about the films though as I never ..."
No, I didn't see Val Kilmer. I remember seeing the shorts, and deciding that wasn't the Saint. The old George Sanders pictures (I think it was him) were pre-war movies on daytime TV. I'm not quite that old.
I do remember Dan Dare and his eyebrow, though. Our American friends have probably never heard of him. He was one of the reasons I later started to read monthly SF mags like Astounding, among others.
Hmmmm. Don't know much about this so I can't really comment. although, i do remember val kilmer as the saint but that's all. LOL
I never read Dan Dare but I grew up on the original 6pm BBC 2 slot; StarTrek, Laurel and Hardy, Harold Lloyd, The Saint, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), The Men from Uncle, The Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes, The Prisoner, The Persuaders, The Avengers, Space 1999 the odd episode of Get Smart... Later I used to watch the same kinds of stuff very late at night on BBC2. I used to watch lots of old films on BBC2 in afternoons during the school holidays, too.Glad to say I never saw Val Kilmer as the Saint.
Cheers
MTM
Yep, avoid! Not good. Ah, Space 1999... and the others. Quality viewing, those. I used to watch reruns of Space 1999 at uni, sandwiched between Call my Bluff and One Man And His Dog; a surprisingly good combo for hangover-viewing, I have to say, though if you're watching through a post-night-out haze, One Man And His Dog is the really surreal one....
JAC
MTM, would've thought you'd appreciate Dan Dare though; the baddie was The Mekon with his army of Treens and every time they got shot or something they went "Aieeeeeee!" which is now something of a traditional exclamation in my family. Thinking about it, we pronounce it the same as "i.e" which is probably wrong though.
JAC
Don't worry Cassie, it's probably a sign of comparative youth....!JAC
J.A. wrote: " "Surrrre ... good excuse. We all know it's really because you don't want the aliens to hear your thoughts ...
Hey, the local ones are all too busy making crop circles and hanging out on Oprah and Jeremy Kyle... That's not what the tin hat is for - that's the foil one!heheheh
JAC
J.A. wrote: "Hey, the local ones are all too busy making crop circles and hanging out on Oprah and Jeremy Kyle... That's not what the tin hat is for - that's the foil one!heheheh
JAC"
tin ... foil ... tin ... foil ... TINFOIL!!! Oh, do they even MAKE tinfoil anymore? Or it is all aluminum foil nowadays? I've heard that tinfoil hats are the best, so the tin hat would be even better, wouldn't it?
My aussi husband calls it "alfoil" and the first few times I'd always ask "the what?"
Katy wrote: "J.A. wrote: " "Surrrre ... good excuse. We all know it's really because you don't want the aliens to hear your thoughts ..."
You got that wrong, Katy. It's because she doesn't want the werewolves and vampires to hear her thoughts.
Nine Inch Nails... ;-) But I had to change it in the chorus because it was not quite child friendly...It's been more cleaning this afternoon... Sigh...
Hahaha! I love NIN... and I can so imagine what song that is ;p I've been on a Manson kick lately...
Angela wrote: "Nine Inch Nails... ;-) But I had to change it in the chorus because it was not quite child friendly...It's been more cleaning this afternoon... Sigh...
Hahaha! I love NIN... and I can so i..."
I am certain I am corrupting my kids... Oh well...happens to all of us, right? ;-)
We need to corrupt them before the world does ;p
At least they'll be corrupted with care and attention in the comfort of their own homes. And you cna show them how it should be done....Did anyone see the "crop circle" in the shape of Thomas the Tank Engine? Pure genius, that one.
JAC
If the werewolves heard my thoughts....I would have to blush....LOL
Yea, they'd all be following you around with knowing grins on their faces...
HA HA HA HA HA. You might be right...
No one is going to accuse me of being politically correct or writing characters who are politically correct. I think people are too easily offended and I say so in many ways. But THIS is why we can't make jokes anymore: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004...
Seriously? Seriously? I would buy your book just to review it if that didn't also mean putting money in your pocket.
Do you have ANY idea how this makes the rest of us look? Even Tom Crayder is shaking his head in disbelief.
YOU are a misogynist. I'm sure you are selling a lot of books by spreading this crap. I know that because you raised the price (I would have given you 30 cents to do a review, I won't give you $2.10).
I'll make you a deal if you read this: I'll send you my book for free if you'll send me yours. We can both do reviews. I'll even post mine under my pen name or real name, your call.
You wouldn't know a real man, or woman, if they walked up put you in a thumb lock. You low self-esteem son of....
Splitter
C.S. Splitter wrote: "No one is going to accuse me of being politically correct or writing characters who are politically correct. I think people are too easily offended and I say so in many ways. But THIS is why we..."
Holy crap- and look at all the 4 and 5 star reviews! He MUST have his friends and family doing these reviews - I just can't see that many people who would follow that sort of crap actually being able to read anything but cave drawings ... Damn ...
OH. MY. GOSH. this guy is serious? Wow. I can't beleive they actually allowed that on the webiste. This guy must have MAJOR mommy issues. he can take that book and put it somewhere where the sun don't shine. I won't ever bow to him or anyone else for that matter. I feel sorry for his servant- whoops- I mean his wife.
Cambria wrote: "OH. MY. GOSH. this guy is serious? Wow. I can't beleive they actually allowed that on the webiste. This guy must have MAJOR mommy issues. he can take that book and put it somewhere where the sun do..."*snort* You ever see those talk shows with men who treat their wives as slaves, having her bathe him and wipe his butt for him? this Radu guy must be like that ...
BTW - I won a book on Cambria's blog!!! Heeeee!
For real, men that like are pigs and i bet you he isn't american....When i got married they wanted me to pick all these readings and vows at the ceremony and almost all of them said that I would "commit" to being subserviant to my hubby. YEAH thats a BIG FAT NO WAY.
I picked the only one that didn't say that. ugh.
And Katy- i will email you the code for the book as soon as the author emails it to me!
I think the guy's reading and highly rating this book would be better off adopting a dog.Seriously, though, this is scary stuff in the wrong hands.
Cambria wrote: "For real, men that like are pigs and i bet you he isn't american....When i got married they wanted me to pick all these readings and vows at the ceremony and almost all of them said that I would ..."
It's a religious thing - Paul, that misogynist pig, declared that, in his opinion, women should be subservient to men, and since the Church decided that was gospel, it was ... ridiculous.
I'll be waiting anxiously! LOL
yeah, it is a religious thing. And also a pigheaded thing... LOL
Katy wrote: "C.S. Splitter wrote: "No one is going to accuse me of being politically correct or writing characters who are politically correct. I think people are too easily offended and I say so in many ways...."Cave drawings are better done, Katy.
I haven't bought the book, and don't intend to after reading the reviews. To call it crap sounds like high praise.
Katy wrote: "C.S. Splitter wrote: "No one is going to accuse me of being politically correct or writing characters who are politically correct. I think people are too easily offended and I say so in many ways...."Actually did you know you can buy 4 and 5 star reviews on Amazon? So don't go by them. I suspect a VERY popular author that is selling a book rt now like that (no names and no one I know ;p) but in general you can tell because a lot of ppl will 4 or 5 star love it with no real details, and then you will often have other reviews complaining that there's no substance.
You just go to Microworkers and similar sites and pay around 50 cents and get a review. I did a bunch of research on it awhile back and can link the article. None of my reviews are paid for by the way, beyond the person getting a book out of it (and my heartfelt appreciation)
Just FYI.... there's a lot of 'cheating' going on with the reviews on amazon.
Angela...the author in question would not have a first name beginning with a "G" would it?Splitter
And don't hate me, but I have to see this book for myself so I just bought it. Curiosity trumps my moral outrage every time (much to the dismay of my parents and youth pastor when I was a teen ;p)
C.S. Splitter wrote: "Angela...the author in question would not have a first name beginning with a "G" would it?Splitter"
No, a J. I only suspect because they mention it in their book I believe and I read it and wondered along with the old Wendy's commercial "Where's the beef?"
... and so did some reviewers alongside the ones that vaguely said it's the best book they ever read. So it's my strong suspician but I think I'm on cue with it.
Phil- I agree. Crap.I had no idea that amazon was so dirty, the things i hear lately... gheesh. I wouldn't want a 5 star review if i had to pay for it.
Cambria wrote: "Phil- I agree. Crap.I had no idea that amazon was so dirty, the things i hear lately... gheesh. I wouldn't want a 5 star review if i had to pay for it."
I agree, and I'll say that all my 5 star reviews on End of Mae were from ppl I knew personally (like my mom ;p) The sad thing is a lot of ppl are buying the book I'm thinking of because of the positive reviews, so to me that's like stealing. I read it two lately that are selling well that literally had no substance. These are nonfiction books that are suppossed to be offering real advice and one was literally a loose collection of blog posts.
Everyone go to the "Cambria's Blog" thread and read about the crazy dream I had involving the Creative Reviews folks!Also, that's frustrating about the reviews on Amazon - I try to write good reviews, but mine'll get lumped in with all the rest of the "dirty" reviews. :-(
Katy wrote: "Everyone go to the "Cambria's Blog" thread and read about the crazy dream I had involving the Creative Reviews folks!Also, that's frustrating about the reviews on Amazon - I try to write good rev..."
Yes, that must be frustrating and more than a little annoying for serious reviewers.
You can generally tell by just reading them all and comparing. I think it's not likely to have too many extremes that are honest. For example, I have 2 or 3 5 star reviews from personal friends and family, then a bunch of four star and one or two three stars. Watch out for a bunch of 5 and 4 stars and then more than a few 1 stars.People are tricky... I also noticed the same book, a marketing book, is listed in "self help" so it's dominating the charts. It's purely about marketing, so that's not really fair. I'd like to see it compared to other marketing books.
Just glancing tho, you see a book with a bunch of five star reviews and that it's on top lists.
Sneaky... and it results in sales.
Just sayin', getting old ain't all it's cracked up to be:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldQrap...
(Sorry for the Vevo add...it's worth it though)
I dedicate this to the over 40 crowd here...there's a few of us.
Splitter
(PS....kick butt concert if you ever get the chance to go)
C.S. Splitter wrote: "Just sayin', getting old ain't all it's cracked up to be:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldQrap...
(Sorry for the Vevo add...it's worth it though)
I dedicate this to the over 40 crowd ..."
Ummm ... thanks, Splitter, but I really prefer Poison or Motley Crue or even Great White ... some good ol' ROCK-N-ROOOOOOOLLLL!! Country tends to make me rather ... homicidal. So, I shut it off before anything ... unfortunate could occur.
Pffffft....some people:)
Hey, I like all of those you mentioned too (C'mon, feel the noise) but....good is good :).
Splitter
C.S. Splitter wrote: "Pffffft....some people:)
Hey, I like all of those you mentioned too (C'mon, feel the noise) but....good is good :).
Splitter"
I don't mind Johnny Cash or old cowboy music, but ... this "modern" country just annoys the snot out of me.
Gimme some Ratt or KISS or Sweet anyday!
Katy wrote: "C.S. Splitter wrote: "Just sayin', getting old ain't all it's cracked up to be:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldQrap...
(Sorry for the Vevo add...it's worth it though)
I dedicate this..."
I was more of the Cure/Depeche Mode/Smith's genre. All Panic on the Streets of London and Friday I'm in Love.
Did I say "was"? More like 'am' with some NIN, Manson and Mindless Self Indulgence ;D
Mod
Amy wrote: "You know, I can't ignore this folder for long, because when I do, I come back, and it never fails...Im LOST!!"It's easy - just take a sharp turn past Dean Martin, follow the trail of rock & roll, and then watch some old comedy ... it'll all make sense then.
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Yes, she loved Georgette Heyer stories. Nice to know I'm not the only weirdo that likes old stories. As to the most insane, I'd nominate Brave New World -- though, for its time, 1984 must be close to the top, even if he was about thirty years early. We're nearly there, folks.