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Original poster

Life of Pi, Dice Man.....similar books?

29 replies

Maninadirndl · 22/05/2009 21:34

Just read both of these books, I was led to Life of Pi by a blog somewhere which mentioned it whilst discussing Dice Man. I think Life of Pi is one of the most fascinating novels I have ever read (not that I've read a huge amount mind you)

I'm honoured to have received an email from the author of Dice Man.

Can anyone recommend owt similar?

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Original poster
Maninadirndl · 01/07/2009 09:07

Well I finally finished Dog in the Night and i found it a touching story about coping in the modern world. While everyone else who is supposed to be "normal" around him wrecks marriages and breaks up their relationships and homes he seems to come through the whole experience in one small sense saner than them. Which says more to me about the modern world than the protagonist in the story.

More recommendations please!

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Original poster
Maninadirndl · 05/06/2009 22:45

Well I recentlyx got hold of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time and am awaiting a chance to dive in. With parents from UK out here time os short but I can't wait. With a mum who was a nurse of mental patients for 28 years - utter respect for her now I'm older - the world of the brain if yopu get my drift, is a fascinating area.

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jkklpu · 31/05/2009 21:09

Blindness by Jose Sarramago is an amazing book. Not like Pi in the feelgood stakes, but certainly makes you think a l ot about (in)humanity.

RaggedRobin · 31/05/2009 21:02

heh heh... yappybluedog: i was twipping over my words, just like old elmer.

waggedwobin.

yappybluedog · 29/05/2009 21:43

Maninadirndl, someone said that to me on Twitter once

What on earth does it mean?

Original poster
Maninadirndl · 29/05/2009 01:09

Raggedrobin: perhaps your Google language setting is Elmer Fudd. Give that a twy!

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RaggedRobin · 26/05/2009 22:38

woops! that should say surrealism.

RaggedRobin · 26/05/2009 22:38

even cowgirls get the blues is by one of my favourite authors, tom robbins, and i was going to suggest him to maninadirndl, if you like a bit of surrwalism, or magic realism.

my favourite book of his is jitterbug perfume, probably. but they are all hilarious and wonderful.

stainesmassif · 23/05/2009 10:39

Good get Meg. Maninadirndl - sore head today?

MegBusset · 23/05/2009 09:04

Staines -- you're thinking of Even Cowgirls Get The Blues.

MegBusset · 23/05/2009 09:00

Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco.

And if you really want your head messed with, some Thomas Pynchon -- Gravity's Rainbow is the biggie but you could start with The Crying Of Lot 49.

mascaraohara · 23/05/2009 08:42

I loved Life of Pi, I also enjoyed (but not to same level) White Tiger which was also a man booker prize winner.

Whoever recommended Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night was right, it's supurb as is A Spot of Bother by the same guy who's name I can't remember right now

I might look out for Dice Man, not heard of that one before.

no1putsbabyinthecorner · 23/05/2009 08:35

tree with teeth???? no don't think I got that far

Original poster
Maninadirndl · 22/05/2009 23:11

Staines...wasn't that some Kerouac novel?

All that motorbike repair stuff hit home when I was mending my Lada Niva which kept falling to bits whilst driving it across the Saudi Arabian desert 19945-6.

Years back a mate of mine worked for Smiths near you. I remember meeting him in Hounslow East tube stop. Somewhere near you used to be Brentford Nylons which I cam still remember Alan Freeman advertising. did you know he was a puff who had a boyfriend who we know down in Dordogne region?

Baby in corner. Get back to it woman. Be warned the end is a shock and brilliant. Did you stop at the tree with teeth?

Feckinelliampissed.

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no1putsbabyinthecorner · 22/05/2009 22:49

I didn't get through Life of Pi. You have now made me want to read it again and finish it.

stainesmassif · 22/05/2009 22:46

Maninadindl - me too. I loved the beginning, when he is describing driving around on his bike, very vivid, but once he disappeared up his own arse with his meditations on quality........all over!

on the other hand, what was that other 70's american counter culture one, with the girl with massive thumbs? they made a film out of it with uma thurman.

Original poster
Maninadirndl · 22/05/2009 22:41

Staines dear. I tried that book when I was a student.

That quality bit got a bit intense didn't it? The book sucked in all my earnestness until about five pages in the middle when I went...

"Haven't a fecking clue what he's on about, all this Phaedrus stuff."!

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Noonki · 22/05/2009 22:34

told yer!

Original poster
Maninadirndl · 22/05/2009 22:32

Have to wait till these books appear in Holzkirchen Bavaria English Bücher section then!

Which funnily enough may happen. We've got six shelves to pick from which for the middle of nowhere is pretty good.

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stainesmassif · 22/05/2009 22:31

catch 22 is similar-ish, i loved it.
zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance, though i lost interest when he started disecting the nature of 'quality'

scottishmummy · 22/05/2009 22:28

naw dont get me started on Time Traveller wife,shite

Noonki · 22/05/2009 22:26

I hated dice man, loved Pi!

How about the time travellers wife...loved and hated equally but a bit surreal and easy to read.

I really en joyed it so 50% 50% you will too!

scottishmummy · 22/05/2009 22:22

thanks!didnt know that

Original poster
Maninadirndl · 22/05/2009 22:20

Guy who wrote Dice Man is Luke Rhinehart real name George Cockroft.

No it is not the same formula as Pi. Pi is unique and you must not in the case of Pi ever reveal to the person in the middle of the book what comes at the end which is awesome.

Both books are what i might deem the literary equivalent of smoking dope whilst straight. Reality gets bent slightly. They make you think.

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scottishmummy · 22/05/2009 22:15

i liked dice man

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