Comments on: Acts of NHS http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/ I write, therefore I drink tea Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:30:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Singing Librarian http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/comment-page-1/#comment-2078 Singing Librarian Thu, 12 Jul 2007 19:59:37 +0000 http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/#comment-2078 Have been keeping fingers crossed on Earth and sending thoughts heavenwards (my backing tape consists of summer school students, who are noisier than you could possibly imagine. Helen's would probably make me giggle). I hope I haven't killed any desire to read Mr Hoban's books by telling you you must read Riddley Walker... Have been keeping fingers crossed on Earth and sending thoughts heavenwards (my backing tape consists of summer school students, who are noisier than you could possibly imagine. Helen’s would probably make me giggle).

I hope I haven’t killed any desire to read Mr Hoban’s books by telling you you must read Riddley Walker…

]]> By: Helen http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/comment-page-1/#comment-2074 Helen Thu, 12 Jul 2007 09:51:36 +0000 http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/#comment-2074 It turned out to be an imaginary candle because the church had no fire materials, so I had to pretend to light one, but I don't think God minds. (I actually think this church burnt down a few years ago and now they're funny about naked flames). It was also a little bit hard to say a prayer because of a certain small sidekick who kept pointing to a baby Jesus statue and yelling: "BOY! BOY! BABY! BABY!" But I did and I'm sure God filtered out the backing tape. I hope everything goes well. I sent you an e-mail, but maybe not to right address. It turned out to be an imaginary candle because the church had no fire materials, so I had to pretend to light one, but I don’t think God minds. (I actually think this church burnt down a few years ago and now they’re funny about naked flames). It was also a little bit hard to say a prayer because of a certain small sidekick who kept pointing to a baby Jesus statue and yelling: “BOY! BOY! BABY! BABY!” But I did and I’m sure God filtered out the backing tape. I hope everything goes well. I sent you an e-mail, but maybe not to right address.

]]> By: Ed http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/comment-page-1/#comment-2068 Ed Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:16:50 +0000 http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/#comment-2068 Haven't actually seen Maltese Falcon yet, it was one of those I was always putting off "until I'd read the book". Ditto Marathon Man, now I think of it. Book excellent but Red Harvest is the real killer. Absolutely fan-dabi-dozy. When Gaiman withdrawal sets in - or you find him too much of a cheesy Goth - and you have £100+ lying around for 10+ volumes, Mike Carey's spin-offs of Lucifer are awesome. In places it recaptured the original the-ground-is-moving feeling I got with the Sandman. And the dialogue is a joy throughout. Free sample: "There's an opinion in Heaven that you have done well, Lucifer. It's not an opinion I share." "Why thank you. Grudging praise is the sincerest form of flattery." Haven’t actually seen Maltese Falcon yet, it was one of those I was always putting off “until I’d read the book”. Ditto Marathon Man, now I think of it.
Book excellent but Red Harvest is the real killer. Absolutely fan-dabi-dozy.

When Gaiman withdrawal sets in – or you find him too much of a cheesy Goth – and you have £100+ lying around for 10+ volumes, Mike Carey’s spin-offs of Lucifer are awesome. In places it recaptured the original the-ground-is-moving feeling I got with the Sandman. And the dialogue is a joy throughout. Free sample:
“There’s an opinion in Heaven that you have done well, Lucifer. It’s not an opinion I share.”
“Why thank you. Grudging praise is the sincerest form of flattery.”

]]> By: Singing Librarian http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/comment-page-1/#comment-2067 Singing Librarian Wed, 11 Jul 2007 15:53:19 +0000 http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/#comment-2067 Reed, you *must* read Riddley Walker! However, due to using a language which isn't quite English, it might not be best for post-op recuperative reading. If laughing is good for healing, I'd suggest 'It Came From On High' by Andrew Harman, which had me merrily chuckling for quite some time. Or indeed anything else by Harman, particularly his 20th century Earth books. Only don't buy them, borrow them. I don't generally feel the urge to re-read his books. His parodic fantasy things are in the 'not really as good as Pratchett' vein. Reed, you *must* read Riddley Walker! However, due to using a language which isn’t quite English, it might not be best for post-op recuperative reading.

If laughing is good for healing, I’d suggest ‘It Came From On High’ by Andrew Harman, which had me merrily chuckling for quite some time. Or indeed anything else by Harman, particularly his 20th century Earth books. Only don’t buy them, borrow them. I don’t generally feel the urge to re-read his books. His parodic fantasy things are in the ‘not really as good as Pratchett’ vein.

]]> By: Reed http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/comment-page-1/#comment-2051 Reed Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:42:43 +0000 http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/#comment-2051 Teuchter - but I <em>like</em> jock noir. Latest purchase, <em>The Watchman</em> by the incomparable Rankin. Helen - thank you for the candle and grapes. I've read all of those except <em>Armadillo</em>, so am now considering Armadillo quest. HMH - laughing is apparantly good for the healing stomach muscles. Painful, but good. I'll see if any of the libraries here abouts have that one. AB - Dang it, I've read all of Iain Banks AND <em>Suitable Boy</em>. They are brilliant recommendations, I loved them, but, err, done already. I promise to be sweet to all junior doctors. Singing Colleague - well, you are quite right. I must excavate Mt-To-Be-Read. Do you know, I found <em>Riddley Walker</em> half-way down it just the other day? I can't even remember buying it. Sol - that reminds me of my great-grandmother, in flat on her back in hospital in her eighties, demanding my father bring her light reading. She was a fierce and intellectual lady, so Dad spent AGES trying to find amusing but intelligent and worthy novels. He brought them to her. She looked at them. 'what is this?' she asked. 'Light reading,' he stammered. She glared. 'I <em>meant</em> somethinglike 'War and Peace' in paperback.' Anyway. Love Sandman. But am currently depressingly up-to-date on Gaiman's published oeuvre. Will send S to fetch the new Fforde. Fforde perfect. I think we have Hammett in the Library of Glum, so will definitely attempt him. Have watched Maltese Falcon often. Does it match the book much? Teuchter – but I like jock noir. Latest purchase, The Watchman by the incomparable Rankin.

Helen – thank you for the candle and grapes. I’ve read all of those except Armadillo, so am now considering Armadillo quest.

HMH – laughing is apparantly good for the healing stomach muscles. Painful, but good. I’ll see if any of the libraries here abouts have that one.

AB – Dang it, I’ve read all of Iain Banks AND Suitable Boy. They are brilliant recommendations, I loved them, but, err, done already. I promise to be sweet to all junior doctors.

Singing Colleague – well, you are quite right. I must excavate Mt-To-Be-Read. Do you know, I found Riddley Walker half-way down it just the other day? I can’t even remember buying it.

Sol – that reminds me of my great-grandmother, in flat on her back in hospital in her eighties, demanding my father bring her light reading. She was a fierce and intellectual lady, so Dad spent AGES trying to find amusing but intelligent and worthy novels. He brought them to her. She looked at them. ‘what is this?’ she asked. ‘Light reading,’ he stammered. She glared. ‘I meant somethinglike ‘War and Peace’ in paperback.’

Anyway. Love Sandman. But am currently depressingly up-to-date on Gaiman’s published oeuvre. Will send S to fetch the new Fforde. Fforde perfect.

I think we have Hammett in the Library of Glum, so will definitely attempt him. Have watched Maltese Falcon often. Does it match the book much?

]]> By: Ed http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/comment-page-1/#comment-2050 Ed Tue, 10 Jul 2007 13:19:56 +0000 http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/#comment-2050 Dashiell Hammett. He has recently crossed my radar with Red Harvest and The Maltese Falcon. You can get a paperback of The Four Great Novels which even you should be able to take a day over. Utterly compelling, and therefore ideal for NHS cell escapism. Or there's his story collection The Continental Op, which will feel amusingly relevant after your, er, op. Dashiell Hammett. He has recently crossed my radar with Red Harvest and The Maltese Falcon. You can get a paperback of The Four Great Novels which even you should be able to take a day over. Utterly compelling, and therefore ideal for NHS cell escapism.

Or there’s his story collection The Continental Op, which will feel amusingly relevant after your, er, op.

]]> By: Sol http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/comment-page-1/#comment-2042 Sol Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:32:58 +0000 http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/#comment-2042 My brother lent me the Neil Gaiman Sandman series when I was in hospital for The Neck. Good, of course, but not quite what I meant by, gods, bring me a little light reading, I am going nuts stuck in here when he asked. I just noticed Jasper Fforde's got another Thursday Next novel out though... My brother lent me the Neil Gaiman Sandman series when I was in hospital for The Neck. Good, of course, but not quite what I meant by, gods, bring me a little light reading, I am going nuts stuck in here when he asked.

I just noticed Jasper Fforde’s got another Thursday Next novel out though…

]]> By: Singing Librarian http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/comment-page-1/#comment-2038 Singing Librarian Sat, 07 Jul 2007 15:30:57 +0000 http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/#comment-2038 Hope all goes well. I rather suspect that I couldn't possibly suggest anything that you haven't already read (or at least, something that isn't in Mount To-Be-Read) with the exception of sundry scripts or graphic novels. Hope all goes well. I rather suspect that I couldn’t possibly suggest anything that you haven’t already read (or at least, something that isn’t in Mount To-Be-Read) with the exception of sundry scripts or graphic novels.

]]> By: Aphra Behn http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/comment-page-1/#comment-2037 Aphra Behn Sat, 07 Jul 2007 15:18:10 +0000 http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/#comment-2037 Something large and all encompassing? A Suitable Boy Something neat and perfect? There must be a suitable volume of absolutely perfect poetry somewhere - you'd know better than me Something compelling? I'd say Iain Banks, but he does slide into goriness. Good fortune my dear. At least it is this side of August 1st. Be nice to any junior doctors; they're probably feeling as fragile as you are. Love B Something large and all encompassing? A Suitable Boy

Something neat and perfect? There must be a suitable volume of absolutely perfect poetry somewhere – you’d know better than me

Something compelling? I’d say Iain Banks, but he does slide into goriness.

Good fortune my dear. At least it is this side of August 1st. Be nice to any junior doctors; they’re probably feeling as fragile as you are.

Love

B

]]> By: healingmagichands http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/comment-page-1/#comment-2036 healingmagichands Sat, 07 Jul 2007 12:31:47 +0000 http://www.out-of-ideas.com/2007/07/06/acts-of-nhs/#comment-2036 Have you read The Know It All (One Man's Humble Quest to become the Smartest Person in the World) by A. J. Jacobs? It is a combination book review of the Encyclopedia Britannica ( which he read from cover to cover to cover to cover. . .) and autobiography which is quite engaging. Perhaps not completely appropriate material for someone who is recovering from abdominal surgery since it does contain some quite amusing bits. Anyway, I enjoyed it a lot, you might too. Have you read The Know It All (One Man’s Humble Quest to become the Smartest Person in the World) by A. J. Jacobs? It is a combination book review of the Encyclopedia Britannica ( which he read from cover to cover to cover to cover. . .) and autobiography which is quite engaging. Perhaps not completely appropriate material for someone who is recovering from abdominal surgery since it does contain some quite amusing bits. Anyway, I enjoyed it a lot, you might too.

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