I am not at all confident that anyone, least of all these two chuckleheads, are capable of adapting this series faithfully. IMO this is a story best kept to the page, at least for now.

I’m expecting original Dune (1984) levels bad.

I am happy to be able to spread a bit of reading anticipation! This is markedly different in tone to Tess and Jude the Obscure, which I think both trend more in line with Hardy’s general vibe - it makes sense to me you are more familiar with those stories.

Hopefully you will enjoy his work :)

Well by the standards you’ve set this is positively modern, but I’d say my favorite ‘old’ book (indeed one of my favorite overall) has to be Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy.

I love how bold the story felt playing with the idea of gender and power in the Victorian English countryside. It was also surprisingly sweet, and I hold the storm scene after Bathsheba’s marriage to Troy in my hall of fame romantic hero moments.

The book is just pure comfort for me, like a blanket and a warm mug of cocoa by the fireplace. Bathsheba and Gabriel Oak were such good characters and i couldn’t help but cheer them on, I just loved it.

I also just find it so interesting that Hardy, who is in my opinion, author of some of the most bleak and hopeless stuff out there, is responsible for such a tender tale.

Whelp, as someone who is currently on a Baldur’s Gate binge, you’ve sold me - will add to my TBR!

I’ve not tried to get into any fantasy pulp fiction, but I have been on a big fantasy kick overall this year so I may have to check this out - thanks!

Sometimes that’s exactly what I need in a book - something to turn the brain off!

Oh wow OK you win the thread! Those magazines are wonderful, what fun items to have in your collection.

I think it can sometimes be difficult to consume media from periods where the common belief systems were just so antithetical to today’s way of thinking (especially older pulp) but it sounds like you have a fair way of handing the dated ideologies 😊

Is Prey the one with the nanobots?

Yes that’s correct! It left quite an impression on me and I am low key weary of the idea of nanobots to this day.

Thank you for these suggestions! I’ve heard of these authors but not actually read any of their work. They may be good to keep in mind the next time I hit a reading block, because techno thrillers just work for me.

Another member of the “this may be inappropriate for my age” club - nice! I’d agree, I think Palahniuk definitely falls into this category.

Very nice! I see he wrote the Jason Bourne novels. My partner is a total ham for those types of books, do you have any specific recommendations or is the Bourne series perhaps the best way to go for Ludlum?

I had a feeling what I was walking into with this question… Can’t say i expected the draw it’s turned into though!

Well now I’ve been sent down a rabbit hole on borrowed words in English and am very upset that décor has been made so boring.

I’m my unqualified opinion, two for sure. How do you even say it otherwise? Caff?

Best answer yet, esp since I imagine you have plenty of fun colloquialisms with an Aussie partner!

Good shout, wouldn’t want to embarrass myself when I make my way out there after the new museum opens.

I kind of fell into skon that way too but from being out in public. Perhaps it is because we are in scotland but I swear it is 50/50 on how someone chooses to pronounce it!

I’ve just picked picked up The Girls by Emma Cline. Not far into it yet but the premise intrigues me with the combo of historical fiction + disaster girl vibes.

This book seems to have an equal measure of haters to fans but I loved the entire series. As it goes on it gets weird but imo was soo worth the read. Enjoy!

Never Ending Song by Conan Gray

It’s a complete ear worm for me!