Nice people thread 2 - now even nicer

SingleSue

I've got a feeling I have read that book, or at least excerpts of it in the True Crime magazines I also like.

Now that is an idea, my subscriptions are coming due for the magazines, I can always ask my parents to get me one of them! Only £25 for the year so within their budget too.....now why didn't I think of that before, it was what they got me last year!

wageslave

I love Dexter. I have the ebooks somewhere

I read the Capote thing yonks ago. Wasn't it proved he had made a lot of it up?

I disremember.

lemonjelly

wageslave wrote: »

I love Dexter. I have the ebooks somewhere

I read the Capote thing yonks ago. Wasn't it proved he had made a lot of it up?

I disremember.

Loved the dexter tv series too.

Regarding In Cold Blood. The book is based upon factual events. Capote pretty much embellished everything he ever said or wrote - that's the kind of character he was.

Essentially he managed to get permission from the investigation team to monitor them pursuing the criminals. Later on, he befriended the perpetrators of the crimes, & conducted a lot of interviews with them & corresponded a lot with them, piecing together bits of info to build up the whole narrative.

The book is an interesting take into why people commit certain crimes, & also society's methods of punishment (hence the title lends itself to murder in cold blood, & also punishment in cold blood).

That said, in the interests of making it readable, I feel even Capote would state that it isn't 100% all fact, but it is a series of facts stitched together with his narrative. Hence the "faction" phrase, (which I think even Capote labelled in cold blood as being the first book in the faction vein).

The events are pretty much proveable - the crimes, trials etc.

wageslave

One of the best books I have ever read was Helter Skelter (I forget who wrote it , somebody Dean I think, anyways too lazy to google it). He was a prosecutor on the Manson family trials.

Fascinating insight into the minds of Manson and his followers. Chilling reading.

The books on the Nuremberg trials made interesting reading as did Goebbels diaries and the recreation of the last days in the Hitler bunker.

I obviously have a gruesome streak:o

lemonjelly

wageslave wrote: »

One of the best books I have ever read was Helter Skelter (I forget who wrote it , somebody Dean I think, anyways too lazy to google it). He was a prosecutor on the Manson family trials.

Fascinating insight into the minds of Manson and his followers. Chilling reading.

The books on the Nuremberg trials made interesting reading as did Goebbels diaries and the recreation of the last days in the Hitler bunker.

I obviously have a gruesome streak:o

Helter Skelter was the Beatles tune off the White Album. Manson became obsessed with the white album, seeing it as a prophecy.

I have a book on my "to read" shelf called Eyewitness Auschwitz by a jewish guy who became a kapo whilst in auschwitz - essentially policing his own people on route to the chambers.

Some may say it is a brutal subject. However, firstly such a book is testimony to the holocaust deniers (they're still out there folks...), but also, tell us about the human psyche - especially under some extreme circumstances. How many of us wouldn't be capable of such stuff? You can't always tell until you're in the position I think...

Similar to this, I read The Junior Officers Reading Club early this year (by Patrck Hennessey). Interesting take on actually being in the forces.

Over the past 3 years or so I have developed quite an interest in the Jack the Ripper mystery, & have read numerous books about the subject. Some friends have actually started to refuse my emailed weblinks for suggestions for birthday presents/christmas presents, telling me to get into "normal" stuff.

lostinrates

That was quick...no sooner than the clocks change and i have a broody hen!

Decisions, decisions....I could, but they'll hatch when we're having a weekend house party....could be traumatic for guests?

still, I'm letting the hen do all the work. I think I will give her back today's tomorrow if she's sitting on whatever is laid tomorrow. Yes. nice to have chicks early in the year, they can enjoy summer..

vivatifosi

SingleSue wrote: »

I use Amazon all the time for the second hand books but my family are not so inclined and that is where my problem lies. I can spend ages going over the different authors available, comparing prices between there and Ebay to get the best deal plus also at the same time, discovering new authors I may like to try. My parents on the other hand, just want to go in, buy and come out, it is about the only time we disagree on money spending...I research prices to get the cheapest deal, they want the easy life.

Hi Sue,

Next time you're at the library, ask to see their copy of "Who Else Writes Like?" May open your mind to some new crime writing opportunities.

lemonjelly wrote: »

Similar to this, I read The Junior Officers Reading Club early this year (by Patrck Hennessey). Interesting take on actually being in the forces.

That's on my 'to read' list too. Is it worth a read?


Incidentally, I picked up a book from the library today that I've had on order for a while. It may be an answer to lir's request for a book that sums up the current economy in lay-persons terms. So far promising, but have only read the first bit when I had ten minutes to spare. This is the one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Whoops-Why-Everyone-Owes-One/dp/1846142857/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269899121&sr=8-1

and for anyone looking to borrow from their local library, the Dewey is 322.042

nembot

I thought the last series of Dexter with John Lithgo was the best so far, love a bit of darkness in my viewing - but I guess still human enough to shed a tear watching "UP".

Caught me completely by suprise, especially as I was watching with the little'un.

"What's up dad?".... "something in my eye darling"

vivatifosi

nembot wrote: »

I thought the last series of Dexter with John Lithgo was the best so far, love a bit of darkness in my viewing - but I guess still human enough to shed a tear watching "UP".

Caught me completely by suprise, especially as I was watching with the little'un.

"What's up dad?".... "something in my eye darling"

Funny you should mention UP. I've heard several dads say that they shed a tear at it, not only that, but near the beginning of the film rather than the end. I wish I'd been to see it at the cinema, the thought of hearing loads of dads sniffling into their hankies and having an outbreak of simultaneous eye infections warms the cockles of my heart.

lemonjelly

vivatifosi wrote: »

Hi Sue,

Next time you're at the library, ask to see their copy of "Who Else Writes Like?" May open your mind to some new crime writing opportunities.



That's on my 'to read' list too. Is it worth a read?


Incidentally, I picked up a book from the library today that I've had on order for a while. It may be an answer to lir's request for a book that sums up the current economy in lay-persons terms. So far promising, but have only read the first bit when I had ten minutes to spare. This is the one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Whoops-Why-Everyone-Owes-One/dp/1846142857/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269899121&sr=8-1

and for anyone looking to borrow from their local library, the Dewey is 322.042

Viva that book looks most interesting! be interested in a brief review if you have time?

Re the junior officers reading club, it is an interesting book. A friend (ex-forces) told me it was absolutely the best book he had ever read about life in the military, & how soldiers are trained. It looks at how they are focussed on being in war.

Personally it was an interesting read, & it did open my eyes to a few things not previously known.

I managed to get through it fairly quickly - perhaps a bit too quickly?

In short, it is worth a read yes, & it is enlightening. It did leave me a little wanting though...