Am I alone in this 'Pet hate'?

**Looper** · 17-12-2007, 11:36 PM

Some knots aren't that hard, like a Sheet Bend

or a Bowline

The Carrick Bend will take a bit of practice.

**Frankenstein** · 17-12-2007, 11:44 PM

Originally Posted by November Rain

^ I've read a few Wilbur Smith's. Liked a couple & couldn't get on with the others. IMO, the author that effortlessly takes you there is Bryce Courtenay. I've read virtually everything of his & loved it. The Power of One is one of my all time favourite books.

I'm going to get redded for this from all the intellectuals, but I also think Stephen King is a fantastic storyteller - in the true sense of the word. I particularly like his more fantasy stuff like Insomnia & the Dark Tower series.

I doubt anybody will red you.

Stephen King is indeed an amazing storyteller and very competent writer, but I think he suffers from overproduction. I have great respect for him but if he had held back 30-40% or so of his production instead of rushing to publish, I would respect him even more.

The rest he should have kept on the shelf to be released after his death or something.

**Hootad Binky** · 18-12-2007, 04:52 AM

Isn't all writing descriptive? I think it comes down to how clearly, easily and enjoyably the reader perceives in the mind's eye the vision intended by the writer.

**mrsquirrel** · 18-12-2007, 05:22 AM

Why do you need words when pictures will do. Words are overrated.

**slimboyfat** · 18-12-2007, 05:42 AM

if god had wanted me to read books for pleasure he wouldnt have invented the PSP.

or hardcore porn dvds

**Fast Eddie** · 18-12-2007, 04:08 PM

I really like Graham Greene's writing style. He seems to tell you everything you need to know to visualise and live the scene, and no more.

Whenever i read his books i always find myself wishing that i could write similar, it seems so simple and effortless. But of course, it's not.

**Jet Gorgon** · 18-12-2007, 04:57 PM

^ 555 I used to have fights with a bookseller on Samui about who was a better writer -- Greene or Somerset Maugham. I was in Maugham's camp.

**keda** · 18-12-2007, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by Looper

Some knots aren't that hard, like a Sheet Bend

or a Bowline

The Carrick Bend will take a bit of practice.

No pics, pure writing skills...try it, not easy at all and anyone can do any of the above knots will have my nomination for President of the World.

**keda** · 18-12-2007, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by Thetyim

^
Hmmm....not easy to test that theory

Make it easier, not an alien but somebody who knows no more than what a knot is and needs written guidance for a specific one.

**friscofrankie** · 18-12-2007, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by Looper

or a Bowline

Demerits for the working end set inside the bight; not tidy at all, lubberly.

Brion Toss Could do a decent job of writing a knot but his art work was amazing.
Clifford Ashley spent hours and hours with his book propped up on my berth.
Hervey Garrett Smith also wrote a good knot some of the simpler ones you could picture without illustrations, if you were familiar with knots.

One of my favorite writers is L. Francis Herreshoff, a yacht designer, the son of Nathaniel Herreshoff, designer of three America's Cup winners (one won twice) at the turn of the nineteenth/twentieth. LFH was a great writer. One of his contemporaries (name eludes me) said of one of LFH's turnbuckle designs that if it ever failed it would simply vaporize. The design was that balanced, elegant; his writing was equally so. He wrote about yacht design, rope work (remember a rope mat based on that Carrick bend), rigging and anything that came to mind. He was opinionated.

What as this to with the subject? Dude was a decent writer, I read everything I could by him. Knots reminded me. good enough.

**Fast Eddie** · 19-12-2007, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

^ 555 I used to have fights with a bookseller on Samui about who was a better writer -- Greene or Somerset Maugham. I was in Maugham's camp.

Maugham is not bad, as well. But i just give Greene the edge

**chinthee** · 19-12-2007, 06:06 PM

I'm still a diehard Hemmingway fan. I like his lifestyle too, hard living and brilliant prose. I have mastered one of those.

**Sir Burr** · 19-12-2007, 06:31 PM

For the best guy to paint pictures economicly with words, you can't beat John Steinbeck.

**November Rain** · 19-12-2007, 06:42 PM

^ Actually, you're right. He's pretty damn good.

**Silent Orchestra** · 19-12-2007, 06:47 PM

Richard Littlejohn's writing style is excellent.

**WilliamBlake** · 19-12-2007, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by November Rain

I'm going to get redded for this from all the intellectuals, but I also think Stephen King is a fantastic storyteller - in the true sense of the word.

Not claiming the epithet 'intellectual' but you needn't fear reds for that opinion, he's got a gift.

**WilliamBlake** · 19-12-2007, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by chinthee

I'm still a diehard Hemingway fan. I like his lifestyle too, hard living and brilliant prose. I have mastered one of those.

The man's a God...

**chinthee** · 19-12-2007, 06:58 PM

^Interesting progeny too. His granddaughter Margaux committed suicide. His other granddaughter Mariel is an Academy Award nominated actress.

Mariel Hemingway - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**DrAndy** · 19-12-2007, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Are you taking the piss CMN?

sadly not.

well lots of people do, apparently, some very famous

they say it just like your quote, esp. Sarah Miles Gettingit.com: The Totally Recycled Beverage

**friscofrankie** · 19-12-2007, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by chinthee

I'm still a diehard Hemmingway fan

constructs a good story but a bit of a wind-bag in my opinion, He just goes on and on and on and...

Originally Posted by Sir Burr

For the best guy to paint pictures economicly with words, you can't beat John Steinbeck.

Got to be one of the all time greats, Just re-read "Winter of our Discontent" last week.

**Sir Burr** · 19-12-2007, 07:51 PM

^
Cannery Row is my favourite John Steinbeck.

**chinthee** · 19-12-2007, 07:53 PM

^^Well, if you like compact writing, I love Jersey Kosinski above all others. And, he wrote the screenplay to my favourite all time film, "Being There" starring Peter Sellers.

Being There (1979)

**friscofrankie** · 19-12-2007, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by Sir Burr

Cannery Row is my favourite John Steinbeck.

Think I read that a couple dozen times. it would be on my short list of books to be marooned on a deserted isle with. Sweet Thursday, a sequel to Cannery Row is damn near as good. I can't think of a single book by Steinbeck that didn't instill a little bit of awe.

Originally Posted by chinthee

Jersey Kosinski

I read a book by Kosinski a while back... Painted Bird. Good stuff.

**Silent Orchestra** · 19-12-2007, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by WilliamBlake

he's got a gift

Had a gift.

I'm a big fan of his, but his modern stuff is shite.

**WilliamBlake** · 19-12-2007, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by friscofrankie

Originally Posted by chinthee

I'm still a diehard Hemmingway fan

constructs a good story but a bit of a wind-bag in my opinion, He just goes on and on and on and....

It's interesting that two authors who could be accused of that are most famous for their shortest works: Dickens' A Christmas Carol and Hemingway's The Old Man and The Sea.

Thread: Am I alone in this 'Pet hate'?

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