A Naked Singularity by Sergio De La Pava

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board ARCHIVE' started by ark104 (v2), Jan 9, 2015.

  1. ark

    ark104 (v2) Well-Known Member

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    Just finished this, anyone read it? Really enjoyed it. It's quite long and challenging but definitely rewarding. I was drawn in by the back cover that said 'Like The Wire written by Voltaire'.

    Here's the synopsis:

    Casi is a hotshot public defender working on the front line of America's War on Drugs. So far he's on the winning side. He's never lost a case. But nothing lasts forever, and pride like his has a long way to fall. When his hot streak is cut short by a lost cause, he turns his planetary intelligence to new pursuits - a pro bono quest to save a mentally impaired inmate from death row, and a Faustian pact to execute the perfect crime
     
    ark104 (v2), Jan 9, 2015
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  2. spi

    spidermatt Member

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    Loved it. Took a while for me to get round to it but really enjoyed it.

    Lots of obvious influences - at times it's almost Thomas Pynchon for me- but I loved it.

    Not enough like this out there
     
    spidermatt, Jan 9, 2015
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  3. Tyk

    Tyketical Masterstroke Well-Known Member

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    Next week on BBS Newsnight review - thereev discusses the revival of classical cinematography in the neo-noir films of Joel and Ethan Coen and John Moore, whilst Young Nudger discusses the extent to which Nietzsche's work was influenced by the earlier essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Plus Huddersfield Red tells us why Danny wilson is a lovely person.
     
    Tyketical Masterstroke, Jan 9, 2015
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  4. Ext

    Extremely Northern Well-Known Member

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    Hehehe.
     
    Extremely Northern, Jan 9, 2015
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  5. ark

    ark104 (v2) Well-Known Member

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    I liked the random deviations, particularly the recurring Wilfred Benitez boxing tangent. Have you read his other book?
     
    ark104 (v2), Jan 9, 2015
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  6. ark

    ark104 (v2) Well-Known Member

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    Laughing
     
    ark104 (v2), Jan 9, 2015
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  7. BFC Dave

    BFC Dave Well-Known Member

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    Oi 'random deviations'... watch it wi that kind o' filth

    Wait 'til a tell thi fatha !
     
    BFC Dave, Jan 9, 2015
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  8. Bossman

    Bossman Well-Known Member

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    Hehe brilliant!
     
    Bossman, Jan 9, 2015
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  9. Jimmy viz

    Jimmy viz Well-Known Member

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    Bought it and it's still sitting unread I will have to give it a go.
     
    Jimmy viz, Jan 9, 2015
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  10. spi

    spidermatt Member

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    Must admit it's the first La Pava book I've read but I'll be searching out more.

    Whilst we are on the subject of the printed word (stick yer Kindle), might I also recommend:

    David Mitchell - The Bone Clocks
    Martin Amis - The Zone of interest
     
    spidermatt, Jan 9, 2015
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  11. BFC Dave

    BFC Dave Well-Known Member

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    Nice work !
     
    BFC Dave, Jan 9, 2015
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  12. ark

    ark104 (v2) Well-Known Member

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    Kindles are evil, books are beautiful.

    I've not read either of those, cheers.

    My favourite book is The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon. I really enjoyed The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Murakami too.
     
    ark104 (v2), Jan 9, 2015
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  13. spi

    spidermatt Member

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    Kavalier and Clay is magnificent. Was blown away by it. Not heard of the other so will have a look, ta.

    And you're right, kindles are just wrong to me!!
     
    spidermatt, Jan 9, 2015
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  14. Jay

    Jay Well-Known Member

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    Until you can't get in to your house for them and I'm having to build shelves where shelves don't belong. A couple of years ago we decided to have a bit of a cull and take some books to the charity shop. I reckon 80% of our books belong to my wife and 20% are mine. Maybe I only have about 10%. Turns out, the only books we didn't need, the ones we could give away, were all mine. At that point, I bought my wife a kindle.
     
    Jay, Jan 9, 2015
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  15. ark

    ark104 (v2) Well-Known Member

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    To be fair that is a problem. Our old house had a massive book case but since we moved we don't have enough room so half of them are in the garage. Luckily the garage is an appropriate place for my wife's 4,000 book Jodi Picoult collection
     
    ark104 (v2), Jan 9, 2015
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