A bizarre book I almost finished bears some similarity to Jasper. The title is At Swim Two Birds, it is amusing, but I failed to finish it for some reason (was doing my Honours thesis I think). Has some very very odd things in it (old book too).

I also read Little Big by John Crowley, strange book also.

Unwords rampage through my writing, unexpectedness I am not sure is a word either...

I don't think Pterry *tries* to be too clever or quirky. I think he just *is*. But, that said, everyone's taste in humour is different and no matter how often I beat folk over the head with certain books and force people to watch the chaser and Shaun Micallef's new show, it's not going to change.

I think the word 'force' is the key.

As someone wrote earlier, possibly in another forum, that if you have to study something you end up disliking it, unless you are extremely fortunate and have an inspiring teacher.

The best bet is to use the indirect approach. Find someone else who does like what you like and crosstalk the 'in' jokes. Others will either pick up on the cross talk and go back to the sources or will avoid you. Either way you end up is a social situation where the minds with which you are dealing are aligned with your own.

Every one's a winner!!!!!

Ah, remember when we started talking bout Terry way back in 2002 BK?
I remember that much at least!

Don't get me wrong, I love Pterry! I have been there since the early days - around 1990 or there abouts - the colour of magic, and the light fantastic. The new hardbacks are the first thing to go on the Chrissie Present list, and he is the only author that I don't even flinch away from buying / or asking to have bought for in hardback.

Was it so long ago?

Oh, yeah, that's right... I'm old now.

BK,

Like 'bosom'*, 'old' is not a self referential word used by the fairer sex about themselves unless they are indeed chronologically enhanced.

* see 'Thud' (I think)

Is it worth trying to read Kafka?

JFF reminds me of Douglas Adams too, but you're right about the warmth. I wouldn't want to live in the Hitchhiker's Guide universe, but I DO want to move to Nextian Swindon, perhaps date Spike Stoker, and during the day I'd be a guide to the Seven Wonders. Spike and I would use his contacts to blag a holiday in Pride & Prejudice.

Welcome treleavenl!

Sorry, but I already called dibs on Spike. ;P

Thanks for the welcome, it's very friendly round here. Somebody has already given me a deep fried Mars bar.

Do you think Spike is two-timing us? He's so busy and stressed out with battling the dark forces he probably hasn't realised we're not the same person.

It's funny you should mention this, cos in the UK the Mel Gibson 'Hamlet' is on this weekend and I'm definitely going to watch it. The reason? Guess!

I find a similar "warm" feeling from most of the Christopher Moore books.

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My computer beat me at chess, but I won at kickboxing

Me, too- especially when the cocoa shoots out my nose...

I'd love to hang out in Pine Cove or 'Swindon'-
would also be happy to live in any universe that has a teleporter so I can travel without all that pesky mucking about in space-
I'd rather be taken apart bit by bit than be trapped with strangers on a plane...

Sorry, think I've just gone off-topic again...

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Does anyone else get chocolate in their eyes when accidentally breathing out over a fresh cup of cappuchino?

No. I've started choking because I breathed *in* though... I can think of worse ways to die though, than chocking on choccy dust. Of course, I must try and work Jonny Depp in there somehow.

Kafka is definately worth a look, but can get difficult to read in places due to the sheer overwhelming absurdity.

Which is probably the point, now I think about it.

I have only read Kafka's comedies.

Someone recommended his book about his life as a cow-hand, (The Trail").

Well, here's an article about it: On Franz Kafka's Trail

(You know, just for a second, I was seriously wondering and looked up "Kafka" and "Trail" in Google...what you learn from that is that if it is a spelling mistake, someone will allready have made a fool of himself on the internet.)

(Present company obviously excluded, since I won't like to draw attention to myself.)

<grins>

Can not say I am surprised though....

Two letters changed is all.

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'We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad." [said the Cat.]
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here."
- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland

Celetna 3 -- sounds like a planet the Enterprise would be orbiting...