Plan B Forum

Don't waste your time.

Imagine Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter set in late 19th century Vienna, except make the title character a coke head trying to solve murders incited by Hungarian witches wishing to curry favour with the Hapsburg monarchy.

And a rip-off of:

I’m three seasons deep into my almost annual re-viewing of The West Wing. It’s soothing escapism.

Planning on watching "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" again as a binge...

I just read it for the fourth time. Have to say that Alec G is not my idea of G Smiley. Supposed to be very rotund and avuncular. But I'd watch it again for sure; brilliant stuff.

Did you watch the "Night Manager" series? The main lady not at all as I envisaged from the book - not in terms of looks perhaps (perhaps not) - but there's no nuance in her flighty language vs. true character. (And 100 other complaints)

Purchased 7 Le Carre at second-hand book shops, preparing for the shut-down but can't find Honourable Schoolboy or Smiley's People. Have to say the Russia House does not read at all well 3rd time around.

I like Guinness as Smiley, but agree he is not as described. I very much enjoyed the Night Manager series, but made the mistake of re-reading the book after watching it. So much more subtly and nuance in the book. "Jeds", again, nothing like described, but my, what a beauty that girl is!

I'm holding off on re-reading, unless things get too grim. I don't want to, (as I've done with Colin Dexter,) become over familiar with the books.

I collect signed first editions of Le Carre, have seven so far, but prices are going through the roof on them. If he karks it, (hes 88 now,) they will just rise even more.

Saw a signed first ed of "The Constant Gardner", in a charity shop window, the other day. I've already got one, but I could/should have grabbed it as an investment at 25 quid. That book is a lesson for these times eh?

Finished Constant Gardner a week back. It didn't seem quite as relevant as it does this week! I doubt we get many 1st edition signed JlC's here in SA! At least, not signed by him. And not 1st editions. I've signed my paperbacks.

I'm not worried about over-familiarity with the plots - it's the rediscovery (or even discovery) of his peerless writing skills and use of language that keep me reading. I went too quickly through A Legacy of Spies (from the library), being too caught up with finding out "what happened" and wish I'd found a copy to purchase in recent forays.

Send me your copy (if it's signed and 1st edition) and I'll let you know what I think...

Scooter wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 05, 2020 4:54 am

Don't waste your time.

Imagine Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter set in late 19th century Vienna, except make the title character a coke head trying to solve murders incited by Hungarian witches wishing to curry favour with the Hapsburg monarchy.

I started it but turned it off after 5 minutes, as I couldn’t stand the dubbing. I’d so much rather read subtitles than suffer through the visual assault of a dubbed film. Glad to know I didn’t miss anything much.

The dubbing per se didn't bother me, but the inconsistency between dubbing and subtitles when they switched between languages did get a bit loopy. There were characters who sometimes spoke in Hungarian among themselves (which was subtitled), but who were presumably speaking German when they were dubbed. Sometimes the subtitles would continue even while they were dubbed, and subtitles and dubbing were saying different things.