Saturday, December 30, 2006
The Gun Seller
Ok, so Santa finally got off his fat ass and delivered the books I asked for. I was going to read Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid next, but it's over 700 pages long. Technically, that's a violation of the rules of the Lamest Contest Ever. I'll still probably read it, but I'm going to knock off something a little lighter first, since I'm already behind in my reading. So I've started reading The Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie suggested by Joel Bezaire from Crummy Church Signs.Yes, that's the Hugh Laurie, the guy who plays House on that TV show, what's it called... oh yeah, House. I've recently started watching that show, and I have to say it's one of the best shows on TV. I feel a special affinity for his character, because I'm sort of a misanthropic know-it-all myself. If only I actually did know it all, like House.
Who knew that Laurie was a writer too? And apparently a pretty damn good one. A quote from Entertainment Weekly in the front of the book describes it thusly:
British writer/actor Laurie's first novel has all the trademarks of an offbeat James Bond adventure...the mind-boggling intricacy of a Robert Ludlum plot, and, most gratifyingly, the irreverent attitude of A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.I'm on chapter 7 now, and to be honest the plot doesn't particularly impress me so far (it's reminiscent of Fletch), but Laurie's droll prose is hysterical. I've laughed out loud on probably every other page, and I'm a tough sell. A sampling:
"What do you know, please, about Alexander Woolf?" O'Neal leant forward with his forearms on the desk, and I caught a glimpse of a very gold watch. Much too gold to be gold.
"Which one?"
He frowned.
"What do you mean, 'which one?' How many Alexander Woolfs do you know?"
I moved my lips slightly, counting to myself.
"Five."
He sighed irritably. Come along, 4B, settle down.
"The Alexander Woolf to whom I am referring," he said, with that particular tone of sarcastic pedantry that every Englishman behind a desk slides into sooner or later, "has a house in Lyall Street, Belgravia."
"Lyall Street. Of course." I tutted to myself. "Six, then."
"I'm asking you, Mr. Lang, what do you know about him?"
"He has a house in Lyall Street, Belgravia," I said. "Is that any help?"
Brilliant. I want to grow up to write a book like this some day.
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House is one of my favorite TV shows too. But since he only acts in it, rather than writing it, taking a chance on his book is very brave of you.
I always liked House and didn't realize until recently that Hugh Laurie is a Brit. I saw him on SNL. He does a fantastic job with the yank accent. The House character is kind of like watching a train wreck because he is such a jerk, you can't look away.
Kat - Apparently he directs and and writes music too. A very talented guy, for sure.
Claire - Yeah, I didn't realize that either at first. His accent is impeccable. I always wonder whether actors doing accents keep using the accent in between takes, or if they can immediately switch back. Or, for that matter, if he can instantly stop being a jerk when the camera stops rolling.
Claire - Yeah, I didn't realize that either at first. His accent is impeccable. I always wonder whether actors doing accents keep using the accent in between takes, or if they can immediately switch back. Or, for that matter, if he can instantly stop being a jerk when the camera stops rolling.
Yes, I can claim Hugh Laurie as mine, all mine. Mostly he is known for being a very funny man and there is no way I can equate the guy as being some sex image that others see in House. His sidekick used to be Stephen Fry and he was in Blackadder
Anyway your extract had me rolling around laughing... very much my humour.... very droll.... must get this book.
lotsa luv ann xxxx
Anyway your extract had me rolling around laughing... very much my humour.... very droll.... must get this book.
lotsa luv ann xxxx
hugh knew Hugh was such a talented guy? what a resume! actually, i'm quite familiar with his acting gigs -- the only thing you left out was his role in that awful film, "Man in the Iron Mask", and, of course, his guest shot on "Friends".
as for the book? sounds like something i might like to read... droll, smart, funny -- all factors that play into my selections on any given day (you know Chris Elliott did a very funny book/parody on Caleb Carr's The Alienist, called The Shroud of the Thwacker, you might want to check out sometime, if literature by actor/comedians-turned-writers is what you're looking for...)
thanks for the "pre-review" review... i'm almost convinced to pick up a copy of my own. xox
as for the book? sounds like something i might like to read... droll, smart, funny -- all factors that play into my selections on any given day (you know Chris Elliott did a very funny book/parody on Caleb Carr's The Alienist, called The Shroud of the Thwacker, you might want to check out sometime, if literature by actor/comedians-turned-writers is what you're looking for...)
thanks for the "pre-review" review... i'm almost convinced to pick up a copy of my own. xox
Glad you find it amusing so far. I will be interested to hear your final verdict on the plot, as I feel it picks up a bit at the end.
The dialogue/descriptions/humor keep you reading, but I was pretty impressed with the end resolution, myself.
Happy reading!
The dialogue/descriptions/humor keep you reading, but I was pretty impressed with the end resolution, myself.
Happy reading!
Ann - Yes, I'd recommend it. I'll post more thoughts soon.
Neva - Hey, you already recommended something. Nice try.
Joel - Yes, it's definitely less wacky in the middle, but I'm looking forward to seeing how he ties it up.
Malnurtured Snay - First of all, you're not endearing yourself by dissing House. Second, you need to read the rules. Thanks for stopping by. :)
Neva - Hey, you already recommended something. Nice try.
Joel - Yes, it's definitely less wacky in the middle, but I'm looking forward to seeing how he ties it up.
Malnurtured Snay - First of all, you're not endearing yourself by dissing House. Second, you need to read the rules. Thanks for stopping by. :)
Well, I'm not taking back my House comments, but I did read the rules. Tomorrow. Or Wednesday, you'll see the post.
I had no idea Hugh Laurie was spreading those crusty wings...And you don't have to grow up to write a book!
Indeed, I too belatedly join everyone in liking House.
@Diesel, you (and others) might like the BBC(IIRC) Jeeves and Wooster adaptations that starred Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry.
(When I put one on the other night, none of us watching could believe how young he was.)
Sorry that Godel, Escher, Bach was over your 500 pages. Count it as 2 books! But seriously, parts of it go by very lightly -- especially some of the dialogs... or pretty much anything on computing, since that's about 25 years out of date.
-wolfe
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@Diesel, you (and others) might like the BBC(IIRC) Jeeves and Wooster adaptations that starred Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry.
(When I put one on the other night, none of us watching could believe how young he was.)
Sorry that Godel, Escher, Bach was over your 500 pages. Count it as 2 books! But seriously, parts of it go by very lightly -- especially some of the dialogs... or pretty much anything on computing, since that's about 25 years out of date.
-wolfe
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