tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post7354221754919727433..comments2023-12-28T13:11:06.666+00:00Comments on Pics and Poems: Milligan and MurphyDave Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-6962197774637929802012-02-05T10:49:10.124+00:002012-02-05T10:49:10.124+00:00Not sure if you read back comments Dave - on your ...Not sure if you read back comments Dave - on your recommendation I have read this and thoroughly enjoyed it, thanks for the heads up!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-58278763647446194572012-01-26T04:58:12.944+00:002012-01-26T04:58:12.944+00:00A terrific review, Dave about a terrific book. Mi...A terrific review, Dave about a terrific book. Milligan and Murphy stay with me. <br /><br />I know that nothing much appears to happen in real and active terms in those opening twenty pages but to me it does in metaphysical terms. It's like entering someone's mind and getting stuck there in all the perambulations that go on inside. Lovely stuff.Elisabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04015624747225433940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-80071434653197407922012-01-25T15:23:53.902+00:002012-01-25T15:23:53.902+00:00I haven't yet read any of Jim's books, but...I haven't yet read any of Jim's books, but now I definitely shall.<br />I am intrigued!!Ygrainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00300519608303898969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-26119112308479590512012-01-24T10:47:54.465+00:002012-01-24T10:47:54.465+00:00All
I have to say I am impressed by the quality of...<b>All</b><br />I have to say I am impressed by the quality of the discussion that has been generated. I will not on this occasion respond in detail or personally. Am quite happy tp leave Jim to fend off (joke!) or welcome the remarks, but may throw in the odd remark if I feel it appropriate.<br /><br />I might just say here that I did not at any time mean to suggest that I had felt Jim to be attempting to evoke Beckett. I do know what a fan he is of Beckett and I know something of the depth of his knowledge of him, so it would be surprising if there was not influence. Surprising and disappointing, for we are all influenced.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-16309074887358669052012-01-23T22:29:25.510+00:002012-01-23T22:29:25.510+00:00This sounds like a great read!This sounds like a great read!Maude Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03669688074743095866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-32653519456726711212012-01-23T13:33:22.926+00:002012-01-23T13:33:22.926+00:00First of all can I just say thanks for posting thi...First of all can I just say thanks for posting this review, Dave? I’m quite delighted with it especially when you say that “for the first twenty pages or so nothing very much happens - and then nothing much happens at something less than walking pace” because that <i>so</i> reminds me of what Vivian Mercer had to say when describing <i>Waiting for Godot</i>, that it was a play where nothing happens in two acts. You have no idea how much that remark pleased me. Of course, as with <i>Godot</i>, I can see why that might put people off. Of course stuff does happen but I’m a great believer in what Fitzgerald said when he said, “Character is plot, plot is character.” This is a book about people first and foremost. It’s interesting that in <a href="http://www.jimmurdoch.co.uk/reviews_whole.html#tonya" rel="nofollow">a recent review</a> of <i>The Whole Truth</i> (which, as you know, is the omnibus edition of my first two books) the reviewer also referenced the Mercer quote and I really wasn’t trying to evoke Beckett in those books. I’m also pleased you pointed out that I don’t try and mimic Beckett. That was never the point and, if I had tried, I think I would have been on a hiding to nothing.<br /><br />@Jane – I’m glad the book’s piqued your interest and I’d be delighted if you wanted to investigate further.<br /><br />@Kass – You, of course, will have some idea what you’re in for. <i>Milligan and Murphy</i> is different in tone and style to my first two books. The first two novels were written by a much younger man for starters. It is also my fourth book so I’d hope I’d improved by that time. I decided to pass over the third novel, <i>The More Things Change</i>, because it is a more involved work and <i>Milligan and Murphy</i> is a nice stepping stone. I intend to publish <i>The More Things Change</i> in a couple of years. There’s no rush.<br /><br />@Mary – Not all my writing is going to appeal to everyone. I’m afraid I’m one of those writers whose style varies depending on what I’m writing and I’ll be interested to see what people who have read the novels to date and the poems (which are quite different in style to the prose) will think of them. Please have a look at my <a href="http://www.jimmurdoch.co.uk/index.html" rel="nofollow">website</a> and see if something else appeals. You can read excerpts from all my published books there along with some other stuff. Oh, and I’m a coffee drinker too. I was a tea jenny when I was a kid but tea is nowhere near as popular here in the UK as it once was.<br /><br />@Brian – Dave and I may well be friends but I like to think that will all my friends any review they would post would be an honest one. The best way to see is firstly to have a look at other reviews (there are <a href="http://www.jimmurdoch.co.uk/reviews_murphy.html" rel="nofollow">another two</a> at the moment but I’m chasing more) and also to <a href="http://www.jimmurdoch.co.uk/read_novels.html#murphy" rel="nofollow">read the text</a> for yourself. The opening chapter is quite long and if you’re not hooked by then then it’s probably not for you and that’s fine. It’s not like any of us is short of stuff to read these days.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-3517269096671025382012-01-23T13:05:25.644+00:002012-01-23T13:05:25.644+00:00def a fair review...i like that in a review, even ...def a fair review...i like that in a review, even if its a friend...and it does sound interesting...will check it out...Brian Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722940075884718007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-28774098431588825732012-01-23T12:53:16.799+00:002012-01-23T12:53:16.799+00:00Interesting. I have often seen Jim Murdoch's c...Interesting. I have often seen Jim Murdoch's comments here, Dave. Sounds like quite a book, though probably not my 'cup of tea' (or should I say 'coffee' on this side of the Atlantic!)Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07366010389846904663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-55017122585767775992012-01-23T12:18:53.115+00:002012-01-23T12:18:53.115+00:00Great review. I have 2 of Jim's books and now ...Great review. I have 2 of Jim's books and now feel I need a 3rd.Kasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05233330248952156754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-38219206995688309832012-01-23T10:21:12.396+00:002012-01-23T10:21:12.396+00:00This is definately on my list - sounds a great rea...This is definately on my list - sounds a great read.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com