Recent content by Kenny Shovel

You nip out for three years, expecting to find your Pan Tadeusz thread has created a hub of intellectual discourse by the time you return; but zip, nowt, not a sausage. Some people...

I never denied I was a monster, Peder. Never once. K_S

I'm a bit late, but this is very true. Many Russian intellectuals had a love/hate attitude towards him, as he was sucked in by the nationalism that grew out of the breakup of the Soviet Blok. Vladimir Voinovich, an important Russian satirist, was quite critical, and parodied what he...

As might be guessed from its title, La Vie en Rose is a biopic about the legendary chanteuse, and all round French national treasure, Edith Piaf. At the heart of the film is a remarkably accurate physical and emotional recreation of Piaf by Marion Cotillard; an Oscar wining portrayal, which...

You need a good knowledge of the game and the man to really understand this book. It's out of print anyway. I've not read it myself, but perhaps something like Netherland by Joseph O'Neill would be better - thats set in New York.

Published as part of the slew of post 2005 Ashes cash-in literature, Crossing the Boundary is a curious mixture: part ghosted autobiography, part exercise in brand building, part self-justification, and part chance to settle old scores. Clearly the Kevin Pietersen of 2006 - when this book...

How to understand the man behind the public image? If you take your cue from a modern-day sports publishing house, you’d be forgiven for thinking that a forensic approach to your subject’s private life was the most revealing route. Tip over his bins to find the man within, if you like. A...

Well done abecedarian.

Do they sell Curly Wurly's in America?

If I were a more patient, humane soul, like abcedarian, I might take time out from my day to explain that just because someone doesn’t trawl back through a thread so they can name check every previously mentioned point of information used by their post, it doesn’t mean they’re handing out a full...

Waveguide: You really need an Indian to give you an answer to this question. And it is a serious question, that deserves more thought than has been given to it so far in this thread. You are correct that there is a preference for 'light-skinned' actors & actresses in Bollywood. With the use...

Voinovich has published a number of books since the end of the Soviet era, which would make him both, I would think.

I'd have to agree that Roadside Pinic is a fantastic peice of work, as you say, crammed full of ideas. I came to it via the filmed version Stalker by Andrei Tarkovski. I must try and find some more of their books...

There is a review of The Assault by Harry Mulitch here: http://feedingthepigeons.wordpress.com/2007/11/01/harry-mulisch-the-assault/ Regards, K_S

Having read both of these I would suggest they'll make for a good discussion. Although set in 19th century Russia, Fathers and Sons covers universal and timeless ideas. It also seems to split people into love and hate camps. A Farewell to Arms is one of Hemmingways best efforts (that I've...