Silence, anus!

Intolerable Cruelty…
…is underrated. It seems to get a lot of flack but it just cracks me up every time. It helps that I love me some Clooney. But come on, "I introduced her…to THAT silly man!"

I think you're exactly right, Farmer John. Remember how much "Moonlighting" sucked after Maddie and David finally got together?

Holy crap Murray, I was just thinking that. I would love to hear Dunn's own answers to some of the questions we've been discussing here. That would be ENORMOUSLY satisfying.

Isn't Arty just the most fascinating character? He's utterly and completely evil, with no redeeming qualities at all, hell-bent on manipulating and destroying everyone around him, especially his own family. And why? I think out of his own self-hatred. It's certainly the most interesting and horrifying response to a…

Good call, Steerpike. This material has Cronenberg written all over it!

And in the movie version…
I guess I'm a product of our crass, pop culture-obsessed society, but I found myself imagining how the book could be turned into a film. Short answer: probably can't, although with CGI there's a lot that could be accomplished. But then, who would want to watch it?

Interesting, Pilgrim. I find that first part of the book, where Oly delves into the history of how the Binewskis engineered their "dreamlets," as a kind of test. Here's Dunn showing us a couple deliberately endangering their unborn children (and the mother herself) in a quest to create freaks and ensure their…

Hey Sincere Sensei, I kept thinking of Carnivale too. Lots of overlap there.

The Chick-induced inferno was kind of out there in terms of method (since Dunn doesn't give him any previous instances of fire manipulation, that I can recall). But as far as its suddenness - I don't have any quibble with that. I think it kind of works. Didn't stop me from feeling shocked and pissed off though!

Finished it already!
I got it and when I started it I really had no idea what to expect. But after the first chapter or two, I couldn't put it down! I think I finished it in less than a week. Can't wait to discuss, and find out what our next book will be.

You got that right, Neophyte. Kim Basinger was straight-up amazing in LA Confidential, an outstanding performance in a film FILLED with outstanding performances! Maybe one of the best casts of all time, really.

Spaceman_Spiff, how can you not know ANYBODY who has read "The Road?" I thought after McCarthy sold out and went on Oprah, everybody in America would have read it by now!

The great thing about Bel Canto is, it starts out as one thing, and then turns into something so completely different from what you were expecting, that it draws you in and you just can't put it down. Also, lyrically beautiful prose and wonderfully fleshed out characters don't hurt either.

Do ya have to use so many curse words?

Even more suggestions
The Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson
Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett
Zombie, by Joyce Carol Oates
The Yiddish Policeman's Union, by Michael Chabon

I dunno, I like it.
I mean, I dig it, really. It will tide me over until there's a new Goldfrapp.

Jim Rockford: isn't it hilarious that Ted plays a policeman on Monk? He's actually very good - but I *do* tend to think of him as "that Buffalo Bill guy."

Laura is not only the female version of Alby, but she's an explosives expert to boot. Well OF COURSE she is! Hilariously evil.

Doh! Margaret Yang was exactly who I thought of to, thanks Charles Haley. Guess it wasn't the same actress though, huh.