| Author | Message | ||
     Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.171.129.71 |
Short notice, I know, but if any of you can listen on the way to work, the Today Programme this morning (now, on Radio Four) is at some point promising a discussion on whether the modern ghost story is alive and well. I'd guess as to why there's this sudden flurry of interest (there was a sort piece on Woman's Hour yesterday as well) is because Sarah Waters's new novel is a ghost story. And because of her literary credentials and high sales it's no doubt being seen as a literary pasttime that's being lifted from horror's gutter. Anyway, it's being discussed some time this morning. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.61.140 |
Bet they don't discuss anyone worthy of it: Ramsey, for instance. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.192.62 |
This seems to happen periodically. If they don't know anything about it how can they discuss it intelligently? | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.171.129.71 |
Gary was right. Ramsey wasn't referenced. Instead they concentrated, for the most part, on that well known ghost story, Wuthering Heights. It was indeed as I'd suspected, a discussion on air because the respected Sarah Waters has a ghost story novel out. John Humphries set out the preconceptions by declaring it was a horrible and tawdry genre, or words to that effect... I agree with Huw. This sort of thing does happen every few years. Someone outside the usual suspects writes a ghost novel and it's respectable to do so... | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.61.140 |
Wutherting Heights? Modern? Who were the participants, Mark? | ||
| Alansjf (Alansjf) Username: Alansjf Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 94.194.134.45 |
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/listen_again/default.stm Scroll down the page... | ||
| Steveduffy (Steveduffy) Username: Steveduffy Registered: 05-2009 Posted From: 86.156.195.99 |
Glad to hear that "a discussion on whether the modern ghost story is alive and well" "concentrated, for the most part, on... Wuthering Heights" ! Wouldn't you just know it? And doubtless much fuss was made of the only other ghost story any of the panellists had ever read, "The Woman In sodding Black", by Susan bloody Hill... | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.61.140 |
From James Buchan, the guest speaker: "Well, I've written only one ghost story . . . " Brilliant, BBC. Just brilliant. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.61.140 |
Nearly as brilliant as getting Shaun Hutson to write the first paragraph of their horror writing competition. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.192.62 |
Let me guess: 'Gary smiled thinly as he felt the curry he'd just devoured crawl inch by spicy inch through the burning walls of his intestines, before exploding in a frothy conflagration of crimson.' Hey, maybe I could be the next Shaun Hutson! No, wait a minute, I read books... damn. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.61.140 |
Nearly right, mate, but you missed. " . . . The exit wound was about the size of a boxer's fist, its edges like fingers which resembled fleshy playing cards rippling up and down." | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.192.62 |
 | ||
| Jonathan (Jonathan) Username: Jonathan Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.67.148.196 |
John Humphreys narrow minded and set in his ways? Tell me it isn't so. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.177.5.39 |
"...its edges like fingers which resembled fleshy playing cards rippling up and down." Now that's real writing - what happened next? | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.61.140 |
He dealt the perp a major blow. | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
and smiled thinly | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.110.246.169 |
having spent two years in Weight Watchers | ||
| Chris_morris (Chris_morris) Username: Chris_morris Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 12.165.240.116 |
>> This seems to happen periodically. If they don't know anything about it how can they discuss it intelligently? Panelists discussing issues they know nothing about is a fair description, I think, of all contemporary television news. (At least in America.) |