http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/the-stars-tennis-balls Just another bbPress community en-US Sat, 25 May 2013 08:32:02 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/search.php http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/the-stars-tennis-balls#post-48426 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 13:01:27 +0000 Anonymous 48426@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Just finished reading it last night, it was brilliant. Got to be my favourite of SF's books. http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/the-stars-tennis-balls#post-29491 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 01:10:56 +0000 holdthenewsreadersnose 29491@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I read this a couple of years ago, borrowed from the library when I was skint, and have finally got round to buying it today. A fantastic book, regardless of its debt to &quot;...Monte Christo&quot; - highly amusing, yet thrillingly dark in places, too. http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/the-stars-tennis-balls#post-29345 Tue, 24 Jul 2007 12:01:35 +0000 girlracer 29345@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I said pretty much what I said above, that I felt quite angry that he'd left the reader with no hope. I can't remember exactly what he said - it was all a blur and I was focussed on just trying to remember to breathe - but I think it was along the lines of him laughing and saying he'd try and make the next one have a happier ending. (While secretly questioning why they let these lunatics in no doubt).</blockquote><br /> <br /> I loved the book too, didn't really think about the dark ending as in contrast to the start, just that it was shocking and clever. But with ref to the quote above, I saw Stephen going into Dixons on Oxford Street (I was heading there anyway) so I went in behind him, took a peek from behind some shelves and decided it was ok to say hello! Was so pleased I did because he couldn't have been more gracious, but I suspect he was thinking along the lines of 'secretly questioning why they let these lunatics in' (did you see it in his face, brightondebs?!!) http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/the-stars-tennis-balls#post-25485 Sun, 24 Jun 2007 11:15:12 +0000 zelanne 25485@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ This is the second book of Stephen Fry's that I purchased last year (the first one is The Incomplete and Utter History of Music). I must admit, I actually found out about it from Wikipedia, so I was prepared for the parallelism and--even though the Count of Monte Cristo also ended depressingly--the ending of Stars' Tennis Balls really got to me.<br /> <br /> I did enjoy the part where Simon came across the internet for the very first time. &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_biggrin.gif&quot; title=&quot;:D&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; And the dedication to &quot;m'colleague&quot; was very touching. &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif&quot; title=&quot;:)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/the-stars-tennis-balls#post-20522 Sun, 20 May 2007 14:52:47 +0000 Norfolkian 20522@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I found this book horribly depressing. I adored all his other novels but I felt with this one there wasn't one single character with any redeeming qualities whatsover. By the end it just feels hopeless. I found that strange when his other novels always offered hope/redemption at the end. I wondered how depressed Stephen was feeling when he wrote it! In fact, I felt so strongly about it that when I met Stephen at a book signing for this novel I had a go at him - doh! Now I just wish I had kissed his feet instead.</blockquote><br /> <br /> The Stars' Tennis Balls is my favourite of Stephen's novels - it's so powerfully written and I guess I like reading depressing and twisted stuff sometimes (what does that say about me?!). I've read it twice and found it just as compelling both times. Actually, come to think of it, many of my favourite novels have tragic endings... http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/the-stars-tennis-balls#post-17478 Mon, 07 May 2007 02:21:07 +0000 melampus 17478@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ What shocked me, however, is the graphical depiction of violence in the stars' tennis balls. </blockquote><br /> <br /> Yeah, that shocked me, too. Not just the violence, but the cruelty -- the psychological violence is just as bad, if not worse, than the physical stuff. <br /> <br /> It wasn't what I expected at all. Mind you, I read the book in one (long) sitting -- I just couldn't put it down. 'The Liar' is like that, too -- lots of psychological discomfort, only in a heavier disguise. And I couldn't put THAT down, either!! &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif&quot; title=&quot;:)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/the-stars-tennis-balls#post-17093 Thu, 03 May 2007 23:32:38 +0000 Phlizz 17093@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Ahem - yes! Thanks for the welcome - it's great to be here! http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/the-stars-tennis-balls#post-16938 Wed, 02 May 2007 20:05:39 +0000 Gertrude Susanne 16938@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ 5 days and 37 posts later &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_biggrin.gif&quot; title=&quot;:-D&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; <br /> But what a debut posting under &quot;Balls&quot; &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_biggrin.gif&quot; title=&quot;:D&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; Welcome aboard, Phlizz http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/the-stars-tennis-balls#post-16488 Sat, 28 Apr 2007 00:14:15 +0000 Phlizz 16488@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I really like the book, I think it is one of the most powerful things that I have read. I only read it by accident too. I was living in France last year and had just finished &quot;Moab&quot; (yeah, I know, I'm a late starter) and loved it and &quot;The Stars Tennis Balls&quot; was one of only about 5 books in English that they had in the municipal library, so I thought I'd give it a go. At the time I had not read &quot;The Count of Monte Christo&quot; but oddly enough my flatmate was trying to get through it at the same time that I was reading &quot;Balls&quot; (is that the correct shortened title? *snigger*)<br /> <br /> I can totally understand why you might not like it - it's not a bit of light entertainment - but for me the way in which quite sensitive subject matter was written was just lovely. <br /> <br /> Uhh, hi everyone by the way! This is my first post - as you can see *points to post-count* &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_biggrin.gif&quot; title=&quot;:-D&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; <br /> <br /> El<br /> xxx http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/the-stars-tennis-balls#post-16055 Mon, 23 Apr 2007 15:51:11 +0000 brightondebs 16055@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I said pretty much what I said above, that I felt quite angry that he'd left the reader with no hope. I can't remember exactly what he said - it was all a blur and I was focussed on just trying to remember to breathe - but I think it was along the lines of him laughing and saying he'd try and make the next one have a happier ending. (While secretly questioning why they let these lunatics in no doubt). http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/the-stars-tennis-balls#post-16043 Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:40:06 +0000 Soupy Twist 16043@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I found the Count of Monte Christo in no way less depressing, so in my opinion the mood is part of both the 'original' and the adaption. What shocked me, however, is the graphical depiction of violence in the stars' tennis balls. Not to the detriment of the book. Though Maddstone does terrible things I can fully understand his wrath, though I don't approve of the methods of his revenge. Altogether a very gripping novel. <br /> <br /> In fact, I felt so strongly about it that when I met Stephen at a book signing for this novel I had a go at him - doh! Now I just wish I had kissed his feet instead.</blockquote><br /> <br /> Now I'm curious. What did you say, how did he react? http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/the-stars-tennis-balls#post-16037 Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:20:31 +0000 brightondebs 16037@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I found this book horribly depressing. I adored all his other novels but I felt with this one there wasn't one single character with any redeeming qualities whatsover. By the end it just feels hopeless. I found that strange when his other novels always offered hope/redemption at the end. I wondered how depressed Stephen was feeling when he wrote it! In fact, I felt so strongly about it that when I met Stephen at a book signing for this novel I had a go at him - doh! Now I just wish I had kissed his feet instead. http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/the-stars-tennis-balls#post-15834 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 23:23:46 +0000 karoliina 15834@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I read that book a while ago - and it struck me how the complete tone of the book changed as it went along. I can't remember another book that had so clear shift from light comedy to something quite disturbingly dark ,that made a huge impression on me.<br /> <br /> I'm not sure if that is of any help, but at least I got my word in this topic!!!! &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_biggrin.gif&quot; title=&quot;:-D&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/the-stars-tennis-balls#post-15685 Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:55:55 +0000 yeeaaaaah!! 15685@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ i cannot really offer you any help but id just like to say:<br /> i adore that book. http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/the-stars-tennis-balls#post-9602 Tue, 06 Feb 2007 00:59:38 +0000 AxmxZ 9602@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ well i've given some back ground on Mr fry, then i wrote a little about the genre and the style of writting and i've looked at the journey that ned takes through the book. but i wanted to write something about how he ends the book the same as the beginning because i find the ending really emotional and sad.<br /> xx</blockquote><br /> <br /> We're still in the dark as to what precisely it was you wrote.