Complicity - Iain Banks
Discussion
OK, time for a true Pistonheads challenge.
Was sitting thinking about fav book quotes and was reminded of a quote from Complicity. I think it is about page 247 (did say it was a favorite) and it is when Cameron is saying goodbye to his love.
It is something along the lines of -
So I stand there, looking for the one thing that I can say to make things right, to make things turn out happily between is, but it just does not exist, so I just stand there, holding her hand, until she says "Goodbye, Cameron"
Anyone close to the book, who could let me have the exact quote.
I would check my copy, but I am working away from home for the next three weeks.
Thanks in advance,
Chris
Was sitting thinking about fav book quotes and was reminded of a quote from Complicity. I think it is about page 247 (did say it was a favorite) and it is when Cameron is saying goodbye to his love.
It is something along the lines of -
So I stand there, looking for the one thing that I can say to make things right, to make things turn out happily between is, but it just does not exist, so I just stand there, holding her hand, until she says "Goodbye, Cameron"
Anyone close to the book, who could let me have the exact quote.
I would check my copy, but I am working away from home for the next three weeks.
Thanks in advance,
Chris
p286 (paperback edition)
"I just stand there, nodding like an idiot,wanting to say the one right thing that must exist for me to change all of this,make it good, make it all better,make it eventually happenhappily for us,but knowing that that thing just doesn't existand there's no point looking for it,and so just stand there nodding dumbly with my lips trapped compressed between my teeth,looking down,not able to look her in the eyes and knowing that's it, the end, goodbye....until after those moments she puts me out of my misery and puts her hand out and gently says, 'Goodbye, Cameron.'
And I nod and shake her hand and after a while I get my mouth to work and it says, 'Goodbye'
I hold her hand one last time, just for a moment."
Hope that helps. Brilliant book, that one. I don't read much, and it's one of very few that I've read more than once.
Out of context does that quote come across like the Streets - Dry your eyes mate?
"I just stand there, nodding like an idiot,wanting to say the one right thing that must exist for me to change all of this,make it good, make it all better,make it eventually happenhappily for us,but knowing that that thing just doesn't existand there's no point looking for it,and so just stand there nodding dumbly with my lips trapped compressed between my teeth,looking down,not able to look her in the eyes and knowing that's it, the end, goodbye....until after those moments she puts me out of my misery and puts her hand out and gently says, 'Goodbye, Cameron.'
And I nod and shake her hand and after a while I get my mouth to work and it says, 'Goodbye'
I hold her hand one last time, just for a moment."
Hope that helps. Brilliant book, that one. I don't read much, and it's one of very few that I've read more than once.
Out of context does that quote come across like the Streets - Dry your eyes mate?
Iain Banks is god. I love his earlier fiction (not so keen on the modern stuff, I find it hard to get through). His Sci-Fi is a revelation.
Have you also tried Michael Marshall Smith? If you're unsure, he did a book of short stories, which is utterly brilliant. Hes a very very entertaining writer, and has a quite bizarre imagination.
Have you also tried Michael Marshall Smith? If you're unsure, he did a book of short stories, which is utterly brilliant. Hes a very very entertaining writer, and has a quite bizarre imagination.
I much prefer his Sci-Fi "Iain M Banks" stuff to his other "Iain Banks" stuff, with the exception of 'The Crow Road' which was brilliant*.
I think I've read a majority of his books now, so it's not like I haven't given it a chance.
Edit:
* - Bad choice of words there. I wasn't implying that his non Sci-Fi works aren't brilliant, just that I didn't enjoy them as much as his Sci-Fi stuff.
>> Edited by JonRB on Thursday 17th February 10:26
I think I've read a majority of his books now, so it's not like I haven't given it a chance.
Edit:
* - Bad choice of words there. I wasn't implying that his non Sci-Fi works aren't brilliant, just that I didn't enjoy them as much as his Sci-Fi stuff.
>> Edited by JonRB on Thursday 17th February 10:26
parrot of doom said:
Iain Banks is god. I love his earlier fiction (not so keen on the modern stuff, I find it hard to get through). His Sci-Fi is a revelation.
Have you also tried Michael Marshall Smith? If you're unsure, he did a book of short stories, which is utterly brilliant. Hes a very very entertaining writer, and has a quite bizarre imagination.
Easily the best modern writer in the UK. The quality of his writing is an embarrasment to his peers IMHO.
Not overly keen on the Iain M Banks stuff, I just never got into it and now find it a bit dense (will start at the beginning at some point and work through because I know I'm missing out). His modern/gothic-y stuff is just brilliant.
AND he's a petrol-head AND he's a bit of a whiskey connoisseur AND, apparently, he and his wife both cut up their passports and posted them to 10 Downing Street when the UK got involved with the attack on Iraq.
And some people believe there's no God? Perhaps you're looking in the wrong place
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