Meredith's comments (member since Jul 04, 2008)

Meredith's comments from the The Rory Gilmore Book Club group.

"He had the engaging habit of sometimes pursuing a favourite digression so fervently that he would have to stop and look around with a puzzled smile before reminding himself where he was meant to be."

(A HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN 10.5 CHAPTERS, Julian Barnes)

For the next post: page 99, sentence 10

I watched this movie at a friend's beach house this weekend. I haven't read the book, but figured watching it wouldn't spoil it for me. It was there, anyway. The movie was not too great, a good word is probably flimsy. It probably hit all the high points but the story wasn't connected together very well. And you kinda knew how it would end before it even started. The only interesting part I found was how outrageous they wanted to make the stereotype of a UES family. Living in New York, the differences in wealthy can be staggering. But can these people REALLY live their lives like this? I guess that's the point of the book. And why I live in the real world.

I found a free copy a week ago and snagged it hoping it would be the summer choice. Yay, serendipity!

I'm with you Deborah. I had a really hard time separating the two. In Part Two, all I could hear was "never-ending War on Terror".

I was especially struck by the writings of Emmanuel Goldstein. While I was reading, I marked several passages that I found so amazing relevant. In the chapter War is Peace--
"And at the same time the consciousness of being at war, and therefore in danger, makes the handing-over of all power to a small caste seem the natural, unavoidable condition of survival."

"It does not matter whether the war is actually happening, and, since no decisive victory is possible, it does not matter whether the war is going well or badly. All that is needed is that a state of war should exist."

"But when war becomes literally continuous, it also ceases to be dangerous."

I can not help but think of a certain phrase and the liberties taken in the name of it.


But also, once I was finished, I wondered why O'Brien gave the writings to Winston. And was it revolutionary propaganda or actually Big Brother literature? I can't remember the exact passage but there's a moment when Winston acknowledges what he's reading is more just the facts of the situation rather than a condemnation.

1. Vanity Fair
2. The Portable Dorothy Parker

I've finished it...but have still been trying to formulate what to say. Having only a passing knowledge of it's themes (dystopia, Big Brother) before I started, I guess I was expecting something different. I won't say I was disappointed but...it was just different. I read BRAVE NEW WORLD immediately after (also different than I expected) and started FAHRENHEIT 451 last night.

Book One is just setting up the environment. I found Book Two and Three getting more to the heart of the matter.

What I really think is--the society that we live in is far more similar to "1984" than the society in which it was written. I didn't find it shocking. It doesn't seem revolutionary. There are computer and tv screens everywhere. I'm sure the technology is there to monitor us. Our cell phones can track our movement. You can go onto Google Maps and look at the front of my apartment with the use of satellites. Times have definitely changed.

I found Goldstein's "book" in Book Two to be really powerful and the only time that I stopped and reread passages because of how prophetic I found them to be. But I'm jumping ahead.

Susan, I love MAMA MAKES UP HER MIND! My husband sent it to me to read while I was studying in England a couple of years ago. It's one of those I'm not sure I would have picked up on my own, but found it such a pleasure to read. He and I are both from the South originally. I think I found it comforting--reminded me of my Grandma.

Jessica, I read ON BEAUTY and found it difficult to read and even finish. I did eventually finish but found I had such a bad taste in my mouth (figuratively speaking) that I had little interest in reading any other Zadie Smith. She edited and contributed to a collection of short stories, THE BOOK OF OTHER PEOPLE, with contributions from some of my favs--Daniel Clowes, Dave Eggers, Miranda July--so I picked it up. I keep seeing WHITE TEETH but haven't had an interest to pick it up. Maybe I will. Thanks Marion and Jessica!

I had to miss the episode when it aired, but last night I started watching it on NBC online. I only watched half, and am debating just watching it when they re-air it tonight. Let's just say it's not optimal viewing. But I did make it through the birth of the twins. OMG!!!!!!!!! I can't believe what she had to do to that poor woman--I had no idea a uterus could come out and get pushed back in!!

1. Stiff
2. The Lovely Bones
3. The Red Tent

I really enjoy Murakami's otherworldly sense of time and place. I'm not sure I would go so far as to it was bizarre. It's just not quite traditional. I have NW and Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman but haven't started those yet. I have read, in this order, The Wind Up Bird Chronicle (good, but so-so), After Dark (short, almost a novella, slow to start but picks up at the end) and Kafka on the Shore (which I highly HIGHLY recommend). I read Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time immediately after WUBC and remember feeling a sense of similarity but now I don't know why.

1. Brave New World
2. Galapagos
3. On the Road

Brave New World--Huxley

Galapagos--Vonnegut

The Metamorphosis--Kafka

People tend to have a love-it-or-hate-it relationship with LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA but I absolutely fell in love when I read it. Sweet, soft, gently unfolding, timeless love story.

1. Middlesex
2. Stiff
3. Nervous System

My husband lost my copy of EW, but the blurb on the picture referenced her less than desirable drunk singing in season 7. She assures us it is not indicative of her actual ability :)

My new Entertainment Weekly came as usual this Friday, but with a special treat on page 4. Lauren Graham in the revival of GUYS AND DOLLS on Broadway! A way cute picture of Ms. Graham as Miss Adelaide--rhinestones, blonde wig, and all. It opens March 1. I may have to brave Times Square for this!

So I finally got a hold of the '78 version of LW. Netflix had to ship it across the country, ha! It's two discs--the first one is 1.5 hr.

It's pretty dated--the camera work leaves a lot to be desired. There are music transitions leading into commercial breaks that made me laugh out loud. Eve Plumb (Jan Brady) as Beth--bless her heart. She can't act her way out of a paper bag. It's all around pretty melodramatic. Fun and silly, but melodramatic.

The brightest spot by far was Susan Dey as Jo. I'd never thought much of her--I love the Partridge Family but it was more of a showcase for David Cassidy. I was too young for LA Law. But I thought she was great! The best one I've seen, no joke. (clarifying statement: I have not seen the '33 version with the phenomenal Katharine Hepburn. I fully understand she probably blows the last statement out of the water) Susan's distinct features play right in to Jo's personality and she has a nice balance of smart, snarky, impatient, and grace. Rave, rave, rave!

So far--not the total train wreck I anticipated but still a pretty limited version.

My best friend and I evaluated how many books we read last year and the year before and wanted to set a reasonable goal--I'm aiming for 50. More, but not too much more than last year. I want to read the books on my shelfs I haven't read yet and I'm now a member of my local library (which leaves a lot to be desired, though books can be transfered from other branches). I'm still waiting for my copy of SLoB.

1. Emma
2. The Awakening
3. Hamlet