Denise's comments
(member since Jun 01, 2008)
Denise's comments from the Constant Reader group.
(showing 1-20 of 201)
Once again, here at CR, I am introduced to a something I've never heard of. Sounds interesting, Sherry. Thanks for the review.
Borders is the the chain store I most appreciate. It's the only bookstore in Rapid City with a large selection. It's also something of a social gathering place. It will be missed. I don't buy too many new books, but I'm glad I picked up 2666 there (with a coupon). I found a used copy of Dom Casmurro (not sure which translation) and am looking forward to it on the plane for Christmas vacation. Not sure yet what I'll do with the introduction.
Sibyl, it sounds interesting to me. Sometimes short is good. Thanks for the review.
My inter-library loan copy of this came in rather late, but I am very glad I read it. I thought this was a beutiful book, and I have enjoyed reading the comments above.
I still have over 100 pages to go, so I can't answer all your questions yet, Whitaker.
I was interested in the Labyrinth, but could not quite get my head around how they figured it out. I just accepted that they had. I sympathized with Adso being scared of his own reflection. Very Scooby Doo.
Last night I just finished the scene where the monks ended up in a brawl. It was pretty funny. Reminds me of how vehemently scientists can argue over theoretical points. Although I've never seen such an argument degenerate to fisticuffs.
I found this quote intersting from Wiliam to Adso re: the arguments whether Christ was poor or not:
But the question is not whether Christ was poor. It is whether the church must be poor. And 'poor' does not so much mean owning a castle or not; it means, rather, keeping or renouncing the right to legislate on earthly matters.
I don't know why, but for some reason I find it very entertaining to read about my all time favorites being loathed. Tolstoy? Helprin? Atwood? Garcia-Marquez? I LOVE them. I could pick them up anytime.
Others that I love just as much depend more on timing and the state of my brain. Faulkner, Laurence and Woolf I can only get into sometimes, but those times that I have--WOW.
So now I'm trying to play the game and think of the authors that I loathe, but I'm having some trouble. Not because they're not out there; I'm just having trouble thinking of them.
Just checked back in on this thread, but I want you to know I was thinking of you all Nov 30. Congratulations on all those keystrokes! I like the note of jubilation I detected above. It sounds like it was fun and challenging.
I'm working my way through it. I'm enjoying it, but in a slow sort of fashion. I'm not as interested as I feel I should be in the history of the church factions and warring theological interpretations. I am, however caught up in the mystery and the different characters.
I also keep thinking how glad I am I'm not alive in Europe during that time period. And that I don't have any hungry younger brothers to worry about.
I read Agnes Grey earlier this fall. I remember little of it, except that I wasn't impressed. While I haven't read the other Bronte sisters, I thought maybe there was a good reason Anne wasn't as famous.
Without your recomendation for Windfell Hall, I probably wouldn't consider trying any of her other works.
...so from that perspective I thought the police officer interaction could be true, or maybe how the boy remembers the encounter as an adult. --Al
I had not even considered that the boy was the narrator. But it could be his adult self talking to his young self. Hmmm. That changes things for me. Previously I had questioned some of his perceptions, but not the actual events in the story.
The story of the stepfather pushing down the father gave some validity to the "bully" image.
Thanks for the review, Ruth. It sounds interesting. I don't think I've read anything set in Romania before. And I know I haven't read anything by Muller.
Russ2 and Erin,
Good luck, hang in there, keep going, you can do it...Congratulations for how much you've accomplished thus far.
They all sound like good reads. Thanks once again, Sherry.
All you people who nominated books under 300 pages: Don't give up!
I had a hard time picking this round as there were so many on the list I would like to read, and the only one I had actually read, Oryx and Crake, is one of my favorites.
I never read Balzac and the Little Seamstress, but there is an excellent movie based on it.
Yulia: Yes, her self-esteem was the issue here. Barbara, I completely agree that it was wonderful how Barker took such a potentially distressing subject (our insecurities and the individuals we find to reinforce them) and made it hilarious. A nice treat...
Well said! I missed the switch to "Colin" too. Good catch, Beej.
Jane,
I'll be intereseted what you think of the Le Clezio you have, and if it does have similar qualities.
Al,
I think this could be a good book to discuss, and it's fairly short. I'll give it some thought. (sorry if this is a repeat--I thought I posted this earlier, but I don't see it)
I just finished Onitsha by Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio and recommend it. I found it lyrical and rich in imagery for all the senses. There was a dreamlike quality to some of events, in fact some of the events were dreams.
I just made it back to Rapid City and none of our local used bookstores happened to have a copy of it. I am waiting for it through interlibrary loan. I optimistically assume I'll find my library card before it comes in. Guess I'll be joining the discussion late, but looking forward to reading this book. It sounds pretty.
Newengland wrote: Too bad about Hamsun. A political nightmare as a person but a literary dream as a writer. Pan would've been a good intro for folks.
Do you think it's possible we were dealing with a split vote? I was definitely interested in reading some Hamsun, but I voted for Hunger since I'd already read Pan. Perhaps we can try campaigning for him next go around.
I'm not disappointed with the winners, however. I'm hoping to be able to join in on all of the discussions.
And another thing about Portland...
I really enjoyed the reading. In fact, I would have been happy to have one each day. (This coming from someone who didn't, herself, come up with anything to read.)
Capitu, I think campaigning would be kind of fun. I don't know, though, if this is something that has been discouraged in the past or not.
Any help from someone who's been here awhile?
I've already voted, so campaigning won't affect me, but I'm curious to hear what people want and why.
