Mike's comments

Mike's comments from the Constant Reader group.

Note: Mike is no longer a member of this group.

The cult of personality is a slippery slope, for those history-challenged.

if said map doesn't speak to the end of civilization as we know it, then I don't know..

Saw interview w/Hiaasen also. Plan to read more. Yep So. Fla. is deep in strangeness.

Hey! Good ideas for ALL of us..thanks..
my recs: The Winner-Baldacci
Body Double-Gerritsen
Skinny Dip-Hiaasen
The Alienist-Carr (more literary)

Wilhelmina wrote: "I agree. jess, that some balance is essential. Here in Georgia, until about 15 years ago (maybe less), there were many school districts, some close to Atlanta, where teachers were not allowed to te..."
Let me defend my state and take issue with the slavery in schools comment. I am 47 years old, attending elementary and high school in a town, quite coincidentally, right next to Stone Mntn near Atlanta..at age 9 or 10, can't remember the exact grade level, our teacher orchestrated a "slavery debate" as a means to discuss the moral and economic ramifications of the sorry institute. It was eye opening and positively educational for me and the other "southern bred" classmates. So, let's see, that was nearly 40 YEARS ago. So I'm not sure where the information on the slavery censorship issue derives, but I was compelled to take exception.

Russ-here here!

As far as lists go, I kinda went whacko earlier this yr and googled to my list-crazed content. One great one I came across is a compilation of lists of the Best Books of the Century (20th), though they used a good source to take the list right up thru 2007...its at marktwainlibrary.org..the last pg "lists the lists: they took from. These include NY Times, Waterstones, Modern Library, and the compilation does include great non-fiction...I also personally like Time Mags list (which I recall covers the 20th cent. fic from 1925; and Hungry Mind Reviews Best 20th Cent. American Books of Fic and Nonfic. (I copied a good version of it at www.interleaves.org.. ENJOY

Writer & Reader wrote: "wow, that's a movie from the past--I saw it on tv as a kid--I remember Carol Lynley but not much else. I remember being spooked by it but not quite getting it. I think I'll have to rent it!

Sara"Give it a try. I believe it replays on TCM (Turner Classic Movies), you can chk their schedule. I think I heard about a remake in the works? Don't know but it could be rescripted and made into something great... more ethereal trivia: Carol Lynley was the "singer" in Poseidon Adventure..she also posed nude for Playboy in 1965, the yr this movie came out (I was only age 3 at the time, so NO, this doesn't skew my judgement of the movie!!)

Anyone watch Bunny Lake is Missing on TMC recently? Otto Preminger directed, and seniors Noel Coward and Laurence Olivier co-starred w/Carol Lynley. Was a flop in 1965 (even per Preminger) but seems to have gained an audience in recent reruns. Spooky, and based on the pulpish book by Merriam Modell. The Zombies band makes a tv-over-bar cameo and N Coward is a slimy landlord who's into whip and chains (I guess that comes as no surprise). I kind of liked it...anyone else see it?

Okay I'll step to the plate. How about "Carter Beats the Devil" by Glen David Gold. Debut novel, historical, magic, fast-paced per reviews; seems made for a reading group likes ours.

Hi, newby here. Age 47. Put monkey suit on permanent display in closet abt 3 yrs ago (and it looks great). Pt time at library, volunteer, hike, yard work/garden, cook for my lovely wife. With time, precious time!, I've probably accomplished 50% of my lifetime reading in the past 3yrs. I toss a wide net, having sampled no more than 3 of any one author to date. Favorite novelists- Steinbeck, Stegner, Anne Tyler(so far); Philbrick and Massie in n/f. Member of a classic lit club and a "catch all" book club locally. My long-form read list has me consuming these authors for first time by end of 09: Philip Roth, Malamud, William Trevor, Dostoevsky, Paton, Gogol, Ian McEwan, Mistry, etal. Glad I found this site and this club, and hope to join the varied discussion.