MAP's comments
(member since Oct 03, 2007)
MAP's comments from the Constant Reader group.
(showing 1-20 of 260)
I had much the same reaction of disgust when I read it years ago. And yet, I found a terrific analysis of the book in Reading Lolita in Tehran A Memoir in Books. This book made me want to read more Nabokov, if that can be believed!
All,Do not worry about expressing your views of books here. We each bring so much of our own tastes and views to what we read. Some books are loved and some are not your cup of tea. No problem. Just let us know!
Wow, Mina. I had no idea. Thank you for sharing, and thank you for being a part of CR.
Don't worry about the length, Al. It will fly.
Happy birthday, Mina. I hope you are feeling better, and have a happy and healthy year!
Woo woo! I'm so happy that Half of a Yellow Sun is a winner. I think we'll have a great discussion.
Janet, your post reminds me of the late, great George Carlin, and his "Wonderful WINO" radio station: "The world is coming to an end. Details in 30 minutes. Wonderful WINO!"
Sarah wrote: "Perhaps it is not clear that some of us (or maybe I should just speak for myself) are saying that the questioning of the material/book is not the problem; it is how it is handled or adjudicated. T..."Sarah, I'm sure it is perfectly clear, as it has been said time and time again - but ignored.
Four friends came to visit this weekend. We had a wonderful time!On Friday night, I served a Pork with Fennel recipe I found in the Better Homes & Gardens magazine, linked here. Everyone loved it.
http://www.bhg.com/recipe/pork/sour-crea...
I also served Roasted Butternut Squash with Balsamic Glaze. First, you whisk together 2 t. of kosher salt, 3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar, 3 tbsp. of light brown sugar, and 2 tbsp. of olive oil. Peel the squash and cut it up in 1 inch chunks. Put the squash in a bowl and pour the balsamic vinegar over top, mix to coat evenly.
Bake the squash at 425 for about 50 minutes.
These two recipes go well together as a nice fall combination, but also because they both are baked in a 425 degree oven.
Ah, well. There it is.
Who picks the US Poet Laureates? That could be the problem.
I always feel so behind in my reading when I read lists like this.Thanks for posting the link, Al, but I think I'll go read something now.
Michael wrote: "MAP, here is what the ALA puts on their website -- this is taken directly off it:The following were the top three reasons cited for challenging materials as reported to the Office of Intellectu..."
No, Michael.
When someone attests that they find something objectionable because it is sexually explicit, they are saying it is so at any age.
The same holds true for offensive language.
Since the age group reason is given only 2/3 as often as the sexually explicit reason, you can't just assume that the challenger means something other than what they say. I make no such assumption.
All I ask of you is consistency.
Happy birthday, Mina, and also David, wherever you are!
Michael wrote: "I am, yes -- partly because the word "banned" is not the right word here, as far as I can tell. MAP, what I learned when I read the ALA site in more detail was that the vast majority of the challe..."Well, Michael, since you have raised the subject of "playing footsie with reality", it seems that challenges on age appropriateness represent 20%, while those on either sexual content or language each have a larger percentage of challenges.
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/ba...
Since you have been so persistent in having us all clean up our language on terms like attemps vs. banning, or banning vs. challenges, I would suggest that you exercise the same caution as well.
Michael wrote: "Not sure I understand your point -- all the ALA cases cited were local cases, weren't they, Susanna? Issues of appropriateness in schools, mostly. There is only one book I'm aware of that is banned nationwide from all public schools."Michael, you seem to be saying here that local attempts at banning are of minimal concern.
Capitu wrote: "I am reviving this thread, because in a conversation with a couple of friends from my bookclub I found out that they saw Aida in HD last Saturday. They absolutely loved it. The important thing..."
I attended several of these HD shows last season...they're great! If you go, make sure you arrive about an hour before show time, as the seats fill up early with the die hards, and you might be left with a poor seat choice.
El wrote: "Newengland wrote: "On-line personas talking to each other make a costume party of a sort. The monitor is our collective mask. "Looking at it that way sort of creeps me out though. I suddenly h..."
Ha! When I first joined Constant Readers back in 1996 some people I know cautioned me that I might soon be conducting an illicit internet relationship.
Hmm...is it me?
Years ago - long before the internet, a friend had a costume party wherein we were urged to come as a literary figure. I've never had much creativity for that kind of thing, so I went with a typical MAP outfit. When people complained that I was not in costume, I told them that I was actually dressed as Nancy Drew.They bought it.
Happy birthday, Sara! Happy birthday, Dale!Constant Reader
