Silvana's comments (member since Dec 06, 2007)

Silvana's comments from the Constant Reader group.

Is it the fourth thursday? oh right it is.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Geez, I wonder what a turkey tastes like ;p

Last night I was a bit flabbergasted watching Keanu Reeves as young Siddharta in Little Buddha. I always imagine him either as a cold, zero-expression guy or a dorky surfer. The main story was nice though; it's about an American boy who went to Bhutan since he was claimed to be a reincarnation of a certain Lama.

Erin wrote: "Two others that came to mind were Michael Collins and The Boondock Saints (kind of cultish, but I really enjoyed it)."

Duly noted. Both look really interesting, esp. Michael Collins. I heart movies depicting real person esp. revolutionary leaders.

Ruth wrote: "Thanks for posting this Silvana. My Netflix queue is way too short right now."

my pleasure, Ruth :)

Btw, I've seen some Irish-themed movies mentioned up there.

It so happens my client asked me to recommend him some good Irish-themed movies. The list I compiled so far is as follows:

1. Bloody Sunday (the best I've ever seen)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0280491/

2. The Wind that Shakes the Barley (won Palme D'Or in 2006)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460989/

3. In the Name of the Father (Daniel Day Lewis)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107207/

4. Hidden Agenda (Frances McDormand)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099768/

5. The Informant (Timothy Dalton, Cary Elwes)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119368/

6. Some Mother's Son (Helen Mirren)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117690/

7. The Boxer (more Daniel Day Lewis)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118760/

8. Once
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0907657/

9. The Crying Game (Stephen Rea)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104036/

10. Devil's Own (Harrison Ford & Brad Pitt)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118972/

I only watched four of them (1-3,10). How about the others? Did I miss something? Thanks in advance!

Just watched Flammen & Citronen. My first taste of Danish cinema. Great story (true account on two fighters/assasins in Danish resistance during WW II), great acting, superb ending.

And followed by another awesome movie, The Hurt Locker. Not a typical war movie with all the machismo-laden scenes. Unique and mind boggling. Bonus: Critically acclaimed.

Gosh, I hope I am not late. Just finished this book.

I think George Orwell is a genius. I am truly mesmerized with his writing (this is his first non-fiction account I've ever read). So informative, yet so witty, lively and depressing at the same time.

I struggled a bit with Trostkyism and Stalinism, but when I came to understand them slowly, it dawned to me that this 'war' is indeed not a war per se, but a comic opera with an occasional death (this a quote from the book, forgot from whom).

The accounts on the 'battlefield' are hilarious. As already brought up in various war memoirs, in the front a war is not a glorious as one may think. The lice, for instance. Even the Spartans in Thermopylae (or soldiers in other famous battles like Verdun and Waterloo) had lice in their private parts, he mused.

The political accounts, on the other hand, are quite enlightening. Not so sure whether people who don't really dig into reading about politics would like this book (Orwell even made several warnings to the readers before going to the next chapter), but I believe that everyone should have a try. Because of this book, I am really interested to study more about anarchism (I myself have left-libertarian view of politics) and anarchist communities (I don't know whether they're still exist though).

Can't say much for now, I am too shell-shocked. Man, what a book!

Steve wrote: "I believe that I have solved a huge problem here. Nobody need read Part Two of the Epilogue anymore. For those of you who have already not read Part Two of the Epilogue, I have gotten it down to a ..."

my goodness. sorry i missed this post. will try to read and understand.

The second epilogue is one of my fave parts of the novel. Notions like 'no command can produce an event that is not ready to be enacted' and 'no such thing as an isolated cause and effect' are really mindboggling.

First of all, she's a French woman in a royal Russian household, where the country she's living in (and people she's depending on), was being invaded by Napoleon. Talking about coincidence and irony.

Secondly, did she made some moves toward Mary's and Andrei's father? Or was it Andrei himself? Cmiiw.

I like the second epilogue much better than the first one. The first epilogue is almost as unnecessary as the epilogue in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

The second epilogue is the perfect 'ending' for W&P. Despite my own opinion on Tolstoy's conclusive theory (which is not new anyway), he really made me THINK. As I said in my review, I came to a moment of silence after I finished the book, almost overwhelmed with all the grandeur of W&P.

Allow me to quote the excerpts of my review here:

"Furthermore, this is not just a story-telling novel. Tolstoy has included some of his (philosophical) thoughts here. Do not hesitate to ponder them all. His analysis on historical events was extensive and has its own unique logical reasoning.

Was Napoleon a genius commander? Were his victories inevitable? Was the abandonment of Moscow the right call made by General Kutuzov? Back to basic, what is power? What force produces the movement of nations? Tolstoy had his own answers. Combination of all forces, no event can singularly affect another, no such thing as an isolated cause and effect, so says this maestro."

For all who have listened to more than a dozen audiobooks, are there any notable distinction between the readers who are famous (such as actors) or the ones who aren't?

Candy wrote: "Geoff, ah, yes, I suppose it does seem as if Melville didn't care about his characters in Moby Dick. Har! That is a funny image...I see a guy hunched over his writing...thinking to himself..."I'm g..."

And I cried about Queequeg. MD's ending is more painful to me than W&P. But still a good reading.

@Sherry: I remember that line. Despite its beauty, it made me cringe the first time I read it. Maybe the 'poetry' and 'a searching philosophical doubt' are too much for me to imagine for a commander to behave in real life ;p

However, I do adore Kutuzov. He's my favorite character from all the bunch.

Steve wrote: "She was created in order that she might sacrifice herself. Or at least that is how those around her regarded her. "

I know Sonia is not one of the most forefront characters in W&P, but still, her fate is among the most tragic, despite her own acceptance/preference.

Regarding death, ah this brings me back to the death scene of Andrey Bolkonsky in Natasha's arms. A wonderful piece of writing.

I have to go back to my deadlines but I just can't help myself to open this thread.

Here's my review on War and Peace a couple of years ago and if anyone would like to make a comment, well then go ahead :p

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/666...

Oh I didn't notice that a discussion thread has been opened!

My favorite passages would be the military movements. Overall, Tolstoy's analysis on historical events was extensive and has its own unique logical reasoning. So please don't skip that part or else I'll be talking to myself here. Haha..just kidding. I also love the characters because they're just unforgettable.

Noted, Barbara. I also have a feeling that I'll like Austen's audiobooks.

@Donna: Ah. That inspires me. Well, I think I have to find the audiobooks by Roddy Doyle then. Haven't heard an audiobook read by someone with an Irish accent.

Certainly, Sherry. It would buy me some time to find the listed books :)

HBO, huh? Expect some nudity then LOL
I wonder who will play Callie...

I can't wait for August! War and Peace is E-P-I-C.
It would be a pleasure to re-read it.

Btw, when will the selection for next year's books start?

I'm a newbie when it comes to audiobooks. My recent one is The Sorceress by Michael Scott. So far I have tried to listen to pre-teen fantasies and one horror book (The Strain).

Maybe I'll try to listen to some classics like Jane Austen's. I couldn't stand some of her novels (not my taste I guess) but maybe listening to the audiobook version may change my mind.

Furthermore, I also would like to try listening to funny books, like Douglas Adams'. That should be interesting :)

Can anyone explain to me what these points really mean:

"8. Long tail balkanizes audiences, disrupts means of canon-building and fragments literary reputation."

"17. Polarizing civil cold war is harmful to intellectual honesty."

Thanks in advance!