Alethea's comments (member since Oct 20, 2008)

Alethea's comments from the The Critical Beatdown group.

Thanks, I needed that. Well, not really, since I am still in the sh*t. Also wondering if the plumber has shown up yet.

I found Essential Rumi for $7.99 CL, btw. Thanks for the recommendation.


My pick:
The Poetry Home Repair Manual Practical Advice for Beginning Poets

Sheesh.

Today I got

"I ate a lemon bar several days ago and it was too dry, so can you take $1.25 off this marshmallow bar even though I don't have a receipt?"

and

"There's a thumbprint on the inside of this magazine, I think that deserves 10% off like you always give me."

*brain explodes*

You guys aren't missing anything.

I work, but I could bring my laptop and be there during break? Thu and Fri too.

Free Mon nights, and Wed nights until Lost comes on at 9 pm. We don't have DVR anymore :( so I gotta watch it live!

Yeah, me too. Once a month we have the YABC meeting on a Sunday night, so that would be the only night not good for me.

I love that idea. Jane, this might be our solution to the "refresh" problem on our online blogging.

Ok! I already know what I'll suggest, when you post up the topic...

A book just came out entitled...

Spoilers, in case anyone is more behind in reading than I am.




I don't think his father was very "centered" either, as you put it, from their stilted attempts at conversation where Stevens must refer to him as Father in third-person; to Mr. Stevens, Sr.'s attempts to circumvent the restrictions placed upon his service despite his ailing health; and culminating in Stevens' denial of weeping in the smoking room while his father is passing away in his attic room. This is the kind of roundabout tragedy Ishiguro excels at writing, and a brilliant expression of dignity as Stevens and his father have defined it through their demeanor, or should we say their profession? They are consummate butlers: Stevens, Sr. only wavers when death is imminent ("I hope I've been a good father to you. I suppose I haven't."--but this only after "Everything in hand downstairs?") and Stevens' final words to his father, "I'm so glad you're feeling better now"--why this choice of words, when clearly his father is unwell? Because anything else would be maudlin and certainly undignified.

And while Stevens retells those events to illustrate what he means by dignity, do we account for Miss Kenton's professionalism as well? What counterpoint does this below-stairs episode have in relation to Lord Darlington's conference, particularly in regards to M. Dupont and Mr. Lewis?

And good blah blah to you, too.

Great analysis, Dale. And not messy at all. You'll be a great English prof.

Wholehearted yes!

FYI for those of you who have not picked up a copy yet, I think we got 10 in today. Last I left, they were on a v-cart next to Info 1.

I'll bring the paint.

I like Andy's idea--let's play Skully! I'll bring the candles.

I heart the new icon. (Yes I saw the previous one, not so much disagreed with it but pretty much anyone can say that :/ I like this much better!)

Mine:

10. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
9. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
8. Pretty Monsters by Kelly Link
7. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
6. Dune by Frank Herbert
5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
4. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
3. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
2. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
1. Atlas Freakin' Shrugged by Ayn Rand

and I'm sure if I got around to reading The Watchmen before the year is over, that'd bump most stuff down a notch.

Your turn!

Dense? I dunno, I didn't feel that way. Got through it just fine. Dylan really hooked me, that feeling of time passing too slowly, of play-yard politics, of skirting the edges of understanding and being too short/young/different to quite get it.

Tom, is it weird that I didn't really start enjoying the book until that chapter?

Yeah. That's what I thought.

I thought his name was spelled Saarrrrrsssggggarrd. My bad.