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September 22
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Nicola
gave
to:
Ficciones (English Translation)
by Jorge Luis Borges
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my rating:
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read in September, 2008
Nicola said:
"If M.C. Escher could write short stories....
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Nicola
gave
to:
The Best American Short Stories (The Best American Series 2006)
by Ann Patchett
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in July, 2008
Nicola said:
"Appreciated the contemporary feel of this collection, with many stories directly referencing the war in Iraq. Though it is kind of sad to think that the world hasn't changed all that much after two years. As with all collections, this one was a bit u...more
Appreciated the contemporary feel of this collection, with many stories directly referencing the war in Iraq. Though it is kind of sad to think that the world hasn't changed all that much after two years. As with all collections, this one was a bit uneven, though, overall, worthwhile. Unfortunately, I struggled with both the first and the last story-so, in retrospect, wish I had just eaten the meat of the sandwich and not the bread. Standout stories: Robert Coover's 'Grandmother's Nose,' Kevin Moffett's 'Tattooizm,' Jack Livings 'The Dog,' and, of course, Benjamin Percy's 'Refresh, Refresh.'
A note on amazing short stories in general: It's really quite incredible how much they earn in such a short space. I love when the twist (the kink in a character's situation) feels both shocking and obvious at the same time. Like this blind spot that is suddenly revealed. Or like my friend the other day with a kink in her neck, who kept having to turn to see things: that moment her body is building up towards, when her neck suddenly, easily twists and she'll finally be able to see that weird-man-in-the-clown-suit who has been following her, probably, since she was a little kid, but no one really knows.
...less
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April 26
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Nicola
gave
to:
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America (Paperback)
by Erik Larson
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in March, 2008
Nicola said:
"How can you go wrong reading about architecture and psychopaths and the fervor and innocence of the turn-of-the-century?? Thoroughly enjoyed the macabre, megalomaniac atmosphere of this book. The Fountainhead meets In Cold Blood...hm...more
How can you go wrong reading about architecture and psychopaths and the fervor and innocence of the turn-of-the-century?? Thoroughly enjoyed the macabre, megalomaniac atmosphere of this book. The Fountainhead meets In Cold Blood...hmmmm, not really. My only qualm with the book was its overdone foreshadowing and suspense, its many drumrolls. This aside, it´s a great, late-night, gritty-city read. ...less
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February 29
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Nicola
gave
to:
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (Paperback)
by Dave Eggers
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in February, 2008
Nicola said:
"Firstly: A great, big, twisted-face hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
So much hype...and, for the most part, good delivery. Loved the end. Almost gave up in the middle (which Eggers seemed to predict, calling this part "uneven" in the preface). ...more
Firstly: A great, big, twisted-face hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
So much hype...and, for the most part, good delivery. Loved the end. Almost gave up in the middle (which Eggers seemed to predict, calling this part "uneven" in the preface). Moved by the beginning. Amused (but slightly annoyed--whiffs of hipster-ness) by the preface. Overall, "enjoyed" (not quite the right word) this mammoth book in all its self-consciousness and mourning and mania. ...less
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Nicola
gave
to:
The Secret Life of Lobsters: How Fishermen and Scientists Are Unraveling the Mysteries of Our Favorite Crustacean (P.S.)
by Trevor Corson
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in February, 2008
Nicola said:
"My second-grade teacher's son's book! Does not come as a surprise that Mrs. Corson, the greatest teacher of all time, spawned a literary son.
About the book itself: Will never behold lobsters or lobstermen in the same way. Both creatures lead incr...more
My second-grade teacher's son's book! Does not come as a surprise that Mrs. Corson, the greatest teacher of all time, spawned a literary son.
About the book itself: Will never behold lobsters or lobstermen in the same way. Both creatures lead incredible lives. Lobsters ripping out their insides, their teeth, extricating their own claws, all to molt (and molt again, ad infinitum, ad nauseam, ad lobster pot). Loved how Trevor (the author) weaved the bizarre mating rituals of lobsters with the equally bizarre mating rituals of humans (by the wayside, lobsters make love in the missionary position).
check out Trevor's website: www.secretlifeoflobsters.com, and, more specifically, "random & weird lobster stuff" http://www.secretlifeoflobster......less
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January 24
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Nicola
gave
to:
Diary of a Left-Handed Bird Watcher (Hardcover)
by Leonard Nathan
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in December, 2007
Nicola said:
"absolutely adorable. a man in search of a snow bunting and the nature of epiphany. has a very witty wife and friend, Lewis, his "ornithologist." here's one of many playful snippets:
Lewis suddenly smiles. And when I ask why, he says, “...more
absolutely adorable. a man in search of a snow bunting and the nature of epiphany. has a very witty wife and friend, Lewis, his "ornithologist." here's one of many playful snippets:
Lewis suddenly smiles. And when I ask why, he says, “It just occurred to me that your pursuit of the bunting repeats an American archetypal fable.”
“What,” I ask warily, “would that be?”
“Ahab’s quest for the white whale. Your bunting is a pint-sized Moby Dick. And we know how that story ends.”
...less
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Nicola
gave
to:
Crow With No Mouth : Ikkyu : Fifteenth Century Zen Master (Paperback)
by Stephen Berg
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in December, 2007
Nicola said:
"i had a bit of glue on my hand when i read this book.
best to read this at night; something manic about these couplets: an insomniac's quickening mind (without the coming down, the fatigue):
"night after night after night stay up all nig...more
i had a bit of glue on my hand when i read this book.
best to read this at night; something manic about these couplets: an insomniac's quickening mind (without the coming down, the fatigue):
"night after night after night stay up all night
nothing but your own night"
hit me on many levels. what to do with this body: a Zen monk in the whorehouse. the loss of a father. crows.
...less
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Nicola
gave
to:
Primate Behavior: Poems (Grove Press Poetry Series)
by Sarah Lindsay
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in January, 2008
Nicola said:
"Queen of the quirky factoid, real or imagined. This is poetry that astonishes. Lindsay can be intimidating at times--I definitely had a dictionary on hand, as I read. But, ultimately, she's worth the extra effort. She has, what Nabokov lauded as, “...more
Queen of the quirky factoid, real or imagined. This is poetry that astonishes. Lindsay can be intimidating at times--I definitely had a dictionary on hand, as I read. But, ultimately, she's worth the extra effort. She has, what Nabokov lauded as, “the precision of the artist, the passion of the scientist.” My favorite work of hers, "Twigs & Knucklebones," will be coming out sometime next year from Copper Canyon Press. Keep an eye out for it--and tell me if you would like to formally join the Sarah Lindsay cult (I'll be taking applications)!!!!...less
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October 14, 2007
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Nicola
gave
to:
Refresh, Refresh
by Benjamin Percy
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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