Greg’s Comments (group member since Jul 02, 2014)

Greg’s comments from the All About Books group.

Petra wrote: "The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr by E.T.A. Hoffmann"

This one looks interesting Petra!

I haven't read it yet, but I'm intrigued by this one I saw one of my Goodreads friends reading: The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth. Has anyone read it?

N: Neapolitan ice cream

Damini, I do love sticky rice, and that sounds good!

Rosh [busy month; will catch up soon!] wrote: "Greg wrote: "I just googled it Rosh - it looks very tasty!"

It is, Greg. Tastes like a better version of marzipan, though I do love marzipan too. ;)"

Mmmm, I love marzipan!

Rosh [busy month; will catch up soon!] wrote: "K: Kaju katli.

Most of you won't know what it is, and if so, you don't know what you are missing. :D"

I just googled it Rosh - it looks very tasty!

LauraT wrote: "And I'm getting angrier and angrier with my boss - who really can't understand the easiste things and pretends to wait for some illumination from above - I suppose - before doing anything"

That's so frustrating Laura! I hope your new boss quits or leaves or has a change of heart!

Christine wrote: "Wish me luck because this is the last time I’m seeing my only pulmonologist since I was 3 months old and I’ll be 36 next week. He’s getting ready to retire and passing me on to someone knew."

Wow, you've been seeing that doctor a long time! Hope you end up liking the new one ok!

Tweedledum wrote: "Greetings all!
I’m checking out the just for fun thread and seeing if I can revive a few topics on there as a tiny antidote to oceans of bad news."

Thanks Tweedledum! :)

Tom wrote: "I am surprised, and somewhat dismayed to see it only has a 3.75 goodreads rating but I suppose it is a love it or hate it sort of experience."

Of my friends that have read it, it got seven 5-Stars, one 4-Star, and two 1-Stars. So my friends seem to be doing the love it or hate it thing, though more love than hate. :)

J: Jelly Beans

C: Cheesecake

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "The Secret Scripture, by Sebastian Barry, is the mysterious story of the most beautiful girl in Sligo, Ireland, who has been in a mental institution for decades and is..."

This looks good Patty! Maybe I'll nominate it for next month's group read.

LauraT wrote: "Greg wrote: "LauraT wrote: "Greg wrote: "Tom wrote: "Greg wrote: "Tom wrote: "Greg wrote: "Tom wrote: "Listening to/reading Moby-Dick or, the Whale, a Full-Cast production in which ..."

Thanks for the recommendations Laura! I have always wanted to read him, just haven't found time yet. But Leslie's and your comments have definitely moved him up the list! :)

Christine wrote: "I finished my book called More Than A Wish: My Life and Stories from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. by Cory Metz"

How did you like it Christine?

Laurel wrote: "Sounds like what I call an apple dumpling. In the 19th century a duff was a steamed pudding."

Interesting Laurel - I didn't know that!

Leslie wrote: "Greg wrote: "I like the idea that the concept of murder has changed them and that there's no way to unlearn it, ..."

I came to the conclusion that a person who introduces a new act (such as murder..."

Yes, that's the conclusion I came to be by the end too. The meaning of "god" and several other terms confused me part-way through, but eventually it got a bit clearer and most things were eventually explained for the most part.

Damini wrote: "It's been spring (and weather constantly swinging between hot and cold, bringing fevers with it!) for a bit here, and Bangalore is filled with trees with gorgeous pink flowers, I'm constantly stopp..."

The constant swings in the weather might be a little difficult to adapt to, but the blooming of the trees sounds lovely Damini!

Leslie wrote: "Finally! I can see that the daffodils are sprouting but no flowers yet..."

Yay, we're finally getting close! :)

Leslie wrote: "I don't even know what plain apple duff is! Is it similar to a baked apple?"

Sort of . . . a whole baked apple stuffed with candied raisins but the whole thing inside a flour crust. Like an apple pie where the apple is whole but with raisins in the center?

Leslie wrote: "I have finished now. I liked the ending (especially the way Selfer doesn't come out and tell the Galactics that Davidson is still alive and living on a deserted island!).

By coincidence, I came ac..."

Indeed Leslie!

I like the idea that the concept of murder has changed them and that there's no way to unlearn it, but even more, I liked the quiet decency in the profound conversations at the end with Selver and Lepennon as well as the revelation of the huge impact that Lyubov ultimately had with his reports and his seemingly ineffectual stand earlier.

The quiet humaneness in the face of misunderstandings and catalclysmic events remined me a little of the ending of Ender’s Game. There are some losses that cannot be fully recovered, in this case in the crossing of the idea of murder from dream time that cannot be taken back. But still within this partial brokenness, there is the possibility of humane action. And I loved the sort-of reconciliation Selver has with Lubyov's "ghost" in dream time - it made me cry actually.

And by the way, I really loved that play Death and the King's Horseman!!