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

Greg’s comments from the All About Books group.

I love this Heather, especially the last line. It reminds me a bit of the Little Drummer Boy in sentiment. The simple way the poem unfolds matches the subject matter perfectly. What a nice poem to highlight for Christmas! :)

Great Colleen and Joan! I'll set up a thread for starting early January. :)

Chrissie wrote: "Greg wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I will now read Jacob's Room by Virginia Woolf. I return to the classics when contemporary books fail me. Of course, classics can disappoin..."

Thanks for letting me know Chrissie! Maybe this should be my next Woolf!

Pam wrote: "
I almost went to U of A but my family moved from Prescott AZ to Kentucky the middle of my senior year so I went to UK instead. Either way, I'm a Wildcats fan!

Do you ever go to the Phoenix Zoo Lights? That's my favorite thing to do in the area, besides shopping, during the holidays. Have fun! ..."

What a small world! One of my friends and former work supervisors is now an associate professor at U Kentucky.

I haven't been to the Phoenix Zoo lights, but I'll definitely check it out!

Angela M wrote: "I finished The Largesse of the Sea Maiden: Stories.4 stars. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Love the title - thanks for the superb review Angela. All I've read by him was Jesus' Son - most of those are addiction/drug oriented, and I've always been curious to read one of his later works.

Karin wrote: "dely wrote: "I think this is a good news. Maybe he likes how your son plays and wants to give him a chance?"

In the end, it was a mistake, but he's very friendly. He is a trumpet professor at 3 di..."

Keeping my fingers crossed for your talented son Karin!

Pam wrote: "Safe travels Greg! I'm curious where in AZ you are going. My daughter and grandson are out there visiting my husband's family in Phoenix. Enjoy!"

Thanks Pam!

My mom lives in Scottsdale and my aunt in Mesa; so I'll be mainly in those two places. The place in Arizona that I have a soft spot for though is Tuscon .. I started college there when, good Lord, when I was 17. What happened to the time?! :) Sedona and the Painted Desert are some other georgeous (almost unearthly) Arizona places that I like to go to.

I took this picture in the Painted Desert years ago:



The desert can be a spiritual place. I don't think I'd move away from California now though. I love it!

A very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Mawlid an-Nabī, or whatever holidays each celebrates!

I am off to Arizona - just about to leave work and get on the road now to see my family.

You made me laugh Pam - that would be me. I'm not a morning person. :)

Chrissie wrote: "I will now read Jacob's Room by Virginia Woolf. I return to the classics when contemporary books fail me. Of course, classics can disappoint too."

I haven't read that one yet Chrissie!

LauraT wrote: "I've finally got the book; I'll start it this coming Christmas holiday, and comment soon after!!! I don't want to read anything before that!"

Glad I'm not the only one starting late Laura! :)

Marina wrote: "I've started The Satyricon. I'm not enjoying it so far, but I decided to continue."

That's too bad Marina and dely! I've always been curious to give that one a try.

Chrissie wrote: "I want to wish everyone a happy holiday, however you are spending it."

Happy holidays to you too Chrissie!

I read the first few chapters this morning, and as many of you have said, I love the atmospheric tactile writing style!

I'm not far enough to open spoilers or comment on story, but I already am seeing the claah of approaches to religion you pointed out Joan .. old world damnation-focused faith versus a softer-edged faith focused more on redemption. Or at least I'm hoping for more of the latter from Father Bernard. Perhaps wishful thinking as I'm not far enough to really know how much of a foil he is to the old guard that is already very well represented.

Alice wrote: "Greg, I have The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter as one of my "I-own-it" books but which I never got round to reading. Your comments may well help me put it at the bottom of the pile :)"

Don't take my comments too seriously Alice! It is just my personal reaction. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter is a critically acclaimed modern classic! A great many smart and avid readers would disagree with my view of it!

My very personal feeling though is that McCullers wrote it when she was very young (23 years old). The absolute philosphical bleakness of the book feels off to me ... the sort of book a young person with little life experience and a grieved bitterness would write. To me, life is just nothing like she describes. I have lived through some truly harrowing things in my younger years, but looking back, I can see the goodness too ... trodden down and bloodied but still there.

Now, in The Member of the Wedding, it seems very clear to me where that deep grievance at the heart of The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter might have come from, but The Member of the Wedding is much more nuanced and mature. This book matches my experience of the world much better.

Let me put it this way: if I had a camera and some of the pictures were dark in some places or some days, I'd appreciate the shadows of the composition. But if every picture were black, I might start to suspect something was wrong with the camera. If some characters have perspectives that are self-defeating and dark, my heart breaks for their brokenness. But if every character in a book is equally lost, broken, and misguided and yet I can find no clear sociological reason for it, I start to suspect not heartbreaking flaws in the individual characters' perspectives but instead flaws in the presence behind them that has drawn them all.

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter is an artful book, a beautifully done book, but the vision behind it is one I cannot quite trust in or fully believe. The Member of the Wedding so far though is for me close to perfection!!

Laurel wrote: "One more day of work for me. Off at 7 pm. Then a week off. I come back to work on Dec. 30th - have to do the Saturday shift - then 2 more days off for New Year's.... Happy Solstice, Happy Hannukah,..."

Have a great holidays Laurel!

Laurel wrote: "Still trying to finish The Witch's Daughter which was an October book group read... In the car, I'm listening to Conspirata which has me thinking not much has changed ..."

So true Laurel! If you look back at some speeches from Roman times, they sound like many things today. Same complaints, both real and imagined. It's eerie. Human nature is what it is I guess.

I quite liked The Return of the Soldier, which if I remember correctly was originally recommended to me by Leslie. :)

LauraT wrote: "Finishing work waiting to go out for lunch with my collegues to exchange presents!!! And tomorrow id the last day before 4 days off for Christmas! I definitly need them"

I know what you mean Laura - I can't wait to have that whole wewk between Christmas and New Year's off!!

Pink wrote: "Same here Laura! We had our works meal Saturday night, which was nice to socialise with all my new colleagues. Monday was xmas buffet and secret santa exchange and we haven't got through all the fo..."

I didn't use to care much either way about the work gatherings, but these days I really do enjoy those things, I think because I've known some of them so long! Yesterday we just had a pre-Christmas get together lunch with people from my former and my current company. I so loved seeing everyone! :)

B the BookAddict wrote: "We've already had one family Christmas, last Sunday, and on Monday will celebrate again as a family but minus one sister who will be with her in-laws. I really miss my parents and my husband at Chr..."

I'm glad that your niece and you get to do that Bette! I know though what you mean - it's hard missing loved ones on the holidays - hugs! It felt so strange, the first Christmas without my dad.