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

Greg’s comments from the All About Books group.

I enjoyed it Alannah - great at evoking that time of year!

Marina wrote: "This is difficult. There are so many classics I'd like to read. I had a hard time choosing, but I think I will suggest Rob Roy by Walter Scott."

For this thread, feel free to suggest more than one Marina!

Recommendations are ongoing, and you can suggest as many as you want!

Joan wrote: "The setting of this book is almost a character in the story. Isn’t Thomas Hardy famous for his use of setting? Though Hardy’s Wessex seems much more comfortable than this northeast coast.

“Clement..."

It does sound very atmospheric, and Hardy certainly is!

I won't be able to join you until a week or two, but I do plan to join in on the read!

Gill wrote: "We redroot Joseph Conrad when I was at school. I think it's quite remarkable that a man can write such good English when it's not his first language"

I agree Gill, quite remarkable!

Heather wrote: "Diane is doing the 18th as well Greg, so December is full!"

Yes it is! :) I'll post the January signup soon.

Antonio wrote: "Dayvid wrote: "Does anyone know a way to hide books you've read/downloaded on Amazon? It would make looking for new reads so much easier."

For books that you have already purchased go to Manage Yo..."

Thanks Antonio!

Tonight, I started Simon Armitage's new verse translation of the epic poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A New Verse Translation from the 1400s. Joan originally recommended it and I am definitely not dissapointed so far!

I love the simplicity and grandeur of old epics like this one and Beowulf. Armitage's translation is indeed very fine as well, much better than the other translations I've read in the past.

The beginning of the second part with the description of the cycle of seasons was a high point. I'm already 1/3 done, and I'm forcing myself to slow down to savor it. It's not quite at the level of Heaney's Beowulf, but it's very close!

Chrissie wrote: "I have begun Cat's Eye, my fourth book by Atwood. I like her way with words, but usually the plot and the fantasy elements give me problems,. I chose this because it is reality based. ..."

I'm glad you liked it Chrissie!

Nichole wrote: "Really? I consider The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie her best."

I have not yet read many of the other Spark books being mentioned; so I can't say if I'd like others better, but I do agree Nichole that this one is very good.

Nichole wrote: "This poem always makes me laugh.

R. J. Ellmann is still alive, I believe. I don't know if she's written anything else."

Nichole, I wonder if Ellman wrote it with a particular real-life person in mind? She has a sharp wit - I wouldn't want to cross her! :)

Joan wrote: "Free - yes but I would’ve happily kept working if my department had not lost it’s way."

That's too bad Joan, sorry to hear this! I'm glad you're making the best of things though.

Thanks Alannah, Heather, and Gill - I put your names down! And thanks Heather for answering Renee's question!

Leslie wrote: "Pam - thanks for sharing your research! I agree that the Faust legend is influential."

Yes, thanks Pam, I agree as well!

Mark wrote: "I like your spin on Woland not being Stalin, Greg. I read it that way too! - )"

:)

I finished over lunch, and the final few chapters were absolutely magnificent, just gorgeous!!!

This book is so rich, so many layers of meaning. It definitely deserves its reputation as a modern classic. The last half is a 5+ star book, but as the first half only felt maybe 3 1/2 to me, I split the difference and gave it 4. But the second half of the book on its own would practically belong on my list of favorites.

Such a bizarre and iconoclastic view of religion in this book but compelling partly because of that uniqueness.

I definitely want to discuss aspects of this book further, but I'll have to wait until I have a bit more time. Stay tuned.

Kim wrote: "Loved this book. Recommended it to a couple of friends from my BookChat Group and they loved it too. Can't wait for the next in the series. Great characters and loved the setting, having lived in O..."

Glad you enjoyed it Kim!

I'm not sure that I agree Woland represents Stalin. It almost seems as though Woland and his gang are a way to get revenge on all the repressive parts of Russian life in Stalin's time. They seek out and punish all the petty hypocrisy, all the smallness and "legalism" - they take riotous revenge on the spies, on the fashionable political poets of the revolution, and on those who would turn in their neighbors to the secret police to acquire their flat!

I'm almost done now. I thought the second half was much stronger than the first half, which got a little repetitive. I'll post more when I get a chance.

This book is so different than what I'd expected! I'm pleased it was chosen; otherwise, I would probably have never read it.

Dely, did you take these pictures?! If so, extremely impressive! The pictures and the places are both lovely as everyone has said!

So glad to hear aboit the successful launch Alice!

Joan wrote: "B you did a good thing with today’s post, thank you.
I’d ignored the GR recommendations to read Between Shades of Gray because I’d assumed it was part of that Shades of Gray series popular ten year..."

It is an unfortunate similarity in the title!!
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde suffers from the same confusion.

I wasn't crazy about the Sepetys Between Shades of Gray myself - it felt a little too YA for me, a little simplistic character-wise and unlikely, not in terms of the historic events which are horrible and well worth learning about but only in terms of the fictional characters' behaviors and the way those behaviors are portrayed.

When I bought it, the book was shelved in the bookstore in the young adult section, and I can kind of see why. Many in the group loved it though: so do not be disuaded by my personal reaction! I think there were only a couple others in the group read who felt as I did.