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

Greg’s comments from the All About Books group.

Leslie wrote: "Greg wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I have picked up an audiobook edition of H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds narrated by Simon Vance which the publisher Tantor is giving away this month.

..."

Thanks Leslie!! :)

Petra wrote: "Greg, I read Stranger..... in high school, so it could very well be dated. It's one I hesitated putting on the list because it's been so long since I've read it. I'm kind of sad to hear that it pon..."

It could be just me Petra! And I didn't hate it; I just didn't love it. I gave it 3 stars, which for me means ok. The book still had some interesting ideas.

Petra wrote: "Greg, that's interesting. I was in high school in the 70s. It wasn't banned in Canada. Filthy & immoral? That is a head scratcher. ..."

It was in Texas and a couple other places, not everywhere. There were objections to the sexual content, but I think it must be the same people who end up thinking they see the Virgin Mary's face in a rutagaba because I've read it more than once and don't recall anything too dramatic along those lines.

I suspect you're right about the YA association coming from it being assigned in schools. I can see it as having very good lessons for young people in terms of bullying and understanding people who are "different." But it doesn't appear the book was originally written as a YA book or even considered a YA book when it first came out. The awards it won are not YA awards.

Petra wrote: "Chrissie, I am also hesitant about suggesting some sci-fi. I put these forward for consideration. I haven't read some of them in years, so there may be aspects that I don't remember. However, I rem..."

Some of these I've read Petra, and the ones I've read were all very good!

Stranger in a Strange Land is the one exception in that I didn't love it. I read it recently, and it felt a little dated to me. I felt like it had too many long asides/pontificating, but I felt the same way about The Fountainhead; that's just my personal reaction. :)

I haven't read The Chrysalids yet, but I recently added it to my to-read list. I keep hearing that mentioned by friends who often like the same books I like - I should read it soon!

Chrissie wrote: "I do not understand why Flowers for Algernon is classified as a young adult book. Because of that I thought Charlie, the main character, would be young. He is 34, an adult at the begi..."

Where did you see it classified as young adult Chrissie? The awards it won were not in the young adult categories anyway

Some school districts in the US actually banned it years ago, though I know it is taught now. Back in the 1970s it was banned from some high school libraries as "filthy and immoral", which is a bit of a head scratcher for me, but it did happen.

Pink wrote: "Glad you finished and enjoyed it Chrissie. I wondered how well the narrator captured the change in Charlie's language and intelligence, throughout his different states. The book starts with broken ..."

How annoying about the book blurb Pink! I hate that!! That's one of the reasons I avoid finding out anything about a book if it is an author I generally feel I will like.

Although it doesn't necessarily spoil a book, I personally much prefer to discover things as the book unfolds.

Chinook wrote: "Whyyyy did I just read Horrorstor late at night when everyone is asleep? This is why I so seldom read horror. I’m creeped out."

Haha Chinook, hope you feel less creeped out soon! :)

Pink wrote: "I thought I'd check in on the list and see what we've been missing.

Here's the last few choices -

58. Nonsense Songs by Edward Lear

I read On Liberty in a Victorian studies class ages ago and liked it. I also read excerpts of Culture and Anarchy in the same class, but I didn't care for that one so much - I quite liked Arnold's poetry but not so much his nonfiction, some of which felt paranoid and alarmist to me.

Chrissie wrote: "Greg, I can see this becoming a classic with time. I am putting it on my classics shelf; I do not have a shelf for MODERN classics!

So you read science fiction more than I do. Do you have a sugge..."

Hmm, I will have to think about that. We sometimes agree on books and sometimes disagree, and our way of experiencing books is so different that I often can't predict how you will react.

The Book of Strange New Things
is phenomenally good, but the main character is a pastor who goes to another planet to serve as a Christian pastor to aliens. Religion, I know, is not your thing, and yes, the premise of the book sounds bizarre ... but really it is not so much about religion as it is about human relationships and belief, about his relationship with his wife as they are so far apart. I think it is the best science fiction book I have read, and it is definitely relatable on an emotional level. Similar to Flowers for Algernon in that it is more about people than ideas. It is not an obscure book.

I feel a little nervous recommending it to you because there is religion in it, but it is not at all preachy. It also is not at all orthodox. I have a weird idea you might like it, but I can't tell for sure. It is definitely a book that people who don't like sci-fi in general can like. Jenny liked it a lot if I recall. Diane gave it 4 stars as well.

Chrissie wrote: "Petra wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I have started the modern classic Flowers for Algernon. I am liking it. I like the words."

I liked this one a lot, Chrissie. Looking forward to your re..."

I do think it is considered a modern classic Chrissie, especially in the science fiction category.

Chrissie wrote: "Greg, fun that you saw performed in a theater, and well done!"

It was Chrissie!!, and the production used a fascinating twist of having two people play Charlie simultaneously, an adult deaf actor as the main Charlie, and a hearing boy as a younger fragment of his consciousness that acted out the fragments of his pre-experiment self that still existed in his memories. The distance between them was brilliantly dramatized - it was a genius move staging wise .. I don't see how they could have properly communicated all the internal dynamics of the book otherwise. Also, that staging method helped to weave in flashbacks - those flashbacks really deepened it. I cried both times I saw it!

Shirley wrote: "I've just started reading this, only read the first few pages, but hope to read some more over the next week as I'm off work."

Hope you enjoy it Shirley!

Chrissie wrote: "Greg, go to Scotland. It is sooooooooo pretty."

Maybe one day Chrissie! :)

Leslie wrote: "I have picked up an audiobook edition of H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds narrated by Simon Vance which the publisher Tantor is giving away this month.

I have also bought a sci fi ..."

Is that free Leslie? Where do I get it it? War of the Worlds and H G Wells in general are such fun reads - I never get tired of them!

Jennifer Lynn wrote: "Nov 10th is my b-day! May I...? --Jen from Quebec :0)"

That would be wonderful Jen! I put down your nane for the 10th. :)

Angela M wrote: "Heather, sounds lovely. Years ago I was on a business trip to England and decided I’d stay a couple of extra days even though I was there on my own because I just thought how can I be so close to S..."

One day I want to go to England! I only know of these places you are all describing from books! :)

Diane S ☔ wrote: "Heather, sounds so awesome. A maybe someday wish of mine. My son from Indiana and his eldest so is stopping by before going on to Madison, picking up his brother and going to the Packers game. We a..."

Happy birthday to you Diane and to your son, grandson, and husband too! I love Japanese food!

Chrissie wrote: "When we stayed there the hotel was f-i-l-l-e-d wit teddy bears. On the stairs , in the chairs and each one was different, homemade. My daughter was into teddy bears at the time. We made them from s..."

That sounds so sweet Chrissie - it makes me smile thinking of your kids' excitement. I miss those years with my nephew.

Chrissie wrote: "I have very much left, but I am already sold on the book. I already feel for Charlie. Intelligence dosen't alwys make life easier or happy."

For sure Chrissie about intelligence!

I felt for Charlie as well. I saw a live play adaption by Deaf West Theater as well that was amazing - I liked it even better than the book actually, though I was touched by the book as well.

Leslie wrote: "B the BookAddict wrote: "Novelist, children's book and short story writer, Ursula K. Le Guin was born on this day 21st October in 1929. She is an American author, main..."

I love h..."

Those are wonderful too Leslie!