Book Nerd’s Comments (group member since Dec 20, 2018)

Book Nerd’s comments from the Never too Late to Read Classics group.

It's not such a stretch. I definitely see hobbits writing each other long chatty letters, usually accompanied by a big box of snacks.

I don't know how much time I'll have but Shōgun by James Clavell sounds interesting to me.

Nora wrote: "I just finished Chapter 4 and I really feel sorry for Bilbo and the dwarves being chased by goblins. The only time I was taken out of the story was when the author mentioned the post office, but I ..."
I don't recall. A post office in the Shire? I could see that since Hobbits are chatty and gossipy.

Darn if I didnt leave my book on my desk :("
Lol, ever leave a book in the fridge?

Welcome Amanda, Kat, Sandy, Nora, and Cait.
Have fun!

I hope you guys like it.

Amanda wrote: "This will be my first Clarke as well! "2001: A Space Odyssey" is one of my favorite films, so it's about time I read one of his books.
I'm not a fan of the movie, I much prefer the book. You should read it and see what you think. It counts as a classic too.

Piyangie wrote: "I'll read this too. I'm not a Sci-fi fan and rarely read the genre. But I'll take this the opportunity to read my first Arthur C. Clarke. I kind of feel ashamed not to have read any work of a renow..."
I didn't know that either.

I guess it's not too early to put this up.

Childhood's End is my favorite Clarke story.

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

The Overlords appeared suddenly over every city--intellectually, technologically, and militarily superior to humankind. Benevolent, they made few demands: unify earth, eliminate poverty, and end war. With little rebellion, humankind agreed, and a golden age began.

But at what cost? With the advent of peace, man ceases to strive for creative greatness, and a malaise settles over the human race. To those who resist, it becomes evident that the Overlords have an agenda of their own. As civilization approaches the crossroads, will the Overlords spell the end for humankind . . . or the beginning?

Arthur C. Clarke was one of the most important and influential figures in 20th century science fiction. (view spoiler)[He spent the first half of his life in England, where he served in World War Two as a radar operator, before emigrating to Ceylon in 1956. He is best known for the novel and movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, which he co-created with the assistance of Stanley Kubrick.

Clarke was a graduate of King's College, London where he obtained First Class Honours in Physics and Mathematics. He is past Chairman of the British Interplanetary Society, a member of the Academy of Astronautics, the Royal Astronomical Society, and many other scientific organizations.

Author of over fifty books, his numerous awards include the 1961 Kalinga Prize, the AAAS-Westinghouse science writing prize, the Bradford Washburn Award, and the John W. Campbell Award for his novel Rendezvous With Rama. Clarke also won the Nebula Award of the Science Fiction Writers of America in 1972, 1974 and 1979, the Hugo Award of the World Science Fiction Convention in 1974 and 1980, and in 1986 became Grand Master of the Science Fiction Writers of America. He was awarded the CBE in 1989. (hide spoiler)]

Rosemarie wrote: "Nora, there is such a thing as second breakfast-about half way between first breakfast and lunch! Paddington Bear called it "elevenses"."

Hobbits do second breakfast AND elevensies. They really know how to live. :)

The Gormenghast Novels by Mervyn Peake


1272 pages

Totaol to date: 284,339

There's also a novella about Titus called Boy in Darkness. It sounds really interesting and I can't believe it wasn't included in the book with the trilogy.
I can't seem to find it for a decent price. Anybody know where I could get a copy or read it online.

I'm really glad I read these. I understand why people don't like the sudden change of Titus Alone but it's really the ending of that one that I keep thinking about.

I finished Titus Alone. It was a change but I liked it.
Now I'll read these critical analysis to figure out what it was about.

Fuschia is the girl.

Titus Alone is very weird, going from a medieval world to an almost sci-fi technological world.

I finished Gormenghast. I thought the story was better but I liked the characters better in Titus Groan.

Georgina wrote: "I am about half way through the first book and love the atmosphere, character names and dark humour of it, but somehow I'm struggling with the incentive to get through it. I think this may be down ..."
It was not that easy for me either. I tend to struggle with a lot of description and not much happening.

I want to read this. I'll get to it eventually.

So Titus (view spoiler)[threw the symbols of the Earl in the lake. From the beginning you can see that he's going to wreck the eternal traditions of Gormenghast.
One crazy thing is wondering about the details of how he, and Fuschia, were conceived. :/

It's weird that Gertrude commands both cats and birds.

Sepuchgrave started acting like an owl and then apparently was killed by owls. I wonder if that relates in any way to Gertrude's relationship with birds.
(hide spoiler)]

This also reminded me of Kafka quite a bit with their obsession with the meaningless ritual that's piled up over the centuries.

Rosemarie wrote: "If I remember correctly, Titus is a baby in that book, even though he's the title character."
Yeah, he's a baby here.

So Earl Sepulchrave's library (view spoiler)[burned and he lost it. I understand. :) (hide spoiler)]

It's interesting how something happens and then it jumps back and gives you some background on it..

I'm almost halfway through Titus Groan. It's slow going. So much is devote to atmosphere.