Pam’s Comments (group member since Jul 12, 2018)

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

Welcome to the group Thomas!

Kia ✩ ༄.° wrote: "Hi! I'm a 23 year old uni student who loves classics & diverse fiction from around the world! ..."

Welcome to the group Kia!

The 4 authors I definitely want to fit in are Vargas Llosa, du Maurier, Wharton and Hardy. I like the mix of authors and genres!

Thanks Samantha! I plan to read Klee Wyck. My library doesn’t have it but luckily I found it on Hoopla!

I’m in for Wharton and Zweig!

Our library has a Jane Austen week scheduled in December! They’ve partnered with NM FolkMADS (folk music and dance society) to have 2 sessions teaching dances and the week culminates with a grand ball and an afternoon tea the following afternoon.

Thanks Piyangie! I hope/plan to read some of the slenders. I read House on the Strand several years and it’s still my favorite by Daphne.

Thank you Lesle! There are 4 authors I plan to read. Looking forward to the group discussions!

Lesle - Hope you get a view tonight! Even if you don’t think you see anything, look through your phone camera. It picks up lights that the naked eye doesn’t see. I did that at first and saw some color but later went outside and saw a bright red area in the north and NE sky with my naked eye. You should have a good view! I’ll be on the lookout again tonight.

I was thrilled last night to get a view of the aurora borealis from my house in Albuquerque, NM! It was amazing! I never thought you could view them this far south. Tonight is supposed to be even better!

Thank you, Lesle for all the history! All I remember is visiting the jail and seeing the Torreon. I haven’t read much about Billy the Kid. I have read a little bit (or maybe I watched something on TV) about the Hatfields and the McCoys, as you mentioned. That was an interesting and ridiculous feud!

I only listened to the beginning of the book. Something about Pat Garrett teaching himself French and how to drink. I think I fell asleep so I’ll have to rewind it and try again!

I recently read Time Out of Joint by P. K. Dick. It’s one of his earlier novels (sci-fi) published in 1959. This is 3 years before his success with The Man in the High Castle. I rated it 4 stars. I never know how to describe his books, especially without giving away the story. (I read one review and, in the first sentence, it unintentionally gave away too much!) His books expand your mind to other realities and there’s usually a bit of paranoia involved. That’s the best I can say. I recommend this one and think it’s held up well over the years.

Thanks Greg! I figured there were some photos, etc. I will have to plan a trip to the Special Collections branch and find the book. Glad to see you’ve joined the group!

I checked out the audiobook on Hoopla. The Albuquerque library system has the print book but it's at the Special Collections branch, which houses historical books and genealogical records. So, I can't check it out but I can read it at the library. I'll try the audiobook first! Are there any photos or drawings? If yes, I'll take a trip to Special Collections.

If I can find a copy, I would like to read this one. Looks interesting! I've been to Lincoln, NM, the historic village associated with Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War. We went once when the kids were young. My husband has a family story about one of his ancestors who was left a bag of money and a horse to shoe. The man came by a few days later to get his horse. It was Billy the Kid's horse, so the story goes!

I've read the following stories so far: The Destructors, Special Duties, Blue Film, The Hint of an Explanation, and When Greek Meets Greek. So far, so good! I liked all of them. He seems to wait until the last line to make his point. I'll see if this style continues.

I am not familiar with Greene's works, other than knowing a few titles. Two of these five stories have a religious theme and involve Catholicism. I looked the author up on Wiki and discovered that he converted to Catholicism in 1926 and later in life referred to himself as a Catholic agnostic. Also, his "novels often portray the dramatic struggles of the individual soul from a Catholic perspective." One of these stories definitely portrayed that struggle, but in a way that brought out the character's hypocrisy.

I look forward to reading some more of the stories!

Samantha wrote: "Pam wrote: "I plan to participate. I downloaded “Twenty-one Stories” from Hoopla."

Love seeing the library support, Pam!"

I am a huge supporter of our local libraries! This is one reason I don't read many of the books I own. I'm always finding something interesting that I didn't know I wanted to read.

We are finally in the 70s for highs and getting rain, which is really nice! Just switched our swamp coolers over to the heaters. You have one or the other so the timing can be tricky!

Leona- Are you familiar with Detroit Lakes, MN? My nephew from KY just took a full time position at a youth camp there. I told him best of luck and hope you like COLD winters! He’s only been there in the summer. He’s young. He’ll adapt! 😂

I’ve read a total of 2! Many are on my TBR and some authors I’ve never heard of, not surprising though.

Lesle- I have a very cool edition of Penguin island. It’s a hard cover in a slipcase and has ink and pen drawings. I’ve yet to read it but I keep meaning to every year! Maybe 2026 will be the year. I need a book with a bird on the cover for a challenge.

Lesle wrote: "Were people dancing to this music too?..."

Only a few people were dancing. I would've been if I had a dance partner! I just saw that the accordion player is playing with a different group at a dance at one of our senior centers this Sunday. So, I might check it out!