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

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

Thanks Book Nerd! I’ll be sure to read it.

Thanks Rosemarie. The Demolished Man was the first Hugo Award winner in 1953! I’ll have to try to find it. The audiobook is available but I’m going to avoid that if I can!

Wow Lesle! You’re a Rock Star!

Welcome to the group Autum!

Cloudy and rainy all day here in Albuquerque. We need the rain but it’s a little gloomy! It will clear up tomorrow though. My daughter and I are driving up to Santa Fe in the morning to pick up her son and walk around the plaza, which is decorated for the holidays, and get some lunch. We have a Christmas Eve party to go to when we get back home. So, it will be a busy but fun day. Hope all of you enjoy Christmas and the rest of the holiday season! Wishing you all peace and joy! ¡Feliz Navidad!

Rosemarie - I hope to read at least one of his stories in 2024.

I finally finished the audiobook last night! That ending was wild! Once my 2 ILLs come in, I'm going to request this one so I can skim chapters 15 and 16. I read on Wiki about one of the stylistic techniques the author used so I'm curious to see what that's all about. There was also some dialogue which I have a feeling there was something more to it in the text. So, don't tell me, I'll get hold of the book! I really liked the synesthesia part. I've never seen that idea discussed in a novel.

Has anyone read any other books by the author?

Book Nerd wrote: "I haven't talked about it much but I'm still working my way through Collected Fictions by Borges. Almost done now.
Some of it's great, some not. Lots of Argentine cowboys and tough guy..."

Did you happen to read The Garden of Forking Paths? I listen to a lot of literary podcasts and was surprised to find a recent episode about this Borges short story. The podcast is Novel Pairings (Dec 19 episode 138). During the first 15 minutes they talk about Borges and postmodern fiction. I didn't listen to the rest of it since I haven't read the story yet. I thought it might be interesting to someone who has read it.

ForestGardenGal- I do the same thing! My shelf is called Started but on Hold. I have 86 books on it now. Ridiculous.

Piyangie - I’m glad to hear you might read some Borges stories with us in May! I hope to do the same. I could not get into short stories in 2023 but will give it another try in 2024!

Luís - I’m also glad that you might join in on reading some short stories! I hope you can find some that you haven’t already read.

I saw the new Wonka movie yesterday and loved it! I thought it was hilarious! You can love the original and still love this one since it’s not a remake, but rather a prequel. I actually want to go see it again and take my grandson.

Luís - I also have that book on my TBR but, since it falls outside the classics range, we wouldn’t include it in our discussion. Sorry!

Jen- Yes! Langston Hughes also translated works from French, like Masters of the Dew by Jacques Roumain, which some of us read this year. I was really surprised to see that! I remember reading his poetry in HS English but didn’t know he was also a translator (of French and Spanish).

I will let you know FGG about ch 15. I’m on ch 11 currently.

ForestGardenGal - There’s a paperback edition at the University library that I can request via ILL. I’m going to do that but still finish the audiobook. I do feel like I’m missing something w the audio but I still like it. I was talking with the library staff person, who runs our Sci-fi group, why the library sometimes only has the audiobook and no other format. He didn’t know why though! It seems odd to me. I usually only listen to an audiobook if I also have the paper edition to fall back on. I made an exception this time. It’s a struggle but I’m almost done.

Hi Mark and welcome! Hope you enjoy the group. There’s lots going on!

I gave Mercier and Camier 1 star. I didn’t see the humor in it and there was no plot, just wandering and rambling. One scene I found mildly amusing was when they tossed the umbrella to determine which way to go. At the end of every 2 chapters there was a summary formatted like a poem. Each thing that happened was reduced to 1 or a few words (e.g., Umbrella). I don’t know what that was all about either.

Glad to see your enthusiasm Jennifer! I just barely started the Spanish edition of El túnel this year but decided I’d rather read it in English so I’m excited to get back to it and read it with the group! I’d also like to watch the movie.

Thank you Rosemarie, Katy, Lesle, and Jen! I did make one small change to the schedule. For July-Aug, I took off the choice option and removed The Violent Land and kept Gabriela, Clove, and Cinnamon. That way members who want to read The Violent Land can discuss it on the Authors from Around the World thread and we are not doubling up!

I'm reading The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester and The Palace of the Peacock by Wilson Harris and just finished Mercier and Camier by Samuel Beckett (1 star - total waste of time for me). I guess that Beckett is not an author for me. The other 2 books I like so far. They couldn't be more different!