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

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

Rosemarie wrote: "The Alienist will be a pleasant break from Marquez for you, Pam. It's funny and strange and I loved it."

I agree Rosemarie that The Alienist and Other Stories of Nineteenth-Century Brazil is a pleasant break and I've enjoyed the few stories I've read so far! i plan to finish it next month. The style feels more like a European author and not as much like the Latin American authors I've read so far.

I've taken a little break from Latin American classics to read a few other books, including 2 British classics - The Time Machine and David Copperfield plus a few contemporary novels. I hope that others are finding some good reads!

I’m also re-reading The Time Machine by H. G. Wells for a book club meeting next weekend. I wasn’t going to read it again but it’s short enough. I feel like I’m enjoying it more the 2nd time. It’s been 7 years since I first read it.

Rosemarie - I don’t remember reading Dickens in high school. I only remember Shakespeare, Beowulf, Canterbury Tales and Paradise Lost and I didn’t like any of them! I think the length of his books is very intimidating to me. I made it through Vanity Fair, though, so I know I can do it!

Kathy wrote: "I really enjoyed David Copperfield, Pam...."

Kathy - I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it since we have similar reading tastes. My husband decided to read it also, which I'm very happy about. So far, I like it a lot! I'm not sure why I've been hesitant to read Dickens.

I just started David Copperfield. This is only my 2nd Dickens book. I’m also planning to start Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, a modern day retelling of David Copperfield. I’m thinking about reading them together, maybe. One at night and one in the morning.

Blueberry, I am so sorry to hear of your unfortunate events, all in 2 weeks. I really feel for you and hope you have some support. Take care of yourself!

I had to return the library book and will probably go back to the audio.

Rosemarie- Thank you! I’m so glad to hear that. I need something lighter right now.

I just finished a short story “Blacamán the Good, Vendor of Miracles” by Gabriel García Márquez. It was very weird and dark, especially the last page! I didn’t really like it. It was too dark for me and I didn’t like the long sentences that ran 3/4 of a page. I like more frequent stopping points so I can understand the sentence without rereading itI have one more story to finish this collection.

After this book, I’m going to read another short story collection “The Alienist and Other Stories of Nineteenth Century Brazil” by Machado de Assis. For those of you following the schedule, we will be reading Brazilian authors in May and June. A little info on Brazil: It’s the 5th largest country by area and the 7th by population. Also, it’s the only country in the Americas to have Portuguese as an official language. Brazilian literature dates all the way back to the 16th century, to the writings of the first Portuguese explorers! So, I think there will be lots of good options!

Rosemarie - Your trip sounds amazing! Hope you have a great time! 🇮🇪

I don’t plan to read Heinrich Mann but do plan to finish The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann later this year. I also want to read something else by Kafka, probably The Trial which I started last year, this spring.

And, 1 month later, I just bought another 5 books (but only $2/each), one of which is a classic I plan to read for the Latin American Buddy Read. That book is Green Mansions by Anglo-Argentinian author William Henry Hudson (aka Guillermo Enrique Hudson). Since it’s set in Venezuela, I may wait until our Venezuela-designated month to read it.

One of our local bookstores is having an Indie Bookstore celebration (with giveaway, specials, and a 50% off sidewalk sale) on Fri/Sat. I recently sold back a bunch of books so I have store credit to spend! I’ve got my eye on a few items and will be there tomorrow when they open! I’m hoping to win one of the giveaways. 🍀 📚

I’m reading Collected Stories by Gabriel García Márquez and Snail on the Slope by Soviet sci-fi writers Boris and Arkady Strugatsky.

Does anyone have any specific books that you are planning to read??
The 3 that I have planned for the summer are:
- The Violent Land by Jorge Amado
- Conversation in the Cathedral by Mario Vargas Llosa
- Captain Pantoja and the Special Service by Mario Vargas Llosa.
The cover alone of Captain Pantoja is enough to piqué my interest!

Rosemarie wrote: "I really enjoyed all of the Machado books that I’ve read so far."

Rosemarie- Are there any Machado books that you haven't read but want to read? I saw someone in another group comment positively re: The Alienist and Other Stories of Nineteenth-Century Brazil. I was happy to see that since it's the one I plan to read. It's only 123 pages, which works for me, since I have some long books I hope to read in the upcoming months.

Lorraine wrote: "I just finished "L'incroyable et triste histoire de la candide Erendira et de sa grand-mère diabolique" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It was my second book by this author. I liked it. Will certainly r..."

Lorraine - Thank you for participating and I'm really glad that you have found some good books from this thread. I have also! The Haitian author Jacques Roumain, wasn't even on my radar! I really enjoyed his book Masters of the Dew.

The book you referenced, was it the collection The Incredible and Sad Tale of Innocent Eréndira and Her Heartless Grandmother with 7 stories or just the title story? I'm reading the collection and have read the first story "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" and started the 2nd one "The Sea of Lost Time". I finally have some time to devote to the book!

The Reluctant Dragon - 58
Rendezvous with Rama - 243
Dolphin Island - 188
Masters of the Dew - 192
James and the Giant Peach - 151
Miguel Street - 222
Wide Sargasso Sea - 176
A High Wind in Jamaica - 279
House of Mist - 256
The Cat Who Went to Heaven - 72
Pedro Páramo - 128
A Canticle for Leibowitz - 334

Group Total to Date: 167,184

If anyone (in the U.S. or Canada) is planning to read Dom Casmurro by Brazilian author Machado de Assis, there is a GR giveaway that starts today and goes through April 27! I’m guessing that some of you have already read it. It’s still on my TBR, though, so I’m going to enter. It’s been awhile since I’ve won anything! Any thoughts on the book or author, for those of you familiar with his works??

I’ve been working on finishing a contemporary SF/magical realism book for a book club meeting tomorrow. Since I suggested the book, I felt obligated to read it! Once I finish it, I will get back to reading short stories by GG Márquez and possibly (but doubtful) finish One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Just starting Buthcher’s Crossing by John Williams. It’s really good, so far. I just finished a recently published 1800s western “In the Distance” by Hernan Díaz, which was terrific! I’m curious to see how the books compare.

I now have the print book and am starting from the beginning because I slept through too much of the audiobook! One thing I can relate to immediately is the lure of the adventure of the wilderness in contrast with the grimy Boston city filled with people and carriages, etc. Living in the southwest for over 30 years, I often marvel and wonder at the spirit of the wild west settlers. When I walk behind my dad's house and look out at the Rio Grande and the Sandia Mountains, I imagine how explorers like Lewis and Clark felt seeing this type of scenery for the first time! I also wonder if I would've been one of those settlers, if I lived in the 1800s.

I am very interested to get into the book but I already know that the buffalo scene is going to break my heart. I recently read a mid-grade book by a friend of mine that has a similar scene with Native Americans and I felt devastated.