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

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

Pea

Congrats on finishing John! That’s a long collection. Do you have some favorites? I’m not going to try to read it straight through but rather a few here and there.

I think that journaling can be an option for some people to honestly reflect on their reading without posting a review on the internet. I started journaling thinking it would help me in writing reviews and participating in book club discussions. But no, It didn’t encourage me to write reviews but I do think more about what I’ve read. In looking back on my notes, I realized that I am very focused on plot and, going forward, want to focus more on ideas, themes, and writing style.

For me, there is something different about writing vs typing. I don’t know what it is but possibly that when you type, you edit yourself. When writing, you can capture your initial impressions without the self-editor. A little bit of stream of consciousness sometimes.

Julietta - I’ll have to check out the movie! There’s also a movie adapted from Carpentier’s The Lost Steps.

Lorraine- I’m glad you enjoyed it! I plan to read that one and also Dona Flor and her Two Husbands and The Violent Land.

One other comment on the My Reading Life journal, I really like the questions at the beginning (Diagnose your Reading Taste) and the ending (Reflecting on My Reading Year). I’m trying to gain a better understanding of what I like about an author’s writing style or a particular book.

I started using the Bibliophile Reader’s Journal in mid 2021, which I’ve finally filled! It has one page per book but I frequently continue to a 2nd page. There’s not enough room to take extensive notes on plot, which is how I was using it. There are also blank pages for Ideas and Inspirations, which I’ve used for a variety of lists, including reading prompts research.

At the end of 2021, I bought Anne Bogel’s My Reading Life Journal and am ready to start using it now. It’s smaller than the other journal so I have to re-think my journaling! This journal captures: title, author, genre, length, publisher, year published, themes, dates read, how I discovered the book, quotes, thoughts & impressions, and a 3 rating system (which I haven’t seen before but I like): enjoyment, craft, overall. I’m going to try keeping a notebook to capture thoughts and plot, etc. Then, use this journal as the official record of my reading. I’m going to add 2 things - 1) one word to represent the book and 2) a stamp, doodle or small drawing. I also have a 3 ring binder where I keep hard copies of current year challenges and group reads by group and a handwritten list of the books I’ve read. For the list, I found a template of a bookshelf where you fill in the titles on each of the books. Then I add a little color to spruce it up!

Some things I’ve found helpful: 1) Use colored pens and change the color with each change of thought or entry. 2) Jot down notes as you go rather than waiting for weeks/months later. Sometimes I’ll take a screen shot or photo of a quote I like if I don’t want to stop reading. I was disappointed to find that I wrote next to nothing about my 3 favorite books this year. I was so intent on finishing them that I didn’t pause for reflection!

Chad - I’m really glad to hear you are enjoying The Kingdom of this World!

Annette- I put in an Inter Library Loan request for Masters of the Dew and I’m still waiting. It can take months to find a copy but hopefully it won’t take that long! Look forward to hearing your thoughts!

That is great to hear Rosemarie! I’m still trying to find a copy in English.

Luís wrote: "I'm starting with Mr. Stone and the Knights Companion"

That sounds good Luis! I have never read anything by Naipual but plan to this year.

I started reading The Lost Steps in November but decided to hold off until January to finish it. I just started back on it last night. It's not the easiest book to read but I find if I take it slow, it's really interesting. I feel like knowing some history about the politics and revolutions in Latin American countries will be helpful in appreciating many of the novels.

Is anyone else currently reading Alejo Carpentier? I know a few people said they were interested. I was skimming through Letters to a Young Novelist by Mario Vargas Llosa and he had these words about Carpentier's writing: "without a doubt one of the greatest novelists of the Spanish language. Taken out of context of his novels, his prose is exactly the opposite of the kind of wording I admire...I don't like his stiffness, his academicism, and his bookish mannerisms..." Yet, after making these comments, he says that The Kingdom of This World is "an absolute masterpiece" and it could only be written the way that Carpentier wrote it. So, now I'm curious what group members think about his writing style! I need to read several more chapters to form an opinion.

mar wrote: "just started A Hundred Years of Solitude by Garcia Márquez"

Mar - Please join our Latin American Authors Buddy reads thread and let us know what you think of the book. I started it last fall but set it down (not sure why) and plan to finish it this year! I really enjoyed his writing. I feel like I need to be reading nothing else when I get back to it so I can devote my full attention to it. I hope you enjoy it!

Sister

That’s awesome Penelope! You and Cosmic have already encouraged me to take a more artistic approach to my journaling! I have tons of scrapbooking materials which I might as well use since I haven’t printed a photo or created a scrapbook page in years! I’m also cutting back on challenges in other groups this year and paring down one from 52 books to 26.

Cosmic- That is a really interesting idea! I already keep a reading journal but I like the idea of adding some creative twists to it like a poem or drawing. Sometimes I’ll list a book, author, or subject I want to read as a follow-up.

Thanks Annette! I put a hold on the physical book and it’s ready for pick up but I see that it is abridged. I found the unabridged on SimplyE. I’ll read it and follow along with the picture book.

Mike - I use a notebook with tabs for different GR groups. For our group, I have pages for the challenges I’m doing and a calendar by month and quarter to track what I am interested in reading. For all of the planning I do, though, I’m not very good at following through with a plan! The notebook does help me stay organized, which is a challenge. This year I’m also having my grandson do a 52 book prompt-based challenge so I’m tracking that too.

Yes, I still plan to start Crome Yellow around Jan 15. I’m still working on Island. It’s not as interesting as I hoped it would be. I might put it on hold and try to come back to it.

Annette - That’s the same edition I have! I’ll have to see if there is a hard copy available.

Sweater

Samantha - I hope you enjoy A Tree Grows in Brooklyn! It’s one of my favorite books! I coordinated a Buddy read with my mom, her sister, and my sister several years ago. We all loved it! Both of my parents and my grandmother grew up in the neighborhood next to Williamsburg so the setting was particularly relevant for us. I’m not a re-reader but this is one book I plan to re-read some day.

Since there’s a new group read for Arthur C . Clarke and I’m currently reading a book on the history of Sci-Fi, I couldn’t resist checking out Rendezvous with Rama. I started the e-book last night. So far, it’s really good! The writing is noticeably different from other books I’m currently reading. That’s the one thing I like about reading multiple books at the same time - I can compare writing styles. I’m still trying to figure out what it is I like or dislike about authors!