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

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

Chrissie wrote: "Pam wrote: "I’m just starting The Glass-Blowers by Daphne du Maurier."

That is my favorite by du Maurier! I hope you like it very much too."

That's great to know Chrissie! It's not one of her better known books. I like it so far.

I’m just starting The Glass-Blowers by Daphne du Maurier.

On a different note, I heard and saw something new to me - a coyote howling! I was at a wildlife rescue park and heard a sound that I thought was a girl screaming. I turned the corner and saw it was their resident coyote! I’ve never heard a peep from that critter. It sounded like he was being tortured.

Leslie- Yes, the rain is terrific!! For people who don’t live in a desert climate, it may be hard to understand our excitement. We were at 2% humidity one day! I didn’t know that was even possible. So many trees and bushes died over the winter because they weren’t watered. (Yes, usually we have to water in the winter!) Then, we had horrible fires in the state. The Rio Grande, which runs through the state, is now turning into the Rio Pequeño! I’ve never seen it so low. It’s awful. Hopefully, we keep getting a lot more rain all summer! But, just not when I plan to do something outdoors. 😃

I’m planning to read this one! I think I suggested it and have it on my plan for a challenge in another group.

I read it last December but am thinking about re-reading it for my library’s SF book club selection this fall. It’s so hard for me to discuss a book I read a year ago. I did take notes but mostly on the plot and a few quotes. I remember that I liked it but didn’t love it. I’m not sure why. Could be the pace and/or the writing style. It is a very interesting twist, though, on a first contact story. I’m curious what others think and if you’ve read other books by the Strugatsky brothers. This was my 3rd book of theirs. I tried to watch the Russian movie Stalkers but it was too slow and boring to finish.

I’m so sorry about Luna Lesle. We went through the same thing in 2020 with our bichon. 💜 It’s so hard watching your pet/family member decline in health.

This 4th I’m planing to go to a Bluegrass Pickin’ Party in Santa Fe. I get invited every year but this will be my first year to go. Hope all of you have a fun and safe weekend! 🇺🇸 🎇

I’m planning to read it! I read My Cousin Rachel last month and enjoyed it.

On the news yesterday, there was a video from someone’s home camera of a mountain lion hopping over their wall. I found out this morning that it was a few blocks from my house! I’m afraid to go walking now. What if he’s still out there?! It’s surprising he would be this far west of the foothills.

I love the idea of a Germanic Buddy Read, John! I have several books by Kafka and Hesse waiting to be read. I also have some Stefan Zweig books on my TBR. I wanted to read something by Heinrich Mann and found Henry, King of France. But, it’s the 2nd book in the series and it’s the only book of his that my library owns. I might read it anyway or see if I can get the first book, Young Henry of Navarre, somewhere else. It looks like most of Heinrich’s books were not translated to English.

We FINALLY got rain in NM this past weekend, an early start to monsoon season. High of 73 today- I love it! We held our annual bluegrass festival last weekend, with some showers in the evening but not bad. If the festival was today with rain all day, it would’ve been a bust. It was great being outside and hearing live music and visiting w old friends and meeting new ones! What I have not been doing much lately- reading. My husband now reads more than I do!

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut: 287 pp
The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart: 494 pp
The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly: 208 pp
Maigret on the Riviera by Georges Simenon: 137 pp
Don't Look Now by Daphne du Maurier: 346 pp
Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck: 214 pp
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier: 391 pp

Total to Date: 223,488

Amazing to me that he started writing this book at the young age of 22! I read it years ago and enjoyed it. This year I read The Magician by Colm Toibin, which I recommend. It’s historical fiction about Mann’s life which gives you the background and the family dynamics which influenced his writing. I really hope to finish The Magic Mountain this year. I started it a few years ago but had to return the library book before finishing it. I bought a used copy so I have no excuse now!

We have the opposite weather here in Albuquerque than many of you have. 69 days with no precipitation! Supposed to hit 100 this weekend. There’s a chance of rain tomorrow. If it does rain, I’m going walking in it!

I bought Daniel Deronda by George Eliot for my husband for his birthday. It was part of a Jeopardy! clue recently and he had never heard of the book. But, he loved Middlemarch so hopefully he likes this one, too. Maybe I will read it, too!

I just started My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier. I like her writing style and the sinister, gothic feel to it. I’ve learned w Daphne to expect the unexpected. I hope this one doesn’t disappoint!

Brianna - I remember reading Giants in the Earth in high school and loving it! Hope you enjoy it!

Glad you are on the mend Leslie! I can’t imagine your lawn. Sounds like my brother’s yard in PA. Mine takes 5-10 minutes to mow. It’s too hard to grow grass in Albuquerque!

Last weekend was Independent Bookstore Day. My daughter and I went to 2 of our stores. She won a scavenger hunt at one of them. One of the prizes was a 4 pack of books, none of which she will read but 3 are on my TBR and one I’ve already read. So, now I have even more books to read and maybe one to reread. It was a great event! Nice to see so many folks buying books.

I sold ~20 books (at our indie bookstore) and bought 2, one is a classic- The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov. I couldn’t resist! I’ve only read one Nabokov book - Pnin, which was written in English. Amazing that he was such a good writer in both Russian and English! I really need to stop buying books, though, and read the ones I own. This is my goal for the next 8 months! It feels like an addiction.

Leslie- it’s not quite as husky as is appears since there are 142 pages of notes! I think that I won’t read all of it but rather read a few chapters here and there. I skimmed through it last night, looking at pictures mostly, and read the beginning of the Descendants of Ghenghiz Khan section.