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

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

So, I broke down and bought Travels with Charley at the used bookstore. I still have the audiobook checked out so I may do a combo of reading/listening.

John - I’ve been using the App since 2012 and these same problems still exist! I get on the desktop version a few times a month to update my challenges.

I didn’t really care for the Inspector Maigret book I just finished. I’m now reading Solaris. My library book club is discussing it this Sunday so I’m going to try to finish it by then. I watched the movie last month.

Has anyone watched the 1994 movie? I remember buying the book after seeing the movie. I must have really enjoyed it! But, then I never read the book. I’m looking forward to finally reading it this year.

I fell asleep again on my 2nd try! I’ll have to listen tomorrow while driving and waiting for my dad at his PT appointment. I’m really interested in this one since I’ve been to a lot of the places he writes about. Just from the few pages I’ve heard, it seems to have some humor to it.

I started listening to Travels with Charley the other night but I fell asleep very early on! I’m going to try again tonight. The narrator is actor Gary Sinese.

I just started Maigret on the Riviera by Georges Simenon.
Unless I’m updating a post, I primarily use the app which is why I don’t always link my books. Just FYI, for those of you who don’t use the app so much, when you only link the book cover and not the title, sometimes app users don’t see the image! It helps if you link both. The app also randomly cuts off words so sometimes sentences don’t make sense or the meaning is actually changed when a key word is left off! I wish the programmers would fix these problems.

I popped into our Multi-Generational Center today to ask a question and wound up leaving with 5 Inspector Maigret books (by Georges Simenon) from the community bookshelf! I’m not a big mystery reader but I’m going to try one or two. I left 3 with my dad, who likes mysteries and has watched the TV show. They are very short (<150 pages). Any Maigret fans??

Well, we had our “big” snowstorm yesterday ~ 2 inches! It’s mostly melted now but most of the city was shut down last night and today. I remember once in Nashville that my car was completely frozen over in an inch of ice, including the locks. I haven’t seen an ice storm since moving to New Mexico. Don’t miss that weather. Hope all of you are safe and have power!

I put it on hold at the library. I’m #1 on the list so I should get it soon, probably a transfer from another branch. I own the sequel, Tales from Watership Down, and may read it too.

Finally, we have a snow forecast this winter! We are supposed to get 1-3 inches tomorrow. Compared to 1-2 feet it sounds like nothing but, living in the desert, we will take it! I love going for a walk in the snow and especially while it’s snowing. It just doesn’t feel like winter without at least one snowfall!

My library has neither author in print or electronic format.

My husband was so kind to remind me that I still have The Count of Monte Cristo to finish. I read through page 500 in 2021. So, my goal is to read a minimum of 1 chapter a day and finish it up this year! I’m also starting The Trumpeter of Krakow, set in 1461 Poland, a 1928 children’s classic by Eric P. Kelly. I set up a personal challenge to read books set in or by authors from the Baltic and East European countries. Other than Russia, this will be challenging for me! I’m starting with books I own.

I had to miss my book club meeting, to discuss Cats Cradle, since I was quarantining. I’m really disappointed since that was the only reason I read the book! I’m almost finished with The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart, which I am enjoying.

I’ve read 4 Steinbeck books, which were all good, but my favorite was East of Eden. I also remember liking the mini-series back in 1981. The one book that I still want to read, hopefully this year, is Travels with Charley. In reading the summary, I see that I’ve been to many of the places he talks about in his book, including his starting point Sag Harbor, Fargo, Amarillo, and the Redwood National Park. I love that he is traveling with his dog, too! I’m really looking forward to this one! Just thinking about it makes me we want to do some traveling, but I have to wait until April.

Rosemarie - I read Slaughterhouse Five decades ago and remember not liking it either. I like some weird books but I have a limit. I’m curious what the book group members will have to say about it. I wasn’t planning on reading it but I talked with the librarian, who runs the group, and he said he was enjoying it so I decided to take a chance. But no, no more Vonnegut for me!

I’m also listening to The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart. My hold for the paperback just came in so I will probably do a combo of listening and reading for this one. I’m a big fan of Arthurian legend books so I’m liking this one.

I’m reading Cats Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, for a book club meeting this weekend. I really hate this book but I’m going to finish it as quick as I can. I don’t know what is supposed to funny about it. It just feels stupid and pointless to me.

The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper 216 pp
Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy 384 pp

Group total: 9450 pp

I used a B&N gift card to buy Transit by German author Anna Seghers. I looked for hours trying to find something a little offbeat. After finding it, the title reminded me of another book that I wanted to read The Transit of Venus, so I bought it also! Transit of Venus was recommended last week by Anne Bogel on her podcast and I already had it on my TBR. After these 2 acquisitions, I really need to not buy any more books this year and just read the ones I own!

I just finished Far from the Madding Crowd and really enjoyed it. Gabriel Oak was such a wonderful character! I’m not surprised to discover that Hardy was also a poet. I could hear it in much of the phrasing/description. I’m going to take a break from Hardy but will eventually read some more of his books. I have 3 more on our bookshelves. But, for now, I have some other authors to try!