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

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

I picked up my new glasses yesterday. They are a bit on the funky side (color wise). I was visiting w my dad today and he didn’t mention them after 2 hours. So, I asked if he liked them. He looked me in the face and broke out laughing! He said they reminded him of a character in the Ladies #1 Detective Agency book that he just read. Not the response I was expecting but oh well! You gotta change things up occasionally. Right??

Jazzy - I am also learning Russian (and Spanish and Italian) on Duolingo. If you want to friend me, my userID is Pam332602 (Pam S).
I have a couple of Russian poetry books from my library’s Children’s International Collection on hold. Maybe I can share something from them on this post.

I’m not familiar with many Scottish authors but I have one book planned for 2022- the 1963 thriller Ice Station Zebra by Alistair McLean. I think I may have seen the movie decades ago. I’m curious to see what others will be reading.

I would like to re-read Watership Down. I read it in the 70s and don't remember much, if anything, except it's about rabbits. I have the sequel Tales from Watership Down which I would like to read also. I don't know how it is possible for me to read every book with this group that I'm interested in reading but I'm going to give it my best shot!

Sorry to hear about Patrick being on hiatus. Hope he's ok!

Thanks for the list Jazzy! The Beast Within sounds really interesting! I was planning to read something I own but, if I can find that one at the library, that might be my choice.

SF is one of my favorite genres so I’m liking this list! There are 5 I plan to read and 3 I’ve already read. I highly recommend Childhoods End. We have our SF book club meeting at the library this weekend to discuss it. I read it 3 months ago. Fortunately, I took notes! Roadside Picnic is the one book I absolutely plan to read. I read two other Strugatsky brothers books this year but not this one, even though it’s sitting on my bookshelf!

Our weather has been unseasonably warm. 67 degrees yesterday! Short-sleeve weather in the afternoons. My roses are still blooming! Usually by now, we’ve had some snow but none yet, not even rain.
I’m almost at the 2 week point for my booster. I feel more comfortable for myself and my family, who are also boosted as of this week.

I’m glad you found a copy Brian! I bought a used copy several years ago and finally opened it. I like that it has illustrations, maps, and name pronunciations. I plan to start it in January. Looking forward to doing a group read! I need some incentive to read these longer classics.

I received my ILL copy today but will probably have to hold off until January to read it. I didn’t realize how long it was! I’ve got 2 other long books I’m trying to finish by Dec 31. I have the book checked out until March 12th. Is anyone else planning to read it in the next few months??

I had to put in an inter-library loan (ILL) request for this book since nether library system I use has it. It should be coming in soon, I hope. ILLs take a long time to process but I’m thankful for the service.

We are still having nice weather (low 60s F for the highs) so I’ll probably go for a walk along the Rio Grande Bosque this afternoon while visiting my dad. That, plus lunch with my daughter, and going out to listen to music tonight makes for a full day! Squeeze in a little reading, of course, and a trip to the library! Hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving to all who are celebrating! This will be our first one without my mom (also w/o my mother-in-law) but I’m thankful that my 87 y.o. dad and brother will be joining us for our first meal together in 2 years! I’ve been surprising my dad with library books, finding ones I think he will like. I picked out a few yesterday, including a SF classic and some current non-fiction psychology books (he’s a retired psychologist). It makes me happy to find one he really likes! He’s reading The Storied Life of A. J. Fikrey right now and enjoying it.

I definitely plan to read Zola and The Glass Bead Game! I have never read the other authors listed but will most likely try 1 or 2 of them, Szabo for sure. Thanks Rosemarie for all of your work organizing the reads!

I picked up a copy of Natasha’s Dance earlier this summer so I will vote for it!

I looked at the 4 Zola books I own and each has a different translator: Vizetelly for The Paradise, Margaret Mauldon for L’Assommoir, Burton Rascoe (Barnes & Noble classic) for Nana, and Brian Nelson for The Belly of Paris. It would be interesting to read all 4 and compare the translations.

I read We in 2017 and gave it 4 stars. I think it was a group read in one of my GR groups. I’ll probably revisit it in 2022. I just started Brave New World today. I had marked it read in GR but I was mistaken. This is definitely my first time reading it!

WRT Ayn Rand, I liked both The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. I’m planning on reading We the Living in early 2022. Has anyone read it? It looks more interesting than Anthem.

Thanks Brian for the info! I plan to start with The Ladies Paradise.

I loved the new Dune movie! In particular, Timothée Chalamet was amazing as Paul Atreides! I can’t wait for the next movie (and also the next in the graphic novel series).

Assuming that Hesse’s Glass Bead is a Hefty/Husky read, I will go with Sartre and Szabó.

Also, I like the idea of a poetry read in December but can’t see myself reading a whole book of poetry! I could read a few select poems, though. I’m getting ready to read The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches by the Japanese poet Basho. (I usually avoid poetry but I do like Haiku.) I just finished I am a Japanese Writer by Dany Laferrière, in which the main character is reading Basho’s book throughout the entire book.

Rosemarie- Thanks for that info! I will def not read Nana first. My husband read it and recommended it and I saw the movie. The others I have no familiarity with.