Matthew’s Comments (group member since Mar 08, 2015)

Matthew’s comments from the Reading List Completists group.

Valerie wrote: "Likewise, I didn't want to be THAT b**ch."

Ha! :)

The Kate Gompert section (p68 to 78) was the first time this book really riveted me.

I saw it was Watershed . . . but I thought pointing it out would make me look like a picky jerk!

I am also at the section with the film titles. I was thinking when I read the section from pg 63 to 65 it would be a quick read . . . then I saw footnote 24 . . .

I will admit I just gave it a cursory glance, but I will probably refer to it again a few times later in the books as I assume it will mean more to me then.

Orin's chapter - page 47 - A Clockwork Orange? I think so, my brothers - a real horror-show . . .

My approach to this . . . especially with the large paragraphs . . . has been to just keep reading at a steady pace and when I get to the end of the chapter, I think back to the key points that stick out, but I don't spend too much time re-reading or taking notes. I fear with my busy life and other reading that could make this book last forever. My hope is that as I get more comfortable with the story and the writing, this method will work and I will start picking up more and more.

My guess is that this sort of method is what led TheLongWait to go back and re-read the first 100 pages because, once you are comfortable with the story and the writing at the end of the book, it can completely change how you view the beginning - which you were not ready for the first time through.

I read two long stream of conscious sections today. One about marijuana. The other about Toblerone and video cassettes. This book is weird!

I like paragraphs . . . the occassional long, stream of consciousness paragraph is okay, but for me, I enjoy shorter, more specific paragraphs.

Thus, Infinite Jest may prove to be not quite so pleasant for me (if pages 17 to 27 are any indication)

On page 17 - So far, so weird - but not actually as weird as I expected.

Administrators way overreacting - there has to be more to what is going on . . .

I have been meaning to comment on the forward. Unfortunately, I am not yet farther. It is a little funny because it all it seems to be saying is "Don't be scared by the size and the writing, I swear this book is awesome (and drum-tight!)" Should one worry when the forward is a disclaimer swearing that the following is awesome no matter how else it might seem at times?

So, I got my copy of I Am Legend to prepare for this. Stephanie mentioned that it is 160 pages and Goodreads says it is 160 pages. So, after the 160 page I Am Legend part of the book there are a bunch of other short works - some only 3 to 4 pages long. Does anyone know if these relate to I Am Legend? The version I got was the Will Smith movie cover version so it does not indicate "And Other Works" anywhere on or in it as far as I can tell.

If we ever decide to go with Watchmen, I am interested, but right now I am staring down the barrel of an Infinte Jest . . .

RachelvlehcaR - I had it in my hand at the library today! But, I decided to save it for later.

This was a great book that I think a lot of people will like. Much more intense than expected - Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH for grownups!

I think I will try and join in on this one, too!

Hold came in at the library so I can start on this beast soon!

I enjoyed this one a lot the second time I read it (last year). The first time I tried, I couldn't make it through (back in High school)

I worry when I hear a lot of this book is footnotes. I have read several books recently with lots of footnotes and I find them to be more distracting than useful. Sometimes they break up the story so much, the main story loses its flow. Also, when there are too many, I find myself skimming them and almost immediately forgetting what they say. I hope I don't have that experience with this book.

I can go any way now: eBook, real book, or audio book - as long as I am reading as much as possible! With all the options now, I can easily read in the car, waiting in line, for a few seconds here and there, etc. It is an optimization of all my down time - filling every free second with books!

TheLong Wait - Yeah, I was not really sure how I ended up feeling about Kavalier and Clay. I hear some people think it is a classic, and it is on a lot of must read lists, but I wouldn't recommend it.