Danaë’s Comments (group member since Nov 19, 2012)

Danaë’s comments from the Classics Without All the Class group.

Well looks like I'm in good company. :) I also enjoyed the introduction to Holmes and Watson, but didn't really like the flashback. (view spoiler)[ I thought the desert conversation between Ferrier and Lucy was terribly unnatural. It reminded me of soap opera characters staring off into space while explaining to the flower arrangements everything that has happened in the previous weeks. I also didn't feel as sympathetic to the murderer as I think Doyle intended the reader to feel. I just keep thinking if he really loved Lucy he would have tried to get her away from her horrible marriage instead of waiting for her to die and take revenge. Fat lot of good it did her then. (hide spoiler)]

Karena wrote: "OMG, Danaë. Those are adorable!"

Aren't they? I fell in love with the pattern as soon as I saw it. :)

Karena wrote: "Danaë wrote: "I finished this book before the end of the month, but I wanted to reflect a bit before writing, and time got away from me. So far I'm not doing very well with my reading goal of part..."

Thanks Karena! I'm definitely going to try to keep up with the Sherlock discussions better. :)

Another fan here! I'm in the mood to rewatch them all what with reading the stories and finishing up one of these little crocheted guys for a fangirl friend of mine. http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/f/201... I can't wait to compare the stories with the show.

I finished this book before the end of the month, but I wanted to reflect a bit before writing, and time got away from me. So far I'm not doing very well with my reading goal of participating in the group discussions! Here are my reactions, a bit muddled by a head cold, so please forgive me.

I loved this book, and I've really enjoyed reading everyone's reactions to it as well. One of my favorite things about it was the writing style, so it surprised me that many others found it tedious. I did take a long break from the book in the middle, knowing the animals' deaths would bother me. Once I picked it up again though I was amazed how completely I gave myself over to the story. When Pi ran into the Frenchman, I was annoyed at such a farfetched event, and had to laugh at how drawn in by the rest of the story I was. A tiger and boy drifting through the sea on a lifeboat didn't seem bizarre to me by that point.

I was not expecting the human story, but think it really made the book. I'm sure I will be reading this again with an eye to all the parallels between the two stories.

I'm not sure how to express my thoughts about the island. To me it was symbolic that what allowed for survival during the light of day, would kill at night. Perhaps when darkness fell and Pi had little to do but think about the killing he'd had to do to survive, and the general desperation of his situation, he was in danger of being eaten up, as if by the acidic algae.

This is definitely a book I will be thinking about for a long time, and that is one of my personal definitions of a "classic."

Karena wrote: "Hexed is so great. Kevin Hearne is the man! He does such a great job with Atticus, Oberon, and the rest of the gang. The series continues to get even better."

I finished Hexed a few days ago, and absolutely loved it. Oberon is my favorite character. Give me a good talking dog and I'm happy! I'm really looking forward to learning more about Leif in the next book.

Just finished up Daughter of the Forest and would recommend it highly to any fantasy or fairy-tale lovers. I'm about 50 pages into Cleopatra: A Life and I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's interesting, but the writing seems a bit tangled.

Rhonda wrote: "I'm reading "The Alienist" by Caleb Carr. A really fascinating read, which is a testament tovthiscauthor because I Generally do not like mysteries. This is really more historical fiction than myste..."

I read that some years back and thought it was quite good. Now I can't remember much of the plot though. I might have to dig it out and read it again!

I always have a few books going at once. I'm about a third of the way through the Age of Innocence, but I keep breaking off to read The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance: A Memoir. I heard the author on the Moth Podcast, very funny lady and book. I'm also greatly enjoying listening to Hexed.

This was my first time reading A Christmas Carol, though I'd listened to it before, and of course seen lots of movie versions. I greatly enjoyed Dickens' imagery and look forward to reading more of his work now.

I don't have much of a review to put here, just some random thoughts. One thing that always jars me a little in the story is at the end when Scrooge asks to see some tenderness connected with the death and the last spirit takes him to the couple who are happy he is dead so their debt can go unpaid a little longer. I understand it would give away the corpse's identity early, but surely Scrooge's nephew Fred would be sad? He seemed to have genuine affection for his uncle.

Fred's attitude toward Scrooge is part of why I don't see him as evil. He says Scrooge is "not so pleasant as he might be. However, his offences carry their own punishment, and I have nothing to say against him." I think this and the rapid change in Scrooge once he has actually seen the suffering of the poor speak to his being bitter and closed off more than evil. I've always thought he tossed off those cruel words about workhouses and prisons without much thought. In the spirit of "leave me alone in my misery."

Karena wrote: "So anyone is welcome to start a thread about a different genre, but I thought I'd start one here for Urban Fantasy. This one is intended for the adult audience as opposed to the YA one. I don't hav..."

I love the Mercy Thompson series. I'll have to try the others. I think Charles de Lint was the first urban fantasy author I read, and he's still my favorite. Some of his Newford books are on my "Desert Island" list.