Narzain’s Comments (group member since May 19, 2009)

Narzain’s comments from the Runs with scissors group.

I guess I'll read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest for banned book week.

Though I also plan to re-read Ender's Game, so I'll jump in on that discussion too.

Hm, the month is almost over; probably time to post on the book, eh? *ahem*

Well, it's kind of hard to say too much about it without putting in spoilers. On the one hand, it's a kind of standard fantasy novel; on the other hand, the setting is intriguing and the plot certainly has potential, especially for sequels.

One thing I found jarring was some of the names of things. They use money called dollars, and a central city to the story is called Memphis, and so on. I kept waiting for some sort of "it's Earth thousands of years after the apocalypse" revelation, but that never happened. So the use of those names was just off-putting.

Other than that, I enjoyed the characters (even the pampered sacrificial 'princess' had a good bit of depth), and I am interested in seeing where the story goes in the next book.

And of course the irony of Fahrenheit 451 is that it's a banned book about banning books. Whee!

Speaking as someone in your life, you have not let me down. I do (as much as possible) understand how you feel; I felt much the same way when I was out of work for an extended time. The guilt and/or depression is insidious and always lurking in the background. But you have not screwed up your life. Life (much like poop) happens.

I know that no matter how often I (or anyone) reassure you, since the negative feelings are inside your head, they have the last word. But that won't stop me from trying.

(And I do not feel 'stuck' with paying for dates.)

You are more wonderful than you give yourself credit for.

As an alternative to suspending group read for the holidays, we might just have one book for both November and December. Just a thought.

Woo-hoo! Yay for going farther, and yay for not pushing too hard!

I agree that George cared deeply about Lennie; after all, Lennie let him actually start believing in a dream for once in his life (getting their own farm & "living onna fatta the land"). I think that his reason for killing Lennie was equal parts saving Lennie from a more painful death (where he wouldn't have understood why he was being hurt), and preventing Lennie from accidentally hurting or killing anyone else without meaning to.

On the one hand, I think the book ended sort of abruptly. On the other hand, it ended exactly where it had to.

Of all the 'classics' I've read, I think this one touched me the most on an emotional level. Steinbeck's characters were fully realized and well described, and a hundred-page snippet covering less than two days stands on its own among much weightier tomes.

Woot!

I know I already said this in person, but you rock!

Congratulations indeed! That's no small feat. Proud of you I am as well.

I'm partial to another foray into contemporary authors (and the possibility of getting our members hooked on another series, bwa-ha-ha). So I'd like to suggest 'Dead Witch Walking' by Kim Harrison.

Well, I have to say that I wasn't impressed. It got a little better nearer the end, but I was left with an overall feeling of "why did I bother?"

In fairness, my preferences do lie with narratives where something actually happens, whether on a physical or mental & emotional level. And that's just not the kind of story Salinger was writing. But I can only handle so much "surly teenager passing the time while going nowhere" on the best of days.

And the really sad part is, the kids were better behaved than the adults! Sure, some of them were talking too, but they were talking _to the adults!_ Who talked back, instead of quieting them.

Don't even get me started on the crinkly candy wrappers. Grrrrr.

Having a great deal of no time. :) Sorry all, I've been playing catch-up all week due to the new job schedule. On the plus side, you've all had plenty of time to read the book, right? Right.

So, having no clear idea how to start off a discussion, I'll take the cheap & easy way: What do you think of A Wrinkle In Time? Good, bad, indifferent? Good for a kids' book? Stands up well for all ages of readers?

Joy wrote: "I saw a really good movie last night called The Notorious Bettie Page. Bettie was a legendary pin-up queen in the 50's and Gretchen Mol plays her brilliantly. Check it out if you're looking for som..."

Yeah, I saw that not too long ago. It really was quite good. I even learned some new things about her.

And yes, Doubt is very good. Everyone comes away from it with a different impression, and no one is wrong.

I got a rock.

As a retail drone, I've learned to despise "C" with a fury I'd seldom known before. At my store they had us put up all the "C" junk the day after Halloween. What's that? Thanksgiving, you ask? Oh, it has one tiny endcap of kids books. It's like the company just wants to skip that holiday completely. Grrr.

No, I think it stands on its own. I didn't even know when it was written until I was already halfway through, so I doubt that shaped my perceptions too much.

I liked it. It's a different style & pacing from most of what I read; for a while I was waiting for something to happen, but the 'something happening' was just more subtle. It was more about the attitudes & interrelations than about the events.

I think it is as thought-provoking today as when it was first written, if for slightly different reasons. The views on racial tensions, and preconceptions that are strong enough to overcome facts, are just as valid now as in the 60's.

Yeah, I think that perhaps holding off until the new year would be a good idea.

As for suggestions, how about A Wrinkle In Time by Madeline L'Engle?

Okay, how many points have I lost from working retail for a decade and a half? Scary...

It's a classic case of "think BEFORE you speak." Especially when so many people will hear and be affected by one's words. I think journalistic integrity & responsibility have deteriorated over the years. Now it's all sensationalism and personal opinions being spread on a public level.

I'm glad she recognized her error and apologized, but a little forethought would have kept her from making the error in the first place, and saved a lot of pain.