Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion
ABOUT BOOKS AND READING
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What are U reading these days? (Part Five) (begun 3/12/09)
Jackie wrote: "I've wanted to read Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones for a while now. I've heard it was very good.Almost done with my Author challenge. Joy had given me the final two authors I need..."
Jackie, I've added "The Witches of Eastwick" to my Netflix queue. Now I'm curious about Updike's story. :) Even if I don't get to read the book, I'll know something about the story.
As for your "P" book, I suggest _The Pilot's Wife_ by Anita Shreve. It's among some of the best stories I've ever read. I think you'll like it.
Pontalba wrote: "Thanks for the Godot link Joy. ... Still working on a few others, but they're back burner. :)"You're welcome, Pontalba. I have so many books on my back burner that I find it a bit frustrating. However, it's a great way to stimulate myself to keep on reading.
Camerandi wrote: "I am reading Anne of Green Gables. I have always wanted to read it, so I decided I finally would. I was incredibly surprised to find out that, in my opinion, it is actually a page-turner. I was ..."Randi, I didn't realize that _Anne of Green Gables_ by L.M. Montgomery was a page-turner. I've put the movie on my Netflix Queue just to satisfy my curiosity. I know the book would be better than the movie, but there are so many books on my To-Read shelf that I'll never get to them all at this point. Movies are a quick way to catch up on books I haven't read but are curious about. It's a quick-fix. :)
Pontalba wrote: "I also have Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot to read as soon as I finish the Auster. The play format has always flummoxed me, but I've found that books like McCarthy's The Road and Gaddis's A Fr..."I have to say Beckett has never been my personal cup of tea, and although I'd seen GODOT two or three times I always found it obscure and not very engaging (with the exception of a brilliant performance of Lucky's huge monologue by Denis O'Hare years ago at Seattle Rep, which lives in memory. He wasn't a known actor at the time, but you knew he was going to be.) But a year or two ago my theatre hosted a visit to Seattle by Dublin's Gate Theatre performing WFG (GOD-ot, as they pronounce it), and I felt as if finally I was really seeing and hearing the play. I hadn't ever realized how deeply Irish it is - even though Beckett first wrote it in French! - in its sensibility, language, and style of humor. It was a revelation to me. They didn't make me love the play, but they did show me its haunted, haunting, hopeful heart, which I'd never seen before, and I got for the first time why it has such a place in the canon of Western theatre. Thank you Barry McGovern, Johnny Murphy, Allan Stanford and Stephen Brennan - I learned a big thing from you lads!
Pontalba wrote: "Thanks for the Godot link Joy. :)I still haven't gotten to him though.
Am presently reading The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective.
A..."
I read ANNE OF GREEN GABLES over and over again when I was a kid, an old green hardback that had been my mother's when she was small that I still have in my bookcase. I think only Alcott's Eight Cousins can match it in catching the joyous energy of a kind of childhood that I'm not sure exists anymore - there's a kind of purity about it all, the picnics and skating parties and ice cream socials, that our 21st century world doesn't seem to allow much room for, more's the pity. I also really liked Montgomery's Jane of Lantern Hill, another of the books on my grandmother's guest room shelf left over from my mom's childhood.
Sorry - the Green Gables post was meant to be a reply to Camerandi's comment - not sure what happened there!
Nina wrote: "I haven't read Atonement but did find the author's book, "Saturday," fascinating. Great writing and I do recommend it. I would like to discuss it with anyone who has read it but don't want to give ..."I'll always be grateful to Ian McEwan for an essay he wrote on the opinion page of The Guardian a few days after 9/11. It really reminded me why writers are important, especially at times like that. They have the words to articulate what it may be beyond the rest of us to express -- that's their job -- and help us begin to wrap our minds around the unimaginable. I found this piece particularly remarkable, still for me the most moving and memorable about the events of 9/11.
Here's the link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2001/...
Margaret,
I find Beckett rather impenetrable to tell you the truth, but I think with a little stick-to-it-tivness, I can manage and finally enjoy at least some of his works.
re what happened... :) I think you must have clicked the "reply" button next to my post, yes? That'll partially quote the adjoining post.
I find Beckett rather impenetrable to tell you the truth, but I think with a little stick-to-it-tivness, I can manage and finally enjoy at least some of his works.
re what happened... :) I think you must have clicked the "reply" button next to my post, yes? That'll partially quote the adjoining post.
Joy wrote:I agree, Joy! It was great; I truly LOVE Anita Shreve's work. She has a writing style that is surpassed by none-in my opinion. She is captivating; I have marveled at every one of her books...
I've only read one of Shreve's books...A Wedding in December, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have a couple others by her in my TBR stack and look forward to them.
I'll see if my library has The Pilot's Wife.
Nina wrote: "...The one for this month is, "Away." And as I mentioned not everyone would like it but it does keep you reading to the very last page. nina"Nina, below is the cover-link for _Away_, just in case anyone is curious:
_Away_ by Amy Bloom
Didn't Jack Nicholson star in The Witches of Eastwick?nina
Jackie wrote: "I'll see if my library has The Pilot's Wife."Pilot's Wife,,good book, nina
Margaret wrote: "I'll always be grateful to Ian McEwan for an essay he wrote on the opinion page of The Guardian a few days after 9/11. It really reminded me why writers are important... [...:] I found this piece particularly remarkable, still for me the most moving and memorable about the events of 9/11.Here's the link:"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2001/...
Margaret, thank you for the link to McEwan's words after 9/11. Yes, they were memorable because they pointed out the one universal element, love. Below is a moving excerpt from the article:
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"A San Francisco husband slept through his wife's call from the World Trade Centre. The tower was burning around her, and she was speaking on her mobile phone. She left her last message to him on the answering machine. A TV station played it to us... [...:] We heard her tell him through her sobbing that there was no escape for her. The building was on fire and there was no way down the stairs. She was calling to say goodbye. There was really only one thing for her to say, those three words that all the terrible art, the worst pop songs and movies, the most seductive lies, can somehow never cheapen. I love you.
"She said it over and again before the line went dead. And that is what they were all saying down their phones, from the hijacked planes and the burning towers. There is only love, and then oblivion. Love was all they had to set against the hatred of their murderers."
McEwan also spoke about the "human instinct for empathy":
"If the hijackers had been able to imagine themselves into the thoughts and feelings of the passengers, they would have been unable to proceed. It is hard to be cruel once you permit yourself to enter the mind of your victim. Imagining what it is like to be someone other than yourself is at the core of our humanity. It is the essence of compassion, and it is the beginning of morality."
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Words worth repeating.
Margaret wrote: "Nina wrote: "I haven't read Atonement but did find the author's book, "Saturday," fascinating. Great writing and I do recommend it. I would like to discuss it with anyone who has read it but don't ..."I thought it extremely well written and especially I was in tune with the idea that the hijackers didn't use their imagination; not getting into the minds of those that were being killed. He is a very good writer and that is a difficult subject to write about..thanks for sharing. nina
Margaret wrote: "I read ANNE OF GREEN GABLES over and over again when I was a kid, an old green hardback that had been my mother's when she was small that I still have in my bookcase. [...:] I also really liked Montgomery's Jane of Lantern Hill, another of the books on my grandmother's guest room shelf left over from my mom's childhood."Margaret, how wonderful that your grandmother had saved those books from your mother's childhood. No wonder you are such an avid reader. The love of books was passed down through the generations.
I wish I still had the old book my mom had on her shelf which turned me onto reading. It was either _The Prince and the Pauper or _Little Lord Fauntleroy_. I can't remember which. I wonder what happened to that old book.
Mary wrote: "... I truly LOVE Anita Shreve's work. She has a writing style that is surpassed by none-in my opinion. She is captivating; I have marveled at every one of her books..."Mary and Pontalba, I looked back at my reading list and I see that I've read seven of Anita Shreve's books. Pontalba mentioned _A Wedding in December_. That's one I haven't read. I've added it to my To-Read Shelf.
Nina, yes that was Jack Nicholson who was in the movie The Witches of Eastwick. Michelle Phieffer was in it also. I remember that because I have a friend who looked exactly like MP in that particular movie. What a beautiful woman my friend Karen was. I think Cher & Angelica Huston were in it too, but I'm not sure. Does anyone else remember the movie, if so, were they in it?
Susan Sarandon, not Angelica Huston, was the 3d witch in the 1987 movie. LOVED it!!! While they all played their roles well, Jack Nicholson was fantastic as the Devil. Perfect for him. Who was Daryl's (Jack's) chauffeur in the movie? He was good, too.I've never wanted to read the novel,The Witches of Eastwick, or the sequel, The Widows of Eastwick. They're by John Updike. For me, this is a case where the movie was just perfect.
Apparently they tried to make a TV series about it, but the pilot flopped. There are also several musicals.
I also love Anita Shreve's work. I'm almost finished with "Testimony" and love it. The structure is very different and keeps the reader very engaged.Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: "Mary wrote: "... I truly LOVE Anita Shreve's work. She has a writing style that is surpassed by none-in my opinion. She is captivating; I have marveled at every one of her books..."
Mary and Ponta..."
Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I've wanted to read Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones for a while now. I've heard it was very good.
Almost done with my Author challenge. Joy had given me the final two au..."
Re "The Witches of Eastwic"--the movie is very different from the book--both good in their own way, but quite different.Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I've wanted to read Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones for a while now. I've heard it was very good.
Almost done with my Author challenge. Joy had given me the final two au..."
I just finished reading Alas, Babylon. I was impressed by it. It was first published in 1959 & followed some people through WWIII, an atomic war, in a small town in Florida. Very well done & surprisingly undated. No graphic violence or sex. Just a really good story that makes me appreciate what we have a lot more.
I just finished The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective I think this link will give you my impressions of it. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Definitely something to read if you enjoy a good mystery.
Definitely something to read if you enjoy a good mystery.
Carol wrote: "I also love Anita Shreve's work. I'm almost finished with "Testimony" and love it. The structure is very different and keeps the reader very engaged."Hi Carol - I haven't read _Testimony_ yet. The Goodreads review says:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Writing with a pace and intensity surpassing
even her own greatest work, Anita Shreve delivers
in TESTIMONY a gripping emotional drama with
the impact of a thriller."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sounds like a good one.
Jim wrote: "I just finished reading Alas, Babylon. I was impressed by it. It was first published in 1959 & followed some people through WWIII, an atomic war, in a small town in Florida. Very we..."Jim, the title sounds familiar, but not the author, Pat Frank. Is there another book by a famous author with the word Babylon in it?
Pontalba wrote: "I just finished The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective I think this link will give you my impressions of it. http://www.goodreads.com/r..."Pontalba, thanks for the review. Interesting that it's a "non-fiction detective story".
Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: "Jim, the title sounds familiar, but not the author, Pat Frank. Is there another book by a famous author with the word Babylon in it?..."Likely. It's part of a quote from the Christian bible. In this case, the main character remembered a preacher saying it when things got bad when he was a kid. In the book, things got really bad.
Jim wrote: "Likely. It's part of a quote from the Christian bible. In this case, the main character remembered a preacher saying it when things got bad when he was a kid. ..."Thanks, Jim. I'm always curious about where the title of a book comes from. I googled and found the quote. The King James Bible version is: "Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.". -Revelation 18:10 [FROM: http://bible.cc/revelation/18-10.htm ]
While I was googling for the quote, I found the Sparknotes page about the book you mentioned, _Alas Babylon_. The link is:
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/alas/su...
The "context" page summary says:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"In 1959, at the height of tensions between America and the Soviet Union, Frank published Alas, Babylon, his most famous novel. The portrait of a small Florida town's efforts to cope with the aftermath of an all-out nuclear war is a work of science fiction, but at the time, with the arms race escalating into space, it seemed all too realistic."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sounds depressing. I just finished watching the movie "City of God". That was depressing too. See summary at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317248/p...
There's an interesting phrase in one of the summaries. It speaks of "a world, apparently condemned to endless violence."
That about sums it up. Sad.
PS-I just learned from a review* that the movie "City of God" "is based on actual events that occurred in Rio de Janeiro during the 1960s and 1970s, and which formed the factual background for Paulo Lins' novel of the same name." Cover link below:
City of God A Novel*See the movie review (by James Berardinelli) at:
http://www.reelviews.net/movies/c/cit...
PS-The movie won quite a few awards. See the link to the award page below:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317248/a...
'City of God' does look depressing. "Alas, Babylon" wasn't. It wasn't a happy, happy book, but it didn't dwell on violence or futility. Instead, it showed people coping & growing. It pointed out a lot of what is wrong with society & how so many barriers & values were artificial.I'm sure you remember the time, Joy. Your kids were just being born. In the south, segregation was still going strong. The book shows how that broke down through necessity. The main character is in the park looking at the two, non-functioning water fountains, one for whites, the other for blacks. Near them, he sees a white & black man sharing a skin of water.
He points out other stuff too. It makes you reevaluate what you have & treasure. All in all, well worth the read on a number of levels.
I'm currently reading Gone With the Wind. I'm loving it so far! Has anyone else read it?
Jenni wrote: "I'm currently reading Gone With the Wind. I'm loving it so far! Has anyone else read it?"
I've lost track of how many times I've actually read it. :) Love it!
I first read it when I was about 12 or 13, and most recently only last year, having read it in the intervening decades at least several times.
It's one of those books that no matter how old the reader is, they can get something out of it, always different, always fresh. It was a far different book to me recently than as a teenager! But I loved it each time.
I'm so happy you're loving it.
I've lost track of how many times I've actually read it. :) Love it!
I first read it when I was about 12 or 13, and most recently only last year, having read it in the intervening decades at least several times.
It's one of those books that no matter how old the reader is, they can get something out of it, always different, always fresh. It was a far different book to me recently than as a teenager! But I loved it each time.
I'm so happy you're loving it.
Jim wrote: "'City of God' does look depressing. "Alas, Babylon" wasn't. It wasn't a happy, happy book, but it didn't dwell on violence or futility. Instead, it showed people coping & growing. It pointed ou..."that reminds me of a very good book I read several years ago and I can't recall the author's name but the title was, "Civil Wars" I t was around the time Jim is talking about in the South.. It was such an absorbing book to read that sometime not much later than wnen I read it we were travelling through Jackson, MI where the book was set and I kept looking for the street where they lived..I finally realized they were just characters in a book.. I have never forgotten that book..nina
Nina, I love when an author makes me eel so much for a character that you have to remind yourself that it isn't real. Amazing when they do that.Jenni, I read GWTW ages ago but I forget so many of the details that recently I picked it up at a Library Book Sale so I can read it again. I do remember that I completely loved it and was much better than the movie. My BFF Robert had to force me to watch the movie but I did enjoy it. I just enjoyed the book much more. You remind me that I really should get to it. Thanks for that. I forget half of what's on my shelves.
Joy, do you know the dates for the Crandall Library Book Sale? And do you go to them? I know they're usually in early June. Would you like to meet me there? I go an hour before they open on the first day, 8 AM Friday, so I don't miss anything. You'd get to meet Anthony because I force him to take me. OK, I don't force him but it's the only time I actually resort to whining, so he'll feel bad for me and take me. Anthony is such a good sport.
Jenni, I think it would be more appropriate to ask if anyone has NOT read it. I'd be surprised to find someone that hasn't. I've read "Gone with the Wind" at least a couple of times. What a classic - both the book & the movie! There is even a psychological syndrome named for Scarlet & her flights to Tara. The movie was so well done that I can't recall a remake & it's 70 years old, isn't it? Of all the movies, I've never known one to weather the years so well. Incredible.Nina, if you come across the book, please let us know what it is. Sounds interesting.
Jim wrote: "'City of God' does look depressing. "Alas, Babylon" wasn't. It wasn't a happy, happy book, but it didn't dwell on violence or futility. Instead, it showed people coping & growing. It pointed ou..."Jim, thanks for pointing that out.
Sounds like the book offers hope.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"If it were not for Hopes, the Heart would break." -Thomas Fuller, M. D.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jackie wrote: " ... Joy, do you know the dates for the Crandall Library Book Sale? And do you go to them? I know they're usually in early June. Would you like to meet me there? I go an hour before they open on the first day, 8 AM Friday, so I don't miss anything. ..."Jackie, according to the website (see link below), the Crandall Library book sale in Glens Falls will be on Sunday, June 14, 1 to 4 PM.
http://www.crandalllibrary.org/cgi-bi...
See my e-mail.
CORRECTION: THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
SATURDAY, JUNE 13
SUNDAY, JUNE 14
SEE ABOVE LINK FOR THE TIMES.
Well, Jim, I'll own up to being one of the few people who has NOT read Gone With the Wind! :-) I know, I know --given that I'm 56 years old, I should be a lot better read than I am. I blame it mostly on all the years I was teaching part-time, working at something else full-time, and had no time to read much of anything outside of my academic discipline(s).Jackie, my ignorance of abbreviations is showing again --what does BFF stand for? (If it was just BF, I'd guess either "boyfriend" or "best friend," but the second F throws me. :-))
Jenni wrote: "I'm currently reading Gone With the Wind. I'm loving it so far! Has anyone else read it?"Jenni, Pontalba, Jackie, Jim, and all,
I haven't read _Gone With The Wind_ yet.
What is it about the book which everyone loves so much? Is it the style of the author, Margaret Mitchell, or the story?
I've seen the movie, but was never motivated to read the book. However, I know how everyone raves about it and I often wonder why.
Of course it won the Pulitzer Prize in 1937. So I shouldn't really wonder the "why" of anything about it. :)
Nina wrote: "that reminds me of a very good book I read several years ago and I can't recall the author's name but the title was, "Civil Wars" I t was around the time Jim is talking about in the South.. It was such an absorbing book to read that sometime not much later than wnen I read it we were travelling through Jackson, MI where the book was set and I kept looking for the street where they lived..I finally realized they were just characters in a book.. I have never forgotten that book..nina "Nina, can you post a link to that book? I couldn't find it. Does anyone know about this book? Thanks.
Jim wrote: "Jenni, I think it would be more appropriate to ask if anyone has NOT read it. I'd be surprised to find someone that hasn't. I've read "Gone with the Wind" at least a couple of times. What a clas..."Jim! Surprise! (lol) I haven't read _Gone with the Wind_!
See my other post about it here.
Werner wrote: "Well, Jim, I'll own up to being one of the few people who has NOT read Gone With the Wind! :-) I know, I know --given that I'm 56 years old, I should be a lot better read than I am. I blame it mo..."Werner, join the club! (lol) As I said, I haven't read _Gone with the Wind_ either. (g) My excuse is similar to yours (too busy keeping up with life and necessities). Now that I'm retired, I finally have time to try to catch up on all the books and movies I've missed.
As for BFF, could it be "Best Friend Forever"?
See: http://www.acronymfinder.com/BFF.html
Werner and Joy,I, too, have not read Gone with the Wind, and I am also 56. I tried a couple of times, but I couldn't get past six pages of 'Fiddle-dee-dee.' I will work on it someday, but I am enjoying what I am reading now.
Camerandi wrote: "Werner and Joy, I, too, have not read Gone with the Wind, and I am also 56. I tried a couple of times, but I couldn't get past six pages of 'Fiddle-dee-dee.' I will work on it someday, but I a..."Ah, another person comes forth and confesses about not having read GWTW.
LOL Now I don't feel so bad. :)
Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: "Jim wrote: "'City of God' does look depressing. "Alas, Babylon" wasn't. It wasn't a happy, happy book, but it didn't dwell on violence or futility. Instead, it showed people coping & growing. I..."Heh... This is my fist time reading it, and I've never seen the movie. I do love it so far... though I find myself having to slow down to read anything that Mammy says. :) I'm about 10% of the way through the book, and am finding it quite enjoyable. :)
Joy,
The only thing I can say is that Gone With the Wind encompasses every emotion known to man or woman, in war time, and peace, in bad times and good times. It's about survival no matter what. It's about love to the Nth degree. I don't know anyone that has read the book that has lukewarm feelings about Scarlett, they either love her or hate her. Personally I love her, I love her survivalist instincts, I love her vulnerability. Rhett is an absolutely perfect foil for her in every way, and at the end of it, I only hoped that he'd grow up enough one day soon to go back to her.
Here is a comparative review I did once of it, as compared to A Woman in Berlin You couldn't get two books farther apart, but the whole way through the latter, I found myself thinking of Scarlett, and how she coped with the Civil War, and the Yankee invasion. Both women were survivors. That has to be admired.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54...
The only thing I can say is that Gone With the Wind encompasses every emotion known to man or woman, in war time, and peace, in bad times and good times. It's about survival no matter what. It's about love to the Nth degree. I don't know anyone that has read the book that has lukewarm feelings about Scarlett, they either love her or hate her. Personally I love her, I love her survivalist instincts, I love her vulnerability. Rhett is an absolutely perfect foil for her in every way, and at the end of it, I only hoped that he'd grow up enough one day soon to go back to her.
Here is a comparative review I did once of it, as compared to A Woman in Berlin You couldn't get two books farther apart, but the whole way through the latter, I found myself thinking of Scarlett, and how she coped with the Civil War, and the Yankee invasion. Both women were survivors. That has to be admired.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54...
Werner,You're on the right track,
BFF is Best Friends Forever.
I hadn't even thought that BF is boyfriend, I'm really glad I put in the second F, otherwise you'd all think I was a cheater, LOL
Add me to the list of non-readers of GWTW and I am not sure why except at the time I was into being leary of starting a huge book..At least it seemed huge to me then. I often wondered why I hadn't read it. But, the first time I travelled to Atlanta years ago I made sure we drove down Peachtree..nina
Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group
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Joy, I am one of the negatives on reading "Almost Moon." It was our book club choice last month and for some reason I forgot to go to the meeting..I think it must have been a Fruedian lapse..I just couldn't find a thing I liked about that book. The one for this month is, "Away." And as I mentioned not everyone would like it but it does keep you reading to the very last page. nina