Constant Reader discussion
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Constant Reader
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June: What Are You Reading?
Dottie wrote: "Wow -- so many who are not fans of clowns and circuses! I find them both fascinating. I have a very early memory of attending a small circus in a tent wtih my parents. My father bought me a furr..."I like to read about circuses well enough, but I don't like to go to them. I used to go every year. My parents thought it was a real treat for me to go and I hated it! It took me a week to recover from my trip there, and there were always clowns wandering through the audience. Oh, well, they meant well. :) But reading about them is fine, if the book is good. I usually don't find books about circuses good, though. Haven't read Water for Elephants.
MrsSeby (Gabrielle) wrote: "Dottie wrote: "Wow -- so many who are not fans of clowns and circuses! I find them both fascinating. I have a very early memory of attending a small circus in a tent wtih my parents. My father ..."I think clowns were ruined for me after I read Stephen King's It.
I didn't read that book, but I do know about the opening "clown" sequence and I know it's not good.
Glad you like it, Carol. Like Ruth, I loved it.
Marialyce wrote: "MrsSeby (Gabrielle) wrote: "Dottie wrote: "Wow -- so many who are not fans of clowns and circuses! I find them both fascinating. I have a very early memory of attending a small circus in a tent ..."Ah ha! I know, I have never read It nor most any of King's books for that matter -- but I have seen the film as I HAD to tape it on the old VCR without commercials for my daughter -- under her strict orders and so had to endure that story visually which was no easy thing for me. I can understand that book/story ruining clowns for just about anyone who encountered the tale whether in print or on film. Horrid, horrid thing. It did not incline me to explore King and so I haven't. I know very little of anything of his.
I have The Sea somewhere around here in a stack -- Maybe I'll look for it after I get throught the books I have in progress at the moment.
Dottie wrote: "I have The Sea somewhere around here in a stack -- Maybe I'll look for it after I get throught the books I have in progress at the moment."
Dottie the writing is so rich and full of images. It is beautiful.
Dottie wrote: "Marialyce wrote: "MrsSeby (Gabrielle) wrote: "Dottie wrote: "Wow -- so many who are not fans of clowns and circuses! I find them both fascinating. I have a very early memory of attending a small..."I did like his Green Mile, The Stand, The Shining, Duma Key, and Under the Dome. They are always quite frightening as well as being so verbose. (if it is not over 600 pages, it can't be Stephen King!)
For non-King lovers, I would also recommend The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.
I left my copy of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at the restaurant! Darn!
My oldest son is still afraid of clowns because of "It". When he was about 3 or 4 after he had gone to bed, I was watching the movie...being the innovative child he has always been, he got out of his bed and was hiding beside the couch and saw parts of the movie. He is 21 now, and to this day, he flips out when he sees a clown! It is quite interesting when we go to a haunted house and they have a clown room......he literally hides his face in my shoulder until we get out of it, and heaven forbid one follow him around like they did last year!!!!
I have a question--I haven't read any of Donna Leon's series or Elizabeth George's Lynley series. Loved the PBS series. Is it OK to jump into these series in midstream or better to try to begin at the beginning if possible. Don't know if I have the time or inclination to read entire series, but if there are highpoints I shouldn't miss, I would love to know.
I'm reading 3 books right now. One is Lost City Radio by Daniel Alarcon, one is Lark and Termite by Jayne Anne Phillips, and the third is Austen's Lady Susan, which I downloaded so that I could experiment with reading on my husband's new I-Pad.Musings: The last book I read (Trespass) had scenes from the war in Croatia; Lark and Termite has scenes from the Korean war. Lark and Termite contains this quote: "Language Immersion Seoul only deepened Leavitt's belief in language and sound as the only tincture of reality..." Lady Susan contains this quote: "Consideration and esteem as surely follow command of language as admiration wait on beauty..." Of course Austen (deliciously) attributes those words to the reprehensible Lady Susan, so what are we to think?
Susan, my opinion on the Lynley series is that it's better to read them in order. When I undertook what I thought was a reread and catch-up, I found that I'd never read 2-4, and the relationships between the characters make much better sense now. They do evolve, and that's why I like the books, as I'm really not that much of a mystery/suspense fan.
I started listening to Balzac's Cousine Bette a couple of days ago, but have made little progress--I keep conking out! At least it is serving a purpose, because the insomnia has roared forth again.Anyway, I waited something like four months to get the audiobook from the library, and I remember watching a BBC adaptation with my dad when I was a kid (he was a French lit professor) and loving the intrigue. So I'm sure I'll enjoy it as soon as I can stay awake long enough.
Susan wrote: "I have a question--I haven't read any of Donna Leon's series or Elizabeth George's Lynley series. Loved the PBS series. Is it OK to jump into these series in midstream or better to try to begin at ..."I don't know about Donna Leon, Susan, but I agree with Sara, with the Elizabeth George Inspector Lynley mysteries, it's far better to read them in order. The five main characters all have intertwining relationships and it's more fun if you can keep them straight. Besides, the first books are some of the best. You wouldn't want to start with her latest or even go back a few books to begin. Something happens that would make it pretty confusing for you.
I'm reading Tinkers. Not only did it win a spot on the CR RL, but one reviewer said the prose was so beautiful she wept. I don't expect to do that. I can't imagine prose more beautiful that Hilary Mantel's in Wolf Hall or William Trevor's in anything he writes, but it's never driven me to tears. I do expect to like Tinkers, though. What I've read is lovely and sad.
Susan,I have only read 2 of the Donna Leon mysteries. I love Commissario Brunetti and the Venetian setting. I introduced my sister to them last year and she has now read 12 of them. She says that you don't have to read them in order, and adds that she thinks the later ones are better. This summer I have decided to read whatever the library has in no particular order.
MrsSeby (Gabrielle) wrote: "I'm reading Tinkers. Not only did it win a spot on the CR RL, but one reviewer said the prose was so beautiful she wept. I don't expect to do that. I can't imagine prose more beautiful that Hila..."Gabrielle, I just received Tinkers in the mail the other day - I'm planning on reading it after I get back from my trip so I can participate in the CR discussion.
Next up in my cue: The Loved One (for class next week, and I also have to complete a writing assignment), Breakable You (for CR), How Fiction Works (because I've been carting this around for almost a year and it's about time I read it), and assorted short stories for my workshop at the end of the month. (I have 20 stories to read before June 25. I need to get cracking!!!)
Thanks Sara, Gabrielle and Katy for your responses. That will help me in setting up my further reading. These are both authors I've been curious about and now I have a game plan.
Erin wrote: "MrsSeby (Gabrielle) wrote: "I'm reading Tinkers. Not only did it win a spot on the CR RL, but one reviewer said the prose was so beautiful she wept. I don't expect to do that. I can't imagine pr..."Erin, I really enjoyed How Fiction Works. It led me to revisit some excellent literature.
Hazel wrote: "Erin, I really enjoyed How Fiction Works. It led me to revisit some excellent literature."Hazel, I am looking forward to it. I had the opportunity to go to a "reading" by James Wood late last summer when he was promoting this book. I say "reading" because he did more of a mini-lecture about character than an actual reading, he read a few very short passages, but he mostly talked. As a writer, I found it very helpful and insightful, so if the rest of the books compares, I am sure to enjoy it.
I was also lucky to get to talk with him for a few minutes when he signed my book. I told him about my graduate program and that one of my favorite professors was there as well, and he asked me who she was and I pointed her out (and I gushed about her a bit), and we talked a little bit more about the program and my writing. I found out later that James Wood is actually friends with my teacher - they met at a party in DC ages ago and have been friends/colleagues ever since.
Erin wrote: "Hazel wrote: "Erin, I really enjoyed How Fiction Works. It led me to revisit some excellent literature."Hazel, I am looking forward to it. I had the opportunity to go to a "reading" by James W..."
Ahhh! That must have been inspiring. :-)
Erin wrote: "MrsSeby (Gabrielle) wrote: "I'm reading Tinkers. Not only did it win a spot on the CR RL, but one reviewer said the prose was so beautiful she wept. I don't expect to do that. I can't imagine pr..."I wasn't really all that fond of The Loved One. I didn't think it was that funny or satirical. Faulkner's As I Lay Dying was funnier, but the first time I read it, I was too young and stupid to know that, so I was just horrified.
MrsSeby (Gabrielle) wrote: As I Lay Dying was funnier, but the first time I read it, I was too young and stupid to know that, so I was just horrified. ."
Exactly. The second time I read it I couldn't believe how I had missed all the humor.
MrsSeby (Gabrielle) wrote: "I wasn't really all that fond of The Loved One. I didn't think it was that funny or satirical. Faulkner's As I Lay Dying was funnier, but the first time I read it, I was too young and stupid to know that, so I was just horrified. "I read As I Lay Dying last fall for class. Initially, I was horrified by the actions of the characters, but by the time I got to the end, it had just become so ridiculous, I just thought, "He cannot be serious with all this." Unfortunately, I didn't have time to go back and re-read, but I will eventually.
Is The Loved One supposed to be funny? I haven't started it yet. The course is called "Essence of Place: Description, Detail and Setting" so we will be focusing on how place informs the story and how th writer accomplishes this.
I was horrified when I first read As I Lay Dying, Ruth and Erin. The coffin falling into the river (or whatever it did, I can't remember), the one son's broken leg, etc. I thought, "My god, what is Faulkner doing?" Like Ruth, when I read it again, I thought it was hilarious.Erin, do you mean Evelyn Waugh's The Loved One? It's a satire of the funeral industry, black humor. I really didn't like it.
Ruth wrote: "MrsSeby (Gabrielle) wrote: As I Lay Dying was funnier, but the first time I read it, I was too young and stupid to know that, so I was just horrified. ."
Exactly. The second time I read it I coul..."
It's one of those rare books that's actually laugh-out-loud funny, but I was so young when I read it the first time, I took it seriously. The joke was on me that time.
OOh black humor probably right up my alley . I have a sick sense not six.It's a satire of the funeral industry, black humor.
Carol (akittykat) wrote: "OOh black humor probably right up my alley . I have a sick sense not six.It's a satire of the funeral industry, black humor."
I hear people rave about the book, but I didn't think it was all that great. I could be in the minority. I don't know. I like some of his other satires more, like Vile Bodies. I think that's his send up of the snooty Mayfair set.
MrsSeby (Gabrielle) wrote: "Erin, do you mean Evelyn Waugh's The Loved One? It's a satire of the funeral industry, black humor. I really didn't like it. "Yes, that's what I meant.
Erin wrote: "MrsSeby (Gabrielle) wrote: "Erin, do you mean Evelyn Waugh's The Loved One? It's a satire of the funeral industry, black humor. I really didn't like it. "Yes, that's what I meant."
Yes, that's a satire of the funeral industry. I think one of the characters is named Aimee Thantopoulous or something similar (loves death). The book really didn't work for me, but thankfully, if it doesn't for you, it's short.
Gabrielle, I agree w/you about THE LOVED ONE, I didn't like it as much as other satires by Waugh. Though I probably read it quite a bit earlier than the others, so with me reading inexperience may have played a part. Do you suppose satire in general is better appreciated by more mature readers?
Erin, have you read the novel James Woods wrote, THE BOOK AGAINST GOD? I loved it, especially the perfect ending, and it's hilarious. But I have found myself to be in a quite a minority about this book.
Kat wrote: "Gabrielle, I agree w/you about THE LOVED ONE, I didn't like it as much as other satires by Waugh. Though I probably read it quite a bit earlier than the others, so with me reading inexperience may ..."Yes, I think satire is better appreciated by older readers simply because they've lived more and seen more. I don't know, that's just my guess. I think my young age (teenager) when I first read As I Lay Dying is what cause me to be horrified and miss the book's humor, which to me far surpasses Waugh's.
Kat wrote: "Erin, have you read the novel James Woods wrote, THE BOOK AGAINST GOD? I loved it, especially the perfect ending, and it's hilarious. But I have found myself to be in a quite a minority about this ..."No, I have not! I will check it out. I am quite the James Wood novice - I didn't know that he wrote novels as well. My teacher (the one that knows him) suggested to me The Irresponsible Self: On Laughter and the Novel, which is also a non-fiction book. I have it sitting on my shelf, just waiting to be read!
I have read many good reviews about James Woods and seeing all of these comments here, I'll have to add him to my list.
The never ending TBR list grows! If only one didn't have to sleep! :)
Regarding Elizabeth George's Lynley/Havers series, I agree with Sara that it's best to read them in order so you can see the beginning and evolving relationships between the characters. At least, start with A GREAT DELIVERANCE, the first, which won the 1988 Agatha and Anthony awards for best first novel. (See the website StopYoureKillingMe.com for the order of the others in this great series.)Marge
Thanks for recommending "A Map of True Places". I've been enjoying it so far. This is the third book I started readng this month. I had to let go of "The Almost Noon" because it just didn't make any sense why anybody would do the things that the main character was doing!
Marjorie wrote: "Regarding Elizabeth George's Lynley/Havers series, I agree with Sara that it's best to read them in order so you can see the beginning and evolving relationships between the characters. At least, ..."Thanks for the info. StopyourekillingMe.com is a great site, isn't it.
I appreciate all the responses. I had a feeling I would get that here--it certainly confirms my good feelings about being a member.
I'm reading Unincorporated Persons in the Late Honda Dynasty: Poems by Tony Hoagland and loving its delightful irreverence.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks byRebecca Skloot. All I can say is WOW!From GR synopsis: "Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells—taken without her knowledge—became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years...
HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the atom bomb’s effects; helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions..."
I am reading this wonderful book with a mixture of pleasure and exaspiration. Elena Gorokhova has written a touching, often humorous memoir of her life growing up in Russia. Of course then it was the USSR and people lived in poverty, secrecy and oppression. Even as a young girl, she would often question the logic of the rules.A Mountain of Crumbs: A Memoir
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Constant Reader
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Now, on the other hand, do I know that clowns hold great symbolism and are highly disturbing to people for many reasons? Of course. Do I know the long history of animal abuse and the misuse of animals left better in the wilds? Of course. Can I separate these two threads relating to reading on circuses to a great extent -- yes. I just want to know all I can. I want to get inside what is known of both the light, bright, entertaining side and the dark underbelly. Gruen's book satisfied both to some extent in my opinion. And I've not even mentioned the psychology of the people who are at the heart of the circus world.