What I read November 2011

[Julie]

I haven't read any Dickens yet. He is definately on my list for 2012. I want to read The Woman in White too. And reread Grapes. I read it in high school and don't remember much. *sigh* too much to read....

[Toni]

Marialyce wrote: "East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

are the three th..."

East of Eden is my favorite Steinbeck...there is just something so raw and honest about that story.
I also love The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins.
For a third classic....I think that I'd have to pick The Count of Monte Cristoby Alexandre Dumas

[Madrano]

If i had to name them quickly, Alias named two of my three, which have been there over a decade. The Grapes of Wrath moved me. A Tale of Two Cities excited me. My third would probably change week by week but today it is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen for her economy of words, humor and character depictions. The amazing thing to me is that when i first read this novel in high school i panned it for my class in my oral report! LOLOLOL!

deb

[Meredith]

Toni wrote: "Marialyce wrote: "East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
East of Eden:John Steinbeck|585]John Steinbeck This is probably one of my all time favorite books in the world

Tender is the NightF. Scott Fitzgerald read this book many years ago in college and still remember it fondly
Cannery Row by John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck

[Alias Reader]

I have a hardcover copy of Tender is the Night that I got for $1 at a used book store that I've yet to read.

I like his books, so I should try to read it this year.

[Mikela]

Oh Meredith, what a wonderful selection of reading you enjoyed in November. You had the pleasure of reading some of my all time favourites.

[Madrano]

I'm fond of Cannery Row, too. I also liked the follow-up, Sweet Thursday but not as much as the first. Doc (Ed Ricketts) was an important figure in Steinbeck's life. They shared a journey which is recounted in The Log from the Sea of Cortez.

deb

[Meredith]

Actually, I would like to amend my list by dropping Cannert Row to 4th and adding To Kill A Mockingbird to my top 3 favorites

[Alias Reader]

I've never read Cannery Row.

I am a big fan of TKAM. I should have put that on my list.

[Madrano]

Alias Reader wrote: "I've never read Cannery Row.

I am a big fan of TKAM. I should have put that on my list."

LOL--isn't that the way? One thing i liked about this was the "flash" aspect. "Quick, what's your favorite?" As i think i wrote, my top two wouldn't change very often but that third would.

deb

[Alias Reader]

And there is the quiet classic that I absolutely loved Ethan Frome~Edith Wharton

[Madrano]

Frome was the sole reason i'd even heard of Wharton prior to Scorsese's version of The Age of Innocence. After seeing the movie, then reading the book, i delved deeper into the author & even her life. She was knows to have excellent taste (for the times) in interior design, too.

Last month i caught the last half of an earlier, 1934, version of AOI. ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024819/ ) I couldn't help but wonder if Scorsese saw & remembered this version. It, too, was well presented but, imo, too close to the depicted era to be as rich as the latter rendition (imo). Both were true to the book, but the details S. included, particularly in the narrative (which i am not sure were in the novel), added a splended layer to the whole.

deb

[Shay]

I read Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898 last year. The author said that it's believed that the origin of the term "Keeping up with the Joneses" refers to Wharton's family. She was the daughter of George Frederic Jones.

[Alias Reader]

I bought a few Wharton books at a used bookstore last year. One was Age of Innocence. Maybe I'll get around to reading this year.

Shay, what was your opinion of Gotham?

[Shay]

I liked it for what it was. It wasn't "fun" history like McCullough- history that reads like a novel. (I've seen this type of non-fiction books referred to as narrative non-fiction.) Gotham was very dry, but very complete and full of facts. Wonderful pictures. I like the way the pictures aren't shoved right in the middle of the book, all clumped together. If he has a picture, it relates to the text on the pages. I think it's worth reading- especially if you're from New York or love New York. Again, the pictures are wonderful. Like a picture of the Dakota in the background and a shanty town in the foreground. Must be especially interesting if you're from New York.

[Alias Reader]

Last year I had asked on this board if anyone new any good history books of NYC. I need to check and see what my library has.

I did take a look at Gotham, but I don't really want a book that is around 1500 pages ! I was also looking for something that maybe ran in the early 1900's.

I ended up buying, but not yet reading,
The Epic of New York City: A Narrative History~~Edward Robb Ellis

Unfortunately, it doesn't have any pictures. :(
When reading non fiction, I really like a book to have photos and time-lines etc. Maybe I'll have to reconsider Gotham.

[Shay]

Not that it makes a bunch of difference, but after you take out the index, notes, etc., I think it was about 1100 or so pages in hardcover. The book, though, is oversized for a hardback. So, maybe it does work out to 1300-1400 pages of a normal size book.

[Madrano]

Shay wrote: "Not that it makes a bunch of difference, but after you take out the index, notes, etc., I think it was about 1100 or so pages in hardcover. The book, though, is oversized for a hardback. So, maybe ..."

LOL--not much difference to me, i must admit. Otoh, it sounds wonderful, if only for the photos. I've seen the one you mentioned, Shay, of the Dakota. Has anyone here read Jack Finney's Time and Again? It incorporated original photos from old New York (1880s mostly) in the text and did so nicely. The sequel (written over 25 years later), From Time to Time was less successful but i still liked the photos. (Btw, this same author wrote Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Good Neighbor Sam )

deb

[Shay]

I have at least the first book, Time and Again. I bought it at the library's used book store for 25 or 50 cents. I've never felt like actually reading the book but I figured it was worth the money just for the pictures.

[Alias Reader]

Madrano wrote: . Has anyone here read Jack Finney's Time and Again? It incorporated original photos from old New York (1880s mostly) in the text and did so nicely"
--------------

No, I haven't but it sounds interesting.

[Madrano]

Alias, you might like it strictly for the facts about NYC in that era. As Shay mentioned, for a used book, it's worth it for the photos alone. One thing i learned was that prior to constructing the Statue of Liberty where it is now, the head stood somewhere & people could walk around inside it for a dime or so. Neat factoid, imo. (If i haven't misremembered, that is!) I know there was a photo of the head, at least.

deb