On the Southern Literary Trail discussion
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General Bookishness
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Retired: What are you reading?
I am almost finished with A Concise History of Russia and should be able to finish it by the end of 2013. It is a very informative read. I always like to keep historical non-fiction reads on my list and like Mike I hope to read more about WWI. I like to balance this with some easier fiction reads (especially mystery or suspense). I plan to start A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George tomorrow as I enjoyed this series starring Inspector Lynley on PBS. And of course I am looking forward to The Sound and the Fury and other OTSLT reads.
Mod
Black Swan Green What a surprisingly fun book. Creative dialog and experiences. Just enough slang and idioms to keep it interesting without becomin..."I looked it up and it does look like a great read, John. Thanks!
Mike wrote: "Sue wrote: "Diane wrote: "I'm going to try something new (for me) in 2014. Instead of deciding what to read next after I finish a book, I'm making a monthly list which will include Trail reads, bo..."Yes Mike, I think some of the WWI reads will keep me busy for quite some time. The McMillan book is slow, but so chock full of information.
Mod
Matt, you have some good reads going. I've not read Ulysees, although I've attempted to only to abandon it after a few chapters. I admit it. *grin* However, East of Eden is my favorite book. I have returned to it several times over the years.
Mike S.
Mike is right, Matt. Ulysses is a VERY (x100) difficult book to read. I tried it once, long ago. And had to admit defeat. (though I may try it again. As a Taurus, I HATE admitting to failures! ;) )But East of Eden is fantastic! I read it during my 16th summer... Had no idea how she was keeping her clientele, what her sexual specialty was ;) (still not quite sure, but I can guess ;) ) It's a nicely complicated book, written in simple, uncomplicated language. With Steinbeck, it's all about the psychology and the underlying emotional states of the people.
Hmm. Looks like I'll be doing a re-read this year! If you want, we can do our reading together, give you a little companionship to bounce stuff off :D Just let me know when. No worries about convenience on my side. I'm always reading!
To Matt and others interested in reading Ulysses I have always heard so much talk about Ulysses that a couple of years ago I decided I might give it a try. However, I chose to read A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man first to give me a feel for Joyce's writing. I decided after finishing it that I would never be able to complete Ulysses. I don't mind long or even difficult books at times. They are good for working my brain especially as I have gotten older but his writing is just not for me. For those who are going to tackle Ulysses I would still love to read your reviews and I really do hope you like it.
message 259: by Diane
Dec 26, 2013 05:12PM
Diane Barnes | 285 comments Erika, what did you think of it? I am not a big Hemingway fan, but I really loved " The Old Man and the Sea". It seems to be so timeless, like a myth
The old man and sea.
It is a really good book with a good plot. It really has good problems and someone will to get something done with the it not in your favor. it really moved me on how the old man was able to handle him self after the sharks ate the fish after all of his hard work. The only thing I did not like about the book is how slow the pace of the story was but it was worth the read.
Dec 26, 2013 05:12PM
Diane Barnes | 285 comments Erika, what did you think of it? I am not a big Hemingway fan, but I really loved " The Old Man and the Sea". It seems to be so timeless, like a myth
The old man and sea.
It is a really good book with a good plot. It really has good problems and someone will to get something done with the it not in your favor. it really moved me on how the old man was able to handle him self after the sharks ate the fish after all of his hard work. The only thing I did not like about the book is how slow the pace of the story was but it was worth the read.
The old man and sea.
It is a really good book with a good plot. It really has good problems and someone will to get something done with the it not in your favor. it really moved me on how the old man was able to handle him self after the sharks ate the fish after all of his hard work. The only thing I did not like about the book is how slow the pace of the story was but it was worth the read.
It is a really good book with a good plot. It really has good problems and someone will to get something done with the it not in your favor. it really moved me on how the old man was able to handle him self after the sharks ate the fish after all of his hard work. The only thing I did not like about the book is how slow the pace of the story was but it was worth the read.
There is something I wanted to read for a long time but I do not know who wrote it and what book has it.
a rose for Emily short story
does any know who wrote it and what book has this short sort story?
thanks
a rose for Emily short story
does any know who wrote it and what book has this short sort story?
thanks
Erika wrote: a rose for Emily short story does any know who wrote it and what book has this short sort..."
William Faulkner..
re the slow pace. The pace is everything to that story. old man and the sea.
Mod
"What a book," sums it up for me. For me it does continue not just as good but better. Keep us posted on your progress! I've often given this book to others. It's themes of good and evil and the choice between them often provided quotes for closing arguments in criminal cases. I would credit Steinbeck with being a man much smarter than me and proceed to quote from the novel. I similarly found equally appropriate material in William Faulkner, quotes from Lawyer Gavin Stephens, in particular. Enjoy, enjoy.
Mike S.
Mod
a rose for Emily short story
does any know who wrote it and what book has this short sort..."
Good morning , Erika. John has steered you in the right direction. The short story can be found in Collected Stories by William Faulkner. Also, the complete text of the story is available online at: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~drbr/wf_r.... Enjoy.
Mike S.
I started reading wonder and it a page turner About start a wishing tree by faulker so I have a sense of his way of writing before I start the group read.
I never read faulker before this.
Erika, It looks like this month is The Sound and the Fury. This is an involved book Erika. The three sections work together but I've read it 4 times now and still it's tough. Sooooo, If I may suggest; try some short stories or I found these two novels to be easier and good introductions into his style.
Flags in the Dust: The complete text of Faulkner's third novel, which appeared in a cut version as Sartoris This story follows the Sartoris family across three generations. While there is some jumping around the story line is fairly chronological.Another would be
The Unvanquished The Sartoris family once again only during the Civil War. Easier to follow and it moves right along. With either one of these you will get his flavor of geneology and sentence structure. Not to worry, you won't be settling for less. These are good stories.Faulkner on the Web is very helpful with explanations. http://www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/~egjbp/fa...
Give your self the patience to carry on. Sometimes ya gotta read something a few times, or just plow on through. Perseverance is key. If you do decide to give Sound and Fury a go, you might consider Cliff Notes or other aid. It's a terrific story but hang on cuz you're in for a bumpy ride.
Mod
Matt, here is a link to a quiz for Islands in the Stream. https://www.goodreads.com/quizzes/by_... Hope you like it
Matt wrote: "Erika, SHMOOP is a great tool for helping with more challenging books like the Sound and the Fury."Here it is. http://www.shmoop.com/sound-and-the-f... Lots of information. I'm amazed out how much I have missed.
John wrote: "Matt wrote: "Erika, SHMOOP is a great tool for helping with more challenging books like the Sound and the Fury."Here it is. http://www.shmoop.com/sound-and-the-f... Lots of information. I'm a..."
Thanks Matt and John,
This is a very good site for helping with difficult reads
Beverly
I just got done reading
The Wishing Tree
by William Faulkner . All i can say is i am lost of words.
its dulcie bday and this boy with magic powers comes and takes her and her buddies on a trip to find a wishing tree. on the way they meets some more people , deal with more magic powers, alot of danger and good stuff long the way and a very important lesson at end of the trip. It is really well and has a goood way of expressing him self. For example
" she was still asleep, but she could feel herself rising up out of sleep, just like a balloon: "
This is the only kids book he ever wrote. This is one of the best books i ever read. must read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Wishing Tree
by William Faulkner . All i can say is i am lost of words.
its dulcie bday and this boy with magic powers comes and takes her and her buddies on a trip to find a wishing tree. on the way they meets some more people , deal with more magic powers, alot of danger and good stuff long the way and a very important lesson at end of the trip. It is really well and has a goood way of expressing him self. For example
" she was still asleep, but she could feel herself rising up out of sleep, just like a balloon: "
This is the only kids book he ever wrote. This is one of the best books i ever read. must read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am on 150 of wonder and it is a eye opener on what it is like to have a disability . How the author tells the story it seem so really. A good book. keep you guys updated
Thank you to the group member (sorry--your name is buried in my email) who suggested the shmoop site. Wish I had known about it while reading THE HAMLET. I have read that there are those who think this is Faulkner's best. I kept waiting for that rare, delicious thrill of reading really fine literature. Alas, for me it didn't happen.Am presently reading THE BALLAD OF THE SAD CAFE AND OTHER STORIES. BALLAD itself is genius, but it does make one suffer, which of course was a great part of the author's intention--the reality that life is so often just that. Am saving THE LONG HOME. I appreciated a member's comment that the directionality of this novel seems to shift at mid-point. I for one love atmospherics, as well as any really fine descriptive writing. But I put the book aside, because I needed just the shift the member referred to, in order to have some sense of where this book was going. Having never been able to get into ALL THE KING'S MEN, I decided to try a less well-known novel by Robert Penn Warren, BAND OF ANGELS. It promises to be an intriguing story--of a prominent young white woman, ca 1850s, who is discovered to have African American ancestry. The writing seems a bit archaic, but it was written in the 50s--I can live with that. A really fascinating non-fiction read which deals not just with women of the South but of the country as a whole is Gail Collins' AMERICA'S WOMEN.
message 298: by Erika
Jan 03, 2014 05:35PM
Erika Bruhns | 30 comments I am on 150 of wonder and it is a eye opener on what it is like to have a disability . How the author tells the story it seem so really. A good book. keep you guys updated
I just got done with wonder review coming.
Jan 03, 2014 05:35PM
Erika Bruhns | 30 comments I am on 150 of wonder and it is a eye opener on what it is like to have a disability . How the author tells the story it seem so really. A good book. keep you guys updated
I just got done with wonder review coming.
I thinking about reading the bad seed. Is that a good book?
Mod
Patricia, please keep us posted of your opinion of Band of Angels. This has previously been nominated as a group read; however, it did not make the cut. I thought it might and grabbed a copy. It's on my shelf and you just might be the reader to push me to pull it from the shelf. Robert Penn Warren is among my favorite authors. I've read a number of his works. One of his most interesting to me is The Circus in the Attic and Other Stories, an anthology of short fiction, which contains the memorable story "Blackberry Winter." I highly recommend that one.
Mike
Mod
The Wishing Tree
by William Faulkner . All i can say is i am lost of words.
its dulcie bday and this boy with magic powers comes and takes her and her buddies on a trip ..."
Erika,
It's great you discovered The Wishing Tree. I've always wanted to read this one. Thank you for reminding me that I need to find a copy of it!
Mike S.
Mod
Mike
Just finished Gods in Alabama Joshilyn Jackson and overall I enjoyed it. My thanks to Diane and Mike for bringing it to my attention. It was laugh out loud funny at points which to me is rare in any novel and I now have new car games to play to boot. I had only ever read The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by this author and didn't care for it. I'm glad I gave Jackson another read.
Mod
Debbie, now that you've read Jackson's first, I highly recommend Backseat Saints which involves intertwining characters. Consider this one a parallel novel to her first as opposed to a sequel. Jackson deftly weaves a realistic perspective on domestic violence into BS, with a hopeful look at breaking the cycle of an abusive relationship.
Mike S.
Mod
"Timshel."
Mike S.
I just starteedthe bad seed. Wow so far really good book
Well, here's a post on BAND OF ANGELS, in response to your mention of it yesterday, Mike. I'm somewhere between a quarter to a third into it--and wouldn't suggest it for a group read. My problem with it is that the main character just isn't coming across, not making herself real. Not to get too academic: I think it's in good part a result of the first person narration. First person doesn't fit the writing style, which is fairly formal. For contemporary readers, the writing doesn't seem to "fit" the person's inner experience. Am not at all sure that that comment will make sense. And because this character doesn't seem real to me, my interest in the book has fallen off to the point that it's gone to the bottom of the basket, so to speak--saved for the proverbial rainy day.
Mod
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Looks like this is book #5 but I have no idea if you can read them as stand alone books and they would make sense.
Mod
Another note, it looks like you have read 1 and 3 so if you didn't miss 2 then I would reason to think you could skip 4 and read 5.
Mod
Beverly wrote: "To Matt and others interested in reading Ulysses
I have always heard so much talk about Ulysses that a couple of years ago I decided I might give it a try. However, I chose to r..."
We did Finnegans Wake in school, but read a history of Ireland and a stack of other non-fiction works to understand what was going on in the book. Great experience. Loved the books, but not one I ever would have kicked back and read on the back porch with a glass of rye.
I have always heard so much talk about Ulysses that a couple of years ago I decided I might give it a try. However, I chose to r..."
We did Finnegans Wake in school, but read a history of Ireland and a stack of other non-fiction works to understand what was going on in the book. Great experience. Loved the books, but not one I ever would have kicked back and read on the back porch with a glass of rye.
Steve I love the visual of kicking back with Ulysses on the back porch with (insert preferred liquor). Thank you for my evening laugh out loud moment.
I am1/3of the way in all the preaty horses
I am on 154 of the bad seed. does THE BAD SEED Is it BASE DON REALLY MUNDER CASES OR is that part all made up
Mod
Well, now. I think I see the problem. It's what's in your glass, don't y'know. A little Kilbeggan or Tullamore Dew in the jar will have ya kicked back in no time a'tall. *ahem* Sorry. I just couldn't resist. I join with Sue in thanking you for the image of kicking back with Finnegan's Wake!
Michael McConnell Sullivan :)
Mod
Erika,The Bad Seedis fiction. When you're further along into the book, I'll give you more background information on where William March might have gotten some ideas for one of Rhoda's relatives.
Mike
Mod
Patricia, thanks for your thoughts on Band of Angels. My copy can stay safely on the bedside bookcase for the time being.
Mike
Mod
Recently I've been asked to serve as a moderator on a group reading about World War One. The group is structured loosely around various readings. There are no scheduled group reads. Rather, members choose those books which they would like to read and generally discuss. As we begin the Centenary of World War One this year, the group may be active for a few years. If you're interested, please e-mail me here on goodreads.
Mike
just got done with the bad seed.Is there any good books like the bad seed out there that i can read.
Mod
The author Gillian Flynn is from Missouri and I really liked Gone Girl if you are looking for a southern suspense book. Just know it is very twisted!!!!
The Liberator: One World War II Soldier's 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of DachauFor me the power of this story began at the gates of Dachau
Aside from the extraordinary story of Felix Sparks I learned about what happened the day Dachau concentration camp was liberated. The emotional anguish and trauma the American troops were not ready nor trained to anticipate or experience. Who could have ever believed that this level of genocide could exist? Some events occurred on that day which were less than, shall we say, heroic. Sparks rose to the occasion and his integrity kept a lid on a very difficult situation. Through out his life he rose to many occasions. The death of his grandson being another. Felix was truly a magnificent person.
Additionally I was overwhelmed with the sheer magnitude of the German Army suffering 90% of their combat deaths on the Eastern Front. That's huge. And the Russian Army suffered 65% of all Allied fatalities. Just imagine how events would have unfolded without the Eastern campaign of the Nazis. It seems to me that we Americans gloss over the contributions and sacrifices the Russian people made out of necessity during WWII. They deserve our debt of gratitude. Without them The Third Reich might well have established Fortress Europa and brought England to her knees.
Our losses were still 200,000 fewer than during the Civil War.
What I haven't been able to put into perspective is the extent of the Jewish Holocaust compared to the genocide the Slavs faced. All is terrible. The numbers are unfathomable. The magnitude was immense. At the time of liberation there were more Poles in the camp than Jews.
Mod
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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On the Southern Literary Trail
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I've never set up a challenge for reading. It's difficult to squeeze in those heavy, heavy volumes to make the numbers. *grin*
Mike S.