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Post by MaxQuad on Jun 10, 2006 16:52:37 GMT -5
Waiting in the wings (for me) in no particular order: Gilead - Marilynne Robinson The Moor's Last Sigh - Salman Rushdie Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie The Brothers K - David James Duncan Songbook - Nick Hornby Complete Short Stories - Flannery O'Connor One Man's Bible - Gao Xingjian The Whore's Child and Other Stories - Richard Russo March - Geraldine Brooks Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke Tooth and Claw - T.C. Boyle MQ Well, I have had time to finish The Brothers K, which was a great read. Family, baseball, religion, politics, and the Viet Nam War make an amazing combination of issues that tear apart and bring back together the Chance family. Highly recommended. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson was a very quiet book. As you may recall, it won the Pulitzer Prize a year ago. The final twenty pages are powerfully moving. Reflections on a life nearing an end will have you reflecting on your life, your relationships, your views on God and fellow men and women. A beautiful book - again, highly recommended. I had just started A Gesture Life by Chang-rae Lee, but heard an interview this morning on NPR's Only a Game with Matt Weiland, co-editor of The Thinking Fan's Guide to the World Cup. It is a collection of facts on the World Cup and 32 countries appearing this year, but more importantly it offers 32 essays written by a variety of writers (including Nick Hornby), each essay dealing with some aspect of one of the 32 countries. The interview was full of joy and enthusiasm, and I assume the book will reflect the same. Just hearing how Roddy Doyle almost was one of the featured authors - and how he eventually turned down participating brought a smile and laugh. In many ways it may be a book about obsessive passion - as the World Cup illustrates every four years. MQ
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Post by Shutter Girl on Jun 15, 2006 8:47:12 GMT -5
Sounds like you have quite a lot to read, Max!
Awaiting my attention:
Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick - The epic story of the steadfast Pilgrims and the impact they had on American history from their treacherous sea voyage to the selling of Indian slaves. Yeah, not as nice as you thought they were, were they?
Rough Crossings by Simon Schama - If you were a slave in Revolutionary War America would you fight for the British or your masters? And would you really gain freedom in the end or have to escape to parts unknown?
And of course, still slugging through the tome that is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Good summer reading, that.
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Post by RepairmanJack on Jun 17, 2006 23:27:37 GMT -5
Just finished Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy. This is for my book discussion group which meets this Monday. Not a bad book, but not exactly high literature. It deals with 4 people who somehow meet in Greece while running away from their lives. All the characters are damaged in some way as they try to find their way in life. It made me think that we are all damaged in some way just by living. It is how we react to the events that happen in our lives that defines who we are. As I said not a bad book--more of a beach read.
Also, I am just over a quarter of the way through Dance of Death by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. This is the 10th collaboration by these two authors. I have read the previous nine and just purchased number eleven. This book further details the adventures of FBI agent Pendergast. Truly one of the unique characters I have come across.
Next up is What Would the Founders Do?: Our Questions Their Answers by Richard Brookhiser. In this book the author uses his knowledge of our founding fathers to give their views on current problems. An interesting concept I think.
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Post by stubedoo on Jul 3, 2006 19:22:15 GMT -5
Hi everybody. Back for a day after several months away. Busy with other stuff. Going away again to upstate New York (Adirondaks). I hope to find a brewery somewhere there. Will lurk once again.
Not apologizing for my tastes. I'm PROUDLY reading David Weber's space opera trilogy Heirs of Empire trilogy starting with Mutineers Moon. Pure unadulterated junk but a lot of fun. I read it because I've liked the Honor Harrington series.
On deck is Julie Czerneda's first book "In the Company Of Others". In the hole is Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.
Stubedoo
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Post by stubedoo on Jul 3, 2006 19:25:21 GMT -5
Oh, and despite my better judgement I just finished the potboiler The DaVinci Code. Better than I thought.
Speaking of Better Than I Thought, I HIGHLY recommend the new TV series Battlestar Galactica. I know, you're thinking, "Battlestar Gacraptica". That's what I thought. Until I saw it. Far FAR FAAARRR better than I thought it would be.
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Post by Shutter Girl on Jul 4, 2006 10:04:48 GMT -5
Cool on the reading list, Stubedoo!! I know you're a big Weber fan, where does one start if one wishes to endeavor into this great SciFi author? I still have Jonathan Strange on my plate, too. I put it down about a year ago just when it was getting good. Damn library book discussion group! Let us know what you think of it. Ok, RJ and I need to start watchin' Battlestar Galactica. BTW, we are now official Firefly addicts!! I'm so sad it ended, I can't even tell you how sad. Why do all the clever, unique shows end? It was so well done, I hope Sci Fi channel or some other cool station picks it up and starts it anew. Have fun in NY state!! What a great place, I'm so jealous.
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Post by MaxQuad on Jul 5, 2006 8:11:27 GMT -5
In the hole is Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Funny you should mention this book. I picked it up from my "To read" pile that morning and started it - then later in the day read that it is "in the hole" for you. Coincidence? I think not. MQ
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Post by MaxQuad on Jul 5, 2006 8:14:38 GMT -5
...despite my better judgement I just finished the potboiler The DaVinci Code. Better than I thought. Both The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons were fun reads, not great literature. And who will venture an opinion about the movie version of DaVinci? MQ
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Post by RepairmanJack on Jul 5, 2006 10:19:13 GMT -5
I have not seen the movie yet. The people I have talked to that have seen it seem to be divided--those that read and loved the book are not high on the movie and those that never read it really enjoyed the film. I think I will wait for my library to get the dvd...
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Post by MaxQuad on Jul 5, 2006 16:42:56 GMT -5
RJ, 4 stars and Polarity Breaker. I'm impressed. Is that a new honor or have I missed it before? MQ
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Post by RepairmanJack on Jul 5, 2006 23:24:41 GMT -5
I did not even notice that MQ. It must be because of the 300th post. SG never did tell me how she set things up.
I did finish What Would the Founders Do? Our Questions Their Answers by Richard Brookhiser. I really enjoyed it. The author took quotes and writings from the founding fathers and applied it to today's issues. The interesting part for me was to see how politics have not changed that much over the years. These great men who founded this country bickered and argued over the details the same way politicians do today. The big advantage they had over today though is they were able to see the big picture and put the needs of the country ahead of the needs of the few. I don't think we will ever again see the likes of them.
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Post by MaxQuad on Jul 6, 2006 7:59:51 GMT -5
I have not seen the movie yet. The people I have talked to that have seen it seem to be divided--those that read and loved the book are not high on the movie and those that never read it really enjoyed the film. I think I will wait for my library to get the dvd... Having read The DaVinci Code - and having seen the movie, I think folks have been too tough on the film and not tough enough on the book! The movie certainly is fairly slow and quiet - but those who complained that the first portion is way too slow - well, I liked it. Sir Ian McKellen is a joy to watch - and even mediocre Tom Hanks is much better than your average entertainment. The book was a fun read, not great literature. The movie was a nice diversion for a couple hours, but not a great movie. Now, when will they be filming Angels and Demons? MQ
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Post by Shutter Girl on Jul 6, 2006 9:25:24 GMT -5
I think people who read a book and then see the movie that was based on the book generally are disappointed with the movie. Things can often be expressed with much more depth in book that often times the little nuances don't make it into the film. At least I've found that most of the time, anyway.
Memoirs of a Geisha was like that for me, for instance. The mood of the book is entirely different and they skipped over some big parts. Ah well, I guess Hollywood can't squeeze a tome into a 2 hour movie!
Here's a little story: When I was in grad school a group of students and professors went to see the film We the Living. It was a story by Ayn Rand that was set in Russia. This version was filmed in Italy. One of the profs that accompanied us loves Rand, lived in Russia and speaks fluent Italian. Talk about a deadly combo for this film! To him the story was missing big plot elements, Russia didn't look like that and the English subtitles for the Italian language were completely off. He kept leaning over to me saying, "That's not what they said!" and when he told me the real translation it actually changed the meaning of the film for me. That was one strange evening....
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Post by MaxQuad on Jul 6, 2006 19:48:33 GMT -5
I think people who read a book and then see the movie that was based on the book generally are disappointed with the movie. Things can often be expressed with much more depth in book that often times the little nuances don't make it into the film. SG, I would agree. Snow Falling on Cedars is another example of a beautifully written, tremendously affecting book - and mediocre movie. The Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies comes to mind as one project that was translated very well to celluloid. They captured much of the story and much of the feel of the Tolkien books. MQ
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Post by MaxQuad on Aug 5, 2006 8:40:24 GMT -5
In the hole is Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Funny you should mention this book. I picked it up from my "To read" pile that morning and started it - then later in the day read that it is "in the hole" for you. Coincidence? I think not. MQ Finished Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell two days ago. Quite the investment of time, but it was worth it. Very well written, with the footnotes drawing you in to make this fantasy seem quite real. It is not filled with action in a way I might have anticipated, which was a good thing. The characters are the thing - the tensions building much more because of characters than action. In the end, it was a magical book (as one would expect!), with an ending that was satisfying, but nor predictable. Now for a complete change of pace - Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby. A personal account of football fanaticism by an entertaining British writer. MQ
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