NovaLee
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Posts posted by NovaLee
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Just finished The Birthing House, by Christopher Ransom - without doubt one of the very worst books I have ever read. Definitely NOT recommended.
Next up is A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. I hope it's a vast improvement on The Birthing House!!!
Hey Ruth ~
Thanks for the no-beating-around-the-bush tip on "The Birthing House" ..... think I'll just pass it by next time I come across it. Did you actually stick with it till the end? Good for you if you did ....now that's a hard core reader.
I'm curious as to what your reaction will be on "A Fine Balance." I just finished it a couple of weeks ago and thought it was excellent ...it will go down as one of my favorite books of all time! Certainly not a feel good book, by any stretch of the imagination but I grew so attached to the characters and could not put the book down ....kept thinking; "I wonder what they're up to now?" I find you have to read so many books to find that one that just grabs you ....and this one grabbed me. It haunted me too ....I still think about the characters and what Mistry did to them. Enjoy ....
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Finished up What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day and now I'm into The Winter Vault by Anne Michaels. This is is my book club's SEPT selection and since I was able to get it at the library the other day, thought I get it read now.
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Hi Ruth ~
You've got some really great stuff here .....I've enjoyed looking through your fantastic library.
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day has been on my TBR list for a little while now ...did you like it?
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LOL ....here's mine ~
Your fairy is called Hex Icedancer
~ She is a bone chilling bringer of justice for the vulnerable.
~ She lives in places hexed and tainted by black magic.
~ She is only seen when the bees swarm and the crickets chirrup.
~ She wears black feathers and rose petals. She has icy blue butterfly wings.
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Just finished Songs in Ordinary Time and have now started What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day. My first experience with Pearl Cleage ....and so far, I'm liking it.
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I've read this one and Kafa on the Shore and like Lucybird, preferred this one. It was long but there were some scenes that were riviting ....not to mention graphic. As for the loose ends ....I found I wasn't overly frustrated. I guess I had expected that from Murakami.
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Hey Blithe!
Haven't seen you in awhile. Been wondering where you got off to ....hope all is well at your end. -
A book featuring Parkinson's Disease... interesting!
The only thing about the blurb that bugs me slightly is "Should we struggle to prolong his life, or help him to end it?" - I don't quite understand what it means by prolong because Parkinson's disease doesn't actually kill one - in fact there is a saying...
"You don't die of Parkinson's - you die with it".
I shall await your thoughts on this book with interest.
I'm not really sure what to make of it myself yet, Janet. To be honest ....if I were to judge the book by it's cover, I would never even of given it's boring grey cover a second glance.
Hence, my reason for joining the book club in the first place....to expand my wee mind to other possibilities. I shall keep you posted. 
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Finished Animal Farm by George Orwell. There is only one word ....Brilliant!
Now its finally on to my November book club's selection and since the meeting is next Thurs, I better get busy and READ. A Good Death ~ Gil Courtemanche
Synopsis ~
On Christmas Eve, a family has gathered for the obligatory dinner. The father, only yesterday an imposing figure who terrorized his children, has suddenly fallen prey to Parkinson
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Finished The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle ~ Haruki Murakami last night ~ farily lengthy, often confusing, never boring. I'm looking forward to the discussion.
Now its on to Animal Farm ~ George Orwell. My youngest is reading this for school ...thought I would read it with him.
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I said I would finish Wind-Up Bird Chronicle this weekend. Fat chance of that happening though as so far this weekend I have not read one.single.word.
I had planned on reading last evening but ended up getting caught up in some mindless movie for some reason and then was just to tired to read ....I did open the book though. -
Oh ...I am most certainly in. Sounds like fun.
Thank you to all those who go above and beyond and for making this a fun place to visit. -
Oh ...don't you just hate that. I've read synopsis of sequels before only to find out wwaayy to much.
Then I'm mad at myself for being too damn snoopy. Looks like some really good reads here, though. -
Easy one
......Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series.
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Gonna try and finish up The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle this weekend.
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Tough question Kell .....
I remember being fascinated in psyc class when we learned about Milgram's experiments. His tests revealed that it could have been that the accomplices were merely following orders, despite violating their deepest moral beliefs... and certainly when one is employed at a concentration camp it HAS GOT to go against one's moral belief system. It just HAS TO! BUT .....we know that Hanna CHOSE to enlist, we know that she has a secret she protects at all costs, we know she has a dominent personality, that she is emotionally detached and is verbally and physically abusive at times. I just can't decide if choosing the girls to read to her was a humane act, or not. I think protecting her illiteracy was her defense mechanism ...it's what allowed her to think that sending these girls off to their death beds was somehow acceptable. And protecting one's own weaknesses at the expense of others lives ... just can't be considered a humane act.
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My book club read Kafka on the Shore last month ....great read and an excellent book club book ....TONS to discuss.
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Not too much time to spare today, so don't know how far I'll get with The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle but certainly, I'll get at least a couple of chapters done. I take the bus to work, so I always have at least that time to read ...which works out to about 40 mins a day.
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First time I've popped in this thread and my-oh-my-oh-my what fun I've been missing.
Laughed out loud at the touch-sensitive lights. Good one, Nollaig. -
Continuing with The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle ....Freewheeling Andy is cracking the whip ....and I have got to get this FINISHED before November rolls around. :eek2:
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OK ....so this post isn't about a book at all, rather a movie.
Just watched Inglorious Basterds ~ "Set in German-occupied France, its the story of two plots to assassinate the Nazi political leadership, one planned by a young French Jewish cinema proprietress, the other by a team of American soldiers called the "Basterds"." (Wikipedia)Classic Tarantino ~
violent, unrestrained and thoroughly entertaining. Dare I say, I may have enjoyed it even more than Pulp Fiction and I didn't think anything would ever top that. Brad Pitt is in top form, getting most of the best lines and generating a lot of the humor. I don't know if his high-profile off-screen image will prevent an Oscar nomination, but for me it will be remembered. Loved it! :eek2: -
Robert O'Brien - Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
Oh yeah ....I totally forgot about Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimh. This was an excellent book. :eek2:
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Interesting on the biographical investigation, imo Schlink has attempted for Micheal a 'BildungsRoman', but rather failed.
From what i've read arond, the lack of knowledge about Micheal or Hannah is deliberate, forcing focus on the issues. That said the issues are presented in a veiled way, critics I've read say the same, its a morass at times.
I think your maybe right sirinrob ....the term "bildungsroman" would never of entered my mind :eek2: ...but yes, quite likely Schilnk was attempting a-coming-of-age novel.
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Just finished The Reader ~ Bernhard Schlink ....on deck, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle ~ Huruki Murakami
The Reader hits hard and I think it will be a book that will stay with me for a long time. Its simply told and easy to read but the emotions it evokes are far from simple. On its surface, it appears emotionally flat, yet I found it surprisingly moving and very thought provoking. Definetely worth the read.
Michelle - 2010
in Past Book Logs
Posted · Edited by NovaLee
Hey Michelle ~
Be sure to let us know your thoughts on The Help ....apparently it's an excellent book. I've been trying to sign it out at the library for sometime now, but it's always checked out.