pontalba Posted January 13, 2015 Author Share Posted January 13, 2015 (edited) Sorry I've been so remiss in responding....! It's great your first read of the year was such a good one ! Thanks, Gaia! Off to a great start to the year with Banville, I see. I think this is one of the few books of his that I don't own. On the previous page you mentioned pirogues (thanks for the link). Do you know what the types of boats are called where the person sits up really, really high to be able to see over the reeds (or whatever they might be)? I'm pretty sure they're used in the southern US states. I've seen them in a few movies, but the only one I can remember off the top of my head is Wild Things. They look awesome and so much fun. I'd love to explore that type of territory. I think I have one more older one of his to catch up on, it's on the shelf somewhere.....lol Here is a wiki link for pirogue... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirogue Kate Wasn't North and South good ? I saw the mini series when is was on, but haven't read the books yet myself . Yes!! We loved it. Particularly because it stuck very close to actual historic events, and portrayed both sides as good and bad. I think they are called airboats? Nope, see above link. Airboat is the picture below that Kylie posted. They are used a great deal in the Florida Everglades. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everglades Not a place I'd like to get lost in! Yes, that's it, thanks! Here's an image of what I was talking about (for some reason I thought the operator sat higher up ). private.jpg I've always seen them depicted in films as being used in the Florida Everglades. I've never seen them used in South Louisiana. That's not to say they never to, just not in my experience. ADDED IN EDIT: There are versions of the airboat that the guy does indeed sit higher up on the boat. Very wise! I see we're both on the same wavelength this year. Hope you have a great reading year! Thanks Laura! You too! Ancient Light sounds rather good. Must resist. Oh, fiddle-faddle! Resisting is for the Borg! /giggle/ Happy reading in 2015 Pontalba. Thanks, Chrissy, I hope you have many happy readings too! I receive a newsletter from a blog called Shelf Awareness, I nicked onto it from a local independent bookseller. Just had to share this bookish love story! http://www.shelf-awareness.com/readers-issue.html?issue=366#m6477 Edited January 13, 2015 by pontalba Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 I receive a newsletter from a blog called Shelf Awareness, I nicked onto it from a local independent bookseller. Just had to share this bookish love story! http://www.shelf-awareness.com/readers-issue.html?issue=366#m6477 This is so sweet ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Pixie Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 Oh, fiddle-faddle! Resisting is for the Borg! /giggle/ Eek ! And a big aww at the shelfawareness clicky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 (edited) Haven't been doing much reading, but films....yes! We went on a bit of a tear watching films yesterday at home.First was through Amazon Streaming (free with AP), Evidence of Blood with David Strathaim and Mary McDonnell. No, in spite of the title it was not gory in the least. One piece of evidence was bloody.Here is the blurb from Amazon..."An award winning author of stories of real crimes returns to his hometown where he becomes involved in a 40 year old case of a murdered teenager.".Extremely well done, well acted with a good twist toward the end.Then we watched a remake of Suspicion with Anthony Andrews and Jane Curtin. I like both actors, but there was just something missing. Alongside the original, it was just a bit silly.Then, Rebecca. Olivier and Fontaine. No more needs to be said. Day before yesterday we went to the theatre to see The Imitation Game with Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightly. First of all let me say I was amazed that Keira Knightly was such a good actress. I'd thought of her as a bit of fluff. So not fair! She really is an interesting and intense actress. Cumberbatch is, well, Cumberbatch. Intense, vulnerable, likeable, unlikeable, sweet and thorny all at the same time. The story is of how Alan Turing created the first computer.....and broke the "unbreakable" German cipher code, Enigma, from World War II. I knew the story of course, of Bletchley Park, but seeing the actual machine recreated on film was fantastic! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bletchley_Park Scroll down to the personnel section....the film was completely accurate of the personnel. Turing was, no doubt, a complete genius and a fascinating and flawed man. http://www.turing.org.uk/ The site is well worth a look. The terrible aftermath to do with the narrow-mindedness of the laws on homosexuality at the time were just cruel and inhuman. The film absolutely tears the viewer apart...we cheer, laugh, and weep at the events. I'd give it 10 stars, for sure! Edited January 15, 2015 by pontalba Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 (edited) A few more additions to the piles...... The Big Rock Candy Mountain and Recapitulation by Wallace Stegner The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins Love and War and Heaven and Hell by John Jakes (2nd and 3rd of the North and South American Civil War trilogy) All, except the Hawkins, are second hand Amazon Marketplace purchases. IOW, cheap, er inexpensive..... Edited January 15, 2015 by pontalba Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Pixie Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 I`ve seen a few good things about The Girl on the Train - shall be interested in your review ( hey, no pressure ! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 I'm glad you enjoyed the films ! I hope you enjoy your new books ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 17, 2015 Author Share Posted January 17, 2015 I`ve seen a few good things about The Girl on the Train - shall be interested in your review ( hey, no pressure ! ) It's one I want to get to asap. I'm glad you enjoyed the films ! I hope you enjoy your new books ! Thanks, Gaia. One more film we went to was Inherent Vice. It's based on the book of the same name by Thomas Pynchon. Not my favorite, but am still glad to have seen it. Husband has read the book, and says that it's close, but the film goes farther in certain aspects, like the sex scenes. As usual with Pynchon, bathroom humor is present. Oy. Anyhow, the photography was gorgeous, the 1970 costuming was on target. The colors were absolutely vivid and gorgeous. The acting was top notch. Joachim Phoenix is really a very intense and talented actor. So, today we went to the local Library Sale. Yes. We bought books. Cloud Chamber by Michael Dorris The Girl in the Green Raincoat by Laura Lippman an extra copy The Man in the Wooden Hat by Jane Gardam The Magus by John Fowles (a paperback version, we have the ginormous HB) The Hollow Man by Oliver Harris Angels Flight by Michael Connelly The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly Bones of Betrayal by Jefferson Bass Just One Evil Act by Elizabeth George Winnie and Wolf by A.N. Wilson Homeland by John Jakes Charleston by John Jakes The Bureau and the Mole by David A. Vise Dylan Thomas, the Biography by Paul Ferris And, a few arrived from Amazon: The Last of the Wine by Mary Renault The Just City by Jo Walton Team of Rivals (The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln) by Doris Kearns Goodwin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Begins Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 It's one I want to get to asap. Ya, I want to read that one too, possibly with my dad. I've already downloaded the sample for us to try out. Team of Rivals (The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln) by Doris Kearns Goodwin Mmmm, this is a good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtrpath27 Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 So, today we went to the local Library Sale. Yes. We bought books. Hold up! Was that on the Northshore, or is it something I've missed here? It's too late for today, but I could still pick through the dregs tomorrow. You got quite a haul! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 18, 2015 Author Share Posted January 18, 2015 Hold up! Was that on the Northshore, or is it something I've missed here? It's too late for today, but I could still pick through the dregs tomorrow. You got quite a haul! . It was up here, on the NS. Yesterday and today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 I'm glad the film was okay, though it wouldn't be my sort of thing I think. More books ! I hope you enjoy them!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 18, 2015 Author Share Posted January 18, 2015 Thanks, Gaia! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 I thought I'd borrow Karen's idea for a film thread.....but instead, just a running post at the beginning of this thread. So, it's up now. Also I've added a post at the beginning that will list books bought this year. I've listed the ones so far.....it'll be a running list as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Pixie Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 I thought I'd borrow Karen's idea for a film thread.....but instead, just a running post at the beginning of this thread. So, it's up now. Also I've added a post at the beginning that will list books bought this year. I've listed the ones so far.....it'll be a running list as well. It looks good . And hurray - you`ve bought more books than me so far ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Just had a look at your film list, and I spotted Jane Eyre, and wondered if you'd seen the BBC mini-series from a few years back with Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens? That was actually my first adaptation of the book, and I thought it was excellent. You've also reminded me that I've still got the 2011 film version with Michael Fassbender recorded which I haven't watched yet either. Have you seen that one? I'm a bit trepidatious about watching it as I loved the BBC mini-series so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 I've seen the most recent film of JE, I think it's the Fassbender...it cut some of the most basic elements of the story. I didn't care for it, it seemed to be only half of the story. I haven't seen the Wilson/Stephens version though. My favorite (and most complete) version is the mini-series with Timothy Dalton, the name of the actress playing Jane escapes me atm, but she was good, although having just seen Joan Fontaine in the role....not quite as good as she. LP.......hah! I have faith you'll catch up soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Hurrah for the new posts in the beginning of the thread ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Pixie Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 LP.......hah! I have faith you'll catch up soon! I`m doing my very best. I rather liked the Ruth Wilson Jane Eyre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyshake Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Zelah Clarke!! .. she was my favourite Jane (and Timothy Dalton my favourite Rochester) but I liked Ruth Wilson too. Joan was good also but I preferred her in Rebecca. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 I`m doing my very best. I rather liked the Ruth Wilson Jane Eyre. I haven't seen it, yet. Zelah Clarke!! .. she was my favourite Jane (and Timothy Dalton my favourite Rochester) but I liked Ruth Wilson too. Joan was good also but I preferred her in Rebecca. Yes, that's the Jane I meant. I do like her as Jane, but seeing Fontaine so recently made me remember how very emotive and soft she made Jane. I do think it is possible that Fontaine's Jane is even closer to the book version than Zelah Clarkes. As I say, I liked ZC a lot in the role, but I've always thought there was something niggling at the back of my mind about her in the role. As much as I absolutely adore Orson Welles in anything, I have to say that I think Timothy Dalton is really the very best Rochester, ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 Amazon, mysteriously, delivered some second hand books. Tis a puzzlement! The Circle by Dave Eggers Hitler 1889-1936 by Ian Kershaw Hitler 1936-1945 by Ian Kershaw Fateful Choices by Ian Kershaw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 The Circle by Dave Eggers Hitler 1889-1936 by Ian Kershaw Hitler 1936-1945 by Ian Kershaw Fateful Choices by Ian Kershaw I hope you enjoy all your new books ! My parents have read The Circle in Dutch and they liked it . I might borrow it from them at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 22, 2015 Author Share Posted January 22, 2015 I hope you enjoy all your new books ! My parents have read The Circle in Dutch and they liked it . I might borrow it from them at some point. Thanks, Gaia. It does look pretty good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 24, 2015 Author Share Posted January 24, 2015 (edited) Some additions bought yesterday at two different Estate Sales. I've listed them on the first page as well as an edit. We really had a day of it yesterday! We put 220 miles on the Jeep, going from home to Baton Rouge (well, just this side of B.R.), back to Hammond for lunch, then down to New Orleans, Lakefront area, for the second sale. Then back across the lake for home base. A long, and as you can see, productive day. We haven't done this in months, so it was fun! The list: On A Pale Horse by Piers Anthony Star Man's Son by Andre Norton Dread Companion by Andre Norton Sandman by Neil Gaiman and Ed Kramer 31 Nebula Awards SWFA's Choices for the best science fiction and fantasy of the year (1997) Brightness Falls From the Air by James Tiptree, Jr. The Trial of Socrates by I.F. Stone Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes (a second copy) The Iliad by Homer, translation by Robert Fagles Don't Know Much About the Civil War by Kenneth C. Davis Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich (forgot I had a copy /sigh/) A Passage to India by E.M. Forster More Book Lust by Nancy Pearl The Three Crowns by Jean Plaidy Six Modern American Plays--The Emperor Jones, Winterset, The Man Who Came to Dinner, The Little Foxes, The Glass Menagerie and Mister Roberts Six Plays by Lillian Hellman (some replications, I know, but what the heck!) Everyday Life in Ancient Times (put out by National Geographic) Just gorgeous illustrations in this good looking hardback! A History of God by Karen Armstrong The Torah Citizen Soldiers by Stephen E. Ambrose Grandmother and The Priests by Taylor Caldwell The Complete Works of Saki by H.H. Munro, Introduction by Noel Coward Edited January 24, 2015 by pontalba Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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