Kylie Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Oh, I didn't notice the copyright page. Thanks Chesil! And I love the page before the title page that says 'This was uncalled for'. Heehee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 I picked up a copy today, first time I've gone into Waterstones and only bought one book for ages! I have a 9/11 memoir to read first though, I actually want to review it on my blog on 9/11 (or 11/9 as it should be!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauraloves Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 I'm about a third of the way through this already! I took it with me to my boyfriends and he was playing on his playstation last night so I got quite a bit of 'reading time' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauraloves Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Hows everyone getting on with the book? Am about 3/4 of the way through now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 I'm about half way through the main part of the book, and I'm really enjoying it. Much easier to read than I was expecting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 I don't have much reading time, so I'm still only near the beginning. Judging by the fact that you're both enjoying it so much, I guess it gets less depressing after the cancer episode? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Oh, I didn't find the cancer episode that depressing but the tone does definitely change to a more hopeful one after the first chapter. I think I'm enjoying it because it's someone who is just making the best of things, and understanding that sometimes you just have to take what life throws at you. Yes, there will be problems and frustrations, but just try to deal with it the best way you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 I started today, am only 11 pages into the proper story but have read all the introduction bits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 I confess, I had to skip some of the introductory bits, I found them somewhat pretentious, boring and annoying, maybe? But then I started reading the real story and am enjoying it, I've read maybe 70 pages, I don't know. Should be a great read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ooshie Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 I'm about 40 pages or so in and enjoying it ok, I did read through all the introductory bits - and was pleased to find the suggestion that people who don't like memoirs should just pretend it's fiction. That might work for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauraloves Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 I've finshed it! will put some proper thoughts on it later! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I finished it yesterday. Here's what I thought about it (basically copied from my own book list thread): The book is a memoir of sorts, but the quirky introduction, preface and even the copyright page, let you know that this is something a bit different. The opening chapter describes how at 22 years old, Dave's parents died with a few months of each other, and how he is left to bring up his 8 year old brother, with the help of his sister (and to some extent his older brother). It's a mix of memoir and stream of consciousness, and it's sad and funny, and every emotion is laid bare on the page. At times it was flinch-inducingly cringeworthy, and at other times I felt tears spring to my eyes, then a few pages later I would be angry, followed by grinning at the ridiculousness of a particular incident. What I particularly liked about the writing, was that it was about the author, and although his siblings and friends were there on the pages, they were ghosts rather than fully fleshed out people. What I mean by that is that Eggers doesn't try to explain them or their feelings or even their personality, but just lays down enough background about them to allow you to understand his own thoughts and emotions about each particular episode in his life. Overall, I would rate it 4/5, as I thought it was a fascinating, thought provoking read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ooshie Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 OK, so I finished this ages ago - but I can only bear to write about it now! I really should only read fiction - but I like to try something new and always think I will enjoy it! Suffice to say, I thought of this book as "A Mildly Interesting Work of Self-Indulgence". Sorry I had quite enjoyed the beginning, where his mother is dying - I thought it really brought to life what caring for a dying relative is like. But after she had died and he was bringing up his brother? Oh dear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 OK, so I finished this ages ago - but I can only bear to write about it now! I really should only read fiction - but I like to try something new and always think I will enjoy it! Suffice to say, I thought of this book as "A Mildly Interesting Work of Self-Indulgence". Sorry Yes, thank you Ooshie! Now I don't feel bad about feeling that way about the book myself I still have 30 pages left of the book and I just can't pick the book up to finish it. I hate it that you've been such a good person and have tried reading non-fiction, and that some of the books you've chosen to read (or, have read for either reading circle or this challenge, this book and Reading Lolita in Tehran come to mind) have been just unlucky choices. I assure you there are better non-fiction books to be read! But I wouldn't blame you for not wanting to try anymore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 I've been having a look through the Rory list again today, and there are quite a few books on it that I don't want to even attempt and I know will never read, that I've realised that I'm never going to actually complete reading all the books on the list, and I'm therefore not going to keep going with the challenge. That said, I'm still obviously going to keep watching Gilmore Girls and if you guys are reading a book that I like the look of, I'll join in with the group read and discussion. I'm going to have a look at some of the other reading challenges and find one that I might actually be able to finish instead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 Is anyone reading anything from this at the moment? I'm buying books to take to Venice with me and thought I might buy a couple of Rory ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookworm44 Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Is anyone reading anything from this at the moment? I'm buying books to take to Venice with me and thought I might buy a couple of Rory ones Not at the moment, but Valley of the Dolls has been on my read sooner rather than later list, but maybe you all read that already? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauraloves Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Is anyone reading anything from this at the moment? I'm buying books to take to Venice with me and thought I might buy a couple of Rory ones I'm not at the minute, but I do really need to read some more for this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Depending on which you book you go for, I might be up for this, if I already own a copy and it's something moderately short-ish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookworm44 Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 I started Valley of the Dolls this weekend and I'm already half way through. Very addicting! I can't seem to be able to put it down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Hello fellow Roryites! Chesilbeach and I were discussing her TBR list and how she has The Opposite of Fate by Amy Tan to read in the near future. I also have it on my TBR but have never gotten around to reading it, and we thought we could see if any of you others would like to join us in reading the book as a group? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 I'll have to pass. My reading is virtually non-existent at the moment, and I don't even have the book on my TBR to entice me. Enjoy your read, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 Aww, that's too bad, Kylie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauraloves Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 Hello fellow Roryites! Chesilbeach and I were discussing her TBR list and how she has The Opposite of Fate by Amy Tan to read in the near future. I also have it on my TBR but have never gotten around to reading it, and we thought we could see if any of you others would like to join us in reading the book as a group? I'll be up for reading a Rory book, I was thinking the other day that I havent read one in a while Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 I started reading this thread from page 1 and I had quite a few giggles over the old conversations. This made me LOL: WTH is a hump day?! It seems like there are rather few of us these days who are interested in the challenge or group reads, or is it just me who thinks so? It feels very quiet in this thread nowadays I'll be up for reading a Rory book, I was thinking the other day that I havent read one in a while Yay, I'm happy you are in I'm not sure when chesilbeach is going to start with the book, I believe she is going to read through her envy-enducingly small TBR pile in some particular order but I don't know where The Opposite of Fate stands on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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