pontalba

ROTFALOLTIC! Love it. Welllllll, we shall see. The good part is that it was only 130-odd pages long.

I've also ordered A Month in the Country. Plus the other one mentioned....but I'd ordered another book of poetry by the same name...(brain can't remember name at mo), but now that I have the author's name, I've ordered the proper one. lol

I read Barker's Regeneration series a few years ago, and loved them.

My work is done! Husband is reading it now, and absolutely loves it!

Heh, meh the book (Prime of JB). I haven't written anything on it yet...mostly because anything I'd written last night would have been too cutting. Plus I'm trying to see it in context. /groans/ Hah, can't wait to read your take on DL!

Have started The Summer Guest by Justin Cronin. The same Justin Cronin of The Passage and The Twelve fame. He really can set a scene. No vampires though.

Finished the Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. meh Have to think. Not sure what is next.

Glad to hear it Paul! Be sure to let us know how you get along with the rest of it.

I was really happy to have read Dangerous Liaisons with the Reading Circle this month. I've posted my thoughts over there, so will only post a touch of my impressions here. In the Introduction it is mentioned that it is thought this book helped spur the French Revolution and I can see why. Although I find it difficult to believe that the sort of action that takes place in DL was unknown to the peasants, or lower classes. After all, gossip had to be the main pleasures of their lives and what better to gossip about? But one could suppose that, brought out into the open in this manner, it became more inflammatory. Of course at that point, the indignant morality would kick in, and viola!, revolution. Oy. The level of manipulation by several parties in the book, written in epistolary style between...what shall I call them? Friends, lovers, past lovers...well take your choice. All of the above. Well, anyhow the manipulation was amazing, and made more amazing to me by the apparent stupidity, er, innocence/nativity of the targets of said manipulation. Of course everyone gets their so called comeuppance in the end, close attention given to toadying to the Church, and dying wishes being totally ignored. Even though I certainly enjoyed the book, and would recommend it, highly, some parts were enough to gag me.

Thanks! I started last night, but was too tired to make too much progress. Hope to get onto it more today. Haven't seen the film, but if Maggie Smith is in it, there is high hope for it.

1. Did you enjoy reading this style of novel in the form of letters? Yes, even though I haven't read that many in this style. It always amazes me the amount of truly damaging truths people will actually commit to paper and then just send it out into the world. Of course there was no other course to take, but it still boggles the mind. 2. Were you engaged immediately with the story, or did it take you a while to get into it? At first I thought "no". However I realize that in a way it did take me from the beginning.....not in the way a book usually does, but it sort of crept up on little cat feet. 3. There are a lot of characters referenced mostly by their title instead of their name, did you find it difficult to remember who all the characters were? For the most part, no. Since it was in context it stayed pretty plain for me. 4. Did you have a favourite character? And a least favourite? Actually my choice of favorite is probably most reprehensible. The Vicomte de Valmont.....I hasten to add that is probably because I've seen the film and could not displace John Malkovich's person from the role. lol But really, in spite of his manipulation of Tourvel, there was a certain amount of honesty about the character. At least with himself, if no one else. As for my least favorite...I have to nominate the most irritating to me personally, Présidente de Tourvel. A whinnier woman I cannot imagine. Good grief, just get over yourself woman! If you don't want a man's attention, TELL him so, don't languish around simpering, groaning. Gawd. 3. Was there a particular part you enjoyed more than the rest? The correspondence between the two manipulators. Valmont and de Merteuil. It was sharp and witty, and totally honest. 5. Were there any parts/ideas you struggled with? The rank stupidity of some of the writers. It was difficult for me to believe that Danceny was as innocent as he appeared to be, his attempted manipulation of Cécile was just as mean spirited as that of Valmont and de Merteuil. In a sense, moreso because he was dishonest with himself about his machinations. 6. Do you think the Marquise and the Vicomte deserved the fates they were given at the end of the story? Perhaps. Frankly I'm sorry that Valmont sacrificed himself. 7. We've already had some discussion on the differences a good translation can make, which edition and translation of the book did you read, and what did you think of the translation? Thanks to the posters here I purchased the Penguin Classics, translated by Helen Constantine. I found it easy to read, it flowed in what I felt was a natural manner. 8. Have you watched any film/television/theatre adaptations of this story? How successfully do you think they were? Yes, as mentioned above the Malkovich/Close film. Quite successful. 9. Overall, was reading the book an enjoyable experience? Yes. There were some low spots...and I found de Tourvel's letters so namby pamby as to be partially nauseating. 10. Would you recommend the book to others? Yes.

I've finished Dangerous Liaisons... I'll pick up The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie now.

bb, that cake looks wonderful! great job.

My paternal grandfather's sister was big into genealogy. She traced the family back to Charlemagne, so we and at least one-third of the people on the planet are descended from him. She even self published a book for said descendants. I have it around here somewhere. The most interesting part of that story though, to me, is that she was a woman ahead of her time. She travelled, by herself...divorced two husbands, and didn't mind mucking about in the old records in Germany for birth and death certificates. A true researcher. You must remember, this was a hundred years ago. lol No Google.

frankie, I think the small difference in measurements comes from the rounding up of figures. As my mother would have said..."same difference". They were attempting to change to the metric system here in the U.S. when I was a teenager I think as the metric system was being taught. However the old system was ingrained in my lil pea brain by that time and I simply didn't bother. Shudda.

muggle, I can only go by my personal experience. I have no knowledge of "nectresse". Regarding Splenda however, I've tried several brands of ice cream that use it, and lol, they all seem to taste a bit different. Some have a strong, rather unpleasant taste. I have found one brand, Bryers, that the splenda is very mild, and the taste is pretty good. It has had NO ill effects on me, that's all I can say. But I don't eat it all the time, not every day by any means, nor in large amounts. That is the only product I've tried it in. Since I don't sweeten my tea or coffee, that aspect is inapplicable.

Great reviews Inver, both sound interesting! I've gotten more and more into WW1 stories. I'm going to look them up on Amazon. Have you read Pat Barker's Regeneration trilogy? Good stuff there.

Haven't finished yet, but have voted for 4/5...oddly enough. I have the Penguin Classic, Helen Constantine translation thanks to BCR'ers on another thread.

Here is the chart I used in my earlier post..... http://www.kelleher-international.com/convertUnits.html It's funny, when I was in school I was always taller than everyone...except one girl. I guess it all depends on when you get your height. I attained mine early on, by 13, and my father was the same. Father was 6 feet tall.

Many bookcases. Although there are stacks of "currently reading" at strategic spots in the house as well.

At page 100 I thought I'd quit, but I pushed on and am now at page 249...def finishing. I was concerned I'd confuse the writers, but, hah, no chance of that once started! This is a book I'd wanted to read for years, but didn't manage for whatever reason. I'm glad it was chosen for the reading circle.

Bobblybear, I had to have the book in front of me to spell properly..... I managed the break through however, and now more than halfway through...p 249. Will finish.

I'm 105 pages into Dangerous Liaisons and am rather on the fence about it. What a bunch! Also still mucking about with Citizen Sherman, but the more I read, the more infuriated I become. Gad Zooks.

Books make the best presents don't they. Your Dad sounds wonderful, can't wait to hear his take on the book.

I wonder. I'll have to look into it. Perhaps stream through Amazon as they show (at least network tv) the day after it airs. We follow two series in that manner. hmmmm