pontalba

Hi Peahen. You might like Robert Littell's The Stalin Epigrams In fact, take a look at his other books, he writes a great deal about Russia. And welcome.

Great review Inver. I've read both of her books and loved them. I really appreciate the twists and uncertainty she builds, and look forward to more of her books.

Exactly. What a tragedy. Miserable business.

ROTFALOLTIC! Yikes. If I did live in the UK, that would be a lot of trips! Didn't think. But, yes, I am just north of New Orleans, Louisiana. Yes, I will def acquire a Deaver or two. Thanks for the rec. Yeah, our own shelves. /sigh/ That's why we need you guys to orgainze us. hee hee Re 100 yo man...and FG...well, yes...the reasons you mention are certainly true. But it was more than that for me. There was a certain flatness to the prose, and I think it's entirely possible it is the translation. And, ok, I promise that the next time I see FG at the library sale, I'll peruse the pages.

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa a lowish 4/5 Although it is touted as "highly original, infinitely charming, and ever so touching" by Paul Auster, I can't fully agree. Charming, yes. Touching, yes. The relationship between the housekeeper and the professor that only retains memories for 80 minutes, and her child is nothing short of wonderful. It is the "highly original" I cannot really agree with. Yes, it is original, in a way. I suppose I just have higher expectations of what that phrase should mean. For me, the best part is the making of a family where there was none. The professor has been cheated by an automobile accident that ended a brilliant career, neither the housekeeper or her son have had the benefit of a father figure in their lives. It's a perfect fit. Just how all this comes together is the heart of the story. Recommended.

We'll go on some more, I'm sure. There are some along the River closer to home. They're next. It was fascinating. When you think about how the simplist thing was so time consuming. One of the tour guides brought out about the simple things we take for granted. Preparing meals was a full time job, and of course the kitchens were separate from the main house on account of fire hazards. But the cooks prepared hundreds of meals a day. Can you order through Amazon? Good luck with it, I hope you can find it!

THANK YOU for the warning re Disgrace and dogs. I have only read Elizabeth Costello by Coetzee, and while I can say I liked it, I was not enamoured by it. Although I think I can safely recommend the book. Brasco sounds really good, I'll have to Amazon it.

Over the weekend we visited plantation houses that are up river from New Orleans. We'd seen Oak Alley already about a year and a half ago, gorgeous house. http://www.oakalleyplantation.com/welcome.html This time we visited the Laura plantation http://www.lauraplantation.com/ and Houmas House http://www.houmashouse.com/ Laura was more a working plantation, and run almost exclusively by women. Houmas House is the most beautiful really, the house has been restored and the owner lives there. There is a restaurant and gift shop on the property too. Of course we bought books. Memories of the Old Plantation Home by Laura Locoul Gore (yep, the same Laura) Louisiana Architecture by Jonathan Fricker, Donna Fricker and Patricia L. Duncan Within the Plantation Household Black & White Women of the Old South by Elizabeth Fox-Genovese It Happened in New Orleans by Bonnye E. Stuart French Quarter Fiction edited by Joshua Clark Father Mississippi, the Story of the Great Flood of 1927 by Lyle Saxon Louisiana Saturday Night by Alex V. Cook

We liked both of those, I thought DICaprio was excellent! Hah, watching Charlton Heston emote is almost as fun as William Shatner! Oh, we went to see the newest Die Hard film.....a little disappointing, but LOTS of action, cars and tanks being exploded etc. The guy that played Willis's son in the film was pretty good, but slightly expressionless. Could have simply been the part though. Nice looking kid.

I'm reading The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa and so far, enjoying it.

Sorry about the blank space...I tried to copy and paste the other night, but format weirdness ensued. Trying again. The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster 5/5 What did I think? Heck of I know yet. Love the cross references. Love the play on names and words, hope he keeps writing so I can keep reading his work. Search for identity? Yeah, sure. But to me it is the word play, the sly bits, the contradictions in his writing that is so verra engaging. As I've written before in different places, the man has definitely seen too many Twilight Zone TV shows. Which, by the way, was one of my favorite television shows. The original Rod Serling versions.....no imitators allowed or valid. Cliff hanging, funky endings are butter to my toast. Thanks Mr. Auster! Highly recommended.

Oh, goodie! I know you'll enjoy both! I'd put off reading it for quite a while, and can really say I wish I hadn't done so. Very rewarding.

I've read Grafton's series, up to I think, T is for Trespass.....after that I was a bit worn out with it. But I really enjoyed it up to there! I read Pompeii some years ago, and enjoyed it, but really, I loved Harris's books that are about Cicero...He has two out, and supposedly a third will finish off the life of Cicero. Imperium and Conspirita. Good stuff. I've started New York Trilogy by Paul Auster...I read the first of the trilogy about 6 years ago, and just couldn't get into it, verra confusing. However, nowadays I seem to have more of a handle on Auster. So, here I go, again!

When The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared is compared to Forrest Gump, it's an accurate assessment. I've not read FG, bud didn't care much for the film. But readers whose taste I trust enjoyed it, so I thought.....well, maybe. The again, maybe not. I managed about a quarter of the book and skimmed the rest, hoping I could latch onto something I'd appreciate. Didn't happen. I really did laugh out loud at the first few chapters, then it just became too repetitive for my taste. I believe part of my dislike was cemented by some of the casual and to my mind, disrespectful references made about persons for whom I have a high regard. Just not my cuppa.

Yesterday I finished the two Auster books, reviews on my book blog. I've started The 100-year-old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. So far, so good. Thanks poppy!

Def not alone there! Glad to hear it! The theory bears out in this case then. Hmmmmm, interesting, a complete reversal. I usually wear out around 4 a.m. though. If I want to go on I have to drink some extra strong, black coffee and chicory. And that doesn't always work. lol Sorry, didn't mean to hijack the thread with this. But I do think that in a way it bears on the subject. I'd suppose that laziness is in the eye of the beholder in a way. If our energy levels are not up to doing the drudge work at the "proper" time, we drag.....and are therefore considered "lazy". If we could work within our own Circadian Rhythm, which obviously fluctuates widely, we'd be more productive. Make sense?

Travels in the Scriptorium by Paul Auster 5/5 Unknown room, unknown name, unknown time and country. Mr. Blank is having an unsettling day. He doesn't know who he is, or why he is in this very plain, blank room. Who are the people holding him here? His story slowly, if somewhat unreliably, unfolds. To a point that is. Who is the narrator? Reliable, or unreliable? Very Twilight Zone in aspect, Auster has spun a tale that will stay with me for a long time. I don't believe I'll ever think of the man in white in quite the same way. Recommended.

Oh, meant to mention I'm reading Travels in the Scriptorium by Paul Auster.......I may be brave enough to even go back to New York Trilogy after this!

It's true, Library Thing has all sorts of bells and whistles. Some of them are recent. I've been a member for several years, so some of said B&W are newish. I, unfortunately, don't usually bother with tags. Also, we have 3 accounts..... It's far too much trouble to go back and tag stuff. I do wish I'd tagged from the beginning though. /regret/

Oh, natch Muggles.....but we're talking about housework....lol Work, of course, can be fun.......if it's of the fulfilling and productive sort. In my case at least, if it's the sort of (ugh) everyday sort of drudgery...........fuggedaboutit! Also, work does not (IMO) equal creative "work". Just sayin'.

Fascinating! I'll have to find and read the book. I think it's on my shelf. I'd forgotten. lol Doggy books are good too. Have you read James Herriot's....I don't cry, hardly ever, and they have me streaming. But in a good way. Your mojo isn't lost, it's on standby. Just click the right button. Did not know that! Thanks.

Curses, foiled again!

Just prior to Auster's book I'd finished another one. Not Auster. The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry 4/5 I ended up loving this story of a woman that might be a hundred years old writing and keeping hidden her manuscript, her telling of her life as she remembers it. She has been incarcerated in an Asylum for the better part of her life. The injustice she has suffered has not, somehow, made her bitter and she seems to be more writing her story to straighten it out in her own head as much as to leave something behind.....for someone. In tandem, the head of the Asylum writes his notes. The dovetailing of those "scriptures" makes for a complete, well, almost complete story. How all the lives intertwine, finally, is a heart wrenching story of love, abandonment, political insanity, but mostly affirmation of self. I found it a bit slow to get into, but well worth the wait. A most satisfying read. Recommended.

The Music of Chance by Paul Auster A five star if there ever was one, this Auster sneaks up on the reader. It first worms it's way into your heart, then packs a punch. Man oh man, I can't recommend this one highly enough. A man, a car, the open road. For a while at least. Hobbled in the most inventive of ways, Auster's hero with feet of clay, turns into one of the most self reflective characters. Not in a selfish manner, in a searching, hoping, unrealistic way. Powerful ending. Great characters, interesting settings. Read it.

I'd recommend Malevil by Robert Merle. Here is a review of it I wrote almost 7 years ago, on a thread here. http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/561-robert-merle-malevil/?hl=malevil