pontalba

ROTFALOLTIC! I used to tell the little girl that lived in back of us that I was older than gunpowder....she'd ask me just to hear me say it. Hah, laughing makes better lines.....remember that!!

William Goldman's? I'll be interested to read your opinion/review.

Hey Julie! Nice to see ya. Great review, I have Gillespie and I in the TBR stack, and Cold Water Crossing sounds good too.

Mentioning John Banville on another thread made me take a look at the ones I have on the shelf, unread. I pulled Eclipse from said shelf, and it was like coming home. The beautiful prose just blows me away.

Just thought of another one...David Sedaris' Dress Your Family in Corduory and Denim. It's one of the few books I was happy I'd borrowed from the library and hadn't put money out on..! To me it was just mean, mean, mean! I can't imagine picking up another of his books. I know he is popular, but not with me.

Leigh was perfect, and I say that as a Southerner. I am one that didn't care for the sequel. 'Nuff said. Gable was fantastic, I had not ever heard those stories about him, and it only enhances my respect and admiration for the man. What a gentleman! Thanks for mentioning them.

I started The Wide Sargasso Sea some years ago. I didn't finish, and frankly didn't get that far into it. Perhaps I didn't give the book a fair shake. Dunno. I generally don't care for riffs on other books, classics at least.

That is one I haven't read as of yet, it's waiting on the shelf for me. I've read 10 others though by Banville, and also the 4 of his Benjamin Black series. The only one of Banville's that slightly disappointed me was Birchwood. Can't even remember why now. But the rest were so very outstanding, it didn't bother me.

I first noticed her on account of the Sherlock Holmes connection. I've read most of them, although the last several (there are, I think about 10 or 12 of them) have not had enough of Holmes, and have concentrated more on the Mary Russell character. To their detriment IMO. The Martinelli series is good, although I recommend reading them in order as the characters develop drastically. Hah, I didn't realize it was actually the third. I don't think it hurt, though I must say I was surprised that the professor character is actually considered the "main" protagonist. He is the thread of the stories evidently. Also!, there is a film Suspect X.....if you don't mind subtitles, it follows the book quite closely, with only a few added scenes, one of which was quite good and added a lot to the story I thought. We both enjoyed the film quite a lot, only last night. I've found out since that there is a TV series in Japan featuring this professor/detective/Holmes character.

I see Shroud by John Banville is on the above list...I can certainly recommend anything by Banville! Great reviews above. I have the first two of Follett's new series, although I haven't read them yet. I was lucky enough to run across the second one at the last library sale.

Well, I wouldn't question the relevance, in fact I agree. It always slays me though when their "Undying Love" is mentioned.......as though it is something to be emulated.

I've tried a few of hers and didn't like them at all, although...Wedding in December was quite good I thought. Ditto on Patricia Cornwell. She just got toooooo graphic and boring for my taste. Although Catcher in the Rye had one of the most annoying characters ever, the writing was quite good I thought, and husband claims that Franny and Zoe was gorgeous. The author I'll never pick up again is John Steinbeck. I've tried to read at least three of his (due to a high recommendation from someone), three chances! For me, his writing has the effect of fingernails on a chalk board. /shiver/ Another is Roberto Bolano. I read 500 pages of 2666, and was so depressed and downright upset over it, plus I was snapping at everyone. Nope, none of Bolano for me. Altho.....my motto has usually been, in the past, never say never.......

Folly by Laurie R. King is a stand alone of hers, not part of any series. FYI King writes at least two series, the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes stories, and a series about a San Francisco police detective, Kate Martinelli, both excellent btw. This may be the first of LRK's stand alones that I have read, and boy, it's a good'un. Is Rae Newborn still unbalanced? Her institutionalized background would lead one to believe that it's entirely possible. Her history of suicide attempts and paranoia, not that long ago, might lead some to believe so. But she feels "watchers", and fights the demons every day that threaten to overwhelm her life.....again. Her Great Uncle Desmond left an island, Folly, and Rae is, all these years later, taking it over, isolating herself, rebuilding the burnt out structure that Desmond had built with his own hands. Rae has the talent, willpower, and resources to do so. All by herself. Her woodworking art is world renowned for it's artistry, and originality. The characterizations of this novel are wonderful. King gets inside of a person's head and unwinds the tale beautifully, scattering red herrings all over the place rather artfully. Highly recommended. 4.5/5

I finished Folly by Laurie R. King yesterday, an interesting, multilayered story that captures you from the beginning.

Years ago I heard a theory that readers that loved Jane Eyre did not care for Wuthering Heights, and I've seen some "proof" of that over the years. I'd not read WH till last year after having read JE multiple times since my childhood. I'm afraid I, again, "prove" the above theory. I absolutely loved Jane Eyre, identified with her, could immerse myself in the story, over and over again. I hoped I could feel at least somewhat similarly about Wuthering Heights, but, alas, could not. To me, Cathy and Heathcliff did not love, they obsessed on, attempted to dominate and ultimately, destroy each other. How can true love be so destructive and obsessive? I don't think that can be called true love. Only my opinion, and since so many disagree with that evaluation, I wonder. But, that's how it affected me, at least.

Devi, very sorry about your dog, I know how hard it is. I'm reading Folly by Laurie R. King.

I've actually put Christine Falls back in the TBR mountain for a re-visit. The Cutout by Francine Mathews is one of the better CIA/spy novels I've read. The story revolves around a widowed agent's immersion in the study of the terrorist group that was responsible for her husband's death. It shifts from a present act of shocking terrorism by the group to the background of several involved parties, leading the reader down a twisted path, to a nail biting ending. Highly Recommended for fans of adventure and spy novels.

Yesterday I finished Guts by Kristen Johnston, the tall blond actress that played on the U.S. TV series Third Rock From the Sun. I always liked her in the show, and thought she did a great job in the role. She had a long standing addiction to pain killers and wine and after her "stomach blew up" from all the wear and tear, she managed to get clean and sober. This book is a no-holds-barred account of her addiction and hospital stay, which happened to be in England. She's irreverent, funny as heck, and has been through the mill and back again. She's survived beautifully, if somewhat belligerently. I say that last with affection, as her sense of humor is both black and wonderful. The book is a cleansing of her soul and I read it practically in one sitting. I rarely read celebrities autobiographies, but I'm glad I picked this one up. 4/5 Highly recommended. This afternoon I finished The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbol & Agnete Friis. I'd started it the other day, but reading Guts interrupted my reading. This is a fast paced thriller about a kidnapping that the true nature of doesn't come to light till the end of the book. There are at least 4 lines of entry to this story, and at first I had a bit of difficulty following, but I soon fell into the rhythm of the narrative. The book explores the themes of just how far a person will go for friendship, love, or money. Well done 4/5 Recommended.

Many of the books mentioned above sound more like dystopian and/or apocalyptic genre. Which might be an off shoot of sci-fi in a way I suppose, at least have some aspects of it. But I wouldn't classify it as such.

LOL Gone With the Wind runs about a thousand pages IIRC. Ahhh, intentions.....I remember those......./sigh/ Isn't it wonderful to run across a book store accidentally? hee hee In the mail yesterday I received A Train in Winter by Caroline Moorhead "An extraordinary story of women, friendship, and resistance in occupied France". Also I received Dreadful Sanctuary by Eric Frank Russell "The sentence: Life imprisonment on Earth, the crime: being human!"

Well, I need to lose at least 20(ish) pounds more, and we've gone back on the Atkins as of last week strictly. I'd gained back 3 pounds, so that's come off again, plus 2 more. I'm still taking a size or two (depending) smaller, so that's a good thing. I don't know about it being harder, maybe so, but I do love the convenience of not having to dress in gym clothes to go exercise, then go shopping sweaty. We combined the media room with exercise. The TV, one of the laptops, 4 bookcases of DVDs and tapes, 3 bookcases with books, the treadmill and stationary bike, plus a double recliner all fit comfortably in there. We found a bunch of Star Trek posters, and one from Forbidden Planet, and several play related posters also at the local consignment store for the walls. Chesil, I love the Wii! We haven't used it much yet, but will I'm sure. Good luck!

There is a "destruction of Atlanta" in 2666?? I rarely give up on a book, especially after 500 pages, but this was the rare exception. Maybe in small doses, in-between other reading you'll have better success. I hope so. I found that on Amazon, but also the same synopsis is under the title Good Neighbors. I suppose it must be the same book, your title in the UK, and the other over here in the US. I don't think I'll be purchasing that one, I remember the actual incident. Must have been at least 30 years ago, maybe more in NYC. /shiver/

Good luck with it. I gave up at around page 500. I was totally out of sorts by the thing, and was actually snapping at everyone on account of the mood the book put me into. I felt better almost as soon as I put it aside. I just finished The Dispatcher by Ryan David Jahn. The Sunday Times compared his writing to Cormac McCarthy's "tales of vengeance", and I agree. Jahn writes beautifully, and keeps the reader on the edge of the seat.

rotfaloltic! Hafta love it. I had the same "problem" with the title. I did love it though, enough to reread I am sure. I'm presently reading Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell. So far so good, 75 pages in. The language is a bit much sometimes, but fits with the wise guy persona, and I appreciate the humor. AIE: thought I'd lost the post, found it, deleted the repetition.....

Oh, I hope you do get a chance to read it soon. I was interested to see that apparently is there not only a series of books, there was, or still is some sort of television series based on the Professor. And....there is a film, Suspect X, based on the book. I've ordered the film. heh, we'll see. I wonder how close it'll be. I've ordered another of his books, non series, Naoko: A Novel.