pontalba

I won't buy a book with highlighting or underlining. LOL I suppose that is as good a reason as any not to get rid of any of my books, I do underline in pencil and sometimes write in the margins. Usually only a cross reference, but sometimes the definition of a word I've had to look up. Heresy I know! But in book discussions, it's a necessity [for me].

I agree, some of the synopsis of his books do sound intriguing. I hope you'll post your reactions.

Around 2 this morning I finished The Blue Afternoon by William Boyd. A wonderfully atmospheric love story, murder mystery, redemptive tale of a man's life. It opens in 1936 Los Angeles, moves to Lisbon and in-between to the Manila of 1903. Boyd creates the worlds of those diverse cities beautifully, capturing the humid jungle-like aura of Manila, his characters moving through the heavy heat almost languidly, in a dream like state to their destinies. The story unfolds, and then enfolds the reader, we must know if the man is telling the truth, but whose truth will it be? If it be truth at all. Highly, highly recommended.

I've tried to start Gravity's Rainbow, mercifully from the library, and actually have Mason & Dixon on my shelf. I well know that some people absolutely love TP's books, but although I have some theories about that, I don't go into it, so as not to offend anyone's sensibilities or get into a brawl. I've seen it happen, so I steer clear. I had to list that book in my earlier post though, as it really irritates the tar out of me. Regarding The Count of Monte Cristo, no, it isn't the length that puts me off, just the fact of only 24/7.... I have it on the shelf, along with several hundred others TBR. I guess my attention wanders.

90% of the books we buy are second hand, although it couldn't be told by looking at them. Most are in pristine condition. When we buy from Amazon Marketplace, the condition has to be either Very Good or Excellent, or even Like New. I like the mention of "pre-loved" books. We do love our books, reading them, enjoying them on the shelves, just the vibes. There is no way we could own all the books we do if we'd bought new. I am someone that keeps all the books we buy. One never knows if a reread will be in order. So it's best to be sure. So, I can safely say, no, neither of us have a problem buying used books, for both aesthetic reasons and financial. I don't really understand the mind set of needing everything one owns to be brand new. But to each his own kettle of fish I always say. And, if you can afford it, go for it!

Wonderful! You'll have fun with that one! I finished The Blue Afternoon last night, or rather, early this morning. So glad I did, it was an interesting read.

I have that DVD, very good indeed! Did you notice the bald guy following them at one point? That was Harlan Coben. A la Hitchcock. I loved, loved, loved this film. I didn't think anyone could do as well as Shatner, et als, but these guys did. Terrific film! We watched The Third Man last night. Joseph Cotton and Orson Welles. I'd never sat and watched the whole thing in one felled swoop. Really good.

I couldn't agree more. Some dissension is the meat of discussion. If we all sat around and say, 'yes, I liked it', it'd get a little dull.

Yes! I found the locations very interesting as well. It isn't often that I read about those places, and I enjoyed learning a bit about them. I don't swim either, but ships don't bother me, and I found the jargon kind of fun. All in all, it was a learning experience mixed in with a mystery. I did find the mystery part a bit on the thin side. Someone above questioned why Smila followed Tork out onto the ice, well she had to didn't she? Otherwise, the whole trip would have been for nothing. That's where I thought she reasoned like a real detective. She simply had to know exactly what happened, and why. I doubt she, in any real way, considered she might die in the process, the thought of death was an abstract one to her. She didn't care deeply one way or the other about her own death. I didn't find the story "machine-based", it's interesting how each reader focuses on a different aspect, and tends to remember those aspects more clearly than others. But...in retrospect, Smila was a bit machine like wasn't she? LOL Jane Bond, love it. It's true!

1) One Book that made you read it More Than Once: Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. Had to read it over and over, to really get the layering and understanding of the story[ies]. 2) One book you would want on a desert island: A comprehensive dictionary. Then I'd never be bored, and could make up my own stories, or poems around the definitions. 3) One book that made you laugh: Look at the Harlequins! by Vladimir Nabokov. If you've read most of VN, the allusions and references are hilarious. 4) One book that made you cry: The Merlin Trilogy by Mary Stewart. The story of Merlin and Arthur is a beautiful "father/son" epic. 5) One book that made you wish you had written: ONE? Ok, maybe the first then...Watcher in the Shadows by Geoffry Household. 6) One book that made you wish had never been written: The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon. IMO awful writing. 7) One book you are currently reading: The Blue Afternoon by William Boyd 8) One book you have been meaning to read: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 9) One book that changed your life: A Pillar of Iron by Taylor Caldwell. Mostly because it cemented my love of history. I was 15 when I read it, the first time, and that is such an impressionable age it really sunk into my mind.

You've nothing to feel guilty about, evidently you thought you'd like it from the synopsis, but didn't. No use wasting time reading something you don't enjoy. We've all been through that tunnel. If however you actually read the book and still didn't like it, why? That in and of itself is interesting to me. Ummmmm....in polite society, I'd agree. However, I've been in some good rollicking book discussions that ignored that nicety, and they were fabulous. Sometimes the very reasons we don't like something can bring a whole new perspective to a discussion, and take it into deep and interesting territory.

I checked off that I look unknown words in a dictionary, however, I often use Google instead, easier, and usually the computer is handy whilst reading. I was happy to see that I'm not the only one that has read the dictionary. I used to just pick it up and randomly read, all sorts of interesting words! I rarely have to look up a word anymore though. It's mostly when I began reading Nabokov about 6 years ago that I needed one occasionally.

He does tend more toward literary fiction, and as far as I can tell enjoyed it, but found it a bit slow [which he likes]. I asked him what he thought of the letters and poems, and from what he said, I think it's a bit of a blur to him at this point. It's been at least a year since he read it I believe. I seem to recall that he put it down a lot in-between and read other books as well. But we both do that anyhow. But, and I remember this for sure...his impressions didn't make me want to read it immediately, and in fact, I haven't gotten to it yet.

Started The Blue Afternoon by William Boyd. Good period piece, mystery. Still chugging away at The Spoon River Anthology. So different, both good.

Good idea for a thread. I've seen lists that some posters put up of books that they were required to read in high school, and am amazed, and encouraged as to the new readers being encouraged in school. I am only an avid reader on account of my mother, not the school system. There were very few books we were actually required to read, and that's just a shame. I only remember [for sure] The Scarlet Letter, Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, and Lord of the Flies.

Definitely my mother, she loved to read. She read to me and taught me to read before I entered school. Part of my father's family tends strongly towards dyslexia, and I think my mother worried that if she didn't push me early and hard, I'd have the same trouble. I suspect she was right, as I do tend towards things like mixing up directions and sometimes transposing numbers, but have never had a problem reading.

What a gorgeous edition! I have Possession on the shelf, unread as of yet, but it's only a plain trade paperback. /sigh/ Good review Ooshie, my OH read it last year and enjoyed it too.

Oh man, I'd forgotten all about The Time Traders! Is that the one you are talking about? Only a few years ago I found out it was a series, I read the first one, I guess, when I was around 10 or 11. Good stuff.

I've read the first 3 or 4 of the Maisie Dobbs series. I found them to be an interesting picture of the time and place. I was first drawn to them as my maternal grandmother was a nurse at the front lines in France in WWI, and although she died before I was born, maybe because of that really, I wanted to read the books. However, I continued for the stories themselves. It's been long enough, I probably could go back and reread the ones I have and then continue. Thanks for the reminder!

I only managed the first half of 2666. Good going to finish it! I have a couple more of Bolano's on the shelf, I'm wondering if they are of the same ilk as 2666. One of these days I'll get to them.....

Our perspective changes so radically throughout life with experience. Regarding a male author writing a female role....unless the situations/stories are blatantly chauvinistic [one way or the other] I don't particularly notice the gender author difference/sameness. We are all such a combination of male/female that an author can mine both for either gender IMO. Take someone like Diana Gabaldon. She writes both male and female perspective well as far as I have seen. I felt Hoeg did well with catching a dysfunctional female tone with Smilla.

Patriot Games - Harrison Ford

Yup, yup, and yup. The movie was considered "shocking" back when it first came out. Lana Turner got all the juicy roles back then. Then there was Return to Peyton Place. /sigh/ I have a new copy on my shelf, haven't read my old paperback in decades though. Maybe someday.....

Both good points. I had not considered not being a parent herself a factor in her relationship with her father. Perhaps then, her love for Isaiah softened her towards her father?

OTOH, your suggesting it pushed me over the edge into reading it! I'd had it in the TBR stack, literally for about 3 years, maybe 4!