pontalba

Timofey Pnin. At first glance, Professor Pnin is the typical absent-minded professor, superficially at any rate. Hello. A clue, the author Vladimir Nabokov is anything but typical in any way, shape, form or manner. Our Timofey begins by being on the wrong train, blissfully unaware and actually feeling quite satisfied with himself. He is to deliver a lecture to the Cremora Women's Club. Will he arrive in time, with the correct Lecture? It is a circuitous route that Timofey Pnin travels, from a middle-class pre-revolutionary Russia, son of a doctor-- to Professor of Russian at an American University. A route that included lost love, traitorous love, and betrayal--both personal and professional. This is a book that was originally written as a serial for The New Yorker magazine, during the firestorm and uncertainity of "Lolita" ever being published at all. It is as different to "Lolita", as night is to day. Only the artistry of Nabokov's prose remains constant. I cannot recommend this slim novel highly enough. Timofey Pnin is a wonderful character, endearing and heart rending. Somewhat like Nabokov himself.

Lions! Ohhh, pictures? Gotta love any cat, big or small. I remember years ago, there was some silly movie on tv, something to do with Africa, and animals taking over (hah, maybe they'd do a better job), but all I remember of the whole thing is this house being taken over by lions and after they broke down the shutters and got into the house, they were in the kitchen and the way they leapt up on the counter and tables was so....well just like our little kitty kats...funny to see the same movements translated into huge size. Re the Nabokov, let me know which one you decide, maybe another thread is in our future.....I'll post a review of Pnin I wrote in the Reviews section here.

My computer is on one of those counters with the keyboard underneath on a pull-out, so one of the cats that stays in here all the time will lie on the desktop, and hang over and sniff my hands as I type, or try to touch my fingers....nutty cats. That's Tuffy. She is 14, and thinks she is a kitten, and acts like it sometimes. She was found by a friend of ours in a parking lot where he had a shop screaming and trying to pace up and down on hot asphalt. She was only about a week old...eyes not all the way open, but her lungs worked fine. Of course he brought her to us. Her little feet were burned bloody, and the underneath of her tail was blistered. We fed her by hand, and antibiotic was liberally given and 14 years later she thinks she owns the place and us....and in fact she does. Anyhow dogmatix.....as far as the Cat Who series...I'd say start with the beginning. It tells how Qwilleran first meets his cat(s) and that is integral to the reasoning of the entire series. I would also recommend The Cat Who Had 14 Tales by Braun. This was written before the Cat Who series and is a collection of short stories about....cats! Really good!

Muggle, I know how time consuming a move can be....miserable to say the least, but you sound as though you are retaining a sense of humor at least! I have Black Cherry Blues sitting right here to pick up after Laughter in the Dark. I just love the titles Burke comes up with.

OK, I do have The Double as I'd bought it at the same time as the others. So I'll try that one after the next Nabokov in line, and the Burke. Thanks dogmatix.

Dogmatix, I have thought about that, and you could go a couple of different ways, one being to start at the beginning with Mary then King, Queen, Knave and down the chronological line. That is what I decided to do and I am enjoying myself, BUT OTOH..... You could read The Real Life of Sebastian Knight which is Nabokov's first novel written in English, a sort of detective story about a writer that is dead. A quest by his half brother to find the real brother, with a twist--of course. Or, Pnin a story about a professor that is a bit like Nabokov himself, but not. Timofey Pnin was one of Nabokov's most charming and sweet natured characters.......ever. He is in fact my favorite character in any Nabokov novel so far. If I have to recommend only one.....it'd be a toss up between The Real Life of Sebastian Knight and Pnin. Weighted in favor of Pnin. I hope that helps.

OK muggle! I knew I liked Robicheaux already from Neon Rain. I am now finished Heaven's Prisoners and am officially hooked on Burke. This guy can write the most delicious descriptions of Lousiana country. When he talks about going from the French part to the Anglo-Saxon section...............man! So On Target! Did you listen to the interview that is linked on his website about Pegasus Descending ? He is an interesting guy. And he knows his subject well. Thanks!

I think part of the problem is that I cannot stand anything political. Then there is the plot. /sigh/ It is like a rehash of every conspiracy theory that was written ages ago. I have hopes for the other one though, All the Names.

muggle, I gave up on trying to find White Doves at Morning and have ordered another copy, this time second hand from Amazon. I found a different cover copy (a U.K. version), so when I finally do find the first one, at least it'll be different. Regarding Heaven's Prisoner, I started over of course, and am about 85% through it. This guy does get better as you go along, the second is better than the first.. And Annie....... Burke's descriptions of the area are right on target and beautiful.

I've just ordered his first Gallows View. Found it on Amazon for only about 4 dollars.

Louiseog! What a wonderful site! Love it! Thanks so much for posting that link. Hours of fun indeed! And thanks for the new (to me) author, his books look good.

Most of the series authors I read need to be read from the beginning, Henning Mankell (Inspector Kurt Wallander series) is the only one I can think of off the top of my head that isn't like that. Neon Rain is the first Dave Robicheaux that Burke wrote, and Heaven's Prisoners the next.....I do have all of the series, it's just a question of reading them. All of that meaning, IMO it's best to begin at the beginning, that way you have all the character's nuances and idiocyncratic behaviour down pat, and can understand his motivations better. But that is just me and my little compulsive ways.

OK muggle, you can quit laughing now, I found it. can't believe I completely forgot about this thread....... I've re-started Heaven's Prisoners again. I have to start over as I read the first quarter of the book so long ago, I can't remember the details..... The copy I have is from the second hand book store and has Alec Baldwin on the cover. Not a recommendation IMO, but what can I say, I'll try to ignore it.

There is pontalba pulling Heaven's Prisoners from the shelf. Maybe a Burke thread would be a good idea, started by the resident expert.....muggle..... whoops.....found it!

I have tried all afternoon to slip into Seeing. I just can't. I was falling asleep at p. 19, skipping at p.20, and scanning, going back by p.27. I got to p. 32, I gave up. It's just not my cuppa. I can't even completely say why, aside from the fact it bores me. Perhaps I am not being fair to the book, but that is the way I feel. I've scanned a bit of All The Names and that looks more interesting to me. So I'll tackle that one a bit down the road. So it looks like there will be Saramago in my future, just not Seeing.

I like that series, although the last few have not been as good as the first 20 or so. Glad you like it Purple Poppy!

I love Shirley Rousseau Murphy's series about Joe Cat and his love Dulcie and other cat pals. They solve murders, and the bad guys better watch out when Joe is around! The first one, Cat on the Edge shows how Joe comes to be able to actually talk and read and understand humans. It is hilarious in places, it made me laugh out loud, and catches a cat's personality purrfectly. Here is her website with all her listings. She writes other cat books too that y'all might be interested in http://www.sylviaengdahl.com/joegrey/mystery.htm Just scroll down, as they are listed in reverse order of publication. Then of course there James Herriot's books as well. Cat Stories will certainly have you reaching for the hanky, but are so sweet and uplifting too. And the illustrations are wonderfully done. What a great idea for a thread!

I loved that bit too muggle, it was beautiful. And when he sees her for the last time in Paris, I remember thinking how Nabokov really loves and more importantly likes women. I always feel that he held women in awe a bit. He was a sensualist to the Nth degree and almost worshiped women, but in a good way.

Thanks for adding that, and it's a good thing, I am certainly opinionated!

I just can't read SK any more. I read a few of his years ago, one of which was a book of his short stories, it began with a novella....The Fog, and I did enjoy that and Thinner. But I tried about three times to start IT, and couldn't get past the first 10 or 15 pages. I realize he is tremendously popular but he is just not my cuppa. Maybe I shouldn't post what can be construed as a negative post for an author, but I........oh phooey! You guys know what I mean.

I too hate to see dog earred pages.../shiver/ I have many book marks, and lots of free ones that Amazon sends with books (adverts of course) and then a bunch from the second hand book store.

Marvelous Sophia! I tried to find a Saramago at our Library Sale and had no luck. But I did find another Auster....Moon Palace, er plus 20 others......

I received my four Saramago novels today from Amazon. Will get on Seeing as soon as I finish Nabokov's The Defense. My reading time has been limited some the last week or so, and of course I was sidetracked a bit by the Reichs.....so anyway, in a few days I will be starting. Amazon must truely think I am 3 different people from my "history" there. LOL

Muggle, I was just thinking about a thread like this earlier today. I suppose my favorite breakfast is a bacon and over-easy egg sandwich loaded with butter. But I don't often have that, I usually have my second favorite which is either waffles with butter and peanut butter or anything with butter and peanut butter on it...oatmeal bread, english muffins, pumpernickle bread.....because a day without peanut butter is like a day without sunshine! IMHO. besides if I don't have the peanut butter for breakfast, I have it right before I go to bed.......