Kylie
-
Posts
12,677 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Books
Posts posted by Kylie
-
-
Controversial books certainly make for more interesting discussions, don't they?
-
Hi Lilac and welcome!
-
I saw an interview with Matthew Reilly recently where he said that he self-published his first book and went to great lengths to make the cover look 'official' by adding a US and Canadian price on the back
He seems like a genuinely nice, normal person and I think he's done remarkably well for someone so young.I'd like to check out his work one day but I kind of get put off by the 'blockbuster' tags that his books receive (usually by himself!). Ice Station is one I'm always seeing around the place - I'll look forward to reading your review.
-
I was browsing through book-related podcasts in iTunes and what should I stumble across but an interview with Yann Martel about Life of Pi! It was produced by the Guardian Unlimited Book Club and the podcast and related articles can be found at this website, if anyone's interested. (The link is directly to the book club podcasts, but the entire site looks very interesting - there are interviews with other authors such as Philip Pullman).
-
I also got busted for reading with a torch under the covers when I was supposed to be sleeping
I don't have any very early memories of reading, but I have a lovely photo of my Mum and I sitting on a lounge and Mum is reading a book to me (not sure what it was). I look very engrossed and Mum looks thoroughly bored (although she assures me she wasn't!)
I remember borrowing Roald Dahl's poetry from the library and Mum would stand in the hallway and read it aloud so both my brother and I could hear. She did a wonderful job!
When we used to go on holidays, Mum would surprise my brother and I with new books when we got to our destination. I usually got a few Baby-Sitter's Club books but I remember getting a huge book of jokes once.
My Nanna had some Dr Seuss books that I would routinely pull out of her cupboard and read every time I went to her place. When she passed away I received most of those books, which I now treasure.
Oh, and getting the book club catalogue at school and poring over it, then placing an order and receiving a nice little bundle of books a few weeks later.
-
Home alone tonight and not feeling up to cooking so think I'll order some satay chicken and dim sims from my favourite Chinese takeaway
-
I've just started this today. Up to chapter 2 and already immersing myself in Austen's beautiful prose.
-
Please excuse the double posting. I thought these points would be important enought to warrant their own post.
I hope I don't prattle too much here 
There were a couple of issues that were brought up in the first part of the book that got me thinking a bit. One was Pi's thoughts on the freedom of animals. He thinks keeping animals in zoos is a type of freedom for them, whereas others think it's cruel. I can see where Pi is coming from but I don't think I necessarily agree.
The other interesting part was Pi's thoughts on people who harbour religious doubts (agnostics and the like):
To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation.I don't agree with this at all (not just in terms of religion, but everyday life). I've always been someone who is unable to side with one philosophy or opinion over another because I can't see things in such a black-and-white way. I always look at both (or all) points of view and when I think I'm close to making a decision I start to lean the other way. It's often frustrating for me, but at the time I think I'm just being open-minded (not 'immobile', as Pi would say).
I don't think the human race could advance unless people were continually examining their motives and beliefs and adjusting their views accordingly. If everyone was so sure of themselves and their beliefs all the time surely we, as a race, would become stagnant and thus immobile? I think it's doubt that keeps us moving forward (and sometime backward - but it at least keeps us moving!)
I was wondering what everyone else thought about these two issues? Probably someone else can it put it more succinctly than I can
-
Yann Martel
Rating: 7/10
Published: 2002
Number of pages: 319
Summary (taken from blurb):
After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, one solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific. The crew of the surviving vessel consists of a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orang-utan, a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger and Pi - a 16-year-old Indian boy. The scene is set for one of the most extraordinary pieces of literary fiction of recent years.
Yann Martel's Life of Pi is a transformative novel, a dazzling work of imagination that will delight and astound readers in equal measure. It is a triumph of storytelling and a tale that will, as one character puts it, make you believe in God. Can a reader reasonably ask for anything more?
Comments:
I thought Life of Pi was a pretty entertaining read, but there was nothing that really knocked my socks off or that will stand in my memory for a long time (other than a few slightly gruesome scenes).
There was quite a bit of background story leading up to the lifeboat section, which got a little tiresome, but mostly I found Pi's comments on animals and religion to be quite interesting, even if I didn't completely agree with what he was saying. Like others have said before me, the whole island part was most puzzling - it seemed very out of place!
(Although probably not as out-of-place as the short incident with the Frenchman that preceded it!)
I know the ending has come as a disappointment to some people but luckily I knew beforehand how it would end so I wasn't disappointed.
Which story do I believe? Well, of course we'd all like to believe the version with the animals, but I'm inclined to think his second story was true. If you had spent 227 days at sea, it would certainly give you ample time to think up a story to explain away your actions (which in other circumstances would be atrocious), and perhaps it would also help you to maintain your sanity.
Perhaps I enjoyed it more than some people because I didn't try to read too much into it and find symbolism everywhere. I took it at face value and enjoyed it as a good story, well told.
Started: 8 January 2008
Finished: 17 January 2008
-
1. Who was your favourite character and why?
Didn't really have one (hardly a wide selection to choose from!). Pi didn't make much of any impression on me. I quite liked Richard Parker.
2. Was there a particular part you enjoyed/disliked more than the rest?
I enjoyed seeing Pi helping (and then trying to get rid of) Richard Parker after the boat sank - it was quite funny when you then found out who Richard Parker was!
3. Was this the first book you've read in this genre/by this author, has it encouraged you to read more?
Yes, first book read by this author. I would perhaps read more of his work, but it would probably depend on the story.
4. Were there any parts/ideas you struggled with?
(Spoiler refers to end of book)
The island part was a bit weird and didn't fit well with the rest of the story, I thought. And what was with the Frenchman in the other boat? That was a completely random incident!
5. Overall, was reading the book an enjoyable experience?
Yes, I'm glad I read it.
-
Wow, if our resident Nabokov expert gives such high praise, it must be a good book! I think I'll be adding that one to my wish list, thanks, although I really should read some more Nabokov before I start reading his successors!
-
Excellent news Gyre! It always feels like such an accomplishment to finish such a mammoth book, doesn't it? Let us know your thoughts when you're done!
-
Welcome to the forum March! I look forward to discussing books with you!
-
Ooh yeah, the footage taken at the birthday party is very freaky isn't it? I like when Joaquin and the kids are sitting on the lounge with hands on knees and alfoil hats on heads
It's a bit of a strange movie - can't make up my mind whether I love it or just think it's OK. -
Hi Megan and welcome!
-
Top 3 Books
Anthony Burgess: A Clockwork Orange
Harper Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird (re-read)
Bram Stoker: Dracula
Worst Book (A Tie)
Paulo Coelho: The Alchemist
Anna Sewell: Black Beauty
Best New Author
Vladimir Nabokov
-
The Book Club Bible sounds great Kell - I might have to check that one out.
I'll look forward to reading your review of The Water Babies. I read that book many years ago and seem to recall it was pretty good. I've actually added it to my 'priority reads' for 2008 because I've been wanting to read it again for a while now.
-
I wish I'd had better taste in books when I was your age, Tiger; then maybe I wouldn't have such a large TBR pile/wish list right now!
While I relatively enjoyed the movie version of Jurassic Park, I think it put me off reading the book a bit. But with all the rave reviews I've read here, I think I'll have to add it to my wish list.
-
I've joined as well
-
I've updated my various posts at the beginning of this blog to reflect the reading I've done so far this year. I'm off to a good start with my challenges. I hope I can keep up this level of reading for the rest of the year!
Yesterday I bought a few books with some Christmas money:
Mikhail Bulgakov: The Master and Margarita
Iain Pears: An Instance of the Fingerpost
Oscar Wilde: The Picture of Dorian Gray
I'm currently reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Enjoying it so far; I've learnt a few things about animals and religion
There have been a couple of interesting sections that have given me food for thought. I don't necessarily agree with everything Pi says, but I respect his different viewpoints. I'll make further comments in the reading circle thread. -
We all have our moments when we lose our reading 'mojo' and can't get into anything. I feel for you, having just gotten out of a funk myself. I hope it passes soon!
As for suggestions, have you ever read any crime fiction by Raymond Chandler, the creator of Philip Marlowe (The Big Sleep, etc)? They're supposed to be excellent reads.
For something a little bit different, you could try Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. It's an absolutely brilliant book - one of my all-time favourites.
Or maybe you could read some Sherlock Holmes. They're pretty short mysteries and maybe you need something short and snappy to get you back into your reading.
-
Richard Matheson
Rating: 9/10
Published: 1954
Number of pages: 176
Summary (taken from Dymocks website):
Robert Neville is the last living man on Earth, but he is not alone, for every other man, woman and child on the planet has become a vampire and they are hungry for Neville's blood. By day he is hunter; by night, the prey. How long can one man survive like this?
Comments:
Often the shortest books can pack the biggest punch, and I am Legend is no exception. It's quite fast-paced and had me on the edge of my seat several times. I thought Matheson did a great job of exploring the psyche of Robert Neville and a world without people. I found the medical descriptions dull, but knew they were necessary in order for the author to logically explain the appearance of vampires. An ending to a story like this has the potential to be hugely disappointing, but happily this wasn't the case with I am Legend: the ending was simply brilliant. An excellent read.
Started: 7 January 2008
Finished: 8 January 2008
-
I've only read two of King's books so far: Night Shift and Different Seasons. Both are collections of short stories, although there are only 4 in Different Seasons (they're more like novellas).
Like Timmy, I'd recommend Different Seasons. Some brilliant stories there, including the 2 that inspired the movies The Shawshank Redemption and Stand by Me.
-
then the next moment we're behaving like a bunch of four-year-olds. Speak for yourself! (Says she as she pokes her tongue out!
) Yes, we have a lot of fun here.Welcome again! Very soon you'll have a list of books a mile long that you want to read, just like the rest of us!
Goodreads
in General Book Discussions
Posted
Well, I recently closed down my Shelfari account...let's see how this one goes! I'm on there as Kyliel.
I imported my books from LT but some didn't take, which means I'll be needing to go through the entire list
Oh well, I like playing with these sites!