Blog a Penguin Classic!

[happyanddandy]

Does anyone want to swap with me? I can't believe I got a book I already own!

 

 

It's A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf and whilst it is a favourite of mine, I don't really want another copy.

 

How about your Romantic Poets book, Michelle?

 

 

I am not particularly keen to read 'The Spy Who Loved Me' and I am prepared to swap PDR.Obviously only if you want it! Is the VW a big fat book? Is it a good read for someone of average intellect?

[angerball]

I just signed up, and am getting Under the Banyan Tree by R.K. Narayan.

 

Never heard of it, though it doesn't sound like a bad read, from the synopsis (plus 4.5 stars on Amazon):

 

An enchanting collection from India's foremost storyteller, rich in wry, warmly observed characters from every walk of Indian life - merchants, beggars, herdsmen, rogues - all of whose lives are microcosms of the human experience Like Nambi in the title story, Narayan has the mesmeric ability to spellbind his audience. This he achieves with a masterful combination of economy and rhythm, creating haunting images and a variety of settings to evoke a unique paradox of reality and folklore.

[nicx27]

I think I would be happy to do a swap as I'm not sure about mine (The Storm by Daniel Defoe). Wouldn't mind The Spy Who Loved Me, or possibly the Virginia Woolf. Perhaps we can sort something out between us? Although I wonder if they monitor who is reviewing which book.

[Polka Dot Rock]

I'm sure you could explain to Penguin

 

To clarify, I have copies of A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens to swap for other Penguin Classics to be blogged.

[nicx27]

And somebody else has The Spy Who Loved Me. I wondered if the three of us could try and work something out. I definitely don't want A Christmas Carol as I already have that one. Logging off now, but will be back this evening.

[LittleLijah]

Octopussy and the Living Daylights!?!?!?!

[Michelle]

If they're monitoring, just swap reviews, and post them in the correct name.

[happyanddandy]

And somebody else has The Spy Who Loved Me. I wondered if the three of us could try and work something out. I definitely don't want A Christmas Carol as I already have that one. Logging off now, but will be back this evening.

 

 

It's me who has 'The Spy Who Loved Me':smile2:

[nicx27]

I depends which books you and PDR want to read, happy. I'd give either of the two that I said a go in place of the one I will be getting.

[nicx27]

If they're monitoring, just swap reviews, and post them in the correct name.

 

What a good idea!

[Esiotrot]

I would be delighted to swap if anyone wants my book which sounds like hell in a paperback to me!

 

Kx

[happyanddandy]

Sorry Essiotrot but no deal!!!

[Esiotrot]

I should have read this thread before signing up :tong:

 

What Is Art? by Leo Tolstoy

Synopsis

During his decades of world fame as a novelist, Tolstoy also wrote prolifically in a series of essays and polemics on issues of morality, social justice and religion. These works culminated in What is Art?, published in 1898. Impassioned and iconoclastic, this powerfully influential work both criticizes the elitist nature of art in nineteenth-century Western society, and rejects the idea that its sole purpose should be the creation of beauty. The works of Dante, Michelangelo, Shakespeare, Beethoven, Baudelaire and Wagner are all vigorously condemned, as Tolstoy explores what he believes to be the spiritual role of the artist - arguing that true art must work with religion and science as a force for the advancement of mankind.

 

YIKES!!!

 

DAMN! cant tempt you then?

[JudyB]

I just signed up, and am getting Under the Banyan Tree by R.K. Narayan.

 

Never heard of it, though it doesn't sound like a bad read, from the synopsis (plus 4.5 stars on Amazon):

 

An enchanting collection from India's foremost storyteller, rich in wry, warmly observed characters from every walk of Indian life - merchants, beggars, herdsmen, rogues - all of whose lives are microcosms of the human experience Like Nambi in the title story, Narayan has the mesmeric ability to spellbind his audience. This he achieves with a masterful combination of economy and rhythm, creating haunting images and a variety of settings to evoke a unique paradox of reality and folklore.

 

I've read N K Narayan - he writes lovely, light stories - often humourous.

[Hazeltree]

Oh.. I love The Hunting of the Snark! back in the early 90's, it was made into a musical, and me and my friends got free tickets as nursing students.. we loved it!

 

Quote:

'They sought it with thimbles, they sought it with care; they pursued it with forks and hope; they threatened its life with a railway share; they charmed it with smiles and soap'. Ever since Lewis Carroll's nonsense epic appeared in 1876 readers have joined his ten-man Snark-hunting crew and pursued the search with great enthusiasm. What are they hunting for? What is the Snark? Numerous theories have been proposed. Carroll himself provides a helpful. Preface to the poem and is recorded as having explained to one reader: 'In answer to your question, 'What did you mean the Snark was?' will you tell your friend that I meant that the Snark was a Boojum. I trust that she and you will now feel quite satisfied and happy.'

Or

What Is Art? by Leo Tolstoy

Synopsis

During his decades of world fame as a novelist, Tolstoy also wrote prolifically in a series of essays and polemics on issues of morality, social justice and religion. These works culminated in What is Art?, published in 1898. Impassioned and iconoclastic, this powerfully influential work both criticizes the elitist nature of art in nineteenth-century Western society, and rejects the idea that its sole purpose should be the creation of beauty. The works of Dante, Michelangelo, Shakespeare, Beethoven, Baudelaire and Wagner are all vigorously condemned, as Tolstoy explores what he believes to be the spiritual role of the artist - arguing that true art must work with religion and science as a force for the advancement of mankind.

 

 

DAMN! cant tempt you then?

 

Nah!!! :lol:

[Angel]

I would be delighted to swap if anyone wants my book which sounds like hell in a paperback to me!

 

Kx

 

I think I will stick to my 2000yr old Greek classical plays

[JudyB]

I think that might be part of the fun of the blogging. Your personal battle with something utterly out of your comfort zone.

 

 

LOL - that could be the first sentence of my review - 'this was a personal battle with something utterly out of my comfort zone . . . ' and very often the first sentence is the hardest to write. Wonder how long the review has to be . . .

[angerball]

I've read N K Narayan - he writes lovely, light stories - often humourous.

 

Good to hear. Sounds like I got lucky!

[JudyB]

Good to hear. Sounds like I got lucky! [/quote

 

I should say so!!!

 

Still very concerned about mine.

[angerball]

Still very concerned about mine.

 

Yours looks scary! It has two 5 star reviews on amazon, but looks like awfully heavy reading, focussed on a very specific area of interest.

[Icecream]

I've just signed up and I'm getting a book

 

The Hunting Of The Snark

 

Never heard of it but it sounds interesting!

 

Are you sure you put your email in correctly. My email came straight away.

 

I'm sure I did. I checked it. I ave emailed them anyway. PLenty of people on here have signed up since I did so I don't know.

[~Andrea~]

Still very concerned about mine.

 

Ooh I wouldn't mind yours Judy, I'd be quite interested to read Kierkegaard. I think he's the father of existentialist thinking, but from a non athiest perspective, where later existentialist thought tends to be more atheistic. (I think, so don't quote me on that )

 

Mine is "Selected Writings" which could be any of 5 works of that title! It it turns out to be one I'm not interested in I might be tempted to do a swap with you (not sure you would prefer any of my options to yours though)

[Icecream]

confession time! I had put my email in wrong! And I thought I had checked! Must have been very tired. Anyway I have The Book of The Courtier. It doesn't sound like an interesting title but the synopsis sounds interesting. I hope it is.

[Mia]

I'm a bit worried about writing this review! My book is Plays Extravagant, by George Bernard Shaw. Last night, I checked out the site and one of the three reviews was of Plays Political by the same author, so I had a look... and wished I hadn't.

 

The standard of the review is amazingly high - it reads like it was written by someone with a Masters degree in English Literature! Considering my reviews tend to go along the lines of "I liked/didn't like it because...", I'm too intimidated to post anything now!!

 

And I too am wondering what they do if you don't post a review! Do they sue you for breach of contract? Arrgh!

[Icecream]

I am not too good at writing either. I can't express myself very well. I am getting better at it but only when I am in the right mood. I am wondering if that is likely to happen while I am pregnant and trying to put Katie on solids. I shall have to make notes as I go along I suppose and try to read it quickly.