Ooshie Posted February 26, 2011 Posted February 26, 2011 (edited) Glad to hear you are enjoying Madame Bovary, Kylie I read it about 20 years ago and at the time found the characters really stupid (in a 'no, no, woman, why on earth are you doing that?' sort of way) so I'm a bit worried that I might be forcing my way through it a ike you frankie, but on the other hand I'm looking forward to seeing if my perspective has changed in the intervening time. I have finished Everything is Illuminated and am a bit confused about what I think of it. On the one hand, I kept saying I was enjoying it, and nearly every time I read it I found a sentence or phrase that I loved (e.g. my favourite curse of all time, "may his name be lost between cushions" ). On the other hand, while in small doses I found the various styles enjoyable, if I tried to read a large chunk it just started to get on my nerves. And since I was only reading it in small bits, and some days couldn't summon the will to pick it up at all, it was in danger of joining the very short list of books I have started but not finished as it was destroying my reading mojo. I am finishing off another book (that I stopped to get on with Everthing is Illuminated) now, and should get started on MB in the next week I think. I do have a nice leather version that I got second-hand, so perhaps that will make me think more favourably of it this time! Edited February 26, 2011 by Ooshie Quote
chesilbeach Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 I've decided I'm going to give Madame Bovary a go now - there is a free version available on the Kindle, so I've downloaded it and will start on it tomorrow lunchtime. For some reason, I thought it was going to be a much longer book, but it looks like a manageable length for a classic! Quote
Ooshie Posted March 21, 2011 Posted March 21, 2011 Well, I have finished Madame Bovary now. I don't dislike it quite as much as I remember, but I still don't think much of it. None of the characters are likeable, and the writing is just dull. I wonder if I have a bad translation? I keep reading that it is an incredibly poetic book, but I just don't get that. Maybe in the original French it is wonderful. Quote
Kylie Posted May 1, 2011 Posted May 1, 2011 Well, it's been a month or so since we've read a Rory book. Is anyone up for reading Mary McCarthy's The Group? Quote
chesilbeach Posted May 1, 2011 Posted May 1, 2011 Just had a look on Amazon and The Group is available for Kindle at a reasonable price, so it sounds like a good choice for me if everyone else is up for it. Quote
AbielleRose Posted May 2, 2011 Author Posted May 2, 2011 I'll have to pass on this since I have bought waaay too many new books lately to justify buying a new one before reading the others. May stalk this thread to see how y'all like it though and put it on the "To Buy Eventually" pile! Quote
lauraloves Posted May 2, 2011 Posted May 2, 2011 Meeeeee!!!! was just thinking that I havent read a Rory book in a while! ill have to get my hands on it in the next couple of days! Quote
frankie Posted May 2, 2011 Posted May 2, 2011 Well, I have finished Madame Bovary now. I don't dislike it quite as much as I remember, but I still don't think much of it. None of the characters are likeable, and the writing is just dull. I wonder if I have a bad translation? I keep reading that it is an incredibly poetic book, but I just don't get that. Maybe in the original French it is wonderful. I don't think two translations can coincidentally be just as bad, I'll blame the book I'm up for the group reading of The Group. Hehe! Quote
Lucybird Posted May 2, 2011 Posted May 2, 2011 Yeah I'm trying to cut back on the buying too, sorry Quote
Kylie Posted May 3, 2011 Posted May 3, 2011 Excellent news, gals. I should have also pointed out that this particular book was Frankie's idea (so direct any blame at her if you don't like it ). I have a feeling it's going to be a great book though. Sorry you can't join us now, Abby and Lucy. But if/when you do get to read it, we can still discuss it with you then. Quote
frankie Posted May 5, 2011 Posted May 5, 2011 ^ Fine fine, I'll take the heat. Anyone started this yet? I have a few books that need finishing but I can basically start at any time. Quote
Ooshie Posted May 5, 2011 Posted May 5, 2011 Mine should arrive any day now from Amazon; I will just need to finish The Name of the Rose and then I can get right on with it. Quote
Kylie Posted May 5, 2011 Posted May 5, 2011 I haven't started it yet. I figured I'd wait a little longer until people have received their ordered copies. I also figured you had been too busy to start it just yet, Frankie. I might start on it next week. Quote
lauraloves Posted May 7, 2011 Posted May 7, 2011 I'm hoping my copy will arrive in the next few days Quote
frankie Posted May 10, 2011 Posted May 10, 2011 Ooshie, lauraloves, I hope your copies arrive asap I started reading The Group last night, initially I thought I'd wait for you guys but then I'd finished the book I was reading and didn't know what else to read. I've read about 50 pages so far, it's a bit braver read than I thought I'll warn you though: so many different girls are introduced immediately that I'm having a difficult time telling them apart. They also have such similar names it's not really helping. Libby, Lakey, Pokey, Priss, Polly, Dottie, Pottie... okay I made the last one up. Quote
Ooshie Posted May 12, 2011 Posted May 12, 2011 That's me ready to start now - thanks for the warning, frankie! Quote
Kylie Posted May 13, 2011 Posted May 13, 2011 Woohoo! It looks 4 of us have started now, and at more or less the same time. I hope no-one minds, but I've gone ahead and set up a thread for the book. Weave is joining us too. Quote
frankie Posted May 13, 2011 Posted May 13, 2011 Yep I noticed the thread, good stuff! And I'm happy to hear Weave is joining us as well Quote
lauraloves Posted May 13, 2011 Posted May 13, 2011 ill catch up with you guys as soon as my copy arrives grrrr!!!!! been waiting a week now! Quote
frankie Posted August 21, 2011 Posted August 21, 2011 Long time no see, you guys! What's up, anyone watching the show, reading any Rory books lately? Well yeah, some of us read/are reading Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi for this month's reading circle. Personally didn't enjoy it that much, I guess my expectations were a 'bit' too great. Any interest in doing another group reading? Quote
chesilbeach Posted August 21, 2011 Posted August 21, 2011 Sounds good - any suggestions? At the moment I only have A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers The Opposite of Fate by Amy Tan on my TBR, although a lot of the classics are available as free ebooks too, but I'm (always) happy to buy something new. Quote
Kylie Posted August 21, 2011 Posted August 21, 2011 I'm going to bow out of the Rory group for a while, I think. I have a lot going on and when/if I get time to read, I really need to focus on choosing books for myself for a while. Sorry gang. Quote
frankie Posted August 21, 2011 Posted August 21, 2011 (edited) Personally, I'm totally up for reading either one of your suggestions, I have them both on my TBR and I've been looking forward to reading both of them for a while now Excellent choices! Is anyone else game? Edit: Aww that's a shame Kylie, but we know you're busy and we understand Edited August 21, 2011 by frankie Quote
Lucybird Posted August 21, 2011 Posted August 21, 2011 I'm pretty easy, any excuse to visit the 3 for 2 on all fiction that's going on in Waterstones right now . I have all the Jane Austen's, Frankenstien, Little Women, Oryx and Cracke and The God of Small Things on my TBR pile, although Frankemstien and Little Women are on my I-pod and I only really read on that when I've finished a book when I'm not at home. Quote
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