Frankie reads 2012

[Roland Butter]

Didn't Poe also marry his 13/14-year old cousin who died an early death? I think he never got over her. Poe fascinates me. I'm off to look up biographies. I hope there's a book of his (real) letters. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Long shot though, I think.

 

I thought that was Jerry Lee Lewis ....

[Janet]

I love how looking up one thing leads to another, and another...

Me too!

 

I 'Wikied' Poe after reading some of his short stories a few years ago - a fascinating and somewhat sad life he led, and he was only young when he died (about 40 iirc?) - he did indeed marry his young cousin - just like Jerry Lee Lewis! I guess Poe's marriage must have been legal at that time? (maybe Wiki will answer that question?) but I believe that JLL's marriage was unlawful/illegal due to her young age?

[Kylie]

They both did.

[Kylie]

Yep, I remember that bit. Although she wasn't reading, she was doing the assignment. No, not a slam book

 

I've forgotten what a slam book is. Is it a book of people you want to kill? That's what it sounds like. Wait...I know we've had this conversation before and I think I was way off track thinking it was about killing...Maybe it's the other extreme? (Make love, not war )

 

Kylie, that's so stupid. If you own a bookstore and have couches, please arrange them in a manner that the CUSTOMERS who come to BROWSE for BOOKS and BUY BOOKS aren't obstructed from doing so!!!

 

That's right! I remembered after I saw your reply that I actually took you to that bookshop! I have a feeling it was nearly closing when we were there, so maybe we didn't get much time to look around (or maybe I'm remembering it wrong and it was already closed so we couldn't go in). The cafe is sort of out the back and the tables are in front of the sci-fi books, so maybe you didn't go to that part (if indeed the shop was open!).

[frankie]

Ah, when I saw you mention the Children's Hour, I thought "I'm sure that was made into a film with Audrey Hepburn." (I love Audrey Hepburn.) Just checked, and it was. I didn't realise the film was based on a book...it's well worth a watch.

 

Yep, there's a movie and a book. I only know about the book because Lorelai Gilmore in the Gilmore Girls had watched the movie in one episode and wanted to read the book, and then Rory got the book for her, but by that time Lorelai had already forgotten about wanting to read it Ah, GG <3

 

I didn't know Audrey Hepburn was in the movie, I think I want to watch it after reading the book.

 

I often find if I go onto Wiki to look up an author - or anyone really - I always end up clicking one link, then another, then another. It's kind of like six degrees of separation, only done in reverse!

 

Wiki is the best. Ex could spend hours reading articles on it, and I always found it odd, but now I've discovered the joys myself. I think it was just a matter of him reading about things that didn't interest me.

 

Could some English speaker please educate me on 'six degrees of separation', please? Or shall I wiki it

 

I 'Wikied' Poe after reading some of his short stories a few years ago - a fascinating and somewhat sad life he led, and he was only young when he died (about 40 iirc?) - he did indeed marry his young cousin - just like Jerry Lee Lewis! I guess Poe's marriage must have been legal at that time? (maybe Wiki will answer that question?) but I believe that JLL's marriage was unlawful/illegal due to her young age?

 

I thought the Jerry Lee Lewis comment by Roland Butter was a joke, but apparently it's not! What is it with these people. This, btw, reminded me of the guy whom I came across with when I was doing research on Mistress Masham's Repose. Who was it? Some Garniett person? I think I'm going to look it up now and check out all the different famous people that were mentioned in that article.

 

Poe sounds like a person I want to know more about, I'd definitely read a bio. If anyone's read a great one of him, please recommend titles!

 

I've forgotten what a slam book is. Is it a book of people you want to kill? That's what it sounds like. Wait...I know we've had this conversation before and I think I was way off track thinking it was about killing...Maybe it's the other extreme? (Make love, not war )

 

Definitely make love, not war. Do you think the girls would've thought Rory is writing a list of people she wants to see dead, preferably killing them herself?

 

Slambook is where you come up with a list of questions (name, age, hobbies, who do you fancy, what do you like in a guy/girl, what is your dream vocation, etc.), then you give the book to your friends so they'd answer the questions. It was a very popular thing when I was a teen. I don't know if the American version differs from the Finnish one, though.

 

I wonder if Aussies or Brits 'do' slambooks?

 

That's right! I remembered after I saw your reply that I actually took you to that bookshop! I have a feeling it was nearly closing when we were there, so maybe we didn't get much time to look around (or maybe I'm remembering it wrong and it was already closed so we couldn't go in). The cafe is sort of out the back and the tables are in front of the sci-fi books, so maybe you didn't go to that part (if indeed the shop was open!).

 

Hm, which bookshop was this? Most likely not around where you live, I should imagine.

 

Edit: Kylie, did you find any letters by Poe? Any bios, autobios?

Edited March 11, 2012 by frankie

[chesilbeach]

Six degrees of separation is a theory that everyone can be linked to anyone else on the planet by at most six different relationships, e.g. person 1 linked to person 2 as brother in law, then their cousin is friends with someone who is someone's aunt, etc. There was a famous play written about it, and it was then filmed with Stockard Channing, Donald Sutherland and Will Smith, and there was also another spin off with Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, where any actor could be linked to Kevin Bacon in six steps by looking at who had been in what films, TV programmes or adverts. You can wiki it if you want as well - here's the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_degrees_of_separation

[frankie]

Six degrees of separation is a theory that everyone can be linked to anyone else on the planet by at most six different relationships, e.g. person 1 linked to person 2 as brother in law, then their cousin is friends with someone who is someone's aunt, etc. There was a famous play written about it, and it was then filmed with Stockard Channing, Donald Sutherland and Will Smith, and there was also another spin off with Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, where any actor could be linked to Kevin Bacon in six steps by looking at who had been in what films, TV programmes or adverts. You can wiki it if you want as well - here's the link http://en.wikipedia....s_of_separation

 

Ah, thank you chesilbeach! Now that you've taken time to explain it to me, it does ring a bell. I've heard about it before, but I wasn't familiar with the term itself. I have no idea in which context I've learnt about it, maybe it was when the movie trailor came out and was on TV. It's a really interesting theory.

 

I think it was also used in an episode of Friends (although I don't think it was called the same...?), where Ross and Rachel were on their very famous break and Ross slept with another woman. He was sure Rachel would never find out about it, but Chandler and Joyey knew she would, all they had to do was work out a trail. And yep, the girl was a roommate (?) of a guy who was friends with a masseuse who was a colleague of Phoebe's. Although she didn't tell Phoebe, but she told her friend Gunther, who *tadaa* works at the Central Perk and has always had a huge crush on Rachel. So there.

Edited March 11, 2012 by frankie

[frankie]

I just came back from the library, and I have awesome news. Well, to everyone who lives in Joensuu.

 

The local library is celebrating it's 150th year and as a present for the customers, reserving a book is now free til 29.11!! It normally costs 1e, so I never reserve books but I'm so going to take advantage of this offer!!

 

Now I need to come up with books that are always on loan. And books that are in other remote libraries, not the one I usually frequent. Oh man this is awesome

[Brian.]

I guess I should count myself lucky that my local library doesnt charge for reserving a book. Its all done online so it can be done from the comfort of my chair.

[frankie]

I guess I should count myself lucky that my local library doesnt charge for reserving a book. Its all done online so it can be done from the comfort of my chair.

 

Yes you should, you are very lucky

 

We can also do book reserving online, and I've just spent a while looking at my wishlist and seeing which books I can find at the library (in English). I've now made 7 reservations

 

Merete Mazzarella: Det enda som egentligen händer oss: ett år I livet

Roald Dahl: Matilda (I was looking for it in the library today but could only find a Finnish copy, so I've now reserved an English copy)

Nancy Mitford: The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate (omnibus)

Rosamund Lupton: Sister

Jacques Bonnet: Phantoms on the Bookshelves

Elizabeth Gilbert: Eat, Pray & Love

P. D. James: Death Comes to Pemberley

 

If anyone comes up with a great recommendation, especially 'a book about books' type of recommendation, feel free to suggest titles that I can go look up!

 

(Kylie, they didn't have any Norton Justers in the library )

(Janet, I looked up Tom's Midnight Garden but they only had it in Finnish )

Edited March 13, 2012 by frankie

[vodkafan]

I just came back from the library, and I have awesome news. Well, to everyone who lives in Joensuu.

 

The local library is celebrating it's 150th year and as a present for the customers, reserving a book is now free til 29.11!! It normally costs 1e, so I never reserve books but I'm so going to take advantage of this offer!!

 

Now I need to come up with books that are always on loan. And books that are in other remote libraries, not the one I usually frequent. Oh man this is awesome

 

That's what I like about this place. Only a person on this forum would be so excited about this!! Go for it Frankie

[frankie]

That's what I like about this place. Only a person on this forum would be so excited about this!! Go for it Frankie

 

Thanks vodkafan That's what I like about this forum, too: only on here I can tell people something like this and they are all 'yay! awesome'. When I told this to people on my irc channel, saying that the free reserving lasts til the end of the year, one of them said after browsing the website that 'no, it ends one month before the end of the year' (which is true, I got the date wrong by one month in the library). Then I said to her in a sarcastic 'tone' that well 'bohoo, it's not enough, the whole thing is ruined'. She then said that if she were to reserve a book, she would forget about having it on reservation. I said, 'well then it's going to be a pleasant surprise when you get the notification of the book's arrival?'. And another person wanted to make a reservation but then complained that 'boo, the book is already on loan and there are two people in the queue before me, it's not going to come in time'. I said, 'so what, it's three months in maximum til you get the book, there's plenty of time!'.

 

Talk about finding fault in everything! I almost regret informing people about the whole thing

Edited March 13, 2012 by frankie

[Karsa Orlong]

I just wish I had a library nearby. They closed the local one down about 20 years ago

[frankie]

I just wish I had a library nearby. They closed the local one down about 20 years ago

 

That's sad. I'm heartily against closing of any/all libraries! How far is the nearest library to you now?

 

Two of the reserved books have already arrived at the library, Matilda and Phantoms on the Bookshelves. I'm very excited about both of them

[Karsa Orlong]

That's sad. I'm heartily against closing of any/all libraries! How far is the nearest library to you now?

It's miles away! There was a mobile library used to come around for a while, after the local one shut, and even that stopped after a while.

[chaliepud]

It's miles away! There was a mobile library used to come around for a while, after the local one shut, and even that stopped after a while.

 

It's criminal, our village one is threatened with closure too. I make a point of taking out a few books each week, even if I have no intention of reading them, I know a number of other regulars do too, we need to make it look like it's truly needed! I mainly use it for collecting books I have ordered from other libraries but I know a lot of locals rely on it, especially the elderly community..

[frankie]

It's criminal, our village one is threatened with closure too. I make a point of taking out a few books each week, even if I have no intention of reading them, I know a number of other regulars do too, we need to make it look like it's truly needed! I mainly use it for collecting books I have ordered from other libraries but I know a lot of locals rely on it, especially the elderly community..

 

That's a real shame and criminal, like you said! I really like and admire how you and others keep on borrowing books just to try and help the library stay open. I hope the effort does not go unnoticed and they cancel their plans on closure!

 

Bummer, I've just noticed that the copy of Matilda I got yesterday is a 'Penguin readers level 3' book I never stopped to think and consider which copy to reserve, other than the fact that I want it in English. There are only 40 pages to the copy and Amazon informs me that the unabridged copies have ~240 pages. Shoot! Must take it back and see if they have a 'real' copy of the book.

Edited March 15, 2012 by frankie

[chaliepud]

That's a real shame and criminal, like you said! I really like and admire how you and others keep on borrowing books just to try and help the library stay open. I hope the effort does not go unnoticed and they cancel their plans on closure!

 

Bummer, I've just noticed that the copy of Matilda I got yesterday is a 'Penguin readers level 3' book I never stopped to think and consider which copy to reserve, other than the fact that I want it in English. There are only 40 pages to the copy and Amazon informs me that the unabridged copies have ~240 pages. Shoot! Must take it back and see if they have a 'real' copy of the book.

 

We have a number of celebrities that are no getting involved in trying to save our libraries, but at the end of the day it comes down to money, as always, and libraries are not big profit makers!

 

Bad luck with Matilda, losing approximately 80% of the book wouldn't give you much of a story!

[Kylie]

Bummer, I've just noticed that the copy of Matilda I got yesterday is a 'Penguin readers level 3' book I never stopped to think and consider which copy to reserve, other than the fact that I want it in English. There are only 40 pages to the copy and Amazon informs me that the unabridged copies have ~240 pages. Shoot! Must take it back and see if they have a 'real' copy of the book.

 

Blech. Yep, wait until you get the full version.

 

A similar thing happened to me the other day. I was excited to find Garth Stein's Racing the Rain in the $5 shop. I thought it was strange that it didn't have the full title of The Art of Racing in the Rain but just put it down to being a 'foreign' edition. Then I noticed it said it was a special kid's version.

[Alexi]

I love libraries and my local service is fantastic. Both my parents are big readers but don't use the library (both work long hours, my Dad works away etc) so they buy their books (and I pilfer) but they've always encouraged me to use the service as I have working hours that fit with the library (and also read at a faster pace meaning I go through more than they do).

 

I'm moving into the city in a few months (away from the small town I currently am in) and am investigating the library system way before we move in! I was dreadfully concerned the nearest library was miles away when I clicked to find one in their website, but then I realised the council counts "local" libraries and "central" libraries as in different sections of the website and my local one would be the massive one right in the centre. It always makes me really sad when I hear of local libraries under threat. Obviously I'm not naive and know cuts have to be made at the moment but we're potentially removing a vital service from future generations. Grrrr.

 

I hate shortened versions. I think if kids are old enough to appreciate the story and can't read it themselves get an adult - there are plenty of books designed to be short for kids learning to read.

[frankie]

The Complete Adventures of Blinky Bill

by Dorothy Wall

 

Blurb: The Complete Adventures of Blinky Bill combines in one edition Dorothy Wall’s much-loved classics: Blinky Bill (first published in 1933), Blinky Bill Grows Up (1934) and Blinky Bill and Nutsy (1937). One of the best-loved Australian children’s book characters of all time, this mischievous koala has continued to delight readers of all ages and the books have never been out of print.

 

Thoughts: I got this book on 20 September, 2010, as a part of a Welcome to Australia –pact from the Australian Mistress of Books, our very own Kylie The children’s books that I used to read back in the day did not include such exotic animals as koalas, kangaroos and wombats and to me, as a European, it naturally feels crazy wild that there’s a huge continent full of people who get to see these animals whenever in the zoos and in the wild.

 

It was fun to read about these Australian fellas, and see what kind of traits were pinned to each species and their individuals, me not knowing that much about them beforehand apart from what I learnt while I was in Australia. And it was fun to see what kind of life they supposedly lead in the bush. And it wasn’t all just nice and good fun, there was at least one occasion when the reality set in, but I shan’t say more about that because I believe the mistress herself hasn’t read the books yet.

 

A bit surprisingly Blinky didn’t turn out to be my favourite character. He was a bit too mischievous for me, I guess I had expected him to be a ‘nice hero’. My favourite was Splodge the kangaroo, who at first seemed like a suspicious character but who then turned out to have a knack for certain things.

 

To be honest, I read the book what seems like a really long time ago (I’m sooo far behind on my reviews!) and I don’t remember all the particulars, but I did enjoy reading the book!

 

4/5

[frankie]

Adrian Mole: The Wilderness Years

 

and

 

The Lost Diaries of Adrian Mole 1999-2001

by Sue Townsend

 

The Wilderness Years on Amazon: Mole is back. The fourth novel in the massively popular Adrian Mole series, from internationally bestselling author Sue Townsend. Once again she lets us delve into the hilarious and touching life of a character adored by millions everywhere. Adrian Mole has at last reached physical maturity, but he can't help roaming the pages of his diary like an untamed adolescent. Finally given the heave-ho by Pandora, he seeks solace in the arms of Bianca, a qualified hydraulic engineer masquerading as a waitress. Between his dishwashing job and completing his epic novel, 'Lo! The Flat Hills of My Homeland', Adrian hopes that fame and fortune will not keep him waiting much longer.

 

The Lost Diaries on Amazon: Townsend's hapless nerd (The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole) returns to complete his lengthy and awkward passage from zit-ridden adolescence to angst-ridden manhood. Fans of previous installments will recognize Adrian's familiar provincial funk: still afflicted with literary ambitions as infinite as his accomplishments are infinitesimal, still heartstruck by the frightful Pandora Braithwaite, still laboriously churning out his masterpiece, the vowel-free novel, Lo! The Flat Hills of My Homeland. In fact, even admirers (and newcomers almost certainly) may find the recipe a little too unvarying this time out-particularly since, for an adult, Adrian's obsessions and affectations verge on the desperate or even the pathological. Luckily, Townsend (author also of the deft satire, The Queen and I) eventually seems to realize this too, and in the latter portions of the book adds a few new elements-a real girlfriend or two, sojourns in London, Moscow and Greece, a few unexpected career moves-to her hero's life. It's these scenes that really pay off, for even a comic creation as inspired as Adrian needs the odd change of scene. They also help pave the way for a surprising closing apotheosis that suggests Adrian may yet have some mileage in him as he approaches middle age.

 

Thoughts: Two new-to-me Adrian Mole diaries, and they are as good as ever. They hardly need any explaining, you know what they are like.

 

How do these novels manage to entertain? The protagonist is a very unlikely hero, if I knew him in real life I wouldn’t feel too keen to befriend him. And when I read about him, I kind of feel for him and hope good things would happen to him and life would get going, and then he does something utterly irritating or says something and then I think, ‘oh that’s why’. But it makes highly fun reading. I’ll continue re-reading these diaries til I pass on. I only have one more diary of Mole’s which I haven’t read before, The Prostrate Years. I think I should order that one asap.

 

5/5 and 4/5

Edited March 30, 2012 by frankie

[frankie]

Häräntappoase

by Anna-Leena Härkönen

 

The Finnish author’s debut novel, I believe. I’ve seen the mini TV-series many, many times, and I’ve always thought I should read the book, but haven’t felt too keen on it, having previously read Akvaariorakkautta by the same author and not liking it a bit. Häräntappoase, however, was a pleasant surprise. The TV-series had stayed very true to the novel, and eventhough I normally want to read the book first and then see the series/movie, I liked it that I could picture the characters in my head as the ones on the show (it was a good series anyway). And I could hear the main characters voice in my head when he was telling the story. Also, some of the things that I didn’t understand in the TV-series, were a bit more detailed in the novel and I realised something I’d never understood before. But then again, the last time I watched the series was perhaps 10 years ago.

 

Good stuff. Might give Härkönen’s novels a further go.

 

4/5

[poppyshake]

To be honest, I read the book what seems like a really long time ago (I’m sooo far behind on my reviews!) and I don’t remember all the particulars, but I did enjoy reading the book!

I should copy and paste this at the end of all my reviews

 

Glad you enjoyed the Adrian Mole diaries ... they're always so entertaining. I really want to go back and start again but when Frankie?? They have a special place in my heart because they are the only books my Dad has ever bought for me and he did it because I was quite ill at the time and he thought they'd cheer me up .. he was right they did

[frankie]

I should copy and paste this at the end of all my reviews

 

You are free to do so

 

Glad you enjoyed the Adrian Mole diaries ... they're always so entertaining. I really want to go back and start again but when Frankie?? They have a special place in my heart because they are the only books my Dad has ever bought for me and he did it because I was quite ill at the time and he thought they'd cheer me up .. he was right they did

 

Awww, I see they have a very special meaning to you, that is so sweet

 

When was the last time you re-read a book? I've tried to avoid any re-reading, because of humongous mount TBR, but just recently I remembered how pleasurable re-reading can be! You see, after I read the Adrian Moles, I wanted to read more of Townsend so I picked up The Public Confessions of a Middle-Aged Woman by her, which I liked, and then I had to read The Queen and I because I felt I was on a 'Townsend roll'. And while I was reading about the Queen, I couldn't help but remember reading Alan Bennett's The Uncommon Reader. I've never been into royal people, and when I was reading Queen and I I realised I know nothing about them, and I felt a bit like a uncivil git. As I was curious to learn more I decided to re-read the Bennett book, eventhough I didn't enjoy it all that much the first time. And it paid off! I might not know more about the Queen now, but I loved seeing how she embarked on a quest of reading. It didn't hit home back in 2008, because I wasn't as organized and book-crazed back then as I am now, but this time round I could totally relate to her and found her ponderings very familiar and accurate. And I changed my rating on the book on goodreads from 3/5 to 4/5. It was so lovely, the whole experience of re-reading the book and finding new things in it!

 

(Haha, now I don't have to write a review on the novel, I can just copypaste that ^ )

Edited March 31, 2012 by frankie