Hello readers, Thanks Titan. Hopefully you've wetted the appetites of cautious souls to give these books a look at, particularly "Room" which is short-listed for the Orange prize to be announced 8th June. Yes, Abd, I echo your comment -- a brave novel. I felt similar feelings to you , about possible voyeuristic nature of "The Lovely Bones " when considering reading it. In fact , Titan assured me it wasn't , and thanks to him i read that book and now consider it to be one of the most memorable books i've ever read. Have a happy "Wedding " day folks ! Hopefully, a long and happy 'fairytale' life for the pair of them. Well, we readers do like a happy ending, don't we !
I had trouble with The English Patient. The problem was that I had seen the film before I read the book. And I found the ending a bit odd. It didn't seem to flow naturally from what went before. I gave it another go setting aside the film (which I thought wonderful) and this time I was transported. By the prose, the way of writing that seems to do exactly what the mind does - it keeps coming back to significant events. I think this book benefits from slow, maybe even out loud reading (this is what I did). You know that thing you did at school, where the sense of a written paragraph changes completely depending on the punctuation? Another book full of metaphors (I love them) & rhythm (this is where the reading out loud came in) I still found that the ending jarred, but maybe it was meant to?
Thanks , Abd for your thoughts about 'The English Patient.' I for a change think it best to see the film first, and then book. I find the film memorable, confusing , thoughtful. . . . . . I could go on. After reading the book , I understood so much more -- and went back to view the film with all that background information now enriching my opinion and feelings about the story. Film/Book ? I find myself saying -Both ! The desert setting, with it's stunning cinematic effects is breathtaking , especially if viewed on a full cinema screen. I think also, the right actors for the right parts. Later , when reading the book , you have the characters in your mind's eye. Certain things have been changed in the film version, that's why the book must be read. Key developments don't make it to the screen, and the director must have agonised over how to get as much of the content in as possible. The poetic style and lyricism may not be for everyone. I liked it and felt transported to a different world. For me , my favourite characters were Hana and Kip and it would be great if Michael Ondaatje could write a sequel, catching up with them and their lives. No film this time tho ! His skill with story telling, lyricism and poetry stands alone.
I’m about to embark on “Night Train to Lisbon” by Pascal Mercier. Don’t know if any if you have read it?
What interested me were the opening quotes. « Nuestras vidas son los rios Que van a dare b la ma; Ques el morir.> ~Our lives are rivers gliding free to that unfathomed, boundless sea, the silent grave!
When Raimund walks out of his classroom while giving a lesson, his impulsiveness surprises him as much as it does his students. Armed with a book he discovered in a dusty corner of an old bookshop he boards the night train to Lisbon in search of the author; he is inspired not only by the book, but also that of a mysterious Portuguese woman.
So, I have my feet up for the rest of the weekend, a bar of chocolate and a glass of Red at hand. Doing what I like best, having a good old read.
Morning ncn, Can I come to your house please! Sounds great. You enjoy. I'm just starting to re- read 'Star of the Sea' by Joseph o'Connor. Epic tale about refugees fleeing Irish potato famine , bound for New York in 1847. Don't rush your book , savour it , and will expect your review in due course!
Hi ncn, Hope you're continuing to enjoy the book and refreshments !
I've not done much reading yet, this week-end. Had earmarked it for "tackling the jungle " which masquerades as my garden, w/end, but feel all my "get up and go" feelings , got up and went ! Never mind, there's always tomorrow --- another Bank Holiday!
Have been looking for some more amusing book, library or reading quotes , to make us smile ;
Questions asked of Librarians.
1) Do you have any books here ?
2) Do you have any books here with photos of Dinosaurs ?
3) Where's the power socket for me to plug my hairdryer into ?
4)Do you have that book by Rushdie, 'Satanic Nurses ' ?
5) Do you have a list of all the books I've ever read ?
Amazing ! Must try and get that hospital book by Rushdie, sometime.
You 2 are pests! Having searched high & low for 100 Years of Solitude and Diary of a Nobody (both of which I found) I happened upon Sylvia Plaths's Ariel & not too far away Hughes' Birthday Letters. See you later!
That's fine, Abd. Am pleased for you ! Don't O/D on these challenging works of great literature ! Ah, let me see --- that's, what ? Four reviews from you now I can expect. Enjoy -- will you be having wine and chocolate as well , like ncn !
O'Connor's self-concious epic is worth re-visiting. I found the gallery of Irish stereotypes offputting but it was redeemed by the prose. To neither whitewash the past nor wallow in it is good advice. Reclaim it without shame. But we Irish are a nostalgic nation
Hi readers, I like biographies, do you ? Have been scanning the book page of today's paper and see that the daughter of the late William Golding, Judy Carver, has her family memoir published today. It's interesting, as Lord of the Flies was saved from the slush pile by a new employee of Faber, and after heavy editing, made it to the printers. Judy's book has an interesting title ; " The Children of Lovers. " There is a proverb which says , 'The children of lovers are orphans ' and this is how Judy and her brother David felt , growing up , witnessing the intense love between their parents. Makes you think, doesn't it, in this era when there is so much unhappiness affecting children of divorced parents. So many of them , we know, longing for love to return, and the family restored once more. Their parent's passion gave rise to mental health issues for both the author and her brother. Nevertheless, it looks a fascinating book , and we also learn more about the personality of Golding himself. It must be hard being the children of the famous , even though the "paparazzi" not so powerful in those days. One for the request ticket at the library I think , better not buy it , I'm still wading through Mark Twain! Happy reading, all.
