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edited by S.T. Joshi
Lots of works compiled together here - the enormous luggage we carry on our backs for all to read.
10/16/12
The Marriage Plot
by Jeffery Eugenides
Loving this one so far. Day 1.5 and 132 pages in.
Sentences like this: "Since coming east to college, Mitchell had been trying to wash the Midwest off of himself. Sitting around Larry's room, drinking the muddy espresso Larry made and hearing him talk about "the theater of the absurd," seemed like a good way to start."
...and this one is a minor bit - some of the power-packed punches are delightful to read, as if swirling a refined red about on the tongue. So far, a very nice read for me that I am having trouble putting down.
Now finished with the novel, I have to admit I was engrossed because it seemed like a story I would have written although the ending was lacking a sentence to two to make it seem more real. Also, I have to add, often times a male author can not adequately capture thoughts and feelings that a woman would have but Eugenides handled this taks with confident ease. Although a beach book but of higher class, I still enjoyed the reading.
...yikes, as the sediment of this book sinks lower I am struck by many different ideas. The main characters and their intertwining plot lines, or lack thereof, the availability of a religious experience for an american man in India or anywhere for that matter, the choices a woman has to decide between at all stages of her life - marriage, work, self, children. Ugh. What I really wish to do is devote myself to the religious experience of reading and writing but, alas, I can not at this point due to, you guessed it, marriage, work, self, children. Ugh.
Loving this one so far. Day 1.5 and 132 pages in.
Sentences like this: "Since coming east to college, Mitchell had been trying to wash the Midwest off of himself. Sitting around Larry's room, drinking the muddy espresso Larry made and hearing him talk about "the theater of the absurd," seemed like a good way to start."
...and this one is a minor bit - some of the power-packed punches are delightful to read, as if swirling a refined red about on the tongue. So far, a very nice read for me that I am having trouble putting down.
Now finished with the novel, I have to admit I was engrossed because it seemed like a story I would have written although the ending was lacking a sentence to two to make it seem more real. Also, I have to add, often times a male author can not adequately capture thoughts and feelings that a woman would have but Eugenides handled this taks with confident ease. Although a beach book but of higher class, I still enjoyed the reading.
...yikes, as the sediment of this book sinks lower I am struck by many different ideas. The main characters and their intertwining plot lines, or lack thereof, the availability of a religious experience for an american man in India or anywhere for that matter, the choices a woman has to decide between at all stages of her life - marriage, work, self, children. Ugh. What I really wish to do is devote myself to the religious experience of reading and writing but, alas, I can not at this point due to, you guessed it, marriage, work, self, children. Ugh.
10/13/12
The Most Dangerous Thing
by Laura Lippman
I don't believe I have read anything by this author before and, although not so totally unimpressed that I would make note to not pick up another chance, this novel was an ok idea paired with a soft editor.
Lippman uses a certain phrase technique too often - repeating her character's thoughts in an immediately following sentence of dialog as well as other repeats that assume the reader does not have a proper attention span. While childish the second time I noticed it, by the third instance I was insulted and annoyed. The story line could have been hidden much better and still kept the book at a decent length, ie. not running longer, if many inner thoughts were kept at a minimum. Perhaps more example and less he thinks this, she thinks that? Not sure if this would have helped in the end anyway because the plot was not complex and the reader doesn't end up with much pull towards any one character.
While this may be fine for a summer read beach book, I wouldn't call it literature or publish it with my name or company's name on it.
I don't believe I have read anything by this author before and, although not so totally unimpressed that I would make note to not pick up another chance, this novel was an ok idea paired with a soft editor.
Lippman uses a certain phrase technique too often - repeating her character's thoughts in an immediately following sentence of dialog as well as other repeats that assume the reader does not have a proper attention span. While childish the second time I noticed it, by the third instance I was insulted and annoyed. The story line could have been hidden much better and still kept the book at a decent length, ie. not running longer, if many inner thoughts were kept at a minimum. Perhaps more example and less he thinks this, she thinks that? Not sure if this would have helped in the end anyway because the plot was not complex and the reader doesn't end up with much pull towards any one character.
While this may be fine for a summer read beach book, I wouldn't call it literature or publish it with my name or company's name on it.
10/10/12
The House I Loved
by Tatiana De Rosnay
Couldn't get through the first chapter. Too ewwww feminine. Also, written as letters to a dead husband was not interesting. I already know how the book would end by the title and first few pages. Perhaps I will try again when I am in a more flowery mood, but I doubt it at this moment.
Couldn't get through the first chapter. Too ewwww feminine. Also, written as letters to a dead husband was not interesting. I already know how the book would end by the title and first few pages. Perhaps I will try again when I am in a more flowery mood, but I doubt it at this moment.
Imagine: How Creativity Works
by Jonah Lehrer
So interesting! I'd like to read passages out loud to family and friends to share the information. Lehrer has massed together so many different sources who they themselves had researched in depth. A book worth looking over just for the positive human interaction advice alone.
So interesting! I'd like to read passages out loud to family and friends to share the information. Lehrer has massed together so many different sources who they themselves had researched in depth. A book worth looking over just for the positive human interaction advice alone.
10/5/12
The Talented Miss Highsmith: The Secret Life and Serious Art of Patricia Highsmith
by Joan Schenkar
I hadn't read The Talented Mr. Ripley, Highsmith's most famous book, but I was drawn to this biography because of its sheer size. Wow, what author contributed enough information about themselves to inspire the creation of such a behemoth? The answer? Not Ms. Highsmith. It was her infatuated biographer who was dazed enough to write details like what was eaten for breakfast and even what the writer's thoughts had been. How can one do this, exactly? But studying the minutia of a life, that is how. I finished about half of the book before having enough without getting anywhere. Yes, a very interesting and one-of-a-kind life Patricia Highsmith had but under the pen of Schenkar I was bored as if she were an acquaintance droning on and on about a lost love.
I hadn't read The Talented Mr. Ripley, Highsmith's most famous book, but I was drawn to this biography because of its sheer size. Wow, what author contributed enough information about themselves to inspire the creation of such a behemoth? The answer? Not Ms. Highsmith. It was her infatuated biographer who was dazed enough to write details like what was eaten for breakfast and even what the writer's thoughts had been. How can one do this, exactly? But studying the minutia of a life, that is how. I finished about half of the book before having enough without getting anywhere. Yes, a very interesting and one-of-a-kind life Patricia Highsmith had but under the pen of Schenkar I was bored as if she were an acquaintance droning on and on about a lost love.
9/26/12
A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar
By Suzanne Johnson
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I should have written about it just after completion because I know I had things to say about it but, of course didn't and now don't remember the specifics. An interesting trollop though a different country and time from the viewpoint of a believable and likable character.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I should have written about it just after completion because I know I had things to say about it but, of course didn't and now don't remember the specifics. An interesting trollop though a different country and time from the viewpoint of a believable and likable character.
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