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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by NikkiT2 on March 21, 2003, at 7:58:40
In reply to Re: several posts at one time? » jane d, posted by fayeroe on March 20, 2003, at 11:22:57
I've given up ont he "Dirty Havana Trilogy"... It might be cos my mood is bad this few weeks, but I just couldn;t get into the book at all.. and I never give up on books, so feel like a failure!! It just didn;t scan at all. Each chapter jumped arund, but gave you no idea of where abouts it was..
So, I;m gonna read magazines for a few days.. a nd then start on "About Schmidt" and see how that goes!!!
Nikki x
Posted by fayeroe on March 21, 2003, at 8:17:33
In reply to Given up on my book!!!, posted by NikkiT2 on March 21, 2003, at 7:58:40
> I've given up ont he "Dirty Havana Trilogy"... It might be cos my mood is bad this few weeks, but I just couldn;t get into the book at all.. and I never give up on books, so feel like a failure!! It just didn;t scan at all. Each chapter jumped arund, but gave you no idea of where abouts it was..
>
> So, I;m gonna read magazines for a few days.. a nd then start on "About Schmidt" and see how that goes!!!
>
> Nikki xNikki, I bet I'm quite a bit older than you and let me tell you , lady, I've given up on quite a few books in this lifetime. Sometimes I've gone back to them, sometimes not. No failure there. Just disinterest. And why struggle with something that we aren't getting into? I counted the books in my bedroom last night that I HAVEN'T read yet and it appalled me...at first. Then I decided there are reasons that I haven't read them and stacked them all back in the bookcase. Then I went back to the news and drifted off to sleep. And who knows, that book might be more interesting in a year or two? Or maybe never. But no failure. Just a detour.xoxoxox and what is more refreshing than a magazine at times? it isn't
"permanent" (next issue will be totally different) and requires not alot of effort. I call them my second vice!! (coffee is my first)
Posted by NikkiT2 on March 21, 2003, at 11:54:43
In reply to Re: Given up on my book!!!, posted by fayeroe on March 21, 2003, at 8:17:33
You're right.. I have given up on books, before, but have always managed them at a later date.. "One flew over the cookoo's nest" was one that took two attempts.. "Lord of the Rings" was one that must ahve taken 3 or 4 attempts.. but is now one of my favourite ever books!!
I just like my books to flow nicely!! I need some kind of time reference... and this book doesn't have that.
I hate not having a book I'm enjoying.. I'm always at my happiest when I have a nice big book (a series is always exciting!) that I'm enjoying... I love to be able to escape from real life into a book. I think thats why I've recently got into more fanstasy style books.. My brother lend me a series of books by Piers Anthony, set between a world in the future, and a magical world.. I loved them!! But my local book shop has a really poor Sci Fi section, so haven't known what books to go for. I guess I like my books slightly magical, thats it!! My favourite author is Isabele Allende ("Eva Luna" and "House of Spirits" being my favourites of hers), and alot fo her writing contains some level of magic. Have you read "Captain Correlis Mandolin"?? Well, the author of this wrote a great trilogy before that.. "Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord ", "The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts " and "The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman". They are simply fantastic.. they don't have to read in any order, but characters from each book travel through the others books.. I loved them!! I just wish he'd hurry up and write more.
"Love in the time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a book I found really beutiful. A love story, but not your usual!"Atonement" by Ian McEwen I liked alot... think that was a book here for me to read.. Then I read "Amsterdam" by him and didn't like it at all.
"K-PAX" and its two sequels gave me some enjoyment last year.. they're mad!! About a guy that turns up at a mental hospital in New York claiming to be an alien from the planet K-PAX.. He appears to be mentally ill, but you're never sure!!!
Crumbs.. I've really wibbled off on one here!! Hope someone can give me some reccomendations based on the ones I've enjoyed most over the past few years!!
Hope I didn;t bore anyone too much!
Nikki xxx
Posted by fayeroe on March 21, 2003, at 12:23:44
In reply to A random post about books... » fayeroe , posted by NikkiT2 on March 21, 2003, at 11:54:43
> You're right.. I have given up on books, before, but have always managed them at a later date.. "One flew over the cookoo's nest" was one that took two attempts.. "Lord of the Rings" was one that must ahve taken 3 or 4 attempts.. but is now one of my favourite ever books!!
>
> I just like my books to flow nicely!! I need some kind of time reference... and this book doesn't have that.
>
> I hate not having a book I'm enjoying.. I'm always at my happiest when I have a nice big book (a series is always exciting!) that I'm enjoying... I love to be able to escape from real life into a book. I think thats why I've recently got into more fanstasy style books.. My brother lend me a series of books by Piers Anthony, set between a world in the future, and a magical world.. I loved them!! But my local book shop has a really poor Sci Fi section, so haven't known what books to go for. I guess I like my books slightly magical, thats it!! My favourite author is Isabele Allende ("Eva Luna" and "House of Spirits" being my favourites of hers), and alot fo her writing contains some level of magic. Have you read "Captain Correlis Mandolin"?? Well, the author of this wrote a great trilogy before that.. "Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord ", "The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts " and "The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman". They are simply fantastic.. they don't have to read in any order, but characters from each book travel through the others books.. I loved them!! I just wish he'd hurry up and write more.
> "Love in the time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a book I found really beutiful. A love story, but not your usual!
>
> "Atonement" by Ian McEwen I liked alot... think that was a book here for me to read.. Then I read "Amsterdam" by him and didn't like it at all.
>
> "K-PAX" and its two sequels gave me some enjoyment last year.. they're mad!! About a guy that turns up at a mental hospital in New York claiming to be an alien from the planet K-PAX.. He appears to be mentally ill, but you're never sure!!!
>
> Crumbs.. I've really wibbled off on one here!! Hope someone can give me some reccomendations based on the ones I've enjoyed most over the past few years!!
>
> Hope I didn;t bore anyone too much!
>
> Nikki xxx
>
> Nikki! Wonderful! I'm always looking for personal references on books and now I have a ton of them! There are some wonderful books about life in San Francisco by a man who's name magically escaped me while I typed. But one of the books is "Babycakes"....BUT they should be read in order!!!!!!! A movie was made in Britain and Olympia Dukakis played one of the main roles. It is delightful. Three videos. Have you read "The Road to Alice"? I'm so much a realist that I don't deal with sci-fi or fantasy too much but am going to check out some that you mentioned. I too am happiest when I am aquiver with joy because it's time to go to bed and read! And my granddaughter, aged 4, is really into books and I'm so glad. "Old Turtle" is the most delightful children's book that I've bought recently for her. I love box turtles and this book is so good. My cats all get ready for bed when they see me get a book and turn the covers back. They know we're in for the long haul. :-) Readers all. Fayeroe just sighs and knows that playtime is over!AND for music...has anyone heard the cover by Primus of "Have a Cigar"..an old Pink Floyd Song? It is playing on my media player now and the bass is just etheral. I understand from my daughter that the Primus bass player is known for his skill. And did Norah Jones win a few Grammys or what? I really enjoy her voice. Does anyone else download and burn cds from the internet? I use Kazaa. xoxoxo pat when you can get 50 blanks for $12...it makes music affordable for those of us who are not wealthy!
Posted by NikkiT2 on March 21, 2003, at 14:45:09
In reply to Re: A random post about books..., posted by fayeroe on March 21, 2003, at 12:23:44
I adore kids books.. and am always buying books for my neices and nephews.. my 11 year old neice is a big book reader so I love hunting out new books for her to read!
If you want to buy a little kids book that will *really* make you laugh, this is hilarious.. "The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business" My 4 year old nephew adored it - not as much as all the adults I showed it to though!!
(added after... Seems its not available at the US Amazon.. but here is a link to the UK one.. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1856024563/drbobsvirtenp-21)Not all the books I mentioed are fantasy.. the Isabelle Allende books aren't really fantasy.. but just a hint of magic in them.. I was once told the genre was "Magical Realism"!!!! Eva Luna, for example, follows the life of a girl in a South American country under a dictator.
Looking forward to getting some money next week so I can go hunt the book shop again!! *l*
Nikki x
Posted by fayeroe on March 21, 2003, at 14:58:19
In reply to Re: A random post about books... » fayeroe , posted by NikkiT2 on March 21, 2003, at 14:45:09
I've heard of the Allende books and will go to library tonight!! I will definitely pursue the mole book for Bella Anne. When I lived on the ranch, the cats would capture small shrews (molelike creatures) and present them on the porch for my morning meal! Needless to say, I admired and thanked but didn't consume! So, she knows all about mole creatures....her apple didn't fall far from the tree on book and animal love! Thank God! pat
Posted by OddipusRex on March 21, 2003, at 16:05:41
In reply to A random post about books... » fayeroe , posted by NikkiT2 on March 21, 2003, at 11:54:43
I like Isabel Allende too. My favorite was House of Spirits. I read it a couple of times.
I liked Garcia Marquez "One Hundred Years of Solitude". I never finished "Love in the time of Cholera". That was one of those books I started and then couldn't quite finish. Maybe I should try again.Thanks for all the great recommendations.
Lately I've read "The Third Policeman" which I heard about here on the board and it was great. I kept thinking how could I not have read this before? And then it started to seem vaguely familiar like maybe I had :)
I also read a "crazy chick" book as I like to call them. "The Moth Diaries" not only had a crazy chick but a vampire too sort of. I really liked it. It didn't get really great reviews but I read it straight through and kept thinking about it later.
I liked a book I read awhile back that seemed a little like magical realism with a Celtic twist. "The Lambs of God" was about three nuns who lived alone and untouched by the outside world in an abandoned nunnery where there faith took some strange turns. It had fairy tales and myths and magic and something to offend the faithful and the faithless I suppose. But it was a good book.
Posted by fayeroe on March 21, 2003, at 16:19:09
In reply to Re: A random post about books... » NikkiT2, posted by OddipusRex on March 21, 2003, at 16:05:41
I've heard good things about the book about the nuns. I'm so pleased about all these recommendations. And don't forget Tom Robbins when you really want to read someone who can turn the language more ways than Carter has little liver pills! Crazy! Thanks again!
Posted by NikkiT2 on March 21, 2003, at 16:41:52
In reply to Re: A random post about books... » NikkiT2, posted by OddipusRex on March 21, 2003, at 16:05:41
"One hundred years of solitude" was great too.. yeah, I forgot that one!! Have you read isabele Allende's new one "City of the Beasts". Its for "younger readers" but I did enjoy it.
Thanks for the heads up on "The Lambs of God", gonna look for that one next week when I visit the store.. really like the sound of it.
Thanks again
Nikki x
Posted by NikkiT2 on March 21, 2003, at 16:43:04
In reply to mole creatures! » NikkiT2, posted by fayeroe on March 21, 2003, at 14:58:19
I know shrews.. they're cute!!!
I think getting kids interested in books is so important.. Harry Potter has been great for that!!
Nikki x
Posted by sienna on March 23, 2003, at 23:42:49
In reply to What are you reading at the moment??, posted by NikkiT2 on March 16, 2003, at 15:43:36
"symbolic logic" by lewis carroll and
"calculus" by larsentrying to read "the age of insecurity" by alan watts too.
sienna
Posted by sienna on March 23, 2003, at 23:45:18
In reply to Re: What are you reading at the moment??, posted by sienna on March 23, 2003, at 23:42:49
the calculus book is text for school.
symbolic logic by lewis carroll is a math book bythe aliceinwonderland guy ;P
the last one is about anxiety in this century...sienna
Posted by sienna on March 26, 2003, at 17:24:35
In reply to Uhm, those links arent to the books i listed..., posted by sienna on March 23, 2003, at 23:45:18
you guys must be trying to get through the symbolic logic book. or godel escher bach or something.... hehe..
sienna *trying to be funny*
Posted by NikkiT2 on March 26, 2003, at 17:41:57
In reply to hmmm...., posted by sienna on March 26, 2003, at 17:24:35
My husband read the "godel escher bach" book while were in Thailand last year.. start ALOT of conversations!!!
Nikki
Posted by beardedlady on March 29, 2003, at 8:46:31
In reply to What are you reading at the moment??, posted by NikkiT2 on March 16, 2003, at 15:43:36
I just finished the wonderful book "The Secret Life of Bees". And now I'm reading "The Lovely Bones". I'm not sure how I feel about it, having only read forty pages.
Before that, I read one of the best books I've ever read (even better than "The House of Sand and Fog": "Middlesex". It's huge but worth every word.
And for "wordophiles," as Shar calls them, there's "The Frog King", which has fabulous words.
beardy : )>
Posted by fayeroe on March 29, 2003, at 12:11:07
In reply to what I'm reading, posted by beardedlady on March 29, 2003, at 8:46:31
> I just finished the wonderful book "The Secret Life of Bees". And now I'm reading "The Lovely Bones". I'm not sure how I feel about it, having only read forty pages.
>
> Before that, I read one of the best books I've ever read (even better than "The House of Sand and Fog": "Middlesex". It's huge but worth every word.
>
> And for "wordophiles," as Shar calls them, there's "The Frog King", which has fabulous words.
>
> beardy : )>beardy, i just figured out your little "face"!!!
tehe.....you've set the bar again with books. I'm reading, pedaling, as fast as I can!! Almost finished the book on writing..I keep going back to re-read portions because the writer is so good, and can't wait to check out some of the books that everyone has mentioned. In fact I may go to the library today!! :-) BUT it is NCAA time and OU is doing so great! Oh, what's a girl to do? pat
Posted by beardedlady on March 29, 2003, at 13:29:40
In reply to Re: what I'm reading » beardedlady, posted by fayeroe on March 29, 2003, at 12:11:07
> you've set the bar again with books. I'm reading, pedaling, as fast as I can!!
Pat:
Don't you mourn the end of a book? Sometimes I don't want to read the last few pages because it will be over, I will be out of my characters' lives forever. I start a couple books at a time so that, when I finish one, I am already in the other life.
>Almost finished the book on writing..I keep going back to re-read portions because the writer is so good, and can't wait to check out some of the books that everyone has mentioned.
I'll have to check out this writing book. I have 100 pages of a novel lying here. I started it in '90, and the AIDS subplot is no longer relevant. I hate that!
>BUT it is NCAA time and OU is doing so great! Oh, what's a girl to do?
Maryland lost to Michigan last night. We are seriously depressed, though two years in a row as champ would seem like too much! : )>
Take care.
beardy : )>
Posted by fayeroe on March 29, 2003, at 13:41:00
In reply to Re: what I'm reading » fayeroe , posted by beardedlady on March 29, 2003, at 13:29:40
> > you've set the bar again with books. I'm reading, pedaling, as fast as I can!!
>
> Pat:
>
> Don't you mourn the end of a book? Sometimes I don't want to read the last few pages because it will be over, I will be out of my characters' lives forever. I start a couple books at a time so that, when I finish one, I am already in the other life.I COULD NOT STAND TO FINISH LONESOME DOVE. I WAS SO IN LOVE WITH GUS THAT MY HORMONES WERE OFF THE CHART!! And "Terms of Endearment" affected me that way. "The World According to Garp" and then John Irving just kept writing them for awhile and I was in hog heaven! Read "The Method Man" by him. One of his earliest and I think some of his best work!
>
> >Almost finished the book on writing..I keep going back to re-read portions because the writer is so good, and can't wait to check out some of the books that everyone has mentioned.
>
> I'll have to check out this writing book. I have 100 pages of a novel lying here. I started it in '90, and the AIDS subplot is no longer relevant. I hate that!I've been working on a book about Indian rodeo for over 10 years. Broke my ankle, had a mastectomy and then got rocky mountain spotted tick fever....sidetracked a few times! Oh, yes and I'm a depressed sister!
>
> >BUT it is NCAA time and OU is doing so great! Oh, what's a girl to do?
>
> Maryland lost to Michigan last night. We are seriously depressed, though two years in a row as champ would seem like too much! : )>Please don't hate me but I picked Michigan....Our Big 12 has three teams that could possibly go to the final four! How's that for Southern kickass ballplaying??????? :-))I'm going over to my daughter's house to watch Kansas play Arizona. I pick Kansas.
xoxoxofayerodey
>
>
Posted by NikkiT2 on March 30, 2003, at 9:02:23
In reply to Re: what I'm reading » fayeroe , posted by beardedlady on March 29, 2003, at 13:29:40
"Don't you mourn the end of a book? Sometimes I don't want to read the last few pages because it will be over, I will be out of my characters' lives forever. "
Oh.. I do that sooo often!! My hubby will often find my in tears at the end of a book.. and all because I am sad at finishing it. So often, the characters in a book become my friends.. and to leave them is awful!! Thats why I get so excited about finding a series of books.. so that I can look foward to "meeting" the characters again!
Gonna look for some of the books you'ce reccomended at the book shop on tuesday :o) I really need a good book to restore my faith in authors again!! *lol*
Thanks for posting
Nikki xxx
Posted by beardedlady on March 30, 2003, at 10:23:18
In reply to Re: what I'm reading » beardedlady, posted by NikkiT2 on March 30, 2003, at 9:02:23
>Thats why I get so excited about finding a series of books.. so that I can look foward to "meeting" the characters again!
Me too, but I can only find them in serial killer novels and Harry Potter!
> Gonna look for some of the books you'ce reccomended at the book shop on tuesday :o) I really need a good book to restore my faith in authors again!! *lol*
I don't know what kind of fiction you like, but, even though this was an Oprah book, I really recommend that Andre Dubus book, The House of Sand and Fog. (I linked it above.) It's sad, maddening, disturbing, and creepy, so if you're looking for a happy book, fagetabowdit. For something more uplifting, though still very sad in its way, The Secret Life of Bees. For something totally silly and totally "men are idiots," The Frog King (about a guy who treats his girlfriend like dirt and deserves all the bad crap that happens to him), this will make you laugh.
But really, best book I've ever read, Middlesex, by the guy who wrote Virgin Suicides. It's huge--500 pages. But the writing--if you want to read a writer who can really write, who has an excellent vocabulary, who combines historical events with bizarre ideas and makes them come alive (this is, after all, about a hermaphrodite), this book's for you. I want everyone to read it. My mom's reading it now and can't believe how right I was (we have totally different taste, but she loved Sand and Fog as much as I did).
> Thanks for posting
Nikki, it's always a pleasure to read your posts. You have great spunk!
beardy : )>
Posted by fayeroe on March 30, 2003, at 11:03:36
In reply to books to read » NikkiT2, posted by beardedlady on March 30, 2003, at 10:23:18
> >Thats why I get so excited about finding a series of books.. so that I can look foward to "meeting" the characters again!
>
> Me too, but I can only find them in serial killer novels and Harry Potter!
>
> > Gonna look for some of the books you'ce reccomended at the book shop on tuesday :o) I really need a good book to restore my faith in authors again!! *lol*
>
> I don't know what kind of fiction you like, but, even though this was an Oprah book, I really recommend that Andre Dubus book, The House of Sand and Fog. (I linked it above.) It's sad, maddening, disturbing, and creepy, so if you're looking for a happy book, fagetabowdit. For something more uplifting, though still very sad in its way, The Secret Life of Bees. For something totally silly and totally "men are idiots," The Frog King (about a guy who treats his girlfriend like dirt and deserves all the bad crap that happens to him), this will make you laugh.
>
> But really, best book I've ever read, Middlesex, by the guy who wrote Virgin Suicides. It's huge--500 pages. But the writing--if you want to read a writer who can really write, who has an excellent vocabulary, who combines historical events with bizarre ideas and makes them come alive (this is, after all, about a hermaphrodite), this book's for you. I want everyone to read it. My mom's reading it now and can't believe how right I was (we have totally different taste, but she loved Sand and Fog as much as I did).
>
> > Thanks for posting
>
> Nikki, it's always a pleasure to read your posts. You have great spunk!
>
> beardy : )>i'm jumping in again on books that i don't want to end...Armistead Maupin wrote a series of books about gay life in San Francisco...my bookseller in Taos handed me one that was actually in the middle of the series and i ran the battery down on my truck reading it. i was at an indian rodeo in Window Rock, Arizona and read in my camper til my lights went out and then read by flashlight. i could hear the stock producer's workers creeping around and whispering because they thought i was asleep!!! little did they know that i was in SF, living with all these characters and smelling the ocean and going up and down the hills and careening through their lives with them!! if you like series.......oh my Lord, you'll love these.
easy to read but totally engrossing. pat
>
>
Posted by mair on March 30, 2003, at 12:02:03
In reply to Re: books to read, posted by fayeroe on March 30, 2003, at 11:03:36
Thanks ladies for suggesting some good books. I've been in a horrible drought for a long time. My favorite John Irving book was "A Prayer for Owen Meany" which we read as a group on this Board about a year ago (a second reading for me.) I guess one of the best books I've ever read would have to be "Stones from the River" by Ursula Hegi. I thought it was a pretty remarkable story. Also a great book for women in particular is the "Sixteen Pleasures", even if it was written by a man. It's about a woman who goes to Florence to help in a post-flood art/book restoration project.
On another topic, my husband and I can't believe how many tournament games have been real cliffhangers. It's great to see so much parity. We all love March Madness here.
Mair
Posted by fayeroe on March 30, 2003, at 12:22:05
In reply to Re: books to read, posted by mair on March 30, 2003, at 12:02:03
> Thanks ladies for suggesting some good books. I've been in a horrible drought for a long time. My favorite John Irving book was "A Prayer for Owen Meany" which we read as a group on this Board about a year ago (a second reading for me.) I guess one of the best books I've ever read would have to be "Stones from the River" by Ursula Hegi. I thought it was a pretty remarkable story. Also a great book for women in particular is the "Sixteen Pleasures", even if it was written by a man. It's about a woman who goes to Florence to help in a post-flood art/book restoration project.
>
> On another topic, my husband and I can't believe how many tournament games have been real cliffhangers. It's great to see so much parity. We all love March Madness here.
>
> MairMair: was the Kansas-Arizona game unreal or what?
I was trying to make notecards and found myself just paralyzed listening to the game on my computer! I'm going to my daughter's today to see the OU game! I'm a Sooner born!!!
Posted by NikkiT2 on March 30, 2003, at 13:16:41
In reply to Re: books to read » mair, posted by fayeroe on March 30, 2003, at 12:22:05
Posted by NikkiT2 on March 30, 2003, at 13:49:21
In reply to books to read » NikkiT2, posted by beardedlady on March 30, 2003, at 10:23:18
I've made a note in my diary of both "house of Sand and Fog" and "Middlesex" (which sounds great!)... off to book shop on Monday or tuesday, so will let you know how I get on! *g*
I do like a nice big book that will last.. though I often have to butcher them and cut them in half as my wrists don't have the strength to hold big ones!
Nikki xx
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