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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 2 to 26 of 28. Go back in thread:
Posted by Dinah on January 8, 2003, at 10:07:36
In reply to Some suggestions..., posted by Rach on January 8, 2003, at 3:48:33
Bless you, Rach! Nominations seem to have dried up, although there were some titles discussed earlier. Can you tell us something about the books you mentioned?
Posted by Dr. Bob on January 9, 2003, at 1:52:38
In reply to Some suggestions..., posted by Rach on January 8, 2003, at 3:48:33
[from http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/books/20020616/msgs/808.html]
> Okay, I'll try to come up with something. One of my favorite books is Wally Lamb's "I Know This Much is True". But it's long and I've read it twice. Plus, I released it in the wild (see bookcrossings.com) so I don't have a copy. I'll get back to you after I do some research! Thanks
Posted by Dr. Bob on January 9, 2003, at 1:59:51
In reply to Some suggestions..., posted by Rach on January 8, 2003, at 3:48:33
> The sheltering sky by Paul Bowles
> In the lake of the woods by Tim O'Brien
> The drowner by Robert DreweI'd just like to plug the double double quotes feature:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon
But I don't mean to be pushy. Did you deliberately not use it to link to Amazon? If so, I'd be interested in why, over at Psycho-Babble Administration:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7717.html
Thanks!
Bob
Posted by junie on January 9, 2003, at 7:03:00
In reply to Some suggestions..., posted by Rach on January 8, 2003, at 3:48:33
I'm not familiar with any of those but like somebody else said, that's the exciting part of being in a book club-something you wouldn't normally read or haven't found for yourself. I'm game!! Thanks Rach for the suggestions!
Posted by Ritch on January 9, 2003, at 10:19:38
In reply to Some suggestions..., posted by Rach on January 8, 2003, at 3:48:33
Ok, I have mentioned this one before. I feel somewhat self-conscious about nominating it. Haven't read it. Never had read any of Hunter S. Thompson's stuff. I just saw Johnny Dep in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", and thought his view of the world was the most interesting shade of black I have ever seen. Might be too disturbing for most folks-might be too disturbing for me! There are a lot of disturbing things going on in the world right now. OH well, damn the torpedoes!
Posted by NikkiT2 on January 9, 2003, at 10:57:43
In reply to Nominate Hell's Angels but..., posted by Ritch on January 9, 2003, at 10:19:38
I loved "Fear and loathing in las vegas" and read it before seeing the movie.. loved the movie too.. have some very interesting photos from the Flamingo Hilton in Vegas cos of it!!! *lol*
Thanks for the idea.. I'll probably go ahead and read it now anyway!! :o)
Nikki x
Posted by NikkiT2 on January 9, 2003, at 10:59:36
In reply to Some suggestions..., posted by Rach on January 8, 2003, at 3:48:33
"The sheltering sky" by Paul Bowles
"In the lake of the woods" by Tim O'Brien
"The drowner" by Robert Drewe
Posted by Dr. Bob on January 9, 2003, at 18:28:06
In reply to Links to Rach's books, posted by NikkiT2 on January 9, 2003, at 10:59:36
[from http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/books/20020616/msgs/818.html]
> I will vote for In the Lake of the Woods.
Posted by Dr. Bob on January 9, 2003, at 18:40:00
In reply to Re: I don't like nominating books... « junie, posted by Dr. Bob on January 9, 2003, at 18:28:06
[from http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/books/20020616/msgs/816.html]
> I think the deadline was today, wasn't it Dr. Bob?
It was supposed to be midnight 1/8, but how about if we extend it 3 days to allow time for more discussion?
Bob
Posted by Dr. Bob on January 11, 2003, at 4:45:51
In reply to Some suggestions..., posted by Rach on January 8, 2003, at 3:48:33
[from http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/books/20020616/msgs/827.html]
> I need to add a disclaimer here. I didn't read the past nominations and I don't even know what the other books have been. So I nominate:
>
> The Death of Vishnu (Manil Suri)
> A Thousand Acres (Jane Smiley)
> Fast Food Nation (Eric Schlosser)
> The Hours: I don't remember who wrote it am to lazy to look. But I've wanted to read it again because I was on Tegretol on the time! A plus (?)is that the movie has just came out. But we wouldn't want any cheaters. Maybe we could have a quiz!
Posted by Dr. Bob on January 11, 2003, at 14:57:49
In reply to Re: voting ends 1/11, discussion starts 2/11?, posted by Dr. Bob on January 9, 2003, at 18:40:00
Posted by Dinah on January 11, 2003, at 15:38:09
In reply to Re: voting ends midnight tonight (nm), posted by Dr. Bob on January 11, 2003, at 14:57:49
That's my vote. It was a tough call though. The Hours also looked interesting.
Posted by Jonathan on January 11, 2003, at 18:40:23
In reply to Dinah, you're so persuasive! « Kar, posted by Dr. Bob on January 11, 2003, at 4:45:51
Kar > ... I nominate:
>
> "The Death of Vishnu (Manil Suri)"
> "A Thousand Acres (Jane Smiley)"
> "Fast Food Nation (Eric Schlosser)"
> The Hours: I don't remember who wrote it am to lazy to look. But I've wanted to read it again because I was on Tegretol on the time! A plus (?)is that the movie has just came out ( http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005JKTH/drbobsvirte00-20 ). But we wouldn't want any cheaters. Maybe we could have a quiz!This is the paperback edition "The Hours (Michael Cunningham)".
The hardcover edition is out of print but the Amazon link includes a short excerpt - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0374172897/drbobsvirte00-20 .Amazon UK link - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1841150355/drbobsvirtenp-21 .
I nearly voted for "The Hours", especially since I shall probably see the film soon and would like to read the book first. It was a close decision, but in the end I decided that my vote goes to ...
Posted by Jonathan on January 11, 2003, at 18:42:15
In reply to Amazon link for 'The Hours' by Michael Cunningham, posted by Jonathan on January 11, 2003, at 18:40:23
... "In the Lake of the Woods" by Tim O'Brien.
Posted by Rach on January 12, 2003, at 0:59:23
In reply to Links to Rach's books, posted by NikkiT2 on January 9, 2003, at 10:59:36
Slap my wrist. I wasn't sure how to do it and so I was lazy. Instead of figuring out how I just posted without doing it.
I promise from here on in I will always link any books I mention to amazon.
Posted by Kar on January 12, 2003, at 1:03:18
In reply to Amazon link for 'The Hours' by Michael Cunningham, posted by Jonathan on January 11, 2003, at 18:40:23
Posted by mashogr8 on January 12, 2003, at 19:17:46
In reply to I'm sorry Dr Bob..., posted by Rach on January 12, 2003, at 0:59:23
I don't know what happened to my post which was accepted last Friday but for what it's worth, I voted for "Hell's Angels".
Since I don't see it there I assume it must be lost in cyberspace :(
MA
Posted by Dr. Bob on January 13, 2003, at 5:10:59
In reply to Hell's ANgels, posted by mashogr8 on January 12, 2003, at 19:17:46
> I don't know what happened to my post which was accepted last Friday but for what it's worth, I voted for "Hell's Angels".
Sorry about that, I don't know what happened, either. But still it looks like it's 3-2 in favor of "In the Lake of the Woods". Maybe try again next time?
Bob
Posted by Jonathan on February 8, 2003, at 0:08:20
In reply to Thanks for that, Jonathon (nm), posted by Kar on January 12, 2003, at 1:03:18
Posted by Dr. Bob on February 11, 2003, at 17:52:20
In reply to In the Lake of the Woods discussion starts 2/11, posted by Dr. Bob on January 13, 2003, at 5:10:59
Posted by Rach on February 11, 2003, at 19:40:02
In reply to Re: So, what did you all think? (nm), posted by Dr. Bob on February 11, 2003, at 17:52:20
As I nominated it, I guess we all know I think it's an interesting book.
So does everyone agree with me?
Posted by Ritch on February 12, 2003, at 8:48:34
In reply to In the Lake of the Woods... My thoughts (kind of), posted by Rach on February 11, 2003, at 19:40:02
> As I nominated it, I guess we all know I think it's an interesting book.
>
> So does everyone agree with me?Yes, I liked the book. I had to laugh when I saw the fiction/nonfiction "device" with the footnotes because we squawked here about footnotes in "Awakenings". It was just funny to see the author talking *about* his own book in a footnote-yet staying *inside* the story. One of the "quotes" from another book that seemed to hit on the central idea of this "fiction" was this: "If you cannot believe in something produced by reconstruction, you may have nothing left to believe in" (from The Historical Jesus). There are a lot of religious connotations in there, but I would have to re-read it to hammer them down. The ideas of a "Lost Election", "Illusion of Death and Resurrection", "It was Sin pure and simple", "Bear witness to the mystery of evil", "Vets with PTSD should avoid churches that believe in evil as an external force", "The notion of confession felt odd. No trapdoors, no secret wires." The "lost election" is the hingepin somehow. I noticed how I wanted to keep believing "the alternate explanations" and that his wife was either just lost or had abandoned him. Another weird thing-I remember when that homeless Vietnam Vet involved with the My Lai massacre was shot in that fight over vodka being on TV. That was so sad and creepy.
Posted by Rach on February 12, 2003, at 21:05:29
In reply to Re: In the Lake of the Woods... My thoughts (kind of) » Rach, posted by Ritch on February 12, 2003, at 8:48:34
One thing I find interesting is that it doesn't matter which of the alternate explanations is most plausible or what actually 'occurred'. The scary fact remains that any of them are possible, that John & Kathy (and thus people in general) are capable of those acts. And there seems to be that delicate line for John between reality and falling into this dreamworld state of fantasy. The reader is along for the ride. Where is the truth? How can you pinpoint it?
Posted by Ritch on February 13, 2003, at 10:31:41
In reply to Re: In the Lake of the Woods... My thoughts (kind of), posted by Rach on February 12, 2003, at 21:05:29
> One thing I find interesting is that it doesn't matter which of the alternate explanations is most plausible or what actually 'occurred'. The scary fact remains that any of them are possible, that John & Kathy (and thus people in general) are capable of those acts. And there seems to be that delicate line for John between reality and falling into this dreamworld state of fantasy. The reader is along for the ride. Where is the truth? How can you pinpoint it?
I was thinking similar things for awhile. That he was making a point about all that is real being what we can remember (or reconstruct), and it is all a big subjective dreamy, inconclusive reality all around us. But after I finished the book I chnaged my mind. I think John *did* kill his wife and that the author gave us all of these alternative outcomes to illustrate how people attempt to "block out" evil and "consciously forget" (push the 'erase' button). It illustrates our immense capacity for DOUBT and HOPE. We don't *want* to *believe* that he killed his wife and he gave us comforting alternatives to that reality.
Posted by Rach on February 13, 2003, at 23:31:54
In reply to Re: In the Lake of the Woods... My thoughts (kind of) » Rach, posted by Ritch on February 13, 2003, at 10:31:41
> I was thinking similar things for awhile. That he was making a point about all that is real being what we can remember (or reconstruct), and it is all a big subjective dreamy, inconclusive reality all around us. But after I finished the book I chnaged my mind. I think John *did* kill his wife and that the author gave us all of these alternative outcomes to illustrate how people attempt to "block out" evil and "consciously forget" (push the 'erase' button). It illustrates our immense capacity for DOUBT and HOPE. We don't *want* to *believe* that he killed his wife and he gave us comforting alternatives to that reality.
>Wow, I love this! Yep, I am definitely one often accused of hoping the best about people. Now I want to reread it.
At the end, though, the 'author' did offer up a lot of hope and suggestion that John may not have done it. It's not like there was a mere hint of suggestion, he actually writes 'is it possible that even to John Wade everything was the purest puzzle?'
Here's an interesting question for this board. 'Does happiness strain credibility?'
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