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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 7 to 31 of 34. Go back in thread:
Posted by fayeroe on March 30, 2004, at 18:38:12
In reply to reading and what gets in the way...., posted by Jai Narayan on March 30, 2004, at 18:27:15
Jai: I have property in another state and I really can't afford it...so it's been for sale. At last someone has stepped up and offered me a decent price for it. The place really means a lot to me because I moved there after my divorce and developed it into a really nice home for myself and my animals. THEN my mother became ill and I broke my ankle (as in my foot was upside down) and was in a wheelchair for months.......moved back to care for my mom and then my children had various and sundry things happening and I never had the chance to get my life back, as it had been.....so I had to sell the house and orchard!!! But when it sells, I'm moving back to the old homestead ranch and go and finish a nursing degree so then I can care for people in a more physical way than now....does any of this make any sense?????
p.s. thank you for your kind words earlier. they warmed my little heart very much~~~~~~
Posted by octopusprime on March 30, 2004, at 20:43:30
In reply to Re: Who read what, posted by rainyday on March 30, 2004, at 18:23:19
> Plus I have never read any Beat poets or authors. Any suggestions....well rainyday
i read "on the road" right before i went on a road trip and it was brilliant, fascinating, insightful, everything i wanted in a book. highly recommended. (i wish i hadn't given away my copy so i could re-read it ... it must have been three years ago now that i read that book)
so i went back to kerouac and tried to read some more. i read "orpheus emerged", a "lost" early book. it was dull and plodding. none of the characters came to life. boring. not recommended.
then i tried a later book, "desolation angels". i quit this book after 75 pages. this book includes page long screeds of the dude going mad from loneliness in the mountains. these screeds do not include periods or paragraphs. as a female, i find periods reassuring and require them in my novels. not recommended.
i will happily take other recommendations though ...
Posted by octopusprime on March 30, 2004, at 20:47:03
In reply to Who read what, posted by rainyday on March 29, 2004, at 19:55:10
rainyday: just thought i would let you know what i am currently reading.
right now i am reading "lake wobegon days" by garrison keillor. it's kind of interesting, a collection of (i believe) fictionalized anecdotes about small town minnesota written in a journalistic historical style.
i loved loved loved the last book i finished, which was "a year in provence", and now i am ready to vacation in the south of france.
i can go further back if you want ... the last few good books i read were "love in the time of cholera" and "a farewell to arms"
Posted by rainyday on March 31, 2004, at 6:29:15
In reply to other books » rainyday, posted by octopusprime on March 30, 2004, at 20:47:03
I enjoyed those first two as well. Peter Mayle has another one out in paperback about an art dealer. Something about Cezanne, but I can't recall the proper name.
Can't quite recall MY name, this morning. A little loopy.
Posted by fayeroe on March 31, 2004, at 7:07:44
In reply to Re: other books » octopusprime, posted by rainyday on March 31, 2004, at 6:29:15
I guess even if I can't concentrate enough to read a book, I can comment on books I've read....I always enjoy Tom Robbins because he takes me out of my mid-bible belt Okie life to places that I would go if I could. Ayn Rand!!!!! Read here when I was very young.........and I lived on a ranch and had never even thought of life as she wrote about it!! Fabulous! Anne Tyler for family stuff.......Annie Proulx is so good.........AND I will "secretly" confess to reading every true crime book that I can get my little mitts on. I know more about Ted Bundy than anyone else on my block!!! Probably more than anyone else in Oklahoma....I do tend to look at people more suspiciously than I did before I started reading about real crime. It's a little different than Clouseau..(sp?)And you know my taste in poets. John Irving really used to tickle me. But then he got weird for me. But I loved "Method Man" and others of that time period. "Garp" and "Hotel New Hampshire" were fabulous. Last but not LEAST is "Confederancy of Dunces"........PLEASE let it be made into a movie and let us Babblers pick the cast!!!!
Posted by rainyday on March 31, 2004, at 7:21:57
In reply to Re: other books » rainyday, posted by fayeroe on March 31, 2004, at 7:07:44
John Irving's "The Fourth Hand" was different and very good. And I loved "Cider House Rules". "Garp" is a perennial favourite that I reread every few years.
I went through a true crime phase - owned all the Ann Rule books. Then I went on to Patricia Cornwell. Now I don't know what attracts me.
I used to be in a book club but I scared myself out of going (too many bossy women in one room!).
Posted by octopusprime on March 31, 2004, at 10:57:53
In reply to Re: other books » octopusprime, posted by rainyday on March 31, 2004, at 6:29:15
i think you're looking for "chasing cezanne" - he's a mystery writer. myself i will be trying to dig up "toujours provence" soon!
Posted by tinydancer on March 31, 2004, at 12:03:36
In reply to Who read what, posted by rainyday on March 29, 2004, at 19:55:10
I'm currently reading "Random Family" and have "A Kind of Flying" lined up to read next. Random Family is really gritty but I miss a sense of emotion in the writing-the author is a journalist.
Posted by fayeroe on March 31, 2004, at 17:50:16
In reply to Re: other books » fayeroe, posted by rainyday on March 31, 2004, at 7:21:57
When I get back on track, I'll try the John Irving book. I really do enjoy him. The name of the older book is "The Water Method Man"....I think I made a mistake on the title.....
Posted by Karen_kay on April 1, 2004, at 6:46:33
In reply to other books » rainyday, posted by octopusprime on March 30, 2004, at 20:47:03
"lake wobegon days" you say? wowsa! I love garrison keillor! used to get up early on saturdays just to listen to prairy home companion on NPR. Have you seen a picture of him? My old man found a pic of him and we were so surprised we hung in on our fridge for months. "Were the children are above average...." I noticed my friend's roomate had the book, guess I'll have to get it. Thanks for suggesting it.
Posted by terrics on April 1, 2004, at 16:37:52
In reply to Who read what, posted by rainyday on March 29, 2004, at 19:55:10
How about Drowning Ruth. Excellent fascinating, and also depressing. terrics
Posted by Dr. Bob on April 1, 2004, at 16:52:54
In reply to Re: Who read what » fayeroe, posted by rainyday on March 30, 2004, at 7:45:26
> I think The Life of Pi was a difficult read anyhow...
I'd just like to plug the double double quotes feature at this site:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon
The first time anyone refers to a book without using this option, I post this to try to make sure he or she at least knows about it. It's just an option, though, and doesn't *have* to be used. If people *choose* not to use it, I'd be interested why not, but I'd like that redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7717.html
Thanks!
Bob
Posted by fayeroe on April 3, 2004, at 8:33:33
In reply to Re: other books » rainyday, posted by fayeroe on March 31, 2004, at 17:50:16
Have you read Annie Proulx? "The Shipping News"
Posted by terrics on April 3, 2004, at 10:10:17
In reply to Re: other books, posted by fayeroe on April 3, 2004, at 8:33:33
re: The Shipping News
Is it any good? Can you give a little hint what it is about?ps I cannot do the double double quotes. A little dense maybe? terrics
Posted by fayeroe on April 3, 2004, at 11:16:12
In reply to Re: other books » fayeroe, posted by terrics on April 3, 2004, at 10:10:17
> re: The Shipping News
> Is it any good? Can you give a little hint what it is about?
>
> ps I cannot do the double double quotes. A little dense maybe? terricsI'm at a total loss about what it is about.....not a good day. BUT it is VERY good...at least the brain remembers that. And she has a book of short stories, out of print, that has a story "Brokeback Mountain" about ranch cowboys that is more than gripping. YOU must read it!!! I have "That Old Ace in The Hole" by her now and when my foggy brain clears, somewhat, I'll read it.......I haven't progressed at all on "Life of Pi">>>>>>Pat
Posted by karen_kay on April 3, 2004, at 13:21:27
In reply to Re: other books » terrics, posted by fayeroe on April 3, 2004, at 11:16:12
you just type a quote then another,,,, so, type like you would use a quotation mark, then simply use another quotation mark. at the end of the title, use a double set of quotation marks. it's like repeating yourself.. sorta like this **ok?** (except with quotation marks) got it? it took me a while to catch on too, and it helps mr bob hopefully run the site. every little bit helps you know? if i can help explain it better, let me know...
Posted by noa on April 3, 2004, at 19:15:50
In reply to Re: other books » terrics, posted by fayeroe on April 3, 2004, at 11:16:12
I read "The Shipping News". It was good. It's sad and has what might be somewhat 'triggering' material in it for some people, if I remember correctly.
When the movie came out, I was kind of excited about the idea of seeing it, but I didn't end up seeing it because it closed quickly, got bad reviews. It starred Kevin Spacey and Judi Dench, I think. I remember thinking that Randi Quaid would have suited the character better than Kevin Spacey. Now that you've reminded me about it, maybe I'll rent it. I would at least like to see the scenery.
Posted by terrics on April 4, 2004, at 18:07:15
In reply to about double double quotes...., posted by karen_kay on April 3, 2004, at 13:21:27
thanks, i tried that and it did not work. i'll try again. terrics
Posted by Dr. Bob on April 4, 2004, at 19:26:55
In reply to about double double quotes...., posted by karen_kay on April 3, 2004, at 13:21:27
Posted by rainyday on April 5, 2004, at 11:49:15
In reply to Re: other books, posted by fayeroe on April 3, 2004, at 8:33:33
> Have you read Annie Proulx? "The Shipping News"
I have been meaning to read it since I actually liked the movie. I think Kevin Spacey is an amazing actor, full of depth and surprises.
I made a few errors in judgement ordering some books from Amazon lately, in the line of "what was I thinking of??"
When I am lonely and sad, I crawl into a book to get away. I walk around the house with it, eat with it, brush my teeth, only putting it down to get dressed.
Posted by fayeroe on April 5, 2004, at 21:09:26
In reply to Re: other books » fayeroe, posted by rainyday on April 5, 2004, at 11:49:15
and i never want the good ones to end........i'm sad when i start getting close to the end....i'll miss the characters for days..i fell in love with "gus" in "Lonesome Dove".....i wanted him!!!!
Posted by man_oh_man1977 on April 7, 2004, at 16:20:46
In reply to Re: Who read what, posted by rainyday on March 30, 2004, at 18:23:19
> I have never read any Kerouac, even though he died in the town I live in.
Whoo-hooo! Northport! anyway, I am reading "lucky" by alice sebold, which is very nice, so far. I'll post when I finish - i have a good feeling about this one.
Man-oh-man
Posted by karen_kay on April 7, 2004, at 19:58:22
In reply to Re: thanks for helping (nm) » karen_kay, posted by Dr. Bob on April 4, 2004, at 19:26:55
Posted by octopusprime on April 8, 2004, at 20:19:11
In reply to Re: other books, posted by noa on April 3, 2004, at 19:15:50
I saw the movie for the Shipping News but I haven't read the book. I also liked the movie.
The Shipping News is the story of a dude (Kevin Spacey) who works in a little newspaper office in a little town in Newfoundland, Canada. (yay Newfoundland!) He has this little shed of a house out in the middle of nowhere. He is struggling with loneliness, then with a woman, then with a kid, etc. etc. If I recall correctly there are abuse and drug issues.
The scenery is fantastic. It is sort of a quiet chick flick. I'm sure the book is great. I should put it on my ever-growing list of things to read.
Posted by MrSandman on April 15, 2004, at 0:30:07
In reply to Re: Who read what, posted by fayeroe on March 30, 2004, at 6:45:12
I've had long stretches when fatigue or anxiety made it nearly impossible for me to read an entire book. But print is as vital to me as oxygen. With a sense of defeat, I reluctantly stepped "down" to poetry, short stories, and essays- and came to love Dickenson, Poe, Twain, Montaigne,Bacon...not to mention the inspiring essay, "The Myth of Sisyphus" by Camus, and the superb essays of Gore Vidal.
No matter how short your a
attention span, there's something good to read. If you can read a Wheaties box you can probably handle Emily Dickenson's poems.
And to those of us who are compelled to keep slogging through a book even if it bores us,Mon
taigne gives this advice across five centuries: You won't remember a book you dislike, so don't bother finishing it.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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