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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by NikkiT2 on September 22, 2004, at 14:16:23
OK, so it wasn't even a splurge! I had my book tokens to spend..
So, I had been saving them for the new big waterstones. I got to work early last Friday (it was opening at 8am) and went straight there.. Well.. Its a horrid book store!! Its big, bright, spacious, white and TONS of people. The staff were really nice.. but, I just didn't like the feeling of it. I bought one book - "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" Its been on my reading list for ages, and hadn't found it in the smaller book shop I was using, so took this opportunity to buy it!!
I was still finishing "Widow for one year" by John Irving (loved it, loved it!!) and we went to the in laws for the weekend. Friends of the inlaws were coming for dinner on Saturday, and D, a wonderful german woman, is an avid reader.. as my mother in law suspected, we hit it off immediately and spent all night talking books!
One of her many reccomendations.. the one she got most excited about was "Sabriel".. Its (not suprising for me I guess!) a young adult fiction book.. But came HIGHLY reccomended by Philip Pullman (aka my Hero!) so that was my first purchase! I'm just over half way through now (barely able to put it down since buying it!) and its wonderful!! About Sabriel, a 16 year old girl (maybe 17 actually) who has to travel to the "Old Kingdom" to find her father who is a kind of Necromancer.. the Old Kingdon is amagical one, so lots of magic and stuff!! I also bought "Lirael" which is the second part.. the third part "Abhorsen" is recently out.. only in hard back though (and we know my hate of hard back books *l*), but I think I shall be breaking down and buying it very soon!! They're by Garth Nix.. HIGHLY reccomended!! the writing isn't, ofcourse, in the same class as Pullman, but pretty close, and a wodnerful story so far!And I also picked up "Nostradamus Ate my Hamster" by Robert Rankin.. I will either love this or hate it!! I've heard so many mixed reports.. everyone seems to love Robert Rankin or hate him.. so we shall see!!
All in all, a good book week!! I so love getting great reccomendations off people.. thats one of the htings I love so about this place.. finding those gems of reccomendations.. (Ones from memory, just as a little added bonus feature.. "Prayer for Owen Meany" - not my fave John Irving, but it did introduce me to his other books!.. "House of Sand and Fog", "Middlesex", "A Confederacy of Dunces".. my brain has now given up on me.. sorry!!! There are more I know!)
have fun people.. happy reading :)
Nikki xx
Posted by gardenergirl on September 22, 2004, at 22:15:42
In reply to My latest splurge on books!!, posted by NikkiT2 on September 22, 2004, at 14:16:23
I didn't have to splurge on my latest book buying event. I was at a workshop which also was having a used book sale. I got a psych. text book about counseling college students (perfect for my internship!), "The Princess Bride" in paperback, and "The Lovely Bones" in hardcover...all for $4!!!! Can you believe it?
Can't wait to read princess bride again. Even better than movie.
gg
Posted by partlycloudy on September 23, 2004, at 8:16:41
In reply to My latest splurge on books!!, posted by NikkiT2 on September 22, 2004, at 14:16:23
Good for you, Nikki! I am putting the pile of books I have waiting for me aside until my brain declares that it's ready. Have you read John Irving's "The Left Hand"? I have to choose the book for our book club's November meeting. I was going to have them read Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar", but it's a very 1950's read. I dunno.
pc
Posted by NikkiT2 on September 23, 2004, at 17:25:02
In reply to Re: My latest splurge on books!! » NikkiT2, posted by partlycloudy on September 23, 2004, at 8:16:41
hey!
the left hand is a strange one, thats for sure!! *l* Not one of his best (That hangs between "World According to Garp" and "Cider House Rules").. but good.
I liked The Bell Jar.. its not too heavy, but still manages to get the message across. But are you in a place where you could hear negative views of mental illness?? thats what I'd think about.
Thankyou, THANKYOU for giving me my splurge!! *G*
Nikki x
Posted by Racer on September 23, 2004, at 19:50:38
In reply to Re: My latest splurge on books!! » NikkiT2, posted by partlycloudy on September 23, 2004, at 8:16:41
Do you need to have any particular subject matter for your book club? If you let me know, I'd be more than happy to suggest a list...
(Keep in mind that my husband and I live with two cats and about 4000 books -- mostly mine, and mostly all read, and many read multiple times by me. Back when I could read "real" books, as well as potato chip books. While I do have certain distinct themes to my reading, there's still a pretty good range.)
And here are two other suggestions, based only on what you were thinking of:
"The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" by Anne Bronte -- probably my favorite of the Brontes' novels, feminist, about a woman who marries badly and manages to overcome it.
"The Mother's Recompense" by Edith Wharton -- again, feminist, darker than the other, but with a great deal of irony and social criticism. Again, a favorite.
If you have any interest in other suggestions, let me know. I *love* suggesting books, and thinking about books, and -- when I can -- reading books. {sigh} Let's hope that last part comes back soon.
Posted by partlycloudy on September 24, 2004, at 6:56:04
In reply to Re: My latest splurge on books!! » partlycloudy, posted by NikkiT2 on September 23, 2004, at 17:25:02
Actually, they are an argumentative bunch of Type A overachieving personalities apart from a new wallflowers, so I expect there will be more talk about the flowery dated language. A few of them already know I'm on a mental illness awareness crusade - 2 months ago I went on a tirade about how racial prejudice is still the norm here in The South, and they didn't throw me out then!
I must plan the menu for the evening. I'm thinking of a chilled soup, cucumber and cress sandwiches, and molded jellied something with fruit suspended in it.
pc
(I knew those book tokens would have a good home with you!)
Posted by partlycloudy on September 24, 2004, at 7:00:57
In reply to Re: My latest splurge on books!! » partlycloudy, posted by Racer on September 23, 2004, at 19:50:38
The only premise is that the book must be available in paperback so our investment is kept to a minimum. Thanks for your suggestions!
Posted by Racer on September 24, 2004, at 11:59:07
In reply to Re: My latest splurge on books!! » Racer, posted by partlycloudy on September 24, 2004, at 7:00:57
And it's available in paperback!
"Plains Song" by Wright Morris. This is one of those books that I found so good I recommended it to every woman I knew. We all said the same thing, too: "I had to keep flipping back to the cover, to make sure it really was written by a man. I was sure it had to be written by a woman." Considering the audience involved, that right there was the highest praise. There is only one sour note to the whole novel -- which involves a farmer and Epsom Salts, so see how many members hear it -- which, again, considering how critical a reader I am (even with books I like), is highest praise.
Plains Song is probably a better choice than the others, just because it's more recent.
Hope that helps a bit.
Posted by partlycloudy on September 24, 2004, at 13:09:03
In reply to Just had an awesome flash for you!!! » partlycloudy, posted by Racer on September 24, 2004, at 11:59:07
...keep those cards and letters coming! Thanks, Racer - you are a gem.
pc
Posted by Racer on September 24, 2004, at 20:33:49
In reply to Darn it all, the group read it already!! » Racer, posted by partlycloudy on September 24, 2004, at 13:09:03
I only care about you -- did you read it? Did you like it? C'mon, Woman! Tell me! Tell me all about it!
I'm glad that you're enjoying the suggestions. I'll put my poor little memory to the test, and see what else I can come up with. I'll have to check Amazon, though, because I know a lot of what I'd suggest is out of print.
For now, here are a few more books by women that I've enjoyed:
"The Italian or Confessional of the Black Penitants" by Ann Radcliffe, subtitled "Confessional of the Black Penitants" -- it's a very interesting book, for a lot of reasons, and if you've never read any of the Radcliffe Gothics, well, you've missed out. She's almost unique amongst the Gothic novelists, because she didn't actually rely on the supernatural. Well worth the effort to read through some of her descriptive passages.
"Diary of a Provincial Lady" by E. M. Delafield. Not her best, or at least not my favorite of hers, but the first in a series that seems to be the only thing left in print right now.
"Cold Comfort Farm" by Stella Gibbons, which is not great, but quite funny.
There's a writer called Angela Thirkell I quite like, too. She's a pom -- like our Nikki -- but we don't hold it against her because she's quite, quite funny. Also like our sweet Nikki. (You don't know how much I envy you getting to meet her, by the way.)
"All Passion Spent" by Vita Sackville-West. This is one of those books that doesn't always strike you until after you've read it. It stands out in my mind as one of those special books, for a reason that I won't explain until after you read it. Highly recommended for a book club by me.
That's it for now. I'd say "Passion" and "The Italian" are highest on my list for a book club, if that helps any.
Posted by partlycloudy on September 25, 2004, at 6:20:54
In reply to PC, I don't care if the group read it..., posted by Racer on September 24, 2004, at 20:33:49
Wait a sec, I got confused. I've read another book with a similar name to "Plains Song" but it wasn't the one you referred to. it was about a boy who's older brother commits a crime and the story follows a western novel the boy has been reading.
Now I have a new pile of stuff to consider!
That "Passion" title is intriguing, hmmm.
Posted by NikkiT2 on September 25, 2004, at 8:44:45
In reply to Just had an awesome flash for you!!! » partlycloudy, posted by Racer on September 24, 2004, at 11:59:07
Really?? (re; Plains Song)
It was a book an old book club sent us and we never sent back, and I gave it to my mother in law unread!!! *L*
Gonna have to get that one back :)
Nikki xx
Posted by NikkiT2 on September 25, 2004, at 8:47:46
In reply to Re: My latest splurge on books!! » NikkiT2, posted by partlycloudy on September 24, 2004, at 6:56:04
Ooooh, and Eng lish High tea!!
Don't forget to cut the crusts off the sandwiches *g* and has to be white bread *l* Can you get clotted cream to go with some scones? (shame I can't send you any)
And the jelly MUST be rabbit shaped *giggles* It was always rabbit shaped when I was a kid! Actually, Ihave some beautiful victorian jelly molds that woul dbe perfect.. dang it woman, why are you so far away??!! Me you and racer would run the BEST book club ever!!
Nikki x
Posted by Racer on September 30, 2004, at 13:23:10
In reply to Re: PC, I don't care if the group read it... » Racer, posted by partlycloudy on September 25, 2004, at 6:20:54
That's actually one of my favorite books. I don't quite know why it touched me so much, but I do hope you do read it -- with or without the book group -- and will tell me if it touches you, too.
The story is rather unusual, but it's quite profound for me. I hope that's not talking it up too much, and making you expect anything it can't deliver. It may just be that it happened to strike the right chord at the right time for me.
When will you tell us what book you choose?
Posted by partlycloudy on September 30, 2004, at 17:56:16
In reply to Passion... » partlycloudy, posted by Racer on September 30, 2004, at 13:23:10
I'll have to announce the book at the october 15th meeting. maybe i'll be able to read again by then. otherwise this could get interesting.
This is the end of the thread.
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