May Reading

[maplekiwi]

I finished my reread of Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen.

It is easy to visualise Catherine as a modern teenager as some of what Austen wrote about is timeless. I loved watching Catherine's journey.

Isabella was by far the most vivid character though - & her behaviour was also timeless.

Only fault is the ending was a little abrupt.

I can't remember Persuasion so I'm going to download it next.

I'm undecided on whether to have a 4th go at Emma. I just didn't like her - maybe I would be more tolerant now.

[eleanorigby]

I was never big on Emma, either. Persuasion is good--I like Anne Elliot, even if she was a bit of a doormat.

I am reading a book titled Avicenna by Somebody McGinnis. It's hard going in spots--I actually find Avicenna's writings (translated, of course) easier to read than Professor McGinnis'. Avicenna was a 12th century Arabic philosopher and is considered the Grandfather of modern medicine.

As a "palate" cleanser I am reading Agatha Christies when Avicenna gets too dry.

[Dangermouse]

Northanger Abbey is my favourite Austen after Pride and Prejudice.

I am reading The Eye of the World, by Robert Jordan. I read the first two books years ago, and thought I might give the series another try.

[AuntiePam]

I've never read Austen, or any of the Brontes. I like the film adaptations. The characters and plots are interesting, and I like Dickens and George Eliot and 19th century writers in general. Don't know why I've avoided those other writers.

I'm reading Free Air by Sinclair Lewis. It's the lightest of the Lewis books I've read. Early 1900's, a young woman and her father take a road trip. She's driving, which I guess was rare in those days. It's sort of a romance -- not just between the young woman and a mechanic she meets -- but a romance about travel and traveling people and the country. It's delightful.

[Radical Edward]

Penpal.

maplekiwi, is that Olivia Hussey in your avatar? I love her, she was the greatest most perfect Juliet ever!

[Glazer]

I'm plowing through The Dresden Files in order. I'm on book six now.

[maplekiwi]

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

I was never big on Emma, either. Persuasion is good--I like Anne Elliot, even if she was a bit of a doormat.

I am reading a book titled Avicenna by Somebody McGinnis. It's hard going in spots--I actually find Avicenna's writings (translated, of course) easier to read than Professor McGinnis'. Avicenna was a 12th century Arabic philosopher and is considered the Grandfather of modern medicine.

As a "palate" cleanser I am reading Agatha Christies when Avicenna gets too dry.

Enjoying Persuasion so far - bit of a Cinderella story isn't it?

I'm impressed with the quality & amount of reading you are doing Eleanor! I'm now going to kick the habit of finishing everything on my Kobo - there is too much I want to read to waste any more time on crap!

& I had a binge on Agatha Christie a few months ago. I still have one of my favourites, Murder on the Orient Express to reread on my Kobo.

Originally Posted by Dangermouse

Northanger Abbey is my favourite Austen after Pride and Prejudice.

Same here! Out of all the classics, P&P is the one I've read most often.

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

I've never read Austen, or any of the Brontes. I like the film adaptations. The characters and plots are interesting, and I like Dickens and George Eliot and 19th century writers in general. Don't know why I've avoided those other writers.

I'm reading Free Air by Sinclair Lewis. It's the lightest of the Lewis books I've read. Early 1900's, a young woman and her father take a road trip. She's driving, which I guess was rare in those days. It's sort of a romance -- not just between the young woman and a mechanic she meets -- but a romance about travel and traveling people and the country. It's delightful.

Jane Eyre is an excellent read! I'm not sure now if I finished Wuthering heights - I know I didn't enjoy it. But of course I recommend Jane Austen - my favourite writer from the classics!

Originally Posted by Radical Edward

Penpal.

maplekiwi, is that Olivia Hussey in your avatar? I love her, she was the greatest most perfect Juliet ever!

She was indeed! The whole film was so perfectly cast! I did a lot of googling after watching it again recently & she & Leonard Whiting are still friends.

[AuntiePam]

I tried Wuthering Heights. Couldn't deal with the willy-nilly punctuation. ; : , - scattered all over the damn place, no rhyme or reason, it was like birds were pooping commas on the pages. Totally ruined whatever flow there might have been. Maybe I had a bad copy. Haven't had that experience with other writers from that era.

[Radical Edward]

Originally Posted by maplekiwi

She was indeed! The whole film was so perfectly cast! I did a lot of googling after watching it again recently & she & Leonard Whiting are still friends.

That is so cool. I always thought that was the best version ever and I pretty much won't bother watching any other one. Hmmm, wonder if I can stream it on Amazon...

Uh, sorry. /hijack

[maplekiwi]

Originally Posted by Radical Edward

That is so cool. I always thought that was the best version ever and I pretty much won't bother watching any other one. Hmmm, wonder if I can stream it on Amazon...

Uh, sorry. /hijack

We could yack about it in the film thread RE. (not that I mind the hijack!) I was hoping Equipoise would stick around to discuss it - sigh.

[Tuco Salamanca]

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

I tried Wuthering Heights. Couldn't deal with the willy-nilly punctuation. ; : , - scattered all over the damn place, no rhyme or reason, it was like birds were pooping commas on the pages. Totally ruined whatever flow there might have been. Maybe I had a bad copy. Haven't had that experience with other writers from that era.

Was it a free ebook? I find you often get what you pay for with the public domain copies--bad character recognition, confusing widows and orphans, and strange punctuation.

I read Wuthering Heights in high school and must have completely missed the point because I don't remember much of it. Unfortunately, it seems every novel I want to read lately has Wuthering Heights as prerequisite. True Novel by Minae Mizumura? A Japanese reimagining of Wuthering Heights. Hell by Kathryn Davis? Scattered with allusions to Wuthering Heights. I may have to break down and read it. I might finally understand that Kate Bush song, too.

[AuntiePam]

Originally Posted by Tuco Salamanca

Was it a free ebook? I find you often get what you pay for with the public domain copies--bad character recognition, confusing widows and orphans, and strange punctuation.

No, it was one of those special library collection editions, the hardcovers with the nice binding and the ribbon bookmark.

I might look for another copy, using Amazon's Look Inside feature. If I can find one that's properly punctuated, I might give it another go.

[Jeff]

Finished off Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air - a remarkable account of the 1996 climbing disaster, and a prescient choice considering the recent tragedy there.

Started on his earlier work Eiger Dreams: Ventures Among Men and Mountains, and I'm working my way through the next installment of the Culture series - Surface Detail.

[Joey P]

I just started (a few days ago) To Kill A Mockingbird. I've seen the movie enough times, but never read the book, I'm hoping to knock it out this month on my "A book a month...kinda sorta" schedule.

I was just looking for my next book to get from Amazon. I like to have the next thing ready to go in case I put this one down or zip through it ahead of schedule. Just looking at some random top whatever lists. I was looking at Gone Girl or Rebecca or The Stepford Wives. People keep bugging me to read 'modern books' or even 'modern classics' hence Gone Girl, but I really do like old stuff which is why Rebecca is in the running and the only thing I really remember about that movie is something about a boathouse and I think she dies, maybe early on, maybe before it even starts and he's obsessed with her, is the boathouse a shrine and he can never fall in love with the new girl? Doesn't matter. I'll read and find out...or I won't and I'll watch the movie again someday.

Anyways, suggestions? those books? others?

[Radical Edward]

Rebecca is the dude's dead wife, who he killed, and his new wife is obsessed with how she's never going to be as beautiful or as well-liked as Rebecca was. The new wife is the narrator, if I recall, but we never learn her name. It's nothing but crap.

Screw modern classics, read Penpal. Holy shit, I'm not going to sleep tonight.

[Khampelf]

I'm reading "Lies My Teacher Told Me" by Dr. James W. Loewen. Not eye-opening, wrenched further up, maybe. I knew history was a whitewash, but sheeesh. The world is not worse and more corrupt than before, we just know more about it sooner.

[maplekiwi]

Originally Posted by Joey P

I just started (a few days ago) To Kill A Mockingbird. I've seen the movie enough times, but never read the book, I'm hoping to knock it out this month on my "A book a month...kinda sorta" schedule.

I was just looking for my next book to get from Amazon. I like to have the next thing ready to go in case I put this one down or zip through it ahead of schedule. Just looking at some random top whatever lists. I was looking at Gone Girl or Rebecca or The Stepford Wives. People keep bugging me to read 'modern books' or even 'modern classics' hence Gone Girl, but I really do like old stuff which is why Rebecca is in the running and the only thing I really remember about that movie is something about a boathouse and I think she dies, maybe early on, maybe before it even starts and he's obsessed with her, is the boathouse a shrine and he can never fall in love with the new girl? Doesn't matter. I'll read and find out...or I won't and I'll watch the movie again someday.

Anyways, suggestions? those books? others?

I loved Rebecca its a girly book though. Also liked My Cousin Rachel by the same author.Gone Girl is ... interesting. & I like interesting. I just can't say more without spoiling it for you. I've never read Stepford Wives. I might add that one to my list.

I've just been reading classics (cause I would include Agatha Christie as a classic) or crap recently so I don't know if I can help you, Joey. Have you read any of Arthur Conan Doyle's stuff? Hound of the Baskervilles was a reread for me & still sent tingles down my spine.

[eleanorigby]

Rebecca is a wonderful book. And Mrs Danvers scared the crap out of me when I first read it. Also read DuMaurier's House on the Strand--it's very good (different subject matter, but still suspense).

Wuthering Heights, IMO, is not a wonderful book. It's SO anguished and angsty and brimful of FEELINGS. It's also wordy as hell and implausible. I much prefer Jane Eyre.

maplekiwi: Thanks! I'm kind of all over the place, but have decided at my age that I can read whatever I want and don't care what other people think of me on the train or wherever. It's very freeing. I'm almost done with Avicenna (and have understood about ⅔ of it. Blow your mind, dude!), so will be looking for something new soon.

I have too many Christie's that I like. I tend to use Golden Age mysteries as "filler" between heavier or more "important" reads. She does have some clunkers, but the Miss Marples are wonderful. Not super fond of Tommy and Tuppence, but even they can be ok sometimes.

[AuntiePam]

Joey P, I liked Gone Girl but if you don't normally read thrillers, you might not like it.

IMHO, the only reason to read "modern" novels over the classics is because it's easier to find someone to discuss them with.

[maplekiwi]

Originally Posted by Tuco Salamanca

Was it a free ebook? I find you often get what you pay for with the public domain copies--bad character recognition, confusing widows and orphans, and strange punctuation.

I read Wuthering Heights in high school and must have completely missed the point because I don't remember much of it. Unfortunately, it seems every novel I want to read lately has Wuthering Heights as prerequisite. True Novel by Minae Mizumura? A Japanese reimagining of Wuthering Heights. Hell by Kathryn Davis? Scattered with allusions to Wuthering Heights. I may have to break down and read it. I might finally understand that Kate Bush song, too.

Next time I'm in the library I'll see if they have a copy of Wuthering Heights & how its punctuated. I certainly remember its structure was one of the things I struggled with.

& yes, some of the freebies are bad. I fund a Frances Parkinson Keyes & Sergeanne Golon on Kobo (both long out of print in this country) & the mistakes in formatting were so bad I couldn't read them.

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

Rebecca is a wonderful book. And Mrs Danvers scared the crap out of me when I first read it. Also read DuMaurier's House on the Strand--it's very good (different subject matter, but still suspense).

Haven't read the last one. I know I never got through Jamaica Inn or Frenchman's Creek. I have the latter on my reader & am going to try again.

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

maplekiwi: Thanks! I'm kind of all over the place, but have decided at my age that I can read whatever I want and don't care what other people think of me on the train or wherever. It's very freeing. I'm almost done with Avicenna (and have understood about ⅔ of it. Blow your mind, dude!), so will be looking for something new soon.

I have too many Christie's that I like. I tend to use Golden Age mysteries as "filler" between heavier or more "important" reads. She does have some clunkers, but the Miss Marples are wonderful. Not super fond of Tommy and Tuppence, but even they can be ok sometimes.

I don't really worry too much about what people think as such (got over that with all the derision I got reading Mills & Boons when the kids were small) but Kobo & Goodreads seemed to make me feel obligated to finish a book when I started.

The Golden Age crime writer I've never read is Marjory Allingham. I'm quite sure she would be out of print here now, so I'll be checking out my Kobo some time. Ive read Sayers but don't remember it.

Oops edit I can't stand Tommy & Tuppence! I found some of Christie's later books were a bit weak

[Jaglavak]

Not exactly page turners, but what I've been reading lately:

The Chemical Composition of Wood, R.C. Pettersen, USDA Forest Products Laboratory

Wood Products, Distillates, and Extracts, Dumesny & Noyer, Int'l Assoc Leather Chemists, 1908

The Technology of Wood Distillation, M. Klar, translated by A. Rule, 1925

A lot of the chemistry is over my head but interesting. Some of the stuff you can cook out of wood is kind of scary. The descriptions of vintage equipment are detailed and informative. Anyway the short answer is yes, apparently you can cook pine resin into some kind of resorcinol soup if you melt it over a burner in a vat with dry caustic soda. I would recommend stirring that from around the corner with a long stick.

If you run the pine resin through a fractionation column first and use the bottom tar, you might even end up with a half decent wood glue. (You can also pick off methyl alcohol, naptha, acetic acid, and various assorted scary leftovers.) But since you can buy waterproof resorcinol-phenol wood glue for $13/gallon it's hardly worth the trouble.

Wood Ash Composition as a Function of Furnace Temperature, Ahendra, Ragland, & Baker, U Wisconsin, USDA Forest Products Laboratory

Abstract- The elemental and molecular composition of mineral matter in five wood types and two barks was investigated as a function of temperature...(ranging from) 500 C to 1400 C... The dissociation of carbonates and the volatilization of potassium, sulfur, and trace amounts of copper and boron were investigated as a function of temperature. Overall mass loss of the mineral ash ranged from 23-48% depending on wood type. The mass of K, S, B, Na, and Cu decreased, whereas Mg, P, Mn, Al, Fe, and Si did not change with temperature relative to Ca which was assumed to be constant. Sintering of the ash occurred, but fusion of the ash did not occur. In the 600°C ash CaCO 3 and K2Ca(CO 3)2 were identified, whereas in 1300 C ash CaO and MgO were the main compounds. The implications for ash deposition in furnaces is discussed.

[Joey P]

Originally Posted by maplekiwi

I've just been reading classics (cause I would include Agatha Christie as a classic) or crap recently so I don't know if I can help you, Joey. Have you read any of Arthur Conan Doyle's stuff? Hound of the Baskervilles was a reread for me & still sent tingles down my spine.

From Doyle's Collection I've read:
A Study In Scarlet, Hound of the Baskervilles, Sign of Four, and as many stories from The Adventures as I could do before I started getting bored with them. After a certain point it's like trying to marathon episodes of House. They got pretty predicable. Anyways, yeah, pretty well versed with Mr Holmes.
Regarding Christie, a bit less, just And Then There Were None and And Then There Were None. Oddly, though, 10+ years ago I found myself watching Poirot (Suchet) and Miss Marple on TV, having no idea it had anything to do with her. Imagine my surprise when I started reading Murder On The Orient Express and Poirot showed up.
I wouldn't turn down suggestion by her.

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

IMHO, the only reason to read "modern" novels over the classics is because it's easier to find someone to discuss them with.

I totally agree. I usually tell people that the classics are classics for a reason. There were just as many books written a hundred (or two or three hundred years) ago as there are two day, what you're left with are the good ones.
Similarly, when you'll often hear people suggest that classic rock is better then today's music. No, it's just that classic rock is music that stood the test of time. In 40 or 50 years will still be listening to Pearl Jam and Nirvana and no one will have heard of 311 or Toad the Wet Sprocket.

The other thing is, I'm not a 'fast' reader. I'm never going to start reading a book at 7pm and 'accidentally' realize it's 4 in the morning and I'm done with it. I'm never going to tear through a 600 page book in a weekend. An 'average' book takes me about a month. 10 books a year is basically on track for me. I don't have time to waste are just ok like someone who reads 50-100 books a year does. That's why I spend so much time worry about my next book and usually go back to the classics. Let the millions of people before me weed out the bad ones.

[maplekiwi]

Originally Posted by Joey P

From Doyle's Collection I've read:
A Study In Scarlet, Hound of the Baskervilles, Sign of Four, and as many stories from The Adventures as I could do before I started getting bored with them. After a certain point it's like trying to marathon episodes of House. They got pretty predicable. Anyways, yeah, pretty well versed with Mr Holmes.
Regarding Christie, a bit less, just And Then There Were None and And Then There Were None. Oddly, though, 10+ years ago I found myself watching Poirot (Suchet) and Miss Marple on TV, having no idea it had anything to do with her. Imagine my surprise when I started reading Murder On The Orient Express and Poirot showed up.
I wouldn't turn down suggestion by her.

I totally agree. I usually tell people that the classics are classics for a reason. There were just as many books written a hundred (or two or three hundred years) ago as there are two day, what you're left with are the good ones.
Similarly, when you'll often hear people suggest that classic rock is better then today's music. No, it's just that classic rock is music that stood the test of time. In 40 or 50 years will still be listening to Pearl Jam and Nirvana and no one will have heard of 311 or Toad the Wet Sprocket.

The other thing is, I'm not a 'fast' reader. I'm never going to start reading a book at 7pm and 'accidentally' realize it's 4 in the morning and I'm done with it. I'm never going to tear through a 600 page book in a weekend. An 'average' book takes me about a month. 10 books a year is basically on track for me. I don't have time to waste are just ok like someone who reads 50-100 books a year does. That's why I spend so much time worry about my next book and usually go back to the classics. Let the millions of people before me weed out the bad ones.

True. I love 60s music, but there would have been dross which i've mercifully forgotten.
I think you can't go wrong with Christie other than as I have said some of the later ones (she wasn't able to do younger peoples' dialogue convincingly in the end) & Tommy & Tuppence are just so annoyingly arch. Christie was sold under different titles in the US than Commonwealth countries though. I'll go to Good Reads & refresh my memory later.

How do you feel about Austen? Like I said earlier, she still sounds fresh & is an easy read. I wasn't that keen on Sense & Sensibility & never finished Emma but loved the other titles.

I've also got Edgar allan Poe on my ereader. I haven't read him in a number of years but I liked some of his stuff when younger.

[eleanorigby]

Originally Posted by maplekiwi

Haven't read the last one. I know I never got through Jamaica Inn or Frenchman's Creek. I have the latter on my reader & am going to try again.

[snip]


The Golden Age crime writer I've never read is Marjory Allingham. I'm quite sure she would be out of print here now, so I'll be checking out my Kobo some time. Ive read Sayers but don't remember it.

Oops edit I can't stand Tommy & Tuppence! I found some of Christie's later books were a bit weak

Yep. IMO, she got tired and a bit stale and didn't understand the 60s, but what the hell-she is fantastic when she's on form. My favorite Golden Age author is Josephine Tey, even with the minor bits of racism and classism. I also enjoy some Allingham, Catherine Aird, Sayers (although I have limited patience with Peter Wimsey) and Marsh (but Alleyn's love life is just excruciatingly twee, IMO).
There are modern British mystery writers who echo the Golden Age without its stylizations: Ruth Rendell, PD James, Minette Walters, Martha Grimes, Ian Rankin, Peter Robinson, Margaret Yorke--I'm sure there are many more, but I'm drawing a blank at present. I always say I'll write them down, but I never do. Then I can't remember, and then when the Library changes the shelves around, I'm lost, sadly enough…

Not all the authors are Brits, but they all "write Brit". And in looking them up, I found a new one for me to try: Susan Hill. yay!

[AuntiePam]

Joey, have you read Willa Cather? Death Comes for the Archbishop is excellent.

[maplekiwi]

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

Yep. IMO, she got tired and a bit stale and didn't understand the 60s, but what the hell-she is fantastic when she's on form. My favorite Golden Age author is Josephine Tey, even with the minor bits of racism and classism. I also enjoy some Allingham, Catherine Aird, Sayers (although I have limited patience with Peter Wimsey) and Marsh (but Alleyn's love life is just excruciatingly twee, IMO).
There are modern British mystery writers who echo the Golden Age without its stylizations: Ruth Rendell, PD James, Minette Walters, Martha Grimes, Ian Rankin, Peter Robinson, Margaret Yorke--I'm sure there are many more, but I'm drawing a blank at present. I always say I'll write them down, but I never do. Then I can't remember, and then when the Library changes the shelves around, I'm lost, sadly enough…

Not all the authors are Brits, but they all "write Brit". And in looking them up, I found a new one for me to try: Susan Hill. yay!

OK, so would Allingham be worth paying for? I've looked her up & she is out of print but available on Kobo. Never heard of Aird. I like the plotting of Ngaio Marsh but the snobbery & "colonial cringe" were awful.

After Christie, my favourite is our beloved Georgette Heyer. Death in the Stock ranks right up with the best.

Joey, Mysterious Affair at the Styles(Christie) is free on ereaders. (its a Gutenberg) Give that one a shot.

[Jaglavak]

Why do you hate wood?

[Joey P]

Originally Posted by maplekiwi

How do you feel about Austen?

I feel stupid when I think about Austen. I tried P&P a few years back and after struggling with the first chapter or so I threw in the towel after making some mistakes that would have meant re-reading it to get my head straightened out. I didn't feel like wading through that flowery prose again.

I have considered reading Emma. I thought that maybe since I've seen Clueless so many times, since I know the story so well if a character or some minor details get away from me, I'll be okay.

[JackieLikesVariety]

I can't stand Tommy & Tuppence! I found some of Christie's later books were a bit weak

T&T were my least favorite, the first one or two were OK.

there is a rumor that Christie had dementia at the end of her life and kept writing anyway (where did I read this, on Giraffeboards?). from wikipedia:

Elephants Can Remember was cited in a study done in 2009 using computer science to compare Christie's earlier works to her later ones. The sharp drops in vocabulary size and increases in repeated phrases and indefinite nouns suggested Christie may have been suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The subject of the book being about memory may be another clue.[7]

I find the idea sad but also inspiring

After Christie, my favourite is our beloved Georgette Heyer. Death in the Stock ranks right up with the best.

Heyer is number one, IMO. best mystery The Unfinished Clue or Behold, Here's Poison...or Envious Casca...best romance would be even harder, there must be a dozen I am crazy about.

[eleanorigby]

AUAUGGGHHHH!

How could I forget Georgette!?! Yes, she is the Queen (for me), especially her mysteries. I honestly don't care for Powder & Patch (but she was so young, so she gets a pass). I've never been able to read King John or the Spanish one (The Conquerors?), but everything else--she's aces.

Can you check a Catherine Aird out of the library prior to investing $$? I never buy books unless I know I'm going to read them over and over-I'm cheap as hell frugal (must be the Scots heritage).

I think I need to dig up some Airds. I haven't read her in a while. There was another writer (perhaps a team) from that era that I cannot recall her name, but they (she?) wrote about "business mysteries", that is, there was always an element of investment or commerce entangled in the plot. Will have to roam through the clothes/book closet to find out.

[maplekiwi]

Originally Posted by JackieLikesVariety

T&T were my least favorite, the first one or two were OK.

there is a rumor that Christie had dementia at the end of her life and kept writing anyway (where did I read this, on Giraffeboards?). from wikipedia:

The dementia would explain a few things. Also, (like Heyer) she was under enormous pressure to keep churning out books.Wiki has a bibliography of her books. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agatha_...e_bibliography Hallowe'en party was ok. I don't think I've read Passenger to Frankfurt.The next ones were dreadful. The ones written earlier Curtains was good, don't Think Ive read Sleeping murder. I reread bertrams Hotel last year & its a good one. Other than Curtains, the last one I would read is Endless Night, Joey.

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

AUAUGGGHHHH!

How could I forget Georgette!?! Yes, she is the Queen (for me), especially her mysteries. I honestly don't care for Powder & Patch (but she was so young, so she gets a pass). I've never been able to read King John or the Spanish one (The Conquerors?), but everything else--she's aces.

Can you check a Catherine Aird out of the library prior to investing $$? I never buy books unless I know I'm going to read them over and over-I'm cheap as hell frugal (must be the Scots heritage).

I didn't like any of her books that were straight historical (as opposed to historical romances) other than The Conqueror (about William1) & the Spanish Bride. Simon the Coldheart & My Lord John were awful, but in Heyer's defence she Knew Simon the Coldheart was bad & suppressed publication. her son liked it & had it republished after her death. She also suppressed the Great Roxhythe which is the unintentionally funniest book I've ever read

It reads like a gay romance!

I meant is Allingham worth paying for? She has been out of print since the 70s but she is on Kobo. No freebies but I could get a preview.

[eleanorigby]

Check the preview out, but probably. Can't think of any of her titles that really stand out for me. Might want to look her up in Wikipedia prior to purchase. I like her and we seem to like much the same in terms of murder mysteries. She's not as twee as Sayer or Marsh.

Yep, I don't like Heyer's historical novels. I've never heard of that last one--it might not have been released in the US. Damned publishers--they change titles and release dates etc and confuse everyone.

The Blue Train is Christie's worst, IMO. Although there was a real clunker with Poirot on an airplane-boring! Just finished Mysterious Affair at Styles. Debating whether to read Curtain (I find it sad). Need to get to Library to see about Susan Hill, but no time today or tomorrow. I know! I'll read And Then There Were None (you know it as Ten Little Indians, I think), if I can find it in the house.

[maplekiwi]

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

Check the preview out, but probably. Can't think of any of her titles that really stand out for me. Might want to look her up in Wikipedia prior to purchase. I like her and we seem to like much the same in terms of murder mysteries. She's not as twee as Sayer or Marsh.

Yep, I don't like Heyer's historical novels. I've never heard of that last one--it might not have been released in the US. Damned publishers--they change titles and release dates etc and confuse everyone.

The Blue Train is Christie's worst, IMO. Although there was a real clunker with Poirot on an airplane-boring! Just finished Mysterious Affair at Styles. Debating whether to read Curtain (I find it sad). Need to get to Library to see about Susan Hill, but no time today or tomorrow. I know! I'll read And Then There Were None (you know it as Ten Little Indians, I think), if I can find it in the house.

The Great Roxhythe was suppressed most places on the internet say it was suppressed till after her death, but I got a National Library copy & it was published 1955. Looked exactly like this one. http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Book...eat%2Broxhythe

I sure wouldn't pay money for it.

I know I wrote it on a previous Heyer thread, but she also wrote some contemporaries. I got hold of Helen & it was terrible. Didn't bother sourcing the others.

Yes 10 little Indians is the name we knew. It was originally published as 10 Little Niggers Reading Christie's Wiki page, it looks like she had a few Tey like racist descriptions "corrected" in later editions of a couple of her books.

[eleanorigby]

Not in my book closet….

[eleanorigby]

I went to the Library and got the Christie and some Susan Hill's. Turns out I have read the Hills, but don't recall the plot (so far). Still, if I'm not remembering it, it's time to reread them all. I do like serial books.


Also got out a volume of WW1 British poetry, just 'cause it was on the "new shelf" and looked intriguing. Do need to finish Avicenna, though...

[Joey P]

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

It's sort of a romance -- not just between the young woman and a mechanic she meets -- but a romance about travel and traveling people and the country. It's delightful.

So was Lolita...other than the mechanic...and the delightful part.

[Joey P]

@maplekiwi, I was just poking around Amazon looking for something from Christie other than Marple/Poirot and came back to this thread and saw you mentioned The Mysterious Affair at Styles so I added it to my shopping cart on Amazon (hold on, I'll get back to that). I've been buying dead tree books lately for two reasons. I was just saying to someone that since I only started recently reading, I've done all my reading on my Kindle and I feel like I should 1)have something to show for it so I've been trying to build up at least a little bit of a collection and 2)I need to read some real books so I have something to compare the Kindle to. I haven't read a real book since high school or college.

Anyways, I just went back to look at the Amazon page and saw that that's a Poirot book.

Also, I see that in my shopping cart I still have Rebecca...and Slaughterhouse 5 from months ago.

ETA, I totally forgot that @ symbol was going to actually tag someone.

[eleanorigby]

Christie pretty much only wrote Marple and Poirot. She wrote some Tommy & Tuppence books, but trust me, if you're impatient with Marple and Poirot, you'll not like T & T. They're "spy" novels as in "2 Brits of a certain privileged class sort of work for the Gment and of course know all kinds of classified things and act in completely implausible ways To Get The Bad Guys." Realism isn't even a shadow of a thought.

Christie also wrote under the name Westmacott, but not many novels, and they are mostly romances, if memory serves.

She's not known for her rich characterizations. She's known for her fiendishly difficult plots and puzzles. She had a way of telling the truth, but telling it slant (to paraphrase Emily Dickinson) so as to fool the reader all the while the clues are staring you in the face. One comes to love Marple and Poirot and their worlds, but Christie isn't read for them.

Cannot finish this particular Hill. I remember enough about it now to recall that there is a child in danger and I don't remember if the child dies. I have had enough dying in my life at present and don't need the vicarious suspense and "pleasure" of even a fictional child in mortal danger. I tend to avoid things about kids anyway. I will read her others, though--I remember she is a good writer and so far she had kept my interest.

[Joey P]

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

Christie pretty much only wrote Marple and Poirot. She wrote some Tommy & Tuppence books, but trust me, if you're impatient with Marple and Poirot, you'll not like T & T

I didn't mean that I didn't like Marple and Poirot, I just wanted to explore something else. The reason being that I've read Murder on the Orient Express, I've watched (movies) Poirot and Marple and while it's a different author, I've had my fill of Holmes for quite some time. No problem with the genre, per se, I just wanted to deviate from...would you call them serials? Capers?

I might give it a go anyways.

Looking at it on Amazon, if it's 114 pages, I could knock that out in a few days, even at my pace. Guess I got my new book. Though I have concern. People are saying that it's missing the illustrations. Can anyone comment on this edition? Often times the reviews are all crammed together for different editions or for one edition as well as the Kindle edition that went along with it.
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/1...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

ETA, if that link doesn't work, search for 1495949486, it should have a green marble type cover.

ETA2, if you're not using Smile.Amazon.Com, you should, I can give you a good charity if you need one. My aunt is the president of a statewide breed specific dog rescue. She'll get 3 whole cents if I buy this book.

[AuntiePam]

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

Cannot finish this particular Hill. I remember enough about it now to recall that there is a child in danger and I don't remember if the child dies. I have had enough dying in my life at present and don't need the vicarious suspense and "pleasure" of even a fictional child in mortal danger. I tend to avoid things about kids anyway. I will read her others, though--I remember she is a good writer and so far she had kept my interest.

I've read just one of Susan Hill's books -- The Woman in Black. It knocked my socks off (way better than the movie) and I was thinking of looking for more, but read comments somewhere (probably Amazon) that her other books weren't as good.

I also avoid books/movies with kids in peril. Heck, lately I avoid stuff with anyone in peril. Getting to be a wuss.

[Joey P]

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

I also avoid books/movies with kids in peril.

That kind of stuff didn't bother me until I had a kid, then it all changed. Hell, my eyes water a little when I see those soldier/kid reunion commercials.

City Of God, the movie, should have been right up my alley, but it's the only movie that's ever been 'hard to watch' just due to the sheer amount of violence against and by kids.

[eleanorigby]

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

I've read just one of Susan Hill's books -- The Woman in Black. It knocked my socks off (way better than the movie) and I was thinking of looking for more, but read comments somewhere (probably Amazon) that her other books weren't as good.

I do like her Inspector S (have forgotten the name) series, just not this volume due to the kid stuff.

I also avoid books/movies with kids in peril. Heck, lately I avoid stuff with anyone in peril. Getting to be a wuss.

Glad to know I'm not the only wuss. It's not that I want puppies and rainbows, it's more I don't find that type of suspense appealing.

And Then There Were None is as good as a I remembered.

[AuntiePam]

One of Ours by Willa Cather, $1.99 on Kindle. This book won her the Pulitzer in 1923.

It's about a young farmer in Nebraska, early 1900's, somewhat similar in theme to The Sojourner but the guy in that book was luckier in his choice of a wife.

One major benefit of the Sexual Revolution was that you weren't likely to marry someone you weren't sexually compatible with. And you had some experience before tying the knot.

[Joey P]

Just got Mysterious Affair At The Styles. It almost looks like a kids book, I think I'll be able to breeze though it after I finish Mockingbird. I found a cheap copy, and after my Amazon Settlement, I think I paid about $3.

Speaking of Mockingbird, is it just me or does little Scout use words that are way the hell over her head. I tell myself that she's speaking through Harper Lee (or even through me), but she speaks like she's college educated. I mean, you can say that Atticus raised her and she's way ahead of her age, but she's supposed to be like six years old. She's just starting first grade and she's using words I've never heard before.

Also, I'm glad this book doesn't totally over do it with the symbolism. I just don't pick up on that kind of stuff and try to avoid books that I know are dripping with it. I did a little bit of googling to see how much I missed and it seems like it's just a little here and there. Some flowers that represented racism, a rabid dog that meant something else but not too much else. But, man, that stuff just flies right over my head. It's not even like I'm looking for it and can't find it, but I don't even think to keep my eyes open for it. In high school reading with a teacher, I can find it, but they're practically rubbing your face in it.

[AuntiePam]

Joey, it's been years since I read TKAM but I've noticed the same thing in other books written from a kid's point of view -- the adult looking back.

I don't remember -- is TKAM told in first person?

We're probably supposed to accept that the story is filtered through the adult.

[JackieLikesVariety]

just finishing The Promise of Sleep (nonfiction) - very interesting & I learned a lot. apparently people are really sleep deprived and sleep disorders are extremely under diagnosed.

which I suppose is not really news. anyway, worth reading.

I found an Agatha Christie I haven't read before: The Labor of Hercules. it's a collection of Poirot short stories about the (supposed)* last cases he takes before he retires to grow vegetable marrows.

I liked it




* seems like I read a lot of Poirot which take place after he retires - encore after encore, apparently

[Joey P]

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

Joey, it's been years since I read TKAM but I've noticed the same thing in other books written from a kid's point of view -- the adult looking back.

I don't remember -- is TKAM told in first person?

We're probably supposed to accept that the story is filtered through the adult.

Yes, first person, Scout's POV, in the present time.
When I looked around in the internet, it seems I'm not the only person that criticized Lee for making Scout a bit to precocious.

I just checked the wiki page and if you look at the "style" section, it's written a bit poorly WRT if the events are happening now or in the past. For example:
"The strongest element of style noted by critics and reviewers is Lee's talent for narration, which in an early review in Time was called "tactile brilliance".[27] Writing a decade later, another scholar noted, "Harper Lee has a remarkable gift of story-telling"
Who was writing a decade later? The author or the reviewer?

Lee combines the narrator's voice of a child observing her surroundings with a grown woman's reflecting on her childhood, using the ambiguity of this voice combined with the narrative technique of flashback to play intricately with perspectives

What's she combining exactly? Scout's voice with her [Lee's] childhood?

And finally, what brought me to the wiki page to being with...
However, at times the blending causes reviewers to question Scout's preternatural vocabulary and depth of understanding

If Scout starts at 8, and is writing half the lines when she's 18, I can understand her talking like this. She's reading everything she can get her hands on when she's 8, by the time she's 18, she'll have read more then a college grad with just about any Lit degree. She should sound like Lisa Simpson. OTOH, some of these words are coming from her 8 year old mouth, but OTOOH, if she 18 when writing them...

I'll have to pay more attention and see it it's possible that she was older.

Does anyone remember if the movie had an 'older' Scout narrating?

ETA, the wiki page for the movie lists "Kim Stanley as adult Jean Louise "Scout" Finch (voice only, narrator — uncredited)"

[eleanorigby]

IIR, Scout et al were before TV. Don't underestimate the large vocabulary of kids who had only radio and books. The Hobbit was designed to be read by kids ages 9-11, but most would struggle with the vocab now (it's more a middle school book for reading levels nowadays). That said, HL does mix and blur the narrator's voice, which is kinda cool. It's been years since I read it, too.

[AuntiePam]

Originally Posted by Joey P

Lee combines the narrator's voice of a child observing her surroundings with a grown woman's reflecting on her childhood, using the ambiguity of this voice combined with the narrative technique of flashback to play intricately with perspectives

What's she combining exactly? Scout's voice with her [Lee's] childhood?

That's how I'd take it, that she's combining (or blending) her younger and older selves, using one or the other depending on the feeling/mood she's trying to evoke.

Sounds like it doesn't always work.

You've made me want to read this again.

Yeah, the movie had an adult narrator.

[Peeking Duck]

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

IIR, Scout et al were before TV. Don't underestimate the large vocabulary of kids who had only radio and books...

An excellent point, I think.

I recently finished Into That Forest, by Louis Nowra. It's about two girls who are raised by... well, wait; my description won't do it justice, so:

http://www.amazon.com/Into-That-Fore.../dp/1477817255

I liked it far more than I thought I might. I was really sorry when it ended.

I'm currently reading Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook, by Anthony Bourdain:

http://www.amazon.com/Medium-Raw-Blo...ain+medium+raw

Again, I'm liking it a lot more than I anticipated. Parts of it are uproariously funny.

Both books are deeply discounted for Kindle right now.