Member: Nickelini

Hi Joyce: I really admire the layout of your book review. As I gather my thoughts for planning my 2010 challenge I've decided to organize my comments/reviews similarly to your style. Comments - Why I read this now etc. Would you mind me choosing to post my thoughts in this fashion as well? - It seems like it would be a good way to focus my thoughts and get to the point w/out rambling on....like I'm doing now. Happy reading, Lynda

posted by Carmenere at 8:38 am (EST) on Dec 12, 2009

Well, then, I'll send it to you! I think you will find it most interesting.
Will send it with the next Belle package... L

posted by avaland at 10:59 am (EST) on Nov 27, 2009

Hey, I see you have Ehrenreich's "Bright-Sided". I just finished it. Have you read it yet? I thought it was terrific! Best, Lois

posted by avaland at 9:22 am (EST) on Nov 27, 2009

Thanks, Nickelini. I guess I've been doing more reading and spending less time online. I did miss the 1001 group. :)

posted by perlle at 12:51 pm (EST) on Nov 9, 2009

I just looked up Edith Frome, which I'm reading for the 1001 Book s to Read before You Die.

Quite succinct.

I met a man named Ethan Frome. His life sucked.

Maybe I shan't persevere. That's about what I'd got from it 20 pp in.

posted by livrecache at 10:28 am (EST) on Nov 4, 2009

Joyce, when I was looking at Belletrista, I noticed your last name was Nickel. I have neighbors named Nickel and when they remodeled their house, they embedded a nickel in their resurfaced sidewalk. I have to admit that it tricked me a couple of times before I finally realized that I wasn't going to be able to pry up that "found" coin. Fortunately, I was by myself each time, but sure would have had a good laugh if I had been inside looking out! Bonnie

posted by bonniebooks at 10:45 am (EST) on Nov 1, 2009

I did that too! Perhaps I didn't page far enough.

posted by bleuroses at 2:37 am (EST) on Oct 31, 2009

You are brilliant!! How did you know/find Manuel Orazi!!!!

posted by bleuroses at 12:32 am (EST) on Oct 31, 2009

Hi Joyce,

I can't seem to find the artist - very frustrating, but the model, rather
the inspiration, was Sarah Bernhardt. If you google 'Theodoraa' or 'Theodora.b'
you'll find it.

By the way, Portrait of a Lady is one of my all time favourites!!

Hope you're having a nice week!
Cate

posted by bleuroses at 7:29 pm (EST) on Oct 28, 2009

I thought I'd take a look here after your posts at WtDickens! A Dickens a year seems like a pretty reasonable goal - very nice. Hope you enjoy.
I'm happy to see Margaret Laurence in your Canadian Canon; I've read only Stone Angel and Jest of God, but I've put her among my favorites, and I will read more. (Also devoted to Atwood and Davies)
The Best of Sri Lankan Literature!!!!????????!!!!! Very interesting!
Well-met!
Peggy

posted by LizzieD at 11:43 pm (EST) on Oct 22, 2009

Thanks for the link, Joyce! I think I saw that list when it was published in the Globe and Mail maybe, but it didn't have the mini-reviews, just the titles. I've only read ten of the books listed - there is so much non-fiction! I read parts of the Massey Commission reports in a CanLit class, and it was very dry. Interesting that Atwood wrote the introduction, and two of her books made the list.

Are you liking Under the Ribs of Death? It isn't exactly cheerful, is it? I enjoyed the portrayal of the immigrant experience though.

posted by Cait86 at 2:53 pm (EST) on Oct 4, 2009

Oh, I loved England! London is an amazing city, and I also visited Stonehenge, Salisbury, and Liverpool (plus France and Italy). My plans are to travel there again next summer, and see Ireland as well. Did you like Ottawa? I've been a few times, and like it a lot.

I didn't start reading a lot of Can Lit until university, but I've become a huge fan. I try to read as many of the New Canadian Library series published by McClelland and Stewart; they have little afterwords written my other Canadian writers, and they are reasonably priced.

posted by Cait86 at 6:54 pm (EST) on Sep 25, 2009

Hi Joyce,

My pic is actually from Windsor Castle in the UK. I was there summer 2008, on a five week backpacking trip - my first time in Europe. I live in southern Ontario, right on Lake Erie, about a day's drive from Ottawa.

I noticed that you are reading from a bunch of lists, and am curious about the Best of Canadian Literature. Do you have a link/source for that?

posted by Cait86 at 10:46 pm (EST) on Sep 24, 2009

Hey, a sneak peek at the September ER list shows "Mennonite in a Little Black Dress" is included! Here's hoping it's available in Canada :) Good luck!

posted by DetailMuse at 8:06 am (EST) on Sep 9, 2009

Your Modigliani looks like a very wise and perceptive woman. Definately a well read person.

posted by Carmenere at 8:57 am (EST) on Aug 22, 2009

Thanks for chiming in on the plans for next year's challenge. I was all content to just let everyone figure it out without me and then all of a sudden it was becoming terribly complicated and off-putting. I'm sure it will end up fine in the end, but I'm having so much fun there this year, that I want next year's Challenge to be something I want to do!

posted by RidgewayGirl at 10:45 pm (EST) on Aug 8, 2009

Hi Nickelini, Thanks for adding me to your interesting lists. Yours looks fun to explore too. Rebecca

posted by rebeccanyc at 7:51 am (EST) on Aug 6, 2009

Hi
Kiss of the Fur Queen is very good. Vancouver eh? I miss it. Been here in dullsville Ottawa for 7 yrs and wish I was still there. Hope the fire situation gets under control soon. That is scary stuff. I wish, wish Wish that we could send a lot of our rain to help, we've been breaking records here. At the very least, rain makes for good reading time..
Cheers,
Clamato

posted by clamato at 6:54 pm (EST) on Aug 4, 2009

Hi Joyce
I have a copy of Half Breed. Let me know if you want me to send it to you.
Cyrel

posted by torontoc at 10:50 am (EST) on Jul 25, 2009

Thanks for the Canadian lit reading lists!

posted by RidgewayGirl at 12:37 pm (EST) on Jul 24, 2009

I didn't know that Sumas was a real place, even. I just figured the author was inventing a nice little border town for his story. It's always fun to hear from people who actually live near or in the places in the books you read. Though, I've got a feeling the majority of the book is going to take place in UnderEarth.

posted by thekoolaidmom at 7:21 am (EST) on May 27, 2009

Love the profile pic!

posted by fannyprice at 5:53 pm (EST) on May 14, 2009

No problem! I hope you have a good trip.

posted by sphenisciforme at 4:37 am (EST) on May 12, 2009

Hi again, Joyce. The hubbie read [Lost Souls] as well. He really enjoyed it, but I am not much of a thriller type myself so cannot see myself picking it up too soon.

Nice to hear from you.

Karen

posted by kiwidoc at 5:20 pm (EST) on Apr 19, 2009

Hi Joyce - I cannot remember if I have read 'Bedlam' or not. I think it was my hubbie who did. It was OK for him, if I remember rightly. Sorry to be unhelpful. I think it is a TBR for me.

Cheers,

Karen

posted by kiwidoc at 11:13 am (EST) on Apr 18, 2009

Very Cool, thanks. We also allow "potential" fans of JCO:-) Best, Lois

posted by avaland at 6:52 pm (EST) on Apr 12, 2009

Thank you for that, Joyce. It's a tough time, isn't it? We were very close and I'm actually really glad that I was able to move in with her for a while to take care of her in between hospital visits. I know that probably sounds a bit 'saintly' (which I'm definitely not) but she was such an easy patient and it wasn't for very long so I never had the chance to get frustrated or angry - just long enough to demonstrate how much she was loved.

I've had lots of nice messages from various LT friends and it is a real comfort that so many people understand and care enough to get in touch so I'm very grateful to you for making contact.

Isn't Edward Gorey great! I discovered him about 9 or 10 years ago when my daughter was away at uni. She had just split up with her first long-term boyfriend and badly needed cheering up. Every phone call or visit we'd had over the past couple of weeks had been very tearful. I bought her a copy of 'The Doubtful Guest' - not knowing much about it but figuring it would appeal to her quirky sense of humour. That night, she rang me in fits of laughter. It was so wonderful to hear her laugh again. I will always have a real affection for those books now.

posted by Booksloth at 6:02 am (EST) on Apr 2, 2009

I use this line of code:

< img src="IMAGELOCATION" height=160px / >

1. You must take the spaces out between the arrow brackets and the character before or after. I had to put them in so you could see the code.
2. In a new tab or window, go to the LT page for the book, right click on the cover and click on "copy image location" - on a pc, it could be under preferences or something (I'm on a MAC). Paste this in where I have IMAGELOCATION.
3. You can adjust the height of the image to your liking. Some use 200px, I've been using 160px for 'currently reading' and 140px for 'last read'.
4. If you want the book covers side by side, add lines of code end to end with no spaces between. If you want a margin between covers, try adding margin=10px after the height but before the slash and right arrow bracket.

Let me know if you have any problems. - Lois

posted by avaland at 9:56 pm (EST) on Mar 31, 2009

I'm actually from Chicagoland originally, but I've lived in St. Louis for 7 years now, so I may have to start considering myself a St. Louisan. You're right - people are really nice here and it is one of the things I'll miss most about the city when I leave. I love that people all smile and say "Good morning!" when I go for my morning run, I love that perfect strangers notice and comment when I am out without my dog (and then they aren't strangers anymore). There is a definite Midwestern warmth here, and being a Midwestern girl I enjoy that. I'm glad you enjoyed your trip!

Jennifer

Oh, did you end up getting one of the Gorey books from the ER program? If so I am incredibly envious!

posted by jfetting at 8:01 pm (EST) on Mar 29, 2009

Hi--thanks for the proffered help. I use Novelist K-8 for a lot of my kidlit recommendations, but am always interested in personal rec's from my fellow LTers. I have a pretty extensive library of Juv books already, most not yet cataloged, but I'm wanting to keep up with newer stuff than what I have from my kids who are both now in the their 30's. I used to do k=3 story hours for my daughter's school when I first graduated from Library school in the late 70's, but have been concentrating on adult RA and tech stuff since I started working here in Maine at our 'little' library.

So feel free to chime in whenever you find something interesting. If it doesn't work for my grandbaby, it may still be something we'd look at in our town library.

posted by tututhefirst at 7:44 am (EST) on Mar 2, 2009

That childlit website (I googled - didn't find a list serv but the website might have replaced it) is fantastic. Thanks! Hours of fun awaits... Our nearly 5 year old really likes the Captain Underpants books and we had about 90 short pages in one go last weekend. Luckily it was pretty funny so I was quite happy. How old are your kids?

Hope your course is going well...term starts here next week and I've been trying to get some lecture notes written. I'm teaching statistics for the next 6 weeks then finance. Not as exciting as a lit course!

posted by cmt at 2:02 pm (EST) on Feb 27, 2009

Close enough, anyway. Mad magazine had a big influence on my life when I was younger.

-- M1001

posted by media1001 at 2:53 pm (EST) on Feb 22, 2009

I just read your HP comments on Club Read (I **loved** those books! I was one of the crazy people who would pre-buy my copy and mark the date on my calendar.) and was curious about the ChildLit listserv that you mentioned. Can you point me to any good childrens' lit blogs or websites?

Hope your study's going well!

Cheers
Cushla

posted by cmt at 12:42 pm (EST) on Feb 19, 2009

Nickelini - What's your beef with Emma? I think that's actually my least favorite Jane Austen. It seemed overly long and often tedious, but I've heard some arguments that the tedium is part of the point.

And whoa - I just happened to notice your reading for English 340: Studies in 20th-century British Literature Before 1945--"Rats, Gas & Shell-Shock: the Literary Scars of WWI" - I've recently become moderately obsessed with this exact subject. Too bad I'm not in Vancouver. The Return of the Soldier just arrived & I'm ready to curl up with it for a couple hours - I am surprised its so small!

posted by fannyprice at 8:16 pm (EST) on Feb 13, 2009

Check your mailing address here. Make sure to look at the country checkbox below the mailing address - is Canada checked? It defaults to US, maybe you never checked it to Canada instead?

posted by ablachly at 6:57 pm (EST) on Feb 9, 2009

OK, just yell out if you want me to send over the thing! Um, intro. (Getting up at 5.08 am and watching Hi-5 over and over robs me of all vocab...)

posted by cmt at 1:06 pm (EST) on Jan 31, 2009

I don't think it matters if you have read one or ten books. When you read a book, and you like the style, the stories etc., you already know you like the author so, why not say she/he is a favourite?
Rebecca West, like Willa Cather, Virginia Woolf, Edith Wharton for example, does not disappoint.

posted by aluvalibri at 6:03 pm (EST) on Jan 27, 2009

How is it possible that Christina's touchstones worked and mine didn't???
UAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

posted by aluvalibri at 5:19 pm (EST) on Jan 27, 2009

As I see Christina said before me, I would definitely say [The Fountain Overflows]. Out of the trilogy, I have only read [Cousin Rosamund], which is not on the same level as The Fountain.
I think she is a superb writer, don't you?
:-))

posted by aluvalibri at 5:18 pm (EST) on Jan 27, 2009

Joyce,

Certainly! I think The Fountain Overflows is my favorite of hers, so I definitely recommend that. (It's the first of a trilogy--the following two I haven't read but have heard they aren't close to the same caliber).

And it's funny that you should ask now, as I am currently reading a Rebecca West: A Train of Powder is so far excellent if you like crime-reporting journalism.

I hope you find more from her to enjoy!

Christina

posted by christiguc at 2:52 pm (EST) on Jan 27, 2009

Thanks Nickelini, I have tried it and have added it to my thread.
Lisa

posted by gunung at 10:57 pm (EST) on Jan 25, 2009

Nickelini, I too like lists, and am following a number of challenges (see http://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/challe...) but I find tracking them cumbersome, and am reduced to a rather inelegant tickbox, see http://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/challe.... I like your little graph graphics - how do you do that? I looked in tools but I couldn't find anything there.
Lisa in Australia

posted by gunung at 4:25 pm (EST) on Jan 25, 2009

I remembered! It was in Girlybooks. I lose track of who's said what where...

posted by cmt at 2:57 pm (EST) on Jan 23, 2009

Hi Joyce,
I think I'm losing my marbles - I was sure you posted on one of the VMC threads about The Return of the Soldier but I can't find your post! It's vanished. I must not have had enough coffee yet... Anyway, I finished it yesterday and am working out what I thought of it. Sometimes I find that harder than reading the book...you're lucky to be reading it in class!

posted by cmt at 1:24 pm (EST) on Jan 23, 2009

Hi Joyce! Well, "The Return of the Soldier" is now on Mt. TBR (along with The Pursuit of Love). It sounds wonderful and I can't wait. Good luck with "Parade's End" - it was one of those books that took me awhile to get into, but when I had finished I couldn't stop thinking about it. Let me know what you think about it - I don't think a fictional character has gotten under my skin the way Sylvia Tietjens did in a long, long time.

I promise, I am totally NOT stalking you, but I noticed that you are in the Author Reads group and that you haven't voted yet. Don't forget!

Oh, and I'm really enjoying "A History of the Siege of Lisbon". I think you'll like it!

Jennifer

posted by jfetting at 11:58 pm (EST) on Jan 21, 2009

I hope you like the Chaucer, Joyce. What I found quietly amazing was what kind of a life he had apart from writing. I won't put in any spoilers but he really was quite an interesting person. I bent over and gave his tomb an appreciative pat when I visited it at Westminster Abbey.
Tiffin

posted by tiffin at 9:11 pm (EST) on Jan 16, 2009

Thanks for your kind words on my posting of The Trial. You may be interested in the review of TT I just posted on LT and in my December blog where I compare TT with the film comedy, "Defending Your Life." I write about another film connection in my review of "Synecdoche, New York," on IMDB.

I also came across an interesting Amazon review by Jan Dierckx of the Kindle version of The Trial, which is a quick read.

I was taken by your comment regarding the next group read after Kafka, that Les Miserable was beyond your capacity since it is not on your shelf and you were consumed by course work. But it seems that courses are not slowing down your reading at all! Perhaps it is just its length that is offputting. I was thinking at the time of offering you my Penguin copy of LM via swap, or whatever. If this is what is limiting you, let me convey my free offer.

posted by WilfGehlen at 4:22 pm (EST) on Jan 11, 2009

thank you for that wonderful suggestion -- i've got serious neuron misfiring going on still. Hopefully my mind and body will be in the same place soon!

posted by suslyn at 4:21 pm (EST) on Jan 11, 2009

Hey -- thanks for the reply and I apologize for the confusion. I'm still jetlagging and have no business trying to write! my problem then I guess is that I have no connection to an English-speaking library. Guess I'll have to check into ways to join one.

Thanks -- and yes, you did answer my questions :)
Susan

posted by suslyn at 2:55 pm (EST) on Jan 11, 2009

Hello,
I saw your comment on Orangeena's 75 thread re: your library. It has books in web version that are current? I've been in non-english-speaking European countries for 10 years and out of academia for that time as well. Wondering if I might be able to access those... Availability (balanced by cost) leaves me with no real TBR -- I have a g'zillion books to read as I'm always with a book, but they're TBR, for the most part, because I have them rather than because I want to read them.
If you're thinking 'this is not why I signed up for LT or the 75 thread' let me know -- that works too :) Have a great day.

Susan

posted by suslyn at 2:08 am (EST) on Jan 11, 2009

Good grief, Joyce. What is going on??

I do wish that I could extend the trip - but alas, work drags me home (plus all the home responsibilities). You must be getting mightly sick of snow. I am SOOO glad to have missed it. I imagine it has shut down Vancouver!

Great to see you out and about in cyberspace, anyhow!!

Cheers,

Karen

posted by kiwidoc at 2:52 pm (EST) on Jan 5, 2009

sorry about post. i did not mean to intrude.

posted by proudlycanadian at 11:58 am (EST) on Jan 1, 2009

Hi Nickelini
This is a very interesting profile. I'm impressed with the seriousness of all the reading you're doing. Happy Christmas!
Mary | www.marynovik.com

posted by MaryNovik at 7:45 pm (EST) on Dec 23, 2008

HI
I note your Pre-Raphelite jpeg of Opelia. Do you, like me, like this art?
J.W. Waterhouse is my favorite!

posted by Whisper1 at 12:21 pm (EST) on Dec 20, 2008

Too bad I didn't get your message about Maui until I returned....but thanks for the info anyways! I took just three books along with me...[The Shack](didn't like it), [Your Sad Eyes and Unforgettable Mouth](loved it), and [Good to a Fault] (loved it). And you were right, it was not enough. Like many places frequented by travellers our condo had a decent collection of paperbacks in the laundry room, where I picked up [Eat, Pray, Love] (good to great) and [Julie, Julia] (disappointing book about 'a year of cooking dangerously').

Your reading list is soooo impressive!

posted by loosha at 3:13 pm (EST) on Nov 28, 2008

Hi, Joyce: I wish I could remember more about my research paper on MLK (I did it in 1994!), but I remember being utterly moved by the lyrical prose in the Letter from Birmingham Jail. No one ever wrote about civil rights - the rights of all people - in such a way. He was a powerful writer and orator.

If I dig up my research paper, I will definitely share it with you. I remember getting an A on it. LOL.

Best,
Jill

posted by mrstreme at 5:38 pm (EST) on Nov 24, 2008

Actually, being funny is what I normally do. I just bring it down a notch here because I don't want to distract from serious discussions of the literature. Check out my other blog (in a state of flux but it has a few entries there right now) to get a feel for my normal blog writing:

http://plopphizz.diaryland.com

-- M1001

posted by media1001 at 9:53 pm (EST) on Nov 12, 2008

I really can't even get a handle on how many books you read a month.

I mean, I *can* get a handle, but it's one of those very awkward handle that bends my wrist at a painful angle, coated with a powerful lubricant that renders its surface nearly frictionless.

Have you ever had rambling analogy troubles? Because it happens to me all of the time.

At any rate, how are you finding the time to read 4-8 books a month?

-- M1001.

posted by media1001 at 9:45 am (EST) on Nov 12, 2008

Hello and thank you for adding my library to the list of those you think interesting.
I have done the same, as you can see, and I will enjoy taking a look at your shelves.
Also, I am glad to see you in some of the groups I belong to.
Happy reading!

Paola :-))

posted by aluvalibri at 8:11 pm (EST) on Nov 9, 2008

I nudged you :)!

Nudge is a weird word...

Nudge, nudge, nudge, nudge, nudge, nudge, nudge, nudge, nudge...

Weird.

-- M1001.

posted by media1001 at 9:57 am (EST) on Nov 8, 2008

Joyce, you are very welcome. And this Margaret Preston work is so very different than the "Australian Gum Blossom" I had on there previously! XXX Lois

posted by avaland at 12:20 pm (EST) on Nov 7, 2008

Hi Thanks for the suggestions I will have to put them on my TBR list. I grew up on a farm in the 50's so eating locally didnt seem like such an extreme thing. We grew our own fruits and veggies and also all of our own meat. The Flour thing would not be a big deal and as for salt. I think that the salt mine in Goderich is within the 100 mile limit. By the way I live in Southwestern Ontario. I do think that the where you live would effect how sucessful this project would be.
Carolyn

posted by ccaro25 at 7:11 pm (EST) on Oct 29, 2008

About the same as you. I've had some non-fiction published in professional journals, but I'm still trying to eke into that elusive first fiction publication. Oh well, read and learn. -- M1001

posted by media1001 at 10:24 pm (EST) on Oct 17, 2008

Greetings Nickelini: Frankly this seems unlikely, but did you tell me that you wanted to do the group read of The Mists of Avalon? I've started threads for the group, and the four books in the Mists. The main, spoiler-free thread is http://www.librarything.com/topic/47384

Hope to see you there in November! Earlier, too, of course, should you want to go boldly forth.

And, as an aside, what was your take on Medea? That story, the bones of it, has underpinned so much "modern" fiction. All unacknowledged, of course, and perhaps even unaware (depressingly enough).

Cheers
RMD

posted by richardderus at 11:35 am (EST) on Oct 13, 2008

I'm a writer. Do you write? or just read?

-- M1001

posted by media1001 at 1:32 am (EST) on Oct 11, 2008

Oh there you are! I haven't looked into LT or CEL-books in a few days so totally missed it till just now. Looks like I have to get busy1

posted by MaggiRos at 1:51 pm (EST) on Oct 8, 2008

thanks for adding me to your interesting libraries! I hope you don't mind if I turn right around and add yours!

posted by jfetting at 7:45 pm (EST) on Sep 28, 2008

Nickelini,

Just for fun I took your advice about contact the publisher. Here's the e-mail I sent. What do you think about my chances of getting an answer?

Dear Esteemed Customer Service Representative,

You are probably not the person to whom this inquiry should be addressed, but I couldn't find a suitable category matching the nature of my inquiry. Furthermore, even if you know the truthful answer to my question, you are probably not authorized to release truthful answers. Doing so simply would not be polite or politically efficacious. Unfortunately, you are it, since I could not find a category entitled Office of Propaganda and Disinformation.

But I digress. Recently, I have noted a disturbing development at this publishing establishment and that of two other of your esteemed competitors. Your scholarly books have quadrupled in price. What gives? I know the world economy is going to hell. I know I am American, and nobody likes Americans anymore. Hell, I do not like them much myself; nevertheless, Americans need access to good scholarship as much as the rest of the world (if not moreso given our obvious incompetence in running our own affairs, not to mention managing other countries' business). As an academic (currently lapsed), I have been a longtime supporter of that small niche market known as academic research. My bookshelves look like the backlist for Routledge. And yes, I know scholarly works have always cost more on relative scale than other books. Even in the recent past, I have cheerfully and without complaint laid out $40.00 (for paperbacks) and $65.00 (for hardbacks) for books hot off your own company's most hallowed and revered press. Twice, however, in the last several months, I have ventured forth to order a Routledge title, only to discover that it cost almost $200 (before shipping, handling, and any applicable taxes)! Given my loyalty to your company, I think a slight bit of peevishness (as well as indigestion) on my part is not uncalled for. Please explain yourselves. I did not buy "Gender and Narrative in the Mahabharata" the other day because $190.00 is an absurd price to pay. In short, I'm miffed . . . and with good reason. Alas, I fear, I will be ending what has been a long (20 years) relationship with Routledge unless you cease (and desist) charging extortionate prices for your books. Please do not tell me to go to the library. I won't. I like to linger over my books, write notes in them, read them while taking long leisurely hot baths and eating chocolate ice cream. Libraries frown on such practices. I would like an answer to my question. In the meantime, I bid you a fond adieu. The relationship was beautiful while it lasted.

Tearfully (in a miffed sort of way),

Mary Moss
Former Professor of English Literature
Current Lecturer at the Free Street University

posted by urania1 at 2:18 pm (EST) on Sep 24, 2008

I haven't read High Rise yet, although I have read a couple of Ballard books: The Atrocity Exhibition, which is really bizarre and difficult to read, and Cocaine Nights, which is pretty good. Both have the screwed up aspects of society in their conceptual framework, so I am not surprised Ballard wrote a dystopian novel.

posted by media1001 at 12:08 am (EST) on Sep 3, 2008

I am so envious of your reading list for university. I only wish I had taken more in-depth literature in college. I found Antigone to be unexpectedly wonderful; I recommend the Robert Fagles translation. Some of the texts might look dry, but I'm still jealous!

In other notes, your approach to reading really seems to mirror mine in some ways. I'm excited for you!

posted by lyzadanger at 6:23 pm (EST) on Sep 2, 2008

I see what you mean about your course reading! (following on from the 1001 books discussion)

Being more in the position of setting readings now rather than following them, I'm always fascinated by lists. I miss my days at uni & try to set up workshops with my former lecturers for my current high school students as much as I can, just so I can imbibe the ambience of the hallowed halls of Sydney Uni once again. Sad, I know :)

Anyway, I loved Antigone & the Oresteia, Agamemnon and Medea, so imho you're in for a few treats there. Descartes wasn't too bad and Freud sounds... well, is entertaining a way to express it? :)

All the best!

posted by Miss-Owl at 6:31 pm (EST) on Aug 29, 2008

That's quite a list for school! I hope you are on the semester (18 weeks) system and not the quarter (12 weeks) system.

I read all the Greek plays and I LOVED them so maybe you will too.

I did a term paper on the Descartes and it wasn't bad to read if you like that kind of thing--I sometimes do and I enjoyed it (a long time ago--when I was in school. forgotten most of it now just remembered I had fun doing it.)

If you like poetry you should really enjoy Helen in Egypt I think. It's wonderful as I remember. Unfortunately I've lost my copy in one of the moves I've made since reading it--I think I will try to find another one and read it again, now that I'm reminded of it.

When you read Survival in Auschwitz I'd love to get your opinion. Lately I've been read some WWII non-fiction and I might want to try that one if you like it. I just finished Night by Wiesel and I have his Memoirs which I haven't started yet.

Good luck this term--happy reading!

posted by MusicMom41 at 12:16 pm (EST) on Aug 25, 2008

I finished Erewhon and News From Nowhere. They were both terrible. don't read them if you don't have to.

I suggest the entire Dashiell Hammett series: The Glass Key, The Maltese Falcon, The Thin Man and/or Red Harvest.

Wonderful writing.

-- M1001

posted by media1001 at 1:35 am (EST) on Aug 25, 2008

Hi Joyce,

Thanks for the sweet enquiry but I am still alive. I have been frantically busy this past two months - work and house stuff and now a holiday on Vancouver Island which is half over. I am writing from a cafe as the place we are in has no internet, TV or modern techno devices (all designed by devious parents to lure their kids into the great outdoors!!!)

I will try and rehatch myself in September when the grind of school and homework and general routine starts again. I grab my holidays with great zeal as they seem so fleeting.

Happy reading, Joyce - I will return to haunt you soon!!!!

Cheers,

Karen

posted by kiwidoc at 2:53 am (EST) on Aug 23, 2008

I just finished reading Mosquito, and after posting my review I read yours. You wrote, It's a rare book that makes me cry, but I have to admit my eyes were a
bit moist on the final pages.. Yes, me too. What a fabulous book; so glad I read it!

posted by lindsacl at 8:41 am (EST) on Aug 21, 2008

LOL! Thank you. Yeah, in a perfect world, I wouldn't have to work all day and could just lose myself amidst shelves of books. Even though I'm 26 year old urban girl, I feel a kindred spirit with the old country butler man portrayed in my profile picture! :)

posted by vhoeschler at 4:22 pm (EST) on Aug 7, 2008

Hello!

Thank you for the feedback on my 888 Challenge page. Since reading is all about the experience, I love suggesting my books with a little "ambiance"! Out of curiosity, why didn't you like Shadow of the Wind?

posted by vhoeschler at 1:35 pm (EST) on Aug 5, 2008

You are correct that the book title is supposed to be "Nowhere" spelled backwards, but that's not the title. It's not clear exactly why he choose to misspell it backwards, but that is the spelling.

Are you on Netflix? I can add you to my Netflix friends list if you are.

-- M1001.

posted by media1001 at 10:32 pm (EST) on Jul 28, 2008

I found a couple more uptopian/dystopian novels in the 1001 list. I haven't read either one of them. They are both in my immediate TBR queue and both are under 300 pages, which should make for a quick read:

Erewhon by Samuel Butler
News from Nowhere by William Morris

Have you read them?

-- M1001

posted by media1001 at 10:53 am (EST) on Jul 28, 2008

"We" was decent (sounds like I'm using bad grammar, heh). I still prefer "Brave New World", but I guess "We" was one of the first dystopia novels and it influenced both Huxley and Orwell. It is much more poetic writing than "Brave New World", less intellectual and more visceral. I understand intellectual writing much better, but it was still pretty good. And I can definite see the influence it had on Huxley.

-- M1001

posted by media1001 at 5:46 pm (EST) on Jul 19, 2008

Hi! Just wanted to say that I really liked your review of "The Birth of Venus". While I gave it a positive review myself, you brought up a really good point, that Alessandra was much too modern and precocious to really have lived in the Florentine Renaissance-- I liked your choice of words with "anachronistic." It's difficult to find accurate historical fiction out there!

Thanks and keep writing honest and helpful reviews!! :)

Caity

posted by caitykarczewski at 1:16 pm (EST) on Jul 2, 2008

Joyce - sorry for the tardy reply but have been away - on Vancouver Island for a couple of days. More sun there, methinks.

The weather is the pits, but I don't remember it being much better all these years. I remember when I first arrived, I thought to myself "How can anyone live in such a gloomy place?" I came here because I married a Canuck! I really wanted to go home after 2-3 years, but seem to have gotten used to it?

I spent most of my youth in sunny climes. Although born in London (UK), we lived in Cyprus, Malta and other sunny places until moving to NZ - which has also has a Medittearean climate. Came here aged 24 and now 49 so there you have it all!!!!

I also read an Elizabeth Bowen book - had similar difficulties with it, especially as I thought it would be a 'Nancy Mitford' style. That 1940s style was quite revolutionary but not easy. Great writer, but hard work, IMO.

Nice to hear from you! I hear that the sun is definitely ON ITs WAY!!!

Cheers,

Karen

posted by kiwidoc at 9:37 pm (EST) on Jun 11, 2008

Hah, well it is good that you didn't like the story, because that was a pretty harsh review I wrote :).

I just reread it and all I can say is that I must have been fairly angry at wasting my time reading the story...the book *was* pretty bad, though.

And yeah, the pictures are amazing. I love those old, details drawings. Of course, my favorites are still the Alice In Wonderland, John Tenniel drawings. I even have the leather bound collection of Lewis Caroll's complete works. Great stuff.

Thanks for the comment.

-- M1001

posted by media1001 at 4:06 pm (EST) on Jun 1, 2008

Hi Nickelini,

Just wanted to thank you for recommending Mosquito - I'm 100 pages in and loving it. I'm torn between racing through it because I want to see what happens, and slowing right down because I don't want it to end!

Rachel

posted by rachbxl at 1:50 pm (EST) on May 21, 2008

I saw your message on the "What are you reading now" group about books for your daughter, and I had a few suggestions. I have a ten year old son who loves the Warrior books and Harry Potters. Some of his other favorites are the Ga'Hoole books by Kathryn Lasky (I preorder these and the Warriors whenever there's a new one coming out), the Spiderwick Chronicles, Chronicles of Narnia, and the Lemony Snickett books. Oh, and he's currently working his way through the Redwall books, and he loves them.
I love children's lit myself, and some of my favorites are:
the Echo Falls mysteries by Peter Abraham (Down the Rabbit Hole is the first one, and a 13 year old girl is the heroine in these stories)
the Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley (Two girl heroines in these)
the Artemis Fowl books by Eoin Colfer (not girly, but really fun - not quite on the Harry Potter level, but what is?)
Gregor the Overlander books by Suzanne Collins
I saw that someone had suggested Twilight, and unless she's really mature, I would hold off on that one for a few years.
Anyway, I know that's a lot of input from a total stranger, but I hope it'll give you a few ideas.
Good Luck,
Traci

posted by virginiahomeschooler at 11:13 pm (EST) on May 17, 2008

Thanks for the support, Nickelini. I'm frankly surprised I haven't been flamed. I sometimes feel like I am becoming the master of the (hopefully polite & well-written) smack-down. Why don't people understand that the whole point of the Awful lit board is to talk about books you don't like?

posted by fannyprice at 8:25 pm (EST) on Apr 22, 2008

Hi Nickelini,

Thanks for the kind words, and I definitely recommend [Infidel], especially for Ali's remarks on the immigrant problem in Holland. I found her comments thought provoking. I'm currently reading [Foreskin's Lament] and [Honor Lost], but have barely scratched the surface of them, so way too soon to tell what I'll think of them.

I find it hard to recommend books to others because everyone's tastes are so individual. However, if you want recommendations from me, give me an idea of what you like to read (or are interested in reading) and I'd be happy to tell you what I found interesting and well written.

Maggie

posted by whymaggiemay at 8:51 pm (EST) on Apr 21, 2008

Yes, there are some purists on LT. It did start as just a cataloging site, of course. And I do understand where they are coming from. But it's grown way beyond that now. Besides, who would police such a thing (secret book ninjas?). Best, Lois

posted by avaland at 2:56 pm (EST) on Apr 21, 2008

I don't mind at all. =) Besides I think that I borrowed the idea from someone else's profile at some point myself. I find its a nice way to keep track...and with the link to the challenge pages, it makes it easier to jump right to my thread when it comes time to add a book. Its amazing how quickly you can drop to the lower pages! So many readers challenging themselves. Its great. =)

I'm going to have to make a ticker for Middlemarch myself at some point.

posted by Irisheyz77 at 7:32 am (EST) on Apr 21, 2008

Thanks Joyce,

I know the Ambleside book store, and browse in there alot - I feel right at home in a bookstore and sometimes worry I will get locked in if late in the day!!!

not move around the store. It needed a real good clean out when he died a couple of years ago. It is fairly good, but lacks some variety and still needs a good clean-up. It was a true fire hazard before.

Good book hunting!!!

Cheers, Karen

posted by kiwidoc at 3:47 pm (EST) on Apr 20, 2008

Hi Joyce,

Sounds like you had a good day book-shopping - I was in Brown's today (stopped on the way to work which made me late!). Got a good copy of Claire Keegan's short stories - 'Antarctica'.

I used to visit Kidsbooks almost weekly when my kids were little - it is a superb store. I harangued the store owner on 4th so much, I think she opened the Edgemount Village one just to get me off her back. However, since they are older (16 and 14) I don't go there much any more. They both read off my 'adult shelf' now they are teens.

Can you believe it was snowing this evening? I drove home from Burnaby in the slush, wondering how I could be thinking it was time to break out the gardening gear!

A few of us have been reading Fifth Business 'together' - so what seems like a coincidence is not really. I am not one for group reads, but this one seemed worthwhile!

Cheers and happy reading,

Karen

posted by kiwidoc at 2:07 am (EST) on Apr 19, 2008

I have exhaustively tried to locate good bookstores in Vancouver - there are two reasonable second-hand ones downtown - Macleans is one ( I have my bike stolen from in front of MacLeans when I first came to Canada in the 1980s so I know the owner quite well. There is another one two blocks away which has a good selection also. I have been to the foreign book store a few times when my kids were in French Immersion.

I buy books from 32 Books more to support the business than anything else. It is really too small for a good browse.

Presently reading Fifth Business by Robertson Davies, and surprised to discover him. So far it is really very good.

So I see you are Italian - if only by marriage. I would live in Italy in a heart beat - it is such a beautiful country!!

Cheers,

Karen

posted by kiwidoc at 12:25 pm (EST) on Apr 15, 2008

Hi, Nickelini. I see you added my library to your list of interesting ones, and I hopped over to browse yours. I also saw the note about The Winter's Tale, which I am about to start teaching next week. Not sure how my students will like it, but I always end with one of the romances, and I change it every time I teach Shakespeare.

posted by Cariola at 6:18 pm (EST) on Apr 14, 2008

Hi Nickelini,
I noted that you said that you were a 'map freak' on one of the reading globally threads. Are you familiar with Google Earth. I only ask on LT because I am accompanying my reading by putting placemarks on google earth maps so that I can physically see where my reads are taking place. I have not mentioned this in the Reading Globally group, but thought you may be interested in it as an idea.
Cheers,
Andy

posted by depressaholic at 12:14 pm (EST) on Apr 14, 2008

Well, after such flattering comments, I must ask you to be a friend. It is nice to know someone locally, too.

Vancouver disappoints me wrt to bookstores.

I am always amazed when I travel, how wonderful some bookstores can be. I love Munro's in Victoria and there are lots of second hand stores in Sidney. Browns is a co-op bookstore - and they recently added a women in print section (by the woman who used to own Hagar Books in Kerrisdale). So I managed to snaffle a few good titles there including a Patricia Grace (NZ writer) and a few other overseas authors that are usually hard to find. It is hit and miss.I mostly use the internet now.

Well done with your studies. I work fairly close to SFU!

Cheers,

Karen

posted by kiwidoc at 11:16 am (EST) on Apr 9, 2008

Well - thank you very much, Nickelini, for your kind comments.

I don't know exactly how many of the books in my library are read, most of the initially posted ones, less of the more recently added. More than less.

I find it helpful to know what is in my library, even if unread, as it avoids me buying duplicates. I really love browsing book-stores, especially second-hand ones. Brown's bookstore on Hastings near Boundary is my latest haunt, and it happens to be on my way to work!!

The trouble with my LT obsession, it that it fuels the fire of more book acquisitions. I sometimes feel I just have to read/acquire a book after glowing recommendations from a respected fellow LTer!!!!

Cheers.

Karen

poste

posted by kiwidoc at 6:11 pm (EST) on Apr 7, 2008

Hello Nickelini,

Thanks for the note.

Yes I live in Greater Vancouver also - on the North Shore. Rather a compulsive bookie - my rather out of control library attests to this.

I started to realize that I could get a lot of 'reading' done if I listened to audios in the car commuting to Burnaby. Started on some novels last year and this year worked through an excellent English audio on Shakespeare plays. The four I listened to were the ones available at the library - I haven't seen any others yet in this excellent format. Very well done with seamless explanations between speeches. I actually really enjoyed them - although I am a keen participant at the Bard on the Beach every year.

I really enjoyed Twelfth Night - perhaps my favourite of the four so far (although R & J is also a big favourite).

Nice to meet you. I have noticed your comments around LT which are always very well thought out.



Karen

posted by kiwidoc at 12:16 am (EST) on Apr 7, 2008

A few months ago, you mentioned on my 888 challenge thread that you were reading The Winter's Tale for school. What did you think of it? I just started it, and I admit, I'm a bit confused. I've requested the audio book from the library to see if that will help (it usually does with Shakespeare), but I was wondering what your take on it was.

posted by shootingstarr7 at 11:21 pm (EST) on Apr 2, 2008

You should go vote. There are no rules about having to be there for any length of time. You are part of the group and so should have a say in what gets read next. =) And don't just vote for Middlemarch because its currently in the lead. Vote for the book that you most want to read...for who knows what might happen between now and Friday! =)

posted by Irisheyz77 at 12:09 pm (EST) on Apr 2, 2008

Don't just lurk...join in and vote. =)

posted by Irisheyz77 at 7:28 am (EST) on Apr 2, 2008

Yeah, I don't look quite that haggard, even in the morning. It's a tapir, actually- I chose it from among LT's offerings when I created the account. One of these days I may get around to putting a personalized picture up, but then again- I kind of like the tapir.

posted by Kplatypus at 3:10 am (EST) on Mar 12, 2008

Hey Nickelini,

I've just finished The Waves, and I loved it. It was amazingly poetic, but I was also really surprised about how relevant it seemed - all about the decisions people make about the way they construct their lives and their self-image.

Do let me know what you think of your annotated version. I stopped reading the footnotes in mine after the first few, because I thought they were pretty banal and sort of undermined the poetry of the book. And I'm quite glad that I just let it soak in slowly and thought about what parts made sense to me, rather than overlaying it with the analysis. But I'm also sure that there is a lot more in the book that I just didn't see, so next time it would be nice to have the extra information too.

I think your plan for how to read it is just right - there are so many lines in the book which express things so perfectly that you want to copy them out and share them with people and follow the line of thought...

posted by wandering_star at 6:45 am (EST) on Dec 23, 2007

Glad you're finally getting around to The Bloody Chamber - looking forward to hearing what you think of it!

posted by margad at 6:50 pm (EST) on Dec 19, 2007

Hi, I've noticed your insightful comments on the 1001 list, and I've also noticed that you are reading "the best of Sri Lankan Literature", is there a list somewhere? Sounds fascinating and I think I'd like to take the plunge, tks, Emily

posted by aemilys at 4:47 pm (EST) on Dec 14, 2007

I'm flattered to be on your "interesting libraries" list. I notice we both have Angela Carter's book of short stories, The Bloody Chamber. What do you think of her stories? It seems as though LTers have this book at a higher rate than readers in the general population, which I think is interesting. I believe it didn't sell very well, but I find her writing quite thrilling.

posted by margad at 2:32 pm (EST) on Dec 2, 2007

Grouchy, eh? Silly and boring maybe, but I based my 50 Book Challenge on reading only those books on my shelves that I owned but hadn't read because I found myself increasingly choosing an easy read. It's working well. Right now I'm slogging through Mann's and, though at times it feels like the literary equivalent of a carb-free diet, I'm enjoying it (particularly after I added Sneaky Read Rule One: Non-challenge books can be read alongside Challenge books but only if a certain number of Challenge book pages are read first. while this slows things down, it means I keep going). As to your question re PNG, I was born up there, leaving when I was 2. My dad worked in telecommunications and his work took us back there when I was a teenager. I met my future husband there and we returned after we were married for a couple of years. It's a fascinating place but I haven't returned since the late 1970s. Currently I'm researching some legal implications re Australia's colonial governance of PNG. Hard going, I'm floundering, no, I'm in quick sand and going down fast. What was your brother doing there?

posted by Bookful at 2:04 am (EST) on Dec 2, 2007

You certainly posed an interesting question in Books Compared about the difference between Kafkaesque and Orwellian. I'm enjoying the discussion!

posted by margad at 5:32 pm (EST) on Nov 28, 2007

Nickelini - you may already have this on your reading list, but I would highly recommend Shyam Selvadurai's Funny Boy if you are looking for books about Sri Lanka. It's a series of linked episodes in the life of a Tamil boy growing up in Sri Lanka, and an excellent overview of the island's recent history and ethnic tensions.

posted by wandering_star at 6:52 pm (EST) on Oct 1, 2007

I saw on one of the Reading Globally threads you appealed for NZ lit. I was there earlier this year and 'discovered' a fantastic Maori writer called Patricia Grace. She is pretty big in NZ but fairly non-existant on Librarything. I read two of her books (Baby No-Eyes and Potiki). Both excellent, but would recommend the latter before the former.

posted by depressaholic at 10:11 am (EST) on Sep 4, 2007