Hi Kevin,

You are going to give me a swelled head with those compliments!

I am glad to hear from you and gladly accept your ‘friends’ invite – I had always noticed your name initially near the top of my list of similars so lurked in your profile quite a bit at the beginning of 2007.

I am always a great believer in quality not quantity – so my reading numbers don’t mean too much – digesting a good book should never be rushed. I do tend to ‘travel’ with a book – whenever an opportunity exists for a read I grab it. I would have to defer on the question of ignoring alternative obligations!!!

I have no set way to choose a book, however I have such a long list of TBRs that I will never have a problem finding the next one. I think that spending too long training deprived me of a broad education (when training in medicine, there is no time to read and no inclination either – you just want to go down to the pub to chill out a bit).

I do occasionally bin a book – I cannot bear to waste time on mediocre writing when there is so much great literature out there. I have a bit of a leaning toward the morbid and gloomy side of things and I really like inventive literature – favourites is too difficult to say. I like almost anything if it is very well done – but I am definitely a bit of a book snob and find myself on the opposite pole to many wrt contemporary fiction.

Barnes does navel gaze in his latest book – you need to be in the mood. I would perhaps would take the book in a few meals rather then digest in one feast as he really has a obsessive fixation with death and it may not be good for one's mental health.

Never read La Peste – sigh…. Another MBR. The recent foray into Camus nihilism was a good anecdote after some rather overblown and overworked modern prize winners read recently gave me indigestion.

Totally agree with you on HG Wells – I went through all his stuff in early high school and thought he was brilliant. Those were the idyllic days I could discover an author and had the time to read his entire output.

I see you have read The Road recently. I have been meaning to do so – to try and compare with Jim Crace’s The Pesthouse which I enjoyed last year with a similar dystopian agenda. Crace is a superior writer to many, IMO. Also enjoyed Rose Tremain, which I see you have read. The Long Road was a worthwhile read and gives a balance to the female immigrant books in the UK recently (thinking of Brick Road as a mediocre example and nothing on Tremain). Great books in your list too, and eerily parallel to mine!

Hope you can visit LT occasionally – really enjoy your comments. I remain green at your theatre opportunities. Do you aspire to act as well?

Keep well.

Cheers,
Karen

Lähettänyt: kiwidoc 11:18 am (EST) Jun 1, 2008

Kevin,

Thanks for your very thoughtful reply. Ghost stories have never much been my forte, but it sounds intriguing.

I am presently reading Rose Tremain and her latest book, A Long Road, which I can highly recommend so far (after 100 pages or so). Really like her prose style.

A relief to find an author I like, after being disappointed with three prize-winners in a row, who made me feel like I wanted to rip my eyes out!!!! (Sarah Hall and her Carhullan Army, Enright and her The Gathering, and a Pen Faulkner winner Kate Christensen and 'The Great Man'. ) In fairness to these authors, they have talent, but I need a big break from family dysfunction novels! I was being to despair a bit, thinking my taste varied so much from the mainstream recognition.

As you, I am also a great fan of Banville, but not yet delved into his crime fiction under Black.

Nice to here from you.

Cheers,

Karen

PS - always checking into your blog to see what interesting play you have seen. Theatre scene seems so vibrant in your neck of the woods.

Lähettänyt: kiwidoc 5:26 pm (EST) Apr 4, 2008

Kevin,

I don't know what you thought of 'The Ghost Writer' by Burnside because I did not see you post any review.

But just to say, I really enjoyed 'A Devil's Footprint' which is his only novel to make it to Canada so far. His prose style really appealed.

Cheers,

Karen

Lähettänyt: kiwidoc 9:24 pm (EST) Mar 24, 2008

I enjoyed The Famished Road quite a lot but yes there were, as you say, many wandering spirits and pepper soup:-) Doubt I will read the other two that follow it. Ah, so you have a blog now. No wonder you have been away from us. I wish I had the time to read blogs... Best, Lois

Lähettänyt: avaland 5:02 pm (EST) Oct 10, 2007

Hi Kevin
I recently read Wise Children which you recommended to me last year. I loved it, so thanks very much for introducing me to this wonderful writer.
Amanda

Lähettänyt: amandameale 8:18 am (EST) May 15, 2007

Your review of [The Ascent of Man] reflects almost exactly my own personal memories and current views of this book and the TV series. Another series that affected me in a similar way was Alistair Cooke's [America] around the same time. Maybe it is just something about the age we were when we watched it?

Lähettänyt: johnm1958 12:55 pm (EST) May 6, 2007

You might find this site useful for dealing with Graham Greene (and many others), altho' I don't believe that Our Man In Havana is covered: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/powerglory...

I'm sending the page for The Power And The Glory, which I read recently - appropriately enough - while traveling in Mexico.

Lähettänyt: tropics 11:15 am (EST) Apr 3, 2007

Kevin, as to those two books you asked me about: Beyond black and FAMOUS LAST WORDS I am not sure how they came to me, but i have yet to read either. i liked The Friend of Women and Other Stories by louis auchincloss which i read the other day. he is a little old fashioned but his world is upper class new yorkers and i enjoy that. he lives not far from me and i run into him on the street from time to time. he is the literary descendent of Edith Wharton and some would say Henry James tho James is a much greater writer and i must add, much denser. recently finished Housekeeping vs. the Dirt by Nick Hornby, the last of his collection of book reviews. i read the previous one as well. I like him as a writer. it is as if he were in your living room talking with you. and he seems so "boy" and refreshing and is a football nut. I like his HIGH FIDELITY a lot as well. i own ABOUT A BOY but haven't yet read it. I must say that my reading has suffered now that we subscribe to Netflix and have a large flat screen tv. Also read Positively American: Winning Back the Middle-Class Majority One Family at a Time by senator chuck schumer and only because i ran into him several weeks ago at a restaurant and he assured me that i would like his book-which i didn't. Nor do i like his politics. Have you read LONDON FIELDS by Amis? If so what is your take on it.
best
david

Lähettänyt: SigmundFraud 8:59 pm (EST) Apr 1, 2007

Hi Kevin,

I have been tardier than you in replying. sorry. i am now reading RABBI PAUL, AN INTELLECUTAL BIOGRAPHY. I have been reading a lot of early Christianity, including the New Testament, all of which interests me a great deal. I am not particularly interested in theology but more interested in religion and how it has shaped civilization, and even more specifically, why Christianity was so successful. I am also reading THE ILIAD for a book group, as well as THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO in French for my French book group. We saw INHERIT THE WIND last week with Christopher Plummer as Clarence Darrow and it was one of the best acting performances i have ever seen. This week we will see TALK RADIO with Liv Schrieber who is a great actor as well. Finally spring is beginning to appear in NYC. The magnolias in our front garden are beginning to bloom. The ivy that covers our building should be leafing in the next two weeks and the mock pears that line the street will be blossoming any day now. We had a wonderful dinner last night at AVOCE downtown with my brother and his wife who are here from Chicago and my cousins who live just across the Hudson River. Tonight we are going to Artisanal, a French bistro, with three other couples, one of whom has been a friend for the 57 years. He was a child playmate. I hope all is well with you and that spring is arriving for you. best, david

Lähettänyt: SigmundFraud 6:55 pm (EST) Mar 31, 2007

P.S. I wasn't particularly careful and she wasn't my sister. But the last I heard, she was doing okay!

Lähettänyt: margad 2:00 am (EST) Mar 21, 2007

Welcome to Books Compared. I didn't think I was going to find much of interest to talk about with March and Gilead compared, either. They were just the two novels on the top of the stack of books closest to my desk. But lo! I had the idea to start the group after I read Cynthia Ozick's recent article in Harper's Magazine. She laments the decline of reviews that consider books in a larger literary context. I thought, well, maybe a little grassroots yeast to bubble up... I'll look forward to seeing your entry!

Lähettänyt: margad 1:58 am (EST) Mar 21, 2007

Kevin,

I'm reading through Angela Carter's short fiction at the moment (and in the middle of The Bloody Chamber currently). What delicious prose, particular in this novella. I did interrupt it briefly to devour the latest Reginald Hill mystery... I really must prod you into listing what you are reading on your profile page. I keep popping over here to your page to try to find out:-) Best, Lois

Lähettänyt: avaland 10:16 am (EST) Mar 16, 2007

Hi dylanwolf - I've fixed up that link on my Secret River review - thanks for the headsup and sorry to mess up your formatting! Hope you enjoy the novel.

Beth (fridaysixpm)

Lähettänyt: fridaysixpm 8:01 pm (EST) Mar 12, 2007

BTW, I forgot to say how much I enjoy reading your reviews.
Perfect little snapshots. More please.
Murr

Lähettänyt: tomcatMurr 5:56 am (EST) Mar 6, 2007

Well aren't you just a precious luv! :)

I realise that my use of the C word was probably a bit injudicious, and if I'm writing a review of something for my blog, I'm usually a bit more careful.However, I think of these postings as more of a conversation and tend not to think too carefully about my choice of vocabulary.
I will try to be more careful in the future. :)

Please please please don't miss out on the pleasure of reading Henry James just because other people say he's difficult. Late James is not my cup of tea either, but there is some early and middle James which can stop you dead in your tracks with a perfect metaphor, or take your breath away with a description of a fleeting emotion or a barely graspable thought. I strongly recommend Portrait of a Lady, or indeed some of the shorter works such as The Aspern Papers or The Turn of the Screw.
I realise that Dickens is not everyone's taste: people seem to either love or loathe him. For me, he always makes me grin when I'm reading him.

Have you considered starting a literary snobs group?

Lähettänyt: tomcatMurr 5:40 am (EST) Mar 6, 2007

Thank you! I have been busy, but I'll take a look now... Literary snobbery is a subject very close to my heart!

S

Lähettänyt: SamJordison 11:52 am (EST) Mar 5, 2007

Hi. I've been looking at the books we have in common (I suspect there might be more, but I'm too cheap to sign up for lifetime membership!) and wanted to say that the earlier Frayn books are wonderful. Particularly Now You Know, and A Landing On The Sun. I'm sure you know, but he's also the world's best translator of Chekhov.

Love Atwood. Love Auster. Love Carey. Love Murakami (read more of his - especially The Wind-up Bird Chronicle and A Wild Sheep Chase). Am discovering Borges (whom I think you might like if not yet discovered).

You might like Death & The Penguin by Andrey Kurkov, as well.

Salinger's Franny & Zooey is better than Catcher (in my opinion).

Wharton's Ethan Frome is also worth a look.

Now I've told you what I think you should read, I'm going to look at your catalogue and see what takes my fancy!

Lähettänyt: wandamcgarry 5:32 pm (EST) Mar 3, 2007

Hi Kevin,
I enjoyed your confession about being a book snob on the book talk group. It gave me great consolation to know that there are other book snobs out there! I've also been reading Sam Jordinson's crap on the Guardian website and think he sometimes needs a good shaking.
Did you read his article on Henry James being boring?

Best wishes to you.

Murr
www.thelectern.blogspot.com

Lähettänyt: tomcatMurr 9:58 pm (EST) Mar 2, 2007

Hi Kevin
There is a new group called Anglophiles which needs some members and topics. Hope you'll have a look.
Amanda

Lähettänyt: amandameale 8:05 am (EST) Mar 1, 2007

Kevin, your daughter is wonderful, I watched the whole clip! And is that Gormengast, the movie, on your page? Perhaps you can be the first to tag books "guilty as charged", "secrets I kept from LT', and so on. Heh heh.

Lähettänyt: avaland 3:57 pm (EST) Feb 28, 2007

Kevin, It's a pleasure to be able to have brought that offer to your attention. I've seen that there are some other good books in the series, and and £3.50 each, they're a bargin for a hardback. I have'nt been on LibraryThing for long, but I'm getting into it. There's so much I want to read, but am currently busy with A-level fun (not!).
Many thanks for your comment ;)

Lähettänyt: JakyBF 7:20 am (EST) Feb 26, 2007

I was intrigued by your comments on Angela Carter so I thought I would have a look at your library, then I read your review of "The Plague". Completely agree, it is a genuinely great novel but it gets constantly overshadowed by "The Stranger/Outsider". This is a real pity as it contains much more humanity than the more famous work. One of the criticisms of existentialism is that it is fundamentally negative, "The Plague" proves this is not necessarily the case.

Lähettänyt: jargoneer 9:51 am (EST) Feb 19, 2007

Kevin,

I happened to notice that there is a rare American novelist which makes the list of books we share. Now, i haven't gone in again to check out your library but are you keeping your reading pretty much in the kingdom? You aren't still mad at us for that Tea Party we had over here, or that little skuffle we were both engaged in (which you lost), are you?:-)

Lähettänyt: avaland 4:51 pm (EST) Feb 13, 2007

Oh, and yes, I adored the Carol Duffy! I came across her in this new anthology I have New British Poets and although I was sure I had read her poetry before (and even imagined I had some on the shelf and went looking), I headed off to the bookstore to order some (i have her Selected Poems on order also). Yes, I agree, she more accessible than many poets, especially to the general public who may not be accustomed to reading poetry. Over here I think Mary Oliver and Billy Collins fall into that category. I will continue to read through my anthology and perhaps discover a few others I might wish to explore further. I have read much less poetry while working at the bookstore, although I have continued to buy it. Now released from the pressure of always reading AHEAD of publication, I have been exploring and rediscovering all the things I set aside.
Best, Lois

Lähettänyt: avaland 10:01 pm (EST) Feb 8, 2007

Kevin, I have read the Auster and found it both frustrating and fascinating. It has a circular...or perhaps labyrinthian narrative. I suppose it is considered terribly postmodern. I wanted badly to figure it all out. In the end you are back at the beginning again. However, the story within the story was very good in itself. I will be interested to hear what you think after you read it. Best, Lois

Lähettänyt: avaland 9:51 pm (EST) Feb 8, 2007

hi kevin,

what are you reading now?? any recommendations?

david

Lähettänyt: SigmundFraud 1:12 am (EST) Feb 2, 2007

Thanks for your message. It's good to have you on the Radio 3 Group. I hope that you will contribute from time to time. Happy listening!

Why don't you post your question about contemporary listening on the group page?

Lähettänyt: antimuzak 2:48 am (EST) Feb 1, 2007

Kevin,

I agree with you that 12 novels does indeed seem daunting. I tend to avoid any series as a habit, having never read any Updike mainly because all those "Rabbit" books on the shelves are way too intimidating. A while back I read "A Glastonbury Romance" and the size of that one book alone made me constantly regret ever embarking on such an enterprise. I'm glad you mentioned "The Third Policeman." I kept thumbing through it at the bookstore a week or two ago and wondered whether to buy it (or "At Swim-Two-Birds").

Feeling marginally better now, thanks. "On the mend" I think is the term for it. I remember seeing "Two Gentleman of Verona" years ago at Haymarket- I'm envious. I'll keep my eye out for the "Frost/Nixon" play. Makes me wish I lived in New York- San Francisco is not a great town for theater (although I did see "Travesties" last year which I had missed seeing when I lived in London. Well worth... jeez... like 14 years or so of waiting).

Sean

Lähettänyt: twacorbies 10:29 pm (EST) Jan 15, 2007

Hi, Hey, I see you like Paul Auster. I have his latest here in ARC form...Travels in the Scriptorium. It's a mere 145 pages. I've not read Auster but I have found myself picking up the ARCs when they came into the bookstore, just never got to them. I'm thinking of tackling this after I finish the Atwood I'm reading. Anything I should know about Mr. Auster before I do? (the book is due out next month here in the states). Best, Lois

Lähettänyt: avaland 8:09 pm (EST) Jan 15, 2007

Dylan, my favorite Auster books are THE NEW YORK TRILOGY which i thought was masterful but he has disappointed me ever since. doesn't he take himself a little seriously?
Sig

Lähettänyt: SigmundFraud 6:08 pm (EST) Jan 4, 2007

P.S. Rereading my reply I realized that in my usual fashion my train of thought is derailed several times making it seem like I believed Bennett actually wrote the "Dance to the Music of Time" series. I knew he appeared in the miniseries (which I never saw) and through the wonder of free association arrived at my query about whether you had read the actual books by Powell, since I generally prefer to read a novel than watch an adaptation any day. The volumes always seem so daunting and solid when I see them on bookstore shelves, like the "Raj Quartet." Just thought I'd clarify my goofy roundabout way of arriving at my question, which still stands.

Sean

Lähettänyt: twacorbies 4:37 pm (EST) Jan 3, 2007

Hey Kevin,

It's been a while- the holidays and then a crazy work crunch when I returned to San Francisco have eaten up all my time. Haven't had a chance to hop onto this site, nor really any lately. I will have to see if I can track down a copy of "The Street of Crocodiles" the next time I'm browsing the bookstores. Sounds intriguing. Money is always tight this time of year so I might have to show some degree of restraint (if I can!). I have a stack of Kafka's work that I need to get around to- I've read many of the short stories and "The Trial," but I'd love to read some more of his diaries ("...swimming in the afternoon") as well as the biography by his friend Max Brod. Have you ever read Capek's "War of the Newts?" I tried several times but the "fantastic" nature of it proved too much for me, even if it's being used in the service of satire. I'll have to try again some day. Don't worry about the evaluation of Murdoch- this jives with things I've read in the New York Review of Books and Guardian articles. You didn't put me off reading her at all! I haven't really had much time to read anything, so that note that I'm currently reading "The Good Soldier..." was a case of unrestrained optimism. I have been picking my way through "The Italian Boy" here and there during coffee breaks. Lots of interesting information about London's East End poor during the 1830's- much more interesting actually then the murder trial that is the central focus of the book. How is "Untold Stories?" I worked one semester in a college library that was selling off their old records in favor of what was then these "newfangled" compact discs. I snagged a copy of a recording of "Beyond the Fringe" featuring Bennett, Cook and Moore. Great fun! Unfortunately, other than "the Madness of King George," that is probably the extent of my knowledge of Bennett. The film version of "the History Boys" was released here, but reviewers seem to judge it unfavorably compared to the original stage version. So I've been on the fence about seeing it or hoping the play comes to San Francisco. Have you read any/all of the "Dance to the Music of Time" series? I don't think I ever made the connection that it was the same man who cracked me up on that old LP!

Sean

Lähettänyt: twacorbies 4:21 pm (EST) Jan 3, 2007

hola kevin,

even though i am "across the pond", on most days I check out books in the Guardian...today, if you haven't seen it already, there is a good review of Auster's new book.

have a happy and a healthy new year.

bert (born in brooklyn by the way)

Lähettänyt: berthirsch 1:16 pm (EST) Dec 31, 2006

hey kevin-
i see you also love Auster- i think he's fabulous, so far [Book of Illusion] is my favorite and his memoir [Hand to Mouth] is alos fascinating for insight into the writer's life/process. I've yet to read [Oracle Night] and [Brooklyn Follies] which i have on my shelf.

bert

Lähettänyt: berthirsch 11:54 am (EST) Dec 22, 2006

I read [Human Stain] a few years ago and also thought it was great...its depiction of PTSD in a Vietnam Vet was perfect pitch-right on target...i recently finished his [American Pastoral], i reviewed it, it is also excellent.

Lähettänyt: berthirsch 11:51 am (EST) Dec 22, 2006

Dear Kevin,
I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Reading New Year. I'm currently reading Be Near Me by Andrew O'Hagan. I've found it a bit strange (and enjoyable) but nearing the end I find everything falling into place. I do like a book that makes you think. With The Book of Evidence, for example, I stopped for a while and tried to work out what motivated Freddie, how had he come to this end.
I wanted to tell you, also, that I subscribe to Literary Review from England and I tend to favour UK literature in general.
All the best
Amanda

Lähettänyt: amandameale 7:26 am (EST) Dec 22, 2006

Kevin, thanks for the Banville recommendation, I'll look into it. And I may pick up The Sea once again, when the time is right. I have discovered that oftentimes it is not the book 's fault that I can't get through it; but my own. Too many distractions, too tired, too busy...etc. I have set aside the Shirley Hazzard I was reading until I have time to really sit and enjoy it, likely after the holidays. LT has certainly NOT reduced my to-be-read pile.

And if you enjoy reading books from all over the world and/or you're for discussions or recommendations of world literature, we have a group called "Reading Globally - Fiction", you might like. We're having some interesting conversations on there.

I'm putting you on my 'watch list" - although I've noticed checking the html list of what someone has recently added to their library is, very often, NOT the same thing as what they're reading; which is why I added "what I'm reading" to my profile page:-) Best, Lois

Lähettänyt: avaland 11:09 am (EST) Dec 15, 2006

I haven't read The Human Stain and will wait a while before I read another Roth novel. (I have too many books already in my pile and on my "must buy" list.) I know nothing of Angela Carter.
Amanda

Lähettänyt: amandameale 7:41 am (EST) Dec 9, 2006

Me again
Just re-read your message. I think Anne Dudley won an Oscar for Best Original Score? Am I right?
Amanda

Lähettänyt: amandameale 8:11 am (EST) Dec 8, 2006

HI
Thanks for your message. Queen Kirsten was my favourite character as well. I loved it when she was sent off in a fish cart, and when she gave her baby away.
My favourite Australian writer, and our only Nobel laureate, is Patrick White. Many people find his writing difficult but I don't think you would. The Twyborn Affair is not difficult. I have read others by him but so long ago that I can't describe them at all. To me Patrick White is a perfect writer. Every novel is excellent. I would recommend that you start with Voss.
Cloudstreet by Tim Winton is very good and has been popular overseas as well.
Kate Grenville's The Secret River and The Idea of Perfection are good.
Have you read Peter Carey's The True History of the Kelly Gang - I recommend that one.
Cheers for now
Amanda

Lähettänyt: amandameale 8:09 am (EST) Dec 8, 2006

Me again
JUst noticed that you like Rose Tremain. I've read all of her books and adored Music and Silence. ALso loved The Colour. If you have any recommendations about anything, let me know.
Amanda

Lähettänyt: amandameale 7:58 am (EST) Dec 7, 2006

Hi Kevin, I'm ashamed to say that The Book of Evidence is the first Banville book I've read, although he's been on my list for ages. I think this book is masterly in its use of language and, as you said, observation of the minutiae of personality. I will certainly be reading the rest of his works after this. Thanks for your message.
Amanda

Lähettänyt: amandameale 7:55 am (EST) Dec 7, 2006

It seems you have beaten me to the punch, so we say; as it seems you have already posted to Amanda:-)

Lähettänyt: avaland 3:54 pm (EST) Dec 6, 2006

Dylan, Thank you for the holiday wishes; the same to you. I'm afraid the only Banville I've attempted to read is The Sea which I put aside without finishing. Now, it may have just been the wrong time to attempt to read it as I was taking care of my mom who has Alzheimers (hard to concentrate when one is being ask the same question over and over again...). Or it may be that I'm not fond of male characters waxing prosaic over their lives (I couldn't finish Gilead either). Or it could just be simply that my choice was poorly timed. But, if I were to read a Banville, which title would you recommend? I'll let Amanda know, if you haven't already, of what you have just finished reading; the two of you can have "words" about it, eh? Looking forwarding to you checking out the Atwood group, I just added another thread... Best, Lois

Lähettänyt: avaland 3:50 pm (EST) Dec 6, 2006

Hi Kevin,

Sorry for the tardiness of the reply. Work has been taking up an inordinate amount of my time and I haven't been online in a while. I'll have to get around to reading "A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters." It has sat on my shelves unread for too long- I've always meant to pick it up, and then something else catches my eye. My friend (who borrowed and read the book) joked that I bought it solely because of the Gericault insert. Maybe! "On Beauty" sounds interesting. Having seen that BBC version of "White Teeth" kind of spoils it for the read; at least this one will be a complete mystery.

Sorry about the Wolves- hang in there! Growing up in Detroit meant years and years of seemingly neverending defeats for all our local teams. Thankfully, Detroit is right across the river from Windsor, Canada: close enough that by sheer proximity, Detroiters have adopted the Canadian love of hockey. Our hockey team has traditionally been good, and there are the rivalries with all the great Canadian teams. Now that I live in California, I don't follow any sport too often however.

Thanks for the breakdown of Iris Murdoch's work. Forewarned is fore-armed! Sadly, I'm probably the worst person to ask about contemporary American lit. I rarely break out of the classics, generally believing, i suppose, that I am guaranteed a strong response of some kind. I suppose that I reached the point where I was less bold as far as picking up a random contemporary author and hoping for the best. I will pick something up if a friend strongly recommends it, but curiously, most of the books I've seen people reading here lately are not by American authors. Off the top of my head, I've noticed a lot of people reading "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time," "Don't Let's Go the Dog's Tonight," "Atonement" and "The Adventures of Cavalier and Clay" (the only American of the lot). Memoirs are quite popular right now for some reason: "Running with Scissors" and "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" (Eggers actually runs a workshop not far from my house. I've never really been tempted to pick up this or his sophomore effort). At one point, every friend who came to visit me was reading "Middlesex" by Eugenides, and as far as I know, not a one of them finished it. Weirdly, he is actually from the area where I grew up, and I know that at least his earlier books ("Virgin Suicides") reflect this. I've read Pynchon and Vidal, Capote and Morrison but not Updike, Richard Ford or Cormac McCarthy. Maybe one of the forum-goers could give you some suggestions? I have been tempted to join in on the conversations a few times but never really followed through with it.

Although it's insane holiday buying season here, I followed your example and picked up some used books that I'm looking forward to reading: I got "Memoirs of Hadrian" by Yourcenar, "Adventures of Augie March" (there's an American, if not terribly contemporary!) and Effi Briest by Fontane, all for under $20.

Have a good week- good hunting!

Sean

Lähettänyt: twacorbies 8:24 pm (EST) Nov 29, 2006

DylanWolf (Kevin),

I remember Waterstones from my brief time living in London way back in '93 as a member of a work exchange program through my university. It is pretty bleak and uninspiring. We have equivalent outlets here called B. Dalton and Waldenbooks (which my father inexplicably loves). I purchased a copy of Edmund Ironsides for a pound ("I can have a pint AND a book for a pound each? This place is heaven!") while looking for a job up in Paddington. "THE lost Shakespeare play!" I thought. Ah, youth. You definitely picked up some fantastic finds. I definitely troll the used stores too to feed the habit. I remember really enjoying "Flaubert's Parrot" and "Master and Margarita." I still have "A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters" sitting in my "to read" pile. I'm embarrassed to note that I've only seen a BBC production of "White Teeth" that aired on our local public television, but haven't read it yet. I really need to tackle more contemporary authors: I haven't read Pat Barker or Margaret Drabble either. On a bit of a tangent, have you ever read/would you recommend Iris Murdoch? I am often tempted to pick up "The Sea, the Sea" but I know next to nothing about her works.
Good Hunting!
Sean
P.S. Did you ever watch the show "Ripping Yarns?" Your description of the Wolves as "underachieving" reminded me of an episode with Michael Palin (I believe) as the ultimate football fan of a lackluster local team. At one point his son meets him returning from a game and asks if they have won. In response, the father picks up a brick and throws it at the boy.

Lähettänyt: twacorbies 3:53 pm (EST) Oct 31, 2006

hi dylanwolf,

i thought that the last time i replied to a comment, that it just shot over a message, but today it dumped me into your comments section so i hope you don't mind me muddying it up.

although i'm a san francisco resident, i grew up in the detroit area. i haven't heard the Steeleye Span album, but once, out of curiosity, i typed "twa corbies" into google and was surprised that it is perhaps better known than i could have imagined.

my exposure to the poem is pretty depressingly mundane: i came across it in an english poetry collection in one of my lit classes (years ago). something about it really resonated with me for some reason- perhaps the hypnotic feeling of the rhythm of those consonants and vowels hopping up and down (to me anyway) and i loved the imagery of the two birds chatting with each other about death.

when i needed a user name i was determined not to get "joebob89034221" and the words just popped back into my head. i really didn't think it would be unique enough to avoid the numbers on the end, but luck was on my side, i guess.

no anglo connections unfortunately. i lived in london for a year after college- that's about it.

cheers! thanks for commenting dylanwolf!

sean

Lähettänyt: twacorbies 5:16 pm (EST) Oct 23, 2006

It's going to take a bit of time to get my library properly set up but it is an excellent excuse to browse and reflect on books I have read in the past. I'll put up as many reviews as I can, although some books I haven't read for a long time and there are those that, to be honest, I've never finished; yes I'm looking at you, Moby Dick.

I pass my books onto my ageing, practically house-bound Mum who is discovering a whole literary world she had previously had a limited experience of. I'm amazed how she can quite happily tackle a wide range of material although I can't help myself committing small acts of censorship - I couldn't forward [Yellow Dogs] by [[Martin Amis]] to her although she's read [London Fields] and [Time's Arrow]. Is there anyone else who acts as reading guide and advisor for a relative or friend?

Lähettänyt: dylanwolf 5:33 am (EST) Sep 8, 2006