Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading?

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

4.75/5* for The Annotated Persuasion
SO pleased I finally got around to reading this one. Miss Austen's frightening skill at writing a utterly loathsome lead character made Emma an odious chore to finish, but here she put that prodigious talent to work writing a story that left me smiling. As sweet as the core romance was, it was her oh-so-understated savageries that really made me smile, delightful darts delivered demurely and deftly.

Also, I am particularly pleased that I read this annotated version by David Shapard. It was a HUGE help in getting much more out of the book than I would have otherwise.

* (it would have got 5/5 if some Power to Mary the gift had given to see herself as other saw her)

There was an interesting article about Persuasion in yesterday’s Washington Post; it was sparked by the Netflix series (which does sound terrible), but the point is that Persuasion is peculiarly reflective of current times. I think sometimes people make too much of that; as far as I’m concerned, the story is the story and “relevance” is irrelevant, but I think the author makes some points that resonate.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/books...sten-netflix/?

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by issybird

There was an interesting article about Persuasion in yesterday’s Washington Post; it was sparked by the Netflix series (which does sound terrible), but the point is that Persuasion is peculiarly reflective of current times. I think sometimes people make too much of that; as far as I’m concerned, the story is the story and “relevance” is irrelevant, but I think the author makes some points that resonate.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/books...sten-netflix/?

I think we're going to see quite a bit of discourse about Persuasion because the Netflix adaptation seems to be so awful. This is from the LA Times, comparing Austen's dialogue to the adaptation:

To begin with a perhaps quintessentially Jane Austen question: Which of these two do you prefer?

Sample A: “There could have never been two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison, no countenances so beloved. Now they were as strangers; nay, worse than strangers, for they could never become acquainted. It was a perpetual estrangement.”

Sample B: “A heartbeat ago, there were no two people more in rhythm than Wentworth and I. Now we’re strangers. Worse than strangers — we’re exes.”

Tricky, I know. Let’s try another:

Sample A: “The worst of Bath was the number of its plain women. He did not mean to say that there were no pretty women, but the number of the plain was out of all proportion.”

Sample B: “It’s often said that if you’re a five in London, you’re a 10 in Bath.”

Oof. Last one, I promise.

Sample A: “My being the mother is the very reason why my feelings should not be tried. I am not at all equal to it. You saw how hysterical I was yesterday.”

Sample B: “The thing about me is, I am an empath.”

Back on topic - I'm reading Mary Beard's delightful SPQR.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

I think we're going to see quite a bit of discourse about Persuasion because the Netflix adaptation seems to be so awful. This is from the LA Times, comparing Austen's dialogue to the adaptation:

Wow, Netflix really seems to have figured out how to stem the hemorrhage of subscribers!

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

I think we're going to see quite a bit of discourse about Persuasion because the Netflix adaptation seems to be so awful. This is from the LA Times, comparing Austen's dialogue to the adaptation:



Back on topic - I'm reading Mary Beard's delightful SPQR.

Penguin UK retweeted a similarly savage review of the NF btutchery the other day with the commenbt "Or, you could try the original"


I'm just starting Parvathy's Well by Poornima Manco, a collection of 3 sets of short stories. It has an interesting author's note as the Preface

This book is like entering a tunnel. It goes from dark to darker, until you emerge into the light. I’d strongly urge you to read the stories in the order they are in to enjoy and experience the tales as they are meant to be.

It's been a while since I've read a book where the author said "read it this way"

[Bookstooge]

Just finished the first Agent Zero novel. The guy's name is Kent Steele. I swear the gravity of the earth shifted to the left for just a second as I rolled my eyes that hard.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

It's been a while since I've read a book where the author said "read it this way"

Weeellll. I get it. The author wants to show off its darling to its best advantage. Just the same, I prefer authors who let the chips fall where they may. It speaks of much more confidence in their product.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

It's been a while since I've read a book where the author said "read it this way"

I only know one way to read a book. Open said book and use my eyes to scan the pages from left to right top to boot.
Apache

[Bookstooge]

Originally Posted by Apache

I only know one way to read a book. Open said book and use my eyes to scan the pages from left to right top to boot.
Apache

Unless you're reading manga, then you'll need to go right to left

[acprinter]

The Little Prince by Antoine du Saint-Expury, a book that my wife and I read at the same time. Her opinion, very cute. My opinion, I was glad it was short.

Next a series of 4 books also for young readers.
The Green Ember, book 1 in the green ember series. I enjoyed the book and gave it a 4 rating.
Ember Falls, book 2 in the green ember series, I also gave it a 4 rating.
Ember Rising, book 3 in the green ember series, another 4.
Ember's End, book 4 in the green ember series. I gave this one a 3 rating.

Have two problems with these 4 books. The first is the author not writing a book that is whole and complete in itself. Book 2 ends abruptly with book 3 beginning the next chapter. My second problem is the violent nature of the book. Is this really appropriate for kids?

Next was a Star Trek book Immortal Coil by Jeffery Lang. I enjoyed reading this one and gave it a 4 rating. My next book The Light Fantastic, a follow up book to Immortal Coil I gave only a 2 rating. It head my head spinning with the time line shifting so much that I lost interest in trying to keep up.

[Gatton]

Originally Posted by acprinter

The Little Prince...My opinion, I was glad it was short.

Took bad you disliked it. I've always enjoyed that book. I read it in French in high school. 30 years later and I'm sure I can't do that again! I should read it again. I wonder if I'd feel differently about it. But I'm a fan of Saint-Exupéry in general.

I just finished "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman. It's a pretty light fantasy and I enjoyed it. Probably not a book I'll remember in a few years but that's true for most books I read.

Now I'm trying to get back into Raymond E. Feist's Krondor books with "Magician: Apprentice".

[CRussel]

Just finished reading the fourth Uncle book, Finale from the author of the Ava Lee series, Ian Hamilton. A bit stilted at the beginning (seems like this is a common problem for the Uncle books), but then picked up and I ended up devouring it. A solid 4, but certainly NOT the book to start the series with. First in the series is Fate, and the Ava Lee series, in which Uncle is an important character and mentor to Ava Lee, might be the place to start. I really enjoy both series.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by issybird

Weeellll. I get it. The author wants to show off its darling to its best advantage. Just the same, I prefer authors who let the chips fall where they may. It speaks of much more confidence in their product.

I agree. I understand why it was done, even if it's not my preference. It's a dangerous generalisation (as all are), but in my experience Indian English users tend to be more prescriptive generally, very convinced that there are "right" usages and words, and "wrong" ones. This may reflect a similar viewpoint - "I wrote it, I know how it should be read. "

[Tarana]

Currently listening to Rogue World (Undying Mercenaries) by B V Larson. Planning to start Six Weeks to Live by Catherine Mackenzie this afternoon. On my bedside reader is The Golden Age of Science Fiction Vol 2 which does not appear to be for sale any longer at Amazon. I bought it in 2011. Not sure if I will get all of 2011 done this year, but it will be close.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: In the Market for Murder by T. E. Kinsey. The second in the Lady Hardcastle series.

Which was quite fun. But I expect them to get better.

Then I read The October Man by Ben Aaronovitch. A fun side-novella in his Rivers of London series.

And now I'm (re-)reading Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon.

[ReadingManiac]

Just finished reading Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCaig.

It was very good, until the last hundred pages. Major events started getting glossed over, like the birth and death of Bonnie. Suddenly she was just there and then suddenly she wasn't.

I came to the conclusion that the author doesn't depict emotions well and so couldn't really do these very emotional events.