Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading? - Page 210

Dr. Drib · 12-01-2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katti's Cat

It took me ages to find this thread - I got soo sidetracked by all the recommendations, tips and so on out there. Please stop posting new threads or I'll never catch up with the threads and my reading list

Welcome to this thread. (I'm reserving the 200,000 visit for myself!

)

You're right, though: There are some wonderful recommendations, comments, observations, and "what-not" on so many different books and in so many different areas of interest that it boggles the mind.

Don

Patricia · 12-01-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

A few years ago I read a book that was based on the Odyssey. It retold the story as viewed by Penelope, then Telemachus, and also Ulysses himself I think. Unfortunately I don't remember the title or author, I think he was from Eastern Europe (before WWII), maybe a Czech. It was a quick and enjoyable read. Sorry I can't give more useful details... maybe when I get home this week-end, if I still have the book.

Actually, Margaret Attwood's "The Penelopiad" came to mind when I read this.
http://www.amazon.com/Penelopiad-Myt.../dp/1841957178
It's the 20-year wait in the Odyssey, told from Penelope's point of view, from the author of "The Handmaid's tale."
(If my husband nipped out for 20 years he'd get very short shrift on his attempted return.)

kennyc · 12-01-2009, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

I'm quickly approaching the end of Last Night in Twisted River. About 50 pages to go...still loving every bit of it.

Finished. The ending was just about perfect. I give this 4.5 out of 5.

Excellent book. John Irving at his finest I think!

neilmarr · 12-02-2009, 03:38 AM

Thanks, Kenny. That's on my list now. Neil

Latinandgreek · 12-02-2009, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

modern prose translation... Not that I would mind a nice retelling either

Or even better, an alternate history version! I just love alternate histories...

Nice! Ilium is both a retelling and and alternate history (not that I'm trying to talk you into reading it or anything!) If I come across a good prose translation of the Iliad I'll be sure to tell you. Verse translations sometimes take liberties with the text to just to fit it in with the verse. I am translating the Odyssey for a class, and I find that if I get stuck on something the verse translation is usually not very helpful in figuring out what is meant in the passage. A lot of people seem to like the Robert Fagles translation, but it is in verse and I haven't yet checked it out.

Latinandgreek · 12-02-2009, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patricia

Actually, Margaret Attwood's "The Penelopiad" came to mind when I read this.
http://www.amazon.com/Penelopiad-Myt.../dp/1841957178
It's the 20-year wait in the Odyssey, told from Penelope's point of view, from the author of "The Handmaid's tale."
(If my husband nipped out for 20 years he'd get very short shrift on his attempted return.)

I liked that one - I even wrote an essay on it for one of my lit classes!

FlorenceArt · 12-02-2009, 08:52 AM

Forgot to update on what I'm reading... last week-end I picked up a book by Amos Oz -Touch the Water, Touch the Wind- at the public library and I'm reading it at the hotel. Very poetic, I like! Alternating with one of the Tor freebies, Mistborn, in the "light reading" category.

Moejoe · 12-02-2009, 09:30 AM

After some heavy stuff I'm now reading Richard Laymon's "One Rainy Night", which is just brutal and horrible and very, very quick to read.

kennyc · 12-02-2009, 10:28 AM

I started "The Evolution of God" by Richard Wright (non-fiction)

need to decide what fiction is next....

maybe another Cormac McCarthy or Irving or Doctorow.....hmmmm

Dr. Drib · 12-02-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Finished. The ending was just about perfect. I give this 4.5 out of 5.

Excellent book. John Irving at his finest I think!

Thanks for your comments. I'm a little over one-half finished.

Don

kennyc · 12-02-2009, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Thanks for your comments. I'm a little over one-half finished.

Don

I'm gonna be interested in what you think once you finish.

lilac_jive · 12-02-2009, 08:12 PM

I'm about halfway through "The Yellow Lighted Bookshop" by Lewis Buzbee. If you have what the author calls "book lust," you should read this book (doubly so if you've worked in a bookstore). I have a feeling the author probably doesn't like ebooks, but it's a fantastic book nonetheless. Especially for me, since I'm *considering* opening up my own used bookstore. I worked for years in bookstores and I miss it greatly. I'm reading this book and I just keep nodding in agreement.

desertgrandma · 12-02-2009, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I'm about halfway through "The Yellow Lighted Bookshop" by Lewis Buzbee. If you have what the author calls "book lust," you should read this book (doubly so if you've worked in a bookstore). I have a feeling the author probably doesn't like ebooks, but it's a fantastic book nonetheless. Especially for me, since I'm *considering* opening up my own used bookstore. I worked for years in bookstores and I miss it greatly. I'm reading this book and I just keep nodding in agreement.

Me too!! It was a very low key, non tech, operation. We made change out of a cigar box. (1998) Books were brought in and accepted/declined depending on how many of that particular copy we had and the popularity of the author.

It was so much fun learning about new authors, and their 'other' names.......keeping the books properly organized, and oh, how I hated the Harlequin novels in their little red covers!

lilac_jive · 12-02-2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Me too!! It was a very low key, non tech, operation. We made change out of a cigar box. (1998) Books were brought in and accepted/declined depending on how many of that particular copy we had and the popularity of the author.

It was so much fun learning about new authors, and their 'other' names.......keeping the books properly organized, and oh, how I hated the Harlequin novels in their little red covers!

What was so bad about the Harlequin red cover books? Hard to tell apart?

Do you still try and fix books when you go to the bookstore? I went to Borders on Black Friday and while I was browsing YA with my sister, I saw all these books stacked on top of the books, and the girl working was laughing because I started to reshelve them.

desertgrandma · 12-02-2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

What was so bad about the Harlequin red cover books? Hard to tell apart?

Do you still try and fix books when you go to the bookstore? I went to Borders on Black Friday and while I was browsing YA with my sister, I saw all these books stacked on top of the books, and the girl working was laughing because I started to reshelve them.

The Harlequins were numbered. But they were so small, and there were so many different categories..........and invariably the women looking thru them never put them back properly!!! It was a daily chore.......come in, open the store, go to the Harlequin and scan......but even that wasn't bad.....there is no downside to working in a bookstore.

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12-02-2009, 03:38 AM	#3139
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Thanks, Kenny. That's on my list now. Neil

12-02-2009, 08:52 AM	#3142
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	Forgot to update on what I'm reading... last week-end I picked up a book by Amos Oz -Touch the Water, Touch the Wind- at the public library and I'm reading it at the hotel. Very poetic, I like! Alternating with one of the Tor freebies, Mistborn, in the "light reading" category.

12-02-2009, 09:30 AM	#3143
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	After some heavy stuff I'm now reading Richard Laymon's "One Rainy Night", which is just brutal and horrible and very, very quick to read.

12-02-2009, 10:28 AM	#3144
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,918 Karma: 119747553 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	I started "The Evolution of God" by Richard Wright (non-fiction) need to decide what fiction is next.... maybe another Cormac McCarthy or Irving or Doctorow.....hmmmm

12-02-2009, 08:12 PM	#3147
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	I'm about halfway through "The Yellow Lighted Bookshop" by Lewis Buzbee. If you have what the author calls "book lust," you should read this book (doubly so if you've worked in a bookstore). I have a feeling the author probably doesn't like ebooks, but it's a fantastic book nonetheless. Especially for me, since I'm considering opening up my own used bookstore. I worked for years in bookstores and I miss it greatly. I'm reading this book and I just keep nodding in agreement.