The book dialog game - Page 51

HomeInMyShoes · 11-04-2011, 08:29 PM

More quotes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by guessTheBook

He who spits paan at the ceiling only blinds himself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by guessTheBook

The human face has limited space. If you fill it with laughter there will be no room for crying.

Quote:

Originally Posted by guessTheBook

What sense did the world make? Where was God, the Bloody Fool? Did He have no notion of fair and unfair? Couldn't He read a simple balance sheet? He would have been sacked long ago if He were managing a corporation, the things he allowed to happen...

And some hints. The prizes this one won or was up for.
1995: Giller Prize
1996: Man Booker Prize, shortlist
1996: Commonwealth Writers Prize, Overall Winner Best Book
1997: Irish Times International Fiction Prize, shortlist

poohbear_nc · 11-08-2011, 07:12 PM

We don't know!

HomeInMyShoes · 11-09-2011, 08:10 AM

It's a famous book having been on both the Booker and Giller lists in the mid 1990s. I'm surprised no one's guessed.

This is as obvious as I can get. The title is actually in this quote.

Quote:

Originally Posted by guessTheBook

You see, we cannot draw lines and compartments and refuse to budge beyond them. Sometimes you have to use your failures as stepping-stones to success. You have to maintain a fine balance between hope and despair.' He paused, considering what he had just said. 'Yes', he repeated. 'In the end, it's all a question of balance.

pdurrant · 11-09-2011, 08:11 AM

I can see several possible titles for a book in that quote, but none of them ring any bells with me.

HomeInMyShoes · 11-09-2011, 08:12 AM

^Care to try some and hopefully put this round out of its misery?

pdurrant · 11-09-2011, 08:16 AM

OK, how about one of these:

"Lines and Compartments"
"Stepping-Stones"
"A Fine Balance"
"Hope and Despair"
"A Question of Balance"

HomeInMyShoes · 11-09-2011, 08:24 AM

I may not be reading the books that most people read around here read. I think that's the third one I've quoted that has given people a lot of trouble.

Number 3 is the winner. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. A great author. Everyone should read the book I quoted. I've put Such a Long Journey on my 2012 reading challenge list.

Take it away pdurrant. Your winning karma will have to wait until I find some othe karma worthy people.

pdurrant · 11-09-2011, 10:01 AM

OK, a classic children's book from 1956, that's been made into a movie more than once.

I've redacted the names, as they would certainly give it away. But it might be possible to get it from this short snippet anyway.

"What is your married name, _______?" asked Mrs. ______, as they walked through a green marble hall into a red marble drawing room.

"My name is still ______," said _______. "I am the last of my family so I made my husband change his name to mine."

Daithi · 11-09-2011, 11:32 AM

There is something about the wife making her husband change his name that is vaguely familiar, but I can't remember were this is from. I'm trying to think of children's book from the 50s, but nothing that would apply is coming to mind.

Bilbo1967 · 11-09-2011, 11:37 AM

I do actually know this one. When my sister got married her husband changed his name to hers rather than the usual way and this book got mentioned in connection with that.

It's 101 Dalmatians

pdurrant · 11-09-2011, 11:39 AM

OK, here's some more, this time from chapter 2 (the last was from chapter 1).

There were no other guests. After dinner, Mr. and Mrs. ______ sat panting in the red marble drawing room, where an enormous fire was now burning. Mr. ______ panted quite a bit too. _______, who was wearing a ruby satin dress with ropes of emeralds, got as close to the fire as she could.

"Make it blaze for me," she said to Mr. ______.

Mr. ______ made such a blaze that the ______s thought the chimney would catch fire.

"Lovely, lovely!" said _______, clapping her hands with delight. "Ah, but the flames never last long enough!" The minute they died down a little, she shivered and huddled herself in her absolutely simple white mink cloak.

Bilbo1967 · 11-09-2011, 11:47 AM

Ahem...am I not right?

pdurrant · 11-09-2011, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Ahem...am I not right?

Of course you are! Sorry, you posted while I was composing the next clue, and I missed it!

Over to you.

Bilbo1967 · 11-09-2011, 01:41 PM

Next one then;

Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same color as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated.

poohbear_nc · 11-09-2011, 01:43 PM

May be too obvious: The Old Man and the Sea?

11-09-2011, 08:16 AM	#756
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 74,082 Karma: 315558332 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	OK, how about one of these: "Lines and Compartments" "Stepping-Stones" "A Fine Balance" "Hope and Despair" "A Question of Balance"

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11-08-2011, 07:12 PM	#752
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 63,648 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	We don't know!

11-09-2011, 08:11 AM	#754
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 74,082 Karma: 315558332 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	I can see several possible titles for a book in that quote, but none of them ring any bells with me.

11-09-2011, 08:12 AM	#755
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	^Care to try some and hopefully put this round out of its misery?

11-09-2011, 08:24 AM	#757
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	I may not be reading the books that most people read around here read. I think that's the third one I've quoted that has given people a lot of trouble. Number 3 is the winner. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. A great author. Everyone should read the book I quoted. I've put Such a Long Journey on my 2012 reading challenge list. Take it away pdurrant. Your winning karma will have to wait until I find some othe karma worthy people.

11-09-2011, 10:01 AM	#758
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 74,082 Karma: 315558332 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	OK, a classic children's book from 1956, that's been made into a movie more than once. I've redacted the names, as they would certainly give it away. But it might be possible to get it from this short snippet anyway. "What is your married name, _______?" asked Mrs. ______, as they walked through a green marble hall into a red marble drawing room. "My name is still ______," said _______. "I am the last of my family so I made my husband change his name to mine."

11-09-2011, 11:32 AM	#759
Daithi Publishers are evil! Posts: 2,418 Karma: 36205264 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rhode Island Device: Various Kindles	There is something about the wife making her husband change his name that is vaguely familiar, but I can't remember were this is from. I'm trying to think of children's book from the 50s, but nothing that would apply is coming to mind.

11-09-2011, 11:37 AM	#760
Bilbo1967 Not scared! Posts: 13,424 Karma: 81011643 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midlands, UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite 10, Huawei M5 10	I do actually know this one. When my sister got married her husband changed his name to hers rather than the usual way and this book got mentioned in connection with that. It's 101 Dalmatians

11-09-2011, 11:39 AM	#761
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 74,082 Karma: 315558332 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	OK, here's some more, this time from chapter 2 (the last was from chapter 1). There were no other guests. After dinner, Mr. and Mrs. ______ sat panting in the red marble drawing room, where an enormous fire was now burning. Mr. ______ panted quite a bit too. _______, who was wearing a ruby satin dress with ropes of emeralds, got as close to the fire as she could. "Make it blaze for me," she said to Mr. ______. Mr. ______ made such a blaze that the ______s thought the chimney would catch fire. "Lovely, lovely!" said _______, clapping her hands with delight. "Ah, but the flames never last long enough!" The minute they died down a little, she shivered and huddled herself in her absolutely simple white mink cloak.

11-09-2011, 11:47 AM	#762
Bilbo1967 Not scared! Posts: 13,424 Karma: 81011643 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midlands, UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite 10, Huawei M5 10	Ahem...am I not right?

11-09-2011, 01:41 PM	#764
Bilbo1967 Not scared! Posts: 13,424 Karma: 81011643 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midlands, UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite 10, Huawei M5 10	Next one then; Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same color as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated.

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11-09-2011, 01:43 PM	#765
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 63,648 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	May be too obvious: The Old Man and the Sea?