Member: BeckyJG

Oh good, I'm not the only one with piles surrounding my desk - like a half-built fort! Fabulous problem to have! Piles are good. I like piles. Never read Perotta, though, but the movies made of his books (the ones I've seen) are stellar: Election, Little Children - I do have a copy of LC - I should actually read it, rather than just saying things like, "I have a copy of it," eh? Joe College sounds great. As you know I wasn't in that early-80s college scene (God I'm young) but I remember how much I hated "New Wave" at the time, though by the time my college years rolled around in the late-80s, I'd grown quite fond of it.

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 3:52 pm (EST) on Feb 2, 2010

But I do aspire to be ever so high-falutin, B.! The first thing that caught my eye in the thrift shop (besides the 59 cent sticker) was that it's a Perennial Classics ed., (can spot those spines a mile away) and as you know, they publish some very fine fiction (and the artwork on their spines, did I mention that, is immensely pleasing to the eyes.) Will I read it? Very fat chance, but it will look nice next to all my other Perennial Classics editions. I tend to organize our bookshelves by publisher. Penguin classics, one next to the other, do like exquisite on the bookshelf, don't they? Talk about lame! Why I am regaling you with this impertinent info?!

So what's up next for you reading-wise?

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 10:49 pm (EST) on Jan 30, 2010

Your review of Candy just made me exceedingly uncomfortable.

And thrilled!

THANKS!

;-)

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 5:36 pm (EST) on Jan 30, 2010

What do you mean you were made incredibly uncomfortable by it?! Was it sort of the same feeling you got as finding out that someone whom you believed was a transsexual for Christ turned out to be, well, a heterosexual for absurdeism? HA!! Oh, if Terry Southern could hear you say his book made you "feel uncomfortable," besides thinking to himself, "Mission accomplished," he'd probably pump both of his unruly, zany fists in the air and screech, "yeaaaahhhh." That's quite a compliment to his work. That's exactly the reaction he was aiming for - like Steve Carrel's character in The Office. Let it be known here and now that I would've jumped in the manure for the "free money"! And I think most Americans would've too. And what a cruise! Nice of you not to spoil it in that great review of yours. Thumbed it, of course.

And you're telling me that Candy is even funnier? Haven't read it; need to acquire it, based on your word. I grabbed his first novel, Flash and Filagree at the Dollar Bookstore not too long ago, but have yet gotten to it. You probably already know that he was a screenwriter as well, right?, and co-wrote, with Kubrick, Dr. Strangelove, one of my all time faves. Favorite line in that flick: "You can't fight in here! This is the War Room!"

So Badfinger actually had enough greatest hits for a greatest hits album? ;-) Weren't they really the 70s version of The Beatles in disguise? Haven't heard them in forever. I do want to see that movie; slickdpdx sent me (or sent it to one of my fake puppet groups, "Exotic Male Dancers who LibraryThing" - did you ever see that group? - a clip from it, way back when, the scene where the Shakespearian actor goes into an impromptu striptease before all those hoity-toity so-and so's...hysterical, in a very dry, dry way. Need to rent that and see the whole thing.

Sorry to hear you can still spare the two hours. Damn. But time with Terry Southern is still time well spent, so be of good cheer!

And here's a link to something that's hopefully worth a few laughs, you may not be aware of: http://www.librarything.com/topic/79383 Funnier toward the last half of the thread.

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 1:55 am (EST) on Jan 30, 2010

or maybe you've been a sneaky sockpuppet this whole time!

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 10:21 pm (EST) on Jan 11, 2010

Duh-uh! And I thought you were simply being hyperbolic saying she sounded like the Incredibles girl. Fantastic stuff.

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 8:48 pm (EST) on Jan 8, 2010

Well I seem to be having the same trouble accessing your Vowell link as you were my Straub link. So...I headed straight to YouTube to see what I could find, and this one is pretty priceless: SV on TC (Tom Cruise): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBNs9ybZ...

And by Jove you are so right on the money about her sounding like the older daughter in The Incredibles. Almost annoying the sound of her voice. Yet somehow endearing nonetheless.

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 1:50 am (EST) on Jan 8, 2010

I remember loving The Talisman, completely enrapt, when reading it way way back. Next to The Stand it was my favorite. I'd read it just after reading Tolkien so it was a nice segue from that.

Where has this Sarah Vowell been all my life?! I love her. I've only read the first two essays from Take the Cannoli, but hope to dip in more this weekend, and write something about it in Club Read. I like her so much I'm this close to adding her to my fave authors. She's a humorist with a big heart; no bitterness or out of control cynicism that I've detected so far, which is a refreshing change of pace from most humorists. That one where her and her Dad go out and shoot his homemade cannon....classic. If she's on youtube reading her stuff I've definitely got to look into that.

Thanks for the DFW link...I'll check it out tonight.

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 12:20 pm (EST) on Jan 6, 2010

oh you poor thing! You didn't remember that you'd already read the book until you got to the end of it....again! HaHaHaHaHaHaHa (on the floor rolling).

Freeque say you read brain candy mediocre thriller not good for long term memory. Freeque say you need to read Pamuk's, My Name is Red, w/le salon, in Feb., so you not forget that you read it after you read it.

;-)

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 7:01 pm (EST) on Jan 5, 2010

Here's hoping it's happy and healthy, possibly prosperous, but definitely full of books.

Well said! I'll toast to that! There's nothing certain in life but death, taxes, and...books.

Great seeing you in the salon. Hopefully we'll cover some other books that are equally as "juicy," - that Jeanette Winterson one coming up in May, I think, could be in that ballpark. Too bad Miss Lonelyhearts is so dang short. I think I like it even better than Day of the Locust.

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 1:51 pm (EST) on Jan 3, 2010

I hope your library comes through soon with the Sayers book! Can't wait to hear what you think. If you enjoy her as much as I do, you'll have a new favorite :)

posted by wisewoman at 12:05 pm (EST) on Jan 3, 2010

Happy New Years Becky!

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 4:50 pm (EST) on Dec 31, 2009

Sorry you aren't still at Border's, though I suppose before too long no one will be. Hope you are in a decent alternative. My bookstore work experience lasted a few years, on two coasts, but was long ago. We haven't interacted to my knowledge; I don't actually remember what led me to your LT profile, following some chain of reviews probably. We may have interacted in person -- I remember an exchange with a woman at that Border's who was quite competant, and actually knew that some books were in the stockroom though not on the shelf or in the computer yet. (I think one of the Spellman Files books, which I recommend, btw.) But if so, we didn't identify ourselves and it isn't what led me here.

posted by Capybara_99 at 3:46 pm (EST) on Dec 28, 2009

Dear Becky,
Strong Poison is probably the one I'd recommend for your first to be sure that you get hooked on the characters. The first of the series, Whose Body? is pretty much a stinker. In that one Wimsey is almost literally the ass-about-town that he pretends to be in the later books. *SP* introduces his love interest ----- hope that's helpful.
Do try a Heyer regency when you want to clear your mental palate. I suppose they fall under the romance heading only a little more than Jane Austen's novels do. And, I looked to see whether I could find a DLS group; there is one, "Talking Piffle" (which you'll read about if you read *SP*), but it is moribund. If you fall in love, maybe we can ginger it up.
Peggy

posted by LizzieD at 6:20 pm (EST) on Dec 27, 2009

Oh! Oh! Oh!!! I envy you your first experience with DLS! She is wonderful - maybe my absolute favorite of the golden age. Two things occur to me: Is there a DLS group here? (I'm off to look.) And which have you determined to read first? Inquiring minds like to know.
Peggy

posted by LizzieD at 11:09 pm (EST) on Dec 26, 2009

Thanks for your solid review of To Love and Be Wise; sometimes their "hot reviews" aren't.
If you are a G. Heyer fan, do come over to a reviving Almack's group where we discuss the mysteries as well as the regencies and other historicals.
Sure enough.....there I am near the bottom of your "members with" list.
Peggy

posted by LizzieD at 7:57 pm (EST) on Dec 26, 2009

I didn't intend to be vicious at all. I only used the stereotype to illustrate my point, [i]viz.:[/i] that only doddering idiots would accept such a resolution as Agatha used in "Orient Express."

My apologies for any offense. I assure you none was intended.

posted by dekesolomon at 10:40 am (EST) on Dec 17, 2009

Sorry, BeckyJG -- I just can't agree on Dame Agatha. The only one of hers I've ever read is perhaps most famous of all: "Murder on the Orient Express." The resolution is the most ridiculously contrived -- and the single most ridiculous thing I've ever read in my life. She actually expected readers to accept the idea that the authorities -- knowing for a fact that every one of the suspects had taken a hand in the murder -- decided to wash their hands of the whole affair and charge NOBODY with the crime? Its totally unbelievable. NOBODY who knows the least thing about police and how they work would believe it. It's as childish as any fairy tale. I can't imagine how she got her reputation unless the only people who ever read her were doddering, blue-haired, tea-slurping, cookie-crunching, stereotypical denizens of retirement homes.

posted by dekesolomon at 11:09 pm (EST) on Dec 16, 2009

You are HTTI#1S (Hot-to-trot-in-#1-slot) on HR right now. Niiiiiiiiiice.

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 12:20 pm (EST) on Dec 15, 2009

Oh no, you really shouldn't have said that ;). I LOVE both Josephine Tey and Dorothy Sayers. Sayers especially is brilliant. In her Lord Peter/Harriet Vane books, she manages to not exactly transcend the mystery genre (I don't want to say that because it hints the mystery genre is a "lesser" one somehow), but to do something rather unusual. Her characters are incredible. She was an outspoken proponent of authors respecting the literary integrity of their characters, allowing them to be faithful to themselves rather than being wrenched around to serve the plot.

Tey is also wonderful. When I read The Franchise Affair, a certain character from it showed up in my dreams that night, lol. It was a little nightmarish. Miss Pym Disposes is probably my favorite of hers. I haven't read them all yet though.

I haven't yet read any of Heyer's mysteries, as I'm new to her work and have been blissfully enjoying her Regency period stories, but I've heard the mysteries are decent. Some of them are being discussed in the group Almack's if you wanted to take a look: http://www.librarything.com/groups/almac...

I wonder, have you ever used online bookswap sites like BookMooch or PaperBackSwap? You list books you own and don't want, someone requests them, you get a point per book and mail the book(s) at your cost, and then you can spend that point requesting a book from someone else. I've received well over 300 books that way, and I absolutely love it. I'd be happy to show you the ropes if you wanted to try either site!

posted by wisewoman at 3:21 pm (EST) on Dec 14, 2009

I really enjoyed your review of And Then There Were None. It was my first Christie and I was completely captured by it. Thanks for your thoughts on it! Do you plan to read more of her stuff?

posted by wisewoman at 7:57 am (EST) on Dec 14, 2009

'bout time BeckyJG wrote another review! And what a fabulous one!

Ya know, just in the last two months or so, I've begun collecting any Agatha Christie I can find. I'm up to around 20 or so. Only about 300 more to go!

I'm glad you've wisely given her a chance. She rarely disappoints.

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 10:13 pm (EST) on Dec 13, 2009

Hi:

Just a note to say I happened across your profile here. I am a not infrequent customer in your bookstore, and we seem to have some tastes in common. I'm not sure why this prompts me to leave this note to say "Hi", but it does. So, again, hi.

posted by Capybara_99 at 3:10 pm (EST) on Dec 9, 2009

Becky:

You might already know this, or not: I'm featured on the following thread through the month of December, as an "underappreciated writer" (Enrique's idea):

http://www.librarything.com/topic/77721

posted by copyedit52 at 9:13 am (EST) on Dec 4, 2009

That link was bitchen! Very creative.

Reminded me of a 3-D book art link - http://izismile.com/2009/05/21/ibook_aut... - that slick posted in the "cool book oriented links" thread in the salon, but your link trumps this one.

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 9:42 pm (EST) on Nov 30, 2009

Hey thanks for the mentioning of that King's Dear Constant Readers group. Very cool scene over there. Just returned from posting over there as a matter a fact.

Okay I feel better now knowing that you'll do your darndest for IJ. I'm not as insistent about Les Miz but, man, is it a powerful, profound read, if you're able to do it. And I'm soooooo sorry that I had to resort to possible down-the-line verbal threats of what I realize now in hindsight would have been repugnant, inexcusable retaliation (what came over me?) to coerce foster your erudite participation. What can I say, DWF means a lot to me (I've never been obsessed w/him or anything, though) and I merely want him to mean a lot to everybody else too (not that I'm proselytizing) so that we can all obsess communicate (even in our unconscious perhaps) regarding him and all writings him and books him, together.

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 9:51 pm (EST) on Nov 21, 2009

I ended up buying Under the Dome and am loving it! That poor woodchuck. And that poor woman who survived the first head-on w/the dome (while her dick husband bought it) only to die momentarily after in a second head-on with her "rescuers". Very funny and dark so far. Decided to wait on Lit (and the Liar's Club) since I'm still reading Cherry.

You never answered, btw, when I inquired as to whether you'd be reading Les Miz with us. I can only assume your silence means NO. Well fine then! Just fine!

You better think twice about saying NO to Infinite Jest in March, though, or else...or else I'll think of something very dire to say to you in retaliation!

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 11:32 pm (EST) on Nov 18, 2009

70% savings? I'm there. Seriously. Did you hear that Benjamin Orr of The Cars died last month? Was that reported anywhere? or am I just completely oblivious to current events? I was in this salon thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/76981 when Porius, down around #30, linked a Cars song and I saw YouTube users lamenting Orr's demise to my disbelief.

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 11:04 pm (EST) on Nov 13, 2009

Wow, a rave review from Michiko! I'm really liking Cherry and want to grab this new one, along with The Liars Club. Lovely childhood, Mary Karr. She and DFW met at a (you'll never guess)...12-step meeting. Must've been the 12-step meeting where all the cool young writers sobered up. I think I have a 30% coupon for this weekend too. And the NY Times also raved about King's new one, which I know you really enjoyed. May have to grab that one too, my first new hc King hot off the press since 1987s either Eyes of the Dragon or The Tommyknockers. Or it might have been Misery - great book, great movie, great all around.

Is it possible to go a week w/out buying a book? No. It isn't.

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 8:22 pm (EST) on Nov 13, 2009

Brilliant Jericho's Fall review!

That SK story in the NYer btw, OMG, is it cringe-inducing (too real perhaps? yes, definitely too real) and dark comedy as dark comedy gets. I refuse to say what happens to the dog. Perhaps I've said too much. Do read it when you can, and tell me King couldn't be a literary golden boy (grampa) if he so chose to be.

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 8:31 pm (EST) on Nov 7, 2009

WTF???

So I get my mail today, open up The New Yorker, and who's Fiction is featured?: Stephen King's??? in the New Yorker??? First thought: Must alert BeckyJG.

"Premium Harmony" is the story. Check it out. Am reading it as I write.

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 6:29 pm (EST) on Nov 7, 2009

Glad someone feels the same way as me about The Weight of Silence. I went into it expecting a fantastic thriller and I was thoroughly disappointed.

I've gotten a few other confirmations about the policies of book-pushing at Borders. Kind of disappointing, this lack of regard for customer satisfaction. (Though I'm glad you mentioned The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo in your list of worthwhile books since I have a copy sitting on my shelf waiting to be read.)

Thank you very much for the advice and information. :)

posted by amandapsychedelia at 6:59 pm (EST) on Nov 4, 2009

So are there like some duelling banjos playin' anywhere in Grave Secrets? Ick is it!

Bummer that the new Koontz garnered such a mediocre rating. I was hopin' he'd turned a corner (like King) back toward his glory days.

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 1:22 am (EST) on Nov 3, 2009

Have you seen this? - the latest sock puppet scandal to rock the LT community: http://www.librarything.com/topic/75837

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 4:51 pm (EST) on Oct 27, 2009

I completely forgot that the dog in Watchers spoke! I knew it had some special powers of some sort, but its been so long I couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. Now I remember.

Hey, if you need some more optimism (besides reading more Koontz, which is always a good idea) I hope you'll consider the salon's December-Feb. read: Les Miserables. I didn't see it in your library, but knowing you, I'd be surprised if you haven't read it. It's my all time favorite novel. Yes, it does get dark at times, very dark, but overarching all the despair and misery, is the sublime triumph of the human spirit overcoming grave injustice: Love winning over Hate; Good winning over Evil; Freedom over Imprisonment; Faith over Unbelief; Grace over Law....Optimism, in other words, over Pessimism.

Don't know if you still lurk thereabouts in the salon, but I do hope you'll consider giving Les Miz a go. It's a surprisingly easy, compelling read, that enrichens the soul as you read. If you do, (and I'm crossing my fingers you will) I'd avoid the recent Julie Rose translation just released in paperback, and stick with the fat, Signet, MacAfee trans. pb ed. (1,400+ pages!) - the fastest 1,400+ page read you'll undoubtedly ever read. Or the Wilbour trans. is good too.

And I can't wait either for that Koontz review. Know why? To quote a certain BeckyJG I know in a recent review of hers: it's that darn feel-good factor that keeps me coming back for more.

I sent this post a few minutes ago and somehow duplicated it in a mish-mash of unreadablity toward the bottom. Weird. Don't know how I did that! This is the corrected post.

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 11:23 am (EST) on Oct 24, 2009

oooohhh, is that the new Koontz I see? I do like Koontz a lot. I like that he's an optimist first and foremost - always - and the predictability of his optimism doesn't bother me either. I love that so many of his settings are right here in Southern California: Orange, CA, in particular, where I went to college (Chapman Univ.) In fact, have you read Watchers? Say you're driving down the 22 toward Orange; those mountains you see (the Santa Anas) directly in front of you, are central to the setting of Watchers. I've hiked all over those mountains (even drove the dirt road to the very top of Santiago Peak (Old Saddleback), where you can see all the radio towers and whatnot. Probably tmi, eh?

I love love love Watchers. A friend of mine met him at the Buena Park Mall back when it came out; not for a signing, he just happened to be there and she recognized him; said he was cordial and cool and actually spoke to her (and her dog!) for awhile. Dogs are huge in his books. Especially Watchers. Haven't read that recent one of his featuring a dog on the cover.

I could also rave about Phantoms and Seize The Night and The Door to December, the last which was originally released under a pseudonym, you may know, that I saw (the original version) selling at a specialty sci-fi shop in, well, Orange of all places, not too long ago, for a whopping $160.00. Needless to say, I did not buy it. I've read that Koontz has slipped of late, say the last 10 years or so, but I thought False Memory was good nevertheless, and the first Brother Odd book too. He's one of the most likable writers out there; I don't know what his secret is - it's probably his optimism and hopefulness in the human spirit - but I think he's a really cool author and a super great guy. Holy shit, I think it's time I stopped posting now. Sheesh, stop adding Dean Koontz to yer library will ya? and then I won't be forced to post so long! Yer fault!

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 10:10 pm (EST) on Oct 22, 2009

otherworldly indeed!

and I just searched his books and found this: Don't Bump the Glump!: And Other Fantasies. I ask you: What parent in their right mind would allow this man to share his fantasies w/their precious children?!

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 1:04 pm (EST) on Oct 18, 2009

I just caved and googled photos of Silverstein. And you are so right! Shel gives me quite the fright! - look (is this the pic?): http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Clu...
This creepy looking guy was a children's author?! He makes me think of Goliath, for some reason, a brutish beast. And he was also the founder of the Church of Satan? I am shocked!

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 12:52 am (EST) on Oct 18, 2009

Well shoot! The edition I have of the Giving Tree does not have an author photo. I will to have to investigate further....

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 11:40 pm (EST) on Oct 14, 2009

Hmmm indeed! I no longer own the SB, but the menacing picture of dearest Anton is forever seared in my mind. I do have The Giving Tree, somewhere in the children's wing of my vast (so vast) library. I will give it a look tonight and get back to you.

But wait...how did you know just right off the bat like that, Lavey's & Silverstein's mysterious similarity of features? Oh no! Can it be? Is BeckyJG **whispers** a closet Satanist?

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 6:37 pm (EST) on Oct 14, 2009

Glad you liked my profile page.

I'm curious what you liked about my library, given that we only have 25 works in common. But then, I suppose anyone who has Thurber in their library has a pretty good library by definition? ;-)

posted by Noisy at 9:34 am (EST) on Oct 11, 2009

Pleasure to meet you, as well. And thank you for all of the support. I'll definitely let you know about the next book when it comes out. If you're ever interested in doing a signing or event for BREATHERS, let me know. Even though I live in San Francisco, it's pretty easy for me to make a trip down to L.A.

Scott

posted by SGBrowne at 10:15 am (EST) on Oct 5, 2009

While I realize it's late notice, I'll be swinging by your favorite bookstore in El Segundo on Saturday afternoon after my reading and discussion in Torrance.

Scott

posted by SGBrowne at 2:04 am (EST) on Oct 3, 2009