Member: DieFledermaus

Cool. I don't have any more books I want to borrow yet. My borrowed books stack is pretty high right now. Are there any books of mine you want to borrow?

posted by rmjp518 at 2:51 am (EST) on Jul 5, 2009

Hi DieFledermaus--

Sorry again for my dilatory replies. Hope your studies are going fine--I don't know whether as a graduate student you are affected by school year's end in June, or you're just as busy all year round, but maybe you'll have some more time to read in the summer.

I don't know of any other nonfiction books about Stalinist Russia, but I also would like to read more. Figes has written another book called Natasha's Dance, which is a cultural history of Russia and which comes highly recommended. I'm going to track that down and read it one of these days, months, years.

I'm reading Nixonland now by Richard Perstein. It is jam-packed with everything that happened in the US from the early 1960's til ??. The part about the 1968 Chicago Democratic convention was amazing. Besides the rioting going on outside, there was chaos on the convention floor--certainly not like the tidy orchestration of the recent conventions. I'm now at the part about the trial of the Chicago 8, resulting from those riots. The judge's (Judge Hoffman) abusive use of the contempt power is mind-boggling--one day in jail for Abbie Hoffman for waving at the jury when they came in.

Enjoy the summer--

Deborah

posted by arubabookwoman at 2:34 pm (EST) on Jun 19, 2009

Hi--Sorry to be so long in replying. I did finally finish Sleepwalkers, and I'm sorry to say I did not like it. I had to force myself to finish it. However, as I said in my review of it (on my 75 Book Challenge thread), my reaction could have been because I didn't put enough time and effort into reading it (or that I don't have enough brain power), so don't let that discourage you from reading it.

I do plan to get to 2 Polish books--Street of Crocodiles, and one by Alexandre Wat. (I can't remember the name now, but it's Lucifer ******?)

I read several slavery books in April but didn't post on Reading Globally. Very few people did post on slavery for some reason, and so far not so many posts on Poland. Maybe it will pick up as the end of the month nears.

Cheerio, Deborah

posted by arubabookwoman at 3:10 pm (EST) on May 16, 2009

Hi--I finally got to ask my daughter what gene she's working on. She's working on the TGF-beta gene and vasculature development. Is this related to the gene/protein you're working on?

Deborah

posted by arubabookwoman at 2:12 pm (EST) on Mar 24, 2009

Ah, thank you for suggesting Kis and Sebald! (Kis I had heard of and had been casually hoping to snag something of his on BookMooch for a while; I'll try harder now.) And yes, my library is 95 percent books I own, although a few library books and items I no longer own are on there too. Some are still only to-be-read, but I do always try at least to skim something before I commit to granting it shelfspace.

Also yes, sadly, The Lemon is currently out of print, but I'd highly recommend snapping up a copy if you come across an affordable one. Last I knew, Mrabet is still living, so I wish his work were more available... I got my copies of his stuff used on Amazon and via BookMooch. It's all fairly dark and pretty well rooted in the particulars of their Moroccan settings, but isn't too hard to get into and enjoy, especially for those who've read beyond their countries of origin and have an open mind about style and such. Of all that I've read by him, I do think The Lemon's most accessible.

Re Argentina, I'm hoping to read some of the Manuel Puig on my shelf that's still unread later this month, if I can get myself in gear and make the time. So hope springs eternal, especially now that it's spring. ;)

posted by Fullmoonblue at 3:35 am (EST) on Mar 13, 2009

Hi DeFledermaus--Glad to hear you liked the Slynx. I enjoy novels inventing dystopian futures, and this one was very creative.

I just finished The New York Trilogy today. I really liked it. It's 3 separate detective stories that aren't really detective stories. Not a book to read if you want a definitive clear ending. It's kind of a puzzle book. I would definitely read more by Auster.

I see you're a grad student in molecular biology. My daughter is studying biochemistry at the University of Washington. She's working on a research project relating to genetic cures for heart disease. (I'm not a scientist, so that is probably the wrong way to describe it).

Will you be reading a book from Argentina for Reading Globally this month.

posted by arubabookwoman at 2:15 am (EST) on Mar 11, 2009

Thanks for your note!

I never initially expected to enjoy LibraryThing so much (in a social way, beyond cataloging books I mean) but being able to explore others' collections, communicating about their reviews and asking for recommendations all via email makes it like the busy introvert's perfect book club.

And what a coincidence -- I like your profile picture, too. ;)

For Moroccan lit, having checked out the rest of your reading, I'd say try 'The Lemon' by Mohammad Mrabet (fantastic storyteller known to the western world via Paul Bowles) for a terse and powerful coming of age story, or, for some equally compelling nonfiction, look for 'Disorienting Encounters: Travels of a Moroccan Scholar in France' which is a recent translation of the surprisingly easy-to-read 19th century travel writing of Muhammad as-Saffar, a diplomat sent to 1840s France. (He describes everything from food and trains to bathing practices, and I could scarcely put it down.)

Contemporary Algerian lit, like Moroccan, is also great and underread; you might enjoy Merzak Allouache (try 'Bab el Oued' about urban life during tense religious/political circumstances) or Ahlam Mosteghanemi's 'Memory in the Flesh' about an independence veteran in love with a fallen comrade's daughter.

By the way, if you notice any gaps in my own reading, please feel free to make suggestions. :)

posted by Fullmoonblue at 4:10 pm (EST) on Mar 5, 2009

From your comment on the Reading Globally Group, I see you are reading [The Slynx]. I read it in January, and I'd be interested in hearing what you think of it.

posted by arubabookwoman at 4:22 pm (EST) on Feb 28, 2009

Just a note to let you know how much I liked your review of McEwan's The Child in Time. Off to check out your other reviews...!

posted by Fullmoonblue at 9:31 am (EST) on Feb 26, 2009

Hi DieFledermaus (don't know your real name!), I've lived in Olympia for the past almost 12 years but have been in the PNW (mostly Oregon but also Port Townsend) for my whole adult life. I'm originally from Minnesota. You are a native? I have to say I've met more of them in Oly than ever in Oregon!

What am I reading? I tend to have a whole pile of books going at once: I just finished both of Art Spiegelman's Maus graphic novels. I read them for a Jewish culture through graphic novels discussion I'm in through the public library. I want to learn how to read graphic novels as well as learn about Jewish culture. I've also got 2666 going (I really like Bolano's writing), a couple of books by Gary Nabhan partially read (he spoke at Evergreen last week so I wanted to read him), I keep eyeing City of Kings / Rosario Castellano, intend to read Ficciones / Jorge Luis Borges for the Global reading group's March read in Argentina on LT, hmmm I have a pile of books from the library that I hope to at least page through to see if someday I can read them, and I'm avoiding The Wind-up bird chronicle / Haruki Murikami which is the February book for one of my groups. I admit that I do not like his writing (one bit!). I'm a browser, a sampler of books and I often don't finish books but if I like them I do try. How about you, what are you reading? And really, with grad school, you find time?

posted by estellak at 12:48 am (EST) on Jan 23, 2009

Hi, I've added your paid account to my interesting libraries. I can tell that I could get a lifetime of ideas from it. Thanks for letting me know about it. BTW, where are you located, and still going to graduate school?

Kate

posted by estellak at 12:56 pm (EST) on Jan 19, 2009

Right now i'm reading a book by one of the authors i recommended. "Por Outras Palavras" (By Other Words) from Paulo Castilho. I bought it at a used books fair. I love going in to those places. you always find something worth buying.

posted by crissilva at 2:59 pm (EST) on Dec 15, 2008

hi again! by the way, where are you from? do you have any good recommendations? thanks

posted by crissilva at 2:04 pm (EST) on Dec 11, 2008

Hi. Thanks for accepting my invitation. You have a really interesting library.
About Portuguese literature i would suggest Ana Teresa Pereira, Pedro Paixão e Paulo Castilho. The first two autors i suggested write, mostly, short stories. hope you can find their books.

posted by crissilva at 1:43 pm (EST) on Dec 8, 2008

Thanks for your reply,
Elsa Morante & Elena Ferrante have been recommended to me by other readers so I plan to read both as well as making a start on Moravia.The only problem with this site is that you end up with so many "must reads"!I'd forgotten I'd read The End of the Affair until I came across it whilst browsing through your library.Most of my books are in Scotland so there's a great deal of memory work involved as I attempt to catalogue my books.I'm also looking forward to reading the 2008 Manbooker winner as well as several of the books that made the shortlist this year.
Regards,
antoinetta.

posted by antoinetta at 7:38 am (EST) on Oct 26, 2008

Hello,
I came across your page when I did an Alberto Moravia search. I want to widen my knowledge of postwar Italian fiction & thought that you might be able to recommend which of his novels to read first.I'll have a browse through your library as it looks interesting.
Regards,
antoinetta.

posted by antoinetta at 9:13 am (EST) on Oct 17, 2008

I finished Moscow 2042 and it was very fascinating. Time Travel always kind of gives me a headache, trying to figure out how one action in one time effects something in the other time, that sort of thing but there wasn't too much of that, just towards the end. Otherwise, it was a very clever critique of the Soviet system and the inherent flaws in trying to make Communism and Socialism work on such a large level. He made the comment a few times that he didn't have a problem with the concept of communism and socialism, just the practice. I guess one of the main characters, the Sim Symitch character was based on Solzhenistyn. I don't know that I know enough about him as a person to have figured that out on my own, I only know him as an author and former gulag resident but it was mentioned in a review of the book I had read. It's not a very positive characterization and I find that fascinating.

I just started an other Scandinavian book, One of Life's Slaves by Jonas Lie, written in the later 19th century. It's classic Scandinavian, stark and depressing but I am enjoying it...if 'enjoying' can really be used in this instance. I think when I'm done with this I'm going to read something light and fluffy though. Next on my 'to read' pile is a French book, Journey to the End of the Night by Celine and I always struggle with French literature, I had actually decided I wasn't going to read anymore because I just don't like it but I thought I would give it one more try...anyway...the little blurb on the back talks about the main character, the antihero, Bardamu and 'his scabrous nihilism', obviously it's going to be another heavy, dark book so I thought I might reread one of the Discworld books, since we were talking about it, to kind of cleanse the palate so to speak before I go on another dark journey.

I'm going to check out Cousin Henry. I've been wondering where to go with Trollope next, I did the Palliser series...which I loved...except the Lady Eustace one...and the Barchester Chronicles and I've read several other stand alone books but was running out of titles to looks for. Now I have one more. ;)

And what are you reading now? And what is on your reading horizon?

posted by LisaStens at 9:17 pm (EST) on Sep 21, 2008

Hi,

I rated them both as 4 starts but I think in the end I did prefer Rachel Ray - a leisurely and gentle romance, but delightfully played out and with some humour along the way. Lady Anna is much more dramatic and involves plenty of histrionic machinations from the mother, Countess Lovel :P

I hope you enjoy either of them :)

regards

Laura

posted by digifish_books at 8:30 am (EST) on Sep 17, 2008

"an author that can be comfortably read to excess", I like that, it's very, very true. He certainly does get repetitive on occasion and sometimes the happy endings get a little annoying, times when he becomes dangerously close to being a male Jane Austin but there are enough times when he took the other route that he maintains his edge.

As far as Voinovich goes, I think a good place to start is with The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin and then there is a sequel, Pretender To The Throne. Those were the first books of his I read and they just floored me! Again with that very dark satire and sense of humor. Ivan is so bumbling, the action is almost farcical sometimes but it belies such a sinister society, the incompetence while appearing comical on the outside, is deadly on so many levels. I just started a new book by him, Moscow 2042 and I'm all atwitter with anticipation. I keep thinking that at some point, I'll be disappointed but it hasn't happened yet.

And Pratchett...I love discworld but some of the novels are better than others, no doubt. In the first two, The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic, he seemed like he was trying too hard to be Douglas Adams. It was cute and funny but it was so derivative. The third one, Equal Rites was awful and I have to say that as a general rule, the Witch books are my least favorite, but Mort was fantastic as are all the DEATH books, as you had guessed. I also really like the City Watch books, Captain Vimes and Carrot are great characters and the Wizards always make me laugh, I can sit and read pages and pages of them just talking to each other about utter nonsense and never grow weary...not necessarily Rincewind but the Unseen University set. Last Continent is a good Wizard one...I think... I would have to go through them again to refresh my memory which is which because they all kind of melt into each other after awhile but I think that was the Wizard one that I just loved! He is random, all his plots have the tendency to be silly and disjointed sometimes but I think the City Watch ones are a little more coherent and the DEATH ones are a little more focused as well.

posted by LisaStens at 3:48 pm (EST) on Sep 16, 2008

Hi Fledermaus,

just stopping by to thank you for rating Cousin Henry and The American Senator. I am looking forward to reading them someday. There are so many (lesser known) Trollope books to choose from! :)

regards

Laura

posted by digifish_books at 12:05 am (EST) on Sep 16, 2008

Yes, Trollope seems to be highly underrated. I know so few people who read him and I think he's just brilliant. Not every single books is a winner but when you write 500 books, there's bound to be a lemon every now and then. ;) I love his diologue and I love how complicated his characters are and I love how things are always moving and progressing, one story line begins to wind down and another starts. It makes those 800+ page books such quick reads.

I really liked Twelve Chairs. It has that great, dark Russian humour and scathing satire that I love so much about Soviet era lit. It has this light, bumbling tone that belies a much deeper pathos, much like Vladimir Voinovich. Have you ever read any of his novels? He has become my favorite Soviet era author.

I'll keep Out Stealing Horses on my list but I won't rush out and buy it right away. I have to many on my to read pile right now so it will have to wait but thank you for the review. At least I know I won't be reading complete crap when I do finally buy it. ;)

posted by LisaStens at 9:35 pm (EST) on Sep 12, 2008

We have quite a few books in common as well as an interest in Russian and Victorian lit. I see you've recently added Out Stealing Horses, have you read it yet? And if so, what did you think of it? I've been looking at that book on amazon for months now but some other book(s) always seems more interesting so it remains neglected on my wishlist.

posted by LisaStens at 1:12 pm (EST) on Sep 6, 2008