Member: LisaStens

Thanks, so would you say Laxness is better than Knut Hamsun's Hunger and Growth of the Soil? I have those on my Google eReader.

posted by eugenegant at 1:58 pm (EST) on Feb 28, 2012

Let me know how you you like Independent People. I would guess you've read it before? It's been on my self, unread, for much too long -along with World Light. Of Time And The River is the book I grab if the house is burning -one of a few 1935 Scribner editions. (along with my 1929 second printing of Look Homeward Angel and the huge family bible from Wisconsin signed and dated 1853)

The weekend went much too quick. - Steven

posted by eugenegant at 8:39 pm (EST) on Feb 26, 2012

I'll let you know when I've read, but right now I have troubles getting hold of a copy. It's not in the book shop or my local library so I guess I have to go to Oslo.

posted by eguldager at 7:07 am (EST) on Jun 18, 2011

I was going to recommend "The art of crying" by Erling Jepsen, but eventhough it has been translated into German, Dutch, Spanish and other languages I haven't been able to find to find an English translation. You may be able to find a copy of the film though. When the film was shown in Danish cinemas it was with Danish subtitles because the dialect is hardly understandiable for other Danes.
Right now I'm reading a Swedish novel by Carl-Johan Vallgren called "Kunzelmann & Kunzelmann" but this one doesn't seem to be translated into English either.

posted by eguldager at 2:07 pm (EST) on Apr 9, 2011

I thought that you might be of Scandinavian origin. I'm from Denmark but now I'm Norwegian and like most Scandinavians I also have relatives in the United States.
I hope you like the book. It is set in Sweden and describes the seasons and relations between people in remote areas (which we have plenty of in Scandinavia) in an excellent way.

posted by eguldager at 4:53 am (EST) on Apr 8, 2011

tell me about the flounder! Tried to read it a decade ago!

posted by rickstill122 at 4:41 pm (EST) on Apr 6, 2011

Lisa,

thanks for your note. I collect Russian literature, although I have not made the distinction that you have of the "Russian" vs. "Soviet" literature. Quick question - how will you handle some of the newer authors who are just now coming to light in the Post-Soviet period? Virtually all of my volumes are picked up at used book sales and stores.

posted by jsoos at 5:34 pm (EST) on Oct 6, 2010

Your library is illuminating.
- Joseph.

"If I could only live at the pitch that is near madness
When everything is as it was in my childhood
Violent, vivid, and of infinite possibility:
That the sun and moon broke over my head."
– Richard Eberhart

posted by Quixada at 11:15 am (EST) on Sep 8, 2010

I don't know. I could not find them on worldcat.org.

posted by zubovsky_boulevard at 3:34 pm (EST) on Aug 10, 2010

Hi, Lisa....
Its my time to say thanks for accepting my request....

posted by OliviaBrooks123 at 5:17 am (EST) on Aug 10, 2009

Noticed you liked She's Come Undone, and I was wondering if you'd be interested in reviewing my new novel and posting your comments here as well as a few other book-related sites. Thought you might like my book since it's also about a disturbed young girl's downward spiral and a bit dark. I could e-mail you the novel in an e-book format if you'd like (I'm out of physical copies at the moment). Let me know if you're interested. Here's a link to a summary in case you're interested:

http://christophertusa.com/

Thanks,

Chris

posted by cmtusa at 10:15 am (EST) on May 9, 2009

For one human being to love another
That is perhaps the most difficult of
All our tasks, the ultimate, the last
Test and proof, the work for which all
Other work is but preparation.

-Rilke, Letters From Young Poet

posted by theoldman at 8:28 am (EST) on Mar 28, 2009

What about Mayakovsky?
Rune

posted by Girkner at 11:44 am (EST) on Nov 22, 2008

Time travel + the Soviet system certainly sounds interesting. I haven’t been able to find Ivan Chonkin at any of my local bookstores – might have to get it online. That’s funny about Solzhenitsyn – right now I’m reading his The First Circle. I’m really liking it so far – it reminds me of his Cancer Ward, which I loved. They both have a similar structure and setting, describing the lives of multiple inhabitants of a place that’s not a typical camp – as in, say, Ivan Denisovich – but which is similar enough so that the author is able to draw contrasts and develop his symbolism of the rotten system. There was no cameoing Stalin in Cancer Ward though.

I’ve never heard of Jonas Lie before – have you read anything else by him? Scandinavian literature has been a particular interest ever since I took a class in Scandinavian masterpieces. Any recommendations would be great. Hopefully the Lie won’t be too bleak. I do enjoy some depressing books very much, but I know what you mean about taking a break. I had to alternate another book with The Drowned and the Saved by Primo Levi, it was too hard to read straight through. Celine seems as though he’d be fairly dark as well. I’ve been curious about his work, but he always brings up these unpleasant associations with anti-Semitism. I worry about that with Hamsun also, but so far none of his books have bothered me. Of course there are always little things like that in 19th century literature, but unless they are particularly pronounced I just put them off as a product of the time. Some of the anti-Catholicism in Gothic novels is an example of too much.

I was also wondering where to go next with Trollope after reading both series and The Way We Live Now. Mostly, I just browse the bookstores to see what is available. Besides Cousin Henry, I’ve also seen Orley Farm, Rachel Ray and Lady Anna so I’m trying to decide between those three right now. Dr. Wortle’s School was another short but good one. What did you think of Mr. Scarborough’s Family?

Besides the First Circle, I’m reading The Book of Ebenezer Le Page by G.B. Edwards.

posted by DieFledermaus at 11:18 pm (EST) on Sep 29, 2008

I'll have to keep an eye out for Ivan Chonkin. The reviews compared it to Catch-22, which I enjoyed, and The Good Soldier Svejk, which has been on the to-buy list for a while, so I'm definitely intrigued. You'll have to tell me what you thought of Moscow 2042 when you finish. Are you reading anything else right now?

I've found that it's very pleasant to read Trollope when traveling - something about the gratifying heft of the books (so no worries about finishing in the middle of the plane trip) and the smoothly flowing prose (so it's easy to read for several hours straight). Recently, I finished Cousin Henry, a very quick read. I would definitely recommend it for Trollope lovers, partly because it's so different from, I guess, his 'usual' style. There's really only one plot which increases the intensity of the central dilemma and a good portion of the time is spent inside the main character's head - not a happy place.

I've only read the first six Discworld book so far, so none with the City Watch crew. Maybe I'll just skip Pyramids - that one looked so-so - and try Guards! Guards!

posted by DieFledermaus at 7:41 am (EST) on Sep 17, 2008

It is definitely a shame that Trollope is not as well-known as, say, Dickens or Eliot. I've read somewhere that he's an author that can be comfortably read to excess and I have to agree. Even though he sometimes has the same love subplot over and over (Frank and Mary in Dr. Thorne AND The Duke's Children), I always love the language and characters.

I've never read anything by Voinovich, but I know he has a couple of books printed by Northwestern Press - they have a lot of interesting things. Where would be a good place to start with him?

I noticed you have (almost?) all of the Discworld novels. I really enjoy Pratchett's humor and creativity, but his plots often feel random and cobbled together. Does this improve in the later books? Otherwise I might skip some and only read the Death books - any scene with Death is always entertaining.

posted by DieFledermaus at 11:54 pm (EST) on Sep 15, 2008

Hi, thanks for adding me to your interesting libraries. It's always good to meet another Trollope fan. For Out Stealing Horses - I enjoyed the author's style - plain, but smoothly flowing - which I thought was very appropriate for the narrator's voice. It was a good book, but I don't know if I'd insist someone bump it to the top of the TBR list. Maybe if you're in the mood for something a bit mellow and melancholy. What did you think of The Twelve Chairs? I've had that on the list for a while.

posted by DieFledermaus at 9:08 pm (EST) on Sep 12, 2008

Good choice of books ;)

posted by tough_kitty at 9:43 pm (EST) on May 14, 2007