Member: RoxanneMcT

Hello Roxanne...I thought 'People of the Book' was a really interesting idea, but I think I expected more. I don't know why but I felt let down. Perhaps my hopes were too hight - because Brooks had won the Pulitzer, I thought the writing itself would have been more evocative.

posted by PrueGallagher at 4:40 pm (EST) on Jun 5, 2011

I see you are reading [The Places in Between] - my friend, Patrick Garson just added a really good review of it. I will be interested to see what you thought....

posted by PrueGallagher at 5:53 pm (EST) on Jun 3, 2011

Noticed you liked The God of Small Things, 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 grief-stricken family. 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). Here's a link to a summary (and a sample chapter)in case you'd like to read more about the novel before you commit:

http://christophertusa.com/

Thanks,

Chris

posted by cmtusa at 5:47 pm (EST) on Sep 15, 2009

I just finished The Lace Reader and rather enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to hearing how you like it :-)

posted by thekoolaidmom at 8:36 pm (EST) on Apr 8, 2009

Thank you! I've actually acquired the Trevor because it's on the 1001 Before You Die list. It was way down on my list, but you might have persuaded me to bump it up a bit--I loved Atonement. If it is at all like Atonement it'd be a perfect late fall read. Thanks for the ringing endorsement!

posted by lasomnambule at 4:23 pm (EST) on Oct 30, 2008

The cooking demonstration sounds like fun! Many of the spices definitely have medicinal properties, such as turmeric which is a known anti-inflammatory. I'm reading "Mustang" by Deanne Stillman after hearing her on NPR. I'm getting to know Providence this week, because one of my kids is attending a program at Brown. The College Hill area is beautiful and reminds me of Charleston, South Carolina without the enormous cockroaches they quaintly call "palmetto bugs".

posted by theageofsilt at 9:26 pm (EST) on Jul 8, 2008

I bet you went to Masala Art in Needham! It's the only Indian restaurant I know that has cooking demonstrations. I will look for "The Reader". I just finished and reviewed "A Free Life" by Ha Jin. I'm starting "Knots" by Nuraddin Farah next. My family and I went to a new chocolate shop on Washington Street in Boston called "Aroa". Very fun!

posted by theageofsilt at 3:15 pm (EST) on Jun 16, 2008

I finished "The Indian Clerk" which I enjoyed. I liked the characterization of Hardy and the depiction of Cambridge, particularly when they try to include Wittengenstein into their fellowship. My husband is from India and he well understood the dynamics of poor Ramanujan's home life. I also liked the scene where Ramanujan develops a theory while sorting lentils for his soup. There is a good South Indian restaurant in Framingham. Most Indian restaurants serve north India food. The South Indians are much more strict about vegetarianism.

posted by theageofsilt at 7:41 am (EST) on Jun 3, 2008

I'm starting "The Indian Clerk" tonight. I just finished Abe's "The Face of Another" which didn't move me emotionally. I wrote a review. I realize I had read "The Ark Sakura" about fifteen years ago and it made enough of an impression that I still remember it today. I'll try to make it up to Fruitlands. I live in Foxboro, so it's a bit of a drive. We will be trekking up to Maine at some point and it is, more or less, on the way.

posted by theageofsilt at 7:42 am (EST) on May 23, 2008

I'm reading "Spook Country" by William Gibson. You have to like scifi to enjoy him. It's a nice change of pace. Next, I'm getting "The Indian Clerk" based on the life of an Indian math prodigy who comes to study in England during WWI; "In the Country of Men" which is set in Libya; and "Man Gone Down".

Best wishes! Having we been having a great stretch of weather?

posted by theageofsilt at 10:23 am (EST) on Apr 27, 2008

I finished and posted a review of "Wild Trees". I'm bugging my husband to retire in Northern California -- we have a few years to go. Next to read is "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao". Our town is reading "The Namesake" this month which I think is a great book.

Where is your new photo from?

posted by theageofsilt at 8:58 am (EST) on Apr 15, 2008

Hi, Roxanne. Thanks for your note. We do indeed share a lot of the same books ... and I spotted a few on your list that I want to add to (or are already on) my wish list as well. This site is addictive, isn't it? :) I added you to my list of "interesting libraries".

Sandy

posted by scofer at 5:40 pm (EST) on Apr 11, 2008

You're right. "Splatter" sounds a little Jackson Pollack. Maybe drizzle would be a more appropriate word, as you want the white chocolate to run down a little. Also, you can then place dark chocolate chips or toasted nuts around the top.

posted by mstrust at 10:49 am (EST) on Apr 8, 2008

Hi Roxanne,
Good to hear from you. I had a chance to see To Kill A Mockingbird live last week in a theatre house here called The Herberger. The cast was excellent, in particular the tiny girl playing Scout.
I haven't received The Loved One yet but looking forward to it. I'll let you know when I have.
I just knew that there had to be a group about sweets, and there are two-one called Chocolate and another called something like Sweets, but neither has had any activity in months.
Do you like Black Magic cake, which is mocha flavored? Or I have a chocolate/orange cake that tastes just like the foil-wrapped candy. Let me know which recipe you'd like (or something simple like mint hot fudge.)

posted by mstrust at 10:31 pm (EST) on Apr 1, 2008

"Wild Trees" wasn't available from the library, so I ordered it. I've never heard of the book about the Gardner Museum. I love the Gardner and I do enjoy books about places I know. My fantasy is that I would be the one to solve the art theft at the Gardner!

My picture is the stock selection offered by librarything. I love tapirs. I also exist in cyberspace on Gather, same name, where I have some of my photography from India and Oregon and my backyard posted.

posted by theageofsilt at 9:29 am (EST) on Apr 1, 2008

Hi Roxanne- thanks for your message. I'll bet you see great theatre in Cambridge; they wouldn't dare produce bad theatre there. I have never seen live Pinter. I've only seen "The Birthday Party" on tape and parts of the film of "The Caretaker". On paper, The Caretaker reads very well. The Birthday Party is more difficult, Pinter had become more vague at that point. It took a great actor like Robert Shaw to make sense of it.Of course, Shaw and Pinter were friends so Shaw had the advantage of leaning over and asking, "What'd you mean by that?"
Thanks for the recommendations- I've never heard of either of those books. I love anything to do with the sea except being on a boat- vicious seasickness.
I used to have a little side business of chocolate desserts. I love baking especially and go through my magazines trying out new recipes. I have a collection of chocolate cookbooks and use the Jamie Oliver books.
Ethan Frome is such a tragedy, isn't it? Have you read "Summer"?
I have "The Loved One" on my Netflix list. I didn't know it existed until a few weeks ago but now I can't wait to see Liberace as Mr. Joyboy!
Write when you get a chance, and it's great to meet you.

posted by mstrust at 5:45 pm (EST) on Mar 28, 2008

Hi Roxanne-
I saw that we have a few books in common- particularly Pinter and Fowles.
I've also just joined so I'm still getting my library together. Say hello when you get a chance.

posted by mstrust at 7:01 pm (EST) on Mar 27, 2008

Welcome, Roxanne, and thanks for your note. I've been a member for a year but not as active as I'd like; for some reason, there are other demands on my time. I concentrated first on getting my library (or at least my favorites) online and haven't posted any reviews yet. I'm afraid once I start reviewing, I'll get sucked in further and will spend far too much time here! But I love scanning the libraries of those who share my reading interests and your is indeed one of them. Not surprisingly, we also share other interests, although my day job has been in high-tech rather than law. We are also geographically related: Although I'm a native New Yorker and live in Connecticut, my heart is in Boston, which is home to my daughter and my Red Sox. (Right up there with my love of books, art, travel and the other "higher" arts is a lifelong passion for baseball.)

The last 3 books I've read:
* "On Chesil Beach," which lacked the depth and breadth of McEwan's other recent books like "Atonement" and "Saturday" but I think he's one of the best writers currently writing in English. I highly recommend one of his earlier works -- "The Innocent."
* "Starting Out in the Evening," by Brian Morton. About 10 years old and recently made into a movie, this is a beautifully observed novel about art and love and aging. I was personally drawn to the portrayal of New York intellectual life, past and present.
* "Suite Francaise." I was not blown away by these novellas, which I think reflected the youth of their author, but I think if Nemirovsky had lived, she might have written the definitive novel of World War II.

Please don't confuse me with the Abby who is the friendly and efficient "face" of Library Thing. We've already determined that I've had the name way longer :-)

Abby (alpin)

posted by alpin at 12:12 pm (EST) on Mar 24, 2008

Thanks for adding me to your interesting libraries. Like you, I enjoy all things multicultural and world literature. We also share a favorite author, Rohinton Mistry. " A Fine Balance" is one of my all time favorite books and I have a couple others he wrote in my TBR pile.

posted by mcna217 at 8:16 pm (EST) on Mar 10, 2008

Thank you for adding me to your interesting libraries! I love most of the books we have in common, so I am excited to look through your library and find some new books I'm likely to enjoy. Are you particularly fond of Heart of Darkness or did you just end up with two copies?

posted by jlelliott at 7:59 pm (EST) on Mar 6, 2008

Hey there and thanks for adding me to your list of interesting libraries! Like you, I really can't keep away from this site for too long: it has added a whole new dimension to my days... And I can see we share many books, including a Thomas Mann and a W.G. Sebald one. Oh and Tweak, which I just finished - have you read it? And if so, what did you think of it? I also read the one his father wrote (Beautiful Boy, by David Sheff). It is a painful read, but he is a good writer.

Also very nice to "meet" people who share my interest for languages and foreign cultures, so hopefully we can learn some things from one another.

Hope to hear back from you at some point!

posted by carioca at 2:48 pm (EST) on Mar 5, 2008

Hi Roxanne,

LT notified me that you just added me to your list of Interesting Libraries...so, I was curious to look at your profile. You seem like a very interesting person, also, you appear to be drawn to reading in a way similar to myself. Certainly the books we share together are a clear indication that we are on similar wave links.

Anyway, I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that I am proud to be on your list, and that I will put you on mine, too. I've had at least a dozen notifications that LTers have put me on their Interesting Libraries List...but you are the first I've put on my list!

Please write and tell me where that WONDERUL stone woman's head is -- the image at the top of this page. It's magnificent. Did you take the picture?

Barbara

posted by msbaba at 2:03 pm (EST) on Feb 27, 2008

Hi Roxanne,
Yes, I enjoy cooking and also reading cookery books. While I am not a vegetarian I do like to prepare vegetarian dishes, and as is the case with you, I tend to use the same tried and true cookery books over and over.
I don’t watch TV or attend the cinema very often (I do very much enjoy theater!); however, I will have to view Ethan Frome and Death of a Salesman – thanks for letting me know about them.
Besotted

posted by bookbesotted at 9:00 am (EST) on Feb 27, 2008

Hi Roxanne,
I too enjoy coffee -- at heart I’ll always be a tea lover; however, I usually have at least one cup of coffee a day. I like my coffee very strong and harsh, no sugar, sometimes a drop of skim milk. There used to be a coffee group on LT but I do not think that they were very talkative. What type of coffee do you enjoy?
Currently I am reading several books (some of them are rereads):
Green Sisters: A Spiritual Ecology by Sarah McFarland Taylor
What Do You Care What Other People Think?: Further Adventures of a Curious by Richard Feynman
The Supper Book by Marion Cunningham
Thoughts in Solitude by Thomas Merton
Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
I usually am reading ~60 % fiction and 40% nonfiction.
Please let me know what you are reading. It will be wonderful when the Currently Reading check box is fully functional.
Take care,
Besotted

posted by bookbesotted at 10:58 am (EST) on Feb 26, 2008

Hi Roxanne,
Hmmm, I have not posted any reviews on LT; however, LT does show that I reviewed it -- when I clicked on it, it comes up with swsolo’s review. Just a glitch in the system I suppose. My opinion of the book is not as high as swsolo’s – I would rate it 2 and ½ stars.
If you are planning on purchasing it, try to check it out from your public library first.
I have been drinking tea (all types from black to green to white and of course tisanes) for a very long time and the book just did not give me very much new information.
Hope this helps!
Besotted

posted by bookbesotted at 9:36 am (EST) on Feb 25, 2008

Greetings from New Brunswick, Canada! Thanks for adding me to your interesting libraries. I peeked at your books...very good selection. Two of my favorites that we share are The English Patient and A Fine Balance. Both were sad but so beautifully written. I've just finished two Atwood books. The Penelopiad and Oryx and Crake....loved them both and would highly recommend them. Another beautiful Canadian book is No Great Mischief by Alistair Macleod...a most beautiful look at family loyalty and love and an interesting look into the Scottish heritage of Cape Breton Island. It won the Dublin International Prize a few years ago. Do you have any recommendations for me? Love to hear about good books. Brenda O.

posted by brendaough at 10:42 am (EST) on Feb 24, 2008

Pleased to meet you and thanks for adding me to your interesting libraries.
I see that we share Nevil Shute as one of our favorite authors – I also enjoy William Trevor and your entries reminded me to add my own WT books to my LT catalogue (I still have several books that I have not entered - I would much rather spend the time reading!).
-Besotted

posted by bookbesotted at 11:23 am (EST) on Feb 22, 2008