Member: blackdogbooks

hi mac, how are you? just a few days ago, i saw a Dover edition of short stories by Theodore Dreiser and, recalling your review about An American Tragedy earlier this year and my interest in revisiting Dreiser, decided to pick it up. have you read any of his shorter works? apparently he didn't write very many of them. i already see just from the description that i'm going to like it. perhaps you would, too (that is, if you don't already). take a look at these themes: "Free", about a man trying, as his wife lies dying, to understand why he never found happiness in marriage; "Nigger Jeff", a story about a lynching based on real events; "The Lost Phoebe", a man's search for a lost life partner.

are you still working on completing the Modern Library top 100 books or some such thing? i remember reading that on your thread some time ago and wonder if you're still at it.

posted by deebee1 at 6:52 am (EST) on Oct 23, 2009

What's the name of the "favorite used book store"? I'm planning on combining a trip to Santa Fe next summer with a conference that I annually attend. Never have been to the area before and always on the look-out for a good book store.

posted by catarina1 at 11:37 am (EST) on Oct 17, 2009

Mac- How are you? I just wanted to say that you are doing an excellent job with the Halloween G.R.! I wish I could join you at this time but I'm swamped with books,(who isn't right?) and most of those horror classics I have not yet read, including "Dracula", which btw you contributed another fine review! Maybe I could still jump in at some point. For a future horror list, I suggest you add "Ghost Story" by Peter Straub, one of my absolute favorites. I'm getting ready to start "The Likeness" by Tana French. I loved her 1st novel. Take care, friend!

Mark

posted by msf59 at 8:15 am (EST) on Sep 29, 2009

Hey BDB;
Congrats for your HOT REVIEW of "Dracula"!~! Very well done.
The hits just keep on acoming!!!!!!!!!!!
belva

posted by nannybebette at 8:01 pm (EST) on Sep 25, 2009

COAS--yes! Heehee, that's funny that you plan trips just to go there. I don't quite do the same thing, but I have been going back to Las Cruces annually for years to visit friends (I used to live there) and without fail, going to COAS is one thing that MUST happen during my trip. It's like I'm making a pilgrimage or something. :-)

posted by Rachael at 12:17 pm (EST) on Sep 18, 2009

Hi, thanks for adding me to your "interesting libraries" list! :-)

posted by Rachael at 9:07 pm (EST) on Sep 17, 2009

Hi - your collection looks like an excellent place to rummage through for new titles and authors, too.

I purchased The Orchard Keeper yesterday, as it happens (took a trip to Hay on Wye, a Welsh town famous for having over 30 second-hand bookshops *delight* ) - I've only read The Road and No Country for Old Men so far... only just discovered McCarthy, and looking forward to reading more.

posted by trishtrash at 3:49 am (EST) on Sep 17, 2009

oh yeah, i'm glad you asked. November 7th from 10-4 at the Rio Rancho Inn. They have a huge arts and book fair planned. Michael McGarrity is supposed to be there as well as a large group of local writers. The tables are sold out so it'll be a good size function. Tell all your friends!
Hope to see you there,
Jon.

posted by jonhovis at 12:46 pm (EST) on Sep 7, 2009

Hi,

Not sure if you remember or not, but I wrote you a few months back and offered you an e-book version of my novel (Dirty Little Angels). You said you were interested, but you indicated that you preferred a physical copy. Good news . . . I actually found a few copies of my novel. Send over your mailing address (my e-mail is mail@christophertusa.com) and I'll send you a physical copy.

Thanks,

Chris

posted by cmtusa at 12:17 pm (EST) on Sep 5, 2009

that would be great to meet you. sept 5th from 12-2 pm. it'll be informal, just signing and chatting with folks who stop by...i'm a writer not a speaker!
just so you know, it's the same weekend as the wine festival so bernalillo will be packed.
under charlie's covers is a used bookstore, but the owner is great and loves to help local writers promote their new books.

posted by jonhovis at 5:18 pm (EST) on Aug 30, 2009

hey thanks, i appreciate that.

jon.

posted by jonhovis at 4:28 pm (EST) on Aug 30, 2009

RE: Halloween reads. Have you read 'I Am Legend' by Richard Matheson? In addition to the main story, my edition has some of his shorter works in the back. Several of those were very creepy.

posted by VictoriaPL at 11:11 am (EST) on Aug 28, 2009

Great review of BIRD BY BIRD. I had been told about this book awhile ago; but one hears of so many books and they just go to the back of the list in one's mind, however now I know I want to read this book! Well done.

posted by thomasandmary at 6:37 am (EST) on Aug 5, 2009

Love your comments on Bird by Bird! It's one of my favorites. It takes courage to come right out and declare your intentions to write. (You're braver than I am!) Good luck.

posted by nobooksnolife at 1:48 am (EST) on Aug 4, 2009

Saw your review on Bird by Bird. Good luck and have fun!

posted by semckibbin at 10:03 pm (EST) on Aug 3, 2009

I was scrolling through comments on chris tusa's page and saw you there, i don't remember what you wrote but i guess it caught my eye! i am new to lt and as a writer am looking for folks who may be interested in westerns. if you want, feel free to add me as a friend. do you live in NM as well?

Jon.

posted by jonhovis at 5:36 pm (EST) on Jul 21, 2009

BDB - I read Meg Gardiner's The Dirty Secrets Club thanks to your recommendation. If found it to be an excellent vacation read. A thriller that didn't make me feel cheapened for having spent time reading it. Thanks for the review that inspired me to pick it up! - Nancy

posted by nancyewhite at 2:21 pm (EST) on Jul 13, 2009

Egg on face.... have NO IDEA how I managed that confusion! Am usually quite good at remembering that sort of thing. I hate to say it as it's such an obviously stupid thing to have done, but I fear that somewhere I've transmuted the 'Black' of Benjamin Black into that of BDB.... I'm so sorry. Really hope you're feeling better.

posted by FlossieT at 4:46 pm (EST) on Jul 12, 2009

Hi. I happened to read one of your reviews and then checked your library. We've read and enjoyed several of the same books, so I thought I'd read a couple of the other books you've catalogued. I like the way you've organized your page; one of these years I'll get organized as well. Have you ever read with the "Group Reads-Literature" group?

posted by erkie2007 at 2:30 am (EST) on Jul 5, 2009

BDB-I love your reviews. They have inspired me to add many books to my TBR list (and to work on my writing). Thanks!

posted by Bridget770 at 2:59 pm (EST) on Jun 29, 2009

BDB- You can find me on Mark's 50 Book Challenge. I'm a lightweight, I guess! I wasn't sure I could make 75, but I should be somewhere in the 60's. You are reading some darn good books. The Lahiri book is incredible and so is her 2nd volume, "Unaccustomed Earth". I see you are also starting "Case Histories". Excellent book! I also read her 2nd, which was very good but have not got to the 3rd one. I liked your review on "Sweeping Up Glass". I'll add that to my WL. I'll be starting "The Shadow of the Wind". It's a huge LT fav and I'm looking forward to it. Glad to be friends, take care!
Mark

posted by msf59 at 10:15 pm (EST) on Jun 25, 2009

Fair enough. Banstead is close to Epsom (home of the famous Epsom Derby) in Surrey, South East England.

posted by AllieW at 1:02 pm (EST) on Jun 23, 2009

Hiya, Haven't looked at the 50 challenge thing for a while - can't really remember much about it. Will double check (I have a great deal less time for reading at the moment than I would like!).
I saw your review of a book I recently added - the Ian Sansom 'The Case of the Missing Books'. I picked it up second hand recently and had been hoping that it would live up to the blurb. Pity that it looks like it mayn't be as good as I hoped.
Allie

posted by AllieW at 11:56 am (EST) on Jun 23, 2009

Great list for Halloween books. Maybe I'll substitute The Moonstone by Collins. It is a mystery, but not sure if it will have the same creepy tone as the graveyard scenes in The Woman In White.

I see your puppy has a bandaged foot in your new picture. Hope he is all better by now.

posted by Donna828 at 11:21 am (EST) on Jun 21, 2009

I saw your review of my book because of a google search and left a comment before I checked my own LibraryThing page and saw your note.

Wonderful review, many thanks. I'm gonna have to start checking in on LibraryThing more often.

kenn

posted by KennAmdahl at 4:53 pm (EST) on Jun 4, 2009

Just saw this and thought of you:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketco...

I still haven't read it, to my shame, but if there's a new version that's got to improve my chances of snagging a copy, right?

Best,
FlossieT

posted by FlossieT at 8:12 pm (EST) on May 13, 2009

Ha! I saw the helper badges on other people's profiles (Akeela, for example - if she reads a book I have to read it, and if she has a helper badge I have to have one (I used to have a mind of my own, really)) and decided I felt left out. I earned mine by adding to the "Common Knowledge", but I don't remember how I got there now. Every book or maybe every author has a kind of info sheet, and you can add or correct bits. Tinker with it enough and you're rewarded with a helper badge. Easy!

R

posted by rachbxl at 1:40 pm (EST) on May 11, 2009

No need for the private detective! (I've only just seen your post on Akeela's thread from a while ago). I'm right here! Not as much reading time as I'd like recently, and even less LT time, so I've been reduced to lurking in the 75ers (I track my reading on my Club Read thread). Just tracked down the second part of your thread - great discussion on Austen. P&P is one of my all-time favourites, ever since we had to read it at school when I was 14 or so, and I've read all her others too, except Emma - tried again just the other week, but just can't get into it...

Hope all's well with you.

Rachel

posted by rachbxl at 7:00 am (EST) on May 10, 2009

Thanks for the nice things about my library! I must admit, I have to get some of it still loaded into LibraryThing - the stuff still in boxes that's dusty still looms. I must admit you do have a pretty good mix; the folks that get this close usually have the Stephen Kings and a ton of crossover in graphic novels as well. Not that it's a bad thing, but when you have entire series that run 10-12 books, the numbers are misleading. ;)

I see you got American Rust as part of the ER program - although it looks like you enjoyed it more than I did! It started out strong for me and then drug along (the multiple POV wore thin after a while). It's odd - that's the only ER book we share for all of our library crossover (I'm reading The Song is You by Arthur Phillips now).

Thanks for the info on the 75 books reading challenge - I've seen the lists over there, and I admit you guys are a lot more detailed than the 999 crowd!

Steph

posted by stephmo at 11:14 pm (EST) on May 7, 2009

You didn't take long at all! I just realized when I popped over to see your Halloween list that I never friended you (and I had meant to).

I can't wait to read Wilkie Collins this year. I hope you get some spare time soon!

posted by Luxx at 1:36 pm (EST) on Apr 22, 2009

Hi BDB,

Just wanted to say thanks for recommending McCarthy's Border Trilogy - I finished All the Pretty Horses this morning and loved it!

Have a great weekend :)

Cait

posted by Cait86 at 10:46 pm (EST) on Apr 18, 2009

You know what's weird? In the blue section on this page 'Books you share' the number is 99. When I look at your library the number is 100. I wonder which is the elusive 100th book. Hmm..

~Lis

posted by BritAnnia at 8:38 am (EST) on Apr 9, 2009

Hi Mac,

Thanks for the wishes. I very much hope for a smooth transition, as I have mentioned on my thread, I am going to join my new job somewhere in April last week in Mumbai and there will be a lot of turbulence with the new city, new (first) job, renting apartment, etc., April end and May thus promise to be quite hectic!

Piyush

posted by PiyushChourasia at 12:54 pm (EST) on Apr 4, 2009

I see that East of Eden is one of your favorites; it's at the top of my TBR pile. Thanks for stopping by my thread in 75 book challenge; it seems like we have similar (eclectic) tastes!

posted by nursejane at 9:51 am (EST) on Mar 18, 2009

Your reviews are so well written! Congratulations on receiving a "hot review" for your excellent appraisal of Three Cups of Tea. I noted the hot review status on today's home page.

posted by Whisper1 at 4:20 pm (EST) on Mar 17, 2009

I absolutely agree that there were parts of it that bothered me immensely. The departures from reality were a bit much sometimes. Like that whole scene close to the end where the sheriff goes all rambo. I just did not buy it. But I think it is the totality of the story that made me like it. His description of a town that is going nowhere has to be one of the best things about the book. Like you, I also skipped to sections on Isaac because they were the most interesting.

By the way I sent my review to acsparks@randomhouse.com.

posted by TrishNYC at 2:51 pm (EST) on Mar 7, 2009

Gosh that was an amazing review of American Rust.I am glad you read and liked it.

posted by TrishNYC at 2:33 pm (EST) on Mar 7, 2009

BDB - Count me in for the Halloween reads! Most of those authors will be new to me (except Koontz, Hawthorne, and Poe) so it looks like a great month of reading :) Thanks for putting the list together.

Cait

posted by Cait86 at 9:41 am (EST) on Feb 28, 2009

BDB -- I'll try to read along with you on some of the classic Halloween challenge -- that's one of my 999 categories which is woefully underdeveloped atm -- thx for coordinating :)

posted by suslyn at 4:10 am (EST) on Feb 26, 2009

Hi BDB

I've noticed your mention of a "Halloween" read during October. May anyone join in? I wouldn't be able to read the entire list in that short of time but there are two on the list that I haven't read and would like to: The Island of Dr. Moreau (I've loved the four H.G. Wells I've read so far in my life) and The Wood Wife ( that is on my list of fantasy books I hope to read this year--this would make it happen!). I'd also like to read The House of Seven Gables--I read it as a teenager and loved it--much more than Scarlet Letter--but the details have faded and I'd like to revisit it and see if I would still like it. I read Dracula in 2006 and also love that one; my son gave me annotated Dracula with the introduction by Neil Gaiman for Christmas last year and I hope to be able to squeeze that one in, too.

I had never considered doing a Halloween read until I saw you talking about it last year. It sounded like fun so On October 31st I read The Turn of the Screw--finished before I went to bed--and really enjoyed myself. Thanks for the suggestion. I guess in October I lose some of my reservations about the horror genre! :-)

Carolyn

posted by MusicMom41 at 9:56 pm (EST) on Feb 22, 2009

I was looking at your "75 books" list and I am wondering how you go the green checkmarks by the books you have read on you Touchstone books?

posted by kcoleman at 3:35 pm (EST) on Feb 17, 2009

Thanks for coming to look for me! I did start a thread in the 75ers but I gave up after a couple of days; I really, really enjoyed it last year but couldn't cope with the numbers this year! (Numbers of 75ers, I mean, not the 75 books which I couldn't really care less about). I'm making myself spend less time on LT this year (it was eating into too much of my Polish homework time!) and it was just too much to log on and find hundreds of unread messages, so I went over to Club Read instead (and I'm continuing with my round-the-world-read which I keep track of in the Reading Globally group). I do keep meaning to pop over and see what you're all up to, and as soon as I get a chance that's what I'll do - I starred your thread as soon as I spotted you in January so I should be able to find you!

Rachel

posted by rachbxl at 2:24 pm (EST) on Feb 10, 2009

Thank you for visiting my thread. As a newbie, I'm trying to read all the threads, and I leave comments when I think I have something to add. I will gradually eliminate the threads in which none of the books are within my possible range of interest. Since there are apparently so many new people this year, I can understand why some of the veterans of the 75 book challenge who have already come to know each other are somewhat limiting themselves on which new threads they look at, so I really appreciate your stopping by. I'm looking forward to your comments on An American Tragedy.

posted by arubabookwoman at 6:51 pm (EST) on Jan 20, 2009

Your very handsome (or pretty?) black dog looks great against the snowy background. We tend to lose our white Lab in the white stuff, but he loves it! I admire how you were able to list your all-time favorite books. I may try to come up with a similar list -- someday. I'm pretty sure East of Eden or something by Steinbeck would have to appear on mylist.

posted by Donna828 at 11:36 am (EST) on Jan 19, 2009

I thought you were busy partying or something! Good to see you back, look forward to more comments, recommendations and awesome reviews from you.

posted by PiyushChourasia at 11:15 am (EST) on Jan 17, 2009

Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year :)

posted by TheBookImp at 3:20 pm (EST) on Dec 31, 2008

hi BDB
I wanted to congratulate you with your first LT-anniversary ;-)
Anita

posted by FAMeulstee at 5:40 pm (EST) on Nov 16, 2008

I almost choked on a chicken bone when I read your message, it was hysterics all the way. Absolutely hilarious. Don't worry once we get to that point, I will send my "friends" to pay you "friendly" visits. Then this will be followed by subtle threats and me asking you to do "a little something" for me (like running errands for me, giving me your dog for weekends, going to my job for me some days while I stay home and read etc, etc). Just not a good cycle.

But I am more than happy to pass on good books to folks like you.

Sheesh..I am still cracking up over your message. LOL :)

Trish

posted by TrishNYC at 10:26 pm (EST) on Nov 15, 2008

Hey thanks for the lovely kudos on my profile! I should specify, my poems have only appeared in small presses, anthologies, and magazines, I don't have my own book of poetry yet. Someday eh? I enjoy the 75 group and feel quite lazy as I don't do the stellar reviews like the some. But I love knowing what everyone else in the group is reading/enjoying or not. It's great fun!

cheers
heather

posted by hjelliot at 8:39 pm (EST) on Nov 14, 2008

Yeah, I was guided to your library when you commented on my post on the 75 books a year group page. well, I guess 75 books can set the bar a little high for me. A more realistic goal would be around 60 books a year.

My listing here at LibraryThing is focused on the horror/suspense genre. These books seems to give me most reading pleasure for the time being. And I do like the psychological study of »man pushed to the edge«.

I have only read some of Matheson's short stories. »Nightmare At 20.000 Feet« is very good. A guy is travelling by plane and keep seeing something outside the cabin. On the wing; lurking behind the engine; fiddling with the bolts and wires. Is he loosing his mind? Also, I remember the story »Duel« from the movie adaption. That made quite an impression on me when I was a kid.

Matheson's novel »I Am Legend« is on reading list. I understand it borders to the »post apocalypse« subgenre. That will lead me to »The Stand« by Mr. King and »Swan Song« by Robert McCammon.

posted by Locke at 12:02 pm (EST) on Nov 13, 2008

I've been checking out your library and really like some of the books you've listed. My friend prop2gether recommended your library -- right on!

posted by picnicgal at 7:24 pm (EST) on Nov 12, 2008

I thought it was time to add some of the folks on the 75 book challenge as friends so I can keep up with their libraries a bit better. Since we seem to overlap a lot in tastes, I thought I'd start with you!

Jim

posted by drneutron at 7:21 pm (EST) on Nov 9, 2008

Yup, it's just an extra surprise Early Reviewers book! Enjoy :)

Abby

posted by ablachly at 2:32 pm (EST) on Sep 19, 2008

Hi Blackdog,

Snow Country? As you guessed, I really enjoyed it. Probably one of the most beautiful books I've ever read - perhaps not one of the best, but if you read it, I think you'll see what I'm getting at; Kawabata paints the most wonderful pictures with words, it's like looking at a painting. Another LT-er left an interesting message on my Reading Globally thread, about how the 'turning points' in Japanese literature are often much more subtle than in Western lit, and this novel is a great illustration of that. For example, instead of an awful accident being the event which signals change, here it's the turning of the leaves. I know I tend to race through things, but here I had to slow down and pay attention; I didn't mind, though, because it was such a pleasure to savour every word.

I read an excellent translation by Edward G. Seidensticker (don't know if there are others), and his introduction really added to my understanding, and therefore enjoyment, of the novel.

Look forward to hearing what you make of it!

posted by rachbxl at 3:41 pm (EST) on Jul 4, 2008

Hey blackdog,
Thanks for adding me to your "interesting libraries".I am truly honored as I can see that you are an avid reader yourself. I had a preliminary look over your library and all I can say is "Whoa". When I am done writing you this note, I will go look some more cause I love to get ideas on what to read.

I really like the book "Nam" as it tells the stories of the man and women who have seen war and its horrors especially one of America's worst conflicts. Funny enough its one of the books that I am reading right now, though I am reading it in addition to other books so it may be awhile before I am finished with it.

As to the book Blink, I read that about a year and half ago and I liked it. It basically says that our split second observations cannot be discounted as they may hold information that is vital to our survival. He believes that many times the "less is more attitude" to information gathering is best. I remember thinking that I disagreed with some of the whole ideas of split second decisions because I felt that those instanteous decisions may contain hints of long buried prejudices and preconceived notions about other people and that if we are to take the split second decision as our main guide then we are open to making racist and sexist decisions before our better nature is able to prevail. I can't remember now if he addresses this but I believe he may have discussed what he called bad cognition and I guess the aforementioned falls into this catergory. I would recommend it.

By the way its so funny that you read The Gift of Fear cause a friend of mine was telling me about it. We were discussing the ways in which women are almost taught to second guess themselves and how that second guessing of self can be the reasons why women get attacked as they failed to heed their first impression of a situation. I guess this fits very well with Blink. But my friend loves The Gift of Fear and now hearing you mention it makes me want to read it.

I loved Gourevitch's We wish to inform you... and I would recommend it with no reservations. It is very well written and I believe that it shows you the depth and scope of the genocide in Rwanda. Its heart wrenching and when I was done reading it, I was haunted by the experience.

By the by, I LOVE your dog. I am a sucker for dogs. I miss not having a dog anymore but the moment I get a house, I am getting a dog. I live in New York and though my apartment is big by New York City standards, I just do not want a dog in such a small space. So I live vicariously through other people's dog. What is your beautiful pooch's name?

Anyway its nice talking to you.
Patricia

posted by TrishNYC at 10:18 pm (EST) on Apr 7, 2008