Thank you for adding my collection to your interesting libraries - it took me a long time to answer, but I've been quite chuffed since noticing :). Manuela

posted by matapaha at 5:14 pm (EST) on Sep 24, 2008

Dear Bolero: Thank you for the Tao Te Ching translation links. I always wanted to learn classical Chinese, but at this point it's unlikely!

Yes, Doris Lessing has been a fascination to me since the 70s. Nice to hear from a guy who liked Golden Notebook. My husband really likes the Shikasta series, but can't get him to read much else.

I recently retired from an academic library cataloging job, so LibraryThing is kind of like 'fun work' for me. Wanted to get my own books in order.

Luciana

posted by Luciana43 at 2:24 pm (EST) on Sep 9, 2008

Dear Bolero: Thanks for adding the David K. Reynolds interpretation of the Tao Te Ching. (It showed up in my 'Connection News'.) I like Reynolds a lot, but had missed this one.

Luciana

posted by Luciana43 at 5:56 pm (EST) on Sep 6, 2008

Thank you for adding me to your list of interesting libraries. I like your idea of using NF for not finished, something that happens to me fairly often. Life is too short to finish a book that doesn't appeal to me.

Your great grandson is very impressive!

Luciana

posted by Luciana43 at 5:52 pm (EST) on Sep 4, 2008

Thank you for adding me to your interesting libraries list. Your great grandson is very handsome. I look forward to checking in on your library every once in awhile. Welcome to LibraryThing.

posted by altima313 at 4:05 pm (EST) on Sep 3, 2008

Oh dear - I'm ashamed to admit I don't think I've read any Benson at all. Then again, if you're comparing him to Wodehouse, I have to say that I enjoy Wodehouse now and then for a bit of light relief, but I can't take too much of him. I guess, if we're talking humour in books, one of my all time favourites has to be Cold Comfort Farm (by the way - I joined the Anglophile group because I love English lit but I'm actually more of an Anglo than an Anglophile).

One of the courses I studied at uni was on Victorian literature and I do love it -partly for all the great books (of course) and partly because of the way so much of it informs and foreshadows modern literature. I'm quite a history fan anyway (especially of the Victorians and Tudors) and I completely believe that we get a far better understanding of anything if we know something about the history that led up to it.

I'm also very fond of contemporary books set in Victorian times. My absolute favourite - about which I've drooled endlesly on LT - is Michel Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White which, in my opinion is one of the best novels ever written about the Victorians. In fact, I'd put any of his books at the top of all my lists, he writes so beautifully that Id be perfectly happy to read his shopping lists.

By the way, I haven't read the Dale Spender book you mention either and it looks like yet another one for the wishlist. I love books about books anyway so this one can't posibly fail! I think I may have to add some E F Benson too now.

posted by Booksloth at 5:56 am (EST) on Aug 23, 2008

Thank you for considering my library 'interesting' - I'm always flattered when people do that! I'm shocked to read about you having lost so many books in a flood - what a dreadful thing to happen. When people ask me 'what would you save if your house was on fire?' (always assuming all living people/creatures were safe, of course) the true answer would be 'all my books' - and, of course, that is never possible. Two nights ago my local library was burned to the ground (probably by arsonists). Even though I rarely use it, it really upset me to see the newsreel of all those books, still on their shelves and recognisably still books - but black, charred and unreadable.

posted by Booksloth at 8:19 am (EST) on Aug 21, 2008

Hi Bolero
Thanks for adding me to your interesting libraries list - it's always good to know that someone else appreciates the same books that you do. Sorry to hear about the loss of your books - it'd take me some time to get over that if it happened to me. Re your ratings, I always feel that personal enjoyment is the best recommendation for any book!
Esteemed grandson looks a cracker - you must be very proud.
Regards

posted by dorisdayrules at 1:55 pm (EST) on Jul 19, 2008