Member: ellengryphon

Ellen:

Yes, I still have a few copies. I've sent you one.

My daughter, by the way, years ago, was a big Sachar fan; wrote him an appreciate letter.

posted by copyedit52 at 10:19 am (EST) on Nov 21, 2009

Noticed you liked Ellen Foster, 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 a southern story about a disturbed young girl (and also 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). Here's a link to a summary (and a sample chapter) in case you'd like to read more before you commit:

http://christophertusa.com/

Thanks,

Chris

posted by cmtusa at 11:54 pm (EST) on Sep 6, 2009

Thanks for your note. I haven't read all of Stegner's fiction either. I stumbled upon him accidently, with "Crossing to Safety". It's been a few years ago but I was so impressed with it. For me, he can really sum up what's special about the West. You might enjoy another one of my favorites, an English writer named William Boyd. He's written many novels but two of my favorites are "Any Human Heart" and "Restless". He's a really good story teller.
By the way, I noticed you're in the Bay Area. I grew up in Campbell, right near San Jose, went to San Jose State, and married a man from Berkeley. So I have lots of connections there. I love to go visit when I can face the traffic!

posted by Oregonreader at 3:44 pm (EST) on May 19, 2009

I've added yours to my interesting library list. You have an interesting collection but I was most taken with your reviews. Very enjoyable and well-written. You mention that you are a widow and, in one of the reviews, that you have an attraction to books about widows. I am widowed also (although a little older than you) and I find that I've become a little more critical of books about grieving, looking for certain basic truths, I guess, and I wondered if that was what you were looking for.

posted by Oregonreader at 4:30 pm (EST) on May 14, 2009

Hi, Ellen! Thank you for your kind words! It's always nice hearing from other book lovers.

In regards to your question, you simply can't go wrong with Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot novels. Some other great starters for me were the British cozies by M.C. Beaton, namely the ones featuring Agatha Raisin, and Charlaine Harris has a few great mysteries under her belt. Dorothy L. Sayers, Ruth Rendell, Margory Allingham...I could go on all day! It's all according to what you like!

Thank you for your suggestions. I always love recommendations.

Happy reading to you!

posted by quillmenow at 12:06 am (EST) on Feb 8, 2009

Hi Ellen,

La nostalgie pour les neiges d'Alaska? Nah, if I miss them, I'll just go to the fridge and look for the frozen peas. They always seem to be buried in ice, snow, and darkness.

I know, my star ratings are such a sham. I'm just a generous esteem building kind of guy. Why if I was Secretary of Defense, anybody that saluted would get a uniform like Michael Jackson's and at least five stars.

I hope you like Darconville's Cat and expect you to review it. I still think about the whole sad affair. It was so much like my first love, and second love, and third love - and that night in the East Village - and my fourth love, and the time on Trailways, and and and....

You might enjoy this radio interview with Theroux

http://cdn3.libsyn.com/colinmarshall/MOI...

Although beware, you may begin to hear his voice as you read, because he speaks as he writes and vice verse-y. And he has quite a Bahstun accent.

We leave May 1st -duhdum - The Big Move East and South (sounds teutonic in its scope, doesn't it?). Since Christmas, I've actually cleaned out or packed half my garage which astounds me. Soon we'll be able to park the car in it! If I had known I had this much persistence, I would have been more ambitious in my youth, and maybe written a romance novel, or finished truck driving school, or completed my collection of commemorative stamps honoring the Great Dictators of the Third World.

Peace,
G

posted by Ganeshaka at 4:49 am (EST) on Jan 29, 2009

Yep, I read the Tales of Beedle the Bard--it takes about an hour. Short and sweet, but with some commentary by Dumbledore, which is a nice walk down memory lane. We both like Kingsolver and Austen. That's nice. :)

posted by lmvb at 4:35 pm (EST) on Jan 4, 2009

Migod! Thanks for reminding me. It's December already isn't it??? I really need to pack...although at times I have this romantic image of moving across the country with only the clothes on my back, and a toothbrush.

And yes, anything's balmier than this http://tiny.cc/Brrrrr

posted by Ganeshaka at 5:13 pm (EST) on Dec 11, 2008

Wow. (smile) Your compliment made my day!
Happy reading!
J.

posted by nobooksnolife at 2:52 am (EST) on Dec 1, 2008

Thanks for adding me to your Interesting Libraries! You have some great tags. I love the Wicked Fun tag!

posted by KarenCoffin at 10:31 pm (EST) on Oct 18, 2008

OK dare ya back, I added a playlist too. I'll see you in detention hall...or maybe even the Vice Principal's office.

posted by Ganeshaka at 7:41 pm (EST) on Oct 8, 2008

Uh-oh, you added a playlist!? Is that permitted? I might have to do the same. But isn't it like listening to your iPod in church? Or sneaking spicy Thai take-out into a public library? Or texting during a staff meeting? What would Emily Post advise? I guess it's no different than riding your pony on your boat :D

posted by Ganeshaka at 4:54 am (EST) on Oct 8, 2008

Ah me, outed at last. A doggone elitist. U betcha. I knew I should have hid my copy of Fleurs de Mal inside Larry the cable guy's Git-R-Done. I thought I was safe, sipping my latte at Starbucks.

I think Obama should respond to "elitist" charges by donning a tophat and tails, and doing a Fred Astaire routine with Tina Fey in which he sings "I'm the top!....I'm Mahatma Ghandi"

http://www.slate.com/id/2120550/

posted by Ganeshaka at 2:26 pm (EST) on Oct 7, 2008

One statement upon which most humorists, satirists, cartoonists, columnists, SNL writers, and Sarah Palin, herself, can all agree: She is a godsend.

posted by Ganeshaka at 1:26 am (EST) on Sep 23, 2008

Hey Ellen,
I was just thinking that I needed to look at this more. And then I got your message! do you put all you books here? Who is the other person who answered you? I'd like to be your library thing pal - it would even get me to start using it more. Your book pal, Christine

posted by CLHarris at 1:18 am (EST) on Sep 18, 2008

Thank you ellengryphon for your kind words. Hah! I am so too lazy... to pitch a column to Slate or the Onion. Pitching an inning or so of preschooler Whiffle ball is more my level. The job's over quickly, and then we all take a nap. That's the kind of freedom I get redwhite-N-blue in the face about. You know, like Miss Twiggley in her tree, the freedom to "do what I like and like what I do" and most importantly, when company comes, to hide in a tree. Hiding in trees is an old simian practice which might soon merit a revival, if you get my drift.

posted by Ganeshaka at 12:28 pm (EST) on Sep 12, 2008