Member: jbeast

Hi;
Mark and I have been discussing the possibility of another group read in November and want your input. We have narrowed it down to two books at this point. "The People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks and "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield. So chat it up with friends or us and let us know if you are up for it and what you think. Probably the same plan as with "Pillars of the Earth" which seemed to work out perfectly for almost all of us.
Think it over and give one of us a shout.
hugs and looking forward to hearing from you,
belva

posted by nannybebette at 9:32 pm (EST) on Sep 8, 2009

Thought you might be intersted in joining my new thread. Check it out.
http://www.librarything.com/topic/66785

posted by callmejacx at 10:27 pm (EST) on Jun 16, 2009

Your review of Keep the Aspidistra Flying is quite good, seems like a very interesting read (in light of all the end discussion on your thread).

I also added the BBC list to my thread as per your suggestion.

I am still in Nagpur, my home town, I am supposed to join my job in April last week.

I liked whatever I read of [The Stand], it was quite addictive and it wasn't easy at all to put it down once I started.

Piyush

posted by PiyushChourasia at 8:08 am (EST) on Apr 13, 2009

You have read quite a few Orwells by now, I think I should also get back to him, I have only read Animal Farm and 1984 so far and loved them both, maybe its time for a couple more... A cursory glance shows me that I have read atleast 23 books of the 100 list you posted on your thread.

posted by PiyushChourasia at 5:36 pm (EST) on Apr 7, 2009

Hello jbeast! Thanks for the Murun reminiscences on the "what are you reading?" thread.

Guess what! I live in Gloucestershire too! There is hope for our county yet ...

posted by murunbuchstansangur at 11:13 am (EST) on Apr 7, 2009

Never! (about thinking rude of you)
Well, of all the Saramago books you ask me about the only one that I haven't read yet (Seeing). But I plan to read it soon, and will tell you when I've done so. Actually, if you've read it since, maybe you can tell me about it?

posted by selin1005 at 4:50 pm (EST) on Mar 25, 2009

Thanks for the wishes. I am going to work for a new Currency Derivatives Exchange, profile being Compliance and Business Development.

If you can read those Gothic romances, you should read them before Northanger Abbey, they might be the difference between you liking or hating the book. I will also be interested to know if the dark side succeeds in converting you :)

I haven't read any other Murakami, but intend to read a couple more this year and one of them is definitely going to be Norwegian Wood.

Piyush

posted by PiyushChourasia at 1:06 pm (EST) on Mar 21, 2009

While I haven't read the book earlier, you most certainly did not drop any spoilers.

I haven't read The Road To Wigan Pier, would be looking forward to your comments on the book, I liked Animal Farm, with this book, I knew the context it was written in and it was anyways a highly amusing read for me. If you have read those Gothic Romances, you might like Northanger Abbey, I found quite some people who hated the book as much or even more than I did, Mac (blackdogbooks) for instance, but there were quite a few who liked this book too...

Agree with Murakami being slightly weird, I am reading his first novel, Pinball, and..., well, I will reserve my comments till I finish the book.

I am looking forward to 100 books this year, I have finished my MBA (convocation on 28th of March), will be joining my new job by April last week...will have to see how it works out after that...

Piyush

posted by PiyushChourasia at 12:23 pm (EST) on Mar 19, 2009

Yeah, the book seems to be quite long, maybe breaking it in parts would help, we will have to wait and see how it goes for us...

1984 is one of my favorites too! I have read only a couple of Austens; Emma which was a decent read and Northanger Abbey which I hated, though it seems I missed the context in which it was written, as a spoof on 19th Century Romantic Gothic novels.

BTW, congratulations on reaching 1/3rd of the target in less than 1/4th time! You are looking good for another 75.

Piyush

posted by PiyushChourasia at 9:58 pm (EST) on Mar 18, 2009

The Highly-Rated Book Group has begun a Group Read of The Blind Assassin. Sign up here: http://www.librarything.com/groups/thebl...

and don’t forget to join in my Book Quiz.

- TT

posted by TheTortoise at 12:16 pm (EST) on Mar 10, 2009

Hi Liz

We are all sinners here as far as temptation for books goes, how did you like the book? Your comments would be very much welcome once we start with the reading, so far me and Marcia are in for the group read, will shortly release a thread to check if anyone else also wants to join in.

Thanks for the compliments :) From your thread I gather that we have quite a bit of common authors including Dostoevsky, Vonnegut, Orwell, Austen, Tolstoy to name a few...and have therefor now starred your thread.

Piyush

posted by PiyushChourasia at 7:07 pm (EST) on Mar 8, 2009

Hi Liz,

You still interested to join in for a group read of The Stand in April?

Piyush

posted by PiyushChourasia at 7:15 am (EST) on Mar 6, 2009

I minored in Psychology. Have you ever considered becoming a school psychologist? They make a lot more than teachers!
It is so nice here right now. I keep saying, this is why we put up with the summer-3 seasons of perfection! How's the weather there? I've only been to England in my mind (while reading books). But I would love to go some day!
I love Tucson. Do you have friends there?

posted by PaperbackPirate at 12:27 pm (EST) on Jan 24, 2009

Although I don't know what the school system is like in England, I highly recommend becoming a primary teacher! It is the hardest and most rewarding thing I've ever done.

posted by PaperbackPirate at 7:53 pm (EST) on Jan 22, 2009

Hey jbeast! Just read your review on Blindness. I'm glad you liked the book overall, but I can not say I agree with you a hundred percent.
I believe that eyes come second in holding social barriers, first of course being the character itself. I think awareness of being watched, and thus being 'identifiable' keeps many of us from doing what we would've done otherwise. In the case of Blindness, I think the rape is a lot more plausible than the material greed in a world where you do not know if the material counts for anything anymore. And of course you do not have to 'look anyone in the eye' anymore either, which would take away the shame and guilt from many actions.
As for the very fast descent of human dignity, yes, it does happen very fast. But the sudden realization of a phenomenon, and quite an impossible one at that, will ensue panic that any tragedy is possible. It's pretty much every man for himself, and how can anyone know what was blindness one day will not become their inevitable doom the other? There is no reason to hold themselves back anymore, so I do not find the sudden lack of dignity exaggarated. Could it be otherwise? Ideally yes it could, everyone would've helped each other to some extent, and life would be a lot easier for them. But sooner or later, the blind sociopaths running amok and the absence of protection would sow the seeds of suspicion and distrust.
Or so I believe.
So what are you planning to read next? Will there be more Saramago novels for you?

posted by selin1005 at 4:30 pm (EST) on Sep 22, 2008

(Already posted this on the '50 Books' forums, but that place is very disorganised, no threading and all, so, here it is again, with some additions at the end)
Having already read five novels by Saramago (Blindness, Gospel According to Jesus, Death with Interruptions, The Tale of the Unknown Island, Levantado Do Chao (Umut Tarlalari in Turkish, I do not know the English title)), I can say Blindness is definitely my favourite. It was the book that introduced me to Saramago as well, and having had a look at your library, I can say that you will probably like him too. If you like reading observations on social crises and changes in human behaviour thereafter, and their relative resolution with slight ethical subtext (...wow, what a strange definiton that has become...) the next book I would recommend would be Death with Interruptions. Very similar to Blindness in style, it tells the story of death, who decides to quit one day.
His way of conveying dialogue or depicting characters is unusual, and it takes some time for some people to get used to it, but I find it quite brilliant, and hope you will as well!

posted by selin1005 at 3:35 pm (EST) on Sep 11, 2008