Member: john257hopper

Thank you very much for your comment about my review of The Violin of Auschwitz. I was deeply touched by the book and am glad to know that someone enjoyed my review.

posted by Litfan at 8:36 pm (EST) on Sep 13, 2011

Thank you, John, for the kind words about my Days of the Comet review. I do them for my own record and worry endlessly that someone will actually read them and think I'm a dribbling idiot - It's nice to know that I made sense to *someone*. ;-)

posted by SimPenguin at 9:35 am (EST) on Sep 8, 2011

Re: Half Magic

Possibly (although I don't have a copy on me to check right now), but that would just raise another point - why does some random Arab living in his own country care what Europeans and Americans think of him?

posted by conuly at 12:54 pm (EST) on Nov 12, 2010

I've read through your reviews which explore some interesting areas (e.g. 14th century Europe) in more depth than I've managed. Thank you for your thoughtful contributions and star ratings.

posted by Miro at 1:28 pm (EST) on Oct 26, 2010

I began, perhaps rather anally, adding books from the list I started in January 1980, and only later found that on the free membership you were limited to 200 books. My Scottish blood rebels at paying $10 (with which I could instead buy a book or even a few days' supply of Irn Bru) just to be able to write a list so I will leave it there, though that does give people the impression that I only really read Ed McBain!

posted by Eyejaybee at 4:34 pm (EST) on Jun 28, 2010

Thanks so much! Sorry that I hadn't replied earlier--I haven't been on Library Thing much lately.

posted by boswellbaxter at 5:42 pm (EST) on Jun 14, 2010

I'm in no hurry, so take your time and enjoy.

posted by dadena at 12:28 pm (EST) on May 22, 2010

You should give Dostoyevsky's "The Possessed" another chance. You obviously have a bad translation, which can be much like the brown acid at Woodstock. Try Andrew R. Macandrew or, if you want a lot of historical background and footnotes, Pevear and Volokhonsky.

posted by rickstill122 at 8:23 pm (EST) on May 21, 2010

Thank you for angelling Lucky Man: A Memoir for me. My BM name is dadena. By all means, take your time to enjoy reading it first, I'm in no hurry.

Cindy

posted by dadena at 11:43 am (EST) on May 3, 2010

Hi John,
Thank you again for angel mooching "Confessions of a Middle-Aged Woman" for me.

I'm michellereads on both Librarything and BookMooch.

If it is okay with you, I will put friendship requests in for you now on both, so that we may find each other with ease, once the time comes!

Thanks again,
Michelle

posted by michellereads at 6:55 pm (EST) on Apr 10, 2010

Thank-You John for mooching Diary of a Wimpy Kid for me!
susiesharp

posted by susiesharp at 1:26 pm (EST) on Apr 1, 2010

Hi John,
Thank you so very much for 'angel' mooching Library of the Dead for me. My BM id is lman too!
~Lyn

posted by Lman at 4:20 pm (EST) on Jan 10, 2010

People of the Mist is here and I've reserved it for you on BookMooch. It was carefully packaged and looks good.

posted by RidgewayGirl at 3:35 pm (EST) on Jan 9, 2010

Hi:
Thank you for your kind words re: my review of Dickens. It was such a long slog of a book wasn't it! I finally had to set myself to the discipline of reading 20 pages a day every day just so I could finish it before spring. And what was the meaning of those little conversations between characters that he threw in there every so often? I just could not get what that was about so I finally started skipping right over them. And so much information of a most unflattering nature - so much so that I have been unable to pick up any of my unread Dickens books. I think it will be some time before I get over the way I came to feel about the man because of Ackroyd. As for the racist thing - yes, I would agree that it was a symptom of the times and ought not to be judged with modern sensibilities. Just the same though, it's hard from a 21st century POV not to cringe some of the time.
Anyway, I am flattered to have been added to your interesting libraries and will return the favor.
Come back and comment anytime....

posted by Fourpawz2 at 8:28 am (EST) on Jan 2, 2010

Me too - definitely!

posted by Booksloth at 7:59 pm (EST) on Dec 13, 2009

Not sure that's a good thing! I think we're the ones who would rather go without food than be without something to read and that's probably a bit obsessive but it's where I feel comfortable.

posted by Booksloth at 5:15 pm (EST) on Dec 12, 2009

Thank you so much for the Horrible Histories angel mooches! My BookMooch user name is randomchoirho. :)

posted by MsCellophane at 1:31 pm (EST) on Nov 21, 2009

You're right; I am marabw. I wasn't sure which username I was supposed to use.

Thank you!

posted by Miela at 2:57 pm (EST) on Sep 25, 2009

Hi,

My BM id is Marguerite.

Thank you!

posted by Miela at 2:50 pm (EST) on Sep 20, 2009

Hi John,
You were mooching Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife for me. My BM ID is buddha_girl, my LT ID is MsDonna. Thanks for being an Angel.
Donna

posted by MsDonna at 6:32 pm (EST) on Sep 13, 2009

Devil's Children was sent to me 3 days ago.

posted by infiniteletters at 8:44 am (EST) on Apr 18, 2009

John, I agree with you that history is not just for academics. A lot of my books are for students or hobbyists, and they tend to be more enjoyable to read.

posted by StevenTill at 10:06 pm (EST) on Mar 30, 2009

I read your review of The Empty World by John Christopher. I am also interested in reading the other book you referenced, Survivors. Please let me know how I can find this title.

posted by harambeegirl at 9:49 pm (EST) on Mar 29, 2009

Ijust mooched your book and got an email bounce message. weird - haven't had that before. It says its gmail account doesn't exist...

If something else happens I'll let you know but it doesn't look promising!

cheers
cushla

posted by cushlareads at 5:49 pm (EST) on Mar 29, 2009

John, thanks for the suggestions. I should look into A Distant Mirror. I hear a lot of other people suggesting that one as well. Why do some medievalists not like it?

Steven
http://steventill.com

posted by StevenTill at 11:38 am (EST) on Feb 9, 2009

Always nice to find others interested in medieval history. I found your profile through the Medieval Europe group. Any particular book you would recommend? What's your favorite non-fiction book on medieval history? I'm always looking for new books to add to my library. Thanks.

Steven
http://steventill.com

posted by StevenTill at 9:24 pm (EST) on Feb 7, 2009

John, the book arrived today! I've reserved it for you on bookmooch :)

posted by beautifulmuse at 3:00 pm (EST) on Jan 26, 2009

Hi John,

I wanted to let you know that the book I'm angeling for you "The Shadow of the Winter Palace, Russia's Drift to Revolution, 1825-1917" by Edward Crankshaw was shipped today by the owner. I'll let you know when I receive it and send it out to you =)

- Cynthia

posted by beautifulmuse at 8:12 pm (EST) on Jan 20, 2009

John, the book I was angeling for you (Invasion of the Body Snatchers) has come in, so I reserved it for you: http://bookmooch.com/m/detail/0671682113. I probably won't be able to send it until the end of the week or early next week (post-payday, rather!). It's a little browned and I think someone might have bent the cover back as they read, but otherwise it looks pretty good.

posted by chelonianmobile at 12:54 pm (EST) on Dec 8, 2008

I understand now! Thanks, now I will know for future reference. I haven't heard about the delay yet, one book was already shipped out! :-)

posted by supertalya at 8:08 am (EST) on Sep 11, 2008

John, nope I am supertalya on BM. You don't have to smooch me the points. Once I receive the book I will put them on BM and reserve them for you, and email you to tell you they are here. You will mooch them normally and I will send them out.

posted by supertalya at 5:51 am (EST) on Sep 11, 2008

I have mooched them for you.

posted by supertalya at 6:10 pm (EST) on Sep 10, 2008

Thank you so much john257hopper. I'm so glad I saw your initial post: I doubt I would have heard about this otherwise. I've never been enticed to read any of Follett's other books because their subject matter didn't really interest me. But I thought "Pillars" was great. I was living in London at the time I read it, so I made pilgrimages (so to speak) to a few of the places mentioned in the book (like Winchester). Really looking forward to the new one and I'm wondering what will be the "anchor" that holds it together (like the cathedral in the original).

Thanks again,
twacorbies

posted by twacorbies at 6:48 pm (EST) on Aug 21, 2007

Hi, I noticed several chess titles in your catalog and thought you may like to check my forum site out- www.ChessForums.org, we have a dedicated section to chess books and recommended reading you may be interested in, thanks, Greg

posted by gregfindley at 6:42 am (EST) on Jun 30, 2007

It was a pleasure to browse your library. We share some interests, although not so many books ...

posted by Romanus at 8:35 am (EST) on May 22, 2007

Welcome to Books Compared. We share an interest in the best of the novels set in ancient Rome. Colleen McCullough's First Man in Rome etc., and Steven Saylor's Gordianus mysteries. I see you have Graves' I Claudius on your to-be-read list. A comparison review between Graves and one of McCullough's or Saylor's books would be interesting. Of course, whatever you feel inspired to contribute will add to our reading pleasure!

posted by margad at 2:29 pm (EST) on Mar 30, 2007

Hi John,
Thanks for your response. I"m surprised that you haven't read Graves yet! Lucky you, you are in for treat! They are a good read. I just get irritated with graves for finishing the last volume in such a cavalier fashion. Do let me know what you think of it when you get around to reading it.
Have you read Dumas's 'Acte'? It's little known and I'm not sure how available it is in Englibook to your toppling TBR pile?) :)

Murr

posted by tomcatMurr at 12:21 pm (EST) on Mar 30, 2007

hi just wanted welcome you to the Compared Books group. Seems like we share a lot of interests in common, especially Roman history and WWII.
I've often looked at the Colleen McCullough books on the shelves in bookstores and wondered if they were worth reading, but will defiantely get involved in them after reading your reviews. Robert Graves, irritates me somewhat, and Alan Massie is a bit too dry for my taste. Henry Sfgbvuiwgfebnugivfpwqcdewfprgn, (the author of 'Quo Vadis' with the unpronouncable and unspellable name) seemd to get the balance betwen decadence and politics just right.)
I read your review of Haggard's 'She' and it brought to mind this poem by Auden:

Sir Rider Haggard
Was completely staggered
When his bride to be
Announced: 'I am SHE'.

Murr.

posted by tomcatMurr at 6:44 am (EST) on Mar 30, 2007

Glad to find another Colleen McCullough Rome fan. I've read the whole series and find it wonderful and enlightening. Some better than others, but even the slow ones, better than others I've read.

posted by steffijohnson at 9:57 am (EST) on Mar 6, 2007

i saw this on listed on the random books listed from your library: "All the Russians" by Jeffrey Gibian. what's it about?

posted by salerie at 6:09 pm (EST) on Nov 13, 2006

Just wanted to say I enjoyed your review of Quo Vadis: a story I've seen in film many times, and the original of which I've not read. Thanks...

posted by Eurydice at 1:47 am (EST) on Oct 2, 2006