Member: lgaikwad

Noticed you liked The Glass Castle, 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 about a dysfunctional family and 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). Let me know if you're interested. Here's a link to a summary (and a sample chapter) in case you'd like to learn a little more about the book before you commit:

http://christophertusa.com/

Thanks,

Chris

posted by cmtusa at 10:34 am (EST) on Sep 2, 2009

Glorious! My university still has its original library (1845) which has carved oak and all the brass and marble trimings too, but few books are now kept there. They're mostly in hideous 1960s buildings.

posted by josiasporter at 11:40 am (EST) on May 30, 2008

Forgive my intrusion, but I just have to say how wonderful that billboard picture is! If only my city were so tastefully decorated.

posted by josiasporter at 8:37 am (EST) on May 30, 2008

Linda, The Yacoubian Building is interesting in that it is by an Egyptian author, set in Egypt and apparently was very popular in Egypt. It is really a portrayal of a culture faded somewhat from its glory days and there are definitely characters whose lives parallel that (as does the building itself). It follows a variety of residents who live in the tiny apartments on the roof and those business people who rent there. It is fairly explicit throughout but I read the sexual relations in terms of power. There is one character who will turn to fundamentalism. This is a bit different from the Reluctant Fundamentalist because this young man is not in the US, hasn't been Westernized to the extent of our Princeton grad and, of course, not been affected by 9/11 which hasn't happened yet.

I'm about to be buried in class reading so I imagine I will have to restrict my time on LT:-(

Thanks for getting back to me on The Reluctant Fundamentalist. I'm going to put you on my private watch list so I will remember to check periodically on what you are reading!!! Best, Lois

posted by avaland at 7:18 am (EST) on Sep 5, 2007

Just as an added note, I see we have a couple of Lloyd C. Douglas novels in common. Although, I expect there are plenty of copies in LT because he was a popular author in his day, but you are the first user that I've happened upon with copies in common with me. We had a couple of his novels in the house growing up because my father's name is (was) Lloyd C. Douglass! I read and enjoyed them when I was around 13 or so and some additional titles perhaps read in the early 80's, but I keep copies here for sentimental reasons. - Lois

posted by avaland at 10:44 am (EST) on Aug 12, 2007

Thanks for the comment! I feel very fortunate to have been able to add the library room. And I certainly know what you mean about having had books in every room previously. :-) My old bookshelves had gotten so stuffed, rows in front of rows, stacks on top of rows, that I had forgotten a lot of the books I'd owned. Now they can "breathe" again, LOL. (I have to constantly restrain myself against going hog-wild on getting more, though, or the new shelves will completely fill up, too!)

posted by SpacemanSpiff at 3:18 pm (EST) on Jul 23, 2007

I rarely reread books, but I've read Chopin's The Awakening 4 or 5 times since high school. Have you read Mrs. Dalloway? I'm rereading it for my book club next month. I hope that it touches me as much as it did when I read it 7 years ago. I love Virginia Woolf. I look forward to reading more of your reviews.

posted by strandbooks at 6:45 am (EST) on Jun 27, 2007

I just finished Their Eyes Were Watching God and wrote a review. It is one of those books that I could start again tomorrow. I saw that your review included the same quote I chose, but you also included so many other quotes. Thank you for posting those. When they are all put together it made me realize how poetic Hurston was.

posted by strandbooks at 9:50 pm (EST) on Jun 20, 2007

Thanks for the kind words lgaikwad. Your reason for reading [The Year of Magical Thinking] sounds the same as mine. I wanted to experience (as well as can be done through a literary work) her grieving. I'm not sure why but for some reason, it just didn't happen for me. I'm making a second attempt at this topic as I just picked up a copy of [About Alice]. It seems like an awfully depressing topic for me to continue pursuing but I'm very interested. In movies, books, music, art, I enjoy it most when I'm moved. It's rare and I expect this topic could do it. Unfortunately, I've not found the book yet. As I said in my review, I think it's to be reminded of the appreciation we should have for every moment of our day.

Take care and enjoy reading!

posted by adamallen at 9:01 pm (EST) on Mar 31, 2007

Welcome to Books Compared. I've enjoyed perusing your reviews, which are of a fascinatingly eclectic group of books. Hope you'll contribute a comparison review soon!

posted by margad at 3:52 pm (EST) on Mar 31, 2007

lgaikwad, I was looking at other peoples libraries that share som of my books. I found out about 'bookmooch'. I thought with a library of your size, your might enjoy it. Good luck, cappi

posted by cappi at 2:08 am (EST) on Mar 25, 2007