I never had to read The Scarlet Letter in school and just got around to reading it at forty (or so.) What a great book! I was happy to see someone else was as impressed as I was and I enjoyed your review. I can't imagine why it became required reading pre-college, most kids are just not going to appreciate it.

posted by slickdpdx at 11:59 am (EST) on May 1, 2008

I finished Wings of the Dove this weekend. It does get better, and I liked the way it ended, but overall I thought it was a slog. I felt like screaming -- "please dear God, will someone please just say what you mean?!" Hope you are making progress (or finished!) Jen

posted by jhowell at 4:24 pm (EST) on Feb 4, 2008

I enjoyed your poem (II) tho perhaps the title confused me. The last 2 stanzas work very nicely indeed - and elements in the first 2 appeal, but they seem far less clear. Nice use of language! Thanks for sharing

posted by cheznomore at 1:08 pm (EST) on Jan 28, 2008

Just checking in with you to see how Wings of the Dove is going. I'm sick this weekend so a lot of couch time reading and I've actually made some progress -- finished the first Volume. I can't say that I am getting every little nuance, however, I am moving right along now and I am finding it tolerable, at times vaguely interesting. The characters all seem so affected, so blase -- I don't know really what to think. At least I feel certain I'll finish it now.

So, what did I miss in the Preface? I figure I may go back and try and read it again in the end. Happy reading. Jen

posted by jhowell at 7:31 pm (EST) on Jan 27, 2008

hello little snail,

thanks for your review of the Scarlet Letter. It helped me appreciate a work that gave me some trouble. Your review induced me to reread it -- perhaps with Cliff notes this time!

danielx

posted by danielx at 9:59 am (EST) on Jan 26, 2008