Member: rbhardy3rd

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 11:10 am (EST) on Sep 9, 2009

Rob;
Thank you for your thoughtfulness in providing those links to your blog. Excellent reviews, all.
I have absolutely fallen in love with Kate O'Brien. I cannot remember
the last time I was so taken with the work of a writer of fiction. I am hoping that she wrote a great deal of books but haven't had time to research that since getting home from my trip.
Did you see where I teased Andrew and told him not to even bother throwing up a review for "Crossriggs"? I hope he got a chuckle out of that. Yours was absolutely the best!~! Do you spend quite a bit of time writing your reviews? I will one day, but for now I just hit the old keyboard and start typing away. For now I am satisfied doing it that way. But one day I know I will want to actually prepare for writing a review.
Thanks again Rob and my best to you and the wife.
As ever,
belva

posted by nannybebette at 5:59 pm (EST) on Aug 30, 2009

Rob,
I went right over to Thriftbooks and ordered a copy of "Crossriggs". It isn't a Virago Press, but a Penguin, but I don't care. I must read this one and soon.
belva

posted by nannybebette at 5:48 pm (EST) on Aug 29, 2009

Rob I forgot to tell you I posted the Bagnold off about a week ago. Hope it arrives in one piece.

Barbara

posted by romain at 1:18 pm (EST) on Jul 19, 2009

Oh, the histories were fantastic. The way they dangled from the ceiling and so few bad sight lines in the space. I personally loved the doubling, spotting the actor. I bet that your wife remembers so much of the Brook Dream. I know I do...yep, we saw the second to last performance at the Aldrych....got off the plane, checked into our hotel near the British Museum, and toddled down to the theater just to see what was on. We got two returns, sixth row center. Theater changed forever because of that production. Oberon and Puck using a spinning plate on a rod to be the love potion. And the lovers! Ben Kingsley was one of them. My favorite moment was where Hermia was splayed across a door opening to try to stop Lysander from leaving. And Bottom just with a clown nose and two fuzzy ears. Brook got back to the essence of the text and got the actors out of tights and ruffs.

But I could talk Shakespeare plays all night long.

Liz

You must have seen all the plays we saw if you saw the histories, Tempest etc. Good season and ghe company is getting better and better. Considering that Adrian Noble almost drove it into the ground just a few years earlier, it is a fantastic recovery. And they're in the black on the new theater reconstruction and on, of not even ahead, of schedule.

PS. Do you ever get to Chicago for the theater? Hotels are dirt cheap now.

posted by Liz1564 at 8:14 pm (EST) on Jul 13, 2009

Dear Rob,

Didn't you LOVE Patrick Stewart's Tempest! I couldn't believe how much that particular production opened the play up to me, especially the character of Miranda. I knew, (but hadn't really realized) that, literally, the only humans she knew were her father and and Caliban. And, in this production, it was obvious that Prospero hadn't sat down and discussed the facts of life with her; hence her jumping into the upper bunk on her wedding night and going to sleep, much to the chagrin of her new husband. Such little gems throughout. I was able to ask Patrick Stewart about the final scene and he was noncommital about whether Ariel and Caliban were both "returned to the elements" at the end. I also saw Stewart's Macbeth with the same director. Very disturbing. The time was modern (Iraq?) and the witches were treage nurses who were letting their patients die or actively assisting them.

The King Lear I enjoyed, especially since it was at the temporary playhouse. It was more traditional,in my opinion, nothing was a great surprise.

If you are a Shakespeare buff, have you considered the RSC summer school at the end of August? It is a week of lectures on the plays, evenly distributed between lighter scholarship and theatre skills, like talks by wardrobe mistresses, prop artists etc. I never knew that Barry the Butcher, on Chapel Street, had to save sheep's eyes for every performance of Lear! The casts and directors talk to the participants and usually end up drinking with them, too.

My next trip will be in January and then when the new theater opens in the summer, or whenever

In what Stratford school does your sister teach ?

Liz (after I tried Liz 1, Liz 2, Liz 3, I figured why not 1564. Same as my car licenses when I had a car...easy to remember!)

posted by Liz1564 at 4:17 pm (EST) on Jul 13, 2009

P.S. If you're reading lots of NYRBs these days, I just posted a review of [Alien Hearts]. I don't think it is out yet. I obtained an ARC from my local purveyor of books.

posted by urania1 at 5:34 pm (EST) on Jul 10, 2009

Hi Rob

Happy to send you the Bagnold. Just let me have your address.

Barbara

posted by romain at 5:48 pm (EST) on Jul 8, 2009

No worries Rob.
I have plenty on my plate for right now anyway.
Thanks for taking the time and all. I appreciate it.
I'll be here when "Beth" does arrive.
I hope your anniversary trip was all you hoped it would
be. And now you're going to that marvelous exhibition.
You certainly know how to spend your time well. Not a wasted moment.
Well, back to the kiddies.
later dayz,
belva

posted by nannybebette at 1:51 pm (EST) on Jul 7, 2009

Hi Rob - I just saw that you live in Northfield, Minn. I graduated from Carleton in 2000. Are you a long-time resident of Northfield, or a new transplant?

posted by fannyprice at 7:02 pm (EST) on May 14, 2009

Rob:

Back near the beginning of March you were kind enough to post a comment on my profile about McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom, and I just realized I was rude enough not to reply! I've passed on your recommendation to Bill. Right now he's immersed in Michael Schara's The Killer Angels, which he is enjoying immensely. Just before that he read Shelby Foote's Shiloh, which he also quite liked. These are both historical fiction, but impeccably researched, using primary sources and quotes whenever possible. I know he's also been interspersing his fiction reading with some of the WWI war poets (Brook, Owen, Sassoon, etc.), which he's always loved.

I hope all is going well in Northfield and that you're holding my alma mater together!

Tracy

posted by Talbin at 10:36 am (EST) on Apr 4, 2009

Hi Rob,
Just started looking at the wishlist post. I have Spinster - found it a few weeks ago - and will try to read it soon then send it on to you.

Did you join the FB Viagro group? I'm going to have a look!

Cheers
Cushla

posted by cmt at 9:00 pm (EST) on Mar 7, 2009

Glad the book made it there! Enjoy!

posted by tuppy_glossop at 12:26 am (EST) on Feb 20, 2009

Rob,

I know you teach Greek. Do you also teach Latin? Inquiring minds want to know . . . purely for pure reasons ;-) Respond ASAP if possible but if not whenever will do :-)

posted by urania1 at 5:30 pm (EST) on Feb 15, 2009

Rob,

I received The Lacquer Lady. It looks so good. I want to start it right now, but I am in the midst of several other terribly exciting books, so I must wait. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

posted by urania1 at 2:55 pm (EST) on Feb 6, 2009

Great Rob! I have your address so I'll send it to you soon.
Astrid

posted by tuppy_glossop at 10:11 pm (EST) on Feb 3, 2009

Hi Rob,

I still owe you a postcard and would love to send it with a book. I was wondering if you'd like a copy of the Victorian Chaise-Longue by Marghanita Lanski? This one is an old secondhand Penguin copy but still readable. It's been reissued by Persephone and I know you like those too. It's not in your library but you might have read it already. Let me know...

posted by tuppy_glossop at 7:52 pm (EST) on Feb 1, 2009

Happy New Year Rob. I hope you have an lovely 2009 and that your next bathtub lives until 2129

posted by urania1 at 1:22 am (EST) on Jan 1, 2009

World Dance Party Today at 3:00 p.m. est. (Set your world clocks)
P.S. Party to Be repeated at 8:00 p.m est for those who can't make the 3:00 time

Rob, it's my birthday and I want to celebrate. I've already got an impromptu dance party going on at the Moss-Freestate maison right now. But why stop there? Let's get the world dancing, dancing for peace, for justice, for gentleness, for love and human kindness. So here's the deal. At exactly 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, I'm going to put on my current favorite dance song "Life in Technicolor" from the Vida la Vida cd by Coldplay. If you have a copy of this song, at exactly 3:00 p.m. est (whatever time that is by your clock), hit the play button and dance away. If you don't have this song, turn on your favorite dance song and dance. Even if you can't stand, dance. Dance in chair, in your bed, if all you can do is wiggle your fingers, dance with them. The song is 2:29 minutes so it won't take much time. At the end, shout YAY for everything that's good in the world. Pass the message on to friends if you like. They don't have to know me; I'd just like to think of millions of people all over the world dancing at the same time for all that is good. It would be the best birthday present ever!!!

Pass the word ON!!!!

posted by urania1 at 12:42 pm (EST) on Nov 15, 2008

Dear Rob - Company Parade by Storm Jameson arrived today. What a beautiful, green copy! Thanks so much!!!

Astrid

posted by tuppy_glossop at 3:41 am (EST) on Nov 14, 2008

I read posting in which you write that you have recently aquired Kate O'Brien's "Without my Cloak" my advice is: don't hesitate to read it, let it jump the queue;it is beautiful and profound and I found it virtually unputdownable(!)Regards,
Lapassionata (from Virago Modern Classics Group)

posted by lapassionata at 2:15 pm (EST) on Oct 24, 2008

Hullo Rob, and thanks for the welcome. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. :) I joined VMC at Fleurfisher's invitation, because I had never heard about Virago Modern Classic, which bothered me, since I love classics, and I love books by women. Unfortunately, I don't own any (!), and my hubby and I are a little broke (re. the stay at home mom thing), so I was thinking I would lurk a little while until I could buy some.

When I finally get around to working on that book project of mine, the Greek and Roman mythology et cetera one, I might have to request some of your extensive knowledge. Maybe that will inspire me to make more headway.

Thanks again!
Nicole

posted by nmhale at 1:16 am (EST) on Oct 18, 2008

Thanks Rob. Now I must find Lolly Willowes. Two good recommendations always clinches it for me. Maren

posted by Marensr at 3:08 pm (EST) on Oct 2, 2008

Rob: I was lurking over at the Virago group, clicked on your links to your pub and your bookstore, and discovered you live in Northfield! I looked at your blog and then discovered you teach at Carleton. I'm a 1987 Carleton grad, living in the Twin Cities. I just thought I'd drop by and say Hello.

posted by Talbin at 12:29 pm (EST) on Sep 23, 2008

Hi Rob

I tried, and think, failed, to leave a comment on your blog vis-a-vis your review of The Getting of Wisdom. Anyway, suffice to say that I am looking forward to reading it, after I have tackled the present TBR.

posted by framheim at 12:44 pm (EST) on Aug 31, 2008

Rob, The Lost Traveller arrived today. THANK YOU!
Laura

posted by lindsacl at 7:25 pm (EST) on Aug 30, 2008

Rob, thanks again for mailing the book! And also for the Gordimer recommendation. While I'm reading Nobels, I'm more actively pursuing Booker & Orange winners. I'm planning to read Gordimer's The Conservationist this year, because it will "count" as both Booker and Nobel! But thanks for the recommendation because I'm always up for reading more works by great authors!

Laura

posted by lindsacl at 7:50 am (EST) on Aug 22, 2008

Rob -- thanks so much for the birthday wishes -- celebrating will have to wait until after I teach my Humanities classes -- we're meeting for the first time, since Tuesday's classes were cancelled due to Fay's dance across Florida -- we only got a whisper of rain here. I am mightily impressed you're reading ANTIGONE with advanced Greek students. The closest I ever came to that kind of discipline was a semester spent reading BEOWULF in Old English with Jess Bessinger at NYU (though I did venture into some Middle High German at CWRU -- barely remember the experience). Unfortunately, I'm afraid most of my leisure reading will now have to wait for Christmas break -- it will be sophomore essays most of the time until then. -- Jane

posted by janeajones at 10:39 am (EST) on Aug 21, 2008

I just want to let you know that I have scanned and uploaded my cover for The Constant Nymph, and since you have the same edition (same ISBN) as mine, I thought you might want to know that a correct cover for the Dial Press edition is now available.

Enjoy
Laura

posted by lindsacl at 3:03 pm (EST) on Aug 14, 2008

Flattered for the blogroll add!

And Buffy is fabulous--I only caught it occasionally when it was on broadcast TV but then really got into Angel. I started Netflixing the Buffy DVDs last year and it is a good thing they only send two at a time or I would never get off the couch.

Are you a Dr. Horrible fan?

posted by Sarahsponda at 7:53 pm (EST) on Aug 4, 2008

Rob, The Contstant Nymph arrived today and it looks great. Thank you again! It was perfect, if unintentional, timing as today is my birthday. I will be sure to keep an eye out for your books. Thank you again, Maren

posted by Marensr at 11:58 pm (EST) on Jun 3, 2008

Rob,

I enjoyed your Jane Austen poem (mentioned in the Virago reviews thread). But I also followed the link from the poem to your sabbatical blog, and got lost there for a while. We lived in Cambridgeshire for 4 years (2000-2004). It sounds like you and your family had just as wonderful an experience as we did ... and approached it in a similar fashion, striving to experience it all without judgement. Well, I became quite nostalgic reading that blog. Thanks!

Laura

posted by lindsacl at 8:32 am (EST) on May 16, 2008

Rob, The Judge has just arrived. Thank you so much!

posted by christiguc at 6:22 pm (EST) on May 10, 2008

No problem! I'll post them in our duplicate thread.
Cate

posted by bleuroses at 10:06 pm (EST) on May 9, 2008

Rob, Frost in May arrived Friday and it is perfect timing as I had just finished The Ballad and the Source. I can't wait to start reading it. Thank you for sending it. Cheers, Maren

posted by Marensr at 5:25 pm (EST) on Apr 26, 2008