Member: santhony

I read some of your reviews tonight and on the way through came upon the review of The Border Trilogy by Cormac McCarthy. You hit on one of my reading irritations; extensive use of foreign languages (and, for that matter, as you also point out, use of specialized trade or other references) without translation or explanation. Some time ago I read a book containing untranslated Greek, Latin, German and French and remember being quite irritated.

I wonder what percentage of intelligent, well educated folks, other than perhaps some academics, would know those languages or, for that matter, any four languages other than their native language. It seems to me that an author writing a book aimed at a general audience would be well advised to write for the customer, the reader.

So much for ranting this evening.

Munn

posted by bookblotter at 12:21 am (EST) on May 24, 2012

After seeming overwhelmingly positive reviews at first of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo I've begun hearing people who don't like it. Yes it's very violent, and usually I don't read books that portray violence against women (which severely limits most mysteries), but I think it ultimately ends up being very feminist in its treatment of the subject, and lovely Lisbeth remains one of my favorite characters. I wish he 'd been able to finish his planned series.

posted by Citizenjoyce at 1:16 pm (EST) on Nov 30, 2011

I don't know why you came to find my library interesting, but I see we share 51 books even though we don't share the same regard for many of them. I was glad to see you liked Lonesome Dove, The Handmaid's Tale, Geek Love, Under the Banner of Heaven, and Middlesex as much as I. You really liked Unbroken, I hated it and while I loved Suite Francaise and The Yiddish Policeman's Union (and don't speak Yiddish) you disliked them. I guess we do find each other's libraries interesting.

posted by Citizenjoyce at 11:32 pm (EST) on Nov 29, 2011

Thanks for your interesting library link. I came to your LT profile and poked around a bit and happened to alight at The Yiddish Policemen's Union. I enjoyed the book quite a bit, but was raised in a Jewish neighborhood in Chicago and learned enough Yiddish to at least know when I was insulted. It helps a great deal with the book. I imagine that, without some Yiddish background, the book would be almost indecipherable.

On the other hand with Michael Chabon's Gentlemen of the Road, I picked it up at a local library one day after The Yiddish Policemen's Union and just couldn't get through it or interested in it.

You have really done some Interesting and informative reviews encompassing a high percentage of your books.

Regards from Chicago!

posted by bookblotter at 9:10 pm (EST) on Nov 29, 2011

Thanks for your recommendation but just to clarify which book? Churchill: A Life or Churchill & America? I have a couple of other nonfiction books I want to read, but I'm always looking for good recommendations.

posted by CSMcMahon at 9:34 pm (EST) on Apr 11, 2011

Hello, I liked what you had to say about"Fall of Giants". While I enjoyed the book for the most part, I found the sex scenes irrelevant and it certainly lacked the detail of a Rutherford novel, while at the same time having that Follett ability to entertain. I think I enjoyed "Pillars..." and "World..." more because of the premise of building the cathedral and the fact that not many books are written in that time period. It was a sort of soap opera of the Middle Ages.Mary Beth

posted by mmignano11 at 4:29 pm (EST) on Feb 4, 2011

I just listened to audiobook of Traitor to His Class. The 10-1/2 hour audio is abridged. The unabridged version is 37 hours. I wanted to listen to book on way to visit Hyde Park. I just about finished the abridged version before I arrived drive from North Carolina. I have the book and hope to read it soon. I've become very interested in reading about the life of FDR, his family and the New Deal era.

posted by whynuts2 at 8:01 pm (EST) on Oct 7, 2010

Thanks, glad you liked it! Your review was quite good as well. Particularly about the period being "often overlooked". It's a period I've hand a long interest in and I was glad to see a big volume in an otherwise excellent series devoted to the subject. I even went to see the guy when he came to my local library. Too bad the book did not live up to my expectations.

I've just begun reading the first book in the series and it is wonderful. I'll get back to it as soon as I finish House of Suns by Alistair Reynolds (another big favorite).

posted by Hoagy27 at 11:20 pm (EST) on Jul 20, 2009

I enjoyed your comprehensive review of For Whom the Bell Tolls; it helped me cope with my disappointed experience with the novel.

posted by sross008 at 10:02 pm (EST) on Dec 3, 2008

Thank you for the recommendation(s). I have a hard time finding new or different authors - I tend to play it safe and stay with the ones I know. I guess that's one of the reasons I am here.

posted by GT-M at 2:42 pm (EST) on Oct 13, 2008

Nice review of Mary Queen of Scotland & The Isles

posted by GT-M at 1:30 am (EST) on Oct 10, 2008