Member: semckibbin

Yes but you turned it against her. Maybe I should have said "Very clever!"

posted by slickdpdx at 2:01 pm (EST) on Nov 22, 2009

These facts are hard stones upon which the narrative trips.

Excellent line!

posted by slickdpdx at 5:32 pm (EST) on Nov 16, 2009

I love that still from North by North West, btw. Great movie. Great suit.

posted by tomcatMurr at 6:15 am (EST) on Oct 19, 2009

I think the problem is less the different meaning of 'rules', but your assumption that Critics and Artists have the same angle on art, the same vested interest in it.
Does that help?

posted by tomcatMurr at 1:25 am (EST) on Oct 18, 2009

That's exactly what I said at our book club, Stockholm syndrome..........a friend was in a library book study of that book with a lady that had known the family in one of their locations................she said they were, as described, unattended (the children), and highly dysfunctional. That's for the ones who, like us, given the hyperbole of the book start suspecting its veracity.
However it raises different questions, reactions and emotions.............after all, what's the truth, a construct, a feeling, can the objective past be altered by projecting it from a healing or reconciling present?
If books are fascinating, reviews have their own intricate world..............I'm never sure if I like to read them, if I'm 'helped' by them, or why do I keep coming for more.................it's that longing to share an experience, I guess.

..........your welcome!

posted by familymoments at 5:33 pm (EST) on Oct 14, 2009

I'm glad I found your review. We have this book for next week book club review, though we read it over the summer, and I knew there had to be more people that thought the author is in denial. One of my friends is 'idealizing' the book, thinking because Walls is a journalist that looks pretty and lives in New York she is successful and her childhood was like a boot camp that they benefited from.
I find her and her siblings to be really damaged by parents who were neglectful and abusive.
I saw Walls in an interview and she keeps smiling and saying she just wrote, and is not passing judgment, that she leaves that to the reader. But in truth, she is forgiving (which I respect), but not in the name of her siblings. I don't like her happy thanksgiving dinner..........I think she is still profoundly affected, and she has decided to 'come out of the closet' with only her head to take a peek.
Her narration is though entertaining. I don't know if cliche, probably yes, but for all of us with bitter sweet childhoods and an alcoholic parent, we identify with the author to some extent.
I dislike her trivialization of the sexual abuse they received.

posted by familymoments at 12:03 am (EST) on Sep 21, 2009

Hi,

Did you get my email(s)?

posted by inaudible at 1:01 am (EST) on Aug 7, 2009

Thanks for the kind comment on my review.

posted by blackdogbooks at 10:01 am (EST) on Aug 4, 2009

Stuart,

I just got around to reading your review of Housekeeping. As soon as I finish the Calvino I'm working on I'll be going back to the novel. Even though I just read it last year, I want to get better acquainted with it before responding.

Off the top of my head - wow, very compelling review. I particularly appreciated your observation about the lake insinuating itself into the family.

Like your review of Gilead, there's a lot here that hadn't occurred to me. As I read through (I should start in a day or so) I'm going to take some notes for my response. I may disagree or agree with some of your conclusions - at this point I just don't know.

Regardless, please rest assured that any comments made will come from a position of civility and respect for your reading of the novel.

I'm looking forward to the discussion. Perhaps you could point me toward a thread where I should respond. Or, if you like, I can leave a response here.

Regards,

Jonathan

posted by beardo at 4:08 pm (EST) on Jul 23, 2009

Stuart;
You are most welcome. I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it. I wish I could have gotten into the book and characters as you did.
Now----just what comment about cats? I am old, you know. Sometimes I forget or things go right over my head.
Besides which, I never take things on LT personally. I don't think any of it is. Ya know?
Thank you for your kind words regarding my review of "Cortez. I appreciate them. Sometimes I really struggle with my reviews. I can generally easily put into words my feelings about the book, but find it difficult to describe the book, story, plotline itself.
Best wishes right back at you.
belva

posted by nannybebette at 11:53 pm (EST) on Jul 12, 2009

A very insightful review on "Housekeeping". Although we rated it the same, I read the book and reviewed what I read.
You, on the other hand, got into the head of the author and the characters and read "into" the book.
I was pretty wowed by your review and I thank you for the time and effort spent on it.
belva

posted by nannybebette at 1:15 am (EST) on Jul 11, 2009

Hi,

I genuinely enjoyed our recent conversation on Gilead. The novel has quickly become one of my favourites. I hope we can converse again soon.

I must add, however, that I'm awfully curious about the other books in your collection. The authors you list as "favourites" suggest it's an interesting one indeed.

Regards,

Beardo

posted by beardo at 8:24 pm (EST) on Jun 20, 2009

Stuart,

The way I read that passage, it is one of advisement. It does not...to me...argue that a society can actually curtail the freedom of an individual based solely a desire to have him behave in a different manner if no harm to other individuals can be shown.

--Tad

posted by TadAD at 5:21 pm (EST) on May 2, 2009

Hey there,

I meant "amazing" in the "how can anyone possibly do that?" kind of way. I mean how can Walls NOT be bitter and just seem so accepting of everything? I mean good for her; it just doesn't seem like something most people who lived her life would be able to achieve. I feel like I should maybe try to get the name of her therapist, you know? :^)

posted by princessbabs at 12:05 pm (EST) on May 1, 2009

Hi, Stuart, thanks for your praise, although I'm not sure I deserve it. I'm not much given to reviewing, and tend to treat "reviews" as spaces for noting some remarks for my own use, but Féerie..., the first of Céline's postwar novels I read, shocked me by its utter, ugly shamelessness... and I felt like swearing. (The exclamation points are "quotes"--he wrote the entire book using as punctuation only exclamation points and three dots.) It's not that I expected remorse from him, but I suppose I hoped for it. At least a trace. No chance; if anything, he's more toxic than pre-WWII.

posted by LolaWalser at 5:02 pm (EST) on Apr 26, 2009