Member: trinityofone

Hi,

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. Saw you liked Butcher Boy, and I thought you might like my novel since it's also about a disturbed adolescent and a bit dark. I could e-mail you the novel in an e-book format if you'd like. Let me know if you're interested. Here's a link to a summary in case you're interested:

http://christophertusa.com/blog/?page_id...
Thanks,

Chris

posted by cmtusa at 11:04 am (EST) on Mar 25, 2009

I have just joined the minority of readers who don't 'appreciate' Heyer, in particular 'These Old Shades', and would like to thank you for your review - such honesty gave me the courage to post what I thought, and fly in the face of convention! I have noticed this before, in 'Faro's Daughter', but why do Heyer's supposedly strong and outspoken heroines suddenly crumble in the presence of a man who wishes to 'protect' them? Deb Grantham is a bitter spinster, spitting invective and sneering at other women, until Ravenscar apologises, confesses his love, and asks her to marry him - and then she is bawling on his shoulder, barely able to stand upright, let alone think for herself! Same with Leonie - her fawning, melodramatic workship of Avon was layered on far too thick, and contradicted Heyer's insistence that she is a headstrong, passionate, prideful tomboy. I merely found her outspoken (and badly spoken), arrogant, and precocious - but of course, blue blood will show! (If she had been a base-born peasant, Avon would no doubt have knocked her into the middle of next week, as I wanted to do!)
Thanks again, enjoyed and agreed with your review.

posted by AdonisGuilfoyle at 9:44 am (EST) on Oct 17, 2008

Hello;
I agree with you that the non-director's cut of the film Blade Runner is the better version. I was talking to my husband about it this past weekend. I guess he's never heard the narration. They don't seem to offer the narrated version on DVD (or, at least, they didn't - I haven't checked lately). We had been having a conversation about what we would want for our last meal if we knew we would be dying tomorrow (we had just had a terrific meal for my birthday). Then I asked him what last film he would want to see. MY answer was Blade Runner - the narrated version.
I just now saw your review of "Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner".
Thought I would stop in and say, "I agree".
Pam

posted by JolieLouise at 3:11 am (EST) on Oct 13, 2008

Hello, I was struck by how similar our reactions to the Zodiac killer book were, and then sought out some of your other reviews, which I enjoyed thoroughly.

posted by delphica at 8:13 pm (EST) on Sep 19, 2007

Those who don't "get" appeal of THESE OLD SHADES by Georgette Heyer might also try sequel DEVIL'S CUB in which many favorite characters from first novel appear (sort of like THREE MUSKETEERS) a little more than "Twenty years later", when their grown children have entertaining romantic problems.

Amusing Alastair siblings first appeared under different names in Heyer's earlier novel BLACK MOTH; which may explain more about why this "disfunctional" family turned out the way they are--and might make Tracy/Justin more likeable to you?

Heyer's CONVENIENT MARRIAGE, set during age of Marie Antoinette, also has believable romance between older man (of 35) and unusual headstrong teenage heroine (turned 17).

As I think Avon's worldly-wise sister Lady Fanny comments, relationship between Justin & his former ward works, transforming him because he sees courageous Cinderella as someone to protect and cherish, awakening his noble instincts and buried decency to restore what was stolen from her.

If Leonie is annoying to you, maybe it's because you haven't read much other popular fiction of the time, with different depictions of feminine charms than now. Or is it her Frenchisms? She's got to be quick-tempered to echo parent.

Have you read any Geoffrey Farnol? (another popular early 20th century writer of historical fiction--see heroine and "villaness" of Pirate adventure MARTIN CONNINGSBY'S VENGEANCE, sequel to BLACK BARTLEBY'S TREASURE); I can picture them played by Selma Hayek and Madonna (guess in which roles).

I was taken aback by very popular early 20th century novel THE SHEIK, made into Rudolph Valentino film (talk about creepy relationship between heroine & hero! Not for the easily shocked--at least if you can read between the fade outs).

Comparing REBECCA by Daphne Du Maurier on www.bookcrossing.com to a long out of print "contempory novel by Heyer that could have inspired better-known book, I also was reminded of Daphne's grandfather's TRILBY, a smash-hit in its time. Compare character Svengali to Avon (both are sort of Pygmalion figures) and you might see Justin in a far better light!

posted by DesertIslandia at 8:43 pm (EST) on Aug 29, 2007

Although Richard II is my favourite play, I fully aggree with what you wrote in your review about This happy breed of men, &c.. This is one of the only speeches I learnt at school in my English class (in France) forty years ago. (Maybe another one was Baa, baa, black sheep, but that's another register...)

posted by Pepys at 3:18 am (EST) on Mar 2, 2007

I have "Office Hours" open in another tab and ran across your LT via the "what books do you share with only one ohter user". I'd say it's an odd concidence, but loving books + internet shoud lead to LT.

posted by orangejulia at 8:56 pm (EST) on Dec 16, 2006

I'm glad you liked my Macbeth review. I find many of yours very true, especially your words about Huck Finn. The part where Huck decides to go to hell and steal Jim out of slavery is one of my favourite scenes in all of Mark Twain.

posted by xicanti at 10:52 pm (EST) on Oct 28, 2006

My question is, how did you move all those books from Dublin to Los Angeles?

posted by glowing-fish at 2:03 pm (EST) on Aug 28, 2006

I am so insanely, insanely jealous. But you got a souvenir for me! So I shall forgive you.

And probably start saving up $125,000 so that one day I too may own a first edition of Pride and Prejudice.

posted by siriaeve at 6:02 pm (EST) on Aug 26, 2006

Glad you liked the reviews. I've made it my project to review every book I have read from this year onward. Since I started this project in June, I've had to play catch up with the reviews, but nine more or so and I'll be up to date.

"The Long Room" eh? You're right, that is poetic. To me, any place with a mass concentration of literature has its own beauty, but it's always nice to see a place where the appearance matches the dignity of what it holds (though I will admit that Powell's City of Books in Portland OR is still one of my favorite places on God's Green Earth. Ugly as a concrete wart, but beautiful nonetheless).

posted by coffeezombie at 10:38 pm (EST) on Aug 25, 2006

I did! You are a bad influence (and yes, I know I had my account first)

And a first edition of P&P? What what how?

posted by siriaeve at 8:36 pm (EST) on Aug 25, 2006

We share a nice little stack of books. Lot of my faves in there: William Golding, Borges, Henry James, etc. I've heard of the Trinity College library before, but that is the first picture I've ever seen of it. Heavenly.

posted by coffeezombie at 1:27 pm (EST) on Aug 24, 2006

Travel Far, Pay No Fare is a great book! Every time I cull my books to get rid of some to make room, it makes the cut. I enjoyed it enough to give it a permanent place on my shelves. I'm surprised you are the only other one with it here! The others don't know what they are missing!

posted by sd_sugarmagnolia at 3:29 pm (EST) on Aug 19, 2006

Evil is a very good way to describe me, yes. But I am a good evil, a shiny evil!

Also, have you seen that the Hewlett now has a blog? I am entranced.

posted by siriaeve at 8:03 am (EST) on Aug 17, 2006