Richardderus the Fifteenth (2010): Apres moi, le deluge

Books Off the Shelf group thread is there, where I will review 25 books that've sat on my shelves since who-whipped-the-cat and also 75 new books...published no earlier than 2008...this year.

Reviews 1,2,3: first thread
Reviews 4-7: second thread
Reviews 8-12: : third thread
Reviews 13-20: ... fourth thread
Reviews 21-30: ... fifth thread
Reviews 31-37:... sixth thread
Reviews 38-42: seventh thread
Reviews 43-46: eighth thread
Reviews 47 & 48: ninth thread
Reviews 49-51: tenth thread
Reviews 52-57: eleventh thread
Reviews 58-65: twelfth thread
Reviews 66-71: thirteenth thread
Reviews 72-77: fourteenth thread

I now have a second Homeless Reviews thread in Club Read 2010. I've set a completely arbitrary goal of 50 books to review that I don't own, and were published before 2008, so they don't fit anywhere else.

FOR THOSE JUST TUNING IN: I don't know the readers of my reviews personally, for the most part, so I don't have any way to gauge whether you'll agree or disagree with me. It's always perfectly fine with me either way, and I invite comments from all.










Books are reviewed in post number:

81. The Dream of Scipio...#260.

80. Mood Matters...#150.

79. The Smell of the Night...#64.

78. Four and Twenty Blackbirds...#58.

FIRST!!! I am first :) :)

can't flee from me rawr!

Pooh! I'll take second. ; P

And I come in a measly third, lol.

Coming fourth doesn't even get a medal...

#5: Here is one just for you, Genny, since you showed up with a cold and everything!

Found you!

Happy thread, Padre dear. I'd offer more, but I'm only two sips of coffee into my morning.

Morning Richard- Just swinging through to say hi! Congrats on Number 15!!

Richarddear - referring back to post 232 on your last thread, I'm glad that I read The Shape of Water so I won't be "an increasingly confused old person."

However, I didn't particularly like it - it was okay, but didn't really trip my trigger.

So I'm still one up on series. :)

glitter-graphics.com
.... dancing with the LT stars!

morning starshine!

Darn the time differential out here on the West Coast! Well, better late than never, huh?

Good morning, all! So delightful to come in and see a thread full of sunshine.

So Horrible...no trigger tripped by Montalbano?!? I am very surprised. I loved the atmospherics of the book. Do you know what about the book left you unimpressed? Tone, or atmosphere, or...? I've had several people tell me that they didn't respond well to the sheer number of names. I admit that perplexed me.

*grumble* Now I have to find another series to addict Horrible to, and of COURSE that means gettin' hooked myself *blast drat ptui*

Yeah! I'm the eleventh one here! Hey, I'm never first anywhere so I just celebrate wherever I am.

While I'm off reading about "girlfriends" at the Playboy Mansion you are reading Camus - I really need to concentrate on the great ones. :}

Richard, while I enjoyed The Shape of Water, it didn't capture me as much as the Brunetti series, for instance. Maybe I'm just a city girl at heart.

However, I find the corruption revealed in both these series (and I might as well add the Dibdin books about Naples as well) disheartening.

I'm hoping that subsequent Montalbano stories continue to have interesting characters that will carry me past the bleak outlook on humanity.

I'm still laughing at the divas comment from last thread--I sprayed cereal and milk all over my computer cause of that comment!!

>15 Carmenere: Lynda, there's nothing to say that a book about Playboy bunnies or whatever can't be great. For all we know it will be the only surviving book after the WWBF and all future space travelers to Earth will think of it as a combination Rosetta Stone and Book of the Dead.

>16 ffortsa: Corruption doesn't embleaken my outlook on humanity, Judy, since I already think humans are irredeemably rotten to the core. I like the way the corruption is deployed.

>17 momom248: Well, Maureen, their silly-ass Designated Hitter Rule makes the American League below contempt in the first place, then add on top of it the Yank-mes' general sense of entitlement to every pennant in sight...*blech* divas with dicks.

Hey! I'm number....oh. well, okay, 19. Still. I'm here. We take what we can get.

#18 re: #15 - Now that is a frightening thought! *shudder*

Oh no Richard, please please do not get hooked into another series. As it is, Ms. Penny is wreaking havoc on my reading plans. I seem to be unable to resist a Ricardo Declaration of Book Adoration.

Perhaps it's true what the neighbors say - I'm just a book slut after all!

>19 tloeffler: Hey TLo!

>20 Carmenere: I know, I know, I know....

>21 LauraBrook: Welcome to the Unreconstructable Book-Sluts of America Official Home Thread!

*waves*

#18: I am with you all the way about the Yanks, Richard. I cannot stand them nor their yearly attempts to 'buy' the best team in baseball.

Hey Richarddear - I didn't really get a sense of place, believe it or not. And the secondary characters were shadowy. It's a short book on purpose I suppose, but that doesn't allow for the internal musings and peripheral relationships to develop like they did with Gamache, as an example.

I like short mysteries. Christie comes to mind; in her books it's the vivid characters, even if stereotyped, that sort of carry the story forward. The people surrounding the murder victim are brought into the story in a way that I enjoy, frequently because they live in the same small town or village, just like the people in Three Pines. I didn't get a sense of these people as real. The author's attempts at describing and making them come to life didn't work for me at all.

Sorry.

I anxiously await your next attempt at costing me money and adding to my tbr pile.

XO Horrible

buenos diaz :)

>23 leperdbunny: *waves back* How you, sweetness?

>24 alcottacre: I got no kick with 'em buyin' talent. I got a BIG kick with the fans, really, the ones who think the Yanks *own*deserve* etc the ALDS, ALCS, and Series pennants every single year and they were *robbed* when they don't get it. I am amazed that the sense of entitlement survives the fact that, every year as you point out, they just go to the MLB store and act like all the other teams are their farm teams. Uchhhh

#27: That is it exactly - their sense of entitlement that gets me. Like no other franchise in baseball should win the World Series except for them. And on a personal note, I could not stand George Steinbrenner. I thought he was terrible for the game.

>25 karenmarie: Oh my gosh! Wow! We so frequently agree on books that I am amazed at the 180-degree difference of our opinions here! I find the place palpable, the people believable, and the peripheral relationships like his with Livia-the-lover very full.

None of which is to say you're wrong, Horrible dear, just that I am on the other side of the mountain from your ideas and quite surprised to be there. So the arduous and unpleasant task of reading, reading, reading until I *do* find a revenge series for Rutledge continues. *happy sigh*

>26 curlysue: Good morrow, fair Kara.

>28 alcottacre: Crap flows downhill...including attitude. RIP George, fan some heat from where you are onto the ice-caps and finish the job you started.

I'm good! Making my way through scary books of October! Stop by sometime! I'm a convert!!!

75er thread

boo. Ahem. I mean BOOOOOOO! Sorry. Just practicing...

Just stopping by to star your thread.

(Hello!)

Man, distracted for a day and you are halfway into a new thread, sheesh!

Toothache. Can't brain, I have the dumb.

Sorry...Feel better. (I am writing in short snippets so as to not tax your brain.)

Toothache??? Had that last week...one extraction nearly did me in...thank god for Vicodin!!

Stopped by...duly STARRED this kerfuffle....

;-}

Reading. Smiling. Leaving now ...

Not giving a damn about baseball, but living in the NYC metropolitan area, I find the whole Yankees thing a lot of fun to watch...especially when it turns to Yankees vs. Mets. I consider it my job to throw gasoline on any heated discussion among my friends, who include many serious partisans both ways. "Divas with dicks" sounds suitably incendiary for the next conversation I'm spectating.

Part of me wants to see the Rangers beat the Yankees; on the other hand, it would be sweet revenge if the Phillies beat the Yankees in the World Series, if both teams make it.

Sorry to hear about your toothache; I hope that you feel better soon.

Is this a toothache epidemic? Can it be contagious??? I've got one, too. Or possibly a gum infection. No time/$$ for dentist. Mainlining the Orajel. What no one tells you when you have root canal is that it weakens the tooth/teeth, making caps/extractions/implants inevitable.

Can anyone spare some antibiotics???!!

Ouch Richard--feel better and feel better everyone who has a toothache!!

I've enjoyed Richard and Stasia's conversation regarding the Yankees. Essentially I agree with both of you. They are my most disliked baseball team.

I KNOW that when it all comes down to it, everything in sports is all about the money. I want to believe that it's really only about having fun, team spirit, etc, but deep down I know they wouldn't be doing this if it weren't for the money. But with the Yankees, I get a greater sense that it truly IS all about money to them.

You can buy great players; but you can't BUY a team.

I love the Phillies, but I'll be happy if anyone other than the Yanks win this year.

#43: I'll be happy if anyone other than the Yanks win this year.

That pretty much sums up my sentiments, Angela.

No baseball comments from me, but I hope you have a wonderfully chilly fall day, Padre.

Thanks, crypto-daughter! It will be a long one. Off to start laundry.

Richard, I do hope you have a good day in spite of being up so early.

Tie a string around the offending tooth, tie t'other end to a door knob, stand back, and SLAM it. End of toothache. This works best with a front tooth on a six-year-old, as I have reason to know. But it's worth considering.

So sorry to hear about the tooth pain, and hope it gets better quickly.

Sorry you're feeling poorly, richard. :(

hope your weekend goes well and the tooth pain has resolved :)

Richard! Did the washer suck you up with the odd sock? You ok?

It's been an annoying day and a half. Tooth pain, thank the good goddesses, is gone...for now. I am not dealing well with Auntie's advancing dementia. I have lost interest in Four and Twenty Blackbirds because it's a roadmap of missed opportunities. During the toothache, I couldn't focus long enough to start something else and I didn't want to go back to it, so we'll see what happens after this.

Claudia...I thought that was the dryer! I can put away the watering can and spray softener, torturing the dryer is clearly useless. I will now switch to threatening the washer with washing only in ice water.

I can't believe this! I was sitting here browsing the 75 group, and it hit me that Richard has been awefully quiet lately. So I looked around for his thread on my Talk page only to realize it had 251 posts! *gasp* I missed a thread change! :( Well, I'm here now at least...

Glad to hear that the tooth pain is gone, Richard. I hope it stays away and you have an enjoyable weekend.

I'm so sorry about Auntie's dementia, Richarddear - I can hardly imagine having to deal with that all day every day emotionally and physically.

I'm sending hugs and good energy your way.

Hang in there and take good care of yourself.

xo Horrible

Bad tooth! Behave. Richard is too nice to be bothering. What? You say he is a curmudgeon? Yes, but he is a more prolific and snappy curmudgeon when he feels well, so leave him alone. His LT fans would most appreciate it.

Review: 78 of seventy-five

Title: FOUR AND TWENTY BLACKBIRDS

Author: CHERIE PRIEST

Rating: 3* of five

All three stars are for the idea; and the beginning isn't bad either. The last 50pp stink on ice.

The Book Report: In a fun twist on Haley Joel Osment's famous line, "I see dead people," young Eden discovers she can see and hear three dead women when they save her life, preventing her from being shot by an insane cousin who believes Eden to be the reincarnation of an evil figure from their shared family past. The dead women appear to Eden only at times of great danger and stress, which come increasingly often as she grows into a strange young womanhood. Her life's trajectory appears to be set by the existence of an evil ancestor, whose final disappearance into death is fast approaching. He uses all his sorcerous powers to fashion Eden into his tool to return to the living. This plan fails because Eden isn't having it, and if you know anything at all about Southern women, that's enough said right there.

My Review: Yet again we have a giant missed opportunity of a book. This idea, and the expository 50pp, are terrific. I loved them, and I was so excited to read the book I couldn't wait to get back to it!

Hit the middle, and found myself wandering around uninterested in the middle of a nothing-much kind of a life.

Came the ending, I was ticked off at the presumption evident in the author that we her readers would buy pretty much anything. Threads got dropped, threads got yanked into places they weren't heading before, and all through it, the reason I got interested in the first place...the three ghostly sisters...are used only as deus ex machina, which was a cheat AND a bore.

I am so disappointed! This chickie can write good sentences, and she can dream up great ideas, but the execution of this novel, at least, is poor. Very Neil Gaiman...great idea, give it to someone else to write so it will be used to best advantage instead of mangled and squished and generally crapped up.

Do I even need to add "not recommended" at the end of the review?

A Dainty Thumb for your review.....although mostly negative...I've had this book on The List for a while..and will now be doing "second thoughts". I hate when a writer does a 50-page or so Tease...then leaves the reader bereft and stranded...wondering WTF Happened HERE???? I'll excuse the Neil Gaiman slur, as well.....I like his work, you don't...."Nuff said...What are friends for, especially here, but to disagree once in a while......Good review for a sorry book...

;-}

Not recommended indeed! Thanks for saving me the disappointment. Better luck next book.

#58: Sorry to hear that as I own the whole trilogy.

Better luck with your next read, Richard!

Oh! There you are! Sorry your book disappointed... probably the result of your being on the cutting edge of reading. (Makes for entertaining reviews though!)
I've been reading books I love since I choose from others who have gone before me. So, I guess there is some advantage to being behind the curve. :)

I'm sorry to hear about your trials with Auntie. I have the cutest picture of her from your party. She was going on and on about picture taking, so I said "Here, let me take a picture of you." I didn't realize it until it was developed, but she had the biggest smile I've ever seen! It's one of those pictures that makes me smile every time I look at it.

Review: 79 of seventy-five

Title: THE SMELL OF THE NIGHT

Author:ANDREA CAMILLERI

Rating: 4* of five

The Book Report: Salvo Montalbano and the Vigata police force have a strange case, one that's not their case and not particularly important seeming as the Common Knowledge has already given it an ending: A Ponzi-scheme swindler comes home to Vigata after being away most of his life, seemingly to answer the greediest prayers of the Vigatese by providing huge returns on the investment of their life savings. One fine day, he fails to appear and disburse the income due, and is never seen again. A major investigation by Montalbano's wretchedly political and horrifically petty bosses has led to the conclusion that Mr. Ponzi's follower was offed by the Mafia, either for taking the wrong widow's life savings or plowing fields they felt were their own. After getting involved due to a ludicrous hostage standoff, Montalbano can't help but keep worrying at the threads not in their proper places. In the end, to no one's surprise, the Ponzi schemer is found dead, but not where, or how, anyone could have expected at the beginning of the case.

My Review: I am on record as a fan of the series, and I've given plenty of reasons I feel the books are superior. But one idea has occurred in multiple places and from multiple sources: These books reek, to some, of the corruption and wickedness that mysteries, as distinct from thrillers or noirs, seek to combat. Montalbano doesn't shy away from rule-breaking, he flirts with and even goes far afield with some of the beauteous women Camilleri clearly thinks we all want to read about; his world contains those who aren't morally upright but are valued friends.

Yeah, so? As does your own life, nine bets in ten. Camilleri's character is flawed, and knows this about himself, but he's always motivated by the need to fix things and help people and make the world run right, even if it means breaking rules and going outside the system. I don't sense that this is a problem in other cop-centered series. I have wondered why that seems off-putting in this series.

I think it's because the Mafia is invoked so often, and that makes Americans very tense. It's very much a part of our national conversation even yet, and has entered English as a term of opprobrium for any group or team that's opposed to your own. (I treasure a mention of the Bush Mafia made in Austin's newspaper, later retracted and apologized for. THAT was a good day!)

It's all I can figure, anyway. I am so NOT in love with the current fashion for Scandinavian crime writers that I think I may have reacted histaminically by heading for Sicily. Something more exciting, please, no reserved and tortured souls trying to make amends for their misdeeds, thank you. And as these books don't have revolting, violent depictions of things I don't want to think about (yes, that's Lisbeth in my crosshairs), perhaps the ghoul crowd isn't tempted in. Taste being inarguable, granted, I still wonder at the reason for uninterest or dislike that I've seen mention far more than once.

Guess that's why there'll always be chocolate and vanilla.

#64: Another great review of the Camilleri series, Richard! I promise I will hunt down my copy of the first book this next week!

You're reading too much Camilleri. I'm not a fan of the series, so I ignore those reviews.

Foot tapping...waiting...

>65 alcottacre: Good, Stasia! It will make me happy to addict someone new.

>66 TadAD: Okay, Tad, I'll space 'em out more.

Morning Richard- Hope you are feeling well and are enjoying your Sunday! I hope to get to the Montalbano series, at some point!
"...because it's a roadmap of missed opportunities." I love that choice of words. Can I borrow the phrase at some future point?

How is it that I lost track of you rdear?

:(

I liked "reacted histaminically by heading for Sicily." I'm not as adverse to the Scandinavian crime writers, or at least to Lisbeth's author, but I do appreciate the different outlook in these Sicilian mysteries.

Another fun review, Richard!

Another great review on the Camilleri series Richard. I agree with Mark, a roadmap of missed opportunities. What a great line!

Great review, Richard. I've been on the lookout for the first Montalbano book in the bookstores I've been in recently but they haven't had it, and in fact have only had one or two of the series. I guess I need to try the library. You've definitely made me want to try her books.

Hello Richard, Happy Sunday! Another great review. Because of you I have purchased #1 The Shape of Water and it will be read hopefully after my book club book The Book Thief. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

>68 msf59: Help yourself, Mark! It's a neat turn of phrase, I think, so go forth and give its concept to the world with my encouragement.

>69 mckait: Because you don't love me anymore, that's why.

>70 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! I really like Vigata, and Camilleri, so much more than the endless angst of the Scandinavians I've read...Mankell, Arnaldur, Lackberg, the first 40pp of the first Larsson...because, I think, I was a Sicilian last life. Or maybe just the fact that I've only married part-Italian girls makes me think that...?

>71 brenzi: Thank you kindly, Miss Bonnie, ma'am. Are you a reader of them yet?

>72 phebj: I appreciate that, Pat! Trip to the liberry is indeed in order, but don't faint...the author photo of that grumpy-looking old codger *is* Andrea Camilleri after all. It's Italian for "Andrew."

>73 momom248: *evil Muttley laugh* Aha! Maureen is struck by a book bullet! May they please you as much as they do me.

#75 Oops!!! Thanks for enlightening me.

Dropping by to say hello-glad you are enjoying that mystery series! :)

#77: LOL, Kath!

I rather liked it....

It's hilarious!

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."
— Dr. Seuss

#82: I wonder if that is how the Yankees feel right about now?

>83 alcottacre: Hee hee hee! I so so so hope so, he said without a *shred* of sympathy!

hey you are awake??

Yes, Auntie managed to knock her hospital bed rail down. I don't know how. I'm working on making myself sleepy for another two-hour nap!

I couldn't do it.

At home.. I get sleepy at 3 ish
at work 1 30 is deadly to me

good luck though..

Oh dear, what a wakeup call! I hope you get that nap today...

I was going to post here, but then noticed there was French in the subject and felt the sudden, uncontrollable need to go on strike.

(I think getting my trip almost derailed by the strike when I was in Paris a few weeks back allows me to make the obvious French strike joke. I think.)

En dépit du Français, je pense que je resterai bien ici. Puisque j'adore Richard! Et francais.

Oh, is that what that is? I thought Richard just spelled my name wrong.

>87 mckait: Oh, the four-o'clock slump! The dog and I curl up from 4-6 every day, she sleeps right through and I usually manage 30-45min. Most refreshing! Since the hideousness of 4pm is a mystery oddly left unexplored I have no explanation for why I should find it so necessary.

>88 London_StJ: Be just and fear not, my dear, it WILL happen. Mmm-hmmm. It WILL.

>89 ty1997: But you're not close to 62! (I don't think, anyway.) How can you need to strike *already*? Oh wait...French...check.

>90 Berly: Errrmmm, yeah, hinky-dinky-parly voo to you too, there, Berls...but thanks for compliment.

>91 Ape: Stephen! Heavens, I thought you'd forgotten me. How are things in Zombie Central? Do come let me know when it's safe to come back for a visit.

Having finished The Patience of the Spider, The Paper Moon, and August Heat...numbers eight, nine, and ten in the Montalbano series...I think it's time to set a parameter for reviewing.

Series that I plan to keep reading, that I enjoy and think a lot of, I'm capping review coverage at four books. After that, I'll rate them but not review them, since as Tad pointed out, my tendency to binge-read the series books leads to WAY too many reviews saying much the same thing in way too short a time.

So...unless a series book is unusually good, or unusually awful, I'll go mum after four entries. Seems reasonable to me. Now on to other books to review!

Forthcoming:
The River of Lost Footsteps
The Wild Vine
Mood Matters!
Spook
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
I Am Not A Serial Killer

Good morning, younger brother. Thinking of you as I gobble down my book purchases of yesterday--no particular reason, just hoping you are feeling better.

richard, I just feel 62 some days. Reality says I'm (ugh) 35 (how did I get so damn old?)

But the French students are even striking, so heck, I can too!

>95 ronincats: Miss Roni ma'am! I am always glad to have you in the house, don't care why. Makes my day brighter! (Especially being called "younger" ooo ooo ooo)

>96 ty1997: Thirty-five! *snort* A mere pup. Turkish Delight is a whopping 30, and says he feels old. I reminded him that he has a 50-hour workweek, a T-Th night class, a wife, traditional parents pressuring him for grandchildren, and an illicit lover. He's not old, he's WORE OUT! I suspect you're feeling much the same after your adventures in traveling for work.

Hello Richard, whether in French (which I don't understand) or English (which I usually do), your thread is always a delight. Good idea to cap the reviews since you seem to binge on a series. I myself prefer to stretch them out although I was unsuccessful in doing that with Three Pines and now must sit and wait probably at least a year for my next fix.

97 >

True, though I wish was wore out because of a lover (or five), delight in their name or otherwise.

Paris --- Milan --- now India. Haven't seen my bed in weeks (and won't for many more)

93: Of course I haven't forgotten you! I think I've just been quiet in general lately...seems like for every 20 threads I read I post only once or twice...if I post at all.

can't wait for you to read I am Not A Serial Killer and hear what you think, it has been on my TBR stack for months

:) kara

*waves* runs off to press off those blasted black pants.

Press? What's that?
If they don't go dryer -> hanger -> body, thow them out and buy a pair that does! This is the 21st century!
Lower your carbon footprint... quit pressing! Bleh!

Hear, hear! My son needed a pair of pants pressed for a job interview, and it cost him a lawn-mowing, weed-whacking, and a loading AND unloading of the dishwasher! Plus he had to dig out the iron & ironing board, which were in a closet somewhere under some suitcases...

ROFL I know.. I try, I do..
Terri that is genius!

I have to iron way too often, cause I like cotton or cotton blends..
and I hate to look too wrinkled. I also hate to iron. It is a problem.

I should be getting dressed. I don't wanna go.. lol

I have binge read many times and you've hit upon the problem exactly.

I am just waving 'Hello,' RD!

Aha, binge-reading! That's my problem... Thanks for defining it, Tad!

Et oui -- moi aussi, je suis en grève . Au moins, mon cerveau et mon joie de vivre ont disparu; probablement en grève, mais tres possiblement en panne.

>98 brenzi: Hi Bonnie! Glad you're here, in any language.

>99 ty1997: I hope you don't have house plants! That's just entirely too much time away from home. I'd be useless after week three.

>100 Ape: ...and the Centenary Post Prize, a big vat of Wheatena, goes to...STEPHEN!! Congrats old codger!

>101 curlysue: Okay, Kara, I'll slip it up the queue, just for you.

>102 mckait:, 105 You DON'T have to iron! Don't do it at all, ever, and if the purseylipped poltroons you work with glance askance, just mumble and pull at one lock of hair and stare fixedly at them. OOODLES of vacation time will suddenly be yours!

>103 -Cee-: Sing it, Sister Claudia!

>104 tloeffler: He got off light, TLo. Anyone ever asks me to press something gets a horselaugh and banished from my sight everafter.

>106 TadAD: Yeah, much-of-a-muchness in the reviews, not so much of an attractor.

>107 alcottacre: How do, Mrs. Stasia!

>108 Chatterbox: *duhhrrr* Didju say somepin' dere, lady? :-*

Drive-By Wave/Hug/Smooch!!!!

;-}

#108 Do not lose your love of life. Do not go on strike. Quick Richard! Whip up some tasty morsel to bring back her joie de vivre!

109: Ooooh, just add milk and a bucket of Splenda and you might make passable cow feed.

Suz is losing her joie de vivre? Noo....should I send a box of the prettiest Fall leaves to cheer her up?

I think it has more to do with a stage in the book-birthing process, if I am any judge. Miss McGee is post-partum on one, enceinte with two, and still having to get up and do two AM feedings on the first one (eg, that 75-minute {!!} podcast interview), plus the rigamarole of daily life that never ceases for any of us...bettin' that is the root, if not only, cause.

Perhaps a cassoulet, with some of TLo's amazing Norton wine. My GOD that stuff is good! Then two hours in front of the fire with cognac and some Roquefort with fresh pears, plus some toasted pecans. Then a bit of raspberry trifle, and coffee, and beddie-bye.

Some people like French. But when you talk food, Richard.... oo la la! ;)

I so enjoy reading this thread--it makes me smile and laugh :-)

Hi Richard! Stopping by to say 'ehhhhlooo! I hope you enjoy Spook!

I am not enceinte with #2. I am searching for accountant #5, so far in vain. Until I have found him or her, I can't do any work.

But a cassoulet wouldn't go amiss at all. Fave cold weather food. ETA: but not Roquefort. Brie or Camembert, pls. Definitely some pears.

Strolling through your thread and catching up on some 70 posts. I'm the odd one, for sure, I actually enjoy ironing, for me, it's therapeutic.

>117 -Cee-: In an earlier life, Claudia, some friends on a different venue and I would create Our Fantasy Meals...courses, settings, what we'd be eating with and off of, what wines we'd have, who'd be there with us and why...it became called the Food Porn Forum.

>118 momom248: Oh good, Maureen! Things that make one smile and laugh are always good to find. Thanks!

>119 leperdbunny: I am indeed enjoying Spook and will hate to finish it. But then again, that's how I've felt about every Mary Roach book!

>120 Chatterbox: WHAT?!? The genealogy project isn't? I thought it was! Where was I when you mentioned that?!?

And cassoulet is all the proof I need that central heat and air is a mixed blessing...eaten in front of a fire in a cold stone room, it had to be the best thing EVER.

>121 Carmenere: Lynda, you're just flat weird. That's all there is to it. Weird.

Hurray for Mary Roach. How many of her books have you read now, Richard? I lost count.

>124 Ape: All of 'em. I can't review Bonk because it grew legs before I finished my second read and I haven't made it a priority purchase since I've already read it. *fanboy sigh* She's dreeeaaammmy, isn't she?

She's dreeeaaammmy, isn't she?

Oh yes! I can't wait to read Packing for Mars.

*eyes glaze over with that far-away look*

>126 London_StJ: I predict the Regional Guffaw Index for Maryland/DC/NoVA will increase 438% the day you start.

>127 Ape: Uh-huh. Yep.

perusing the latest....

#123 Why thank you, Richard! I take pride in my weirdness and I'm glad to see others take notice of my attributes.

Gah enjoying ironing???????? Weird doesn't begin to cover it Lynda;-)

I have to come out of the closet and support Lynda, as I also enjoy ironing. I do it every day for work, but I'll also iron polos and casual slacks if they are too wrinkly IMO (which is basically always).

>129 mckait: Howdy!

>130 Carmenere: Weird you are, and good that you're comfy with it...but don't go around talking this ironing thing up, or people will start to avoid you.

>131 brenzi: Really, Bonnie...really. O.o

>132 kidzdoc: Do you wear a frilly little French maid's uniform while doing it? That's the only reason I can come up with for a man to iron. There are too many laundries, cleaners, and desperate gold-diggers to render it truly necessary.

Can I send you my ironing to do, Darryl? Puhleez?

#133: My husband irons his own uniform shirts, Richard. When we got married, I told him he was a big boy and if he wanted them ironed, he could do it himself. He always has. I, however, disdain to use the iron. I prefer to be wrinkled :)

Stasia was very upfront about it, but I went the passive aggressive route and my evil plan worked!! I did a poor job ironing, then a poor job at the dry cleaners (actually the dry cleaners did the poor job) and now my husband takes his to a place near his work. Yeah Me!! My clothes don't require ironing. It's a prerequisite.

I have some tops to iron today and I am not happy about it.
Bah!

I do plan to get some reading done though.... I got up at 3 to put stew into the crock pot... but I went back to bed...but that's dinner taken care of!

Yeah Darryl! Thanks for coming out of that closet of nicely pressed attire to support my weirdness.

I can never be bothered to iron. I like having ironed clothes and not looking wrinkled, but not enough to actually do any ironing.

I used to rather envy a colleague who was banned from ironing by her ex-army partner, who reckoned she couldn't do it properly and insisted on doing it himself to make sure his creases were sharp enough.

I don't mind ironing, but with my usual last-minute organization, the blouses that need it are generally the ones that don't get worn. I look in the closet, think 'Oh, I could wear that one', realize it has to be ironed, put on a knit top and run to work. Several summer tops got into the closet this spring and back in the storage locker this weekend without ever getting off the hanger.

I can't prove this, but somehow I just *know* that cats and Satan between them invented ironing. Useless waste of energy, yours and the planet's, since those irons suck juice at an alarming rate, and entropy ensures that any illusory "success" at unwrinkling things that drape your sweaty, moving body will end in abject failure. Sorta like plastic surgery...why exactly do you want to do such a foolish thing, exactly? Huh?

Morning Richard- How are you stranger? Hope you have a great Sunday, sir!

If cats invented ironing, it was just so that they would then have the pleasure of jumping on ironed hanging clothes until they have successfully returned them to their "natural" state -- i.e., crumpled on the closet floor and covered in cat hair. Sigh.

Hmmm.....cats invented ironing? Maybe so they could "play" with the dangling cord and pull said iron to the floor...thereby rendering it unusable? In that case Praise them, i say...I don't know where my iron is..which solves that problem.

Have a good day, Sweetie!
;-}

The iron is only used for sewing project around here. Michael doesn't care how neat his own clothes are, so they go straight from the dryer to the hanger. I take my own clothes to the dry cleaner, and I'll be damned if I ever put my kids in clothes that need dry cleaning or ironing!

Serious ironing.. I pull out the board.. and I will do that later.
not serious, I iron on the counter in the bathroom..
I don't like to be wrinkly for one thing.. I do the hang and stretch thing..
but it is sometimes not enough. :(

I will admit that in this household where jeans and flannels are the uniform of the day, there is little need for ironing. When we met however, Mr. Tutu and I were both on active duty in the navy and had uniforms that required lots of starch and lots of ironing. We also had shoes that required lots of spit-shining. Both of these requirements were beyond my ability to master. My spouse swears that one of the reasons I married him was that he could do both with exceptional skill. (He, on the other hand, married me because I had a car and could cook!) To this day, he still spit-shines shoes and does the ironing. I excel at cooking and other domestic arts, so we are quite happy together.

Ironing, my dear Richard, is just another soothing mind-numbing activity that actually lowers the blood pressure and heart rate. In fact....Ironing is just another excuse to listen to an audio book.

I only iron something when I want to wear it--and like ffortsa, the knits usually win out in the end. My husband does his own--this was established at the beginning of our relationship--he's a big boy now.

Ironing always brings back memories of coming home after school and having to iron pillowcases and clothes for one of my chores while mom had Mike Douglas on the TV. I'd ruther have been reading.

I have ironed my own things since I was ten.. we wore uniforms made of cardboard, so those did not need ironed, but the blouses did. ick.
Dan does not iron. My kids all do. I consider that a success. Of course we all try to avoid it, but at least if my kids are around they do their own :)

Review: 80 of seventy-five

Title: MOOD MATTERS: From Rising Skirt Lengths to the Collapse of World Powers

Author: JOHN L. CASTI

Rating: 4* of five

Readable, exhaustively researched, and completely iconoclastic, this book was a pleasure for me on many levels. I am always eager to hear about new ways to view this old world, and Casti has a very new way to view world events. His thesis is that the mood of the people isn't MADE by events, but rather MAKES events.

That's all, really. The mood of the country created the depression, not the depression made us moody.

The exhaustive research I mentioned is all documented in his appendices. I am not a professional socionomicist (from socionomics, the name given to this new way to slice and dice and analyze the tidal wave of data we're submerged under), so I won't even fake an explanation of what the science says. I will make the simple, defensible statement that your average reader won't like this book at all because every time "common sense" says x, this book says banana. Or hog-bristle.

Chapter 4, "Why Wars, Political Crises, and Economic Cycles Happen," is a giant and fascinating eye-opener for someone like me, who wondered whyinahell Americans RE-elected that goofball Bush. I suspect someone on Bush's team was a client of this man's. Everything made much more sense to me after reading this book.

Now, your common or garden economist, political scientist, statistician, and sociologist, not to mention historian!, will be inclined to herd together in muttering mobs, torches and pitchforks and pre-fashioned nooses at the ready, after reading this book. And that's a GOOD THING, because anything that makes the established truth's votaries mad, anxious, or just uneasy means leaps forward are about to happen. It doesn't much matter if Casti's analyses are right or wrong, on that level; he's made them public, and some of the establishment will be forced to address his work. They'll disprove it, or they'll co-opt it, but the quality of the conversation about why stuff happens and what we can do to shape the future has been improved.

Serious subject junkies only, please, no tourists, as the ride doesn't go through the more scenic dells and majestic passes on the way to Certainty.

Sounds really interesting, Richard!

Iron (v.): The act of placing a shirt in closed bathroom while running the shower on hot.

Great review Richard, but I definitely won't be reading the book. I just hate theory and "Hey, this is how I think things work" and whatnot. But your review was nice! :)

I, on the other hand, love theoretical works, and the thesis sounds fascinating. Alas, work has taken over my reading time.

Good review of course.. ALL of your reviews are wonderful...
but I need a bit o fluff... to wash out my brain.

>151 ronincats: It is indeed, Roni, but very long on assertion and short on proof, as are all things in social science.

>153 Ape: Thank you, whippersnapper!

>154 London_StJ: Work! Ah, the curse of the reading class.

All ironing discussions I address with the following: *yawn* Just hang them in the closet, please, and be sure to bleach the sheets, 'kay?

I hate ironing! Downy wrinkle releaser - Best Invention EVER!

I swear that the reason my 73-year-old father cannot be a month without a woman in his life (three failed marriages, now involved with a woman my age) is that he cannot iron. And he doesn't like to cook. Boil water, and he expects to be praised like a puppy who has learned to heel. Gah!

I do believe that, if I asked my wife to iron stuff for me on a regular basis, I would increase the laughter content in the household 100%.

*waves* with both hands, because I am not holding an iron!

Ah, bliss...

...ironing?!?... *shudder*

Good night, you crazy ironing-obsessed people. Flights of laundresses sing thee to thy rest.

#150: Kudos to your review, Richard!

Ironing is therapeutic, especially with great music to sing along to. I prefer ironing the hubster's clothes because otherwise he'll walk out the door all wrinkly ... and he wouldn't care!

well there ya go. I didn't iron, I read, now my 70F tops are all wrinkled. What to do?

#167 Caro,

If Caroline irons that means I'm no longer weird but muy cool.

I am so relieved we are still on the ironing theme -- I wanted to post this anecdote yesterday, but ran out of time.

A cousin stayed at Betty Friedan's house for a wedding (out in Watermill area on Long Island-- she and my aunt were in the same Yoga class of all things) and found her dress had wrinkled up and brought it downstairs and asked Friedan where her iron was. Friedan's jaw dropped and then she said in a kindly tone, "Honey, I threw it out the window thirty years ago."

My cousin loves to tell that on herself. What was she thinking!!!!!!

(This was in the 80's btw).

>170 sibylline: Go Betty, Go Betty!

And hi there, Lucy, how you been keepin' there in Vermin-mont? (I ran across that in a letter from my ex-brother-in-law, a New Hamsterman. Made me snicker.)

Honestly? Time to get the snow tires on, that's the task that is kind of weighing heavy on my mind........ otherwise, I stopped using the outdoor shower a couple of weeks ago. Snow has been seen, but hasn't stuck. I bought winter boots a few days ago. I'm trying to get my head wrapped around how much colder it is here......

WAAAY colder than Philly! Ooo baby, this winter should be interesting...if we can find you under the snow to report your impressions, that is.

*smooch*

Ugh - ironing - only if absolutely necessary, just before wearing. I've never understood the point of ironing something then putting it in a drawer or cupboard where it just gets crumpled again.

I don't like ironing and do it only when absolutely necessary...
I do, however, kinda like doing laundry! It's the one household chore I don't mind at all. I know, I know, I'm weird!

rain

wrinkles.. oh well

Did the rain cause the wrinkles, or are the two causally unrelated?

not sure

>178 mckait: Oh.

I finished and reviewed We Have Always Lived in the Castle for my RL book circle and for Mary's (bell7's) TIOLI challenge to read a not-quite-horror book. My review is in my thread...post #117.

I'm racking my brains for one household chore I don't mind doing......

I HATE to dust. Hate.

I like cooking. I *won't* dust, or tidy up. There're nice immigrant Hondurans who do that for me. Ironing? HA! NEVER.

I despise housework. Loathe, hate with a passion, disdain, abominate...

I iron when I want to watch a dvd in peace (read: alone). I find its mindless repetition soothing as I regress to the lizard-level of my brain. I am aware, however, that it is stupid in a way that passes understanding.

Love cooking.

Also, getting back to books...just thumbed your review of We Have Always Lived in the Castle. I loved it and you expressed my feelings well, thank you very much!

Great review of We Have Always Lived in the Castle. I went to thumb it and found I had already wishlisted it.

Thank you Gail and Pat! It's an interesting little book.

I loathe in this order: grocery shopping, laundry & ironing! I only iron when absolutely necessary--like when there is a big crease in the pants from the hanger. Richard love the Boston Terrier photo!

Laundry's a pain. Ironing is Satan's own. I don't mind grocery shopping as long as my feet don't hurt. But I loatheloatheloathe any and all tchotchke-related stuff.

I don't mind doing laundry- I do however, hate putting it up. I'm lucky if it makes it to the closet or bureau. I don't mind most other chores.

188 which reminds me that I have to wash my witch balls and crystals hanging in my window. I need the help of a taller person though.. so maybe after work on wednesday?

>190 mckait: Sure, I'll head right down to PA for a wash-fest. Don't be surprised if there are fewer cats when I leave than there were when I arrived.

>184 Matke: I'm with you Gail. I hate, hate, hate housework of all kinds. There are just so many other pleasurable things to do during the short time we're here on earth.

Coming in on the end of the ironing conversation, but I like ironing - don't love it, but like it. Immediate gratification, even if it's only temporary.

With you on this, Gail. I've even lost my taste for cooking. (pun was purely unintentional, though its retention was deliberate.) Just lazy? That's certainly possible.

Speaking of laundry, my hotel either lost or forgot about mine.

Fortunately, they've now tracked it down.

*wipes brow*

Laundry and chores. I think I need to review a book here pretty quick or this will be The Maid's Room.

LOL Richard- can we complain and eat bon bons?

my sister is sending her husband out in the storm to bring me dinner

:)

nice for me, not for him!!

Richard, you could read Cinderella!

Ha! This is very funny! I've been gone since last Friday and you are all still yakking about ironing! I looked back and saw this all started with you, Kath, back in message #102. Ironing... still a hot topic in 2010! Who would have guessed?
Poor Richard has been trying to change the subject without success.
I'd say you got him back, Kath. ;)

:) thnks.. but that means I should duck and cover.. cause he usually fights back..

Ironing, for me, never happens. When you wear scrubs to work, there really isn't much point. And when I was young my Mom wouldn't let me get any clothes that had to be ironed or dry cleaned, so it's never really been an issue.

Just had to post this here, since I though Sir Richard would approve, that I found The Smell of the Night at Borders for one hot dollar bill! Yahoo for cheap Camilleri!

ed. for touchstone

I think cooking is a complete waste of valuable reading time or insert anykind of time. Spending a lot of time creating something that will be consumed in ten minutes. Ha! Where's the sense in that. But, baking, that's a different story. The results may be enjoyed for at least a day, maybe two.

I used to like to cook.. when the kids were home. Now, I agree with you
Lynda. Still have to do it sometimes.

So rd... how did it go??
I stayed up late to get it done!

Then had some odd dreams.

#202: Congrats on the cheap Camilleri, Laura!

NOW HEAR THIS: The next person who uses the four-letter equivalent of the element "Fe" as a verb, discusses chores, or mentions cleansing anything except the planet of conservatism, will be cursed with an incurable, painful, horribly itchy fungus new to science, between her/is toes at the bottoms of the toe-foot jointure, which will SPREAD if scratched and BLEED if touched.

Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.

Richard: Sorry you are so wrankled, maybe a trip to 'Irun' will cool you down. :P

>207 Ape: You are skating *this* close to a curse, little man...:-P

I enjoy pressing clothes....no one has yet mentioned the wonderful fresh smell of clean hot cotton. (Back OFF, Richard---I did not use *that* word. And I have a natural fungal-immunity anyway.) I associate that smell with all things wonderful that came from my mother's and grandmothers' kitchens. My mom would set up the ironing board to "rub off a few things" as if it were a pleasure to do so...I must have inherited that gene. I think if you want to stop all this, you'll have to start a new thread, Rumple-stiltskin.

Poor Linda3rd's feet. And no cure, either.

My feet are just fine, thank you.

They won't be soon.

Now that Linda has taken one for the team can I assume that we can continue to freely discuss our collective love of Fe-ing?

Your feeble curses do not phase me, sir. And, Darryl, step over here under my toadstool (it's made of iron!) and you too will be protected.

And then there's the movie iron man. Now if they make a movie about it shouldn't the man (in iron man) be the one doing the ironing? Inquiring minds want to know ;-)

We could all just hide under my pile of clean clothes awaiting folding....

Thanks, Linda! I'll bring a 3 month supply of fluconazole and amphotericin B, just in case.

*Off to Fe some boxers and socks*

Socks? Socks??? Why would anyone Fe socks? Some people truly are very odd. ;)

Why would anyone Fe socks?

To keep your feet warm on a cold day, of course!

Isn't that what these are for?

Ironic, irony - just tossing out some literary terms, that's all.

#221 Excellent!

wowza! does the power begin to diminish?

I found an unwrinkled to today so no need to ... do anything other than put it on.

Has anyone seen my Fe-rocious Fe-rret running thru here?

glitter-graphics.com

Or perhaps my Fe-lon Fe-line?

glitter-graphics.com

Must press on... here kitty, kitty!

ROFL!

I can understand how Richard could become "board" with this topic of conversation.

LOL ...too funny Claudia

I've been indulging in my therapeutic practice every morning here in Sydney since all my suits were wrinkled by the time I arrived here.

#220 - Caty the microwavable apparel is de rigeur for us old f**ts with arthritis who choose to live in cold weather. They are so wonderful, and certainly less painful than fe-ing your feet. This entire conversation has me convulsing with laughter...where else can a group of over-educated, underpaid bibliophiles get away with slinging curses at one another with the results being nothing but fun?

Thank you Richard darling for hosting this fe slinging frolic!

I just started Mary Wesley's The Camomile Lawn and the opening sentence is "Helena Cuthbertson picked up the crumpled Times by her sleeping husband and went to the flower room to iron it."

I had to laugh!

:)

timely and topical eh?

That last one will probably get you cursed AND ostracized excommunicated, Stephen.

#231 The hydrocortisone cream is in the mail, Stephen.

I heard a rumor that Richard has started a new thread with an anonymous title and won't tell any of us where it is.

#234 That may iron out the problem.

>234 laytonwoman3rd: Perceptive, these fungally afflicted Lindas.

*snicker*

#234 I'm sure Richard holds us all in high e-steam really, and won't get all starchy about the cats and the bad jokes.

(#228 Tina, I don't have any microwavable ones, but I did used to keep my ordinary slippers on top of the central heating radiator when I lived in the Arctic North Yorkshire.)

Oh my gawd! LOL I am in stitches! My eyes are sprinkling and my family wants to know why I keep breaking out laughing... I usually don't do that sort of thing.
Don't worry, Richard. Try not to get scorched ! We are coming up to message 250 and you will soon be able to start a new hot thread... we love you!

Pinkeye sucks. The headache is a killer. I've never had this before. I expected the gook coming out of my eye, I expected the itching, but this headache makes me long for sweet oblivion.

Can't look at the screen any more. Hurts.

omg... I think his curse on us backfired! or is that the meanness seeping out?
Hope you have eyedrops for this, RD. Poor, baby! throwing *smooch* from far away!

Sure....try to drum up some sympathy because we've been having yuks at your expense.

Oh, UGH! Pink eye. Nasty stuff. Sorry, rdear; we love you. A lot.

Ouch. My cats had a version of that. I've been lucky...

Imagine -- a whole thread about FE-ing.... and just FULL of puns!

Hope the nastiness goes away soon, Richarddear.

XO Horrible

Maybe all the steam from the iron is irratating your eye...

It's the chemicals in those synthetic fabrics he wears so he won't have to have things IRONED.

I'm sorry to hear about your headache and conjunctivitis, Richard. I don't think that there are any OTC (over the counter) antibiotic eye drops, but your local pharmacist may be able to suggest drops that are available OTC (e.g., Similasan's Active Response Formula).

Ugh pinkeye oldest daughter had it at least 8 X when she was little--every time she had a cold--the pinkeye emerged! I had a continuous eye drop supply. Then we she got it--hubby did too. I only had the pleasure once--which was enough for me. Richard I hope your pinkeye goes away. Maybe if you iron something it will take your mind off the pinkeye!! :-) Seriously--feel better.

Hope you're feeling better soon, Richard!

uh oh....ROFL

Richard, hope you get to feeling better super quick!

Hugs, Richard!

hmmmmm....
Can't see, huh?
poor, poor dear....
was that a siren and flashing lights?
uh oh

Sorry to hear about the pink eye, Richard. I hope you feel better very quickly!

hopefully head is better?

Richard- Hope you are feeling better today, sir! We don't like seeing you out of action!

Richard? Richard? hmmmm, cat got your tongue? or eye?

pink eye= uck! and ouch!

Thanks all for the well-wishes! And, in case you've all forgotten, the curse of the fungus remains in effect. Casting a curse always carries a price, which I am *perfectly delighted* to pay...considering how much worse it'll be for those accursed....

Horrible headache still here. OTC drops keeping the sludge out of the eye, called "Blink" which made me snicker. Auntie issues making life more complicated...try caring for a pressure sore on the foot of a mean old woman when you, yourself, can't kneel! It's a topographical and logistical challenge, and makes the headache worse.

I herewith exonerate myself, and issue myself a pass, for exceeding the posted limit. I have another book to review, which I'd best do while I'm sitting here anyway.

Review: 81 of seventy-five

Title: THE DREAM OF SCIPIO

Author: IAIN PEARS

Rating: 3.7* of five

The Book Report: Pears explores well-trodden ground here...what is love, how does love cause us to act outside our own best interests, what does loyalty mean in the end, what relationship does the world have to the divine...through the lives and acts of three men widely separated in time, though united by the existence of a manuscript called "The Dream of Scipio", written by one, and read by the other two. The writer is Manlius Hippomanes, Roman aristocrat and chaste lover of the Alexandrine philosopheress Sophia; the manuscript is his final love-offering to the goddess of his idolatry, given after his faux conversion to Christianity which he undertakes in order to organize the salvation of his beloved Provence. In the time of the Papal Babylonian Captivity, also that of the Black Death, poet Olivier de Noyes discovers this manuscript, reads and fails to understand it, and consults Jewish philosopher Levi ben Gershon to come to terms with the many subtelties lost between the Roman days and his own, degenerate Christian era; thus comes Olivier to his fatal love for Jew Rebecca. And in the modern age, Julien Barneuve, French flaneur and Vichy-government fonctionnaire, writes draft after draft of his response to Manlius's manuscript, thinking all the while that he's analyzing and understanding the life of Olivier de Noyes, the object of his studies.
All ends badly for each of these men, their lives, their loves, their very cultural roots are torn up, and grosser and grosser perversions of right and good thinking and living, fueled explicitly by Christians and their revolting religion, take hold and choke reason.

My Review: Well, no one can say it's not a subject I relate to and support. Too bad it's such a mess. The task of keeping three stories aloft while making sure that each is adding to the others is a daunting one. I don't think Pears did an especially good job of it. The transitions between narratives, all in third person limited PoV, are not keyed to anything that I can discern. I readily acknowledge that I could simply lack the cultural referents and/or the subtlety of mind to recognize them. I simply found the movement through time to be jarring and poorly handled.

But overall, this cautionary tale is one well worth considering. The role of "faith" in the decline of common sense in the public discourse is readily seen in our own time, and the horrifying results...teenagers bullied to death, consenting adults prevented from exercising their civil rights because of some ancient and culture-specific "divine" law irrelevant to modern times...surround us daily. Human beings cannot be trusted with piety. It's not something that becomes us as a species. It's quite the opposite of its stated goal, is piety: Instead of creating peace and harmony, it creates hatred and judgment. It certainly does so in me. And I am not a remarkable human being, but pretty darned average in my responses: I don't like people who don't like me.

Religion, sadly, in the hands of human beings, doesn't make that problem better, but rather creates a horrible echo chamber for the least worthy and most common feelings to be fed back upon themselves. Woe betide those who try to stand against this noisy tide...Pears points up the futility of this, while making sure we understand its absolute necessity.

I wish I believed that reading this book would change hearts and minds, so I could yodel a call to read it NOW from the housetops. It's too rareified, too precious, to make a general audience sit up and take notice. And it's not well enough executed to become the coffee-table adornment of the socially pretentious reader, either, so...here it is. Read it if you agree already, if not don't bother.

And isn't that the saddest sentence ever.

The only Iain Pears that I have read is An Instance of the Fingerpost....a very long and convoluted tale that is well worth every minute spent....

this puppy??? does not rock my world...but your review ain't shabby...

;-}

Thanks Jude!

New thread up and running.

Good review Richard.

It did take me a while to get used to the shifting narrative, but I think I liked the book slightly more than you did. Still not sure if I would want to read any more of Pears' work.

Thanks, calm! I don't recommend An Instance of the Fingerpost, as it made me want to scream and run in circles ripping my hair out. These two represent the sum total of my Pears-knowledge.

>260 richardderus:: While I do agree, that book still doesn't sound attractive. You lost me at "too bad it's such a mess."