Richardderus thread 19 for 2012

Please never ever remind me of this day...I agree with Jonathan Franzen. Oh the pain, oh the humiliation.

OMG I'm really Chairman Mao!



I'm always amazed at friends who say they try to read at night in bed but always end up falling asleep. I have the opposite problem. If a book is good I can't go to sleep, and stay up way past my bedtime, hooked on the writing. Is anything better than waking up after a late-night read and diving right back into the plot before you even get out of bed to brush your teeth?
― John Waters, Role Models



Woke up this morning with a terrific urge to lie in bed all day and read.
― Raymond Carver

My 2012 NEW books ticker:




Previous reviews:

Book 1...thread two.
Books 2 & 3...thread three.
Book 4...thread four.
Books 5 & 6...thread five.
Books 7-10...thread six.
Books 11-24...thread seven.
Books 25-31...thread eight.
Books 32-34...thread nine.
Books 35 & 36...thread ten.
Books 37-42...thread 11.
Books 43-53...thread 12.
Books 54 & 55...thread 13.
Books 56 & 57...thread 14.
Books 58-60...thread 15.
Books 61-64...thread 16.
Books 65-68...thread 17.
Books 69-71...thread 18.

My 2012 ORPHANED books ticker:




Pearl Ruled:



14. Beautiful Ruins...thread 18.

Books are reviewed in post:

72. The Beautiful Mystery...#90.

73. Midnight Riot...#134.

74. The Steampunk Bible...#164.

Whoohooo.... am I first?

dingdingdingding And it's Caroline for the WIN!

and the crowd ROARS! This impressive feat beats all the athletes with abs of steel running the track races at the Olympics!

oh wow, I got to your thread early! Hi Richard!!

>6 cameling: The only feat of athleticism that will impress me more is Matthew Mitcham winning gold again tomorrow, and doing his nude 10m dive in celebration!

>7 ChelleBearss: Howdy Chelle! Wow...the day draws ever closer....

I guess I'm "#9"

**smooch**

If Jude is #9, I am in at #10 :)

And I think I'm #11.

Welcome Jude, Stasia, and Roni! *smooch* all around!

Great pictures and great quotes as always RD! :)

Sorry you're resonating with Jonathan Franzen. Not a fan, eh? Didn't like Freedom?

The Maoster doesn't have a Karl Marx/Walt Whitman beard... :-)

>13 jolerie: Thanks, Valerie!

>14 EBT1002: Don't dislike the book, just can't tell it from any other book by him, or Jeffrey Eugenides, or Jonathan Safran Foer, or those other boring lit'ry lions. It's like eating dates. Who can tell where one ends and the next begins?

>15 Chatterbox: Ethnically unlikely, I suspect. *fluffs commodious chin spinach*

Well, I hate to say I agree with you, but in fact, I do. They're like the current literary rat pack....

Ah - not early but not as late to the party as usual. Mornin' Richard. Sunny and HOT here already - hope it's better for you ;)

LOL
I knew it, you secretly love Jonathan Franzen :)
All the best people do, RD, I knew you'd come around eventually.

And from the last thread.....I dont think Ill be reading Gone Girl anytime soon ever. Thrillers arent my thing, and poorly written ones that make some readers so incensed that they want all the characters to die- immediately, arent my thing either. I kind of wish I had already read it (in a past life) just so I could laugh harder at your review.

Hi Richard:) Still keeping up with you. Hope you have a great weekend.

Hi Richard! I don't know if reading taught me to be alone, but it definitely makes it more comfortable.

I would modify that statement to say that reading teaches you it's fine to be alone. It might be a case of which came first.

Ref: Last Thread

I too often look like I just ran out of a burning building... clothes matter little to me...
unless I come across something that I find particularly funky ( imo, anyway).

I love the opener on this thread ... and I agree with it :)

Good morning, all! *wanders off to finish coffee, and reading all the gazillions of LT threads she foolishly starred*

I posted my shriek of outrage at the atrocious, bad, anti-man, venal, disgusting Gone Girl and have seen my review flagged as not a review. I have never done this before, but I am now: Please go and look at my review on the work's review page and, if you agree that it's mean but still a review, counterflag it for me. I find censoring someone's views because one doesn't like the way they're expressed, or because one disagrees with the view, to be noxious and inimical to the spirit of a book-celebrating community such as this one is.

Wow. See what happens when people disagree? They lash out at you in any way possible.
greened it... snarky, but a review..

>17 EBT1002: I call them all the MFA Bores. I don't know or care if they actually have MFAs or not, they're all that sort of writerly-phrase-generating, plot-meta-ing, snooze-inducing that I associate with Iowa and its ilk.

>18 BekkaJo: Cloudy, ~27C...not miserably hot, but hot enough, and more than enough to keep me hidden away. *smooch*

>19 LovingLit: Apparently the Longface Puritans League feels I'm a scapegrace and has flagged the aforementioned review...what a crock!

>20 calm: Hiya calm! Glad to see you! *smooch*

Hey, Big Boy. Off to do that now...already saw the flag and got irritated.

imo, Reading teaches us that we are never alone. Just sayin'.

Been to the book page, saw the review you wrote, gave it a thumbs up, did not see any counter actions...

hate censorship

off to read more threads, and then clean house - bleak

>21 Ape:, 22 I don't know which came first for me...I suspect I was destined to be more comfortable in my own company than in company...but I know reading is the light and the joy of my life.

>23 mckait: The only thing I notice about clothes is the color. Do I like it? If yes, is it my size? If yes, is it less than an entree at Applebee's? If yes, I buy it.

>24 maggie1944: Yo ho ho, Karen44! OOO coffee yes yes more coffee....

>26 mckait: Thank you, sweetness.

>28 Matke: Thanks, Gail, and thanks for calling it to my attention in the first place!

>29 maggie1944: EW housecleaning ew ew! Sit down and read a book this instant!

Reading is my company now more often than I would like. I was a solitary child. I am a sadly solitary older person. I wish my kids were closer.. but wishing doesn't help. I am alone often, and feel lonely more than I would like to think about. If I didn't have my furkids,my books and my laptop, I don't know what I would do.. perish, maybe?

#25: I thumbed it, Richard. I am not sure how to unflag it though.

just click the flag.. you get options..

#34: OK, thanks, Kath. I will do that.

Be prepared to hate me...I am lying in my bed, a/c on "penguins are complaining it's too cold" setting, a program I really enjoy on my big-screen desktop, and what should appear at my door?

A plate of goodies and a glass of Veuve Cliquot champagne from the 80th birthday celebration I'm ducking out on! I got some crab cakes, a pair of brioche with herbed goat cheese and cucumber, and a wad of asparagus wrapped in *yummy* parma ham smuggled in from Europe.

Delivered to my bedside.

Yup. Sucks to be me. Surely does.

Book porn!

This is shaping up to be the worst day ever: Now a bowl of homemade gazpacho and a glass of cold Riesling have appeared. Woe is I.

You must have done something right in this lifetime to have such thoughtful friends.
Lap it up.

Gosh, the misery continues! Thai chicken over jasmine rice, and a refill on the Riesling. Wah boo hoo, when will it end?

hmmm. I would envy you all of that room service, if any of it sounded good to me. Well.. the crab cakes sound good. I have to make those in a day or two. Enjoy it! Days like this don't come along very often.
I'm not entirely sure what gazpacho is, although I think it is similar to my salsa?? sort of?

Sort of...salsa is usually more tomato-y and a bit more pepper-hot. Gazpacho is mild salsa in soup form.

Hmmm...five or six armchairs, a loveseat or three, and my big recliner, all with lamps and side tables and naked boys serving drinks and snacks. Yes, this could be made into heaven.

Sorry about all of the misery today--to be tormented by such gastronomic entities!

interesting.. which reminds me.. my salsa needs a wee bit more hot, before I eat it again later.

>44 ronincats: *bravely smiling through imminent tears* Yes, yes, I soldier on despite the travails.

>45 mckait: I like salsa and pico de gallo better than gazpacho, but hey...it just showed up!

Off to do my unflagging duty. All hail the Green!

ETA: Couldn't, reviews wouldn't show. Will try again later.

>47 MerryMary: Can always count on a liberrian to fight silly censorship, eh M'Lou?

Having greedily gobbled flan, apple bread pudding, and a glass of Tokay, I've had a little nappypoo (aka went into a sugar coma) and feel just spiffing!

hm, no comments on how much you loooove Jonathan Franzen today.
*waiting waiting*
Maybe you're lost for words, the power of his prose is so strong. I get it now ;)

>49 LovingLit: Yes. That's exactly it. I am overcome with rapturous admiration for his wonderful books like Middlesex and Everything is Illuminated and A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.

Beautiful beautiful beautiful

Yes ... it is beautiful.

Hey, Mr. Crabby Pants! Long time no see! Sorry GG didn't work out for you. I didn't think you would like it but didn't quite think you would revile it that much. LOL. Hey, you gave it a shot and now can move on.
I still can't believe your review was flagged. WAIT, I did that!! Just kidding. Sensitive people around here.

ok, so let me get this straight: if you get a flag but then get enough green thumbs, does that eliminate the flag? Because yours isn't there any more, Richard.

I almost like it better when you hate something than when you like it because you are so funny about it.

>54 tiffin:: Hear, hear.

Rdear, you poor, friendless, neglected soul. I'm so glad your friends came through for you. Nothing is sweeter than that.

And save a bit of the brioche, would ya?

xo

>52 mckait: *swoon*

>53 msf59: Sensitive? I think they were flagging me because they felt my comments were really not a review, not because they were disagreeing with my opinion. That happens a lot on the shorter reviews, or the Pearl Rule reviews, that I write.

>54 tiffin: Yep, that's how it works, Tui. Counterflags take away the flag.

*haughtily* I am so pleased that my anguish can be a source of amusement for you. Truly I am.

>55 Matke: Brioche is gone. There's some parma ham and asparagus, and a bottle of prosecco that's pretty damn good...

*waving Hi* I surely wish I could pull up a chair and enjoy your fine fixings with you. They all sound delish. I am supping on some pulled pork/bar b que/rice dish a friend gave me I've already eaten all the cookies she gave me, waiting for the pulled pork to defrost.

Spent the day pulling weeds at the rental property. OMG, that man has done no yard work and the place looks disgusting, nearly as if no one lived there. I need to hire some out of work friends to spiff it up for me! Damn!

*wanders off to fix dinner for the doggies and then for herownself, before settling back and reading some more*

I've added a thumb to your review. I don't see any flags so I can't unflag it, so I hope my thumb helps counteract the flag

Even though I highly disagree with you and I really loved Gone Girl I agree that everyone should be allowed their own opinion and you can't tell someone that their opinion is wrong.
xoxo

>50 richardderus: LOL

>51 richardderus: Love it!

>57 maggie1944: Want some prosecco, Karen44? There's a bottle in reserve.

>58 ChelleBearss: Yes! Perzackly! No one should try to dictate the opinion or expression of opinion of another person! And yet there will always be someone who tries.

>59 kidzdoc: That is one beautiful sculpture, eh Darryl?

fly by visit - Book & Food porn delights continue - so all is well in the world then ........

What is the celebration for anyway? I must have missed that?

Thank you, very much, Richard. I richly deserve it this evening. Been weeding and cleaning up at rental property! Tenants are not keeping up the yard! Darn it!

Thank you also for your ever amusing reviews no matter how much the offend some...

>61 roundballnz: Those are two of my strongest passions, so they'll keep recurring...good to see you, Alex!

>62 mckait: I never said. It's Ray's sister's 80th birthday, and the party was held here.

>63 maggie1944: Ew! *there there, pat pat*

I've reviewed the delightful browser's dictionary called The Disheveled Dictionary, a rollicking good little trip through some odd byways of English's huge vocabulary, in my other thread...post #76.

Gave your review of Gone Girl a thumb. I haven't read it so I don't know yet whether I agree with you, but an honest review, especially of a book that is getting "popular" hits, deserves to stay available and get a thumb up from me!

Honestly? I'm not sure I'd say your review is a "review". It's a reaction, and it's honest, and it shouldn't be censored. But you're telling me what you felt and not why. (You did say more in a subsequent post, if I recall correctly.) But "I HATED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK FROM ITS SNARKTASTIC SMUG SNOTTY STRAIGHT PEOPLE TO ITS PLOT THAT MADE ME HOMICIDALLY FURIOUS. I wish only the worst commercial luck for it, its movie, its author, its publisher, its publicist, its director, its producer, its screenwriter, and its legion of woman and crypto-woman fans" actually disconcerted me. I know you well enough that you don't really wish the worst for me, but frankly, this really took me aback, and it has taken me a few days to respond for that reason alone. Your opinion is your opinion -- and shouldn't be shut down -- but even though I know you and care about you as a friend, reading the words that you "wish the worst commercial luck for ... its legion of woman and crypto-woman fans" made me very uncomfortable. And while I gather from your later post that you felt it was a "man bad, woman good" kind of book, I would have found it more interesting to understand why you thought that -- would have made it a real review. As it would have had you included your later comment that "the easiest choice was the one the authoress made" all the way through. Please don't take offense at this post, however...

I am not sure whether to give you ((Hugs)) for today or not. You are already so spoiled :)

I think one of the best parts of a review are the parts that tell how it made the reader feel. I count on that.
I don't want the bones of a book.. a synopsis give you that. I like to get the "feel" of a book from the reviewer. Whether I like what they have to say or not isn't the point.

Here's my opinion, one which no one has asked for: If a book makes you furious, it is enough for me that you just say that. If I am really curious what the book is about, or what in it might create such a passionate response, I can read other reviews by people not affected so dramatically. I like a little drama, and passion, in my life and if it arrives via a big reaction to a book, so much the better for me!

ha!

Have a great day. I'm off to Seattle to walk around Green Lake with a friend I first met the summer before we started high school. I think that would be the summer of 1959. And one of the things we used to do on Saturdays was rent bikes and ride them around the same Green Lake! I anticipate this will be a great good time.

Then, stopping by the rental house to clean up a little more from my attempt to do yard work there yesterday.

Home and reading!

Karen, that sounds wonderful, have fun!

The 'whys' of a person's feeling about a book are usually only relevant to those who have already read the book, and so better suited for book discussions. The vast majority of review that I read are for books I haven't read yet, and too much information about why a person liked or didn't like the book can work against it, acting as spoilers and making me less interested in reading it.

It's not like I can discuss a book I haven't read, so details aren't necessary. If it's a book I've read and I'm interested in the opinions beyond what was mentioned in the review, I can always send them a message. :)

>65 EBT1002: Thanks for the thumb, Ellen! I appreciate it, and knowing the why of it.

>66 Chatterbox: I had a whole long thoughtful reply typed out, Suz, but the computer froze and I lost it. Suffice it to say that I'm not offended, your points are well-taken, and that review...responses are reviews...did what I wanted it to do. It expressed my immediate and visceral emotions elicited by the authoress's work.

One last thought: Until the ending, when that vile manipulative slime Amy pulled That Card, I was unhappy and mildly revolted. It was at that point that I went ballistic, during that last scene.

>67 alcottacre: Ah g'wan, spoil me some more! *smooch*

>68 mckait: It's why I used not to give book reports in my reviews...you want to know what the plot's about? Read a synopsis. I feel strongly that a review should express the feelings and reactions of the reviewer or else why would I care?

>69 maggie1944:, 70 What a lovely-sounding day! 1959, huh? I hadn't even been conceived in 1959. You're like waaay old. Almost as old as Kath! I think her first memories are of ice sheets receding....

>71 Ape: each person's TMI threshhold is different. I suspect no one reviewer or review will suit everyone, ever.

Good morning, RD! I feel full from just reading about all the fantastic food you've eaten and alcohol you've drunk starting at message 38. *burp*

Wishing you a good day.

Yes, that last scene seems to be what bothers most people who've read the book; kinda like a get out of jail free card.
Re reviewing generally, I tilt toward including enough of the "what" so people don't have to go to the synopsis, but usually as part of the review -- i.e. this is yet another one of those coming of age stories that are the hallmark of writers who can't come up with a better concept for a novel but feel the urge to become an Author with a capital A, and the fact that this particular Author can write doesn't mean he can tell a good story. The reviews I'm happiest with convey my POV/feelings and support it. And yes, no reviewer/review will suit everyone, just as no book will suit everyone. I'd be scared if I thought they might -- Orwellian. I do think that jinxing/hexing not only the author, publisher etc. but also those who did like the book did cross a line. And just to clarify, it's not the vituperative tone of the dislike, it's that I had to read further down to really grasp why, and I wanted to know what triggered that visceral distaste! :-)

OK, onward and upward...

I must say, I'm enjoying this discussion about reviews. I don't have the time or patience to carefully write reviews most of the time (and I figure there are enough others with more time, talent, and inclination) and I sometimes feel like there is "pressure" (self-imposed, I know) to write a good review. Well, I hardly have time to read what i want to read; I certainly don't have time to carefully write a review of what I do read! I agree that it's helpful to know why a "reviewer" had whatever reaction they had, but I don't expect LTers to always (or even usually) write reviews that effectively fit the definition.

I often have an internal dialogue regarding who my intended audience is when I do write a review. If LTers are my audience (and they usually are at least part of my intended audience), then I feel more pressure to write a "good" review. If my "review" is just for myself, additional documentation of what I've read and whether I liked it, then I can write more viscerally. I doubt I'll ever land in one place on this question.

Me too Ellen, enjoying discussion about reviews I mean. And not having (or making) the time to write what I would like to in a review.

Ellen, I felt pressured to review for a long time. Now, I only review the books I owe a review for ( LTER or Vine) unless i want to write one. Making that change has been a good thing....

eta

I am not a professional reviewer... I don't trust professional reviewers and if a review seems to professional to me I simply disregard it and move on. A review that is just a few thoughts? Much better for my purposes.

I review books when i have to (Net Galleys)....and, my reviews are Self Indulgent, from the Get-Go.....

I don't have a Fan Club..on my thread...and am grateful for that

One thing I have noticed, lately...on LTs HOT REVIEWS....they are mostly Political/Popularity inclined....meaning......the Hot Reviews get points if someone's thread is Hugely Popular.....and a review was questioned.....whoops, Review is #1!!!

I thought Book Reviews were supposed to be about Books...not the reviewer's life/pissy-reaction-to-the-Book

I used to love you, Sweetie..but, too often, lately...seems to me you're just posting about yourself....and your Life situation.......in the guise of Book Reviews.. nothing wrong with that....just call a Spade....and collect your Book Reviews as Autobiography...

****i shall be throttled for this...so be it****

>74 karenmarie: It was, thanks, Horrible...I was *glued* to The Beautiful Mystery...wow. *smooch*

>75 Chatterbox: Point taken.

JEAN-GUY!

>76 EBT1002: Ellen, I think reviews should be flexible in purpose and audience. I don't think getting stuck in one way of writing about a subject as broad and deep and visceral as reading works.

>77 LovingLit: I don't think your reviews are at all inadequate by any measure, Megan.

>78 mckait: Which is why your reviews are often the most influential a book gets, sweetness.

>79 jdthloue: Jude, why would I throttle you? Why would anyone throttle you? All you've done is express your opinion, and without being unpleasant about it, make your dissatisfaction plain.

There isn't anything I can do about your sources of dissatisfaction, but that doesn't make them invalid.

I like writing reviews on my 75 thread because I use them as an aide de memoir, having no memory to speak of. I have gone back several years to see if I actually read a book and have been pleased to find that I wrote a bit about it, jump starting the faulty memory! When I was new to LT, I felt obligated to post reviews so they would be public (I have no idea why I thought this--neophyte perhaps) but I seldom do now, unless it's an ER book and I must. Now and then someone will say I should post a review because there aren't many others and it would be helpful, so I will then.

I don't automatically thumb reviews unless I really like them (they enhance a book I've already read or they make me want to read a book I haven't read). A well written review can tell me whether I might like a book or not--or even whether I should buy it, rather than getting it out of the library. There are some LTers whose reviews are reliable for their thoughtfulness and depth, so I always read theirs.

And sometimes reviews just make me laugh, like that review of a dictionary that someone did.

I just think that like books.. reviews will never be agreeable for everyone and so be it. No need for kerfluffle.
Not every book is for every person. Not every review is going to please everyone. I will just say again that I read the synopsis to get the idea what a book is about, and I read reviews to see if it has heart. But that is important to me. I do not care one bit if a book is great literature. I want a story to love, or at least like.

No review of the Penny yet? I will look back later... I am intrigued.

Jude, if you think LT is political, steer clear of Amazon! That is like swimming in shark-infested waters... People whine and gripe about their reviewer rankings, gang/block-vote, form cliques, etc. There are reviewers reviewing the reviews... Goodreads, too, appears to be having some trouble, with various factions. A friend of mine ran afoul of one of their posse (he's an author) when he mentioned on his FB page that he was a bit down in the dumps due to a bad review on a blog. His friends pursued his case a bit too ardently, "outed" the review and trashed it -- all while he was off working on his WIP and ignoring FB. As a result, he has now been labeled an author behaving badly and was so distressed he spent 90 mins in the middle of the night a week or two ago talking this through with me. Result is he has to disassociate from all book social media and split his FB persona in half, one for his public life and one for a small handful of friends he knows he can trust not to get too ardent in his defense.

I rarely go to the review pages here; prefer to read reviews on threads and keep 90% of my comments on my thread.

Richard -- are you going to post a review la nouvelle Penny?

Invite him here.. we are generally nicer.

I think he's wise, Suz, to dissociate from book social media. Kath, it's almost universally been bad for the peace of mind of the authors I know to get into book social media in any but the most glancing way.

I'm cogitating my review of la Penny's nouvelle ouevre. I want to convey the deep emotional resonance of my response without spoilering, because the event to spoiler is a very important one.

I suppose the best thing to do is simply say "read it even if the only books you like are set in Three Pines because you NEED to see how the series is changing."

Tui, I view the thumb in the same light as I view the "like" button on FB..."I've seen this." I thumbs-up things so I don't stumble back later asking why someone hasn't read or reviewed something. Same reason I publish my reviews publicly: I don't keep a master list of my reviews, and many's the time I've run across a review of a book, thought "ooo that sounds shiny!" and lo and behold, there's my review on the review page saying "this book's shiny!"

Others have their different reasons and actions, and I don't get involved in them, as they aren't meant for me to use as guidelines. The one time I've asked for public support is when some damnfool called a review not a review. That made me mad, and I hollered for and got support.

I've stopped cyber-speaking to people over flagging as not a review anything that is not simply a pointer to the "reviewer"'s blog post about the book. I regard that kind of judgment as arrogant and completely unjustified. Don't like the way someone conducts him or herself on the site? Move along. Saying "you aren't doing this right!" is adolescent and obnoxious. This is not a junior high classroom or lunch room.

I write what I write, others feel what they feel about it, and there's an end to it. I'll happily, as I think this thread shows, hear criticisms. If I agree, I'll implement them. But don't tell me, with that condescending little flag, that I'm not doing it right.

Once again so far behind.. sigh ;) waves

Hi Monica!

Review: 72 of seventy-five

Title: THE BEAUTIFUL MYSTERY

Author: LOUISE PENNY

Rating: 4.75* of five

The Book Report: The book description says:
The brilliant new novel in the New York Times bestselling series by Louise Penny, one of the most acclaimed crime writers of our time.

No outsiders are ever admitted to the monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups, hidden deep in the wilderness of Quebec, where two dozen cloistered monks live in peace and prayer. They grow vegetables, they tend chickens, they make chocolate. And they sing. Ironically, for a community that has taken a vow of silence, the monks have become world-famous for their glorious voices, raised in ancient chants whose effect on both singer and listener is so profound it is known as “the beautiful mystery.”

But when the renowned choir director is murdered, the lock on the monastery’s massive wooden door is drawn back to admit Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir of the Sûreté du Québec. There they discover disquiet beneath the silence, discord in the apparent harmony. One of the brothers, in this life of prayer and contemplation, has been contemplating murder. As the peace of the monastery crumbles, Gamache is forced to confront some of his own demons, as well as those roaming the remote corridors. Before finding the killer, before restoring peace, the Chief must first consider the divine, the human, and the cracks in between.

My Review: I've recently reviewed the thirteenth entry in a mystery series, which I have now abandoned; and another twelfth entry in a series, which I have not abandoned, despite its uneven track record in my affections.

This is the eighth Gamache mystery. Louise Penny has ripped my emotions to shreds more than once before now. She's not a writer who has any fear of allowing her creations to grow and change, like real people do, in ways that might not always suit us, the audience.

And that is the reason that her books don't simply keep selling. They rocket up the bestseller lists. They deserve to rocket up the bestseller lists because Louise Penny invests her characters with believable inner lives. I know the characters well, and like so many people I know well, they throw me curve balls and they change into people I don't like, and they screw up and they cannot help themselves because, like every breathing one of us, they are wounded and hurting and scared and doing their dead-level best to get through each day with a minimum of carnage.

And when challenges arise, well...they rise to them or they fall before them, just like real people do. Like real people, their responses bring up feelings, strong ones, in us their friends...their readers...Louise Penny's readers. Strong, strong feelings. Quite strong. Oh my yes.

A few minor points: I've heard it said that Penny's is a writing style that is choppy, or clipped; I agree with this assessment; and I for one find that a plus, because the stories themselves are so lush and so intense and would so lend themselves to a more baroque treatment that I find the clipped-ness of the prose to be refreshing and invigorating. I've also heard a few dissenting voices say somewhat dismissive things about the plots of the books, the puzzles themselves. With this critique I find myself out of sympathy. I unravel the mysteries quickly because I've read so very many over the years. I suspect some reviewers have the same experience level that I do. I would suggest to those readers that they consider the number of truly surprising resolutions they've read in the past few years that didn't involve authorial sleight-of-hand.

Lastly, Kathleen...read it. I know it's not in Three Pines, and it's not going to be as much fun, but the ending is something you simply should not miss. No rush, but don't skip it. Really. Honest.

Ooh, lovely review, very nicely done to tell me everything I wanted to know without telling too much.

I am afraid I am being bitten by the Louise Penny bug.

>91 ronincats: Oh good! I was trying for that.

>92 maggie1944: *chompchompchomp* goes the bug



I'll go with "impossible."

As an entryway for a library, can you picture anything cooler?

Ran right out and bought Still Life by Louise Penny, at $2.99 for my Nook! stupid touch stone is in error

http://www.librarything.com/work/544362

Still Life is the only Louise Penny that I've read so far. I liked it but didn't love it. But Richard, dear, your review of The Beautiful Mystery is making me want to pursue the series.

eta: maybe that's the best thing about any review: it either makes me want to read the book or it doesn't. Or, I suppose, in some cases, it leaves me completely unsure about whether I want to read the book!

eta again: then maybe that's not the best thing about a review......
Now I've thoroughly confused myself.

Still Life is not the best of her work, Karen, so don't stop with that one no matter how you feel about it..

rd.. ok. I will read it.

(as for the review, to stay in the spirit of things )



and thumb.

Kath, I did invite him over here and said that he could stay anonymous -- he loves to chat about books. We'll see. His publishers are advising him to lay low. There's nothing to gain for anyone in that kind of spat, which he knows himself, and some bloggers still apparently need to learn. I have blogged some negative reviews, but only when I thought it was compelling. Otherwise, my idea in blogging, vs. reviewing or commenting here or on Amazon, is to draw attention to books that I think people might like.

Anyway... I quite liked the Louise Penny novel, though not as much as Richard did. As he noted, I do have a beef with the staccato prose, to the point where it sometimes feels like fingers on the proverbial chalkboard. And I also realized that I have a problem with the way Louise Penny paints characters - her Gamache is wise, all-knowing, and definitely paternalistic. He shields (which would be Gamache's word) Jean-Guy from some facts and requires his trust; in that context, I can understand some of Jean-Guy's actions in this novel. (Trying very hard to avoid spoilers!) Jean-Guy worships Gamache, but Gamache doesn't seem to be aware of the dangers associated with that. It's not that Gamache puts himself in that role, but if he is as wise as Penny portrays him... So ironically, I found Jean-Guy the most interesting character here. I find the same issue with some her Three Pines characters, like the obnoxious but talented poet, etc. -- they all seem to be character traits and not just characters. I don't have any beef with the plots, especially in this case.

Yup, super cool library step embellishments.

Bwaaahaahaahaa

Well.. hopefully your friend will find a way to join in.. and, as you say, stay anonymous ..
or not.. but that might do the trick.. at least for a while. Terrible situation and I feel sorry for him.

I am not a writing judge... for the most part. Unless it just annoys me or sounds as if a third grader wrote it, I'm in it for the story. Gamache is not nearly my favorite character in the Penney books. I don't dislike him, but he isn't why I read the books. Three Pines is what draws me and the people who live there. That's why I have considered skipping this one. I might just see if Vine offers it up, and go from there. I have her other books in hardback, so if I can get it from Vine, and I like it, I will probably buy the hardback..

Love that one rd :)

>95 maggie1944: heeheehee Karen44 is on the bus heeheehee

>96 EBT1002: ...now I'm all tangled up, too...?

>97 mckait: Good. That jpeg would make a fun gif!

>98 Chatterbox:, 101 You're far from the only one to bring up the style, Suz, but it's always in the context of "if only she'd stop that!" The plot came in for criticism on Goodreads. I think those people need gratitude lessons a lot of the time.

I hope your friend comes on board, though later is probably better than sooner. Such a shame.

>99 LovingLit: I KNOW!!!

>102 mckait: Heh!

I am taking note of those who warn me better is to come after this first book. I just could not resist since it was the 1st book and the cheapest of the Nook offerings. I hate it that the Nook and Kindle books are beginning to cost what the "dead tree" books cost. I was out for saving money; I've turned off the TV cable; what more do they want me to cut from my budget?

OK. no more whining, or whinging (is that the Brit's word?)

>100 richardderus: that is excellently funny and by knowing that I feel very high-brow ;)
(not that Ive read Atlas Shrugged...just all the discussions. )

Often lurking, seldom heard - but you may have heard my loud guffaw at #100. (I have met some of those Atlas adults - not pretty)

>104 maggie1944: Keep it up, Karen44, in the face of all temptations to stop.

>105 LovingLit: It's not a book I can, in good conscience, recommend.

>106 PrueGallagher: Hi Prue, glad to see you.

by "book" you mean doorstop?

Heavens, don't use it as a doorstop! Wilby might touch it!

lol
OK.

Goooooooooooood Morning!

I've missed over 100 posts during my move and have only skimmed, but I at least wanted to leave my mark and a hello. :-*

Book porn!

>110 LovingLit: One shouldn't expose the youf of tomorrow to neurotoxins knowingly, after all.

>111 mckait: Good morning! Someone has had her Wheaties, I see.

>112 London_StJ: Moving *shudder* excuses all. Glad you're in place, if not organized.

#113 Huh. Wow. Drool.

Gotta stop drooling over your thread Richard!

Weather update - muggy muggy muggy hot muggy. Chance of arguments/fights/screams/tantrums/rain? All high.

#87 Flagged! *couldn't resist it*

#105 & #107 You should see Rushdie's tweets about Ayn Rand in general, they are quite good!

For some reason Rushdie reminds me of Richard, I am sure they will get along wonderfully well, or kill each other, one of the two.

Wordnik Word of the Day: chrysography: The art of writing letters of gold, practiced by manuscript writers in the middle ages.

I have *got* to find a way to use this one! What a great concept is lost because this word isn't commonly used.

>115 BekkaJo: Ew. I so relate. Weather has a giant effect on my mood, too.

>116 PiyushC: Heh! You're kidding, right Piyush? RIGHT?

Wherever 113 is, I want to go there.

edit: I want to live there. In that room. Put a toilet in the corner. Shower optional because I'm never leaving nor letting anyone else in. It's mine. MINE.

You might have to speak sharply to the lawyers of The Hague, since it's their national law library.

Frankly, though, a biblioholic queen vs a nation of lawyers...I'm backin' the queen.

Yay Milwaukee!

Chiming in on personal book reviews, I no longer post reviews on Amazon. I've had some wicked bad experience there with obnoxious people who were quite rude and wanted to engage in written arguments.

I've never run across that here in our 75 challenge group!

I'm constantly amazed about how people will take different opinions on a book, movie, music, play, etc as a personal affront and therefore launch an attack as a result. Sure, I don't get how people can't love Dickens...but I fully respect that other's experiences, opinions, and likes are different than mine. To turn it into a fight, or to feel personally offended, is some ludicrous phenomenon that the Internet seems to have wrought.

Love the review! I am very much looking forward to reading The Beautiful Mystery in September

>122 Whisper1: Unless it's an ER book, I don't post on Amazon anymore either, and for the same reason. I don't like the way the culture works there.

>123 ty1997: Although it causes me actual physical pain to imagine you reading Chuckles' books, Tom, it's true, I'd never tease you about your lack of taste in liking them f2f.

It says here.

>124 ChelleBearss: It is a really powerfully moving book for those of us afflicted with Gamacheitis. September will be a teary month for you.

Re: people who must pick fights. IMHO, they are to be pitied as they obviously are sitting on a volcano of ugly emotions which spew out at all sorts of misdirections. I would be willing to bet the farm that none of them truly care that much about the book reviews they fight about, and that it is all about having deep wounds which have never healed, and they are mad and angry and passionate because they are separated from most of humanity by their poisonous personalities.

Of course, I have no credentials, or evidence for this humble opinion other than my years of experiencing people, face to face. I have no time for arguments or fights over my computer screen. Moving along, now.... got to read some books.

Well.... I stand by what I said before...and on my thread

I think that a one line Cranky Rant doesn't carry the same weight as a well thought-out Book Review...maybe i'm crazy...but that's my stance, and i'll stick to it

I don't pick fights, online...because that would be stupid...without eye contact and verbal nuance, the whole thing would be pointless

i don't base my reading choices on book reviews...I guess I'm weird because i have a Sixth Sense about books

I never criticized Richard's opinion of Gone Girl...i just don't respect the way he presented it....i.e.....a Visceral Reaction to a book, should maybe wait a while, before presenting itself

"Nuff said.....

****sorry, Sweetie****

I can't find where it was that I was whining that my high school best friend stood me up for a walk around Green Lake in Seattle; well, she did call and do her best at mea culpa. I guess she is still a little flaky. She thought she had convinced me to meet her at the church where we used to attend (pre-1964 mind you) rather than at the Lake. Nevertheless, I am sure we will find another time to get together; and laugh at ourselves as we enjoy catching up. Nice to know I was not "blown off".

Tomorrow, I get to spend the day sorting through my office messes looking for the last little bit of data needed to finish the 2011 Income Taxes! Bleak. Hope I'll do well, and then I can read, too.

Delurking to say hello for a change, Richard. I hope today is a good one for you.

I'm meant to be going through receipts and bank statements today as a preparation for eventual tax return. Not surprisingly, I'm finding visiting threads to be far more attractive a prospect!

Hmmm.. you are nicer than I am, Karen.. I would have been miffed at being "Stood up" like that. Next time check in the night before? lol

So just a quick stop in before I get busy, rd. Hope it's a good day for you !

113 - Yup, that's just what I'd like, thank you.

Tip o' the Hatlo Hat to you Richard

Richard, Darling. Dear one. How in the hell did you get a copy of The Beautiful Mystery? It's not being released until the 28th of August. Am I missing something here?

I am pouting.

Review: 73 of seventy-five

Title: MIDNIGHT RIOT

Author: BEN AARONOVITCH

Rating: 3.5* of five

The Book Report: The book description says:
Probationary Constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in London’s Metropolitan Police. Too bad his superior plans to assign him to the Case Progression Unit, where the biggest threat he’ll face is a paper cut. But Peter’s prospects change in the aftermath of a puzzling murder, when he gains exclusive information from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost. Peter’s ability to speak with the lingering dead brings him to the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who investigates crimes involving magic and other manifestations of the uncanny. Now, as a wave of brutal and bizarre murders engulfs the city, Peter is plunged into a world where gods and goddesses mingle with mortals and a long-dead evil is making a comeback on a rising tide of magic.

My Review: I'm on record everywhere as disliking phantasee nowvels with Randomly capitalized woordes misspelled to make them majgicqkal. So why the hell would I even pick this book up? Need an easy target to aim brickbats at?

No.

I feel about this book the way I feel about candy bars: Okay. I won't buy one, normally, because I don't like them much (except Little Debby Nutty Bars, which are Perfection, but this is so self-evident as not to need discussion), but there are times and places for everything, right? I found a time and a place for this book. I liked it fine. It's more what I'd hoped for when I heard the fuss about the Harry Dresden, Wizard for Justice, series. Which I did not like at all after about book two.

Peter Grant and his London are intimately connected. The prose makes sure you know this by referencing the ways in which Peter interfaces with London constantly. Tube stops, the names of branch lines, references to bus lines and street names and the oh-so-British shorthand about a character by referencing the newspaper he or she reads...highways and exits and town names...the UK title of the book, The Rivers of London, is absolutely the proper title for a book that uses those rivers, from obvious and huge like the Thames to small, obscure, and vanished, like the Tyburn, as characters to be reckoned with, and whose central myth-making (highly reminiscent of American Gods) dates the age of some riverine characters to the time when England began to clean the rivers up and bring them back to life...well, Midnight Riot just doesn't do the book justice.

So...Harry Dresden meets American Gods, two things that have elicited negative reviews from me, and I give this three and a half stars. Senile? Drugged?

Honest. This book is meant to be fun to read, and it is, while still being built with a consistent mythical background, and it is, with...and here's the key to my pleasure in reading this as opposed to Dresden or Gaiman...a main character whose journey through the pages of story causes him to alter his perception of himself and his place in the world. Harry Dresden's boring agonizing and obnoxious chauvinistic 'tude towards women are absent. Gaiman's ultraubermega cool world-building is present, but without the static characters. Score!

Okay, that sounds like more than three and a half stars, right? Yep. If the book had had some issues ironed out, the rating would be higher. One big issue is Peter Grant's attitude towards the whole majgicqal mystikal world he's suddenly in touch with. “Oh...okay.” Not enough, Mr. Aa. Another issue is the pacing. How, in this day and time of 11945663-page, 29846-volume series novels, is it possible to make 298pp have draggy spots?! Seriously. Draggy spots! How? And there is the question of series-ness...one doesn't want to give too much away to preserve the fun of discovery for future installments, but the cicerone character of Nightingale, Grant's police superior and apparently a very, very old man, is not so much mysteriously vague and intriguing as annoyingly unexamined.

Flaws exist in all things made by humankind, and one person's flaw is another's bliss, but these are pet peeves of mine. Character development and pacing are crucial to my personal enjoyment of a novel. I'm inclined to be forgiving of first novelists in these matters, but not vets like Aaronovitch, who has written several very influential Doctor Who novels.

So three and a half stars it is. And I'll read Moon Over Soho, the next installment in the series, because I like Peter and his majgickqal world that much. Pretty high praise coming from a mean old curmudgeon like me.

>126 maggie1944: Experience trumps credentials in my world-view.

>127 jdthloue: What are you sorry FOR, Jude? Expressing your opinion? Why? Unless someone says something that I construe to be personally against me, I don't take offense, When they do, I say so.

Your opinion about that review is yours. I ain't changin' nothin' based on your opinion because I disagree with you. So what's to be sorry about?

I used to love you, Sweetie..but, too often, lately...seems to me you're just posting about yourself....and your Life situation.......in the guise of Book Reviews.. nothing wrong with that....just call a Spade....and collect your Book Reviews as Autobiography...

That's from post #79. You feel how you feel. I don't care a fig about your opinion of me posting my autobiography as book reviews because there's nothing about you in it. They're my reviews, and people read them or they don't, and agree with them or they don't, and so what? It's not about anyone else but me when I write a review. If it's not valuable to you, okay, don't read them. Problem solved.

>128 maggie1944: I'm with Kath, you're a lot more kindly than I would be in the same circs. But then again, you're just a lot more kindly than I am!

>129 gennyt: Genny, how delightful! So glad you de-lurked. Tax returns, blech, yes anyanyanything to escape that. Come back soon!

>130 mckait: *smooch* So far not...three thunderstorms, sore knee (injury this time), grumpy dog, blahblahblah.

>131 London_StJ: Heh. You and Tom will have to square off for the right to evict the lawyers of the Netherlands from their law library!

>132 magicians_nephew: Hi Jim! Glad to see you!

>133 karenmarie: Remember last year? I read A Trick of the Light early, too? I Know People. *smug obnoxious smile* Kiss kiss, Horrible dear!

Hi! Back from my nursely duties in MN. The surgery went well and my niece is back home recuperating. I am exhausted after all the beeping and pinging and didn't get much sleep on the nights I stayed at the hospital. Honestly, how do they expect anyone to get well with no sleep?! Home in OR, where we are finally experiencing a heat wave. 90's today and 100s the next few. Ugh.

Good news about your girl! Yay! Glad you could do the Nurseykins for her, it helps in getting well to know that there are close loved ones.

Temps sound horrific. Hor. RIF. Ick!!

*smooch* for the delight of seeing your happy face!

*lurking my way through as I've cut a finger on my left, and right hand hurts from RA, and i"m fussing with tax data, too: so - nothing to contribute*

*lurkish wave at lurking visitor*

I hope the Milwaukee Library doesn't get sued...as they are great new logos!

I wonder if *any* corporation is so stupid as to sue a public library for any but the most egregious copyright violations. What *rotten* publicity that would be.

*crosses fingers for sanity in corporate Murrika*

I LOVE #121!!!!!
Love it, I tell you.

I do too, Ellen!

I've reviewed a well-loved book from my past, Green Darkness, which I might shouldn't've re-read, over in my other thread...post #86.

>143 richardderus:: Besides the bad publicity, they'd probably also lose. IANAL, but I'm pretty sure those images qualify as parodic fair use.

Well, at least until the Supreme Court auctions away all of our rights to corporate bidders.

*crosses fingers for sanity in legal Murrika*

We have roughly equal chances of our wishes coming true, I suspect.

Hello Richard - Finally caught up with you. No book porn caught my attention this time but I have to say the gastronomic delights listed further up the thread had me drooling.

Great review of Penny's The Beautiful Mystery.

Hi Lori! Thanks...I liked that book quite a lot. Glad you enjoyed the review.

Good morning

except Little Debby Nutty Bars, which are Perfection, but this is so self-evident as not to need discussion

Oh Lord, yes. I'd also include Oatmeal Creme Pies. It takes every ounce of will power to pass by the Little Debbie table when I go to Publix, as it is strategically and dangerously positioned next to the checkout lanes.

Hi RD- Just a quick stop to say hi! Hope all is well with you and your current reads are good ones!

HA

>150 maggie1944: Hi Karen44!

>151 kidzdoc: Little Deb herownself designed that piece of truth in advertising.

>152 msf59: Hi Mark, welcome home fishman, and find your camera.

Fun facts about books!

It's been years since I had one of the Little Debby Nutty Bars (used to be a favorite!) or Oatmeal Cream Pies (also very yummy). I'm reminded of an "episode" of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me when Paula Poundstone went on and on with Michael Pollan about the fact that there are three ingredients in a Ring Ding (evidence that this was real food). The ingredients were: one, Devi's Food Cake. Two creamy filling. and three, a rich chocolate outer coating.
Wait Wait Don't Tell Me
Hilarious.

Love it

Just my daily pop-in. : )

>154 richardderus: Little Deb herownself designed that piece of truth in advertising.

Right. I think that one is much more accurate than the official version:

>158 maggie1944: Me too.

>159 Berly: *smooch* as Berly flies by

>160 kidzdoc: Sadly lacking in the punch and verve of yours.

Little Debbie. Not a girl we are familiar with here in NZ, but you guys do have some strange confectionery items. I mean (S)nickers!! Oh how I laughed at that as a kid when I saw one.

This from the woman who lives in a place where they call something that sounds delicious "Pineapple Lump."

Review: 74 of seventy-five

Title: THE STEAMPUNK BIBLE

Author: JEFF VANDER MEER

Rating: 3.5* of five

The Book Report: The book description says:
Steampunk—a grafting of Victorian aesthetic and punk rock attitude onto various forms of science-fiction culture—is a phenomenon that has come to influence film, literature, art, music, fashion, and more. The Steampunk Bible is the first compendium about the movement, tracing its roots in the works of Jules Verne and H. G. Wells through its most recent expression in movies such as Sherlock Holmes. Its adherents celebrate the inventor as an artist and hero, re-envisioning and crafting retro technologies including antiquated airships and robots. A burgeoning DIY community has brought a distinctive Victorian-fantasy style to their crafts and art. Steampunk evokes a sense of adventure and discovery, and embraces extinct technologies as a way of talking about the future. This ultimate manual will appeal to aficionados and novices alike as author Jeff VanderMeer takes the reader on a wild ride through the clockwork corridors of Steampunk history.

My Review: A movement that, at its oldest, is 25 years old, doesn't need a bible. But in my opinion, THE bible is unnecessary as well, so no one's listening to me, are they?

It turns out, in this case at least, that this is a good thing. What a lovely book! How wonderful and imaginative the items in it are. I love the DIY side of Steampunk, and would love to win Powerball (like that one person in Michigan...one person!...who won the $337 million this week, wonder if he/she's married...) because I'd have the whole place crammed with the bizarre and beautiful artifacts the Steampunkers produce. I already have a Walt Whitmanesque beard...now all I need is the gear....

Anyone who is on Facebook should look at a page called, with admirable restraint and clarity, “Steampunk” to get a sense of how very widespread the appeal of the aesthetic is. And to see some astoundingly cool stuff. There are Steampunk expos. The Burning Man festival is a steampunk-heavy event now, when it used to be a way trippy new-age-meets-orgy kinda deal. If this neo-Victorian aesthetic would just hurry up and supplant the noisy, ugly, annoying rap/hip-hop/”urban” horripilation I've snorted at and winced through for the past 20 years, I will be the happiest old man who ever pinched a monocled twentysomething boy's ass. (His monocle fell out. I think I gave myself a rupture laughing.)

So three and a half stars? Mingy much? Well. Um. Not really. VanderMeer does what he usually ends up doing in his anthologies. He puffs his friends and tells us what to think about the subject under discussion. I don't really like that a lot.

And, as I mentioned, the movement's pretty new. The available material isn't up to much in survey terms, and this book isn't at all comprehensive. Had it been, I would have been a lot more lenient. On the whole, I'd say it's a pretty ornament to the coffee table and let you take it from there.

Just popping in... Little Debbie huh? Cravings? Pregnant?

Whatcha doing'?

Reviewin'. Gotta take the dog out soon, and then we'll head to Wal-Mart for supplies for her. Boring stuff. How did the moving around go?

I lived. More to come.. you know how it is..
Have fun at Wally World

*ngurmph* As if. Glad you had your clear-out, though!

>134 richardderus:: Thanks, Richard. Fantasy, Mystery and London, my heart's love of cities. How can I resist? And you give it a good review to boot. I'll *definitely* look for this one.

>170 Catreona: Very pleased you enjoyed my review! I hope you'll enjoy the book, too.

*Like* to the Dorothy Parker!

I like the quote, rd... I have terminal curiosity myownself.. ( most days)

Posting 169 is my model for life!

I'm off to the Vet today to see if any thing can be done to help my doggie Nicky, his right rear leg is nonfunctioning. Poor old man!

I hope they'll be able to help him.

>172 gennyt:, 173, 174 Yeppir, ol' Dotty knew her onions, she did she did.

I've come back from the village liberry furious. I went to pay for a book THEY lost. I loathe this liberry's staff..."we had 23 checkouts of this title" oh? since when? when was the last one? "it doesn't matter, we want the book" then go look for it, I returned it on 7/21 with six others "our system shows it's not returned" etc etc etc.

The upshot? I made an appointment with the director to complain about their staff's overall unhelpful and rude attitude.

As my daughter would say, "Grrrrness!" Supposed to break 100 again. Grrrrrness again!

My room is a National Guard Armory, in that case.

>176 Berly: Oh boo hiss, poor Berly-boo!

Hallo, RD!

Happy Friday to you.

*smooch*

>179 karenmarie: *smooch* Thanks, loveycuddles.

I must know someone who likes Paul Auster, even though I don't:

Paul Auster is on the BBC World Book Club on Friday 5th October, and will be talking about his novel The New York Trilogy. We need questions to be emailed from outside Britain and if you’re in the UK we need guests to be part of the audience at 13:30 at Cheltenham Literary Festival, Cheltenham – please find the invitation attached.
In three brilliant variations on the classic detective story, Paul Auster makes the well-traversed terrain of New York City his own.
If you would like to come along and put a question to Paul Auster about The New York Trilogy or to send in your question for him please email us at worldbookclub@bbc.co.uk.
The BBC World Book Club is a unique radio programme that brings readers from around the world together with their favourite writers.
If you’d prefer not to receive these alerts, please reply with ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject box.
With thanks,
BBC World Book Club
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p003jhsk

Looking forward to your review of Just my type Richard, I saw you mentioned that you'd enjoyed it in Joe's Café. I read that one last year and found it very entertaining and interesting.

I really loved reading it, Genny. I never liked Gill Sans typeface and now I know why!

Such an interesting book.

It was interesting - though a year on I've forgotten all the specific details - can't remember what he said about Gill Sans for example, though there was a lot about Comic Sans I seem to recall! The question of whether/how much a typeface should draw attention to itself by its beauty/quirkiness or whatever made me think about how that same question applies to the style of writing too: the difference between prose that is plain and servicable, but transparent and simply tells the story without drawing attention to itself, or writing that is beautiful or clever and full of striking images etc but at the risk of distracting from the story and saying 'look at me, aren't I beautiful!'.

Eric Gill, designer of Gill Sans, had sex with his dog and wrote about it. *shudder*

Writing and type...both have their moments where pyrotechnic displays are appropriate and even desirable, and each should strive for simplicity and clarity before all other qualities. That's my take-away from the book, at least.

I already knew that Gill's sex life was a little 'unorthodox' shall we say - but I'd forgotten that particular detail in that book - probably wanted to put it out of my mind as quickly as possible! (yet I do like Gill Sans as a typeface nevertheless, clean and uncluttered it is to me).

I agree on simplicity and clarity coming first - not always achievable but should be the aim!

Oo, that's a good one. Have to think about what novels qualify.

Hi Richard - sorry to hear about your library woes. Hope you can sort them out.

Great book and reading images. Love them!

Hope you have as good a day as possible.

*smooch*

>175 richardderus:: It's a sticky situation when a patron is certain a book has been returned and the library is certain it hasn't. The patron is right often enough that library staff should be trained for a bit more diplomacy than "we want this 23 times checked out book post haste."

And what, I wonder, does the number of checkouts have to do with it?

Hoping for a satisfactory resolution.

RD- I really like the BBC World Book Club podcasts. I just recently listened to one featuring Andrea Levy, who was completely engaging, as she discussed Small Island. There was also one celebrating your favorite fellow Mr. Dickens, which was also terrific.

>187 jnwelch: I've been pondering the same thing, Joe...I think, "ooo THAT one" and then, "but no, I wasn't all that impressed" and on and on!

>188 calm: Thank you, calm, thank you most kindly.

I got a call from the library director offering a half-hearted apology, but it's better than nothing. And she said I could have a bag of books from the booksale going on now for free!

NEEDLESS to say, I hurried up and filled (my own purpose-brought) that puppy up.

Sovereign---still need to read Dissolution, but I expect to like it so why not?

Lives from Plutarch---it's an older translation, should be interesting.

The Presidential Campaign of 1860---do I know how to partay doooown or what?

Libra---wonder what happened to my copy?

Sauve Qui Peut---a Lawrence Durrell I've never read! W00t!

Midland: Twenty-five Years of Fiction and Poetry selected from the Writing Workshops of the State University of Iowa---copyright 1961! Looks like fun, except for the poetry part.

Giants in the Earth---subtitled "A Saga of the Prairie" and by someone named "Rolvaag" and, well, I ask you who could resist THAT?

Twilight of the Tyrants: The lives and times of five Latin American dictators---so obscure it has no touchstone. Yum!

Congrats on a great haul of books!

WANT WANT WANT

Book porn!

#193 I'll fight you for this one!

That is "major-ly" clever!

>194 laytonwoman3rd: Decorators at dawn!

>195 maggie1944: Heh...I agree.

I wonder if it was a closet before? Faboo idea but they had me at the plaid chair and that particular shade of green.

Oh no......take a number and get in line folks.....I have absolute dibs on #193. How absolutely fun, gorgeous, cozy, practical, etc etc etc. What a wonderful way to convert a closet!!!

Oh....yes....hello RD, I'm back from vacation....no reviews to offer---too lazy to write them, and have to deal with a seriously sick/terminally ill refrigerator. The only good news is that if I can get the Maine Energy folks to get here before it dies, I can have them cart it away and pay me $50!!!

We ordered a new one today, but it won't be here until the end of the month, so we're crossing our fingers....(we do have a 2nd smaller frig out in the mud room, so we'll be able to muddle through)>

And BTW, here in Maine, we call those Oatmeal Creme doo-hickies a Whoopie Pie.

I think we should hold a lottery, because I want it too! Soooo smart. *Looks for closets she can convert*.

Love the beddie bye book nook!

>197 tiffin: I like that shade, too, and the plaid's quite agreeable.

>198 tututhefirst: Glad you're home safe and sound!! I loves me some pumpkin whoopie pie:



They only make those fresh in the fall around here. I miss 'em when they're gone.

>200 jolerie: Yeah, YOU can go up against Tina if you want, but make a will first. That lady's been a Navy wife for many a long year. DO NOT screw with Navy wives, said the son of one.

>201 mckait: It looks exactly like something I picture you having in your home, sweetness.

Oh RD my dear, you have my number. Mr. Tutu nods in agreement. We too have pumpkin whoopies up here in the fall, along with pumpkin ice cream, and pumpkin coffee (the last is NOT on my list of nums).

Admirals flinch before the Navy wife. I have seen it with my own two baby greens. Stand between a Navy wife and what she wants? No thanks. I like my teeth.

I don't like flavored coffees in general. I like good old coffee added to hot milk, about 25% milk heated to juuust under boiling and tepid coffee poured in before all the foam subsides.

Don't know who Hank Green is, but I like how he thinks.

Why, hello, Rdear, and a happy Saturday to you. Loved the Penny review, the Rivers of London review also.

I've got the Penny or preorder, I think for the nook (who can remember these things?), and impatiently await its delivery to my machine.

Have you read any of Alberto Manguel? His writing about books, particularly The Library at Night and A Reader on Reading, are magnificent. These books make you slow down to savor them.

My own life is so crazy right now that I am in and out of the internet like a crazed bee around a rose. Did take your advice (and others') on getting some help for myownself, but that too is time-consuming.

And how are you?

I am of your tribe of coffee drinkers. My one for sure perfect moment of my days are the coffees I make. Just as you describe.

>207 Matke: Hi there Gail! *smooch* I expect that The Beautiful Mystery will please you a good bit...a major and very interesting development...and if you can, get yourself a copy of The Rivers of London via Bookmooch. I wouldn't necessarily pay full price for it.

You're the third person this week to mention Alberto Manguel to me as a must-read! I'll go get one from the liberry soonest.

I'm fine. *smooch* again

>208 maggie1944: People always want to help, get the coffee, etc...I like it best *exactly* as described, and I can't reasonably expect anyone except myself to get it right. Otherwise it just comes scalding hot with cold milk dumped in. Ugh.

OMG!! Monday was my sixth Thingaversary!



Happy Thingaversary to me!! And look, I even got a bunch of new books to celebrate!

Happy Thingaversary, Richard!!!

Happy Thingaversary, RD! Six years, huh? You are old school, my friend!

>186 richardderus: Amen! >193 richardderus: I also love the book nook. I won't fight for it but would love to come visit and lounge on occasion.
Happy Thingaversary my fellow South Texan! (Hear the mariachi band in the background)

Happy thingie day.....and yes definitely get a copy of one of the Manguel books.. They are to be savored with a good cup of java accompanying.

Thanks, Roni and Mark and luvvie and Tutu-Tina!

I want one of these as my Thingaversary gelt:

Six years of RD - celebration by buying 7 books seems insufficient somehow mate - should probably call for a public holiday. Like the alternative book covers - Ayn Rand's thinking seems well encapsulated in your cover. Have a great weekend and even if you don't I'm sure as hell it will be interesting to read about.

Happy Thingaversary Richard.

Hope you have a wonderful book filled weekend:)

Happy Thingaversary Richard. :) Have a wonderful weekend filled with all the things and books you love. ;)

Happy Thingaversary! And happy weekend :)

*lifting the cup of perfect coffee/milk* Congratulations for hanging out with all us crazy book lovers! Too much fun is had by all and may it continue well past our next anniversaries

Thank you thank you, Paul and calm and Kath and Karen44!

I'm bedroom bound again, there's a houseguest and I'm just not up for it at all. Oh boo hoo. Whatever shall I do in this room packed with books? I simply do not *know*!



I love that there are people with this much time on their hands who *aren't* reading the bible.

Happy thingaversary, sir! Xo

Thank you, dear Crypto! I am gobsmacked that it's been six years.

Happy thingy-thing, RD! Six years - that's a whole lot of LT fun you've had.

Most of it since 2009, when I joined up in this weird little subset of the site. Thanks, Joe!

>221 richardderus: I love it.. did you post it on FB too?

Happy Thingaversary, Rdear. Six years is amazing.

Oh, and I got that Giants in the Earth thing from a library sale, too; I think I was in my masochistic mode that day...

>226 mckait: But of course!

>227 Matke: It was "Rolvaag" that did me in...thanks for the Thingawishes! xo

Happy Thingaversary, and here's to many more years of LT bibliophile fun!

Happy Thingaversary, Richard!

Thanks, Genny and Darryl!

In case anyone was wondering, humor is genetically inherited. I was just talking to my deaf, wheelchair-bound 86-year-old father. Screaming is more accurate...I have to wait until no one else is in the house to call him...and in searching for a topic that wouldn't make both of us angry and upset, I hit on Putin's jailing of those silly little girls who call themselves "Pussy Riot." Free speech is a place Dad and I agree.

Well, wouldn't you know: He heard "Pussy Riot" *perfectly clearly* and said, "PUSSY RIOT?! WHERE?! WHEN?! Come and get me! I'm in!!"

I might not love him, but he *does* make me laugh.

LOL @ Dad :)

I'm still chuckling!

Happy, happy, Thingaversary RD! :)

Steampunk...Steamdrunk...I found this as a freebie on Kindle today:



http://www.amazon.com/SteamDrunks-Steampunk-Cocktails-Drinks-ebook/dp/B006ZT0EZQ...

Psst, Richard! All done. Go and check it out.

I see you've celebrated your Thingaversary in traditional style---one new book for each year, and one to "grow" on...

>235 jolerie: Thanks, Valerie!

>236 jdthloue: Steamdrunks! HA!! Priceless!

>237 ronincats: If others have not, please go and read Roni's amazing synopses of The Closing of the Western Mind. She has done an astounding job of making a dense, tough read into an enjoyable and simple read. Kudos Roni!

>238 laytonwoman3rd: I did, and it was as I was entering them in that post that it occurred to me that I HAD a Thingaversary. What made it even better is they were *free*!

I am seriously considering removing my hot water cylinder and transforming the hot water cupboard into that book nook with shelves up in #193 I think it would fit perfectly, and who needs hot water anyway!?

A woman with two sons and a functional husband will need hot water for the foreseeable future. Please believe me on this. Copper sitz baths and giant ewers of scalding water from the stovetop will wear veryvery thin.

hmph, raining on my parade.

>231 richardderus: Hilarious!

>243 kidzdoc: Yeah, my dad's a riot!



He looks like that AND he can read AND he can use a dictionary. Perfect.

Oh come on - one day I am absent and 73 posts. Le sigh.

Resigning myself to fleeting hugs :)

>245 BekkaJo: SEVENTY-THREE?! You're joking! I mean, I know things move along at a spanking pace around here, but I had no idea it was that fast!

Walls of the Universe is proving to be really good fun.

Book porn!

Hi RD- Love the Book Porn! What a great room, although my wife would never allow it, unless I had a special annex somewhere...hey not a bad idea.
I haven't seen anyone study a dictionary like that before! Hope you are having a good weekend.

If we made it a double I might be able to get hubby to approve... if one wall could be comics...

>248 msf59: I've always wondered how couples who share a room, a bathroom, and a bed stay married and alive.

I suspect he's just learned how to use it, so it's still got the novelty factor. *mmmeeeooowwwch*

>249 BekkaJo: With that much shelving, it shouldn't be a problem!

I don't know - he has a LOT of comics.

WARNING WARNING WARNING

NSFW BOOK PORN BELOW



*fantods*

Oh, that's just sick! *faints*

We share a room, but not a bathroom and our marriage is just fantastic :)

ETA: I told my husband that I want him to build me a room, EXACTLY like above and he said, "We need a bigger house..." True, so very, very true.

oh oh oh even room for art a fire oh

>253 jolerie: I hope you get the room, then sharing a bedroom won't matter, who'll ever be in it?!

>254 tiffin: I KNOW!!!

The 2012 Bulwer-Lytton Bad First Line winners are up!

I thought I liked #193 because comfy seating. But I now want to change my order to #247 because bed.

I am not one who reads in bed too often. Holding the nook or iPad gets heavy and and a book, does too, plus hard to light. however, I do like the room...

Love your book porn..

>256 swynn: I love that one...so exactly suited to my reading habits, even if the bed's too darn small.

>257 mckait: *sigh* isn't it lovely? *smooch*

#256 and #257 I will still go with #193, bed and books/laptop, etc. don't go well for me, I am more of a practitioner of using the bed strictly for what it is meant for.

PS: I am still one of those primitive ones who has, so far, resisted the peer pressure of getting a tab/reader. I do read e-books, but on my MacPro, while everyday travelling to work and back, I prefer *real* books.

I always prefer a tree book, too, Piyush, but the problem I have is physiological, and the reader is lighter than a book to hold plus no pressure to keep it open.

But I love the smell of a book....

Love that room! I can keep dreaming.

Happy Thingaversary, Richard! Love the book porn, if only.....

I love reading in bed and I love reading the nut (Nook) for the reasons Richard mentioned it's lightweight you don't have to hold it open and tonight my hands hurt so that's good deed (indeed) MacBook air (Air) is pretty lightweight too and you don't have told (to hold) it open either oh well I'm going to read now.

I left in the errors made by the Macbook Air's transcription of my dictation. RA hand is somewhat better, but I still like avoiding typing.

Monday! So hard to believe that August has moved so far along.. how can this happen?

re-reading my last evening's posting, I realized I am sounding like Archy in archy and mehitabel by Don Marquis. Have you ever read it?

>261 thornton37814: I'm dreamin' along with you.

>262 Kirconnell: Thanks, Velma!

>263 maggie1944:, 265 I agree that archy could have written that stream of consciousness, Karen44. No doubt!
*smooch*

>264 mckait: How did it get to be the 21st century? *smoochiesmoochsmooch*

For the record, I have *never* been on this beach.

>265 maggie1944:: my mother used to read that to me as a bedtime story....it's cheerio my deario that keeps a lady well!

Don Marquis as bedtime stories...explains a lot...

;-*

It really does, doesn't it.

ah, yes I think so, too

>267 richardderus:: "M.B.M.C": Marine Bouncing Mammal Carousal?

>267 richardderus: LOL!

interesting... very...

And by interesting I mean all of the posts since I was last here.

#252 swoon

Hallo RD, have a mah-velous Monday.

Daughter is back at college. The Terrible Summer is Now Officially Over. I mineownself am having a Mah-velous Monday, therefore.

*smooches* from Horrible

Delurking to say Hello. Love the book porn and what a hottie.. ;) {{Hugs}}

hi Richard

> 252 - that is one 'huge' room....... it makes the fireplace, the furniture and the doorway look 'doll-size'.

hi, sweetums. **mwah, mwah.**

and enquiring minds want to know why you've never been to that beach. hmmmm?

>247 richardderus: a book/bed platform! You are giving me some great ideas for my mythical new house RD, thanks!

>267 richardderus: lol, I would never suggest that you had, of course not. That sign cannot be for real though can it!?

eta sign. Not sigh :)

*sigh* book porn! *smooch*

IDEAL reading nook. Chairs have gotta go, though.

>270 tiffin: :-) All the best weirdos had Don Marquis as their childhood mental furniture.

>271 maggie1944: Hayyyuup.

>272 swynn: Ha! Funny one, Steve.

>273 jnwelch: It's still giving me fits of giggles.

>274 mckait: Srsly when has it been boring around here?

>275 karenmarie: I KNOW!!

It's *so*good* when they leave at that age.

>276 MonicaLynn: He is, he is! Glad to see you, Monica.

>277 EBT1002: Hi Ellen!

>278 lkernagh: Do you know, Lori, I wouldn't care if the rest of the house was one of those IKEA 400sf apartmentlets that they showcase in their stores so long as that was the main living area.

>279 mirrordrum: *smooch* Hiya Ellie! With my local beaches walrusless, I tend to frequent them in preference to pinniped-infested ones.

>280 LovingLit: Glad to be of decorating help, Megan! The sign appears to be genuine, but even if it isn't, it's too funny to care.

>281 ronincats: *sigh* is right, Roni! *smooch*

It definitely is ideal and bonus points for actually being attainable. :) Unattainable book porn just hurts.

Heh. Know what you mean, Valerie. I still think those rattan chairs are horrible and must be burned on the lawn. I'd replace them with reclining wing chairs.

Happy Thingaversary!! Are you sure you weren't on that beach? LOL. And your dad is a hoot! Luckily, since he is in a wheelchair, you can outrun him, even when you are limping. : ) As usual, you are my favorite porn site. Smooch.

282> I so agree. Lovely spot but I wouldn't get through one chapter in those lousy chairs. Gotta have an ottoman or other footrest!

Good morning, RD!

Those chairs ARE awful in #282. A comfy chair with arms and a foot rest would work much better.

Hope you have a happy day.

*smooch*

Nice nook rd :) agree, better chairs needed.

>288 Berly: Thanks, Lovey!

>289 EBT1002: At the least, Ellen, and not to mention the nasty imprint that the canework would leave in one's back if the chair wasn't scrapped.

>290 karenmarie: Thanks, Horrible, I'll work on the happy day thing. *smooch*

>291 mckait: Ain't they just?! I left a nook I thought would be more *you* on your thread.

Book porn!

Hmmm... a tad staid. (I am getting picky now!)

It's the chairs. Makes it look like a conference room. Yank 'em out and put in three or four wing chairs, the tables between each pair, and a standing lamp behind the wings of each one.

Way too many tables, too. What's with the one with the itty bitty chair?

It looks like a desk. Wonder what the itty bitty chair is meant to do?

Oops! I forgot about going back to only 250 posts per thread. Oh well, new thread's up now.