tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post4249147692855268025..comments2024-02-28T23:35:56.193-05:00Comments on The Curious Reader: Hits, Misses, and the Tower of Broken ResolutionsGradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17526750467742207099noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-16154198266711149962013-08-13T00:59:34.777-04:002013-08-13T00:59:34.777-04:00Absolutely! The weather has since improved out of ...Absolutely! The weather has since improved out of sight (whales today, too!), so it's odd reading something so, so icy. But it's entirely gripping; I recommend it. Ah, I would love a letter! I would so love a letter! No hurry, but thank you for even just having the thought. The last letter I wrote never received a reply and it just snuffs out the light in me, it really does. I should have known better and I really should have just written to you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-42362745027721314102013-08-10T15:40:28.751-04:002013-08-10T15:40:28.751-04:00Jenny, I agree with you. There really were parts ...Jenny, I agree with you. There really were parts of American Gods that I thought were quite wonderful, but there weren't enough of those moments. I think I'll have to steer clear of Stardust as well. Gaiman is a strange writer. Not at all a "type". Yes...wasn't Eat Cake a wonderful book? The dialogue was especially sharp and witty. There wasn't a character I didn't like.<br />Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526750467742207099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-10343187039127567532013-08-10T08:38:01.059-04:002013-08-10T08:38:01.059-04:00Jeanne Ray has surprised me with her extreme delig...Jeanne Ray has surprised me with her extreme delightfulness recently too! I read Eat Cake without any particular expectations, and I ended up loving it.<br /><br />I agree with you about American Gods, I'm afraid. When I read it in high school it blew me away -- it's the book that originally made me love Neil Gaiman -- but I haven't been able to recapture that feeling about it since. It has some bits I enjoy, but overall it's my least favorite of Neil Gaiman's books. Or second-least-favorite maybe, after Stardust. (On the other hand, Anansi Boys, which is set in the same world, is one of my very favorites -- its tone is completely different.)Jenny @ Reading the Endhttp://readingtheend.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-22949801072308950572013-08-08T09:47:58.040-04:002013-08-08T09:47:58.040-04:00Pete, the first ten pages are actually pretty darn...Pete, the first ten pages are actually pretty darn good. You should know whether it's your style after about 1/3 of the way in. Where do I find the meme? I'd love to give it a try. I'll check your blog for it.Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526750467742207099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-28397799666051992152013-08-08T09:45:54.559-04:002013-08-08T09:45:54.559-04:00Di, grueling Icelandic winters and a woman on deat...Di, grueling Icelandic winters and a woman on death row sound just the ticket for a vile wintry day!! :> I think I'll start Ocean At The End Of The Lane this weekend. I've also started Excellent Women for the Slaves reading group. I seldom participate since I can almost never find the books, but my library had this one. I wanted to respond to your last e-mail, but I think it deserves better than a return e-mail considering the news. A letter to you has been on my mind for over a month. I'll attempt to get accomplished this weekend as well.Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526750467742207099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-82025021942130463062013-08-08T01:22:30.246-04:002013-08-08T01:22:30.246-04:00It is a day most vile here in wintry Sydney, Gradd...It is a day most vile here in wintry Sydney, Graddikins, so I am sorely envying you your sunshine and yellow hat. And the pile of summer reading with the requisite hours dedicated to it. I really want to know how you find The Ocean at the End of the Lane. They were giving away little samplers at my bookstore - the first chapter, I think - and you've just reminded me it's sitting on the shelf. I'm reading Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. Gruelling Icelandic winters and a 19th century woman on death row...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-40783551656765225712013-08-07T09:21:26.156-04:002013-08-07T09:21:26.156-04:00Ok, I'll give it 10 pages! And by the way, if ...Ok, I'll give it 10 pages! And by the way, if you feel like doing a Liebster meme, I tagged you. :-)Petehttp://couchtrip.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-28782305229713027002013-07-30T14:25:03.859-04:002013-07-30T14:25:03.859-04:00Pete! Please do not let my dislike of American Go...Pete! Please do not let my dislike of American Gods dissuade you. I'd hate to have that on my conscience, especially since you really might love it (like many people have). I am going to dive into The Ocean (etc) as soon as I finish A High Wind In Jamaica (which I am enjoying abundantly). The book has to be special for me to want to re-read it (Les Miserables, To Kill A Mockingbird are just two I can read over and over), but I agree that life is generally to short for re-reads. Please try American Gods. I would love to hear your take on it. Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526750467742207099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-64067783298885337542013-07-30T14:07:59.227-04:002013-07-30T14:07:59.227-04:00Love the eggplant! And I'm quite envious of yo...Love the eggplant! And I'm quite envious of your books read. As for the Gaiman, I’m really disappointed because I picked that one up at a library sale and now I just know that I’ll hate it. I also loved The Graveyard Book and I'm interested to hear more about "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" which I spied in your bedside reading pile. I’m also pleased to see that you relented on the “only read books that I already own” resolution. That would be impossible for me. I struggle with even re-reading a book that I have loved. My inner voice is saying that life is too short for re-reads (when actually it should be saying that life is too short for books like American Gods). I also love audiobooks although I find that I sometimes fall asleep halfway through and then have to go back an hour or so to catch up again!Petehttp://couchtrip.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-63612422868193880122013-07-30T10:33:37.055-04:002013-07-30T10:33:37.055-04:00Litlove, the eggplant was gently sauteed in olive ...Litlove, the eggplant was gently sauteed in olive oil with onions and garlic and was fabulous. Still, not sure it was worth the effort to grow. Thank you for the very legitimate excuse for spending way too much money on my book habit. I feel better knowing I'm doing it out of a pure eleemosynary agenda and not lack of discipline! :>Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526750467742207099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-2649968840758316682013-07-28T16:50:26.665-04:002013-07-28T16:50:26.665-04:00That must be the biggest aubergine I have EVER see...That must be the biggest aubergine I have EVER seen! Wow! As for your reading, you are going great guns. I am so delighted that you enjoyed Jeanne Ray, and I am hoping very much to read To Kill A Mockingbird this year. I also disliked Wally Lamb's She's Come Undone - so great minds do think alike! As for your book pile, it looks completely splendid, and think how much good you have done the troubled book industry by becoming a consumer - think of it as a civic duty you've accomplished; I do! :-) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-79884299275439960822013-07-18T09:36:06.169-04:002013-07-18T09:36:06.169-04:00Arti, unfortunately I've only read one of the ...Arti, unfortunately I've only read one of the books in the tower; however, I have been able to make a dent in my Goodreads reading challenge. Some have been from my own shelves but most have been from the library. I am taking a brief hiatus from the library, though. I've got to get through the pictured stack. Oh, and the eggplant was delish. I sauteed it very simply in a good olive oil. Because it was so young and fresh it was perfect...as one would expect from an eggplant worth $185!Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526750467742207099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-3474791365978584902013-07-17T21:05:10.726-04:002013-07-17T21:05:10.726-04:00O my... I see that you have a full and prolific li...O my... I see that you have a full and prolific life. Your egg plant is beautiful, and the books read is quite an achievement. At the beginning of the year, I remember reading your post about the 'read from your own shelves' challenge, and I was determined to follow. Well, I did for a while, and then was distracted by so many other books. You've done a much better job. Keep up the good work and I look forward to more fantastic book reviews from you. Have a great summer!Artihttp://rippleeffects.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-29390706325519096262013-07-17T12:30:43.011-04:002013-07-17T12:30:43.011-04:00Stef, That eggplant better make some damn good bab...Stef, That eggplant better make some damn good baba ganoush, is all I'm saying. Probably enough for 3 chips worth. So next year I can look forward to a $92 eggplant? Is that supposed to make me feel better? Yeah...afraid American Gods just didn't do it for me. But I'm still excited to read Ocean At The End Of The Lane.Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526750467742207099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-68271321427137840662013-07-17T11:53:30.716-04:002013-07-17T11:53:30.716-04:00That is a lovely eggplant. Next year it will be ch...That is a lovely eggplant. Next year it will be cheaper since you won't have to repurchase much of anything, so take heart!<br /><br />You've been doing lots of reading. You know, I read American Gods pre-blogging and loved it. It was the first Gaiman book I ever read. I saw him say somewhere that it is his one book that people either hate or love with few in between. Too bad it didn't get on with you.Stefaniehttp://somanybooksblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-85347279092674731462013-07-17T09:39:41.626-04:002013-07-17T09:39:41.626-04:00Tinky, I truly did enjoy the book and also posted ...Tinky, I truly did enjoy the book and also posted it on FB. I hope it sells well because it is an important resource for anyone providing care to someone with dementia. Oh, that eggplant! I'll have to come up with a way to cook it today since I picked it on Saturday. Considering its cost, it better be delicious.Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526750467742207099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-63348980266828813592013-07-17T09:31:50.079-04:002013-07-17T09:31:50.079-04:00Your eggplant is the reason why I no longer try to...Your eggplant is the reason why I no longer try to raise vegetables, although your brother does sound very wise. I'm sorry "Pulling Taffy" contributed to your delinquency, but I'm glad you enjoyed it!Tinkyhttp://www.pullingtaffy.comnoreply@blogger.com