tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post6542629613518946401..comments2024-02-28T23:35:56.193-05:00Comments on The Curious Reader: What Have I Been Doing?Gradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17526750467742207099noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-11965564290524549552010-04-13T20:34:06.518-04:002010-04-13T20:34:06.518-04:00*jumps out from behind a sofa, and in the manner o...*jumps out from behind a sofa, and in the manner of my favourite two-year-old, joyously declares "Ta-daaaa! I'm here! And I'm TALL!" *<br /><br />This is the best late-to-the-party ever - I dashed over here to catch up on some overdue Grad-news, and it turns out people were saying lovely things about me. Hi Di! Hallo darling Litlove! Why don't my dreams turn out this way? And why can't we all live just a leetle bit closer?<br />I am now hopelessly intrigued as to what gift involves a sunny afternoon and can't be found in Australia. Are you trapping me a salamander? Please don't get arrested - although the thought of you in jail is indeed very funny; I picture you reading improving texts to your bewildered fellow inmates.<br />(Oh yes, Edith Wharton. When I worked in a bookshop, I had a customer who came through the door saying "I want a nice, fun, light, HAPPY book!" and promptly seized The House of Mirth. Apparently she liked the cover. And the author's name. She'd had an aunt called Edith. I eventually prised it from her grasp, pointed her towards the fat pretty books with sparkles on them, and said as firmly as I dared, "Edith Wharton NEVER ENDS WELL." She was still a little sulky when she left, but not nearly as much as she would have been if she'd read House of Mirth... Poor Lily. I'm eternally outraged with Wharton on her behalf.Fugitive Piecesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-26991190969438258672010-04-12T12:01:15.741-04:002010-04-12T12:01:15.741-04:00Dorothy, I probably should not have panned An Amer...Dorothy, I probably should not have panned An American Wife. Everyone else who has read it has enjoyed it, and I always feel guilty when I don't agree. Book-love is so highly personal. Sometimes a book just isn't the right one and the right time. But I agree with you about the reader. She was very good (and a bad reader can totally ruin a book!)Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526750467742207099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-66012954322989787112010-04-11T19:25:30.425-04:002010-04-11T19:25:30.425-04:00I wonder if we listened to the same reader read An...I wonder if we listened to the same reader read An American Wife. Probably we did. I agree that the reader was great -- I really enjoyed her company for so long! I loved the book, but if you don't like blurring fiction and nonfiction in that way, I can see that it might not be your book.Rebecca H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10825532162727473112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-11857401634033644222010-04-09T11:19:49.930-04:002010-04-09T11:19:49.930-04:00Tinky, that is praise indeed. When I read your pos...Tinky, that is praise indeed. When I read your posts I feel as though I'm sitting at your kitchen table watching you cook and having a great time.<br /><br />Litlove, I agree with you 100% on House of Mirth and In The Woods (which I wanted to finish but wasn't sure I could considering the subject matter). How wonderful that you and Fugitive got to spend time together!! I would have had a blast at that get-together, I am sure. TOTALLY jealous am I!Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526750467742207099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-8396419995344745782010-04-09T09:16:10.905-04:002010-04-09T09:16:10.905-04:00You're not the only one far behind, dear Grad!...You're not the only one far behind, dear Grad! I am at the stage of wondering if I'll ever catch up, or whether I should cut my losses... Still, I am delighted to catch up with all your reading, which sounds splendid. I remember being achingly furious with Edith Wharton at the end of The House of Mirth. It does that to you. And In the Woods I enjoyed, sort of despite the content, although I had a wobble about a third in and wasn't sure I could continue (but I did). And I have Wolf Hall on my list too. I am a big fan of the Fugitive, who has actually stayed at my house. Jealous, eh? I'll bet! She is every bit as delightful as you might imagine. You'll have to drop by next time and we'll have a good ladies' night together....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-87327691241583378462010-04-09T09:02:42.995-04:002010-04-09T09:02:42.995-04:00You are ABSOLUTELY my favorite reader. Great to he...You are ABSOLUTELY my favorite reader. Great to hear you're still at it and haven't lost your sense of humor, Grad......Tinkyhttp://www.ourgrandmotherskitchens.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-74254000198322400212010-04-08T10:15:17.814-04:002010-04-08T10:15:17.814-04:00Doctordi: I know I will love Wolf Hall, the story,...Doctordi: I know I will love Wolf Hall, the story, but I will treasure the book itself as well since it came from our dear Fugitive Pieces. I do wish she had a blog. Or perhaps she does and I just don't know. I am happy to say I do not have a criminal record. Perhaps I just haven't lived an interesting enough life. But, there's still time! :>Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526750467742207099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-29985218938549897572010-04-07T21:02:35.872-04:002010-04-07T21:02:35.872-04:00Grinning like a loon reading this, Graddikins. You...Grinning like a loon reading this, Graddikins. You do make me laugh! I can't *wait* to hear what your thank you entails... the whole exchange warms my heart like you would not believe - and I hope you love Wolf Hall! Well, good to know the book binge is really transcontinental - everyone's hard at it. I think reports of the death of the novel are grossly exaggerated. <br /><br />(part of me wishes some hilarious misadventure had landed you in the clink overnight... the thought of the resulting post is just too delicious...)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-90363579478566048342010-04-07T17:01:32.573-04:002010-04-07T17:01:32.573-04:00Janell, Oh, good. I'll have to stop by Spare ...Janell, Oh, good. I'll have to stop by Spare Pages tomorrow!! I finished Age of Innocense earlier this year and thought it was wonderful. I had read Ethan Frome when I was in high school (when dinosaurs roamed the earth), but had forgotten how much I enjoyed it.Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526750467742207099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-785774488947761152010-04-07T14:25:58.613-04:002010-04-07T14:25:58.613-04:00The part about you not being in jail made me laugh...The part about you not being in jail made me laugh. And Edith Wharton... I really enjoyed the last book I read of her's (The Age of Innocence), but it was bittersweet. I think that's her trademark.<br /><br />Thanks for the recommendations. I just added Uncle Silas to my to-read list.<br /><br />I'm going to post my 2010 Quarter 1 list of books tomorrow!Janellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02673883808842901302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-28514736257949563102010-04-07T13:40:46.035-04:002010-04-07T13:40:46.035-04:00(Editor: I'm not sure lovelies is a word, so ...(Editor: I'm not sure lovelies is a word, so I guess I can spell it however I please.)Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526750467742207099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-69737695557099527582010-04-07T13:38:26.902-04:002010-04-07T13:38:26.902-04:00Stefanie, AND I'm not trapped under something ...Stefanie, AND I'm not trapped under something heavy while IN jail, which I guess would be the worst thing ever. I truly thought In The Woods was splendid. The book sale is at a branch about 45 minutes away from the island, but it's on a Saturday, so there won't be a problem - I'll have all day. There will definitely be pix of "my lovlies" after I get them home.Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526750467742207099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160223532207347025.post-87856554058107050072010-04-07T12:56:20.109-04:002010-04-07T12:56:20.109-04:00I am glad you are not trapped or in jail! And yay ...I am glad you are not trapped or in jail! And yay that you liked In the Woods! The next book is about Cassie apparently. I've not read Foer but I want to. I hope you have fun at the impending books sale. You must post about all the details and photos of your finds!Stefaniehttp://somanybooksblog.comnoreply@blogger.com