A bit more on Revolutionary Road, and a bit bigger of a font, you'll be happy to realize.
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
My Anticipation Level Is: Extremely high. I wanted with a desperate yearning to see this movie, but managed to see Slumdog Millionaire instead, and obliviously sidestep any other attempts at seeing it, with such sincere delicacy I look back and think 'Oh! That's a shame, but I must have had a good reason for it!'. Anyway, yes, very very high anticipation level. Also, the reviews on it's cover are mesmerizingly positive.
Expected Time to Read: A bit longer than Green Gables because it is a wordier (in a lovely way) novel with smaller print. But, if I read at regular periods, not too terrible long.
Things I Like So Far: I'm only on page seven, but I like immediately how it draws you in with a sort of brittle sense of life, as though the very real humanity in the air were perched tentatively with the expectation of cracking. Also, it takes place in Connecticut. Also, I managed to buy the last copy without a movie-image cover. Huzzah!
Possible Fears: That my expectations are too high. But I really, really doubt it. "Beautifully crafted.... A remarkable and deeply troubling book." offers up Michiko Kakutani, of The New York Times. This sounds like a read I will like. Look how 'Possible Fears' turned into 'Such High Hopes!'.
Page Count: 7 of just around 340.
-s5g
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Beginning the Revolution
"Everybody, take a white flag just in case this doesn't pan out,"
Well! And this morning I finished the last 15 pages of Anne of Green Gables. Very lovely, I rather liked it as it went on, and encourage those of us still in its pleasantly violet depths to hold out, for Anne's speeches get shorter and it does move along more swiftly.
Finishing Up a Novel:
My Overall Impression: It was delightful! I will steer quite clear of spoilers, but will say that I can't decide which half of the book I liked better. The first is a bit more wild, and full of that childhood happiness which, by contrast, makes anything above age 12 seem subdued and lackluster. However, there's something pleasurable in the speedy delight with which the latter half of the story presents itself.
My Favorite Part: The descriptions of everything so pleasantly in bloom, and the perfectly pitched essence of childhood, diluted down into print but beautifully expanding in the true memories of the reader. I was very reminded of my own adventures.
Not Quite So Favorite Part: A bit slow paced at the beginning, but, you know, it's all for set ups sake, and done so well I honestly can't complain.
Following Anne, because I never do seem to read two books in the same series back-to-back (excuses Harry Potter which, if you have two or more unread, need to be devoured at once), I am moving on to the next book:
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
The recent movie of the same title, for which Kate Winslet won a Golden Globe and Leonardo DiCaprio was unceremoniously snubbed at most awards this season, centers on the hardships of married life in 1960s America, where expectations of normality and what people should and ought to be doing ware painfully on our central characters.
It's supposed to be superb "The Great Gatsby of my time", via Kurt Vonnegut, reknowned very much so.
I'll write more about my expectations for this novel later, as someone is yelling blasphemies at the dog just now.;)
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The tortis of reading is very tortis like.
At some point in my life, I had decided to stop talking. I made a conscious effort to change myself, and it wasn't a change that was particularly needed. I don't even recall the exact reasoning, though I can only assume it is because someone had told me that I talked by far too much!
While I do recall this portion of my life, I can also not recollect how long this lasted for. I do recall immediately no one seemed to notice when I stopped talking, and I suppose something like that sticks with a person. It makes it seem as if nothing you were saying was really worthwhile or noteworthy.
It would be nice to be noteworthy, and worthwhile, but at the same time, it is difficult to carry the burden of being such on your shoulders.
As you know, I've been reading Anne of Green Gables, and I actually managed to breeze through the second chapter with a large upward twisted smile on my face. I have to admit, I swore, a few times while reading the long paragraphs of inspired thoughts that Anne has when she is talking to Matthew on the long wagon ride towards home.
It is a cause and effect of my lack of reading that I am bombarded by little things, it was a struggle to finish the first chapter because every small description became something by far more fascinating then the movement of the story line itself. I'd simply drop the book after reading it, and let it all sink in. Yet, because of this, the first chapter took a number of days.
I can't say for sure how fast the next sections will be, hopefully I'll be able to finish the book in some fashion so that I can go back to the life of Pi. Which, is currently on hold until I at the very least complete the first story in Anne of Green Gables for it is perhaps too much for someone who had avoided books so long to try to tackle two at once.
While I do recall this portion of my life, I can also not recollect how long this lasted for. I do recall immediately no one seemed to notice when I stopped talking, and I suppose something like that sticks with a person. It makes it seem as if nothing you were saying was really worthwhile or noteworthy.
It would be nice to be noteworthy, and worthwhile, but at the same time, it is difficult to carry the burden of being such on your shoulders.
As you know, I've been reading Anne of Green Gables, and I actually managed to breeze through the second chapter with a large upward twisted smile on my face. I have to admit, I swore, a few times while reading the long paragraphs of inspired thoughts that Anne has when she is talking to Matthew on the long wagon ride towards home.
It is a cause and effect of my lack of reading that I am bombarded by little things, it was a struggle to finish the first chapter because every small description became something by far more fascinating then the movement of the story line itself. I'd simply drop the book after reading it, and let it all sink in. Yet, because of this, the first chapter took a number of days.
I can't say for sure how fast the next sections will be, hopefully I'll be able to finish the book in some fashion so that I can go back to the life of Pi. Which, is currently on hold until I at the very least complete the first story in Anne of Green Gables for it is perhaps too much for someone who had avoided books so long to try to tackle two at once.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Time lines and other things...
In so far as time lines go, and book selections to an extent, I'm wired loosely, meaning, I'd prefer going at a 'reasonable' pace, than setting deadlines. I don't know about both of you, but if I'm very into a book I'd rather read as much as I like, and possibly get a bit ahead, as opposed to force myself to slow down with it, and vice versa.
I think we'll be ok if we just keep to a reasonable pace. Reading a few pages a week is obviously a bit lax, but gobbling an entire book in a day would be perhaps a tad fast? I'm completely open to extenuating circumstances, as well. If it's the Best Book You've Ever Read and Cannot Put It Down, well, all right, then!
In so far as book selections: if we can all be on the same book, fantastic!! If it happens to fall that some or all of us are on different books, I say that's fine, too, and at those times we'll just be a more literary discussion club than particularly the traditional bookclub.
Objections, opinions?
ANNE OF GREEN GABLES UPDATE:
I'm currently on page 89, and expect to reach around 100 by the end of the day.
What I'm Enjoying: The prose and description of the wilderness is really, really pretty. It makes me want summer to be just outside my window (it snowed last night.).
What I'm Not Enjoying: It is a BIT slow, isn't it? I mean, not A LOT has happened yet, but I believe that picks up later in the series.
Ok! Just some thoughts and updates and all.
Books for the Future: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.
I think we'll be ok if we just keep to a reasonable pace. Reading a few pages a week is obviously a bit lax, but gobbling an entire book in a day would be perhaps a tad fast? I'm completely open to extenuating circumstances, as well. If it's the Best Book You've Ever Read and Cannot Put It Down, well, all right, then!
In so far as book selections: if we can all be on the same book, fantastic!! If it happens to fall that some or all of us are on different books, I say that's fine, too, and at those times we'll just be a more literary discussion club than particularly the traditional bookclub.
Objections, opinions?
ANNE OF GREEN GABLES UPDATE:
I'm currently on page 89, and expect to reach around 100 by the end of the day.
What I'm Enjoying: The prose and description of the wilderness is really, really pretty. It makes me want summer to be just outside my window (it snowed last night.).
What I'm Not Enjoying: It is a BIT slow, isn't it? I mean, not A LOT has happened yet, but I believe that picks up later in the series.
Ok! Just some thoughts and updates and all.
Books for the Future: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.
Anne Of Green Gables
I'll be attempting to join the book club in Anne of Green Gables, despite my masculine reservations. I picked up the "Green Gables Collection" As my mother is a personal fan of the writing and had told me that morning it was read to her in school.
Two hundred Seventy six pages divided into 38 Chapters
My anticipation is level is: Skeptically Skeptical, but okay with it.
Anticipated time to read: Will try to keep up! Hopefully some sort of time-line will be set.
Things I like about it at this point: I figure it might be good for me to read, despite that largely masculine voice inside of me speaking of its protest otherwise.
Possible fears: That it becomes a some sort of strange secret obsession.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Late to the Party
Whew! Hey, all! Wow... I ran all the way, sorry I'm late. Those roads are treacherous; bears and things. Some had swords, or riddles, some were all, 'Hey little girl, would you like some candy?', and well, my mother never warned me about taking candy from strange bears, so, it was all very time consuming.
On the other hand, did you know that brown bears have their own favorite variety of tea? As one might suspect, it hints of blueberry.
(Also, on Friday I packed almost all my worldly belongings, on Friday and Saturday I moved them, on Sunday I finished up, and yesterday I cleaned, and now I am done.)
So! I'm right at the beginning of Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery , which is a YA (young adult) novel about an orphan living on Prince Edward Island, way up there in Canada. I started reading it accidentally, being at someone's house alone and with nothing to do.
(To steal Childy's format):
My Anticipation Level Is: Excited to relive this part of my childhood. It was read to me then, and we watched the miniseries a million times.
Expected Time to Read: Little, it being a fast read. The only thing that would make it longer is I have a lot of UNpacking to do;P
Things I Like So Far: Oh! It's charming! Isn't it always? And well written, of course, and summery and things are blooming in it and this copy cost $2.50!
Possible Fears: That I shall be so taken with the whole thing I'll need to read all seven. I did buy the second one... how could I not? It was $1.99.
On the other hand, did you know that brown bears have their own favorite variety of tea? As one might suspect, it hints of blueberry.
(Also, on Friday I packed almost all my worldly belongings, on Friday and Saturday I moved them, on Sunday I finished up, and yesterday I cleaned, and now I am done.)
So! I'm right at the beginning of Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery , which is a YA (young adult) novel about an orphan living on Prince Edward Island, way up there in Canada. I started reading it accidentally, being at someone's house alone and with nothing to do.
(To steal Childy's format):
My Anticipation Level Is: Excited to relive this part of my childhood. It was read to me then, and we watched the miniseries a million times.
Expected Time to Read: Little, it being a fast read. The only thing that would make it longer is I have a lot of UNpacking to do;P
Things I Like So Far: Oh! It's charming! Isn't it always? And well written, of course, and summery and things are blooming in it and this copy cost $2.50!
Possible Fears: That I shall be so taken with the whole thing I'll need to read all seven. I did buy the second one... how could I not? It was $1.99.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Life of Pi
So, I'll jump the gun, and it'll probably be my personal read, since I'm not at the helm! My first possibly solo book is entitled "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel.
Three hundred fifty twos pages, seemingly divided into 98 chapters.
My anticipation is level is: Excitedly skeptical.
Anticipated time to read: Tentative upon unknown factors.
Things I like about it at this point: The cover has a lot of orange on it, I like orange. Also, the author is apparently Canadian, Go Canada!.
Possible fears: The tiger on the cover is scary, with sharp teeth.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
I am amazing super.
He stared at it, this blinking, pulsing thing, this line of individual dots packed tightly together, and viewed at a distance no greater then the span of his lap. It was haunting presence on the blank sheet, every flash a spark of laughter, mocking the building frustration filled rage that welled within the veins of him.
A beast.
A horrible illiterate beast.
He, like a mime of painted face, trapped inside a world that only he knew the limitations of, fighting a wind that only he knew the truth, awesome strength. He was trapped in a prison of his own design, the blinders nailed cruelly to the sides of his face, as red, liquid life, crimson stain poured down the sides of his face. Forced to a life of self imposed ignorance!
Yes, this was he, he, of whom would not read, in fear of absorbing, of making one with the cesspool that was his creativity. He, that sought to be so original, he turned his back on the outside world, little knowing, little realizing that everything else he witness became a nest for this vile beast.
Though knowing his own faults, he pushed himself into the filled pages, the steps in the sand, the pathways lined by those that had come before him, and those that had passed him while he lumbered lost within himself.
WHAT HOPE IS THERE FOR HIM!?
We shall see.... We shall....see....
A beast.
A horrible illiterate beast.
He, like a mime of painted face, trapped inside a world that only he knew the limitations of, fighting a wind that only he knew the truth, awesome strength. He was trapped in a prison of his own design, the blinders nailed cruelly to the sides of his face, as red, liquid life, crimson stain poured down the sides of his face. Forced to a life of self imposed ignorance!
Yes, this was he, he, of whom would not read, in fear of absorbing, of making one with the cesspool that was his creativity. He, that sought to be so original, he turned his back on the outside world, little knowing, little realizing that everything else he witness became a nest for this vile beast.
Though knowing his own faults, he pushed himself into the filled pages, the steps in the sand, the pathways lined by those that had come before him, and those that had passed him while he lumbered lost within himself.
WHAT HOPE IS THERE FOR HIM!?
We shall see.... We shall....see....
Friday, February 6, 2009
Context has very full shelves.
Hi! I'm Nora, and I'm a readaholic!
"Hi, Nora!"
Sometimes I read great modern works like The Shipping News!
"Awesome! Go you!"
And sometimes I read Twilight!
"Shun! SHUNNNNN!"
Wow. Y'all are very serious about this.
"Hi, Nora!"
Sometimes I read great modern works like The Shipping News!
"Awesome! Go you!"
And sometimes I read Twilight!
"Shun! SHUNNNNN!"
Wow. Y'all are very serious about this.
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