|
Comments:
lynne - 2005-02-23 08:40:58 Sounds awesome! I think most realistic would be a once-a-month club; I do read about one a week, but we don't want to make it seem like homework. I'd love either Death of Vishnu (which I haven't read) or Kite Runner (which I have). I also loved Publish or Perish, but weirdly hated The Lecturer's Tale, which I found too upsetting (reflecting my state as an assistant professor ;)). Also, another book maybe not for the first round but for the future, _The Time Traveller's Wife_, which is a total page-turner -- I couldn't put it down. The characters totally could have been part of my circle of friends in Ann Arbor circa 1992. * * * * * * * * * * * * Anna - 2005-02-23 08:46:08 Err... totally twice and awesome, all in one comment. What's happening to me?* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-23 09:05:26 Lynne, I think it's safe to say everyone would welcome an infrequent participant. Anna: OK, that's one vote so far for a once-a-month chat, and 2 recommendations; good, the ball is rolling. Why don't we see what the group consensus is by day's end and then plan accordingly. Thanks Anna.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-23 09:07:18 Of course, there could be more than one book chat going on--a monthly assigned book and a weekly hey-whatcha-reading every Thursday or what have you. At any rate.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-23 09:40:26 Anna: Two "totally"s and an "awesome" means that a tiny wormhole to the 1980s briefly opened up in the space-time continuum. But it's probably closed by now.* * * * * * * * * * * * Dan Arbor - 2005-02-23 10:29:19 Bitchin' idea. I've read some gnarly books, and would be stoked to share... There's that damn worm-hole again. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-23 10:34:21Bodacious!--that sounds totally rad, dude.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura (has to laugh) - 2005-02-23 10:38:20 ("stoked"--oh, brother--indeed, people once did use that word in all seriousness...how funny!)* * * * * * * * * * * * Anna - 2005-02-23 10:45:46 wicked cool* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-23 10:47:47 I picked up "wicked + [adjective]" from an old friend from Boston and have noticed it's a definite Northeastern bit o' slang. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-23 10:55:27 OK, let's see. So far we have three interested people, a once-a-month format suggestion, and 2 suggested titles. Please keep those good suggestions coming; we have all day to plan.* * * * * * * * * * * * Dan Arbor - 2005-02-23 11:36:20 Texaco by Patrick Chamoiseau was another amazing book. He has a fluidity of language that's wonderful to read. The story is absolutely compelleing, as well. * * * * * * * * * * * * Dan Arbor - 2005-02-23 11:37:30 erm...compelling is what it should read...* * * * * * * * * * * * Dan Arbor - 2005-02-23 11:42:58 A friend from Boston used to say "wicked excellent." Another fave of his was to rhetorically ask, "What are they thinkin'?" or "What are they, reTAHded?" when confronted with amusing human behavior. He used those a lot. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-23 11:55:12 Thank you for your book suggestion (and anecdote), Dan. I can already see that this club will wean me from my usual diet of nonfiction--a good thing. I need to get hep to these contemporary novels. I have a hunch I won't win friends and influence people if I include The Complete Guide to Heraldry to the list (it's out of print, anyways). Besides, it wouldn't exactly make the liveliest of discussions: "That lion coupe is one of the odder heraldic designs." "It sure is." Silence. "How about those wyverns?" "Totally awesome." "I thought so, too." Silence. I might nominate the lively (really!) copyright-law book I just finished...still thinking about what to nominate. More heraldic clip art!* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-23 12:32:42 Ah. I've got it. The book I've been dying to read but which I haven't yet bought. I nominate Mark Haddon's award-winning The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.* * * * * * * * * * * * Dan Arbor - 2005-02-23 12:39:20 "Dude!" "Oh, hey dude!" "What's shakin'?" "Got a new tat." (rolls up sleeve of Brady Bunch t-shirt) "Dude! Sweet wyvern!" "What?" "Your tat. Sweet wyvern." "What? Dude, gryffin." "What?" "It's a gryffin. You know like my name?" "Wyvern." "Dude, gryffin. Like my name. My mom said she named me after Merv Griffin." "..." "Dude, seriously." "Dude, it's a wyvern, not a gryffin." "It's a gryffin, dude. What the hell's a wyvern?" "A wyvern is a thing from, like, ancient heraldic scrolls. Like coats of arms and shit. A gryffin is totally different." "It's a gryffin. Like my name." "Dude, it's a wyvern. Gryffins are more, I dunno, like, gryffin-y. That's definitely a wyvern. From ancient heraldic scrolls." "Dude, why would I get a wyvern, or whatever, when my name is Griffin?" "How would I know, dude?" (silence. rolls down sleeve of Brady Bunch t-shirt.) "Dude, who's Merv Griffin?"* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-23 13:01:54 oh, my gosh--that's priceless--I had to laugh! Makes my day; thanks Dan. Hilarious. Excellent writing, too, if you ask me. On the heraldic clipart page, one mildly puzzling image [scroll down a bit] is the pillowlike "woolpack." Ypsidixit can imagine herself, in battle, desperately brandishing a shield with this unintimidating image in front of a chuckling enemy. Then there's the "Yipotrol," a beast with 2 Ginsu knives per foot whose scariest part is its hairy withers. You have to wonder what some of those heraldic artists were thinking. � � * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-23 13:10:12 If you like you can see if this page [scroll down a bit] has your family's coat of arms.* * * * * * * * * * * * LF - 2005-02-23 16:16:32 The Yipotrol has a caesar haircut as well. Vain beast.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-23 16:28:13 I'm sure I'm not the only one in the Ann Arbor-Ypsi area who felt compelled to go back and examine the Yipotrol's haircut. :) Also, its wither-tresses look artificially curled. At any rate.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-23 22:11:22 OK, let's take stock here. Two people said they were pretty busy, one of whom suggested once a month. No one suggested once a week. So once a month seems reasonable. Suggested books include: Death of Vishnu, The Kite Runner, The Time Traveller's Wife, (suggested for the future), Texaco, and The Curious Case of the Dog in the Night-Time. I'll make a new post for book-voting, and I think it's wonderful that people participated and shared ideas and suggestions. Thank you. Like Dan, I'm stoked. :) * * * * * * * * * * * * Iss - 2005-02-23 22:13:09 Didja hear that there is a March-Madness sorta bracket out there for the best books of 2004? Sounded interesting and I'd like to see what people pick over critic's choices.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-23 23:04:08 I had not, dear sis. Must not be in the Freep since I get that every day. May I ask, who's sponsoring that?* * * * * * * * * * * * Dan Arbor - 2005-02-24 00:01:32 Oh, I think I know what you're talking about. The Morning News is doing a "tournament of books, where they have title square off against each other. There's also a link to download March-Madness style brackets, too. * * * * * * * * * * * * Iss - 2005-02-24 15:16:33 Yep, that must be it. I'll check out your link, Dan, thanks.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-24 15:54:09 Now, having checked out Dan's kind link, I have to ask--why didn't I am Charlotte Simmons get scratched from round 1? Its opponent must have been a real dog. And how is this tournament working may I ask? Who is making the choices to keep or scratch the books?* * * * * * * * * * * * LF - 2005-02-24 18:10:14 Has anyone read The Rope Eater (eliminated round one)? If so, do you recommend it?* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-24 18:11:34 Heard of it, didn't read it...going to check who wrote it. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-24 18:15:53 OK, I finally have a moment to read the explanation of the tournament. "Too often are literary awards arbitrary, dull, or meaningless. Too rarely are they determined by an NCAA-style Battle Royale of bloodthirsty competition."* * * * * * * * * * * * add your comment: |