Comments on: acquisitions and reviews

By: Trish

Trish — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:36:21 +0000

I’ve been meaning to read Death of a Salesman for quite some time. Nice addition of books–look forward to hearing your thoughts.

By: verbivore

verbivore — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 06:07:43 +0000

Ann – I thought you might know more about The Owl Service. I enjoyed it even if I did feel it ended rather abruptly. But its quite different than any other YA book I’ve read. And I am hoping to start The Sparrow next week so will let you know!

Oh, I’d love to know what you think of Nadine Gordimer. But with her, there is so much to choose from…after I’ve read a few more, I will try to make a recommendation for you.

By: Ann Darnton

Ann Darnton — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:58:42 +0000

Yes, ‘The Owl Service’ is one of mine. I think there is more depth in that small book than in almost any other book for YA that I know. I do hope you’ll enjoy ‘The Sparrow’. One person I recommended it to was very disappointed. Oh well, we can’t all be the same, can we? I’m promising myself that this is going to be the year I read Nadine Gordimer. Keep me to it, will you?

By: verbivore

verbivore — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 06:22:15 +0000

SnackyW – I’ve always wanted to read Murdoch so am so excited that I finally picked up one of her books. If you say she’s like Gordimer then I suspect I will really enjoy her writing.

Deborah – Thank you for stopping by. I look forward to seeing your site too! What fun to think about books as desert island books. I think Shakespeare falls in the desert island category for me, must be spoken aloud so I might as well have an entire island to roam around on and not both anyone. I am really looking forward to my first read of Murdoch, have heard such wonderful things about her writing.

By: Deborah

Deborah — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:09:08 +0000

I have been an Iris Murdoch reader for a long, long time. I just finished rereading The Sea, The Sea and I am about to pick up Bruno’s Dream again. I’ll check back to see how you find it. I just mentioned Cather’s Death Comes for the Archbishop today, in my own post. I so hope you enjoy it. It’s one of my “alone on a desert island” books–and not only because it’s such a very fine, and finely crafted novel. It begs to be read out loud…which is one of my criteria for ‘desert island’ books. Who could be lonely with such fluid and lovely prose to speak?

I am so happy to have found your site (via a recent comment at litlove). I’ll definitely check back. Happy Reading!

Deborah

By: snackywombat

snackywombat — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:52:20 +0000

i completely agree with you about gordimer. i think if you like her you must be a big fan of iris murdoch’s. she has a similar blend of economy and detail, but of course, being british, is wordier and writes with more of a flourish. still, they are two highly cerebral writers.

By: verbivore

verbivore — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:11:07 +0000

Care – I’ve never read Death of a Salesman and am looking forward to it. I feel a bit like I’m missing an important element of literary background, its such a referenced piece of fiction. I’d love to know what you think of Occasion for Loving. It surprised me by turning into one of my favorite Gordimers.

Dorothy – That’s funny about The Sparrow. These things happen though don’t they. I’m sure I’ve overlooked or refused certain books for similar reasons. I know nothing of The Sparrow of Mary Doria Russel so it will be an adventure!

Chartroose – I have Sonny’s Blues in a short story collection called You’ve Got to Read This: Contemporary American Writers Introduce Stories that Held Them in Awe. A great collection in fact, the Baldwin story is one of the best. The book says that Sonny’s Blues first appeared in Baldwin’s collection Going To Meet the Man. Also – love that we had the same impression of The Fountainhead!

By: chartroose

chartroose — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:52:42 +0000

Hey, what book was that terrific James Baldwin story in? I’d like to give it a read.
Also, your quickie impression of “The Fountainhead” was wonderful! I found it to be melodramatic, yet philosophically intriguing, just like you.

By: Dorothy W.

Dorothy W. — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:33:25 +0000

Lots of nice books there! I’d like to read more Baldwin, so I’m curious what you will think of that one. I may even have to read The Sparrow one day — I was supposed to read it for my job a couple years back (long story) and resented the assignment so much (long story) I decided there was no way I could like the book. I got a free copy of the book but gave it away when I left that job because I hated the thought of reading it! Not very smart of me.

By: bkclubcare

bkclubcare — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:04:08 +0000

Wow. What a list! I am going to find Occasion for Loving right now and make sure it’s on my list. Death of a Salesman always makes me feel so sad, just seeing it on this list, now I have to go find some happy!