tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post2585702815398255285..comments2024-02-22T07:47:22.661-05:00Comments on The Bathroom Monologues: #bestreads2011 Blog HopJohn Wiswellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07416044628686736927noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-57644382567718262042011-12-30T08:22:07.360-05:002011-12-30T08:22:07.360-05:00Okay.. last two..
Now I know I said I didn't l...Okay.. last two..<br />Now I know I said I didn't like the class bound English novel (after singing the praises of Gatsby and Rye..Duh!), well I'm going to release the hypocrite in me once again and nominate <br />4. Florence and Giles by John Harding.. I don't know if this is a legit nomination as I haven't quite finished it yet, but I have been bowled over by the elegance and mastery of the English language with which Mr Harding wields his mighty pen. The story is loosely based on The Turn of the Screw..but told from the kids point of view and it is very creepy indeed..The voice of Florence is simply magnificent and the realisation of setting and character is breathtaking. A master class in storytelling.<br />5. For my fifth choice, I pick Beginnings by Raymond Carver. This is a fascinating book, which illustrates the power of the editor and just what good and bad editing can do to a story. Carver's scissor-weilding editor cut some of his most famous stories by up to 70%, and at times, it seems like a hatchet job. Carver's pre-cut prose is surprisingly descriptive... often defying his trademark terse style. It's great to read the original and then the edited, and then try and work out what the hell his editor was up to..A must-read for every writer..(or editor?)<br /><br />So there you go, 3 re-reads and 2 new reads..Tom Gillespie : @tom_gillespiehttp://www.tom-gillespie.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-2384476336666320802011-12-29T19:45:00.735-05:002011-12-29T19:45:00.735-05:00Good list of books, John. I think I may have to pu...Good list of books, John. I think I may have to put those on my to read list.Eric J. Krausehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05774468607814244185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-52148897425564954702011-12-29T13:36:18.469-05:002011-12-29T13:36:18.469-05:00In no particular order
1. The Great Gatsby .. read...In no particular order<br />1. The Great Gatsby .. read it again this year.. seems more relevant than ever. I can't believe the clarity of expression.. It's like sheer glass on top of a still lake.. beautiful.<br />2. Catcher in the Rye.. Why am I fixating on the great American novel.. well I'm Glaswegian.. and I have a greater affinity with American writing than the class-bound trappings of The English novel (having said that Rye is pretty class bound itself..and again it is about a highly disfunctional society.. hey there's a theme developing..I was surprised how much I still enjoyed it after all these years. Again, the attention to voice, register and precision of language is sublime.. This one still shocks and still makes me cry.<br />3. The collected stories of Janice Galloway.. Scottish writer who spills over you like a severed artery.. The writing is shocking, experimental and beautiful.. Thoroughly recommended..<br /><br />Two more to follow as soon as I get this damned party out of the wayTom Gillespie : @tom_gillespiehttp://www.tom-gillespie.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-73518504089769763012011-12-29T09:32:28.589-05:002011-12-29T09:32:28.589-05:00It looks like Bev left off a few digits on the URL...It looks like Bev left off a few digits on the URL, but she made a post here:<br /><br />http://bev-thebevelededge.blogspot.com/2011/12/bevs-bestreads2011.htmlJohn Wiswellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07416044628686736927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-43775527835138619212011-12-29T08:52:25.077-05:002011-12-29T08:52:25.077-05:00@Bev if you are here maybe check the link to your ...@Bev if you are here maybe check the link to your blog, it wasn't working for me this morning...Kirsten Mortensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11404579479015370541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-89313178709813563872011-12-28T22:36:10.812-05:002011-12-28T22:36:10.812-05:00I am disappointed at the moment as it appears that...I am disappointed at the moment as it appears that Gates of Eden is not available in eBook. (I have a strange aversion to books that aren't available electronically. I may have to make an exception for this one, though.)<br /><br />Also, I've never been one for reading plays much (other than the Ransom of Red Chief, that was awesome!) but your praise of Death of a Salesman has me convinced to give it a go.Chuck Allenhttp://www.chuckallen.usnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-53167114691322406652011-12-28T21:55:28.857-05:002011-12-28T21:55:28.857-05:00Hello, found your blog through a mutual friend'...Hello, found your blog through a mutual friend's and decided that this blog hop topic was a good idea for today's entry over at my blog. Thanks for the great idea!<br /><br />Anyway, my top book for 2011 was "Kushiel's Avatar" by Jacqueline Carey. I'm a fantasy junkie, and that series hits the spot more than ASoIaF could any day.Hildred Billingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995415129197042871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-13754531579542758152011-12-28T20:03:14.354-05:002011-12-28T20:03:14.354-05:00Linda, I've heard that this is Pynchon's m...Linda, I've heard that this is Pynchon's most accessible, but most critics seem to think Gravity's Rainbow is his best. After what you wrote there, does it seem you agree? And if you do a list, please hop back and share it with our Linky!<br /><br />Sonia, while I'm not a YA reader, I'm not closeminded. I've given plenty of YA titles chances over the years, and even a few MG. Bone here is one friend's favorite book of all time, so I had to try it out. It was well worth the chance.<br /><br />Bev, Death of a Salesman is pretty earthshaking even in print. I look forward to seeing those productions. The Hoffman one is streaming on Netflix. I can buy any sort of anger in Willie, though might be more interested in other interpretations that were less easy to jump to.<br /><br />Quin, when I do finally check out 11/23/63, gosh do I hope to share your enthusiasm.John Wiswellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07416044628686736927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-71669885275305313912011-12-28T17:45:05.665-05:002011-12-28T17:45:05.665-05:00Great stuff John.
Many say THE CRYING is the best...Great stuff John.<br /><br />Many say THE CRYING is the best (and most accessible) of Pynchon's work, and it is on my TBR. I have read GR and it is so freaking awesome it will make you cry. It also takes a year to read because it has prose that convolutes so much, and so damn prettily, that you get lost. I wonder if Pynchon was stoned when he wrote GR... but I loved it (btw, a group of us Harbinger*33 folks read it together 2 years ago, which made it easier to understand).<br /><br />Love Bone, love Jeff Smith... I have an almost 13-year old son and this was one of his best reads last year.<br /><br />I'll contemplate my best reads and join the merriment. Not sure where to begin, so many great books. Happy Christmas! peace...Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01110078016784294934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-12519320322855762532011-12-28T17:11:11.581-05:002011-12-28T17:11:11.581-05:00I am surprised there was one because you said you ...I am surprised there was one because you said you don't read YA!Sonia Lalhttp://storytreasury.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-89721999465620613372011-12-28T16:23:54.525-05:002011-12-28T16:23:54.525-05:00I cannot believe there is a YA book in your list. ...I cannot believe there is a YA book in your list. It is as amazing as there being a fantasy book in Danni's list. ;) <br /><br />I've heard a lot about the Gates of Eden, but I am not sure I want to read it. <br /><br />But the Catherine the Great bio is actually on the TBR list.Sonia Lalhttp://storytreasury.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-26782633462611780102011-12-28T14:15:10.602-05:002011-12-28T14:15:10.602-05:00Oh my gosh! Death of Salesman is one of my most ...Oh my gosh! Death of Salesman is one of my most favoirte plays ever! And it changes so much depending on the interpretation. In the Dustin Hoffman performance (which I saw on tape in English class) he seemed so angry- he spat bile with every line. In the Brian Dennehy performance(which I was lucky enough to see live) it was sad- they played on his madness more than anyhting and he seemed like a victim in the middle of all the chaos. One way or another it contians one of the best, sweetest, most heart-breakingly simple descriptions of a character I've ever encountered: "He's just a little boat looking for a harbor."Bevimushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14924337684790883853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-6826090353756918152011-12-28T12:44:34.312-05:002011-12-28T12:44:34.312-05:00I read Lamb last year and loved it! Great, great b...I read Lamb last year and loved it! Great, great book.Danielle La Pagliahttp://www.daniellelapaglia.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-43710899188586892032011-12-28T12:19:47.194-05:002011-12-28T12:19:47.194-05:00in no particular order
1. lamb --the gospel of bi...in no particular order<br /><br />1. lamb --the gospel of biff, who is the best friend of jesus. <br /><br />2. buddah in the attic--a chorus of voices from their departure as mail brides in japan through the beginning of WWII. never told by one narrator, all of the stories blend into a book that will haunt me.<br /><br />3. 11/22/63 --king at his best in years<br /><br />4. catherine the great --it's time to put away the tall tale of the empress and the horse, and really come to know a woman of great intelligence and political savvy. <br /><br />5. the hunger game series--loved the first two, the last was not necessary. she could have easily expanded on the first two volumes, concluding all in that space. but, she didn't. so. well done, a remarkable world is created, and an author who has the guts to take characters who are vastly loved, and kill them off in order to create more layers and a better book.quin brownehttp://www.quinbrowne.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-77214234547430608262011-12-28T12:00:29.266-05:002011-12-28T12:00:29.266-05:00Josh - Thank you so much for sharing your books wi...Josh - Thank you so much for sharing your books with me. I'm especially looking forward to the Hardy memoir. I'll get them back to you when you bring the family out to visit. :) <br /><br />And the same person bought me The Poisonwood Bible, but I haven't had the courage to read it yet. Maybe one of these days.Danielle La Pagliahttp://www.daniellelapaglia.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-77885912424415848922011-12-28T11:57:20.379-05:002011-12-28T11:57:20.379-05:00I haven't read Death of a Salesmen either, but...I haven't read Death of a Salesmen either, but I may have to add that to my list for 2012 along with The Gates of Eden. Thanks for the recommendations!Danielle La Pagliahttp://www.daniellelapaglia.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-40752306138464630912011-12-28T10:12:12.372-05:002011-12-28T10:12:12.372-05:00Judge/Josh, if you're more comfortable leaving...Judge/Josh, if you're more comfortable leaving them in the Comments than doing your own blog post, then I'm happy to share the Comments real estate with you. And I agree that Catch-22 is a total winner.John Wiswellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07416044628686736927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-1181838414577634772011-12-28T08:06:26.446-05:002011-12-28T08:06:26.446-05:00You have to do a blog post, Judge, then click on &...You have to do a blog post, Judge, then click on "get your own Linky tools" at the bottom of Johns and enter the post URL.Kirsten Mortensenhttp://www.kirstenmortensen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-90790966781853214182011-12-28T01:50:18.213-05:002011-12-28T01:50:18.213-05:00That's all I have regarding books, but I can&#...That's all I have regarding books, but I can't sign off without giving a special mention to a few of my favourite bloggers:<br />Some guy who calls his blog The Bathroom Monologues.<br />Some girl who has more than one of my favourite books.<br />And a lady named Tianyu who writes beautiful words over at oneblessingaday.blogspot.com<br /><br />Thanks for your time and sorry for taking up so much space in the comments section.Judge Whiskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04397629379090101005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-37305799575295889092011-12-28T01:44:05.555-05:002011-12-28T01:44:05.555-05:00You'll Be Sorry When I'm Dead by Marieke H...You'll Be Sorry When I'm Dead by Marieke Hardy is the first book I have read which was written by somebody I follow on twitter (@mariekehardy). It is a memoir written with the correct mixture of grace, venom, humour and love. I actually laughed and cried at the same sentence.<br />Dannigrrl5 has my copy of that one too.Judge Whiskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04397629379090101005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-70509554192216451072011-12-28T01:39:24.216-05:002011-12-28T01:39:24.216-05:00Catch-22 by Joseph Heller is a book which needs no...Catch-22 by Joseph Heller is a book which needs no introduction. I'll just say that it leaves Kerouac's On The Road, umm, on the road.Judge Whiskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04397629379090101005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-12804778584081053402011-12-28T01:36:08.801-05:002011-12-28T01:36:08.801-05:00A person I thought cared about me recomended The P...A person I thought cared about me recomended The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. I've always had a love for stories of struggle set in Africa, but this one will stay with me for a long time. As well as encouraging me to be more thankful for what I have, it also helped me understand a little about the person who recomended itJudge Whiskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04397629379090101005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-8058741281249604352011-12-28T01:30:01.363-05:002011-12-28T01:30:01.363-05:00The Beastly Beatitudes of Balthazar B by J.P. Donl...The Beastly Beatitudes of Balthazar B by J.P. Donleavy is a book I read once a year. While Balthazar and I are polar opposites in social class, we have a connection I find hard to put into words. Let's just say I shed a tear each time I read it.<br />Dannigirrl5 now has my only copy.Judge Whiskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04397629379090101005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337042377966398742.post-32961155832161062242011-12-28T01:24:35.570-05:002011-12-28T01:24:35.570-05:00This comment is a classic example of my ineptitude...This comment is a classic example of my ineptitude with all things technological.<br />I have no idea what the linky thing is or does, therefore I will give you a few of my favourite reads of 2011 in the comments section.<br />Stay tuned...Judge Whiskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04397629379090101005noreply@blogger.com