In my previous post I said I was going to read The World According to Garp by John Irving, but I have not yet gotten around to it. Instead, I read a book by a different author on this list. I read She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. I had heard so much about how he was able to capture the full essence of a female, and I was curious. I cried (a little), I laughed, I got angry. By the time I finished reading the book, my emotions were totally off whack (wack?). One note of advice: DO NOT read this if you're on your way to a new university, where you'll be living on campus. I read this a week before I started a new semester at a new University and I was scared out of my mind. LOL. I was afraid of meeting my future roommate and when the cleaning lady (janitress?) smiled at me I got freaked out. LOL. But I'm ok now.
So I guess I can remove Wally Lamb from this list.
I think I have slowly, but surely, climbed my way out of this valley I call a "reading rut". I went to the library and checked out a few books (mostly psych and mythology) and I went to Half-Price and bought a few books (not that I don't have enough to read right now). I'm back to my old self again.
I've heard of six of your books, but have only read one: The Little Prince. It's incredible how a short story could contain such significant a message.
Bertie it worked so well Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel is still playing as I type this. LOL, I didn't realize I had to wait until this one was over to listen to the others.
Once again, I've only read one and that one would be Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. I heard over and over again that it was a terrifying book, but I read it and didn't find it all that terrifying. It was a good book, but to me it just seemed a bit too farfetched.
(Blushing shamefully.) I'm afriad to say the only one I've read is Fahrenheit 451 by Bradbury. I've read it three times, and although I don't remember my exact feelings towards it, I must have liked it if I read it that often.
I have seen many a good review for Garp, so I think I will try that. Half-Price actually had it in stock but their copy had Robin Williams on the cover and (another hangup of mine, LOL) I don't like to buy books with actors on the covers.
I haven't heard much about Tom Robbins himself, but I hear he has many good books, none of which I have read. I was tempted to buy (oh I forgot the name I should have looked it up before I posted) one of his books by the name of Cowgirl something or other (Even Cogirls Get the Blues?), but I was turned off by the cover. Then I decided to buy Jitterbug Perfume and Skinny Legs and All, but I haven't yet.
You know, I somehow knew that I would sooner or later read something by John Irving, it was pretty much inevitable. I'll let you know how things work out with that.
I would suggest you read Bus 9 to Paradise by Leo Buscaglia. I came across this book a couple of years ago and I am a better person because of it. I recommend this book to everyone who comes my way, especially if, as you say, one is a serious student of life. After I read his book I wrote Mr. Buscaglia a long letter telling him how enlightened I was and thanking him for it.....a few days later I was on-line and I found out he passed away in 1997. Such a shame that the world had to lose such a loving man. Now, I have a collection of about six of his books.
What you said is true, I don't know much about Irving's ideas, except for one, and I won't comment on that. But I will tell you what I almost did, but didn't do. I'll start at the beginning. I'm having dinner and all through out your words are running through my head and the lemon chicken is doing a number on my ulcer (it's not been diagnosed as such but I'm convinced I have an ulcer.) So I take out a pen and crazily start writing out a retort to your post. (The whole time my boyfriend's looking at me as if I've lost my head, but he doesn't bother to ask anymore.)And I believe I've come up with a firm argument. On the drive home I decide I want to stop at Half-Prcie Books. We pull into the parking lot and I run straight for the I section. There he is, Irving, quite a few copies of some of his books. I'm tempted to buy one, but my rational self tells me 4 dollars is too much money to pay for an author I said I'd never read. I leave empty handed, promising to go to the library and check something of his out, tossing my napkin with the discourse into the nearest trash can. I'm not recalcitrant you see, now I just have to convince myself that I'm staunch in my beliefs. So Nadine, which book do you suggest I start my journey into the world of Irving off with? My only qualm is that I may enjoy what he has to say.
Oh by the way, I rather enjoyed Steinbeck's The Red Pony.
Jim, I'd like to know what you thought of Antz. I've heard some critics say (who they were, I can't remember) that although A Bug's Life did better at the box office Antz was the better of the two. I thought A B L's characters were more endearing. Perhaps I feel this way thanks to my two year old nephew who watched the movie, oh about 15 times, and this helped me learn to love them.
Hey Buber, thanks for your suggestions. Until yesterday, I don't think I'd picked up a book in over three weeks, so I guess I've waited it out. I completely inderstand the not wanting to read what's on your bookshelf. My bookshelf is filled to overflowing with books I've purchased but haven't yet read, mostly because I'll go to the library and see other books I'd rather read. Do you know I have books that I bought over a year ago and I haven't even taken a look at?
Thanks for making me feel so much better. LOL. A decade?!?! I've got a tiny room so, unfortunately, I can't buy any more bookshelves. I merely place my books in sloppy and tidy piles on my floor.
I'm 100% sure I'm wrong, but I'm going to take a stab in the dark anyway. #6 Time by Hootie and the Blowfish?? Don't laugh at me.
In my previous post I said I was going to read The World According to Garp by John Irving, but I have not yet gotten around to it. Instead, I read a book by a different author on this list. I read She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. I had heard so much about how he was able to capture the full essence of a female, and I was curious. I cried (a little), I laughed, I got angry. By the time I finished reading the book, my emotions were totally off whack (wack?). One note of advice: DO NOT read this if you're on your way to a new university, where you'll be living on campus. I read this a week before I started a new semester at a new University and I was scared out of my mind. LOL. I was afraid of meeting my future roommate and when the cleaning lady (janitress?) smiled at me I got freaked out. LOL. But I'm ok now.
So I guess I can remove Wally Lamb from this list.
LOL. Just one question, is Harrison Ford's nose really that crooked or is it just a scanning mishap?
I think I have slowly, but surely, climbed my way out of this valley I call a "reading rut". I went to the library and checked out a few books (mostly psych and mythology) and I went to Half-Price and bought a few books (not that I don't have enough to read right now). I'm back to my old self again.
I've heard of six of your books, but have only read one: The Little Prince. It's incredible how a short story could contain such significant a message.
Bertie it worked so well Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel is still playing as I type this. LOL, I didn't realize I had to wait until this one was over to listen to the others.
By the way, excellent sites!
Once again, I've only read one and that one would be Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. I heard over and over again that it was a terrifying book, but I read it and didn't find it all that terrifying. It was a good book, but to me it just seemed a bit too farfetched.
(Blushing shamefully.) I'm afriad to say the only one I've read is Fahrenheit 451 by Bradbury. I've read it three times, and although I don't remember my exact feelings towards it, I must have liked it if I read it that often.
Beverly Cleary. "Boy books" oh I see, LOL. I didn't realize.
I have seen many a good review for Garp, so I think I will try that. Half-Price actually had it in stock but their copy had Robin Williams on the cover and (another hangup of mine, LOL) I don't like to buy books with actors on the covers.
I haven't heard much about Tom Robbins himself, but I hear he has many good books, none of which I have read. I was tempted to buy (oh I forgot the name I should have looked it up before I posted) one of his books by the name of Cowgirl something or other (Even Cogirls Get the Blues?), but I was turned off by the cover. Then I decided to buy Jitterbug Perfume and Skinny Legs and All, but I haven't yet.
You know, I somehow knew that I would sooner or later read something by John Irving, it was pretty much inevitable. I'll let you know how things work out with that.
I would suggest you read Bus 9 to Paradise by Leo Buscaglia. I came across this book a couple of years ago and I am a better person because of it. I recommend this book to everyone who comes my way, especially if, as you say, one is a serious student of life. After I read his book I wrote Mr. Buscaglia a long letter telling him how enlightened I was and thanking him for it.....a few days later I was on-line and I found out he passed away in 1997. Such a shame that the world had to lose such a loving man. Now, I have a collection of about six of his books.
What you said is true, I don't know much about Irving's ideas, except for one, and I won't comment on that. But I will tell you what I almost did, but didn't do. I'll start at the beginning. I'm having dinner and all through out your words are running through my head and the lemon chicken is doing a number on my ulcer (it's not been diagnosed as such but I'm convinced I have an ulcer.) So I take out a pen and crazily start writing out a retort to your post. (The whole time my boyfriend's looking at me as if I've lost my head, but he doesn't bother to ask anymore.)And I believe I've come up with a firm argument. On the drive home I decide I want to stop at Half-Prcie Books. We pull into the parking lot and I run straight for the I section. There he is, Irving, quite a few copies of some of his books. I'm tempted to buy one, but my rational self tells me 4 dollars is too much money to pay for an author I said I'd never read. I leave empty handed, promising to go to the library and check something of his out, tossing my napkin with the discourse into the nearest trash can. I'm not recalcitrant you see, now I just have to convince myself that I'm staunch in my beliefs. So Nadine, which book do you suggest I start my journey into the world of Irving off with? My only qualm is that I may enjoy what he has to say.
Oh by the way, I rather enjoyed Steinbeck's The Red Pony.
Jim, I'd like to know what you thought of Antz. I've heard some critics say (who they were, I can't remember) that although A Bug's Life did better at the box office Antz was the better of the two. I thought A B L's characters were more endearing. Perhaps I feel this way thanks to my two year old nephew who watched the movie, oh about 15 times, and this helped me learn to love them.
Nadine, thanks for taking the time to reply. I ought to try some detective stories.
Hey Buber, thanks for your suggestions. Until yesterday, I don't think I'd picked up a book in over three weeks, so I guess I've waited it out. I completely inderstand the not wanting to read what's on your bookshelf. My bookshelf is filled to overflowing with books I've purchased but haven't yet read, mostly because I'll go to the library and see other books I'd rather read. Do you know I have books that I bought over a year ago and I haven't even taken a look at?
Thanks for making me feel so much better. LOL. A decade?!?! I've got a tiny room so, unfortunately, I can't buy any more bookshelves. I merely place my books in sloppy and tidy piles on my floor.