homeinthehills’s last login was Thursday, August 7 2008. « hide recent activity
“Here a reader discovers positive details of a family who helped shelter, feed, and transport Jews in Warsaw during the Holocaust”
“This is superior to "On Chesil Beach". The theme of atonement is pervasive and realistic--thus, tragedy can be generated and...”
“This is a one-of-a-kind first novel by a British author--a brilliant examination of how a deeply felt loss may trigger a...”
“Truly great authors are willing to risk the exploration of a tragedy, and this is one rich example-- contrasting lives of a...”
homeinthehills’s last login was Thursday, August 7 2008. show recent activity »
kiki68 says
Hi Home! Definitely try it again in 6 months or so--it read better the second time--I think you are somehow more "prepared" and less distracted like you mentioned.I'd love to go to a movie--I think my girls are a little young to appreciate Mamma Mia like your college age companions and daughter, but they love musicals. I am not quite sure about the subject matter of this one for an 11 and 12 year old!Atonement is a wonderful movie all around--very well done--McEwanm was involved too, executive producer or some such postion. My husband agreed--this is one of the few movies we've actually gone to a movie to see at my insistence. the other ones would be Pride and Prejudice ( I really love the Keira Knightley version--I like the Firth/Ehrle version also, but they are so different and the new version just moved me more) and Becoming Jane. Did you catch the Austen reference at the opening of the book?I am not sure why I did not write a review for The Zookeeper's Wife when I read it, but I did love it. I am partial to Ackerman, though. It reads like fiction, and there were a few sections where I was just floored. I read it with some friends for my little book group and we had some serious tearful moments discussing it. I liked it-a lot.Do you buy your books or borrow them from the library or another source--friends, etc.?I play the flute--well, I use to I pick it up occasionally now. The 12 year old has inherited it and plays at school. the 11 year old plays clarinet. She also plays piano--very seriously, and the 12 year old dabbles, and I'm thinking of signing her up for lessons as well, since she shows interest and aptitude. 12 year old takes voice, and is very good, they are both very musical. 11 year old sings as well. Great gifts in this world. Just making conversation, sorry! I haven't been visiting many groups lately. Too busy with work. Let me know what you think of Zookeeper's Wife.
ajsieff says
Don't know The Zookeeper's Wife, but sounds interesting. Let me know how you get on with that.
Hey Home--I will see if I can get a copy of Life Among the Savages. My GM at work and I both read we Have Always Lived in the Castle (which is supposedly also very autobiographical as far as her alienation from the people in the small college town where she and her husband lived) and had a great time discussing it. I read the Haunting of Hill House a few years ago with my book group. Of course I read the Lottery years and years ago! But I decided to pick up the collection after reading We Have Always Lived...out of curiosity. Have you read Atonement yet? Ah, it is one of those books you wish you could read again for the first time--but I loved reading it again anyway--you see a lot more in it when you read it the second and third time, i think!
I haven't read On Chesil Beach, but I found Atonement very slow and hard to get into. The first half of the bookl really dragged on, although the second part was marginally better as the pace seemed to pick up a lot more.I can't say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I did go and see the film and found that almost as slow as the book which was a little frustrating, but from the point of view that it was faithful to the book, I can't fault it.Regards from a grim and not so warm London!
takyak says
I'm so glad you liked Atonement. It is such a "thinking" book. It's one of those books that will always stay in my mind. I too want to see the movie now. I didn't finish Bridge of Sighs in time. I had to return it to the library. It was a fine book, just not gripping enough for such a large book. I plan on heading to the library today, maybe it will be there and I can try to finish the rest of it.
Sorry I haven't responded sooner to your note the other day. I am glad someone concurs with me on On Chesil Beach--I just felt icky about it, if you know what I mean! I didn't like Amsterdam much either, but I have thoroughly enjoyed Atonement 3x's now! Just a wonderful book, I think. One of my favorites.So, I see you loved Angle of Repose. What a gorgeous book, huh? A quintessential American story.
Hiya, glad you enjoyed The Raw Shark Texts, I'll read the review later.A jumper is a sweater. Trainers are tennis shoes and biscuits are cookies, but so are chocolate digestives, plain cookies with chocolate on one side only.
Thanks for the great reviews. I'm very intrigued by the Owen Parry books. And The City of Dreaming Books sounds wonderful. I was at the library today and picked up the only Russo book left on the shelf (that I hadn't already seen as a movie): Bridge of Sighs. I've never read him before, but am looking forward to it.
I was just signing off my computer when I saw your note! I just got back from the library and came home with a handful--some to keep from the used book store and some I borrowed. I hope you enjoy The Zookeeper's Wife--I really found it inspiring. I am taking my 11 and 12 year olds our bathing suit shopping--they get out of school tomorrow--this shopping is torture for me! But I am so proud of them--all my kids got awards--and it isn't the kind of school where you get awards just for showing up--it is a parochial school, so it is tougher than that--and I'm glad. They love to read too, so books will be there rewards for doing so well! Even my 7 year old got an award! I am busting with pride (can you tell!?) The girls are speed readers also! Thanks goodness we all read quickly, huh? Never heard of Arundel--I will have to check that one out also(with The River Wife)! I need to start up a new list for the library! I've got several you've suggested I really want to try and read this summer as well.Enjoy your summer off! It'll be so nice, sitting outside reading in the shade with a glass of lemonade in your hand! So quiet and alone (not lonely!). Perfect!
I'll look for "The River Wife," but it will be added to my TBR pile--I am swamped with books--especially since I started working at a book store. And I am still an avid library user. I guess, like you, I just love reading and literature. I have a BA in English, and I do love both classics and almost anything else, including non-fiction. I wish there was someway I could read faster! I've been pretty busy these past two weeks with my children getting through with the school year--we've been busy with our band concert, recital, end of year activities, etc. This week, it's their piano and voice recital. The River Wife sounds great--I love that kind of writing. I just finished reading the Zookeepers' Wife by Diane Ackerman--I love her writing(I own a lot of her other non-fiction and some poetry) and this is a nonfiction book about the keeper's of the Warsaw Zoo who were very involved in helping hide and transport Jews away from the Warsaw ghetto at great risk to themselves. Beautiful book, great writing. Have you ever read William Stegner's Angle of Repose? That's some gorgeous writing and story telling. Have you read Irene Nemirovsky's Suite Francaise? That one was just incredible. Especially the story behind the author. I highly recommend it!