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“The lengthy descriptions of various processions including every detail one could possibly think of are warying, but Saramago...”
“A fascinating and brutal insight into the workings of a dictatorship. FEAST OF THE GOAT got better and better as I read on...”
Spin’s last login was 2 days ago. show recent activity »
The story is about the German soul of a small community, how they come to terms with their own feelings that are in opposition to the Nazi party that is forced upon them, and their own defiance. I do have to say the last fifty pages were tear jerkers, though...yet, ironically, not a bad ending. The graphics of the holocaust are deferred - as even most Germans weren't aware. All the main characters are heroes and heroines.
Being a vegetarian - save for fish, eggs & cheese - I agree that a good hearty mushroom is indeed like having a steak. I don't trust my Id'ing skills in fungi enough to harvest from my woods, but have grown purchased spores and harvested oyster and button 'shrooms of rotting oak logs. My friends' children think we are holdovers from the days of hippiedom.
I apologize for my ignorance, but what is Eid al Fitr? I used to think that Autumn was my favorite season, but then I realized that I really didn't have a favorite, as I loved each one as they came. The colors here in New England are breathtaking: reds, golds, bronzes, burgundys, contrasted with limes, yellows, and beiges. And the marshes are transorming into shades of golds and browns. The migrating birds are challenging to identify, and because we've had so much rain we are overwhelmed with fungi - mushrooms that are so fun to look up in our pocket resource books. I like to think of myself as an amateur naturalist
I've finished a book I borrowed from your shelf, Gardens of Lights by Maalouf. I absolutely loved the story. What a brave man, and so before his time. I had not heard of this man previously. I hope you are settling into the academic life as you return to your responsibilities. I have taken some time away from work, and have found myself volunteering at the local Democratic party storefront. I'm having a wonderful time accosting passersby to discuss politics. Today, I converted two bigoted elderly ladies who are registered Independents to not vote for McCain. I was unable to convince them to vote Democratic, but nonetheless, feel I've won two more votes. Also helped a registered Republican to vote Democratic. This is so exciting. I'm not sure how this country's election will effect the rest of the world, but I'm sure hoping between Obama's vision of reason and restraint and Biden's international experience can only be an improvement to what we embarrassed Americans have been dealing with for the past 8 years.And I hope by my discussing politics with you that you will not experience any undue hardship. If this is not true, please let me know, and I'll stop expressing myself in this manner.Thanks, She
Hi Spin,I am sorry about the delay in getting back. I do not log on to Shelfari very often (perhaps I should) and that is the only reason why I was late in responding. When I logged on this weekend, I noticed that there was a request from you, and replied. What are you reading at present? I recently finished reading 'The Gathering', which won last year's Booker prize. Full of Irish cliches (in my view), and overall not a pleasant subject (not a book I'd recommend to take with you on a beach holidy:)), but still interesting.
No, I don't know Sitka's Way. I will certainly try and get it somehow. The holiday is finished, I have been back at work for a full week and am slowly getting back into the swing of things. Whenever a spiderweb brushes my head, I feel incredibly lucky. I tend to leave webless spiders in the house, they are definitely friends. There is a quirky one here which jumps in a funny sort of way. Imagine having so many eyes.
I just got Julia and the scriptwriter from the library and you are correct. I'm only in 40 pages or so and chuckling to myself already. Did you ever read Sitka's Way? also social comedy.Are you still on holiday? I've been a friend of spiders for a long time. We catch (in house) and release outside, save for the freezing time, we let them sublet in the basement during the winter.
Pierce Brosnan was --- is a terrible singer!But, you're right, somehow he pulled it off. What I liked about it is that each scene was right over the top in silliness, and then the following scene was even more so! They must have had fun making it. There was an Australian film made a dedade or two ago, that used ABBA music too, and it was delightfully funny too.
Now back in Bangkok. I can't believe I went to 5 countries this summer.... I need a rest now but soon it's back to work. Looking forward to hearing more about the books your read over the summer. I think next summer I'll stick to 1 (or 2....) countries.
My sister is like yours, she has two massive ammonites in her garden which she collected in England on a holiday. How can it be ...
I personally have a problem with the one creator concept that ignores science proof...I have a sister who's a 'born again Christian' that is so hard-lined in her thinking, that the bible is true verbatim and the the Earth as we know it is only six thousand years old...I have this fossilized-rock I found on the beach that is embedded with crusteaceans so old...I've climbed mountains millions of years old...
I just finished this novel, Sadika's Way, which was about a conservative Pakistani Muslim girl coming of age, jilted in an almost arranged marriage, and finds her voice and ultimately her way. I chuckled throughout the story as different incidents occurred. But now that I've finished the novel....am thinking, wondering, do people really think/act like that? I don't doubt for a second that proper Southern (American) women are high-browed, but...I guess I've never been around gossipers, so I have my doubts.
By the way, I do like the abbreviation/name SHE! It is fun to know where it comes from. Very perceptive. The holiday is coming to an end this week.
Reading THE GOD DELUSION and BORDERLINERS by Peter Hoeg in tandem was just perfection. Antidotes to each other.One cannot fault Richard's reasoning about the improbability of the existence of a superhuman, supernatural intelligence who deliberately designed and created the universe and everything in it. And one has to agree with his statement that any creative intelligence comes only into existence as the end product of an extended process of gradual evolution. But many questions remain, that is why I am a mystic.Thank you for the birthday wishes, much appreciated.I hope you are enjoying LA TIA JULIA Y EL ESCRIBIDOR. THE FEAST OF THE GOAT, set in the Dominican Republic, another of Llosa's novels, which I am reading now, is so different and far more serious. I guess the hallmark of a great writer is to be able to change tack.
L, did you have a birthday? Happy, Happy. I wasn't impressed with Hawkins's Delusion. But, did want to let you know the library has just notified me that "..Julia's..scriptwriter" just came in. I'm looking forward to this fun read. Hope your holiday is going well.she
Happy Birthday Spin!!!You are so anonymous now ; )I'm at Ayer's Rock - had a lovely but cold walk around it this morning. I'd like to read the God Delusion too.See you in 10 days.....
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so...did you spin a new web to weave or deceive?
Do see the movie if you've got the chance, it'll bring back memories of the 70s - pleasant ones, I think, and you'll be humming Abba for days, even if you were not a fan. Meryl Streep is sure to win accolades and awards for her part.I'm arm-chair traveling to the Far Southeast and have just devoured "Mr. Pip" which I rate a 5 star! The title comes from Dickens' character in Great Expectations. I shan't say anything more than to highly recommend it. Today I started "Incendiary Circumstances," this is the 3rd book by this ingenious, passionate author. "The Hungry TIde" which I know we both adored, and "Animal's People" which still haunts me, as I'm sure this current one will as well.Of Hoeg, did he do "Smila's Snow" or something like that? Norwegian Per Petersen wrote a wonderful book "Out Stealing Horses" which I also rate a 5 star.
I've just finished another book, a memoir by Isabel Allende. I think I'll leave South America now and travel to another culture. My husband and I saw the movie "Mama Mia" last night, an absolutely wonderful musical that features the pop songs of Abba but takes place on a Greek isle. We laughed throughout the entire film and the whole audience clapped upon its ending. Highly entertaining. Especially having lived through the 70s.