Kristine K’s last login was Friday, January 30 2009.
Read the review for The Second Sex
I've been trying to write you a note, but my computer keeps crashing! I know how disappointing it can be when a favorite author writes kind of a bad book - particularly since it took them so long! I really like Amy Tan's writing, but she hasn't written anything for quite a while - I'm anxious for her next book, but her last one wasn't great so we'll see. I wrote down Petterson's name and the name of the book you're reading; I'll see what I think of Norwegian writers. Why do you suppose you don't particularly enjoy their writing? And yes, lots of books have strange titles, just sold one called "Promise You Won't Marry Me!" It's a pretty old book, so I guess they've been struggling for titles a long time. Yeah, the book fair is this weekend, and I spent the past weekend sorting books and boxing them up; I did it outside since it was such nice weather, and got 24 bites on my arms from baby flies. At least they weren't mosquitoes! Right now I'm reading a compendium of books by Christopher Morley. He wrote "Parnasus on Wheels" and "The Haunted Bookshop." Still slogging through the Edward Teller book, too. It's very dense. Let me know how "Out Stealing Horses" is. And, oh, Sex Carnival wasn't as lascivious as it sounds!Sorry you now have a cold, and still your throat problem; hope you feel better soon.
So sorry you haven't been feeling well; I hope you're better soon. The book you are reading sounds very good - you find the strangest titles to read! I'm still reading Edward Teller - but have read-in between-a book called Sex Carnival. Kind of amusing, the writer was given six months to determine sexual practices and mores around the world - he concentrated on Amsterdam (no surprise) and Canada (big surprise to me!). I'm getting ready for the one huge book fair where I exhibit - it's in Chicago and attended by over 100,000 individuals. I'm always nervous before these things - always bring too much stuff and so forth. Hope you continue to feel better - let me know how you liked that book when you're finished.
Right now I'm reading a book by Will and Ariel Durant. They did the huge, and hugely popular History of the World, and I'm reading a slim volume that distills "current" thought, ala 1960s, about how different aspects of humanity affect history, such as economics, race, religion, and so forth. Very good, wish I could remember the title. Hope things are well for your - what are you reading right now?
Oh I haven't read it yet, it's still on my wishlist! I just heard about it and it got me curious... :)
Hi Kristine,Wish I was as fluent with foreign languages as you are! I had to learn French in school, but only remember a few words; ditto with German, although I remember a lot more of that. Right now I'm reading a book called A Mortal Storm by Phyllis Bottome, and she uses a lot of German phrases in her writing. It's a novel, but interesting in that it was written in the mid-thirties, published in 1938 (WWII), and is a book about a family torn apart by Nazi and Communist forces. One of those books that you keep reading to find out what happens! Haven't read The Other Boleyn Girl, but it sounds pretty darn good. The book show was a disaster! We got in okay and set up Saturday night, about 8:30 p.m. Then around 10:00 we were done and ready to find the motel - but they had turned off their lights so we got lost. Also couldn't find a place to eat, but finally found a fast-food place that was alright. Sunday was a long day, not a lot of people came to the show. It was in Michigan, which is in major economic upheaval right now because of the auto industry, basically the gas prices and so forth - so not a lot of people with money to spend. Don't know how much I made yet, but I don't think I even covered expense. Met some very nice people though, and one elderly man helped me display my books to the best advantage. He was a sweetheart, but his wife was a grouch. Oh well. The next book fair isn't until June, and that's a huge one where it would be very hard not to make money - and it's just in Chicago so not much driving. One funny thing though, I forgot to pack the book I'm currently reading, but since I had so many books with me, it wasn't a problem to pick up another one. So I'm also reading The Bells of St. Mary's, which was made into a film. I'm hoping we have some viable candidates for the presidential election in November. I really want to get rid of Bush, too. His father wasn't a much better president! I don't know if you hear the nitty-gritty stuff that goes on, but Barak Obama (democrat) has taken a licking for the pastor of his church being racist, and many of the things he has said. Now Obama is distancing himself from the pastor and saying he doesn't agree with many of his beliefs. Hillary Clinton is now in the hot seat for some reason - not sure what. I get a little tired of reading and hearing about the day-to-day wrangling that goes on between party candidates. They try to trash each other to make themselves look better, but all it does, in my mind, is make them look foolish. I know a lot of people who don't usually vote - they drive me nuts. I hope more people come out to the polls this year as this is a very important election.I know what it's like to work in a cramped area; sometimes you just have to get out! Also it's hard to think with other people talking or tapping away on their computers. When I used to take the train a lot there would be lots of people talking on the cell phones, rather loudly, and others listening to music turned up high; I would wear earplugs and just read my book. Still use them sometimes to screen out all the noise. Brave New World is one of those books I just can't put down, and Farenheit 451 (whatever the number is) is pretty good too, but I really like the film better. Maybe it's because I saw it before I read the book. Don't read a lot of science fiction, but usually what I do read sticks with me. I think that's great that you are able to read books in English - if I read books in German I would have to have a dictionary at my side all of the time. Well, time to go whip up something for dinner. Not sure what's in the house, as I haven't gone grocery shopping in a while! Happy Reading!
I download and listen to books, too. Right now I'm listening to one that keeps putting me to sleep. Hmmm. . . . Maybe not such a good book? I agree with you, Colbert is very funny - he has a nightly program here where he spoofs politics, and most anything else in the news that is appropriate. I don't watch it too often because it's on a bit too late for me. Need my sleep! I think it's interesting that flea markets are mostly in spring there - if they did that here they'd mostly be rained out, especially this year. We've been getting a lot of rain and many states, or areas within states, are being declared emergency areas. This is so they can get low-cost loans to rebuild from the government. I have heard that in many areas of the world where rice is grown they have had either drought, or too much rain, or the crops have been ruined by pests. I agree with you that people tend to tune one out if they are discussing something important to them and get angry about it; but it is difficult not to be angry about what is happening to the world, environmentally and otherwise. I can't wait until we have a new president who will hopefully bring an end to the war with Iraq - I was one of the few who thought it was a very bad idea to begin with. I have two nieces and a nephew who have fought in Afghanistand and Iraq, but they don't talk about it very much. Suspect it's too horrific and fresh to discuss it right now. I agree with you about poor countries being in the worst shape to withstand these global environmental changes; but, it's also frustrating to know that the politicians in those countries are usually quite wealthy and immune to conditions (thinking of parts of Africa and Thailand). I don't know what the answer is to that, except for wealthier countries to help those with the greatest needs, but that has it's own can of worms; some countries are pulling out of poverty for most citizens, but those that continue to rely on other countries for current needs, not being able to look ahead and build toward the future, are going to remain in their sad state, it seems to me. Of course, all countries, I think, have people who are well-off and those who are desparatly poor, and that will probably never change. It's good to know that you can write about your convictions, and I imagine your works cause quite a bit of lively discussion, which is always good. Have you ever read Soylent (sp?) Green? A supposed utopian world, but on a different level than Brave New World (one of my very favorites!).Our cats are both black, and female. Having had male cats that like to mark their territory, I put my foot down and would only opt for females! They are mother and daughter, don't know if I mentioned that. The younger one is constantly after her mother, who growls a lot. Such fun! Too bad you can't have a cat where you are - they're awfully quiet, and if the landlord came in, probably wouldn't know you had a cat because they tend to hide when strangers pop in. I had three cats in the last place I lived where I was not supposed to have cats, but the landlord was a drunk and didn't really care - as long as nothing was damaged. I never had a cat as a child, either. My parents didn't like them, but we had an awfully nice dog. He was part golden retriever and part chow-chow, so he had black spots on his tongue. I also had a parrot which my mom bought when I was about twelve. I was the only one he really liked, for some reason. He died several years ago, living for about 25 years. He was a wonderful companion - and would land on the dog's head and bite his nose. Needless to say, our dog steered clear of the bird!Yesterday I spent an entire day in my lawyer's office for a deposition regarding a collision I was in about 1 1/2 years ago. The only reason I filed suit was because my right knee was badly damaged; it had been replaced a few months before, and when the woman hit me from behind it slammed into the dashboard. Ouch! Had to have it replaced, again. My knee, that is. The car we got repaired and donated it to a charity, as it was old and had over 100,000 miles on it. Something I've been wondering - your English is excellent - did you learn in school as a child? Or is it generally spoken in Norway? Sometimes when I write something I then look back to determine if it is an "americanism" and not something that would be easily understood. Hope I don't do that too much. Do you know any other languages? When I was in Italy I was going to school, and met a woman from Norway whose English was also excellent. She was very interesting, and was telling me what the star constellations were called in her country. Never occurred to me that they had different names in different parts of the world! Shows you how insulated one can be if they don't travel much. And now with the dollar worth very little, it's beyond our means to travel at all outside the country, except to South America or places where the Euro has not yet been accepted. Another wonderful thing our president has managed to accomplish.
my pleasure :)
Yes, the book fair should be fun - I'll be selling, but may take a small tour of the place to see what others are selling. As for global warming, something is definitely happening around here and that's what I think is causing it - we've had the strangest weather lately. And I agree, who are these people who aren't against global warming. Who are these folks who want to see the polar bears dying because they can't get to their feeding grounds, as well as other arctic inhabitants? The odd thing is, there are alternatives to fossil fuel that would run clean and are easy to create, such as nitrogen (I think that's the one I was talking to an engineer about recently). I would have a hard time doing what you do - I'd be in a rage all the time! And that is so cool that you interview directors and such. That must be an interesting experience, because I suppose some want to be interviewed, and others probably use the opportunity to tell you how wonderful they are! Just like any other profession, except folks in the arts tend to be more so. My aunt was an artist, and she lead a very interesting life, but it was definitely the type of life most people wouldn't consider living. She's long gone but I still have some of her paintings. My dad has the one that is my favorite. . . . Anyway, book selling can be lots of fun, but it's also a lot of heavy work. I also exhibit at a book fair in Chicago, called the Printers Row Book Fair. That one draws over 100,000 people in the two days it is open. I LOVE going to flea markets, but they've pretty much gone away around here. Can't imagine just buying one book, but it's a good goal. I usually get my books at garage sales (flea markets but just one or two people at someone's home), library sales at some of the large libraries, and other not-for-profit book fairs. I feel terrible throwing away a book, but when I find they've been mutilated by somebody, as that Degas book was, there's just nothing else I can do. Do you go to flea markets all year around, or are they only in summer? I lived in Italy for a while, and there was a wonderful flea market in a small town outside of Rome. Only got there once, but it sure was fun. How do you like Slaughterhouse 5?
Hi Kristine,No, I haven't read anything by Hustvedt, but I'll see if I can get that at the library. I recently read The Grass is Singing, and thought it quite good, particularly as a first novel. She had great difficulty getting it published because it's a fairly honest look at Southern Rhodesia in, oh, the 1930s or 40's (don't remember now). People were afraid there would be an uprising. Environmental issues are very hot topics right now in the US, but there is, as with all things that become political, a certain amount of denial going on regarding global warming, and issues with the quality of water (just found out that lots of medications are not filtered out of regular tap water). The government is attempting to sell off land to the timber industry, but I think there are enough groups against it that they won't be able to do much. For now, that is. Do you do film reviews? Gosh, haven't been to a movie in ages! We have a second-run theatre within walking distance but we just never get there. I'm getting ready for an antiquarian book and emphemera sale in Lansing, Michigan the first weekend in April. I'm looking forward to it, and digging through boxes of books to find suitable things to take. Just went through a box of art books, and one beautiful book on Degas has about 12 pages cut out of it. So that one gets trashed. Everything else looks okay, though. I was interested in the book you posted, "The Second Sex." Sounds pretty interesting! I haven't been keeping up with books I've read, posting them. I think my next read will be a book on Tiffany - interesting family, wonderful photographs! But I will look for The Blindfold at the libarary.
Hi Kristine,I haven't read The Golden Notebook yet, but have just finished the second volume of her autobiography. At the end she discusses this book, and the kind of responses she received. Although she did not write it as a statement of feminism, in the '70's it was often seen in that light, by both men and women. I recommend her autobiography, especially the first volume. This is of her growing up in Southern Rhodesia, and is very interesting, encompassing her first two marriages. Can you easily get her books in your country? What sort of journalism do you write? Lessing proved to be quite political, a communist for some time, which is what her second volume is about to some extent. An interesting note - only at the end does she consider her actual life, how she lives; I wish she had expounded more on that, but I suppose she had good reason not to! I am an online bookseller looking for a real job, and not having much luck as the economy stinks in the US. Don't know yet what my next book will be - I also listen to audio books downloaded from audible.com - it's a good way to fall asleep.
