Holley W says

Hi, Morrighan, my computer's been out at home so I've been out of touch. Now that I've reommended it, I hope that you like The Genesis Code...I always get a little nervous when people read according to my recomendations, I mean, what if they don't like the book and think I'm a jerk? Anyway, from the looks of your shelf, I think you will enjoy it. Let me know. Good to talk to you, hw

posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )

mcdunc says

No I haven't read any of these three books. I have always been interested in questions of religion and philosophy, but feel that organized religion is long on illusions, like 'The Periccone Promise"...he he. In University I used to have a prof who commented on the fact that when women were put on a pedestal in the knightly era of courtly love and chivalry, their actual status in society was very low, the antithesis of the professed cultural position. I wonder how this antithesis relates to the correspondence between the status of women and the absence of goddesses? For me, the male and the female ultimately find expression in society, whether their expression is subverted one by the other, or not. Of course that doesn't mean that half the population likes operating subversively, or that we should condone the subversion.

On another note, the editorial review of Valley of Bones, "places the mysteries of faith and religious experience and the complexities of the human mind as well as spirit at the center of the work". I am going to put this one on my "to read" list. Michael Gruber sounds like an interesting author. It always amazes me where "humor" takes us. Thanks!

posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )

jacktheartist says

Well, I try. I'm glad I'm amusing if nothing else.

Gotcha. Like the zillion dialects that exist in China, some of which are so unique that if you don't speak the same one you can't understand eachother. I mean, obviously, as you say, it's not that bad between Mexican and Puerto Rican Spanish, but a similar idea, perhaps?

Yes...I had to close my eyes during the scene where James McAvoy is getting pulled up by the hooks in his chest. Euurgghh...

Have you read any batman comics or graphic novels?

Again, long delay. I don't remember did you read the Twilight books or no?

posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )

mcdunc says

I began my career as a comedian, the day after I found out 'When God Was a Woman'. Since then I have been trying to find my serious side in 'The Book of Lost Things'. Perhaps you have seen it in "The Valley of Bones'?

posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )

mcdunc says

I see that you are into serious religion and its effects on diet...aka..The Barbecue Bible. The Shelfari random book selector loves to poke fun at us.

posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )

jacktheartist says

Interesting. That's hard for me to imagine a drawl in a non-english language, but I'm sure they exist. Or that Mexicans speak kind of slowly. That's funny. You mean they understand Spanish but don't really speak it? That must be kinda frustrating, for them I mean.

The end of "Last Kind of Scotland" was a little bit forced with the "you have to go and tell the world what happened" but my main problem with it was the unbelievable gore in it. And yeah, it was Uganda.

The second Batman movie, 'Batman Returns' is still probably my favorite, but The Dark Knight was certainly a phenomenal film. Only a few problems and not really major ones.

You'll have to let me know when you finish When God Was a Woman. Too bad you're family doesn't come to the states, but at least you know where they are and how they're doing--you're close to them, I gather. That's good.

There Will Be Blood was an interesting film. I'll have to tell you more about it later. I apologize for not responding to this earlier, I don't really have a good excuse, I just didn't want to write a hasty reply. Hope all is well with you and yours.

posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )

jacktheartist says

How different is Puerto Rican Spanish from Mexican Spanish? Do your relatives ever come to the States?

Keen. I take it your kids are bilingual also? And have you read or seen anything/watching, reading anything good lately? I just watched The Devil Wears Prada, There Will Be Blood and Tropic Thunder recently.

posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )

Stacy-Deanne says

Thanks and have a lovely day!

posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )

mcdunc says

Category? he he.. I liked Ghost too. That should cement it?
Sorry to hear about the virus. That's tough, especially in the summer.
Joined a gym? Got a trainer? Wow! Here's a site for you: http://www.figureathlete.com/index.jsp
I often read the guys' site (Testosterone Nation) which is a brother to this one. Perhaps you can use your "magik" to help you move those weights? ;-)
I spent 3 hours yesterday digging a trench at work...pheww...don't need a workout after that. Today it is supposed to be windy so I will be getting off early to go kiting. Lake Winnipeg has a ton of algae right now, due to all the phosphorous dumped into it from the surrounding areas. It is the 11th largest lake in the World, and desperately needs environmental protection. Some days once the weather gets hot, the waves are green, or worse...blue. Still, my goal is to stay on the water, not in it.
Have a good one,
Duncan

posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )

jacktheartist says

Nifty, are you fluent in espanol, then? Do you go back to Puerto Rico very often? You have most of your extended family still living there, I imagine? Bah, not so cheesy. Nostalgia is completely acceptable.

posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )

mcdunc says

I enjoyed Yourspace. Very wicked. Actually, Pretty Woman is a movie I really liked ;-) But yes, Shogun was the first historical fiction book I ever read and it really fed my interest in the Far East and "things" exotic and strange. How is the walking coming?
Duncan

posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )

mcdunc says

Thanks for the note and acceptance. I love your avatar. It's very "witchy", :-) I really like legal, psychological, and medical thrillers too. Hope to read more of your reviews as you add them. Cheers,
Duncan

posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )

jacktheartist says

Well, I try.

How long have you lived in the U.S.(although technically Puerto Rico is part of the U.S., it's just not a state; let's say the continental U.S.)? Are you mixed lineage also or are you ethnically/native Puerto Rican?

Hmmmm...I think I've seen the cover for the Secret but I don't know anything about it. Whatever turns your wheel, right?

It's a fairly long book and it's something you probably shouldn't read over a longer period of time or you'll lose the flow of it, kind of like Tolkien. I don't think I'd recommend reading it and another serious book--it'd be too much. But it's very engaging and she obviously did a ton of research for it, you get a really good picture and feel of Africa, specifically Congo. It's not something I would recommend to everyone but if you like emotionally engaging books that also reflect actual historical events and social/political movements, I'd say you should read it.

posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )

mcdunc says

I think that you are very right when you pan the Simple Truth by David Baldacci. I found the book interesting enough at the start, and I liked the characters, Rufus, Josh, Sara and David, but I found several of the novel's premises very untenable, like: how does a guy forget the most important details of an incident that destroys his life 25 years ago until a letter arrives; or how do two men spend their whole lives as guardians for a convict locked in a maximum security prison; or how does one of the characters who is supposed to be highly ethical, commit a theft and endanger his career and life on the basis of a simple suspicion; or why does a police officer frame one of the main characters to protect him from the criminals??

Anyway, I could add to this list very easily. I usually don't criticize books on the basis of their premises, as I like to give authors some creative leeway, but this book has far too many simple hidden facts that don't bear up to scrutiny and are not believable motivations for characters. The story is reasonably well woven, the facts all tie in together, and it is in many ways quite suspenseful. However I just like the characters to be "smarter" and have more depth to them.

I see we read many of the same kinds of books, and you like to read reviews, which I think are the main stay of this site. It is not a race for the most books, but a series of journeys which begin with a disconnect from reality, illuminate our lives, stimulate our intellects, renew our passions, and end with a reconnection to others. Hope you will add me as a friend.

Duncan

posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )

Holley W says

Hey, Morrighan, I know you couldn't get into the movie No Country for Old Men, but I wondered if you tried reading the book. The group Books to Movies Book Club is reading it right now, you can find it here: http://www.shelfari.com/groups/26934/about, thought you might be interested. I'd be interested in your comments on it, if you do decide to read it.

posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )

jacktheartist says

Well, shut my mouth and color me presumptious. I thought you were European, specifically of the British Isles from your name and your pic, or an anglo-American who was interested in Europe. That's awesome that you read books with her; I don't read a lot of the same books my mother does as she mostly reads adult fiction and I stick to more fantastical books and comics. From which Latin American country do you hale, if you don't mind my asking?

Oh, and I finished the Poisonwood Bible. It was (for me) a major time commitment, not just because of the length (though it is almost 550 pages long, and in small print) but because of the emotional investment. At the end, it didn't feel totally draining, like some books can, but it does take a lot out of you. I felt like there was some redemption, though, even if it wasn't entirely what I would've liked. I would recommend it to people who are serious readers and people who don't know a lot about Africa--like me.

PS. sorry for not responding to this earlier.

posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )

jacktheartist says

I don't think you'll be disappointed. Okay, um, I must be totally out to lunch. Your mother is latina? And you're welcome.

posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )

alenord says

No tiene ningun asp