Months ago we got this book from the library and while I know my lovely assistant and book connoisseur in the picture may not look like she enjoyed it let me assure you she did.
We read it over, and over, and over, and over…
It was so simple you just…
Then you watch what happens…
Follow directions…
And watch how the dots change…
So simple…
So fun!
Would I recommend it? Yes, it was a surprisingly fun book – at least the first thirty times!
Sometimes when I read a book I wish the author wasn’t quite so good at what they do. I wish that their characters will seem less believable so that when the story is a bit gruesome I can think to myself – naah, nobody would ever do that for real… But Atwood is like Steven King, characters so well rounded and believable that it sometimes makes the books a bit too realistic – but in a good way- mostly.
This was the prequel to Oryx and Crake which, in my way, I remember about three non-relevant details from along with the sense that it was good/fascinating/icky which is just about exactly how this one was. Now I’ve got to go back and read Oryx and Crake again, quick before I forget!
Would I recommend it? She is a very good author but I’m not sure her post apocalyptic world is for everyone. I just have to much of a slimy feel to me after reading this to give it a broad recommendation – but for what it’s worth I am reserving Oryx and Crake from the library tonight to re-read.
When I saw the full title of this book I decided it was must read.
Gardening Without Work (Sounds great so far!) For the Aging, (Happens to all of us.) the Busy, (Yes?) and the Indolent. (I can’t be bothered to look this up but I think it applies as well.)
Within I found a ridiculously easy sounding gardening method delivered in an easy to read humorous sort of way by a person who loves to question the “experts”.
Would I recommend it? What’s not to love? OK, maybe, there were a few parts that I was uninterested in but the beauty of nonfiction is if you don’t want to grow squash you don’t have to read about it!
I need some help, I’ve been thinking about this for a few days and I can’t come up with the right word or phrase.
What is it called when an author uses dialogue to progress the story and make a point and then the omniscient narrator explains that point/progression again?
Repetitive? Annoying? Artificially stretching the length of a book? Ridiculous? Irritating?
Is there a phrase for this? Help me out?
Would I recommend it? Well, according to the back of the book she’s sold 590 million novels… but I’m not buying them. I’m not trying to be all “I only read high class literature” or anything here. I read plenty of fluffy, crap, books and thoroughly enjoy them. It’s just that while I was reading this I was afraid it was making me dumber, then I sat down to write about it and find that it may have actually broken my brain somewhat. Personally I’d trade this in for one of Janet Evanovich’s romances, they are funnier, better, yet still mindless feel good fluff.
Are you a Danielle Steel fan? Did I pick the wrong book? Why do you love them? Help me understand!
As a positive I now know how to make a Ô. Hopefully learning about circumflex accents helps make up for any other brain damage that may have occurred!
In the first paragraph I was hooked.
I was in love by the end of second chapter.
I held my breath through the rest of the book worried that it was going to get worse and disappoint.
It didn’t.
I loved it.
Now I’m crossing my fingers that the rest of the series ( there are many more) live up to the first one.
Would I recommend it? Yes, yes yes!
Would I recommend it? Sara Gruen is the author of Water for Elephants, as well as Riding Lessons and Flying Changes all of which I would recommend. Ape House is her newest, and I’d recommend this one too, in fact it might be my favorite of hers so far!
Twelve years ago John and I were dating and I was in the hospital recovering from a surgery, doped up on painkillers. John came to visit me every day I was there and one night he rounded up a TV and VCR and brought in one of his favorite movies for us to watch – The Power of One. Sadly due to all those painkillers I have a vivid memory of John sitting by my bed holding my hand, a vague memory of a TV showing up and absolutely no recollection of the movie. Nothing. Nada. In fact it doesn’t matter how many times John has told me over the last twelve years that I have seen the movie, I still don’t remember it.
Two months ago I brought home a book a friend had lent us saying it was a good “guy read” and I should give it to John. I dutifully passed the message on to John telling him it was “something about power of one?” Which then spurred on the same discussion we have repeated over the last twelve years about how I have seen that movie, and I say I don’t remember any of it and he says he loves it… yada, yada, yada.
But now our conversation has changed because now I’ve read the book and he remembers the movie and I can say things like, “What do you mean the movie doesn’t have Hoppie in it?!” Which is far better than the I still don’t remember the movie conversation we had been having.
Would I recommend it? Yes. This is a good “guy book” in a way that isn’t just shooting people, running around and blowing stuff up. It should also be mention that while I am distinctly not a guy myself, I thoroughly enjoyed it and have recommended it to other not guys. Although my girlyness probably came out when the boxing made me cringe, I can’t help it, I’m not a guy.
This book is, among other things, about ultra-marathoners.
Ultra-marathons are nuts.
You’d have to be crazy to run for 100 miles/24 hours/forever.
Crazy people make for very interesting reading!
In addition to the stories about crazy people this book contains a lot of talk about the evils of shoes.
Since I have always believed in the evils of shoes it was fun and fascinating to read something that had some facts to back up my feelings.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. I believe it would be an interesting read even for a non-runner – you know, like me.
After reading Loitering With Intent and The Abbess of Crewe I was all hyped up on this new (to me) crazy author. I dove into The Bachelors and came up all “eehh.”
It’s not that I’m necessarily against a story about epileptic bachelors, scam artist, spiritualism, seances, unwanted pregnancies, trials, handwriting experts, and planned murders, it’s just that I didn’t care about any of the characters. I kept confusing all the bachelors for the first half of the book, was irritated with the women throughout and never got vested in any of them.
Would I recommend it? No, but I’d still recommend the author. I need to take a bit of a Spark break and read a few other books that have been piling up, (Why do all the inter-library loans come in at once?) but I’ll be back to read her other books for certain.
Words of wisdom from the Abbess of Crewe:
On saying grace – “Oh, it isn’t necessary… there’s nothing wrong with my food.”
“Only the beautiful should make love when they are likely to be photographed.”
“I love you so dearly, Winifrede, that I could eat you were it not for the fact that I can’t bear suet pudding.”
In answer to the question what are scenarios. – “They are an art-form, based on facts. A good scenario is a garble. A bad one is a bungle. They need not be plausible, only hypnotic, like good art.”
“A Lady is cheerful and accommodating when dealing with the perpetrators of a third-rate burglary; but a Bourgeoise calls the police.”
Would I recommend it? The book is only six chapters long so if an abbey full of plotting nuns, electronics, scandal, blackmail, and English poetry sounds amusing or interesting go ahead and pick it up. I’m thinking that it must at least sound interesting so you’d better go read it… it’s only SIX chapters after all, and tell me what you think!
Don’t forget to stop by and see what Simon and Harriet have to say about Spark this week too.
I read that Muriel Spark is like the J.D. Salinger of the U. K. read in schools and the whole nine yards. I’d never heard of her before, how about you?
Behind the Willows 