What Are You Reading

[WH1]

Currently

Mornings on horseback by McCullouch and the Judgement of Paris, about the 1976 French and American wine tasting.

 

[Vintage Betty]

Just finished: The Liveship Traders Trilogy (Recommended by Amazon)

The Crimson Petal and the White (Found at Library for $1; it's not worth that much)

Currently reading: The Geographer's Library by Jon Fasman. (Saw it on a Border's email)

 

[Harp]

Just finished:

The Crimson Petal and the White

...how was the Crimson Petal and the White?
I meant to read this.

 

[Vintage Betty]

It's probably one of the worst books I've read in years,.

I read a lot, and worked bookstores for years too, when I was younger.

Think: "Bad Victorian Pornography" and you've hit the nail on the head. The author uses sex to spice up the story, but there's a dreary plot there to begin with, so he doesn't get far.

I REALLY liked the introduction and beginning of the book, because the author is a narrator who takes you around introducing you to each character, giving background info and moves you to each scene. Unfortunately, he leaves partway through the book, so we're back to the dreary plot again.

I've read actual Victorian drama and fictional books and they were better than this drivel.

I have absolutely no idea why this book made any Bestseller list, let along the NY Times. Someone was sleeping on the job. If you still want to read it, I'll remove it from my ebay store send you my copy.

Vintage Betty.

 

[Harp]

Thanks for the review Betty. Based on what you say, I think I'll pass.

 

[Vintage Betty]

Borders Clearance Sale on select Fashion Books?

Sorry. Guess I should have mentioned that the plot was about a Victorian prostitute trying to get out of her class. Ho-hum.

Anyway, in the last month or so my local Borders store had a fantastic clear-out of a bunch of Fashion Books. At least one of the books was the Dover 1930's-1940's fashion. I figured I'd mention it here in case anyone wants to check their local Borders store. They were all singles, so I don't know if they decided to clear out that section, or just get rid of the older books.

Oh yeah, and I used my Borders Rewards Card plus my personal shopping day for another 10% off the Clearance Price. I got 16 books for 75% off + 10% off for my shopping day and the total was only $33 for two huge bags of books. Gotta love it.

Vintage Betty

 

[Polka Dot]

Yes, the Borders Rewards program is great, isn't it.

As for The Crimson Petal and the White, I'm in total agreement with you there. It had such great potential, especially given that brilliant opening walk-through. I had high hopes for the rest of the book, but it didn't live up to them. I was actually shelving a copy the other day and noted that the author hasn't published anything since.

ETA: Forgot to mention what I'm reading: Le Côté de Guermantes (The Guermantes Way) by Proust

 

[Vintage Betty]

I actually agree with you completely and almost feel sorry for the author. It is obvious he spent a considerable amount of time and effort studying the Victorian era, from mannerisms to geography to class structure to eating habits. I know a bit of obscure facts and feel he hit the nail on the head.

But in reality, his plot went knowhere, his characters were not deep enough, and he left the reader wanting for a real ending where all the characters were tidied up. Did you notice he left openings for each of the characters for a sequel? Bad, bad, bad since there was no cause for it at all.

And the adult scenes in the book were oftentimes unnecessary. I don't feel that the addition of so many explicit scenes really added anything to the characters, when a few well-placed scenes would have been the support the characters needed.

Just my .02.

Vintage Betty

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Graham Greene's The Comedians

Papa Doc in the stark light of day.

bk

 

[Feraud]

Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot. A great read.

 

[Brian Sheridan]

Fedora Lounge, naturally!

lol

 

[Paisley]

No More Digestive Problems by Cynthia Yoshida, M.D.

Did you know that if you have acid reflux, you should avoid eating (or drinking) peppermint, chocolate and caffeine? Those substances relax the muscle that keeps the acid from coming up out of your stomach.

 

[Harp]

ETA: Forgot to mention what I'm reading: Le C?¥t?© de Guermantes (The Guermantes Way) by Proust

...est-ce que c'est bien?

 

[Flying Scotsman]

An Imaginary Tale: The Story of i (Square root of -1). Not sure how this will read, as initial indications are that the author's pedagogical skills might leave a bit to be desired, but the history of i should be pretty fascinating despite it...

 

[Polka Dot]

...est-ce que c'est bien?

Well, it is Proust, after all. I don't dare not like it. Let's just say I have a ways to go before I hit the level of Proustian love that most French professors exhibit.

What's really interesting is that Proust is even more difficult to appreciate in translation than it is in the original French. No wonder he's one of those writers who is much lauded but rarely read by those who don't have to. (And if you have read him in English, you deserve a mighty round of applause.)

 

[Harp]

Have you read his Remembrance's "Swann's Way?"
Or skipping ahead in the series? I tripped over Proust in college,
started Swann, tossed it aside. Always regretted, may go
back to it, though Madame Guermantes seems more interesting.

 

[CanadaDoll]

Ernest Hemmingway's: A Farewell To Arms, worst first page I've ever read, but once I got through that it's proving to be most enjoyable

 

[K.D. Lightner]

Just started reading The Terror, by Dan Simmons, came out not too long ago in hardcover. It is about the Franklin expedition to find the Northwest Passage and seems to be a fictitious account of something that was killing off the men on the two ships.

One would think it was a polar bear, but I think it is a Wendigo.

Please don't give it away.... Good read so far.

karol

 

[carebear]

Just started reading The Terror, by Dan Simmons, came out not too long ago in hardcover. It is about the Franklin expedition to find the Northwest Passage and seems to be a fictitious account of something that was killing off the men on the two ships.

One would think it was a polar bear, but I think it is a Wendigo.

Please don't give it away.... Good read so far.

karol

That one looked interesting.

 

[rockyj]

"The Wine of Youth"

John Fonte"s Books are always my favourite