Nice to hear from you! You have an excellent library, maybe because it's so like mine, ha ha! As far as Steinbeck goes, "Grapes of Wrath", hands down! It's also the best book I've ever read. "Of Mice and Men" would be in second place, with "East of Eden" probably third. I haven't read Steinbeck in a long while, I'm so overdue! I also admire the fact that you like Cormac McCarthy. The border trilogy is stunning! I need to re-read "Blood Meridian" and I've had "Suttree" in a tbr pile for many months. One of my favorite new writers is Charlie Huston, you should check him out! Mark

inlägg gjort av msf59 vid 4:56 pm (EST) Aug 17, 2008

Hi Blackdog,

Snow Country? As you guessed, I really enjoyed it. Probably one of the most beautiful books I've ever read - perhaps not one of the best, but if you read it, I think you'll see what I'm getting at; Kawabata paints the most wonderful pictures with words, it's like looking at a painting. Another LT-er left an interesting message on my Reading Globally thread, about how the 'turning points' in Japanese literature are often much more subtle than in Western lit, and this novel is a great illustration of that. For example, instead of an awful accident being the event which signals change, here it's the turning of the leaves. I know I tend to race through things, but here I had to slow down and pay attention; I didn't mind, though, because it was such a pleasure to savour every word.

I read an excellent translation by Edward G. Seidensticker (don't know if there are others), and his introduction really added to my understanding, and therefore enjoyment, of the novel.

Look forward to hearing what you make of it!

inlägg gjort av rachbxl vid 3:41 pm (EST) Jul 4, 2008

I'm glad you enjoyed ''The Virginian''. I really should put it on my read-again list for someday. I read it when I was in my teens and at the time I thought it was the most unusual way to write a western. Not full of the slam-bang shoot-em ups I was used to. I never thought I cared for it, but I must have on some level because I can remember much more detail from it than from most others of the same genre. I'll keep an eye out for the journals...it's always interesting to read about life from the author's own perspective.

inlägg gjort av Oklahoma vid 10:52 pm (EST) Jun 24, 2008

Hey Blackdog,
Thanks for the compliment on my profile page. I get bored sometimes at work and I come up with all these ideas. They are born out of a lull in brain activity. Though I am not deep into it yet, Enduring Love seems like its gonna be good. The moment I am done reading, I will get the movie. Its very interesting to hear that McEwan was that closely involved with the production. I will let you know what my thoughts are on both movie and book when I am done.

inlägg gjort av TrishNYC vid 10:24 pm (EST) May 22, 2008

Hi Blackdog, Thanks for your note. I just recently joined library thing and find communicating with other members the most interesting part of it. Read Fifth business with a library book group and was amazed by the cleverness of the story itself and the depth of the characters. The Deptford Trilogy had been recommended to me for yrs so I was happy to see it on this book club list; have yet to read the next two in the trilogy. I find myself turning to nonfiction bio/ memoir genres lately not getting into the current fiction that Im chosing. Id love to hear what you've been reading..

inlägg gjort av kateblu vid 9:01 am (EST) May 3, 2008

Hey blackdog,
Thanks for adding me to your "interesting libraries".I am truly honored as I can see that you are an avid reader yourself. I had a preliminary look over your library and all I can say is "Whoa". When I am done writing you this note, I will go look some more cause I love to get ideas on what to read.

I really like the book "Nam" as it tells the stories of the man and women who have seen war and its horrors especially one of America's worst conflicts. Funny enough its one of the books that I am reading right now, though I am reading it in addition to other books so it may be awhile before I am finished with it.

As to the book Blink, I read that about a year and half ago and I liked it. It basically says that our split second observations cannot be discounted as they may hold information that is vital to our survival. He believes that many times the "less is more attitude" to information gathering is best. I remember thinking that I disagreed with some of the whole ideas of split second decisions because I felt that those instanteous decisions may contain hints of long buried prejudices and preconceived notions about other people and that if we are to take the split second decision as our main guide then we are open to making racist and sexist decisions before our better nature is able to prevail. I can't remember now if he addresses this but I believe he may have discussed what he called bad cognition and I guess the aforementioned falls into this catergory. I would recommend it.

By the way its so funny that you read The Gift of Fear cause a friend of mine was telling me about it. We were discussing the ways in which women are almost taught to second guess themselves and how that second guessing of self can be the reasons why women get attacked as they failed to heed their first impression of a situation. I guess this fits very well with Blink. But my friend loves The Gift of Fear and now hearing you mention it makes me want to read it.

I loved Gourevitch's We wish to inform you... and I would recommend it with no reservations. It is very well written and I believe that it shows you the depth and scope of the genocide in Rwanda. Its heart wrenching and when I was done reading it, I was haunted by the experience.

By the by, I LOVE your dog. I am a sucker for dogs. I miss not having a dog anymore but the moment I get a house, I am getting a dog. I live in New York and though my apartment is big by New York City standards, I just do not want a dog in such a small space. So I live vicariously through other people's dog. What is your beautiful pooch's name?

Anyway its nice talking to you.
Patricia

inlägg gjort av TrishNYC vid 10:18 pm (EST) Apr 7, 2008

Well, I'll tell ya, I love seeing what other people read too. It makes me feel a bit more connected to a sliver of the 6.6 billion other people out there. But, then I start learning about all these other great authors that I'd never heard of before. And I start buying THEIR books too. Crazy.

As to Joe Hill: I'm thinking that the Stephen King/Tabitha King connection was WAY downplayed. I think I discovered it on Wikipedia or something. If you were Stephen King's kid, it might be tempting to garner royalties via your folks, but clearly this is a man who wants to weave a yarn by his own merits. And he does it! Good for him!

I've enjoyed reading your messages, and also seeing your contributions to "Talk". Your enthusiasm and positivity are appreciated.

inlägg gjort av alaskabookworm vid 10:46 pm (EST) Apr 6, 2008

Thanks for visiting my profile. I have to confess that most of my books - while all physically present in my house - remain unread. Since joining LT, adding books is my household (and keeping track of them) has gotten so much easier that I've got a little crazy. I love corresponding with LT people; most people in my life don't read as much as I do. Its so fun to meet people who are passionate about books and reading.

I'm currently reading the new Salman Rushdie for the Early Reviewers program. Its really, really good. I'm having a hard time doing anything but read it; its been a long time since a book grabbed me that way.

inlägg gjort av alaskabookworm vid 9:29 pm (EST) Apr 5, 2008

Hiya. The interesting libraries and friends links are at the top of your page in the green column. When you go to a profile you like you click on one or either of those, a message gets sent to the profile owner "et voila".

De Lint, give me some clues, if there are similarities I want to know about it :)

inlägg gjort av TheBookImp vid 10:00 pm (EST) Apr 2, 2008

Hi blackdogbooks :)

Here's a couple of groups that you might find of help for changing your profile page. I know I did.

http://www.librarything.com/groups/fyi

http://www.librarything.com/groups/greyh...

Nice to know that we're not book snobs LOL! Like that comment. Catch you later.

Imp

inlägg gjort av TheBookImp vid 4:07 pm (EST) Mar 31, 2008