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Post by Dominique on Dec 2, 2006 5:53:06 GMT -5
That's a fair enough criticism. I liked how it was based on a real person and a lot of it was based on the real events, but where atwood couldn't find things she embellished. I like how it explored the whole notion of a female killer, I read a paper recently about how there are higher and higher statistics of violence in young women and I found it really interesting, it's so different to societal values of women as a caring and nourishing figure. Not that the protagonist was evil or whatever, but I think it's an interesting subject. Also the fame aspect of being a murderess that she talks about.
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on Dec 2, 2006 10:25:41 GMT -5
I just finished two books by Sarah Vowell. Take the Cannoli and The Partly Cloudy Patriot. I absolutely loved these books and rushed out to buy her third book of essays, Assassination Vacation.
Vowell is a friend of David Sedaris, and while her essays are different, it's a safe bet that if you like Sedaris you'll probably really like Sarah Vowell too.
She's got a magnificently nerdy passion for American history (and history in general) and she writes about historical events/people/places as well as current events with great humor and wit.
She loves the US but is not afraid to criticize it, which I love. They are great books for people who feel passionately that just because they disagree severely with the current government, does not mean that they do not love their country. In fact, I think they love it more.
I recommend both of the books, and am going to start Assassination Vacation as soon as I finish the current book I'm reading.
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Tabitha
First short story featured in regional newspaper
Posts: 152
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Post by Tabitha on Dec 2, 2006 14:28:45 GMT -5
I watched Sarah Vowell speak on CSPAN2 Book TV once. She is a great speaker and a very funny person.
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Dec 2, 2006 14:31:56 GMT -5
she sounds like my kind of author, i think i'll check out some of her books when i have the time
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Post by oda on Dec 3, 2006 11:22:33 GMT -5
I recently finished reading "Constance Ring" by Amalie Skram. Great book:)
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on Dec 3, 2006 20:42:03 GMT -5
I watched Sarah Vowell speak on CSPAN2 Book TV once. She is a great speaker and a very funny person. Yes! I love listening to her on This American Life, and watching her interviews. She's a very cool, multi-talented person.
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Post by belle on Dec 4, 2006 15:58:51 GMT -5
I finished To kill a mockingbird on Saturday. It is really one of the greatest books I ever read. I loved the way Scout told the story of Tom Robinson and Boo Radley, her childish look on all the relationships between the citizens of Maycomb and how much she had already learned from her father Atticus.
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Bina
First novel published
Posts: 2,472
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Post by Bina on Dec 5, 2006 10:33:55 GMT -5
Finished the little friend by Donna Tartt which is really good and I´ll try her other book soon.
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Paige
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
Posts: 1,787
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Post by Paige on Dec 6, 2006 13:06:10 GMT -5
i finished the dante club...finally. it took me forever to actually start enjoying the book so i didnt read every day but i finished it and thats what matters. once i got into the book a ways it started getting really good. has anyone read dante's inferno?
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Dec 9, 2006 16:21:44 GMT -5
I just finished reading Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean. I was a bit skeptical at first, because it's another author sequel. But I actually liked it just like the first Peter Pan. I think that McCaughrean did a wonderful job capturing James Barrie's writing style and style of adventure for the characters. She did an excellent job throughout. One thing I loved about this was making the abstract concepts, like music, tangible. McCaughrean introduced a new character, Fireflyer (a fairy) and he ate the music notes as Slightly played his clarinet. It followed Barrie's style very well. She did leave the ending somewhat open so another book could be written. That'd be fine with me and I'd read it too, but I don't ever want Peter to actually leave Neverland. He's youth and joy and where else can he stay that way but Neverland? (I'm going to repost this on the thread I started for this book)
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Paige
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
Posts: 1,787
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Post by Paige on Dec 9, 2006 16:47:49 GMT -5
just finished sabriel. ive read it multiple times but i still love it!
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Isa
Administrator
Posts: 6,995
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Post by Isa on Dec 10, 2006 8:49:36 GMT -5
I finally finished The Shadow-Line. It was a good story, but I have to admit that I found Joseph Conrad's writing a bit tedious to read at times. I haven't read Heart of Darkness so I don't know if it's always the case but right now I don't really feel like picking up another one of his novels...
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Bina
First novel published
Posts: 2,472
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Post by Bina on Dec 10, 2006 13:58:52 GMT -5
I read heart of darkness and while it was a good book I was so glad to have it finished. I had to really concentrate on his writing.
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Post by oda on Dec 11, 2006 14:57:49 GMT -5
Today I finished "Babettes feast" by Karen Blixen. It was really short, but I liked the story:)
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Post by caffeinequeen on Dec 11, 2006 21:43:40 GMT -5
I finished Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier Yesterday. It enjoyed it for the most part. I cheated and watched the movie when I was only half way done reading the book. But I couldnt find anything else in the video store! I swear! It was a bit dry.. and the romance between Griete and Vermeer isn't nearly passionate as I anticipated. But the book did a wonderful job of making you feel like you were really in Holland in the 1660s. And a 16 yr old maid at that. You should check it out.
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