LauraT’s Comments (group member since Aug 06, 2013)

LauraT’s comments from the All About Books group.

And have you ever been to Italy Ioanna? Architecture here has a lot of things to be seen!!!
What are you reading right now?

I have a lot of "blocked" reads this month: books I have to read because of Group read or presentation.
Here what I've already read and what I'm about to:

Jean-Luc Bannalec Intrigo bretone. Omicidio a Pont-Aven. Il primo caso del commissario Dupin ***
Laura Bates Shakespeare Saved My Life ***1/2
Giorgio Vallortigara A spasso con il cane Luna ***
Anna Banti Artemisia **1/2
Anna Banti Le donne muoiono **1/2
Ali Smith Gliff Reading now
M.C. Beaton Hot to Trot Reading now
Diana Gabaldon  Dragonfly in Amber Reading now
Giorgio Vallortigara Desiderare Reading now

Kerry Greenwood Flying Too High
Ellis Peters  An Excellent Mystery
Ellis Peters  The Raven in the Foregate
Rebecca Kauffman I'll Come to You
Arnold Zable Cafe Scheherazade
Mazo de la Roche Whiteoak Heritage
Elizabeth Bowen The House in Paris
Elizabeth Bowen The Little Girls

moments

Finished last week - but after that I was away and didn't have time to comment.
Let's see, to answer your points:

1. What did you think about the idea of using Shakespeare in a maximum-security prison—did it seem believable to you?
Yes, Shakespeare is always helpfull: in his writings you can find a lot of ideas you never though about. And having a lot of time to read and consider, could be helpfull to better understand it

2. How do you think literature can help people understand themselves or change their outlook on life?
Generally speaking literature - if it IS great literature - should always help you seeing yourserl; as Umberto Eco used to say a book if of the author as long as he's writing it; when it's out it's of the readers! You mirror yourself in great Literature, and understand - hopefully! - better who you are, and what you feel.

3. Which of Larry’s insights into Shakespeare’s characters did you find most surprising or powerful?
Don't know, King Lear?

4. Do you think the themes in Shakespeare’s plays—like guilt, power, or redemption—are still relevant today? Why or why not?
These are the REAL themes of life, as we see it also today: look at the world situation and the wars destroying people apparently without guilt on who is doing it!

5. How did reading about Larry’s transformation make you feel about the potential for personal change, even in difficult circumstances?
I think he is a particular personality; with a terrible fate. Not all that has happened to him could be transferred to others

6. Did this book change the way you think about the role of education or art in rehabilitation?
No, not partucularly

7. Were there parts of the book that you found particularly moving or inspiring? Which ones, and why? Larry's going back to terrible prison conditions: how can things like that be possible in a civilized country?

8. How does the relationship between Laura Bates and her students compare to traditional teacher-student dynamics?
To different the situation to have a proper comparison...

10. Would you be interested in trying something like this—teaching literature in an unconventional or challenging setting?
I don't think I'd be able of coping!!!

Just finished - 'cos I've to present it in a book fair here in Perugia - A spasso con il cane Luna, on ethology; a bit boring I have to say...

Edited my post (n 13) with my total of 1007 pages!

silence

Hope to start it by mid October!!!

I've fond it! I'm in the middle of a bundle of books, but I hope to start it by mid October!

Donna

Here I am!!!

Stephen King The Outsider pag 257
Edoardo Vitale Gli straordinari pag 136
Claudia Fofi Uisciueriar (Le Astarti) pag 90
Diana Gabaldon  Dragonfly in Amber 2 pag 240
Morena Pedriali Errani Il cielo sopra Gaza non ha colori pag 161
Wanda Marasco Di spalle a questo mondo pag 123

Tot pag 1007

Greg wrote: "LauraT wrote: "Thanks Steve!
I'm reading The Outsider; as usual for this writer, breathtaking."

There was a television series adapted from this book that I thought was wonderfully done Laura: real..."

My husband saw it and said the same. I don't think I could endure "seeing" what I'm reading!!!

Steve wrote: "I highly recommend James Baldwin- novels and essays. My favorite is Go Tell It On the Mountain, but everything I’ve read by him is good."

Thanks Steve!
I'm reading The Outsider; as usual for this writer, breathtaking

Greg wrote: "Currently reading If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin. I was expecting the beautiful prose and the psychological depth, but what is taking me by surprise is the ..."

I've never read anything by this author; you do recomend him then Greg?

Started yesterday my re-read (for a group read at my library) The Sleeping Voice, a really beautifull novel on the vicil war in Spain. To be recomended!

I had Kat, thanks. Sardinia is my personal paradise!

I don't think I'm reading this: not unother book on WWII!

I loved this book, when I read it years ago.
I thought that it was a brilliant iedea to see the life of different people in different age and times by means of a siongle book... Something like this the italian writer Gian Marco Griffi has been doing with his latest work Digressione

I have to see if I can find it. I've just retourned from three weeks at the seaside, and I'm a little behind!

Queen