Raine’s Comments (group member since Jul 23, 2012)

Raine’s comments from the BBC Top 100 group.

Finished:
102: Small Gods, Terry Pratchett

I’ve read several other books of The Disc World series and was worried that reading out of order would hinder the enjoyment of the series. I’m pleased to say that I don’t think reading this book out of order hurt anything. I appreciate the satirical presentation of how most modern religions have been bastardized with tenants that have strayed so far off the path as to be unrecognizable would the founders to take a peek into the future. He demonstrates the difference between going through the motions and manifesting and piously exhibiting actual faith. He also reminds us that even with faith there is an issue: the ability to hold reason and awareness with your faith. Blindly following and reasoning away the use of religious beliefs to instill fear, death and pain on to others is often the cause of blind faith and faithless repetition. Fear not, Pratchett does demonstrate the need for personal faith and even piety, and ties the story up in a nice little bow with small innocence triumphing over decisive and predatory evil.

Started:
101. Three Men In A Boat, Jerome K. Jerome

I'm enjoying it thus far. I read to my horse every morning.

Some of these are difficult to find. Keep up the good work!

I finished:
107. Stormbreaker, Anthony Horowitz

Stormbreaker may be a good read for a child as the elementary writing might be just right for their mental capacity, not too involved, not too descriptive, and not too heavy. The only reason I read it was because it was #107 on the “BBC Top 200 Books of 2013” list. I would not recommend the book for an adult who has devoured Tolstoy, Tolkien, Goodkind, and Jordan, as it is quite rudimentary. After being conditioned to reading what my husband calls “wrist-wringers”, I felt that the book was short and a bit rushed to get the whole “adventure” in, with the large font on less than 200 pages. It was a predictable James Bond rip-off, in my opinion. But if this is what it takes to get kids to read this day and age, then I guess it works.

Starting on:
102: Small Gods, Terry Pratchett

A little concerned that since this is part of The Disc World Series that I should be starting at the beginning not jumping around the series.

I finished the other two books of the Gormenghast novels, Titus Groan and Titus Alone.

I've ordered:
101. Three Men In A Boat, Jerome K. Jerome
102. Small Gods, Terry Pratchett
103. The Beach, Alex Garland
107. Stormbreaker, Anthony Horowitz
and The Dragon Reborn from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.

I finished the other two books of the Gormenghast novels, Titus Groan and Titus Alone.

I've ordered:
101. Three Men In A Boat, Jerome K. Jerome
102. Small Gods, Terry Pratchett
103. The Beach, Alex Garland
107. Stormbreaker, Anthony Horowitz
and The Dragon Reborn from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.

Good morning, David! Just checking in with you. It appears that Adele, you and I are the only ones active here any more. What are you reading this month? I just finished A Confederacy of Dunces and am starting The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan (2nd book in the Wheel of Time series)

Adele wrote: "13 to go! Ooof that last one took it out of me. No more Whales please"

What are you reading now? I just finished A Confederacy of Dunces and am starting The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan (2nd book in the Wheel of Time series)

I just finished

95. A Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole

Thank god! I found it very hard to get through it. Main character reminded me of certain people in my life, vulgar individuals who no respect for anyone or anything and always made excuses for both his failures and his lack of drive. I don't see how it won a Pulitzer Prize over So Long, See You Tomorrow. I read somewhere that it won because it has been cited as the most accurate literary representation of Yat. I believe that it has reached cult status much in the same way that The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy did. What I didn't realize is that the book was published some 12 years after the author's loss in the battle against depression.

The title was derived from a quote by Jonathan Swift: “When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.”

As my reward for persevering, I'm going to read the next book in the Wheel of Time series: The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan

I just finished

95. A Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole

Thank god! I found it very hard to get through it. Main character reminded me of certain people in my life, vulgar individuals who no respect for anyone or anything and always made excuses for both his failures and his lack of drive. I don't see how it won a Pulitzer Prize over So Long, See You Tomorrow. I read somewhere that it won because it has been cited as the most accurate literary representation of Yat. I believe that it has reached cult status much in the same way that The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy did. What I didn't realize is that the book was published some 12 years after the author's loss in the battle against depression.

The title was derived from a quote by Jonathan Swift: “When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.”

As my reward for persevering, I'm going to read the next book in the Wheel of Time series: The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan

Started 95. A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole this morning

Started 91. A Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole this morning.

I finished Edmund White, A Boy’s Own Story (1982) last night. Was not impressed.

I have finished
Sarah Orne Jewett, A Country Doctor (1884)

I will start on this after putting up my horse tonight.
Edmund White, A Boy’s Own Story (1982)

Finished
84. Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake

Finished
84. Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake

Starting
95. A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole

Finished
84. Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake

Gormenghast is a super dry read for me.

doing great almost finished! I'm working through several lists, though.

Adele wrote: "13 to go! Ooof that last one took it out of me. No more Whales please"
It's nice to see someone still here and active!