Jeff > Recent Status Updates

October SK tradition

OMG what a hoot!

I love Hollinghurst but this one has me wondering, why are we reading this? As in, what does it matter?

"The breath of the young, unwearied day, the delicious rhythmic dip of the oars, the fragmentary song of a passing bird heard now and then, as if it were only the overflowing of brimful gladness, the sweet solitude of a twofold consciousness that was mingled into one by that grave untiring gaze which need not be , averted--what else could there be in their minds for the first hour?" So sublime.

Reading banned books is like riding your Huffy while wearing short-shorts on long summer nights of the 80s.

Wow, just got quite intense

Please can I just give this book away

Unsure how this will be. Good premise, though I'm not yet sold on the autofiction genre. For example, why suffer through what the narrator tuned into on the TV or what he ate when it's neither factual nor fictionalized?

Oates' writing is often wordy and casual, which is why I prefer her on audiobook. Her characters have a lot of depth and reveal our narcissism. There's usually an unseen but poignant twist coming.

Always a treat, and an education, to read Powers. I love how he addresses chaotic climate change and political duress but not until later in the novel and at an increasing rate. We are all made of stars.

Did not finish--the discussions are insightful but at times overly repetitive.

Ok so far. Very boring narrator on audiobook makes it less compelling.

A re-read from...25 years ago, with Eleanor.

We have the time

I think we will have time to try this again...!

High hopes since his _The Overstory_ is one of the best novels I've read.

He is currently giving examples of free indirect style, which allows the authors to blend their voices and opinions with their characters'.

Some very good writing here mainly involving contemporary discontent. The title story is absorbing and full of contradictions. She has on offbeat and witty writing style tinged with plausible darkness.

The premise was promising but there wasn't enough plot. It's basically a book of ruminations. No real sympathy for the characters. Some beautiful writing at times.

One of my favorite authors...this collection is like finding an old glove. One of her better efforts in recent years.

The first third of this book was very fun. It was really dragging by the end. I recommend reading the abridged version. Good to read a scifi classic.