Books Blog - All Comments

re: The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

librarianinheels@evpl — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:49:52 GMT

I love this book, and I loved the movie with Daniel Day-Lewis. It was on cable the other night and I DVR-ed it. My husband admitted to me that he thinks that the movie is "about as exciting as watching paint dry"!

I do love the story though, and it's a little creepy when you realize at the end that all along, everyone around him knew he loved Ellen, and that she loved him, but they conspired to keep them apart for appearances' sake. It's a sad story - Archer is a pathetic character.

re: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Bufkinite@evpl — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:54:02 GMT

I also loved this book, because the characters seem like real people with real lives, not glammed up or idealized. And I could IDENTIFY with so much of what Francie was going through.

I agree that everyone should read this. And as you suggested, I should probably read it again - it's been more than 30 years...

re: Eight Years Ago - 9/11 in books

Shh_ImReading@evpl — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:00:23 GMT

A few years ago I read a novel called Self Storage by Gayle Brandeis. It is not a book about 9/11 itself, but as the main character, Flan, becomes involved with her Afghani neighbors, it becomes somewhat a book about post 9/11 U.S.A. It wasn't the best book I've ever read, but it continues to pop up in my thoughts from time to time.

re: Torture: Does It Make Us Safer? Is It Ever OK?: A Human Rights Perspective

gawell@evpl — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:04:43 GMT

Being Smarter: Does It Make Us Safer? Is It Ever OK?

I am reminded of the tv series 'Mission Impossible', I don't recall them using violence so much when psychological warfare was so much more fun. The real hard questions to ask and to try and answer, is how to prevent the issue from ever coming, preventive warfare is sometimes called diplomacy and settling disputes without resorting to talking with guns, knives and water boards.

re: Torture: Does It Make Us Safer? Is It Ever OK?: A Human Rights Perspective

gawell@evpl — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:47:08 GMT

No.

re: Eight Years Ago - 9/11 in books

PotionsMaster@evpl — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:19:02 GMT

One I came across is "Night Fall", by Nelson DeMille, when I was in college. DeMille brings a street-hardened NYC detective married to an FBI agent to life in a fictionalized account of the recovery of Flight TWA 800 in 1996. Demille pulls together some strange connections, and once it becomes apparent where the characters are heading to, I found myself filling with apprehension and dread. The reader already knows what occurs, but the characters in the book don't. It is well written and doesn't make 9/11 the center of the story, but definitely uses the fear it inspires for a powerful ending.

A word of warning, though; it is not a 'feel good' story by any means. It doesn't showcase how kind people are in times of need, or how neighbors or regions reach out to help. It is about cover-ups, lies, and conspiracy theories. It's moving, alright, but it doesn't move you to where you would want to go. I've wanted to reread it for 4 years now, but haven't worked up my nerve to read to the end again until now. It shows exactly how well written the book is, for DeMille made his world real enough for me to relive the real events.

re: Eight Years Ago - 9/11 in books

lit.fic.reader@evpl — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:39:47 GMT

I also read Touching History several years ago and was impressed by the herculean efforts on the part of so many to grasp and take control of the situation in the sky; it was quite riveting.

I haven't read The Day The World Came to Town but saw a moving PBS production about this not too long after the September 11th events, and am glad that at least one book has been published on this subject. I never felt the U.S. government expressed anywhere near the appreciation Canada deserved for immediately pitching in to help alleviate the suffering of U.S. and other airline passengers caught in the middle of the horror.

re: Oh My Stars by Lorna Landvik

kiya@evpl — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:15:00 GMT

I really like Lorna Landvik! Patty Jane's House of Curl was her first, but my favorite might be Welcome to the Great Mysterious.

re: "The Angel's Game" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

MediaPhile@evpl — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:44:44 GMT

"Shadow" is more convoluted, and the reviews are mixed, but the atmosphere that Ruiz Zafon creates is mesmerizing, if dark.

re: That Old Cape Magic new book by Richard Russo

MediaPhile@evpl — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:51:09 GMT

Just finished this...every sentence of his is a gem...

re: The Duchess of Death: The Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie by Richard Hack

HRevvdon@evpl — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:09:34 GMT

There are some nice pictures in the book. Whenever I read a biography I never think there are enough pictures, this one is no different. There are not many at all but what are there are good and worth looking at.

She certainly was a character and one that I would have loved to have known.

I have watched the Margaret Rutherford movies and they are poorly done and she certainly is not right for the role. But Rutherford is the best part of the movies none the less. Angela Lansbury nor Helen Hayes fit the bill either, for me. Joan Hickson is my favorite and the films featuring her are by far the best I think.

re: "The Angel's Game" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

HRevvdon@evpl — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:32:42 GMT

I found out about Shadow of the Wind from a one of the READ Center people at Central Library. I read it and blogged about it. I will definitely check out this related novel as well.

re: Boo , Boo Who, and Boo Hiss -- don't let the titles scare you.

gawell@evpl — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:38:09 GMT

Tax law.

re: The Duchess of Death: The Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie by Richard Hack

GoldensRule@evpl — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:06:20 GMT

We must read/listen to all the same stuff. I have this in my cd player now and really am enjoying it. What an eccentric and interesting person she was. Because of this have just checked out Murder at the Vicarage (her first Jane Marple) and two dvds with Margaret Rutherford in the part of Jane (Agatha did not think her a good fit, physically, for the role and from the look of her I tend to agree) At any rate since you reviewed this I will not. ex

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