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Finished Murther and Walking Spirits. A bit disappointed with the latter part of it. Once the "film festival" about the narrator's ancestors ends, the subsequent wrap up of the present-day story seems a bit conventional and melodramatic.
 
I find Robertson Davies reads a bit melodramatic in general for our times. It may have something to do with the relative formality of his language?
 
BetteTheRed said:
I find Robertson Davies reads a bit melodramatic in general for our times. It may have something to do with the relative formality of his language?
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Keep in mind that I'm not a newcomer to Davies. As I've said before, I discovered him when I was eighteen. His same old same old doesn't bother me. I love his use of language; it's part of what made me a fan.

The problem here is not language, it's plotting. The return to the present in this case involves slathering on a bunch more plot elements that distract from the wonderful picture he built over the middle section of the book (and, to be clear, I like this novel and the middle section is as good as anything else of Davies' from that period). Suddenly, with only a few dozen pages left to go, we've got his killer taking his job, his widow suddenly pregnant leading to ending her relationship with his killer, and a rapidfire run of scenes that feels forced and rushed. It's the mark, IME, of a writer suddenly realizing he has to end the damn book and end it soon, not of one who actually thought through the ending and had it figured it out. Trust me, I've done the same thing when I suddenly get to a point in a story and go "Eff, where is this going anyway?".
 
Luce NDs said:
Now into Cutting for Stone ... an extremely good metaphor, or satyr on international religious dis order of one line thought leaves us with ... if you don't look into the environment beyond us ... across time as space ... another ofde light? The straight line vision is thus shaken ...

Few grasp the concept of variance ... especially the limits of standard variance and oude liars (da Videa'n) in conflict with inner myths about what we know little ... thus post morde-M examination ... the great test when you're gone ... an Isle 've Morte?

Mind that rests ... semi dead sol? Still glowing at the core with hidden values ... I would compare it with Lord Jinn ... in English a' Jim with relish? One Jirn with a queue of archaic contemplation in the pilgrimage across the yeoman ...
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I enjoyed Cutting for Stone ... I think it is (or maybe was) made into a movie which would be interesting to see.
 
Carolla said:
I enjoyed Cutting for Stone ... I think it is (or maybe was) made into a movie which would be interesting to see.
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I like the theme portion "screw yourself to the sticking place" as if one could get the pain of the point in such a comment when encouraged not to know ... in such way does the pain of love present as a point of intelligence in people that can't gather at a medium? In Latin based system this is the thorn of virtue ... or "þ" in that mysterious "x" ... crossing over to resolve a fire?

However with such enigmas ... the myth and mystery goes on ... why some people say they must be all thing to their sol mates ... and denial leads many to find themselves not getting it ... kind 've like an obtuse occult to those in ignore functions ... a literary male function? Kant ... that sloping feeling when reading between the lines ... nibble on their Achilles spot a bit ... if you can work your way up tuit!
 
I have started a "book club" with three of my friends who all live in diferent cities as a way to make sure we keep in touch at least once a month. Last month we read Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. We all had some complaints/comments but also all really enjoyed it. Three of the four of us are history oriented and one is not so it was interesting to hear our different takes on it.

Our book this month is The Couple Next Door. I'm waiting for my hold to come in from the library. It's none of our usual genre but the other three have started and have enjoyed it so far so I'm excited I start.
 
Just finished reading The Nature of the Beast and The Cruelest Month by

Louise Penny. Both about Armand Gamache. Her mysteries ,imo, are excellent.

I have tried to feel the same way about mysteries by Jo Nesbo. The detective Harry Hole does not

capture my attention in the same way.

I am nearly finished Up Country by Nelson DeMille. It takes place in Vietnam. The history is fascinating

and the story is captivating.
 
I liked Nature of the Beast - interesting story. Jo Nesbo - not so much - so violent, at least the book I read a few years ago certainly was.
 
New school books...

Youth Ministry Nuts & Bolts, by Duffy Robbins

Soul Searching the Millennial Generation, by L. David Overholt & James A. Penner

The Committed Self, by Victor A. Shepherd

Existentialism: Basic Writings, Edited by Charles Guignon and Derek Pereboom

Just getting into them. Finding existentialism really challenging.
 
Jae said:
Existentialism: Basic Writings, Edited by Charles Guignon and Derek Pereboom

Just getting into them. Finding existentialism really challenging.
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It is not an easy school of thought for anyone. I don't see myself as an existentialist but some of their ideas have had an influence, I think.
 
Just finished re reading Gods Secretaries ... picked up a lot on John of Chrysostom ... a common redaction as John was not really appreciated by authority ... as he preached against authority ... from the humbler side ... sort of partisan as ... For Whom The Bell Tolls ... always deeper understanding in the myth that accepted by the lateral superficiality of the I^stvs!

One must delve into dark icons ... like ink blot tests for the silhouette of that not seen! Tar Oz?
 
A lawyer in our Book Club suggested Orwell's 1984 ... as a book choice just to upset organized institutional thinking ...

Is that like a riot in the republican house? So much partisan activity ... and screwing about below the horizon ... just to counter the insanity in high places ... are reciprocal bottoms kind 'a like Jac-ka-ssis ... or Po' Ba's?

The Ba being sol ... a singularly confused psyche? Then there are these myths about rabid holes and girl children being swept away to Oz 'm circumstances ... high land wends? Possibly wayward!
 
Luce NDs said:
A lawyer in our Book Club suggested Orwell's 1984 ... as a book choice just to upset organized institutional thinking ...
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That is one of those books that I have no interest in reading twice. I read it in high school (both out of interest and as an assigned text) but good God is it depressing. Great literature, no doubt, but not the kind you tend to revisit regularly. With all due respect to Hunger Games and its imitators, 1984 is still the greatest dystopia I have come across in literature.
 
Dystopia and contrariness to utopian ideals ... very much like real life!

Gotta be another side to this nonsense ...
 
I just finished "The Girl with all the Gifts" by Mike Carey. Not my usual style at all, it's a zombie/post current era thing and I'm usually not into zombies. There were aspects of the book I liked but I really just kept reading it because of book club not out of actual enjoyment. I was ready for it to be over about half way through. It does have a film adaptation either just recently out or soon to be out so apparently quite a few people really like it...just not me. Haven't decided if I'm going to try finding the movie or not, I'm leaning towards just letting it be.
 
I'm just a few chapters into "The Reason You Walk" by Wab Kinew. The book discussion group at my church has it on their list for April, which prompted me to pick it up from the library. Early impression is just so-so re the writing style. I'll stick with it tho.
 
My book club is reading The Zookeepers Wife by Diane Ackerman. I'm perplexed by the style; I don't even know how to describe what's weird about it. It's almost like the author couldn't decide if she wanted to write historical fiction (because it is based on a true untold story) or write a non-fiction book peppered with personalities.
I'm only three chapters in but I find myself already getting distracted from the story by the strange literary style.
 
I'm ontue the tome by KJ Fowler ---- We Are All Completely Beside Our Selves ... an effort on sizing up alternate and parallel conceptions ... some of these concepts are going contrary to the one-way folk! Thus the cognizance of the abstract Wahl ...
 
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