Kevin's Watch

Posted: **Sat Jun 02, 2012 10:29 am**

I also find with e-readers that I have no problem buying new books when the kindle's already bulging with unread purchases. Whilst I can be guilty of doing the same with hard copy books, it seems to be worse with the kindle, as though the lower price, combined with the bulknessness of the books amplifies my disorder. I think I just need to admit I have a problem and make sure that.... I do nothing about it

So, go on, make me feel better. Who else finds themselves buying new ebooks when they have existing unreads in their e-library?

Posted: **Sat Jun 02, 2012 3:10 pm**

I think I already raised my hand, Shaun, but I'm raising it again anyhow.

Posted: **Sat Jun 02, 2012 4:59 pm**

Just finished Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Twas quite enjoyable, if I do type so myself.

Posted: **Sun Jun 03, 2012 3:12 am**

aliantha wrote:I think I already raised my hand, Shaun, but I'm raising it again anyhow.

Yes, I already had you down in the hopeless addict column.

Orlion, "enjoyable" is an interesting descriptor for an apocalyptic novel.

Posted: **Sun Jun 03, 2012 12:17 pm**

Orlion wrote:Just finished Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Twas quite enjoyable, if I do type so myself.

Great book!!! I did have an issue with the ending.

Spoiler

I thought it was forced and rushed. The concept the the 'cavalry" came and resued the boy at the last minute, that there were human beings among the hordes of inhuman beings that just happened to be there really bothered me. I feel like the editor sent it back and said the ending has to be hopeful.

Posted: **Thu Jun 14, 2012 5:42 am**

The Other Boleyn Girl. Meh.

--A

Posted: **Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:08 pm**

Consider Phlebas.

Posted: **Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:17 pm**

Sci-fi's thataway, man.

(Must. Promote. My forum.)

Posted: **Thu Jun 14, 2012 3:37 pm**

Avatar wrote:The Other Boleyn Girl. Meh.

--A

Hmm. Phillippa Gregory. I borrowed her Elizabeth Woodville (White Queen), Jacquetta (her mother - Lady of the Rivers) and Margaret Beaufort (Red Queen) - OK but I'm not a great fan of "faction".

Another PG book out in August - the Kingmaker's daughter - daughter of the Earl of Warwick, Ann Neville, wife of Henry VI's son Edward (died Tewksbury 1471) and then wife of Richard III. I shall probably read it as my friend is buying it.

Waiting for my two mirror books to arrive -apparently dispatched yesterday. A much better prospect.

Posted: **Fri Jun 15, 2012 5:15 am**

Brinn wrote:Consider Phlebas.

That's the first Culture book isn't it? A reread or a first timer?

Iolanthe...yeah, that's the one.

I read her one about the fall of Richard III and the rise of the Tudors...Red Queen I think. The GF has also read this one, "Rivers" and the one after about Elizabeth.

Neither of us are much impressed. But it's her writing style for me...I usually don't mind historical fiction.

--A

Posted: **Tue Jun 19, 2012 4:30 pm**

Have you read Josephine Tey's "Daughter of Time"? rather a different view to Phillipa Gregory

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Daughter_of_Time

Posted: **Thu Jun 21, 2012 5:18 am**

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for it.

I'm amusing myself with Sherlock Holmes: Selected Stories by Conan Doyle obviously.

--A

Posted: **Thu Jun 21, 2012 2:30 pm**

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:35 pm**

lorin wrote:
Orlion wrote:Just finished Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Twas quite enjoyable, if I do type so myself.
Great book!!! I did have an issue with the ending.
Spoiler
I thought it was forced and rushed. The concept the the 'cavalry" came and resued the boy at the last minute, that there were human beings among the hordes of inhuman beings that just happened to be there really bothered me. I feel like the editor sent it back and said the ending has to be hopeful.

Whew! Sorry it took me a month to respond, it took me a while to determine what it was I thought about the ending. As near as I can tell, there are three endings. There's the 'proper' ending:

Spoiler

when the father dies and 'passes on the fire' to his son, his story, which was pretty much the story throughout the novel, is over. At this point, you could have decided what happens to the son... or rather, how soon it happens to the son, since the outlook for human survival is very bleak. They'll run out of canned food sometime, probably much sooner than later.

The 'tacky' ending:

Spoiler

Which is where the son gets 'rescued'. I always imagine this to have happened because McCarthy based this character on his own son, and it was probably too hard on him to not give some sort of 'hopeful' ending to the avatar of his own flesh and blood. Once again, though, the rest of the novel makes it quite clear that they are only delaying the inevitable. There is absolutely no indication that there are habitable portions of the planet... and of course, even if there were, it probably wouldn't turn out well for our nomads, since the indegenous folk would probably not take too kindly to strangers.

And finally, the fishy ending:

Spoiler

You know, those last couple of paragraphs where McCarthy talks about trout in the mountains where they ought not to have been. Many view this as an indication that humanity may indeed survive the cataclysm that has befallen them. To me, it's more an indication on the inherent beauty of life, even in such dire circumstances as the characters in The Road find themselves. The doom and pointlessness of it all doesn't matter, it also doesn't matter whether there is a purpose or not, life is beautiful in of itself.

Posted: **Sat Jun 23, 2012 9:05 pm**

very quick read, should be done by tomorrow, started it today.

Posted: **Sat Jun 30, 2012 12:30 am**

Started reading this because I thought I should take a break from all the psychology I was reading. Forgot how much is in Bechdel's books. There was a bit in Fun Home, but there's heaps more in this. Not that I mind, just kind of ironic

.

Posted: **Sat Jun 30, 2012 12:50 am**

Shaun das Schaf wrote:

Started reading this because I thought I should take a break from all the psychology I was reading. Forgot how much is in Bechdel's books. There was a bit in Fun Home, but there's heaps more in this. Not that I mind, just kind of ironic .

Aww I loved Fun Home! And not just because it contained a kind of refernece to The Worm Ouroboros - the rest of it was awesome too! I'll try and remember there's something else out.

Posted: **Sat Jun 30, 2012 1:11 am**

I loved Fun Home too Holsety. So far, Are You My Mother? hasn't reached the same awesome heights, but I could be judging too soon or the heights might just be too high. Murrin's probably finished it already. I noticed on his/her blog that he/she was reading Fun Home. He/She may have a complete opinion. (Sorry Murrin, I've never been sure of the correct pronoun for you! Now's a good time for you/someone to enlighten me

)

Posted: **Sat Jun 30, 2012 1:53 am**

Shaun das Schaf wrote:I loved Fun Home too Holsety. So far, Are You My Mother? hasn't reached the same awesome heights, but I could be judging too soon or the heights might just be too high. Murrin's probably finished it already. I noticed on his/her blog that he/she was reading Fun Home. He/She may have a complete opinion. (Sorry Murrin, I've never been sure of the correct pronoun for you! Now's a good time for you/someone to enlighten me )

I am going to bet Murrin is a he. I don't remember why but I think I saw something/picture/post that indicated that at some point. But I'll wait till I see a post again indicating that before cashing in.

Posted: **Sat Jun 30, 2012 6:33 am**

Yeah, I read Are You My Mother? a couple of weeks ago. It didn't grab me like Fun Home; being as it's mostly about a) Bechdel's relationships with therapists, and b) one particular psychiatrist's theories on the mother/child relationship, it could be a little dry and distant. Which I guess is meant to reflect on the relationship Bechdel has with her mother, and the difficulty she has in articulating it.

Kevin's Watch

What are you reading in general?