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The ALL-NEW Book Personals

Persephone

16:33 / 09.01.03

Well, this is a sweet idea but it may not work... but give it a try, will you? This thread is for advertising for partners or groups to read any particular book with you, as such requests may get quickly buried in the "What are you currently reading?" thread.

A short summary to sell your particular book may be helpful.

And to start, I believe Byron Bitchlaces has a call out for The Corrections.

No star here laces

09:21 / 10.01.03

Indeed I do:

The Corrections is utterly classic - an intensely addictive story that pits various popular approaches to life against one another (although not in a crude way). We have the 'alternative', the 'macho', the 'materialist' and many others not so easily categorised, but easily recognised. Along the way the sweeping scope of the book has interesting observations to make about just about every aspect of modern America (and an incredible comic interlude in a fictional, crumbling Lithuania). I'd love to hear other people's views on it, and what they picked up on etc. Otherwise I'm going to have to read it again on my own...

Ariadne

09:55 / 10.01.03

Hmm. I didn't like The Corrections much. I felt the characters were too stereotyped and it was all a bit forced, too much of an attempt to follow Updike's Rabbit books. It was engaging enough, but left me a little bit cold.

I did like the rebellious jobbies, though.

Actually, I'm not sure if I'm on-topic here - is this the place to criticise it? I don't want to put off any potential reading partners!

Kit-Cat Club

09:59 / 10.01.03

Byron, I might give it a shot. It would be naughty, because I have several books waiting for attention. But... let me get back to you...

No star here laces

10:09 / 10.01.03

Mm, Ariadne, I see your point, but what you see as forcedness (yuk) and stereotyping I see as the confidence to tackle big issues - actually kind of reminiscent of Houellebecq who is another author that I'd defend in the same way.

Which is partly why I think it's an interesting book to talk about.

Kit-Kat - that'd be great. I'll try not to be scared about talking to you about books...

Kit-Cat Club

11:51 / 10.01.03

Don't see why you would be - my critical faculties are pretty much arrested at the A-level stage. 'I don't like Mansfield Park because Fanny is a wet blanket', that sort of thing. OK, I'm in, I'll go and get it this afternoon...

No star here laces

13:32 / 10.01.03

You're still an academic and I didn't study criticism past GCSE...

Kit-Cat Club

15:11 / 10.01.03

I think it might make you feel better if I tell you that the majority of my work for this term is going to consist of counting names in church records... I've picked up the book and I'll probably start it this w/e - let me know when you're going to start the thread...

Kit-Cat Club

19:32 / 22.01.03

Oy, Byron? Byron! BITCHLACES! Over here!

I'm on p.131 so there's plenty of time to get cracking, old thing...

Persephone

15:33 / 23.01.03

Just a quick announcement/reminder that there will be a discussion of Dorothy L. Sayers' Unnatural Death starting on Monday, February 3rd.

The discussion will take place in the "Why is Barbelith a haven for Dorothy L Sayers freaks" thread.

Unnatural Death is not a bad starter for those who have never read DLS. It is the third Wimsey novel; and as has been discussed in the aforementioned thread, spoilers are not such a problem with these books. Although I should say that Whose Body and Clouds of Witness are very nice, too.

And indeed, I think that bengali's original question may well inform the discussion, as the Wimsey stories are *packed* with the sort of stuff we know and love on this board...

Burning Man

16:05 / 23.01.03

Ahhh, the opportunity to pimp my book! I wrote one you know. During a 3 month downtime at work one summer. I hear it doesn't suck, but it may be too simple for Barbelith Readers. It's also free!

Check it out http://www.mindspring.com/~platts42/longroad.htm

The Long Road: A Fable

Frank Cooper was at the end of his rope: no job, no friends, no family, no purpose.

After an encounter with the mysterious Wiseman he was charged with an impossible task. Now as the newly rechristened Seeker, Frank will travel past the end of the Earth to the world Outside where he will meet all manner of fantastic people, visit exotic lands and ultimately journey into the heart of himself. The Long Road is an adventure that will fill your heart with joy, challenge your beliefs... and change the way you view yourself.

Yotsuba & Benjamin!

11:24 / 25.01.03

I'm around the 200s in the Corrections and I am loving it. So far, my favorite thing in it is the handling of jonah. "It's awfully loud in here for someone who's on the phone." Pitch perfect. So, Caroline: Manipulative Bitch or Wife Just Trying To Cope? (Keep in mind, I'm only in 200s).

The only thing I don't like are few overtly Foster-Wallacian passages (none of which i can recall offhand). Franzen's own style of writing is so nice and clever and easy going that it's glaringly obvious and unfortunate when he's being unecessarily verbose like a certain colleague of his.

Kit-Cat Club

11:22 / 26.01.03

OK, Mr Birdie - I'll start another thread when I'm not so hungover adn we can talk about The Corrections in that... (you're further on than me - don't spoil it yet!) I know Cherry was/is reading it too...

Goodness Gracious Meme

23:53 / 26.01.03

Okay, not sure how much success i'll have with this one, but:

Like-minded music/criticism geek wanted for reading/discussion about pop music writing. Influences: Richard Smith, Greil Marcus, Jon Savage, Sheryl Garrett, Angela McRobbie, Kodwo Eshun (grudgingly), Matthew Colin,Simon Frith, Joy Press, Dave Haslam, Simon Reynolds. Punk, hip-pop, pop, Barry Manilow, UK Garage, Jungle, House, Techno.

Apply to NME box 13. Photo ensures response.

The Return Of Rothkoid

20:50 / 27.01.03

Kodwo Eshun (grudgingly),

You rock so very much.

Goodness Gracious Meme

09:17 / 29.01.03

Why thangyew, kind sirree.

Yotsuba & Benjamin!

10:05 / 29.01.03

Ok, Kit-Cat. Ready when you are.

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