Well. It’s a book that certainly deserves a re-read as I do think it may be a richer experience after reading the end. At first I the diction on the first page had me worried this would be the stuff of the overly resplendent and elaborate; impenetrable pretentious crap. Then it smoothed out on the second page, or I became used to it, I’m not sure which.

Ok I’m trying it again, this time in paperback.

I found it to be quite enjoyable, right up until the last few chapters where Austen’s morally vengeful pen came out in full force, bringing damnation, granting redemption and bestowing happiness on the deserving. Poor Fanny is rather too angelic and virtuous, but she does have her (admittedly) few moments of spunk and liveliness. And for those who seek more than an entertaining romance, Austen’s take on society and character are as sharp as ever.

I love this album so much more than “Furnace Room Lullaby”. The more alt country sound seems to have brought out the best in her vocally and the songs-the lyrics, the arrangements-are simply more interesting. All right so I haven’t paid any attention to the lyrics on “Furnace” but that’s my point—the arrangements on that album didn’t impress me enough to care. (It takes a lot to get me interested.)

I don’t think that I’ll ever finish “consuming” it.

wow : )

I had an excellent time reading this collection of stories of “what might have been” as Lively confabulates about the paths are life might have taken, at various points in her past, if a different action had been taken. Mostly she is only in the periphery of the stories, while others taken center stage.

What I loved most about it was the way, at the end of a few pages, one felt one initmately knew (even partially) about the characters. This was done with such a clear, flowing and expertly wielded prose used in the service of characters complicated and sympathetic. Really just an immensely pleasurable read and I am eager to see what else Lively has done.

This is my second Hemingway, after A Farewell To Arms, and I think that I may prefer this one. The prose seems tighter, his outlook worldlier, his characters more cynical, yet it’s still remains romantic. His descriptive skills are better as well, I think, I was mesmerised by the description of the fiesta from beginning to end and it pulled at me as much as the last few chapters of A Farewell To Arms.

It really made me more excited about Spain, far and apart from what the trip meant for the characters.

I don’t think that I could ever love Hemingway’s books, but I deeply admire them and they make me think. I do wonder if he could ever vision a happier ending for his characters though. Poor sods.

I do find the complaint from another user about the lack of “plot” bemusing: the book is on one level a study of characters, of persons from a certain society set, their morals, values, ideals and philosophy in what was seen as a fairly decadent time in the past. And how they impacted on each others lives. If you’re that interested in more predictable books with an obvious plot might I suggest picking up a good genre book.

I submitted an entry for this but AC lost it so all I’m typing now is that it’s my favourite bowie album.

I had forgotten how fabulous this book was. GoF is still my favourite but Azkaban comes in as a close second. Rowling’s prose and pacing immensely improves from the first two installments and counts as the first excellent book she wrote in the series.

It suffers from the typical pitfalls of first novels with sometimes very ordinary phrasing, awkward pacing and momentary lapses into saccharine sentimentality. In spite of all this from the first few pages you are gradually absorbed into the world of Coriander and become invested in all that happens to the great characters; and there are moments when Gardner’s prose bowls you over.

It’s written as more of a fairy tale than in the style of modern children’s/YA fantasy novels, like Pattou’s “East”, which makes it even more enjoyable. I loved it.