tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post113546994640369539..comments2024-03-14T00:16:32.077-07:00Comments on 50 Books: BOOKS: A Somewhat Dated and Highly Subjective Real Book Lover's Guide to the Ten Best Books of 2005Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16613804843380827691noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post-1135992837552896192005-12-30T17:33:00.000-08:002005-12-30T17:33:00.000-08:00You inspired me to think about my own reading this...You inspired me to think about my own reading this year and when I counted all the books I read (that I could remember), it was only 25! Ugh! That made me realize what an achievement reading 50 books really is. And how much time I'm wasting watching television . . .sigh.Anitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02027900535249246388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post-1135951195482898042005-12-30T05:59:00.000-08:002005-12-30T05:59:00.000-08:00I don't know why I've been avoiding The Curious In...I don't know why I've been avoiding <I>The Curious Incident of the Dog, etc.</I>, but avoid it I have. However, I find myself compelled to reconsider.<BR/><BR/>I did ask for (and receive) <I>To Say Nothing of the Dog</I> for Christmas based upon mentions in your blog (and comments) here, and I'm really looking forward to it. It's in the bedside table stack.<BR/><BR/>I did a lot of rereading this year, but one of my "new" favorites from this year (although I think it's a few years old by now) was <I>Brick Lane</I> by Monica Ali - I wasn't expecting to like it since I found it a bit slow to get into, but I ended up really enjoying it in spite of myself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post-1135951069732074022005-12-30T05:57:00.000-08:002005-12-30T05:57:00.000-08:00You're absolutely right about Jeeves and Bertie, I...You're absolutely right about Jeeves and Bertie, I must say. Some of the funniest writing I've ever read.<BR/><BR/>I recently had the chance to see some of the TV series Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie did (Laurie playing Bertie; Fry doing Jeeves), and found that while frequently far more entertaining and funny than a typical modern sitcom, it lacked the spark of the actual stories. I think because so much of what's so funny in the stories is in the writing itself, the descriptions, the whole tone, the dialogue tags. It doesn't translate that well to the screen, despite the leads' best efforts.<BR/><BR/>Also hard to grok seeing Hugh Laurie as Bertie (from about 15 years ago), and then seeing him as House in that eponymous show. Does my head in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post-1135946690731966082005-12-30T04:44:00.000-08:002005-12-30T04:44:00.000-08:00Thanks so much sharing your list with us! The tit...Thanks so much sharing your list with us! The title is spectacular. I'm not sure I can recall everything I read this year and much of it wasn't fabulous.<BR/><BR/>Of your list, I've only read Gatsby, Remains of the Day and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night (which I liked very much, but not sure I'd read it twice).<BR/><BR/>I think I'm going to stash away A Complicated Kindness and Paris Stories on my wish list! They sound great.<BR/><BR/>And if I may take the liberty of making a recommendation for your 2006 list - my favorite book of the 2005 - Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. It really stood out for me - - terrific writing and extremely interesting details about life in China. <BR/><BR/>Many thanks again for sharing your BEST!Anitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02027900535249246388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post-1135893006427159672005-12-29T13:50:00.000-08:002005-12-29T13:50:00.000-08:00Oh, I really liked Cloud Atlas--sad that you didn'...Oh, I really liked Cloud Atlas--sad that you didn't. I listened to the audiobook of Gatsby on one of my endless work-related drives, and it was so good, I kept skipping back over parts I had already listened to.landismomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10328094347362872558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post-1135888085047012262005-12-29T12:28:00.000-08:002005-12-29T12:28:00.000-08:00I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't like Mrs...I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't like <I>Mrs. Dalloway</I>. Of course, that's because I didn't understand it, but if I have to work that hard to maintain even the tiniest grasp on the story, then it's not for me. (Or maybe I'm just not smart enough...)Veronicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11347668755122258274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931308.post-1135888071938679682005-12-29T12:27:00.000-08:002005-12-29T12:27:00.000-08:00I keep thinking Terry Pratchett isn't going to suc...I keep thinking Terry Pratchett isn't going to suck -- and I don't really want to point fingers: but he does. And yeah, there's <I>Good Omens</I>; however, I think that was a fluke for both Pratchett <I>and</I> Neil Gaiman. (Also, lather, rinse, repeat for Christopher Moore who just seems really aggressively unfunny to me.)<BR/><BR/>I wish you liked <I>Mrs. Dalloway</I> more. But that's just me; it's the only Virginia Woolf novel I've liked/finished.<BR/><BR/>And finally: have you tried <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0679735879/qid=1135887982/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-4879612-4128841?n=507846&s=books&v=glance" REL="nofollow">The Unconsoled</A>. I think I like it; it's by Ishiguro; but I don't know that I necessarily <I>get</I> all of it. Anyway, it's mostly lovely and dreamlike.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09887139425272294031noreply@blogger.com