tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post4387033166008967669..comments2024-03-28T15:01:21.285-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: Keeping Resolutions (at least the reading one)Leigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-91642930114696876352016-12-24T17:25:27.475-05:002016-12-24T17:25:27.475-05:00Thank you, Leigh, & Velma for letting me know ...Thank you, Leigh, & Velma for letting me know the message was here ;-)Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00239163766419735693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-41813288244794139012016-12-24T00:04:22.365-05:002016-12-24T00:04:22.365-05:00Elizabeth, if you happen to catch this, there are ...Elizabeth, if you happen to catch this, there are Russian short stories to kind of kick-start Russian lit, but I suggest a novel, Turgenev's Fathers and Sons. It's a good read and moving.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-6793710512470890582016-12-23T17:20:19.371-05:002016-12-23T17:20:19.371-05:00Thanks, Bonnie, Eve, Elizabeth and Barb — so much ...Thanks, Bonnie, Eve, Elizabeth and Barb — so much appreciate the comments here!<br /><br />Bonnie, your point seems right: Some of these big, big books, while enjoyable, still seem daunting, and it's easy to lose momentum when other things call for attention.... which brings me to Barb's comment: I'm certainly not recommending folks read books just because they <i>should</i>; I certainly don't. But there are books I'm curious about, drawn toward, feel like I learn from (both as a reader and as a writer), and yet size or complexity can offer challenges; I think the approach I took with <i>War and Peace</i> not only let me finish it but also helped me to appreciate it more, which was a nice surprise. <br /><br />And speaking of not reading things you don't want to: Elizabeth, I can't stand David Foster Wallace myself; don't blame you for dodging <i>Infinite Jest</i>! <br /><br />And Eve, like you, I prefer <i>Anna Karenina</i>--a book I'd be glad to reread again anytime. Really one of the great reading pleasures of my life.<br />Art Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02409008167752619352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-88350542613616570342016-12-23T15:20:11.568-05:002016-12-23T15:20:11.568-05:00Books I've tried to read multiple times (but f...Books I've tried to read multiple times (but failed because I couldn't force myself to continue) include <i>Dune</i>, <i>The Hobbit</i>, and <i>The Da Vinci Code</i>. I won't be trying again with anyone of them. With so many books out there that I want to read, I no longer will try again and again to read something simply because I <i>should</i> read it. More power to people with stronger perseverance. <br /><br />And I've never tried to read a chapter a day for a year or a month or whatnot. While it might take me sometimes weeks to finish a book because I'm busy, if I have the time, I like to finish books quickly, for no other reason than it makes me feel like I accomplished something.<br /><br />Good luck with your 2017 reading challenge, Art, whatever it ends up being. I'm gearing up for my own challenge, she says cryptically, and a challenge it will be. Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05373807957642729534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-40554323662998781452016-12-23T12:24:35.299-05:002016-12-23T12:24:35.299-05:00Art, maybe that immersion theory of yours is why I...Art, <i>maybe</i> that immersion theory of yours is why I have been dawdling when I'm supposed to be finishing a short story I want to enter in a contest next month. I love the characters but could never use them in another story, for several reasons. Of course it is possible I'm just lazy.<br /><br />I loved <i>V</i> and <i>The Crying of Lot 49</i>. Never read Tolstoy, never went to college. On my daughter's recommendation I tried to read <i>Infinite Jest</i> but disliked it intensely so I stopped. It seemed to be all about tennis & movies, neither of which I like very much.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00239163766419735693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-9487592667355193862016-12-23T11:14:06.317-05:002016-12-23T11:14:06.317-05:00Way to go, Art! I've read War and Peace, and ...Way to go, Art! I've read War and Peace, and it is great - but I still prefer Anna Karenina. On the other hand, I've never read any of Thomas Pynchon. Maybe someday...<br />I have done the chapter a day thing with some long books, and I find it easier to do on the Kindle than with a real book in my hand - with the actual book, I have a tendency to break down and gobble for a while. Then stop. Then gobble. <br />Does Infinite Jest have chapters? <br />Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-80493644421152586722016-12-23T10:25:51.054-05:002016-12-23T10:25:51.054-05:00Congratulations on finishing War and Peace, Art! M...Congratulations on finishing War and Peace, Art! Maybe I should try your approach with Ulysses. I made it about halfway through in college and then stopped--not because I wasn't enjoying it, simply because the press of things I HAD to do became too demanding. Ever since, its bulk has kept me from trying again. But if I gave myself a year--well, maybe. I'll think about it. In the meantime, happy holidays and a good new year!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17673578800047888317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-67786629309069267172016-12-23T09:31:54.850-05:002016-12-23T09:31:54.850-05:00Thanks, Janice and Steve --
I'd actually thoug...Thanks, Janice and Steve --<br />I'd actually thought of Proust as well, so appreciate that mention! And Steve, Brothers K is another one I've started and then stopped; the Grand Inquisitor was tough to get through/past. Never read Lord Jim either, but admire Conrad, and actually have The Secret Agent on my TBR list right now....<br /><br />You're right, Steve, about teaching changing things--reading as duty. It's sadly rare these days that I read something purely for pleasure. I miss it! Art Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02409008167752619352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-89159538483965870182016-12-23T09:21:26.852-05:002016-12-23T09:21:26.852-05:00Art, I'm with you on War and Peace. I've t...Art, I'm with you on War and Peace. I've tried it at least twice before and gotten bogged down a few hundred pages in. But your approach sounds good, so maybe I'll try that.<br /><br />I've never made it through Gravity's Rainbow, either, but I liked V and adore The Crying of Lot 49. And Bleak House is one of my favorites. I come back to it every few years, along with The Brothers Karamazov and Lord Jim. This coming year, I want to re-visit The Sound and the Fury, too.<br /><br />One downside of being an English teacher for so long is that there are certain books you feel you "must" read, and that often drowns the enjoyment in a sense of duty. I suspect that may be part of my problem with War and Peace, and I've never tried Anna Karenina. There seem to be times in your life where certain books speak to you, and you have to be ready to hear the call.<br /><br />Janice, I've never really thought about Proust. Maybe this year for him, too.<br /><br />What other "great books" should be on our lists? Steve Liskowhttp://www.steveliskow.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-52787085379199549152016-12-23T08:12:55.925-05:002016-12-23T08:12:55.925-05:00Congratulations on your anthology story.
As for l...Congratulations on your anthology story.<br /><br />As for long books, I do think there are times in life when you are up for really long works. I tried Proust several times before, voila, the whole thing was possible. And immersive!<br />janice lawnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-2369240199010243052016-12-23T07:03:01.086-05:002016-12-23T07:03:01.086-05:00Hi, Leigh and Paul -- Thanks for the comments here...Hi, Leigh and Paul -- Thanks for the comments here, and interesting that you both mention Pynchon! I've long been a fan of <i>Crying of Lot 49</i>, have read it several times in fact, but some of his longer books... I'm daunted as well. (I haven't even managed <i>V.</i>, I'll admit, though did read and enjoy <i>Inherent Vice</i>.) <br /><br />There is something that's just too appropriate about a book that's already set up at a chapter a day, and I obviously I wonder how well it would work to artificially set up a certain number of pages a day with another book.... Pynchon's density, though, might actually be easier to take in those bite-sized chunks, leaving time to digest and reflect on shorter pieces before diving in again..... I don't know. <br /><br />Good luck if either of you try it--and let me know how it goes!Art Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02409008167752619352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-89418754245264852812016-12-23T04:45:27.742-05:002016-12-23T04:45:27.742-05:00Art, I like your approach to War and Peace. But, o...Art, I like your approach to War and Peace. But, of course, it just sort of works out good for a chapter a day. As you may recall, Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow is my wall that's too hard to climb (right, Leigh?). I've tried two, maybe three times, and couldn't get more than about 80-100 pages in. But maybe some day I'll try again with your approach. But even doing that with this particular book might not work since it's so dense in so many ways. Maybe it's just a mountain too high to climb, though I rarely give up on something. If I was a giver-upper I wouldn't have tried three times.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-61312999384884194472016-12-23T00:20:19.450-05:002016-12-23T00:20:19.450-05:00That's genius, Art. That's what genius is–...That's genius, Art. That's what genius is– finding simple solutions to intimidating problems.<br /><br />Thomas Pynchon would be my bête noire. Maybe I'll land a copy and take your approach.<br /><br />Happy Christmas and thanks for the gift!<br />Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.com