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Alright, I'm resurrecting this old thread as I've decided to take the plunge and try some Pynchon. What's a good place to start? Should I begin with his collection of short stories, Slow Learner, work my way through his earlier novels (V, The Crying of Lot 49} or dive right into GR? Ms...

Shade, I just threw out the ten years as just an example as when to try again. I disliked Surfacing in my twenties, but re-read it in my early forties and liked it. Blind Assassin is one my favourites, but I know I would have hated it when I was in my twenties or even thirties. I would have...

Not freaky. She'd look like a duck with big eyes! Still cute. :) ell

You know, Allyson, I felt exactly the same way about Margaret Atwood at your age. Then in the last ten years or so, I *got* her. All the relationships she wrote about, the dark humour, the irony, all the things I hated about her writing when I was younger suddenly clicked. I can even...

Welcome, Allyson. Another Canuck! :) There are quite a few of us here now. See you around the boards. ell

A belated welcome, Peder! I've thoroughly enjoyed your posts and see that you've fit right in here. Look forward to seeing and hearing more from you on TBF. ell

The only time a book's length puts me off is if I don't think I can finish in a reasonable length of time because of work/life time commitments (reasonable to me is about a month, since I'm usually reading more than one book at a time). That's why I usually leave the real biggies (1000+ pages)...

I just noticed that, as a member, I'm allowed only 75 messages in my box! I thought I'd cleared lots of room, but boy was I wrong! I've got some serious deleting to do. This may take awhile. ell

cjm, I'm so glad you checked in and are ok. I kept thinking about you and laboi while watching the news reports about Katrina. Hoping that everyone else comes out of this safely. ell

Wow, a thread for me that's not a HB thread! Thank-you for all the kind words. I decided to step down for personal reasons and of my own volition. I'll still be around as a member. You can't get rid of me that easily! :) ell

Perdido Street Station was moving up my TBR list, but based on what I'm reading here, I may give it a pass. Earlier in this thread, Litany mentioned that it wasn't necessary to read PSS before The Scar. I'd really like to give Mieville a go, but can't see wading through something if Il end up...

Thanks for this thread, Mari. I don't think most people know this, unless they studied Moby Dick at the uni/college level. I read Moby Dick when I was very young and all that subtext went completely over my head. However, now that you bring up the examples, it's one of those 'duh, why didn't I...

To Dorian and Rigana, I'll echo Ms Wilde in saying don't give up even if it gave you conniptions the first go round. This actually applies to all great books that seem daunting. Sometimes denser, more complex works benefit from you, as a reader, maturing. So put whatever it is down for...

I think lies's recommendation of Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman is what you're looking for mr. michel. Full of dark humour. The story centres around a mix-up at the birth of the Anti-Christ. You might also try The Screwtape Letters by C S Lewis. A good satire, no matter...

Where did you see comments that this book is racist? I think you misread Geoff's comments (correct me if I'm wrong, Geoff). He was merely stating that the book portrays non-white characters making racist comments. Showing that non-white people are just as prone to prejudice as white...

Yes, I knew you were kidding. :) Do you want something obvious that everyone can see - e.g. on your arm, or something more disreet that only you and hubby can appreciate?

I think it's very limiting and is a disservice to readers. I think bookstores do it because it helps them direct customers quickly and most easily to familiar books and authors. It's target-marketing. I really hate it. They can always set up promotional tables of genre books. Otherwise, let...

jenn, All I can think of is if this person loses weight (has a baby?), he/she's going to have a shriveled-up, wrinkly, mangy cat with a weird anus on his stomach. Not this one, please! ell

Unsophisticated northerner that I am, I've only made and heard of seafood gumbo. The chicken and sausage gumbo sounds yummy. I've already cut and pasted the recipe into my online Recipes folder. Thanks cajunmama. Can't wait to try it. ell

I think you've gotten it across quite nicely. I agree with you. It's not the fact that people disagree about books and say so in a particular thread that's troublesome, it's when certain members go on a 'stalking' mission to hunt down every available thread that mentions a book or author they...