Hello from upstate New York

tarav · Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 1:47 pm Post subject:

Happy Belated Birthday!
I hope you are feeling more comfortable navigating through BookTalk. It is just like anything else--the more you do it, the better you get at it. It was new to me once too(see my member intro thread title)!

Marilyn · Eligible to vote! Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Posts: 12 Gender:

Thanks, Chris, for all the support and pep talks. I'm leaving for vacation for a week, and when I return, I plan to spend some concentrated time looking around this site--and hopefully, joining a conversation or two. I have read both the books, "Thousand Splendid Suns" and "Heart of Darkness"--but time has a way of erasing the details. Recently, I completed reading the 2007 Man Booker Prize--"The Gathering". Has anyone out there read this?? It was a good read and lends itself to a thought provoking conversation. I've just started reading "The Reserve" by Russell Banks. This, I guess, suggests I just read fiction--not true, I read lots of nonfiction also.

Thanks for the birthday wishes. I was surprised and cheered.
Marilyn

Ophelia · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:35 am Post subject:

Hello Marilyn,

Lovely to hear from you again.

Have a great holiday, and then I'll be looking forward to discussions with you.

Marilyn · Eligible to vote! Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Posts: 12 Gender:

Hi again,

I'm back from vacation so thought I'd give this another whirl even though I don't really know my way around yet.

I just completed reading "The Reserve" by Russell Banks. Anyone out there read this book? I seem to read books no one else is reading and many of the books under discussion are books that I read previously. Yes, it is a bit frustrating. About "The Reserve"--I found it very annoying; it was a book I couldn't put down and yet it seemed Banks couldn't quite decide what story he wanted to tell. After I finished the last page, I picked up the current issue of The New York Review Of Book and was surpeised to discover a review of this very book. After reading the review, I could see more clearly why I found it so annoying; the review ended with the words "disappointing novel". Although I must admit, there was something about it that got me hooked and still continues to haunt me. I had previously read other Banks books, but this one was quite different.

I'm still wishing for conversation about "Out Stealing Horses" by Per Petterson. I noticed that the book will be issued in paperback at the end of April--so maybe there is hope??

The April/May Cormac M. selection "No Country For Old Men" is his only book I have not read--but I did recently see the film. Anyone else seen the film? What did you think? Perhaps, I will read the book although I usually read books prior to viewing the films.

Marilyn

Ophelia · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:08 am Post subject:

Hello Marilyn,

Occasionally a book may draw responses immediately, but the best way is to suggest it in the "Fiction Books Suggestions and Polls" thread, and follow the guidelines there on how to make a convincing case for this book.

The Reserve is the right length, why don't you suggest it?

http://www.amazon.com/Reserve-Russell-Banks/dp/0061430250/ref=sr_1_1?i e=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205308442&sr=1-1

Also, have you explored our other forums?
You may find some topics there that you'd like to discuss with us.


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