Aerothorn on 10/11/2006 at 06:45
I'm sure this will spiral down into hell like my other nominations...but what the hell, I'm sleep-deprived and can't afford to find a better one.
I nominate The Phantom Tollbooth by Juster Norton. Yay.
Jennie&Tim on 10/11/2006 at 15:52
Read it to Adelaide, babies are surprisingly interested in any sort of reading; toddlers prefer the pretty picture books, so eventually you may need to nominate "If I Ran the Circus", but not yet.
I also read while I stir pots and while I brush my teeth. I wouldn't advise it while shaving though, that could be dangerous.
Jan on 10/11/2006 at 17:05
Haha, how funny! I too read while brushing my teeth; never knew anybody else doing that. Also love to settle in the bathtub, soaking while reading a while. I never read while cooking though, because of the tendency to read just one more page; just one more little paragraph, and there, sigh, another otherwise perfectly good meal burned :(
Also, because I forgot to add this earlier, I'll edit it in now :)
For those who got excited about abebooks, here another book-search-site:
(
http://www.addall.com/)
which searches the data bases of all the major on-line bookstores (abe is part of it). You can choose between used and new; I've found lots of otherwise hard to find books there.
Stitch on 1/12/2006 at 18:43
IT'S ON
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
SERIOUSLY TURN BACK
OK
Brilliant book, a great read. Big ups to RBJ for suggesting this in the first place, way back when. I've got some BIG OBSERVATIONS about the book but I'm going to hold off a bit to see what you guys have to say.
Kyloe on 2/12/2006 at 08:18
I agree, a very good read, although I thought a book full of tics would be bothersome. It isn't. Some of the tics are hilarious.
Still have some 50 pages to read, though.
Stitch on 4/12/2006 at 22:46
Well this isn't exactly off to a roaring start.
Rug Burn Junky on 4/12/2006 at 23:52
Much Like Kyloe, I'm not finished yet.
Considering my last two attempts at Book Club Books (Wasp Factory and Big Sleep) are both sitting barely opened due to my newly strenuous work schedule, I'd say I've done a much better job of getting through this one. Since I suggested it, I'd be a real douche if I didn't at least try.
My opening thoughts: OK, for one, since I never got through the Big Sleep, the big comparison that I was hoping for is useless from my end. I'll get on that next if I can.
That said, the whole noir element didn't feel like it kicked in for me at first. I can remember the exact moment that I felt it, when the detective grabs Lionel by his collar outside of the Deli, since that's such a clichéd move.
I started noticing it more and more after that, but the funny thing is, I also didn't see it as part of the style. Instead of associating it as a noir thing, it fit Lionel's character. As though, because of his tics, he really talked (and thought) in that staccato voice. Instead of coming from that Bogart, assured silent tough guy type, it came from the insecurity of not being able to express himself, which gave it a markedly different feel, and may be why I didn't pick up on it at first.
Second, and this is personal, this is actually my neighborhood that he's describing. I've lived here for 10 years, and grew up in another part of Brooklyn in the 70's, plus, my mom grew up here in the 50's, right down the block from where the L&L car service is supposed to be. I'll leave alone the fact that he took some liberties with it, but despite that, I can walk around and see what he's describing, not just the explicit stuff on the surface. That particular NYC underbelly that you don't really notice, but have no problem believing exists. The front-businesses, the neighborhood guys that everybody knows, etc. It's not really there anymore, but it's easy to imagine, and I can see what inspired him to do it. The pseudo-mob guys of that time had way of talking/acting that he pretty much nails, and it really brings me back to my own childhood. I can picture either of my uncles (even though they're Irish) as Tony or Danny.
Other than that, there were a couple of great lines, which, unfortunately, I don't recall off of the top of my head, but I made sure to tab in my copy at home. I'm going to try to finish it tomorrow (I've got about 80 to 100 pages to go).
Paz on 4/12/2006 at 23:52
I picked this up late, so I'm only halfway through.
Rug Burn Junky on 7/12/2006 at 20:10
Aight, I finished this on the crapper this morning. Anyone else done?
Stitch on 7/12/2006 at 20:14
Hell yes. Let's do this thing.
