Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 8:34 am Post subject: Just about to start reading (Bell Jar)
Hi group,
I'm just about to start reading my copy.
How far along are we all?
I'm not sleeping much at the moment as I have a grotty summer cold, so I might make some headway tonight. Particulary as I'm coughing so much I'm going to be 'sleeping' downstairs so I don't disturb his lordship!!
Zan
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 955 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Paisley, Scotland
Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 11:41 pm Post subject:
I am still finishing off Meridian by Alice Walker, but hope to start the book on Monday. I am quite a fast reader so wont talk me long to get finished. Looking forward to some book talk! _________________ Currently reading: The Human Stain by Philip Roth
'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.'
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:03 am Post subject:
I'm ploughing through the Tad Williams book for my other book group at the moment. We meet on Weds evening so I'll start The Bell Jar next week. I'm struggling with the TW book; it's nearly 700 pages long and the pressure of finishing it on time is ruining my enjoyment of the book. It doesn't help it being the kind of book I'd avoid anyway!!
This thread is a great idea by the way.
G _________________ Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10
I couldn't find copy in the local charity shops so phoned the library up....they have a copy waiting for me! So I'll get it on Mon.
It doesn't look like a long book so I might wait till closer to the 22nd to read it so that its fresh in my memory for discusion.
Meanwhile, should we be picking the next book to make sure folks have time to get it for next month?
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 955 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Paisley, Scotland
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 11:37 am Post subject:
Yes it might be a good idea to know what our next book is going to be to give people a chance to get it. Or are we just getting a bit carried away! _________________ Currently reading: The Human Stain by Philip Roth
'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.'
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 2142 Birthday: 10th June
Location: Scottish Borders
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 1:21 pm Post subject:
I started the book last night... needed something to do as I had a spider in my room and couldn't sleep Only read 2 chapters but quite liking it so far!
Seems like a very good choice Glynis! Thanks!
Might be an idea to choose next book before ending this one as it will give people more time to get it.
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 630 Birthday: 6th October
Location: norwich,norfolk
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 10:12 pm Post subject:
Well sparky's update is ....five chapters in and not loving this so far.......
sorry guys-one of my main things in reading is i need to emphasise with the character -don't have to love them,can hate them but need to FEEL something for them,and so far i feel nothing for her.Actually i find her dreadfully frightful darling and feel like slapping her and saying have a word with yourself luv....
maybe this will grow on me but not very impressed,soooo sorry!!!will be more descriptive when i have finished and can properly analyse how i felt......
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 2142 Birthday: 10th June
Location: Scottish Borders
Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 1:25 am Post subject:
I've read a lot more and see exactly where you are coming from Sparky... but I'm still liking it! I know what's coming (stupid Amazon reviews ) so hopefully that will put more emotion into the writing.
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 630 Birthday: 6th October
Location: norwich,norfolk
Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 10:49 pm Post subject:
well-kinda ended up skim or fast-track reading this in end because sooo wanted to finish it-was not gonna give up on our first book choice and was ,quite disappointingly,not impressed.my only redeeming thing i can say about it was there are some really good descriptive passages in the book no doubt due to the fact that she was a poet.
by the time i reached her incarceration(not giving anything away by mentioning this am i ?)had grown quite tiresome of lead character and couldn't care about her in any shape or form.
much preferred the following: girl interrupted by susanna kaysen
prosac nation by elizabeth wurtzel
an unquiet mind by kay r jamison
see its not that i can't read this sort of stuff,i can and have-just found this uninspiring and dull when i sooo wanted to enjoy it.
i must say in defence of shropshire blue,our illustrous group-leader,that this does not mean i think this was a bad choice-i personally don't think there are any bad choices of reading material as am prepared to give almost any title a fair go,just that i didn't PERSONALLY enjoy it.
didn't feel either as though there was any reason for her break-up(which i know is often the case) and that it just kind of happened because she got bored of her life-don't we all feel like that sometimes?i have suffered a form of mild depression(though thankfully not on a major scale)and so know it is irrational and can be very scary what thoughts run through your head in these times-but didn't feel this was convincingly or even very well portrayed.my other reccommendations were i thought so better written.by the end,found it hard to now or care what exactly was going on-i guess my earlier post summed it up-no empathy,no interest long term in the novel.
thank frack it was short or i MIGHT just have given it up before the end and i hate doing that .....
sorry would have preferred the carnal relations with the seal(see my poll)-has anyone any fish in case the offer is still open?lol
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 11:10 pm Post subject:
Sparky, I hope you've remembered the
Spoiler:
spoiler button in case you give anything away!!
I agree with you that there's no bad book choice. It's interesting to see what everyone thought of a book and reasons why, especially when they didn't enjoy it. I don't expect everyone to love The Bell Jar, that's the exciting thing about choosing a book. Your reaction to it has intrigued me and I'm now itching to start the book after your post.
G _________________ Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 630 Birthday: 6th October
Location: norwich,norfolk
Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 11:15 pm Post subject:
[quote="ShropshireBlue"]Sparky, I hope you've remembered the
Spoiler:
spoiler button in case you give anything away!!
hopefully i haven't given anything away-would've used it had i thought i might do-tried to say what i felt whilst skirting round the edges of the plot without revealing too much
Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 148 Birthday: 18th February
Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 11:44 am Post subject:
Having difficulty getting my hands on a copy of this book without buying it - which defeats the purpose of being a member of RISI. If I can't get a copy by the weekend I will buy it as I don't want to miss out on our first discussion. _________________
Got my copy from the library today Saucy.Only read the first few pages...will wait till I've finished(and everyone else) before passing judgement. _________________
Having difficulty getting my hands on a copy of this book without buying it - which defeats the purpose of being a member of RISI. If I can't get a copy by the weekend I will buy it as I don't want to miss out on our first discussion.
Hi Saucy - just put mine on RISI (zanthewitch - is my username)
have a look if you like and I'll see if we can swap - let me know your username too.
Zan _________________ ****************************
READING
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 3:11 pm Post subject:
I've made a start on The Bell Jar today and am enjoying it so far. I've seen some online reading group guides on the book. We could perhaps include some of the discussion questions in our discussion of the book.
Have a great weekend everyone
Gx _________________ Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10
Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 148 Birthday: 18th February
Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 10:33 am Post subject:
zanthewitch wrote:
Saucy wrote:
Having difficulty getting my hands on a copy of this book without buying it - which defeats the purpose of being a member of RISI. If I can't get a copy by the weekend I will buy it as I don't want to miss out on our first discussion.
Hi Saucy - just put mine on RISI (zanthewitch - is my username)
have a look if you like and I'll see if we can swap - let me know your username too.
Zan
Thanks Zan but I did a private swap with Sparkymarky. Just waiting for it to arrive now so should start reading this week.
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Born 30/12/08
Only read 2 chapters but quite liking it so far!
) so hopefully that will put more emotion into the writing.
