Books for November, 2004

[pegkerr]

The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer. Re-read. I needed to soothe my shattered nerves after the election.

Goose Chase by Patrice Kindl. This was a re-read because I read it to the girls. They enjoyed it highly.

Goodbye, Pink Pig by Carole S. Adler. First time read. This is one of Fiona's books that I picked up that I rather liked, which squarely addresses the question: "Is fantasy "mere" escapism? Is that crazy, dangerous or helpful?"

Moral Politics: How Conservatives and Liberals Think by George Lakoff. First time read. Lent to me by minnehaha. Although I agree with minnehaha B. that it isn't well-written, this is the book that I'm recommending to everyone this month, because it explains so much of what is puzzling about American politics today.

Fredrica by Georgette Heyer. Re-read. Picked up as a stress escape.

Icy Pleasures: Minnesota Celebrates Winter by Paul Clifford Larson. I'm putting this down although technically I didn't finish it. I did read everything on point needed for my research, I think. Pretty well written.

There and Back Again: An Actor's Journey by Sean Astin with Joe Layden. First time read. I felt quite sympatico with him, reading about struggling with self-doubt as he tries to improve at his craft.

Right now I'm in the middle of Right Nation: Conservative Power in America, another loan from minnehaha, so that will be first on next month's list.

[kijjohnson, I haven't forgotten about the portion of Kylen you sent me. The problem is how rarely I get to sit down at my computer, and then I feel I should be working on my own. But I'll try to get to it this month.]

Comments

[kate_nepveu]

Was the Astin much like his commentary tracks?

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

He was really quite blunt about how hard the whole experience was, and quite candid about how his relationships with some of the other actors didn't quite live up to his hopes and expectations. I thought he came across as quite human and humble. I see from the comments at Amazon that to some readers he came across as ungrateful and whiny. He didn't seem like that to me, though. I thought he was quite frank about when he was disappointed, but he earned the privilege by being ruthlessly honest about his own shortcomings. My respect for him increased by reading the book. YMMV.

[kate_nepveu]

Mostly I find his commentary tracks very long-winded, so I'm afraid that on the page he would continue to annoy me. And besides, I kinda like my illusion of the cast as a big happy crazy family.

[magentamn.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear someone else say that Lakoff is not an easy read. It is not well written as non-fiction, but I have read too many scholarly books that were worse. His theories do explain a lot. Personally, I think that ALL strict-father types are abusive by their very nature, and that is why the right-wingers make me so angry. But, then, I'm a liberal, and always have been.

Reading the Gospels as a non-Christian, I don't quite know how a Christian can NOT be a liberal in the sense of taking care of people. It seems implicit in the New Testament. All the strictness is OT, IMHO.

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

Re: Frederica and The Grand Sophy... wonderful choices for stress relief. I'm also quite fond of The Talisman Ring and The Masqueraders.... and most of her non-detective fivtion, for that matter. Great comfort books.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I have a copy of The Talisman Ring, too, but I've never managed to track down a copy of The Masqueraders. I haven't found Sprig Muslin yet, either. I think I have about half of her mysteries, and have read all but two of the ones I have.

It's hard to narrow down my favorites. I love Fredrica, Sylvester, or the Wicked Uncle (hard not to like it when a novelist is the main character!), Arabella, Venetia (I LOVED Lois McMaster Bujold's homage to that in her Shards of Honor), Cotillion (what fun that the goodhearted but rather dim-witted guy gets the girl), and The Toll Gate.

The only one of her Regencies I violently dislike is The Reluctant Widow. The main character is such a loathsome, whiny shrew. How can any sensible man marry her? He would, to use Heyer's phrase, live under the cat's foot all his life. Ugh. *Shudders*

[kishmish.livejournal.com]

I like your Heyer choices for stress relief as well. Have you ever read April Lady? I was reading it last week but halfway through I had to stop because the main character was such a ditz and the plot was really silly. I was really surprised since I've liked everything else I've read by Georgette Heyer.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Yes, I do have a copy of April Lady, and I have read it, but it isn't my top choice for re-reads when I'm dipping into Heyer again.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

The Masqueraders and Sprig Muslin were recently reprinted, along with a number of others, by Harlequin. Check the paperback romance section or order them online.