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Post by jo on Nov 26, 2007 6:08:23 GMT -6
I read this book about 12-14 year ago and it was one of the best novels I have ever read. Imagine my surprise when I overheard colleagues at work talking about how Oprah has picked it for her book club. Of course, it's now in re-release and new readers will be lucky enough to get to know this masterpiece by Ken Follett, who is more known for writing spy novels (Eye of the Needle)
It's about the building of a cathedral in 12th century England, runs close to a 1000 pages, and captivates you from the first line , "The small boys came early for the hanging." (My co-workers couldn't believe I remembered this line from a book I had read so many years ago.) Anyone I have recommended this book to has been blown away by it and I'm sure many on this board would enjoy it as well. I've bought the re-print and plan to immerse myself in it over the holidays.
Jo (who really wishes Oprah would tell people to send ME money on her show!!)
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Nov 26, 2007 9:34:35 GMT -6
Jo (who really wishes Oprah would tell people to send ME money on her show!!) Oprah should just send some of her own money to all her fans at the holidays to say, "Thank you for making me the richest person alive".
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Post by Christinko on Nov 26, 2007 9:41:35 GMT -6
I just wish Oprah would pick up one of my books...sigh.
Yes, "Pillars of the Earth" was wonderful! I too read it a gazillion years ago.
Anyone have any other suggestions for fabulous historical fiction? I'm just 2-3 books shy of re-reading all my Asimov Robot/Foundation/Empire books and need to prepare.
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Post by edie2u on Dec 5, 2007 19:53:37 GMT -6
I also read that book a gazillion years ago and loved it.
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Post by Reader on Dec 7, 2007 22:24:29 GMT -6
I just wish Oprah would pick up one of my books...sigh. Yes, "Pillars of the Earth" was wonderful! I too read it a gazillion years ago. Anyone have any other suggestions for fabulous historical fiction? I'm just 2-3 books shy of re-reading all my Asimov Robot/Foundation/Empire books and need to prepare. I just love me some historical fiction!!!! It doesn't even have to be "factually" accurate, but generally - as to give a feel to an era. I especially love the "what if" genre -- the other side of the story. Asimov? Darlin' you got to get back to being a woman! Read "Fanny" by Erica Jong. Fabulous on so many levels. A woman's point of view of olden times, and as a pyrate. Written entirely in Olde Englishe, which makes it even more special. She put an awful lot of effort into this endeavor and it shows. Fascinating, historically (maybe not word to word historical, but kinda, probably, because I do have faith in Erica for her intelligence and knowledge, and I don't care to check her facts), sexually, and inspirationally. "Leave No Trace", written by a real-life tracker, Hannah Nyala, a story about survival in the Australian outback. A true page-turner, and testament to what we are really capable of, when pressed. Got it from the library, returned it and bought it as a keeper. Lent it, didn't get it back, bought it again. THAT kind of book. The Kent Family Chronicles, by John Jakes. About the American revolution. A guilty pleasure. Like having bodice-ripper pages interspersed with a history book. And the best of both worlds. There is also a series about the settling of Australia with unfortunates from England and Ireland, but not by Jakes, but just like it. (it's stories like this that make the swift & harsh punishment for any and all advocated by neo-cons seem like not so much of a good idea - it's initial protaginist is a 12 year old orphan girl who was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was swept up with the rest of the 'trash' and exiled to Australia, which was tantamount to a death sentence for all but a hearty few). The best is "Wicked" which is currently(?) on broadway. I used to walk by the theater twice a day but never felt a need to spend to see it, maybe because of my disappointment at the truncated treatment of Les Miserable (see below). What a fascinating story. I'm like "Holy Shit! that's right!!! They were her fucking shoes! Dorothy had no right to steal her dead sister's shoes!!! And the "wicked" witch? She wasn't born wicked, but she was born, well, green. And suffered greatly for it, from schoolyard taunts to employment discrimination. And that bitch Belinda? Who among us didn't know one like her, homecoming queens smirking thier way through high school. Truly an eye-opener. The author, who is on the tip of my tongue (but not in a dirty way) put out a few others like it, not nearly as good. I suspect he either (or both) dug up his first attempts, and/or banged out some new ones. Very good books, but not up to the standard set by "Wicked" "Les Misarable"(sp?) - Again, got it from the library, returned it and bought my own for a keeper. Again, a poor old sod who stole bread to feed his sister's children and paid a mighty high price for it! The broadway show is hardly recognizable, how could it be there is just so so so much to the story (kind of like how Stephen King's novels are great but the movies (with the exception of Carrie) SUCK. Too much going on to translate to a movie, or even a mini-series. It's not the attention-span issue, as much as I love these stories, I need to put the book down when I need to put it down, and assimilate for a while, and sometimes reread parts.. That to me is the hallmark of great literature - when what they're saying is so huge you can't take it in all at once. Doesn't go over well with Twentieth Century Fox). Does get a bit dry when going on about the revolution for pages and pages and pages - it's not really relevant and we get it - there was a sucky war. Not that war and its effects should be trivialized, but this story spans decades, a century ago (or is it 2 now?) and 40 pages of the war is a bit much (but as much as you want to skip ahead, you don't because you might miss something! I get to skip ahead now, 'cause I read it a few times, and paperclipped those pages so I can do so easily. Yes, I'm a literature nerd)(I think you feel my pain on that Miss Santilli, as a fellow literature lover!) God I love my books!
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Post by Reader on Dec 7, 2007 22:36:36 GMT -6
Further to my post re "Wicked":
Meanwhile, the "wicked" witch is home minding her own business and this ragtag group of fag-girl with fag-dog, pussy lion, man that is hard on the outside but is empty inside, soft affectionate guy who has no brain, there they go invading her home with intent to kill her. And we are rooting for them? WTF? Truly a watershed moment, reading this book.
One other I forgot -- Ahab's Wife. The story of the wife of the man that sought Moby Dick. Fascinating, again. Again, the point of view of a parallel character. After that, I tried - lord knows I tried! - to read Moby Dick, but can't do it. But Ahab's Wife stands on its' own. Read it.
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Post by Guest on Dec 7, 2007 22:45:08 GMT -6
I just wish Oprah would pick up one of my books...sigh. She might, if you put what you know in novel form rather then a collection of amusing anecdotes. She likes female empowerment, right? We know you have it in you. There is TOTALLY a riviting novel in Hedo - yours is more a hedo compilation, the other guy's (I don't recall his name, and don't care to try to) is NOT literature, or even fiction. It is a 'this happend, and than this happened, and guess what happened next? More stuff happened" A lengthy trip report. Have at it Chris!
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Post by Christinko on Dec 8, 2007 14:18:14 GMT -6
Another vote for "Ahab's Wife." The main character is ephemeral (sp?) and unreal, but the rest of the stuff that happens around her and the other characters (who are more real) is compelling and the writing is lyrical.
I'm continuing on my SF freak this fall...doing (again) Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land." Always hoping to grok it.
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Post by jo on Dec 8, 2007 14:52:55 GMT -6
Anne Marie MacDonald's "Fall on Your Knees" is another book that completely blew me away. She's a Canadian author but this book was chosen by Oprah not long after she began her book club. Not an easy read as it deals with incest but man, what a story. I had chills as I read the end.
JO
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Post by New Mama on Dec 13, 2007 9:24:07 GMT -6
I too read Pillars many moons ago. I love historical fiction.
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Post by jo on Dec 27, 2007 18:24:48 GMT -6
Well, I've finished Pillars of the Earth (again) and it was even better than I remembered it. Follett has the talent of keeping you at the edge of your seat, cheering the heros and booing the bad guys. More than once, I had to put the book down to catch my breath and either curse or cheer. I didn't want to finish it yesterday and made it last as long as I could and then put it down, as satisfied as after good sex (well, almost, anyways!)
Now I've started the sequel, World without End, and hope it will be as good as its predecessor. I'll keep you guys posted.
JO
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Post by jo on Jan 6, 2008 15:17:14 GMT -6
Well, I finished World Without End yesterday afternoon (2 1000 page books over the holidays, can everyone say, "this girl has NO life!). I enjoyed it very much, but have to say it was more of the same as Pillars of the Earth. Great villains you love to hate, a love story for the (middle) ages, a secret that is revealed only at the end, evil earls, strong women and red-haired heroes. I must say that I really enjoyed learning more about this period in history and the Plague played a big role in the story. You don't have to read the first novel in order to enjoy the second book, but it was fun to remember the references to Pillars that Follet kept putting in. All in all, a worthwhile way to spend a few snowy afternoons and evenings.
Jo
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Post by Liz of Chris & Liz on Jan 16, 2008 12:59:26 GMT -6
Hi Jo, You might want to try... Perfume: The Story of A Murderer by Patrick Suskind (translated from the German). We just happened to rent the movie made from this book & were mesmerized. I could tell from watching the movie that the book must be spectacularly written. The plot is fascinating & haunting, the characters nasty & intriguing, the cinematography was vivid. The movie has a voice over narrative (not my favorite in a movie), but for a movie that is based on scent it works. The movie really stuck with me & I picked up the book from the library yesterday. The writing is exquisite (as I had hoped) but not (yet?) too flowery. The story is haunting. From the literary review: Set in 18th-century France, Perfume relates the fascinating and horrifying tale of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a person as gifted as he was abominable. Born without a smell of his own but endowed with an extraordinary sense of smell, Grenouille becomes obsessed with procuring the perfect scent that will make him fully human. Follow the link to start reading.... www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0375725849/ref=sib_fs_top/002-7428089-1012838?ie=UTF8&p=S00C&checkSum=3ln%2BbA1s9yVC1Ssddh19r2ENREOEfaFmACXCwkWwaUQ%3D#reader-link
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Post by jo on Jan 16, 2008 18:20:32 GMT -6
Thanks Liz, I just read the first few pages, sounds like a good one! I'll have to find it at Costco or Chapters next time I go.
JO (hey, we have the same number of posts!!)
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Post by Liz of Chris & Liz on Jan 17, 2008 7:42:44 GMT -6
Very cool Jo! Looking forward to seeing you & Den this weekend!!!!!!!!! Liz
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Post by jo on Jan 17, 2008 10:46:59 GMT -6
Us too, pray for no snow!!
Jo
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Post by Liz of Chris & Liz on Jan 17, 2008 12:05:15 GMT -6
Us too, pray for no snow!! Jo I always do!!
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Post by Christinko on Jan 20, 2008 21:05:47 GMT -6
I'm so envious I could spit...but alas, all I can do is agree about "Perfume"--in fact I was just touting it to a friend the other day. Truly chilling but mesmerizing. Loved the concept of the main character. Makes me want to smell everyone around me...well, maybe not everyone.
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Post by Liz of Chris & Liz on Jan 21, 2008 7:44:54 GMT -6
Welcome home Chris!!! We had a wonderful visit with Jo & Den...a respite from the winter doldrums for sure!!! We're looking forward to hearing about your January!! Liz
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