Why not read a book published by a FReeper?
We'll even give everyone in the book club a 20% discount and donate another 20% of the proceeds back to Free Republic.
Posted on 07/19/2002 4:54:20 PM PDT by PJ-Comix
Thanks.
Several years ago a friend recommended and loaned a book to me. She said "I actually envy you having this book before you to read".
I struggled with this western... why would I want to read about some former Texas Rangers in a dusty border locale? Held myself to the task past the usual 50 or 75 pages thinking this book is not connecting. I perservered on the strength of the recommendation. Indeed, it kicked in and held me fast. It was so sad for me when it ended. I did not want to let go of it.
Do you know by now of what I refer?
Lonesome Dove ... if you have not read it I envy you the ride. It is quite a tome over 950 pages.
I have read several Larry McMurtry books . A few I found very entertaining; however Lonesome Dove is a 'great' book.
When I was 9 or 10 I loved Zane Grey's books. Haven't read Shane. Saw the movie. The book is almost always better than the movie.
Recently Clint Eastwood made a movie of David Baldaci's ABSOLUTE POWER. The book was ever so much better. Clint cut out entirely the main character and played one of the supporting characters as the lead. Good read.
Naw. Besides I want to concentrate on books that aren't all that popular or were popular at one time and have become much less popular today even though they still have great literary value.
I already have the next book in mind which I will announce at around the due date for Shane. The next book is an early work by a well-known author. It is a very funny book yet it is also important. BTW, this book is also somewhat misunderstood in a humorous way. Oh, and it is a quick read as well. Later on the books I have in mind will be somewhat longer but I sort of want to ease everybody into this.
Ha ha! You sound like me.. I can't go into a used bookstore without coming out with a bag full of books. Totally awesome...
Please add me to your list. I won't be able to read the first one..but am interested in the second.
Good question. Maybe I should announce the second book earlier than the August 12 deadline for the first book.
I won't be able to read the first one.
Why not? Shane isn't too hard to find and it is a quick read.
Because it sounds somewhat incestuous. Besides, the purpose of this Book Club is to read great literary works. Maybe the book you have mentioned does have such value but I would need to see it first. Right now I am relying on books I've read before (but would like to re-read) that I KNOW have great literary value AND interest. If I recommend a book I don't know about I sort of lose my credibility if it lacks the requirements. BTW, I often discover great works almost by accident. I was in an airport bookstore once desperately searching for something interesting to read on my trans-continental flight. Much as I tried I couldn't find anything. Just as my flight began to load, I grabbed Caine Mutiny very reluctantly and much to my surprise it was terrific and I was awake reading it all through that all-night flight.
During World War II, no less!
Actually, Rand answered this critique in The Romantic Manifesto. Her characters were drawn from a Romantic (Ideal) viewpoint and not a Naturalistic (Realistic) one. They were her models of ideal people. It's always been my view that the character Eddie Willers is just the sort of person that people told her that her characters ought to be like.
B.) She needed an editor who could get her to distill a three-minute idea into a three-minute read not a five-hour rant.
That would have been a tall order. Probably the BIG reason why she had such a hard time finding publishers in the first place.
BTW I'm going to the library tomorrow to get a copy of Shane.
I remember Alan Ladd (saw 'Shane' as a child) but don't recall much of the story......
And this from a woman who claimed to be a Realist? Sorry, the characters in Atlas Shrugged were so artificially drawn as to be laughable. Hey, would it have killed Ayn Rand to have one scene of John Galt reading the Sunday newspaper comix section while sitting on the toilet?
Frank Edwards is a riot. I read that book about 25 years ago, love the stories about it raining frogs and body parts from the sky.
Try his title"Flying Saucers-Serious Business"
Count Me in!
Tell me do any of you know if Shane is Available on Palm Reader or Adobe?
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