Books I've Read...and Stopped

[kimarama]

I'm still trying to read 50 Books in 2007 and am a bit behind in posting about them. Part of the problem is that I'm mostly listening to books (on CD) during my commute and not actually reading them. I'll spare you the neurotic details about why I think I need to have a physical copy of the book with me before I post a review. The other part of

Comments

[briary_flower]

I loved Garp, and I enjoy Irving in general, but I followed the progression of his career and his development as a writer. That may be part of the problem you're having - he was a different writer in what I think of as the Garp, Hotel New Hampshire era, and maybe not the writer with whom you're familiar. Owen Meany is a better book than Garp, just like Son of the Circus is a better book than Owen Meany. But Garp is a very entertaining read. I've read it many times in English and even read the French translation. The story within the story is about writing - pure invention, character creation, and short story technique. Give it another try:

"Sex for Garp would remain in his mind as a solitary act committed in an abandoned universe--sometime after it had rained. It was always an act of terrific optimism ..."

[kimarama]

Give it another try

*whimpers*

I will think about it.

I will also think about how you're a much more patient reader than me and how I wish I could read in French.

[saffirebleu]

I hated, hated, hated Garp. Seriously.

[kimarama]

Thus proving that we are, in fact, soul sisters.

*high fives you!*

[saffirebleu]

I just had this memory of you saying, "Water is wet, snap-snap-snap."

LOL

[jcd1013]

They inserted the footnotes into the narrative??? Ouch. I liked Jonathan Strange, I really did, but I found the footnotes to be annoying and the only way I made it through was skipping over most of them.

I got about 3/4th of the way through, when it became due at the library, and have never finished it. So maybe I didn't like it as much as I thought I did. :)