Tuesday Book Club–one last embarrassing post
Re-read Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice this week. And I swear this is the last time I will subject you to this, but it just so happens that I read both P & P and Wuthering Heights the summer I was 15, and somehow got it into my head that I should write my very important, very deep thoughts in the back of both books. You already saw what crimes against sensibility I committed with regard to Wuthering Heights. Now here’s what I had to say about P & P:
At times I found myself so excited about what was going to happen that I nearly skipped whole chapters to fein anticipation. [Uh, I think you mean "feign," but you don't really mean that, because obviously you don't know what that word means.] ["Incontheivable!"] Elizabeth is my joy; Darcy is my broken heart. [???] I long for him! [Yeah, and now you long for Aragorn--make up your mind.] How can I but wish to spend my very soul for a man who does everything for the love of a woman? [Wait--does that mean you do want that?] Elizabeth is me at times [you wish!], and I am frequently she. [I think that's "her," but whatever, you're still wrong.] I want to be graceful and charming and not anxious for the future. [Good, because last week you said you had to make your fortune in ten years--glad you're over that.] I always want too much. [Der.] I loved this book and will wish for its happy contents to be my own [write like Reverend Collins much?], but these are only dreams that authors invoke in my mind. [Good thing you grew out of that--whoops, forgot about this]. I will write a book such that will put fire in the hearts of men and burn in the eyes of women. [Ouch.] It may not sell [mostly because people's eyes have all melted], but I’ll love me for it. [And sweetie, I'll love you for it, too. Good luck with that.]
So. Erhum. Guess that’s enough embarrassing self-disclosure for one post. What have you all been reading this week?
Technorati Tags: Tuesday Book Club, Book Clubs, Reading Clubs, Books, Reading, Pride and Prejudice, Silly Teenage Girls Who Grow Up To Be Silly Teen Authors
December 4th, 2007 at 6:40 am
“It may not sell [mostly because people’s eyes have all melted]”
I love that, made my morning. lol.
I finished Uglies (a good book, slow in the middle, but the payoff is worth it) started Pretties, and read two writing how-to books in between.
I’m also curently reading my new cell phone’s get started guide.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:14 am
I read Magic or Madness.
“fire in the hearts of men ”
It’s nice to know in your past you planned to cook people before you ate them.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:30 am
Thanks for that, mainly because I’m feeling better about my own teenage years now. I can’t boast that precious writing, but I did proudly wear a gold lame jacket to school.
Ironically, I’m looking for such a jacket today for my daughter’s school play. Life sure comes full circle.
(Oh, reading? Just Cybils nominees, and lots of them.)
December 4th, 2007 at 7:54 am
Robin, I wish I was that…indescribable when I was 15. My stuff would’ve been like “Holden is my soulmate, too bad he’s fictional,” or “I’d pretend to love sports to play Blitz Ball with Phineas.” Boarding school fiction and teen angst. I guess some things never change (see: Looking for Alaska)
Anyway, speaking of angst, I read Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Great concept, poorly executed.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:59 am
When I was fifteen,I was just getting into Stephen King novels(which didn’t inspire me to write in my diary but I did go on a bad poetry writing kick after watching “Dead Poets Society” several years later),so you were certainly advanced in your good literary taste,Robin:)
I finished Leaning With Intent to Fall last week and am now digging into The Luxe by Anna Godbershen. Sort of a sexier teen version of a Edith Wharton novel-not bad for a fun read,so far
December 4th, 2007 at 9:35 am
Hee! Love it, Robin. (Though I do worry about your desire to inflict pain on unsuspecting readers!)
I’m on a Reginald Hill kick. I’m not sure I’ll read anything else until I’m done. I love a good British mystery (James, Rendell, Rankin), but I love these even more for one character–the Fat Man (Dalziel) He’s never the protagonist, we never see the world from his point of view, but I still love him. He’s obnoxious, amazingly self-centered, but still loveable. My favorite kind of character
December 4th, 2007 at 9:35 am
Oh, man, you are way too cute. I cringe too badly to ever print the more purplish prose of my fifteen year old self — my poetry is bad enough. But you –! I think Molly’s right. Indescribable.
Reading MANY Cybils books, currently Holly Bennet’s The Warrior’s Daughter…
December 4th, 2007 at 9:41 am
Oh, Robin, that’s hilarious! My eyes are burning just reading it.
December 4th, 2007 at 9:43 am
“I will write a book such that will put fire in the hearts of men and burn in the eyes of women.”
Ah, Robin, can you put that on a T-shirt? I want to share it with the world!
Slow on the reading this week. Too much writing to read much. Unless you want to count food catalogs.
December 4th, 2007 at 10:55 am
Thanks for sharing, Robin. Too funny. My parents recently moved, and shipped me all of my boxes of old journals (I kept one all through high school and college). But I’m afraid to look.
I’ve been reading some picture books and early elementary school books lately. I quite enjoyed the “Olive, the Other Reindeer” pop-up book from Chronicle. I also finished “My Most Excellent Year” (ARC), which is about love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park. How could I resist?
December 4th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
lol awsome Robin! I’m reading pride and prejudice too! Well actually I have been for like this whole year XD bc I’ve been reading other stuff and doing a chapter durring the day… but I LOVE it! I’ve been listening to Dairy Queen wich is pretty good, but I dunno, I’m still am not in love with it but it is pretty good like I want to see what happens next in a way…. Also Darcy’s story so good! and So Yesterday!
December 4th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Molly, I had such a big crush on Phineas that I cried on my teacher’s shoulder when he died!
December 4th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
["Incontheivable!"] for the win!
Did you know that the guy who plays Charles Darnay in the 1991 A Tale of Two Cities is also Prince Humperdinck in The Princess Bride? I DIDN’T BUT NOW I DO.
Yes, I finished reading A Tale of Two Cities this past week and it was absolutely GORGEOUS. Well, the last five chapters. Before that the going was a bit rough (he is Dickens after all). But the ending was so awesome. I’m a sucker for sacrifice.
I also read The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, which was excellent. That whole era was absolutely insane, and Gregory runs up to that insanity and not only embraces it but tackle-glomps it.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
No, Miri, I didn’t know that. Excellent cross-referencing! Now I have to rent that. I agree that the first chapter or so of Tale of Two Cities was a little hard to get into, but once Mr. Lorry and (forgot the daughter’s name) were climbing the stairs to see the ex-prisoner father–I was already crying at that point. Love Dickens.
Speaking of love, what’s with that phrase “tackle-glomps it”? You are such a writer. Finish your book, champ.
Molly and Diana, I’m so sorry to have to admit that I don’t know who Phineas is. Tell me and I’ll read whatever you’re talking about. And don’t make fun of me for not knowing, please.
Dylan, stop letting other books interfere! Please make finishing Pride and Prejudice your winter holiday assignment.
Jen, that ARC sounds fun! But what sounds even more fun is your old journals. Bust them out! Let’s hear ‘em!
Sara, this time of year the catalogs do feel novel-length. Can’t blame you for slacking when there’s both shopping and novel revisions to do. Carry on. And yes, let’s by all means get Cafe Press going on that t-shirt. Although I can’t imagine anyone brave enough to wear it.
Katie, then I’ll count you as my first victim. Sweet!
TadMack, from what I recall in that 7 Imp interview with you, last year you read every single book–was it on the Newbery list? Whatever it was, you were a reading MACHINE. Good to see you back at it! It’s like your own personal marathon.
Kelly, I’ve never heard of Reginald Hill. You make those books sound so good! Do we need to add one or two to our TBRs?
Lady T, Stephen King is a great choice, too. Can’t complain about that. I just love knowing other people who were big book geeks in high school. Isn’t that why we’re all here?
Mother Reader, embrace your gold lame past! We all had our affectations (mine was a long blonde wig–but that’s another story). Oddball teens make for fascinating adults–hasn’t that been your experience?
Patrick, you know me. Always searching for new ways to serve man.
Heather, I need to start that series. I have the first book on the TBR pile–just need to get to it. I know I’ll love it once I do. So enjoy those, and also enjoy your cell phone instructions! Woo-hoo!
December 4th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Phineas from A Separate Peace by John Knowles. Great book. Put it on the TBR list.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
I’m still alternating between Twilight and Deathly Hallows.
I used to have a crush on the character of Joel Pepper from the Five Little Peppers books. It’s written in the only journal I still have around, my 7th grade one I had to do for an assignment.
SO glad I’m not in 7th grade anymore!!
December 4th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Robin, thanks for sharing your teenage words of “wisdom” again. I laughed out loud!!! With you, not at you.
My book group is going to discuss Here, There Be Dragons by the fabulous James Owen so I reread it. I finished it Sunday and it was so good that I decided to read the first chapter of the second book in the series, The Search For The Red Dragon (available Jan. 1st!). One chapter turned into two, and it was just so addicting that I couldn’t stop so I spent the entire day reading. I love that I didn’t grade any papers or clean anything. It was decadent and SO worth it!
December 5th, 2007 at 7:28 am
I’ve given up reading Robin’s blog at the Reference Desk, so I was able to laugh without freaking out any patrons this morning (a day late, though–ah, well).
This week, I’ve been reading the new Alice book, Dangerously Alice, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. This is one of those series I jump on as soon as a new title comes out, but I’m not as enthralled with this one. I think it might just be my mood. Next in my stack is the new Meg Cabot, Big Boned. I’ve been a-waiting for that one, too.
December 5th, 2007 at 11:38 am
lol ok ok! I’ll do my best! >_
December 5th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Thank you, Molly. I think I was supposed to read that long ago, wasn’t I? Like, in high school? I’ll catch up.
Katie Sis, what a combo to be enjoying at the same time! How can you possibly go do things in the real world while you’re reading both of those? And don’t be shy–let’s hear what your 7th-grade self had to say about Joel Pepper.
Michelle, how fun that you got to reread James Owen’s book! Isn’t that guy just way too smart? I’m amazed at his depth of knowledge (and memory) about all sorts of literary and mythic references. After finishing one of his books I always think I must not read enough.
Adrienne, I was thinking of you when I wrote this post. I’m glad you enjoyed it, and that you didn’t scare any more library patrons. As for Big Boned, that’s one Meg Cabot series I haven’t gotten to yet. I assume you already read Size 14 Is Not Fat? And I also assume you loved it, since you’re reading the next one?
December 5th, 2007 at 11:05 pm
FINISHED Dairy Queen!
December 6th, 2007 at 4:36 am
Robin, just had to tell you that I read your post to my husband—over the phone, no less—and he and I were laughing so hard we could hardly go on. But you know what he said? “You writers. All so brave.”
December 6th, 2007 at 7:04 am
How come I think the title is a little misleading here?
I don’t think this is the ‘One Last Embarrasing Post’. I suspect there’s more embarrassing things that you’ll post in the future.
December 6th, 2007 at 8:32 am
All right, Dylan! Now go finish Pride and Prejudice, please.
Sara, that is SO sweet! Your husband is a gem. Thanks for telling me that. (And he ought to know about brave writers, being married to you.)
Patrick, I can’t believe it took you so long to notice that. I was really counting on you saying that days ago.
December 6th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Sorry, cold weather is affecting my effective humor response time. Like the weather, I am bitter.
December 6th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Thanks for sharing.
So far this week, I’ve read:
Lucy Rose: Working Myself to Pieces & Bits by Katy Kelly
Honestly, Mallory! by Laurie Friedman, illustrated by Barbara Pollack
Bird Springs by Carolyn Marsden
Way Down Deep by Ruth White
Penina Levine is a Hard-Boiled Egg by Rebecca O’Connell, illustrated by Majella Lue Sue
Edward’s Eyes by Patricia McLachlan
No Talking by Andrew Clements, illustrated by Mark Elliott
December 7th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
Robin, I tried to comment back here the other day, but your site wouldn’t let me. I don’t know what I did to anger it.
Anyway, YES, I have read Cabot’s Size 12 and Size 14, and they’re both fun. The excerpt for this new one in the back of Size 14 was really, really funny, though, so I’ve particularly been looking forward to it.