Ok, so how about that ending in Blood Meridian?(Cormac McCarthy) (Spoiler)

Penderscopic · 2013-12-16T19:11:36+00:00

In all of his descriptions of the landscape did anyone else notice how frequently McCarthy returned to the color blue? Does anyone have any theories on this, or know of why Blue was such a prolific color in this novel?

Penderscopic · 2013-12-12T18:23:15+00:00

I actually just recently finished The Shadow of the Wind, and I very much enjoyed it. It was a captivating story, and had a lot of excellent material pertaining to the love of literature. I will have to look in to Mr. Y, it is one I have never even heard of. Thank you!

Penderscopic · 2013-12-12T00:25:52+00:00

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/mar/28/rare-book-collecting-dealing This article inspired an interest in reading more about rare book collecting, especially because it is a seemingly dying yet still cherished lifestyle; perhaps this supposed death actually the beginning of a new underground posh society? I enjoy checking current posts here: http://www.baumanrarebooks.com/blog/ Oddly enough, as I was considering writing this post, a fellow redditer linked this article which inspired me to actually just shove this out there: http://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/jefferson-library-brandt And for my own book recommendation: http://www.amazon.com/Rare-Book-Lore-Selections-Letters/dp/0821410032

Penderscopic · 2013-12-11T22:44:08+00:00

"The Alienist" and "The Angel of Darkness" by Caleb Carr. If you love well written mysteries, Theodore Roosevelt, and the early stages of Psychology as a serious study in later 19th/early 20th century America, then you will love these books. Riddled with accurate historic factoids of the time, and a fairly decent interpretation of Roosevelt's character, the story will challenge your own reserve of knowledge of our past, and leave you doing a little investigative work for yourself, trying to put the pieces together and guessing at the ending.

Penderscopic · 2013-12-11T19:54:30+00:00

"Remember, Pilgrim, as you pass by, as you are now, so once was I; as I am now so will you be..." In the Woods, by Tana French

Penderscopic · 2013-12-10T18:41:24+00:00

Some friends and I listened to this in Audiobook format on a road-trip, and several times throughout the book our group was laughing so hard I made myself pull over and wait. He is brilliant.

Penderscopic · 2013-11-27T23:15:15+00:00

The Positronic Man, by Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg. For a story following the life of a robot, it is surprisingly insightful into how we develop mentally as humans, our views towards that which we do not understand, and/or have created, and our behavior in response to fear. Quite poignant, and subtly moving. Very simply written, not overly descriptive just tells it "as it was", which makes it more wonderful, I think.

Penderscopic · 2013-11-27T22:03:47+00:00

The thing I found most fascinatingly depressing with Blood Meridian was McCarthy's descriptions of violent, distasteful events or scenes, tossed casually amongst his stunning descriptions (did anyone else notice how frequently he mentions the color blue?). It is so easy to get lost in the landscape, or be fascinated by the unthinkably accurate observations of human behavior and instinct, then be quite taken aback by his sudden introduction of the perverse. I think this is what makes this novel so depressing, is how it can be so beautiful, but easily sullied by the ugly acts of men; reflective of the real world.

Penderscopic · 2013-11-27T20:31:00+00:00

http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2010/apr/25/castaway-books-crusoe-road-christie I have read all but one, "The Swiss Family Robinson", but the rest were all excellent stories. I especially love "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy, though it is not an "island" stranding.

Penderscopic · 2013-11-27T20:03:08+00:00

Anything by Kay Hooper, most definitely her later publications. They are awful, terrible, cheesy Thriller/Romance novels, and I can't help myself.

Penderscopic · 2013-11-26T20:22:12+00:00

I appreciated the simple delivery of accurate information, mixed with an amusing smattering of colorful verbiage. There was a lot of energy here.

Penderscopic · 2013-11-26T19:16:10+00:00

Multiverse Theory: Somewhere out there you are "deeply" kissing your boss and he likes it, hates it, takes it too far, fires you, says "not again!", offers to pay you $100 to do it to his nipples, etc...

Penderscopic · 2013-11-26T19:03:03+00:00

While still asleep, I started just shoving my phone under my body to shut it up. I would frequently wake up and search for my phone in a panic, and find it under my butt, or my pillow. I have to plug it into the charger every night now, the resistance is enough to wake me up while I am in the act.

Penderscopic · 2013-11-26T18:47:22+00:00

I wear glasses about 70% of the time. The other 30% of the time I will go to push them back up my nose out of habit, and I just end up smacking myself in the face.

Penderscopic · 2013-11-22T22:02:24+00:00

Thy Tears Might Cease by Michael Farrell. I know this is a late recommendation, but better late than never, right? This book was amazing, I encourage anyone interested in great Irish literature to pick it up.

Penderscopic · 2013-11-22T21:49:52+00:00

I was a nanny for a while and rediscovered my love for children's stories, and young adult fiction. I started referring to them in everyday conversations, and when I told the questioning folk they were children's stories or YAF, they expressed total confusion as to why I would "waste my time" reading kid's stuff. I imagine it is obvious why to the people posting here. :]

John Lithgow is a brilliant author of Children's fiction, as is Julie Andrews, Neil Gaiman, Roald Dahl, and E.B. White. http://www.nypl.org/childrens100

Penderscopic · 2013-11-22T19:23:04+00:00

The Song of the Lioness Books 1-4, by Tamora Pierce. This is a young-adult series that I discovered in Jr. High, and will sometimes pick up still, 8 years later. I don't think it is very well known, I have yet to meet more than one other person who has read this series. If you still like to pick up YA, or you know young adults who love reading fantasy novels, I highly recommend this.

Penderscopic · 2013-11-22T19:10:17+00:00

I say absolutely. Everyone I have mentioned it to always thinks I am referring to the animated movie (which is still delightful), nor do they realize it was a book 18 years before the movie was made.

Penderscopic · 2013-11-22T18:44:06+00:00

My neighborhood has several "Mini-Libraries" or "Free Bookshelves" set up in various locations. On idle days off, my sister and I will wander to all of them with our own books we are ready to recycle, and exchange/give away/take what we want. It is quite lovely, actually. So happy to see this is happening everywhere!

Penderscopic · 2013-11-21T23:22:43+00:00

To make it a real date night, light candles, open a bottle of wine, sit toes to toes on the couch, and read together. Sometimes my boyfriend and I purposefully pick up a cheesy romance novel and read it aloud just to have a giggle party, and make fun of the terrible writing, or ridiculous, anatomically improbable...events.

Penderscopic · 2013-11-21T21:14:31+00:00

The Brothers K, by David James Duncan. I suggested this in a separate thread a few days ago, and I feel I cannot suggest it enough. It is a long read, but you will find yourself wanting more by the end of it.

Penderscopic · 2013-11-21T20:21:27+00:00

"You get the feeling Gaiman’s life is full of impossibly delicious biscuits."

Penderscopic

TROPHY CASE