catapult magazine

SARAH,

Coming Through Slaughter is Ondaatje’s first novel, but it’s more a collage of fiction and non-fiction, as well as poetry, prose, lists, quotes, etc. it creates/recreates a rich time period in very appropriate ways. actually, you made me remember a review that i wrote about it a couple of years ago. watch for it in the feb. 14 issue…

I too am reading mostly for school. Some of the things I’ve actually enjoyed reading are:

Walter Benjamin at the Dairy Queen – Larry McMurtry – although he does romanticize Texas quite a bit

Dreaming in Cuban – Cristina Garcia three generations of Cuban women I’m doing my research project on it, so you know I’m a fan.

Collector of Treasures – Bessie Head short stories from a Southern African writer

Regeneration – can’t remember the author about WWII poet Siegfried Sassoon who was put in a mental hosptial for protesting the war – very appropriate for now

I will always recommend:
Away by Jane Urquhart (Canadian)
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
Love in the Time of Cholera Gabriel Garcia Marquez

And to throw my two cents in about Kingsolver. I loved The Poisonwood Bible (and her earlier stuff). I must admit that the first chapter of Prodigal Summer threw me. It sounded like a cheesy romance novel, but after that first chapter, I settled in and really enjoyed it (but not as much as Poisonwood Bible).

I’m reading the novel “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel, a Canadian author. I’m not done so I guess I’m not recommending it, but it’s very interesting. Know anything about this one, Canadian friends?

It won the Booker prize a few months ago. I guess that means somebody thought it was good. Somebody else claimed that he stole the story from an obscure early 1980s book by a South American author. The South American author turned out to be flattered that someone would copy him, but Martel denies ever having read it. He said he got the idea from a John Updike review of the book a long time ago. John Updike denies having written the review. I haven’t read the book, but I sure enjoyed writing this bit.

Illuminating!

In the words of Eddie Izzard, I’m thinly read . . I’ve read f—- all. (Is the F-word frowned upon on *cino? I don’t recall.)

I’m sllllllllowly getting through:
Pascal’s Pensees
Heresy/Orthodoxy – G.K. Chesterton
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance – Pirsig

Which means I’ll be done with one of these within a month or two, the other two probably not til summer. I’m one of those people that looks wistfully on all of you bookworms and wish I actually had the attention span for reading like you.

What, in general terms, does Mr. Leo Tolstoy write about? I’ve heard a few things, I know he’s one of those old and riveting philosophers, but I don’t know much past that.

Note:

I’ve just finished Life of Pi by Yann Martel. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Wish I had the time and patience to get through all the impressive stuff most of you seem to be reading. I have a few half-read things sitting around though, which I can’t see myself having time to finish before graduation, at least.

‘Le Mort d’Arthur’ by Malory
‘The Canterbury Tales’ by Chaucer
‘The Silmarillion’ by Tolkien
Tao Te Ching

and for pure, campy fun

‘Iron Chef: The Official Book’

Good quote Alice. I just re-read “The Weight of Glory” and we talked about it at my house church last week. I’m currently reading:

Bird by Bird – Anne Lamott; Great book on writing.
Practical Chinese Reader; Best Chinese language book I’ve found yet.
Houses That Change the World – Wolfgang Simson; Unlearning what the church is supposed to be.

What I am reading right now:
—The Fellowship of the Ring (tolkien) – I’ve never read the Ring books before.
—Cultivating a Life for God (neil cole)
—Trout Fishing in America (richard brautigan) – a friend insisted I borrow this from him.

What I have recently finished:
—The Hobbit (tolkien) – entertaining and didn’t take long (always a plus)
—In My Father’s House (I forget the author’s name) – an autobiography about a Mormon girl’s life with her father who had 7 wives. VERY VERY well written. I couldn’t put it down. I was so surprised it was such a captivating read. It also goes through her doubts about her religion as a young woman. I identified very much with her doubting process (sans the multiple “mothers”). I’d recommend this to anyone, whether or not you care to learn about Mormonism.

Lopez – I’ve also read Galapagos by Vonnegut. Wonderful creative book.
Vonnegut is one of my favorites.

Someone mentioned Larry Crabb earlier. He has good ideas. I’ve read Understanding People and Inside Out. I’d like to read more. His writing style kind of annoys me, though.

—Cara

I’ve finally come back to this post—thanks, all, for your great list of books. In my boredom up here at school (yes, it’s been a sad semester), I felt a need to read, and your lists inspired me. So far I’ve read The Brothers Karamazov (not on your lists, but mentioned by someone in one of my classes as being a must read—besides, it’s Dostoevsky) and So Big (which I’d read in 8th grade, but needed to be refreshed on), along with various short stories by Tolstoy. I really like Tolstoy.
Anyhow, thanks for your inspiration and reading suggestions!