As Mondays go this has not been a bad one but Monday is still Monday even if it goes well. I didn’t sleep all that great last night because Bookman spent several hours getting more tattoo. I will have to post a photo once it has healed up a bit. He has one more appointment in another month to finish it off if possible. The work he had done Sunday was on the inside of his arm including the crook of his elbow. Very painful. The artist even put a topical anesthetic on to help it not hurt so much.
I finished Susan Faludi’s In the Darkroom last night. I need to let it percolate a bit before I write about it. I can say, however, that I really liked it.
In the case of everything else that I am reading, I am in The Middles. I usually get a bit antsy and feel stuck while in The Middles, but this time around it’s okay. I think it is because a few of the books are moving along at a good clip and I will likely be finishing them in a few days or by the end of the week. The hard part at the moment is keeping myself from requesting gobs of books from the library. That’s one of the things The Middles does to me, makes me want to start a bunch of books all at once for the excitement of something new. Trouble is, before long I am in The Middles with those too and not much closer to the end with anything.
I am about three-quarters of the way through with The Talented Mr. Ripley. I am enjoying it immensely. I like how Tom so seamlessly went from being a quiet, slouchy slacker sort of person to full-out sociopath. I am also almost done with volume three of The Unwritten. I like how there are two pieces of story in each volume, the main one and then at the end a related one. I am reading the second story and it is told in a choose your own adventure format. I haven’t read one of those since I was a kid and I am being reminded how much fun they are. I used to go searching ahead through the options to figure out which story was going to lead to the best ending.
And then there are all the other books I have mentioned before that have seen slow progress. It’s a good thing cold weather is on the horizon. I need some excuses to stay indoors and read!
Yes, gardens and outside is beautiful, but too much to do! I’m looking forward to some indoor weather myself (though I’ll retract those words in about two months). I agree with the Middles feeling of wanting to start a bunch of books at once. But sometimes it’s the slow stroll through a book that makes it more memorable.
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I suppose the middles thing gets a bit more difficult if you are at the same stage with more than one book! I get annoyed with myself for being so distracted with the thought of starting a new book – so lets get this one over!
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Ian, defnitely! I think that is why they aren’t bothering me so very much since I am at various stages through a number of books. I am familiar with that annoyance you speak of! 🙂
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Yes, me too Ian … it’s awful really. Does it say that the current book really isn’t engaging enough or is just that whole eyes-bing-too-big-for-the-stomach thing?
And I loved your discussion of “the Middles” Stefanie. When I saw the post title I thought you were reading a book called The middles! I couldn’t cope with being in the middle of multiple books like you do – maybe two, but that’s it. My brain’s capacity for multiple literary inputs isn’t as good as it used to be.
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whisperinggums, thanks! The Middles is a regular affliction for me unfortunately but I bring it on myself in some ways. I was a one book at a time kid but then when I got to high school that all changed because there were the novels I had to read for English class and the books I read at home. Two books at once, no big deal. But then college happened and I majored in English and when you h ave three literature classes in a semester and then still insist on reading for fun, well, there is no going back after that juggling act! I finished Mr. Ripley last night so I am feeling pretty good at the moment! 😀
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Ah yes, but I majored in English too and I went back! I couldn’t really keep it up as time wore on. Perhaps a fiction and a non-fiction on the go at once but not multiple fiction – fortunately or unfortunately!
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I admire that you were able to go back! Maybe my multiple books reading says more about my attention span than I care to admit 🙂
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Oh, you could probably tell … I’m sure your brain manages it very well. 😀
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wanderwolf, Heh, yeah as much as I am looking forward to indoor weather too in two months when or so when temperatures won’t be moving above freezing for four months I will be wishing for some warmth and outdoors 🙂 Totally agree with you regarding the slow stroll through a book!
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I am having the opposite experience lately and I am finally reading at a fairly brisk speed.
I have heard very good things about The Talented Mr. Ripley. If you post a full review I am curious as to what you think of it.
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Brian Joseph, care to share some of that speed? 😉 Ripley is great and I will definitely be talking more about it once I finish. Perhaps next week!
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I got hold of The Talented Mr. Ripley, thanks to you! And I am no where near finishing all the books where I am stuck in the middle. Yet I am getting panic attacks and buying more books! I am officially a loony!
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cirtnecce, I am this close to being done. It’s really good –Ripley’s audacity! — and I will probably watch the movie version sometime soon too. I hope you like the book! I am familiar with those panic attacks! 😀
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I feel that with your description of the Middles you’ve really identified something I had never thought about before. I am definitely at that stage at the moment with several books and I seem to be keen to buy about 8000 more, let’s hope I don’t as we are definitly at Peak Book chez gallimaufry.
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Helen, Ha! Peak book! I love it! We had a vision of peak book at my house a few years ago and have made great efforts to cut back and now we are actually talking about reducing. and it doesn’t feel as scary as it used to.
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You give me hope! My task is made harder by not having an English-language library: if I want to read a book I do have to buy it. And then of course it’s that much harder to let it go… 😦
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That does make things harder though not impossible!
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Perfect description, The Middles. I’m currently there, too, and it can be hard not to feel like you’re not getting anywhere. (I also find, because I round up my months that it can feel like cheating if I’ve finished a book in one month having read most of it in the last. Silly worry!)
Your cold weather sentiment – yep! I’ve actually found myself reading a fair amount this July and last July, too, but overall I read a lot more when the weather’s bad.
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Charlie, The Middles is definitely a thing! 🙂
Since it is winter here 5-6 months of the year and I don;t have any winter sports I like, that is my prime reading time since the other other 6 months I am outdoors as much as possible to make up for the cold months!
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Have you seen the film adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripely? Would like to know what you think of the book to film adaptation. I’ve not read any Patricia Highsmith before but sure enjoy the movie version of her works.
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Arti, I have not seen the film adaptation. I just finished the book last night and plan on seeing the film either this weekend or next. I will try to remember to do a little comparison between the two.
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That’s a good film although I don’t know how good an adaptation. Also I found the old classic (1951) movie “Strangers on the train” is also a PH adaptation. Waiting for your take on Ripley after you’ve seen the film. 🙂
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I didn’t realize Strangers on a Train was a PH adaptation! I like that movie. Now I’m going to have to read the book and watch the movie again sometime!
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One more bonus: Raymond Chandler wrote the screenplay (with a couple others).
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That’s a pretty good bonus! No wonder the movie is so good!
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“Monday is still Monday even if it goes well.” Indeed. I’m glad it’s Wednesday now. This week is flying by for me.
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AMB, my week has not been flying by but it is getting there!
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I spoke too soon about my week. Today has been brutal and it isn’t even noon! I’m off tomorrow, though. I’m looking forward to it.
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Oh no! Well at least now we have both made it to Friday!
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I hear ya! Monday is Monday. Luckily we are now mid-week and I’m already looking forward to a relaxing weekend. Hope you get out of the Middles!
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Iliana, bring on the weekend! So close now I can almost smell it 🙂 I am moving out of the Middles and will soon have a little more of a spread going on which is exactly how I like it.
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A cool rainy day is in order. I know I would like one myself, but it has been disgustingly warm–90s! Ick. Again it is sticky sweaty icky weather. I am experiencing a severe case of The Middles, too. This is when I get antsy and then (lately) cave in and start something new. I keep trying to scan my pile of in progress books looking for one I am close to finishing…. I have yet to read Susan Faludi–is there one in particular by her you recommend?
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Danielle, 90s! That’s crazy! We’ve been in the low to mid 80s so it is still warm but not oppressive thank goodness. Classic Faludi is Backlash. Excellent reading.
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My eyes are forever being drawn to the shiny new things instead of what is already in front of me. It’s no use my making reading lists since I rarely stick at them. I try hard an then someone mentions a good read and instantly I want it
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BookerTalk, you are a woman after my own heart!
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You know, I can know intellectually that Patricia Highsmith is a really terrific author and it still engenders in me absolutely no desire to ever touch The Talented Mr. Ripley. I’m going to have to find my way to loving her through some other avenue. God how I hated that movie. There’s one death that happens towards the end that I just could not deal with. Still kind of gives me nightmares. :p
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Jenny, Now you have me all curious about the movie! There are two murders in the books and a near third. Since we are in the mind of Ripley it is interesting how he manages to justify it all. On one level he knows it is wrong but on another level he has no guilt and it was just unfortunate that he had to do what he did. Really twisted!
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