Booktalk

[listersgirl]

Pamela Dean Tam Lin

I really enjoyed this. It's a story that takes place on a college campus in the 70's, based around the old Scottish ballad Tam Lin, which gives the whole thing an air of surrealism and mysticism that I really liked. Actually, it almost felt like two different books, so much time was spent on the school part, but it was actually the school stuff that sucked me in more, making me want to sit around reading and discussing the classics. In fact, the day after I finished the book I caught myself wanting to study Latin, which has never happened before. I think partially this was because the college experience described in the book was so completely different to my university experience that it, too, felt like a fairy tale.

Laurie R. King The Moor

The more of these books I read, the more I forget that one of the characters is actually Sherlock Holmes. I don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. I'm a little 'meh' about this book - I loved the atmosphere and the setting, but the story didn't do much for me.

Mary Doria Russell The Sparrow

It's hard to know what to say about this book because I'm still digesting it, having just finished it at lunch, but I can definitely say that it was very powerful, and pretty devastating. It's nominally the story of a group of people who find a transmission of music that indicates there's life on another planet, and put together an expedition to find out the source of that music. What makes it especially interesting is that four of the members are Jesuit priests, and the book talks a lot about issues of faith - where faith comes from and what it does for you. For me, as someone with no belief system, it was like being offered a window into another person's culture, and that alone was fascinating. Sorry, I'm not very articulate today, but I would definitely recommend this book.

Comments

[minervacat.livejournal.com]

Because I am unable to let any reference to Tam Lin pass, I must note here that Blackstock is the thinly fictionalized college that I attended. And, you know, aside from the Faerie aspect of it all, and including a great deal more drinking, it's pretty accurate to how my college years were. Which is kind of freaky in and of itself. (Pamela Dean is an alumna. And while she claims no people were based on real people, it is generally held to be true that Professor Evans was an English professor named Owen Jenkins, who actually used to return papers to students cut up in plastic bags - "The parts in the bag were the only good parts" - and who sadly passed away the year after I graduated.)

I reread Tam Lin whenever I miss Carleton. It helps a great deal.

[notmonochrome.livejournal.com]

I think that Carl Weiner, a history professor, is in there, too. I need to read that again.

[minervacat.livejournal.com]

He is. He's described as a young, bearded professor with a speciality in the French Restoration, a penchant for banging on tables and shouting, and who is rumored to be a Marxist.

Heee. <3 Carl.

As was having him teach, of course.

[notmonochrome.livejournal.com]

He called the computing help line once and screamed "Stop fucking with me!" into the phone before hanging up. I <3 Carl too. Changing out the memory on his computer with him watching was quite the experience.

[listersgirl]

I meant to ask you how accurate it was - I had read that about Carleton before I read the book, so I was curious and thought of you while I read it. :)

[minervacat.livejournal.com]

It's pretty accurate, I mean, as far as a Scottish folk ballad overlaid on the college can be accurate. The geography is almost entirely accurate, and there are some lovely details - like the fact that there was actually a student production of The Revenger's Tragedy done in the right era - that you would only know if you knew the history really well.

And yes, there is a bust of Schiller that lives amongst the student body and is quite a coveted possession.

If you have questions, of course, about specific things, just ask. It's one of my favorite books even outside of the Carleton connection, and I love talking about it. <3

[starfishchick]

I think The Moor is my least favourite of the Mary Russell books.

And OMG you finished The Sparrow today? Are you OK? Is that why you're not answering your phone? Did it EAT YOUR BRAIN??!?!?!??!

[listersgirl]

I'm not answering my phone because I'm a dork and forgot to take it off call forward when I got back from lunch. It's all good now. :)

You know they're making supposedly making a movie, right? I'm having a hard time picturing this filming well, although all the otherworldly stuff will probably make for great scenery. And yeah, there was some brain eating going on. There was so much information thrown at us at the end I'm still working through it. I'm not ready to start the sequel yet - I don't want it to suck and ruin this book. :(

[par-avion.livejournal.com]

WHAT? That can't end well.

[listersgirl]

I've heard Antonio Banderas as Emilio.

[listersgirl]

I've heard Antonio Banderas as Emilio. It's too bad I don't like him more, because he keeps popping up in things I love.

[starfishchick]

Really? According to the author's Web site, Brad Pitt is slated to star.

http://users.adelphia.net/~druss44121/movienews.htm

[listersgirl]

Huh. Interesting.

[circe-tigana.livejournal.com]

I'm a long time fan of Tam Lin, sought and dated a Classics major at university because of it :)

I couldn't finish The Sparrow ... just wasn't engaged.

[listersgirl]

I can totally see that happening. For a week after finishing it I was totally obsessed with classics related stuff, and I really wanted to be part of that group. Even after everything that happened at the end, I still wanted to hang out with them, which is perhaps not the point. :P

[starfishchick]

See, and I couldn't finish Tam Lin and yet adore The Sparrow.

[genarti]

The Moor is my least favorite of the Mary Russell books; it's got some fun snark and some good atmosphere, but the whole thing is... meh, as you said. (However, Justice Hall is next, and I adore that one.)

And, woo, Tam Lin! (I am being coherent today, it seems.)

[listersgirl]

Ok, good, I'll keep going in the series. I like knowing that good things are coming up.

[par-avion.livejournal.com]

I've heard good things on LJ about pameladean's Tam Lin, but I haven't read it yet. I should remember to do that.

I love The Sparrow, and I'm also fond of the sequel. It's ...mind-blowing, sad, beautiful. I love the specificity of the biology and ecology of the planet, the character dynamics. It's really not like any other book I've read. It's one of a very few books that I've actually bought three times.

You read a lot of books that I've enjoyed, so I'm going to drop a rec here: Set This House In Order by Matt Ruff. It won the Tiptree award. It's an incredible book, and I'd strongly recommend that you not read any reviews or commentary about it before you read it.

(If you've already read it and possted about it on LJ -- sorry!)

[minervacat.livejournal.com]

You know, I think that you and I have talked about that Matt Ruff before (in Circe's journal, maybe?), and I still haven't gotten around to reading it. I should remedy that ASAP.

[listersgirl]

You really should. It's a fantastic book. :)

[minervacat.livejournal.com]

I've read Fool on the Hill and Sewer, Gas and Electric, but I think Set This House In Order must have come out at a point where I couldn't afford to buy it, and so have never read it. I'll see if the library has it; he's really one of my favorite authors, and it's appalling that I haven't read this one yet.

[par-avion.livejournal.com]

Yes, read it! I was lucky to find the TPB at half off, but it's just that good. Worth some effort to track it down.

[listersgirl]

Oh, I loved the Matt Ruff! Have you read his others? They're not really like Set This House In Order, except that they have the same writing style, which I really enjoy.

[par-avion.livejournal.com]

Yes. I've read FotH many, many times (it is one of the other books I have 3 copies of). Luckily, the fact that my now-ex bf and I took turns reading it aloud to each other hasn't tarnished my love of the book. It was a popular book on campus because it was set in our town, written by a student, etc.

I read Sewer, Gas & Electric recently. Reading it, as a new yorker, post-9/11 was just...odd. The book has weird unintentional resonances now. (The Empire State Building, hit by a plane, being rebuilt.) And I had more trouble keeping the characters straight because they're all human. I kinda missed the sprites, and the talking dogs and cats. And I've never read any AYn Rand so those jokes fell pretty flat.

Set This House is a great book, but it's interesting to me to look at Matt's growth as a writer. His skill at interweaving plots and different character voices is something that shows in his earliest work, and it's put to such different and unexpected use here. It's a much more mature book, and it's not actually fantasy or SF but it has that element of...possibility, playfullness, anything-can-happen.

I would have gotten around to reading it eventually because I'm a fan, but the Triptee and his attendance at Wiscon really seems to have pushed his recognition up a notch and convinced people to read this book who wouldn't have otherwise. I'm happy for him, and for the book.

(For the record, the third book that I've bough three copies of is Alanna.)

Have you read Judas Child? It's a stan-alone mystery by Carol O'Connell, who is known more for her Mallory books. It doesn't have anything in common with STTHIO other being a good book, a great read, and a book you don't want to know too much about before you start.

[listersgirl]

Oo, no, I've never even heard of that author. Thanks!

I need to read Fool on the Hill again - I think I've only read it the once, and it didn't make nearly the impression on me that Sewer, Gas & Electric did, but I think it is a book that requires multiple readings to catch everything.

[blue-lotus.livejournal.com]

I'm convinced that Tam Lin is a book for English majors- there are SO many literary references in that book.

I liked it too. Apparently it's a sci fic/fantasy classic- B* is a sci-fi buff and he had heard of it.

[listersgirl]

Yes, and I'm pretty sure I missed most of them, not having been an English major. :P

One day, though, I'll have read everything, and then all will become clear.

[dramaqueen-23.livejournal.com]

Just had to say again how much I long to emulate your fantastic read-y-ness. Of course that won't happen if I just sit here worshiping you. I'm off!

*takes out reading glasses*

[listersgirl]

BOOOOOOOOOOKS

[starfishchick]

Are you reading any of the books you borrowed from me?

[dramaqueen-23.livejournal.com]

I read Nights of Rain and Stars last week. Like all Binchy, I enjoyed it very much.

I started Outlander yesterday at the casting agent's office (callback from last week!). I'm only a little ways in, but so far I think it's great!

[starfishchick]

Yay!

I got rid of my Reading is Fundamental icon so am not sure what icon to use now. Hmmmmm.