Mornings on horseback by McCullouch and the Judgement of Paris, about the 1976 French and American wine tasting.
Mornings on horseback by McCullouch and the Judgement of Paris, about the 1976 French and American wine tasting.
"The worst of all fears is the fear of living." T.R.
"Life is conflict, survival and conquest."
Col. John Boyd
Just finished: The Liveship Traders Trilogy (Recommended by Amazon)
The Crimson Petal and the White (Found at Library for $1; it's not worth that much)
Currently reading: The Geographer's Library by Jon Fasman. (Saw it on a Border's email)
Originally Posted by Vintage Betty
...how was the Crimson Petal and the White?
I meant to read this.
It's probably one of the worst books I've read in years,.
I read a lot, and worked bookstores for years too, when I was younger.
Think: "Bad Victorian Pornography" and you've hit the nail on the head. The author uses sex to spice up the story, but there's a dreary plot there to begin with, so he doesn't get far.
I REALLY liked the introduction and beginning of the book, because the author is a narrator who takes you around introducing you to each character, giving background info and moves you to each scene. Unfortunately, he leaves partway through the book, so we're back to the dreary plot again.
I've read actual Victorian drama and fictional books and they were better than this drivel.
I have absolutely no idea why this book made any Bestseller list, let along the NY Times. Someone was sleeping on the job. If you still want to read it, I'll remove it from my ebay store send you my copy.
Vintage Betty.
Thanks for the review Betty. Based on what you say, I think I'll pass.
Sorry. Guess I should have mentioned that the plot was about a Victorian prostitute trying to get out of her class. Ho-hum.
Anyway, in the last month or so my local Borders store had a fantastic clear-out of a bunch of Fashion Books. At least one of the books was the Dover 1930's-1940's fashion. I figured I'd mention it here in case anyone wants to check their local Borders store. They were all singles, so I don't know if they decided to clear out that section, or just get rid of the older books.
Oh yeah, and I used my Borders Rewards Card plus my personal shopping day for another 10% off the Clearance Price. I got 16 books for 75% off + 10% off for my shopping day and the total was only $33 for two huge bags of books. Gotta love it.
Vintage Betty
Yes, the Borders Rewards program is great, isn't it.
As for The Crimson Petal and the White, I'm in total agreement with you there. It had such great potential, especially given that brilliant opening walk-through. I had high hopes for the rest of the book, but it didn't live up to them. I was actually shelving a copy the other day and noted that the author hasn't published anything since.
ETA: Forgot to mention what I'm reading: Le Côté de Guermantes (The Guermantes Way) by Proust
I actually agree with you completely and almost feel sorry for the author. It is obvious he spent a considerable amount of time and effort studying the Victorian era, from mannerisms to geography to class structure to eating habits. I know a bit of obscure facts and feel he hit the nail on the head.
But in reality, his plot went knowhere, his characters were not deep enough, and he left the reader wanting for a real ending where all the characters were tidied up. Did you notice he left openings for each of the characters for a sequel? Bad, bad, bad since there was no cause for it at all.
And the adult scenes in the book were oftentimes unnecessary. I don't feel that the addition of so many explicit scenes really added anything to the characters, when a few well-placed scenes would have been the support the characters needed.
Just my .02.
Vintage Betty
Graham Greene's The Comedians
Papa Doc in the stark light of day.
bk
There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. All the rest . . . comes afterwards. Camus
http://baronkurtzvintage.wordpress.com/
Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot. A great read.
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