*** (18:58):Welcome to New Chatroom , BCCJillster.u!
*** (18:59):Welcome to New Chatroom , magusachan.u!
BCCJillster: HI HI HI Mags
magusachan: :-* HELLO...
BCCJillster: YAY this is exciting
*** (19:00):Welcome to New Chatroom , riverblue.u!
magusachan:
definitely ...
BCCJillster: WOO WOO B ARB MADE IT
magusachan: (}) HELLO BARB!
BCCJillster: Trying to fix my font
riverblue: Yay, did it! Hi Jill and Mags
BCCJillster: I finished JUST in time
*** (19:01):Welcome to New Chatroom , kathylaz.u!
BCCJillster: I see Jane and someothers online
BCCJillster: HI KATHY
riverblue: This is a new experience - hope I can type fast enough lol
kathylaz: hiya
magusachan: KATHY
riverblue: Hi Kathy
BCCJillster: we always have overlapping conversations Barb, no worry
kathylaz: am i too big?
BCCJillster: not for me
kathylaz: (my type, i mean)
BCCJillster: I have such eye strain LOLLLLL I knew what you meant
magusachan: ... trying to find the most comfy-to-read font
BCCJillster: I wish I had phone numbers, I;'d call Kevin and wake him up
BCCJillster: Mags, can you make your font a little bigger LOLLLL
kathylaz: THAT was wewird!!!!
kathylaz: weird
BCCJillster: look under the Aa
*** (19:03):Welcome to New Chatroom , someonegetchristine.u!
kathylaz: that "hello" was very computer creepy
magusachan: ... better this way? (Tp)
BCCJillster: Hi Hi Chris
someonegetchristine: Hi all...
riverblue: Hi Chris - how are you guys changing your font?
kathylaz: hi chris
magusachan: :) HELLO CHRIS ..
kathylaz: wow, really international presence this time!
BCCJillster: LOOK IN THE BAR RIGHT OVCER THE TYPING PLACE
BCCJillster: Aa
magusachan: Barb .. to answer your Q about the font ..
BCCJillster: Mags, a little bigger???
magusachan: .. simply check out the line on top of the space where you are typing :)
kathylaz: do you have a mac or PC...i think they are in different places
BCCJillster: I know I need new glasses...sorry
magusachan: JILL - is this OK?
someonegetchristine: Is mine ok ??
BCCJillster: yes that's great
magusachan: .. or, like this?
kathylaz: you're ALL a-ok
kathylaz: :-)
BCCJillster: the other Mags
magusachan: OK :)
someonegetchristine: lol Kathy you've got a nice wine there I see !!
BCCJillster: This week has reeally been an eye struggle
riverblue: i'll have a play later
kathylaz: dry, with a hint of cherry and oak....
magusachan: JILL -- why an eye struggle?
kathylaz: relaxing on my last day of vacation!
someonegetchristine: yum
BCCJillster: Im so excited that we're going to be talking about this book. Not sure Mags, it might be a medication thing or I just need new glasses
magusachan: (KATHY - lucky, lucky you ..)
BCCJillster: Im going to email Jane...keep talking
magusachan: JILL - oh dear, I hope it gets better soon. I hate it when my sight gets blurry ... and it gets difficult to read ..
riverblue: have you been away Kathy?
kathylaz: yes, briefly....to my hometown (about a 5-hour plane trip) for a high school reunion
kathylaz: then back home, to relax on the beach
magusachan: KATHY - was it fun?
kathylaz: it's been a great non-stressful time
riverblue: oh, nice!
BCCJillster: Mags, it's driving me nuts--it's only on the computer that it's really bad
kathylaz: not really,
magusachan: ......................... B E A C H .... (envy)
BCCJillster: LOL
kathylaz: i was glad to be home, but the reunion was not too much fun
BCCJillster: Did Jane finish the book?
magusachan: oh wait .. I think I will also swap to font size: 14
someonegetchristine: I thought she was near the end a few days ago
BCCJillster: Thanks Mags
BCCJillster: I thought so too Chris
BCCJillster: did Betsy skip this one?
kathylaz: this was my second read of it, and i totally forgot the ending
magusachan: JILL - just a little issue before we start chatting about the book ..
BCCJillster: sure Mags
kathylaz: it surprised me again
BCCJillster: LOL Kathy me too
magusachan: I was reading a review about "Blindness" movie on the net before .. the author (unfortunately) had not read the book and felt disappointed by the drastic content shown in the movie ...
*** (19:09):Welcome to New Chatroom , murraymint11.u!
BCCJillster: YQAYYYYYYY J ANE
someonegetchristine: I heard that it distorted the book terribly
murraymint11: Hi everyone!
riverblue: Hi Jane
someonegetchristine: Hi Jane !!
magusachan: I wish he really had checked the content out earlier. Reading the review made me pretty angry - in the movie, they seem to pretty much try to stick to the original story of Saramago
kathylaz: hiya jane
BCCJillster: I was afraid you'd miss it Jane
magusachan: "distorted" - really? (oh noo ...)
murraymint11: No, got the time right this time!
someonegetchristine: misrepresented...
someonegetchristine: ??
someonegetchristine: yay likewise Jane..moi
magusachan: CHRIS - have you seen the movie?
someonegetchristine: No, read reviews
BCCJillster: the reviewer thought the content too hard to take?
magusachan: or ... has anyone on here already seen BLINDNESS? :)
BCCJillster: nope
kathylaz: no
murraymint11: is it out yet?
magusachan: JILL - yes. He had not read the book and simply thought the movie would be more docu-like, dealing with the tiny everyday-kind of problems you'd have if you got blind all out of a sudden ...
magusachan: Hi Jane :)
BCCJillster: OMG LOLLLL
magusachan: .. I am not sure.
BCCJillster: Idiots
murraymint11: hello mags!
BCCJillster: OK...banging bookmark to begin if we're ready
murraymint11: have I got the wrong book?
kathylaz: ready!
magusachan: Jane .. no, no ..
BCCJillster: No no....that was a side conversation
murraymint11: ok, ready
magusachan: we were just talking about Blindness .. ;)
riverblue: ready
BCCJillster: Jane you finished right?
magusachan: (lol)
murraymint11: yup!
BCCJillster: Ok...spoil away guys
magusachan: :)
BCCJillster: Where the heck do we start with this one????
riverblue: where to begin!!!
kathylaz: the narrator
murraymint11: I didn't get the Julian character
kathylaz: why did he pick this group? and stick with them?
BCCJillster: I liked your quiestioin about viewpoint too Mags
murraymint11: he wasn't fleshed out enough for me
someonegetchristine: agree Jane
murraymint11: how did he have so much influence on the students?
magusachan: (thanks, JILL ..) maybe, yes, let us start with Julian
BCCJillster: I don't think he was meant to be
BCCJillster: I've studied with a cult figure like that, and it's another world
someonegetchristine: why Jill?
riverblue: Jane I didn't think so until the end - Henry seemed to absoulutely revere him
kathylaz: not only did he capture their imagination, and control their lives....
magusachan: :) in the beginning, I imagined Julian to be someone like .. Gandalf, you know, from LOTR. But then, later on .. that changed.
kathylaz: but when he made choices contrary to what he wanted, he abandoned them
murraymint11: and I too wondered about previous students.....
BCCJillster: Because he was myterious this way and you never knew when he was going to become involved
kathylaz: when THEY made choices, i mean
someonegetchristine: just how revered was he with previous students/classes?
magusachan: KATHY - YES! exactly. I also felt very disappointed about him leaving the kids and their problem ..
BCCJillster: Yup and that was in character I think
riverblue: He encouraged them to keep trying with thr bacchanal thing
BCCJillster: self-aggrandizing and self-serving
kathylaz: he wasn't revered by other students
someonegetchristine: in previous classes?"
kathylaz: he was thought odd and weird by the others
BCCJillster: he had no other students at the time
murraymint11: when things got out of control - he gave up
BCCJillster: I wondered about previous classes too...and no ovewrlap?
murraymint11: so ended up as weak
BCCJillster: (Jane, would you make your font a little bigger? Thanks)
magusachan: ... yes, w e a k, sums it up well.
murraymint11: better?
riverblue: felt tlike he liked this little group of kids he could manipulate - they were weaker than he was so he couyld contril them better
BCCJillster: Legends have to preserve themelves and their reputations at all costs
BCCJillster: YES THANKS
kathylaz: legends
BCCJillster: I think he needed worshipping
magusachan: interestingly - all the time reading, I imagined Julian as being g a y. Cannot really describe to you why...
kathylaz: that's a good way to look at him
BCCJillster: I did too Mags
murraymint11: yes, I agree Mags
BCCJillster: Not sure he wasn't
riverblue: agree with you mags
someonegetchristine: He was mysterious maybe this was the attraction
magusachan: ... there was this "arty aura" around him :)
BCCJillster: And erudite and a papa figure
magusachan: yep
riverblue: and he made them feel good about themselves
BCCJillster: and then when it came out how connected he was....like a Gertrude Stein
murraymint11: he made them feel special I guess
someonegetchristine: I didn't see the link to a paternal figure though...
BCCJillster: definitely
BCCJillster: to Henry for ure
BCCJillster: sure
BCCJillster: or a Lover couldn't tell
magusachan: in a certain way, Julian was to the group ... what the group (symbolically) was to Richard. special, mysterious, out of reach.
BCCJillster: Din't Richard...YES MAGS
riverblue: none of them had strong father figures in their life - I thought they saw him in that way
BCCJillster: at least an authority figure
someonegetchristine: Through the dialogue or just inference?
someonegetchristine: I couldn't see it, maybe I'm blind
BCCJillster: inference at first, then Richard explained it later
kathylaz: that's a good way to look at it, barb
magusachan: his knowledge, his background - and the way he kept his distance ..
BCCJillster: you had to be special and chosen to study with him
magusachan: yes
magusachan: absolutely
BCCJillster: AND he cut them off from the rest of the college so dependent on hin too
magusachan: (!) exactly
murraymint11: Did anyone guess about the twins' relationship?
riverblue: yes and that's something that particular group all needed
BCCJillster: He didn't know about the Farmer only the Bacchanal
someonegetchristine: Do you think Henry whispered in Julian's ear to accept Richard after he had first been declined entry to the group?
kathylaz: yes, jane.
magusachan: .. either join HIS group only - or do not even interfere with any of his students
kathylaz: suspected it all along
magusachan: Christine - that is a good question
BCCJillster: Jane, I gasped the first time I read it
riverblue: wondered Jane - it was such a close relationship and a littl 'off'
murraymint11: quite shocking really...
BCCJillster: I found that so disturbing
kathylaz: yes, but it showed that there was nothing really 'normal' about any of the group
kathylaz: that may have been what bound them all together
BCCJillster: right...very incestuous in so many ways
someonegetchristine: I think so,
BCCJillster: well they all seemed to have had sex with eachother at some point, except Bunny
riverblue: I felt like they were all damaged emotionally before Julian got hold of them and that's why in a way he chose them in the first place
someonegetchristine: in a warped kind of way
magusachan: Jane - the twins relationship had me wondering A LOT .. and I so would have loved to read more about what had REALLY had been going on between them ..
kathylaz: wow, an interesting statement, jill
kathylaz: a cult, and he was the cult leader
murraymint11: At the baccanal they misbehaved didn't they?
magusachan: Jill - yes, ... you are right
BCCJillster: remember when they talked about the bacchanal to Richard? it was asked and unanswered
magusachan: What really happened during their Baccanal .. was also a mystery unsolved.
kathylaz: yes, but could it ever be solved?
kathylaz: in this, i found them to be typical college students
murraymint11: no, because they were out of their heads
BCCJillster: How the hec did the guy get mutilated if it was an accident???
riverblue: yes mags we never really knew - neither did they
murraymint11: couldn't remember
kathylaz: interested in experimenting, in a very intellectual way
someonegetchristine: in a situation way out of control
magusachan: Jill - that was EXACTLY what I would have loved to find out about, too
kathylaz: they were obviously into some heavy duty drugs
BCCJillster: but very plausible mostly
BCCJillster: Yep..hallucinogens?
kathylaz: i thought so
someonegetchristine: magic mushrooms
murraymint11: me too
magusachan: yes - drugs, alcohol, and a lot of "placebo effect" IMO
kathylaz: especially since henry was experimenting with mushrooms and the dogs
riverblue: did it ever say how thay got in that state?
magusachan: Chris .. (lol)
murraymint11: i think it was only hinted at
magusachan: .. kidding .. you are all right, of course :)
someonegetchristine: ...and the dogs, thats right, forgot about that
BCCJillster: Barb, he kept talking about escalating what they were trying to get te proper effect
kathylaz: that's why i thought they were tripping
murraymint11: actually, that part went right over my head
BCCJillster: What did you all think of francis?
murraymint11: I liked Francis
riverblue: henry seemed to be behind most of what they did
kathylaz: a lonely, suffering soul, easily influenced
magusachan: Francis .. that was the guy who tried to seduce Richard, the strange chill-out drinker, one I found a bit "hard to grap"
murraymint11: When he became ill and went to hospital, I thought it might be the onset of Aids
BCCJillster: He sseemed the most likable to me of the bunch
riverblue: i liked francis too - he seemed so lost
magusachan: Barb .. "lost" .. yep!
murraymint11: Early 1980's was when it all kicked off wasn't it?
kathylaz: lost is right
BCCJillster: Mags, he was so straightforward about wanting to 'play' with Richard though
kathylaz: yes, 80s
BCCJillster: a very promiscuous time...pre AIDS awareness
murraymint11: And that's when Aids appeared I think
magusachan: Although, .. wasn't Francis the one who (except for Bunny) also critisized Henry at times?
kathylaz: it seemed more like a panic attack to me than AIDS
BCCJillster: Yes but appropriately criticized
magusachan: JILL - yeah .. of course :)
murraymint11: Yes Kathy, by the end that was made more clear
BCCJillster: Huh Kathy?
kathylaz: frances and the hospital
kathylaz: and i think that's what it turned out to be
BCCJillster: OHHH I wasn't connectig it to AIDS...I meant it was promiscuous because no one knew yet
murraymint11: I was trying to be a clever detective (and failed!)
kathylaz: charles, on the other hand....
magusachan: Jane LOL
kathylaz: he was REALLY sick....
BCCJillster: they all were devastated by events
someonegetchristine: the hospital bit at the end was torrid to say the least
magusachan: JILL - absolutely.
kathylaz: i think that was more than alcohol....
BCCJillster: Torrid?
someonegetchristine: some underlying chronic condition I would say
magusachan: They were .. each single one of them in his and her own way ..
riverblue: couldn't work him out - tht whole relationship was strange! Who really held the power in that relationship?
magusachan: one question from my side ..
magusachan: on the board discussion thread ..
BCCJillster: Barb, which couple?
riverblue: twins
murraymint11: Charles was just a drunk.
BCCJillster: Ahhh confusing wasn't it?
kathylaz: i think the balance of power shifted
kathylaz: between the twins
kathylaz: when charles 'behaved' it was camilla in power
BCCJillster: I don't get or trust Camilla
kathylaz: and when he didn't, he was abusive and in control through intimidation
magusachan: JILL - Camilla .. was the mysterious goddess :)
murraymint11: I agree Kathy. Charles drinking forced Camilla to become independant.
magusachan: the kind you see so many times in movies ..
riverblue: no neither did I Jill - did she flirt with the others to have some sort of contro and was Henry pulling her strings?
kathylaz: trust is a good topic...camilla was untrustworthy
BCCJillster: I wondered too Barb
kathylaz: perhaps they all were, to a great extent, because they weren't open with each other
murraymint11: Oops - that's the opposite of what you said though
someonegetchristine: she had an affair with Henry didn't she?
murraymint11: yes at the end
BCCJillster: Yes Chris, almost as a way to escape Charles
murraymint11: Did anyone expect Henry to end it?
BCCJillster: although it had been going on for a whyile hadn't it?
BCCJillster: Kind of Jane, he was the most despondent
magusachan: camilla .. in the end, was a plain woman, a girl turning into a woman .. but not being as goddess-like as all the men surrounding her would have wanted her be - that is something that easily happens to women like her, also in real life. the way people around her observe her does not always match the way they really feel they are ...
murraymint11: in the way he did?
kathylaz: no, even though this was the 2nd time i'd read the book, his actions took me by surprise
riverblue: yes she did - I thought that was a relationship that was going on behind thescenes for a while
BCCJillster: She had something a lot more than plain going on for her
BCCJillster: or do you mean she faded into plain at the end?
kathylaz: they were all mysterious, to a great extent, which drew them together and tore them apart
riverblue: what did you think of Bunny?
murraymint11: It was a slow book to read though wasn't it?
BCCJillster: I wonder how they would have handled things without Henry?
kathylaz: slow, yet compelling
magusachan: JILL - I felt kind of "relieved" at the end, when I learned that even Camilla was .. a plain, normal woman. a girl.
riverblue: would it have happened in the first place without Henry?
kathylaz: like someone said earlier, watching a train wreck you know is coming
kathylaz: and not able to stop it
BCCJillster: I saw Bunny as part Piggy from Lord of the Flies
magusachan: Jane .. the beginning was VERY slow for me .. but after 100 pages or so ..
someonegetchristine: me too Jill...Piggy crossed my mind at one point!!
kathylaz: no, barb, it couldn't without henry
BCCJillster: and part the stupid Borther from GoodBye Columbus
kathylaz: he was the catalyst and control for everything
BCCJillster: Oh Good Chris, I'm not alone
magusachan: (what is goodbye columbus?)
murraymint11: Bunny's unkind comments got on my nerves
BCCJillster: orry Mags, American movie
someonegetchristine: who would wear a tie at 2 a.m. in the morning...
magusachan: now that we are talking bout BUNNY .. I have a question reg. him
magusachan: (JILL - thanks)
BCCJillster: bunny was a piece of work
kathylaz: (goodbye, columbus was a book too, right?)
someonegetchristine: esp when he humiliated Richgard about his education Jane
riverblue: Bunny was awful - I laughed when i saw your comment Juill that you could have done him in yourself - I could cheerfully have pushed him off myself
magusachan: Have you also thought how else the group could have solved their "Bunny problem" - it not by killing him?
BCCJillster: well exxplainedabout his parentes teaching him to take
murraymint11: I really hate it when someone doesn't pay their way fairly
magusachan: (Jane - me, too)
BCCJillster: Kathy....Philip Roth I think
kathylaz: he was annoying, yet appealing to so many
kathylaz: bunny knew how to be a friend "old chap" but quickly wore out his welcome
murraymint11: Who was he appealing to?
someonegetchristine: all bluster
BCCJillster: I htought about it early on Mags, but didn't find a sure solution, did you? I thought finding a way to make himn feel important and IN would do it
murraymint11: except after he died
riverblue: and why did julian take him on - he wasn't the brightest
someonegetchristine: took a while for the dust to settle !
murraymint11: hmmm, I wondered that to
magusachan: JILL - yes. definitely. that would have been the only way ... although, of course, this would have been sheerly impossible with Bunny's way of behaviour ..
kathylaz: brb
BCCJillster: well just bribing him didnt work...
BCCJillster: emotionally feeding him might have
riverblue: giving into bunny was just giving him permission to take it further
magusachan: Barb - good question. yeah, why did Julian agree with Bunny joining the group?
BCCJillster: Henry mut hae brought him in
BCCJillster: (great typing LOL)
murraymint11: Maybe Julian was playing Devil's Advocate?
magusachan: (LOL - np. I bet I will come up with some pretty bad mis-spellings, too)
magusachan: Jane - :)
magusachan: yes, ... maybe
BCCJillster: I didn't gbet the feeling that Julian was really in control of the group
murraymint11: What about Bunny's family? Did you 'get' them?
BCCJillster: Gawd awful weren't they?
magusachan: Jane - the father was kind of ... weird .. no?
BCCJillster: a tad over the top?
murraymint11: The imagery of the funeral party was very strong I thought.
riverblue: thought he was jill but as the book got on further I strarted to see Henry as being the power
kathylaz: ok, back
BCCJillster: same here Barb
magusachan: Jill - yes. I agree. Julian only "seemed" to be their great hero, their master who held them together. But he became so weak and small ... when he found out ..
riverblue: bunny's family was appalling!
BCCJillster: He withdrew from them like a turtle (Julian)
someonegetchristine: interesting image
murraymint11: The Dad was weird, and the Mum stony cold
riverblue: didn't want to deal with the mess he stirred up
BCCJillster: The escape to South America would have been an intereting solution
magusachan: Jane - IMO, the funeral showed in an excellent way the r e a l i t y, the uncomfortable, plain, dirty, ... feeling they suddenly had to cope with. Each one of them.
kathylaz: yes
BCCJillster: they were all falling apart
kathylaz: and their 'leader' henry wasn't really all that much in control
murraymint11: Was the trip to South America really intended, or just a trick by Henry to deceive Richard?
kathylaz: they all slipped into their basic nature
kathylaz: i thought a trick
BCCJillster: It was interesting how absorbed into the group Richard became--he turnedou out to be pivotal to their survival
magusachan: .. some part of me was happy to find out they were - in the end - not a bunch of stone-cold, brutal kids. but some other part .. felt sorry for the loss of all the mystery they shared.
kathylaz: i think it was jill who said on the board it was interesting to see all this revealed in richard, who found out what was going on in pieces
BCCJillster: they never seemed stone cold to me--they seemed so incrementally involved
kathylaz: do you think henry WAS planning to pin it all on richard?
BCCJillster: An interesting "reveal" to use the modern term
murraymint11: In the end I got a bit impatient with their endless journeys to see each other - usually in an intoxicated or stoned state.
magusachan: (I have to check what "incrementally" means .. brb)
kathylaz: or was that just his own paranoia
BCCJillster: LOL Mags it means in tiny steps
murraymint11: it means 'in steps' mags
BCCJillster: Jane, I did too, I started skimming some
magusachan: .. ah .. thank you :) that is a great word.
kathylaz: henry, like a spider, drawing all the others in....
murraymint11: it got a bit 'samey, samey' for me
BCCJillster: It's hard to remember English isn't your first language, you're so adept
someonegetchristine: me too Jane
kathylaz: you are indeed, mags!
someonegetchristine: it could have been edited back to 300 pages without losing anythiung imo
BCCJillster: I guess it was supposed to build tension but it got so old
magusachan: (that is so sweet, JILL - thank you ... where is the blushing emoti?)
BCCJillster: totally agree
BCCJillster: LOLLL Mags
magusachan: (thx, Jane)
kathylaz: yes, some editing, but still....
magusachan: (.. oops, Kathy..) ..
*** (19:44):Welcome to New Chatroom , debbieinca.u!
kathylaz: i felt like the train wreck unfolding
BCCJillster: HI Debbie
debbieinca: Hi everyone
kathylaz: hi deb
magusachan: HELLO DEBBIE
murraymint11: hello debbie
someonegetchristine: Hi Debbie
*** (19:44):riverblue.u quit the room
*** (19:44):Welcome to New Chatroom , riverblue.u!
BCCJillster: oops slipped Barb?
magusachan: Barb .. ?
debbieinca: I didnt finish the book report card time of year
kathylaz: boing! barb out then in
riverblue: what the heck happened?
magusachan: ah .. she returned .. :)
murraymint11: :)
BCCJillster: Debbie pushed you out of your seat Barb LOLLL
debbieinca: lol
magusachan: ((it is soooo exciting to 'meet' you guys in real-time ...))
murraymint11: lol!
kathylaz: play nice, girls
BCCJillster: It is so cool isn't it?
BCCJillster: Most of the ones who DIDN'T make it are the Americans
someonegetchristine: lol
debbieinca: are we not meeting anymore on Wed. ?
magusachan:
a b s o l u t e l y ...
kathylaz: true, but it IS a gorgous saturday afternoon here!!
BCCJillster: Karen and Kevin really wanted to be here
murraymint11: I just like to imagine us all reading the same book......
kathylaz: i had to come up off the beach for this....
riverblue: it's great - first time in chat for me after I don't know how many years in BCC
BCCJillster: It kind of fell off Debbie---
kathylaz: but couldn't resist you all
BCCJillster: Might resume after the electgions
murraymint11: ooh kathy! I'm jealous
magusachan: (Jane .. yes, that is true.)
someonegetchristine: what date are your eklections
debbieinca: ok just miss talking to everyone
BCCJillster: And it' appreciated Kathy
kathylaz: nov. 4
someonegetchristine: elections
BCCJillster: Nov 4
kathylaz: c'mon over anytime, jane
BCCJillster: but..we'll keep book talks on Sat
someonegetchristine: tks not long to go now
debbieinca: yes
riverblue: nov 8 for us - yours are way more exciting!!!
BCCJillster: DRAINING
murraymint11: careful Kathy........ my dd wants to visit in 2010!
kathylaz: wish it were over already!
debbieinca: me too
kathylaz: i'll put it on my calendar!
BCCJillster: So overall...what did you think of the book? We got caught up in the detail right away
magusachan: (my bf ... would like to know when exactly you have election day *sorry*)
kathylaz: it still rates high with me...good story, compelling
kathylaz: nov 4, mags
debbieinca: should I leave I am only half way through the book
murraymint11: I found it slow, but compelling
magusachan: for me, it was my top read of 2008 (so far, at least)
riverblue: i really liked it! It was compelling
BCCJillster: hard to avoid spoilers Deb
debbieinca: I know
magusachan: and that comes from me, who usually loves the easier, faster books ..
BCCJillster: do you???
riverblue: Is her next one worth reading - I've heard mixed reviews
kathylaz: i think it just builds and builds, and has a lot of evocative detail
BCCJillster: You seem to like a variety of things Mags
someonegetchristine: Little Friend?
riverblue: yes
kathylaz: i could 'see' the area, the college, the ravine, the people
BCCJillster: I didn't even finish Tartt's seond, and neightert did Karen
murraymint11: wasn't my favourite of the year. I actually preferred The Lace Reader, despite the inconsistencies
magusachan: .. so much time has passed since I have finished TSH, but still ... I feel them, every single one of them ..
someonegetchristine: I abandoned it - didn't like it the same
magusachan: (does that sound pathetic???)
BCCJillster: no, it was a strong book
BCCJillster: memorable characters for sure
kathylaz: i never wanted to pick up LF....didn't seem as if it could be as good
someonegetchristine: how many has she written all up?
BCCJillster: two
kathylaz: 2
riverblue: thx- doesn't sound as if it's worth getting hold of then
BCCJillster: Lots of taalk about her being a one-book author
magusachan: JILL - many friends who had read TSH did not like The Little Friend that much ..
BCCJillster: Its not as well done and seemed very obvious where it was going
murraymint11: TSH will stick with me because the imagery was good
magusachan: about the overall impression - I think that this book was one of these "love it or hate it" ones, clearly ..
BCCJillster: I thought SH was very well done and really stuck in my memory for all thise years
BCCJillster: it was so oddball but representative in a way
kathylaz: it packs a wallop....you don't expect this group to be involved in something so grim
magusachan: (Kathy - thanks :) ..)
someonegetchristine: she caught the university atmosphere really well
murraymint11: Do you think it's one of those books which you think more of later on?
BCCJillster: and the more they tried to fix things, the worse it got
riverblue: Kathy I liked the way you put it - it does just build and build until it's got you on the edge of your seat
BCCJillster: yup
BCCJillster: that scene with the letter was so gripping
magusachan: Christine - yes, "university atmosphere" - absolutely!!! I somehow had this college of "The Dead Poets Society" in my mind ..
kathylaz: the scene with julian and the stationary is the climax
riverblue: without losing that slow evocative tone
kathylaz: everything builds to that...then you know it'll end quickly
someonegetchristine: true Mags
magusachan: Jane - yes. I still think about the book. so many times ..
BCCJillster: after all tto fall apart on such a little detail
debbieinca: bye I think I will pop out bye everyone
*** (19:52):debbieinca.u quit the room
BCCJillster: LOL good move on Debbie's part
magusachan: (lol)
kathylaz: mags, thought that too...dead poets
kathylaz: there was so much 'pack' mentality
magusachan: Kathy ... yes .. this whole mysterious aura ..
BCCJillster: I felt badly for the other Deb--she must have felt out of sstep
kathylaz: i think richard called it that in SH
someonegetchristine: with a bit of History Boys thrown in
BCCJillster: Dead Poets, yet
BCCJillster: yes I mean
kathylaz: yes, that too, chris!
magusachan: :'( Jill .. yes ..
BCCJillster: A favorite author of mine wrote a lot of books about te Outsider perspective....
murraymint11: that's right - History Boys too
BCCJillster: and these kids were all outsiders forming a group inside
murraymint11: The Great Gatsby
BCCJillster: Jane, do you know Colin Wilson's books?
magusachan: (wondering who this "favorite author of Jill" is ...)
BCCJillster: LOL see above
murraymint11: No, why do you ask Jill?
kathylaz: colin wilson, it would appear!
magusachan: ah .. yep :)
BCCJillster: He's British and was considered a boy genius for a long time
someonegetchristine: the name rings a bell
murraymint11: Never heard of him (})
magusachan: have to jot down the name ..
BCCJillster: there's a myustery writer with a simialr name, colin watson
riverblue: don't know him
*** (19:55):Welcome to New Chatroom , wernoclue.u!
murraymint11: wrong emoticon!
BCCJillster: but thi is COLIN WILSON
magusachan: KAREN
magusachan: (L)
kathylaz: hi karen
riverblue: hi Karen
murraymint11: Hi Karen!
someonegetchristine: HI KAREN !!
kathylaz: nick of time!
BCCJillster: KAREN!!!! YOU AWOKE
BCCJillster: we missed you
wernoclue: I've been awake -- just too dumb to remember
magusachan: :P
BCCJillster: oh shoot
kathylaz: ooops
kathylaz: (confessing: i set an alarm)
murraymint11: Shame Kevin didn't make it...
magusachan: yep
BCCJillster: well spit outwhat's on your mind girl LOL
BCCJillster: I emailed both of them
kathylaz: the weather is really, really nice here today, jane. wonder if kevin is out enjoying it
magusachan: I would have loved to chat in detail about this thing he posted on Henry's character on board ..
wernoclue: Who me? Not much on my mind.
BCCJillster: about the book I mean
BCCJillster: we had a good discussion....I'll post the log as soon as I can
magusachan: ... now .. all eyes are on KAREN .. :)
BCCJillster: LOL no pressure Karenb
kathylaz: btw, i just read all the spoilers
wernoclue: I liked what Barb said on the board. Henry was an odd one. I'm interested to hear everyone
murraymint11: Generally liked, but could have been shorter.........
kathylaz: you guys had some good summations in there
wernoclue: everyone's take on him.
wernoclue: I agree Jane. Especially the second half.
BCCJillster: It's the kiind of book that certainly inspires dicussion doesn't it?
magusachan: Jane - which part, for example, would you have left out?
murraymint11: not Henry, I meant the book!
magusachan: (Jane .. LOL)
BCCJillster: OK so what the heck would you have done in Richard's place????
kathylaz: lol, jane
kathylaz: if we were richard, there was no other choice
murraymint11: all the to-ing and fro-ing between the student's houses.
wernoclue: Well, I can see why he ended up where he did -- but I hope I wouldn't go so far as to participate in murder.
kathylaz: if i were me in richard's place though, i wouldn't have been inrichard's place!
BCCJillster: at what point would you have gotten out? and how
kathylaz: and i would have turned away from the group, once i knew what they had done
wernoclue: I agree with Kathy. Once Bunny made that revelation, he had a choice.
BCCJillster: but he was told it was an accident
kathylaz: probably as soon as henry said "i knew you knew"
riverblue: It didn't occur to me that richard would have made any other choice - given his background and desperate need to belong to something
kathylaz: i wouldn't want to know details
murraymint11: But he wanted to be like them
kathylaz: right, barb....he did have no other choice
magusachan: Jane .. the "to ing" and "fro ing" .. yes .. that was a little bit too much maybe .. but I felt that somehow Tartt wanted to show the reader that Richard d i d actually have some kind of light contact to the outside world. This neighbour girl for example (the one who always was on heavy drugs) ..
riverblue: but no-one he trusted or felt he could depend on
kathylaz: jill, re: told it was an accident
BCCJillster: When he tought it was an accidewnt didn't it make sense? Until the plan to kill bunny
murraymint11: We forgot to discuss Henry's cold experience
kathylaz: that is still no reason for covering it up
kathylaz: especially when they all knew there was an investigation
BCCJillster: by the time he heard about it, should he have gone to the police then?
wernoclue: Oh great -- now we have company. I look forward to reading the log on the board!
*** (20:01):wernoclue.u quit the room
magusachan: JILL - I think, if I were Richard .. and all out of a sudden the question marks he had been feeling all the time along were solved, he felt .. somehow "cool", no? to really be "part of the group" and be involved in their very t o p s e c r e t
murraymint11: when he nearly froze...
kathylaz: i think he would have chosen to go to julian, not to the police
BCCJillster: right and Henry saved him
kathylaz: like bunny tried
BCCJillster: Hmmm good point Kathy
riverblue: and that would have got him nowhere but feeling more abandoned
kathylaz: bunny wouldn't have been believed over henry, but richard was more prosaic
kathylaz: maybe, but ethically clean
murraymint11: gotta go guys - talk to you next month..........
kathylaz: bye jane....
magusachan: ok - bye Jane :)
someonegetchristine: bye Jane
BCCJillster: if it had been yor sibling...would you turn him in?
*** (20:02):murraymint11.u quit the room
BCCJillster: BYE JANE
riverblue: bye jane
kathylaz: sibling? oh, that's a sticky one
magusachan: .. yes, verrry difficult
BCCJillster: I think Richard felt an obligation to Richard and an indebtedness on everal count
kathylaz: now i have to think as if i had that background....probably not
BCCJillster: LOLLL to Henry
riverblue: true
magusachan: "obligation" .. yes
kathylaz: yes, the cultlike reverence, the obligation
BCCJillster: that's the tricky part...Richard had been delusional during that cold
kathylaz: so no, wouldn't have turned them in
BCCJillster: Henry had saved hi life and stayed with him in the hospital
BCCJillster: and that was before he knew
BCCJillster: kind of tricky huh
kathylaz: you know, it's hard to know....
kathylaz: because we are all so DIFFERENT than the people described
magusachan: yes, exactly .. wasn't Henry also the one who had saved Richard from Bunny (restaurant experience) - or, was that .. Francis?
riverblue: Gotta go guys - loved the discussion
someonegetchristine: hard, very hard to know what would be best
BCCJillster: I don't know what I'd have done either...I might have escaped without turning them in
kathylaz: bye, barb
someonegetchristine: bye barb...
magusachan: BYE BARB :)
BCCJillster: BYE...THANK FOR COMING
kathylaz: just walked away from the group?
*** (20:05):riverblue.u quit the room
magusachan: Kathy - that is interesting ..
BCCJillster: Not sure Kathy...out somehow
magusachan: I do not think I would have walked away from them if I were Richard
kathylaz: like richard said, if he hadn't gone to hampden, he would have joined a cult
magusachan: what else did he had left in his life?
kathylaz: he had a predisposition to be a follower, an observer
magusachan: have left .. sorry
BCCJillster: (join my typing club Mags)
kathylaz: in his desire to be a part of a whole
magusachan: (LOL)
BCCJillster: mighty strong connections in a small community like that
someonegetchristine: must away now - thanks again...great chat !!
BCCJillster: We should all away I guess.
kathylaz: bye chris, great seeing you in real time
BCCJillster: THAKNS ALL
magusachan: Christine :) bye, bye
kathylaz: yeah
*** (20:06):someonegetchristine.u quit the room
magusachan: of course ..
BCCJillster: next month should be a goodie too I hope
kathylaz: bye all ... good chat!
BCCJillster: now to save log....
*** (20:07):kathylaz.u quit the room
magusachan: :) YES , it was a lot of fun!
magusachan: :)
magusachan: byebye
magusachan: (})
BCCJillster: so glad you made it
