tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post5910130511481873846..comments2023-05-17T12:11:30.400+01:00Comments on Slap of the Day: The column to end all columnsBelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935284724145788208noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-39846111875637675812009-04-23T02:21:00.000+01:002009-04-23T02:21:00.000+01:00LJG, I'm very glad to learn you are not perma-tann...LJG, I'm very glad to learn you are not perma-tanned. I think Giles Coren can be forgiven for writing what he wrote: we do see an awful lot of 'orange' Eastern European women in London. I am quite sure they are not the majority.<br /><br />Glad you agree with the main point. People are usually scared of being labelled as elitist if they hold such views.<br /><br />F, I can't comment on those reality shows: I never watch them. <br /><br />C, I haven't read <I>How to Read a Novel</I>. Sounds like I should. There is no doubt that spending so much time in front of a computer screen is rather noxious. I am aware I have less patience with the written word than I used to and I am quite distressed by it.<br /><br />I haven't used a library for a long time: everything I need for my work can be found on the internet these days and I do like to own the books I read (only paperbacks, though), but, as a child, going to the library was an incredible treat. I can still remember the thrill of climbing to the top floor of the Mairie du IIIe arrondissement in Paris and choosing books. I can remember their smell too.<br /><br />L, I'm making a note of that title too. Sounds great.<br /><br />I might try my local library and see if they accept donations: I need to make some space on my shelves.<br /><br />I do like those funny, opinionated people. I find it difficult to disagree with Germaine about anything, even when she is being blatantly silly. LOL!Belahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16935284724145788208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-91707368936064892262009-04-20T20:18:00.000+01:002009-04-20T20:18:00.000+01:00I live in London. I'll ask the library for an emai...I live in London. I'll ask the library for an email address next time I go.Luluhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08166733963939080151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-14188580368951645932009-04-17T08:38:00.000+01:002009-04-17T08:38:00.000+01:00Lulu, where do you live ? If it's anywhere in Euro...Lulu, where do you live ? If it's anywhere in Europe could you pls give me a contact to the library, waiting for book-donations (email the best).lady jane greynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-14165422949370123232009-04-15T18:45:00.000+01:002009-04-15T18:45:00.000+01:00The book How Fiction Works by James Wood is anothe...The book <I>How Fiction Works</I> by James Wood is another book about writing that really makes one want to read the books he talks about.<br /><br />I agree about libraries – I'm unemployed at the moment and taken to haunting my local library for reading matter. They actually tell me that they accept book and DVD donations from people now, because they have so little money to spend. They mostly buy paperbacks and then laminate the covers, which I think is a good solution.<br /><br />I like Giles Coren, he reminds me of Germaine Greer in the way he just plunges in and says the unacceptable, with amusing exaggeration that makes it all the more palatable.Luluhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08166733963939080151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-48229047908705014972009-04-13T17:37:00.000+01:002009-04-13T17:37:00.000+01:00I agree with him as well.I recently purchased "How...I agree with him as well.<BR/><BR/>I recently purchased "How To Read A Novel: A User's Guide" by John Sutherland. I found that the more time I spent on the computer, the more fractured my brain became. I didn't understand some blogs that I normally read, and thought it was because I was losing the knack, or skill, of reading. <BR/><BR/>One memorable passage Sutherland describes is from the novel Anna Karenina. There is a lenghty quote about Anna attempting to read her book: about the rug over her knees, the smells around her, the weight of her paperknife in her hand, and the sensual pleasure of cutting the pages as she reads. I haven't read Tolstoy, but now I want to. I'm just finishing Pat Barker's Regneration triliogy, and then it's on to the joys of AK! But, I am surprised that in this day and age, when we have beautiful books available for $5.00 CDN or less, for hardcover books, that libraray budgets are being reduced. The libraries have no budget to increase circulation. When I was a child we lived in rural Nova Scotia. We had access to a book mobile, which is exactly what it sounds like: a library on wheels. The librarians chose materials carefully for their clients. And it was free, so there was no excuse to not read. How is it possible that we have learned to expect so much less?Carolenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-89843062611711607432009-04-12T04:39:00.000+01:002009-04-12T04:39:00.000+01:00Why doesn't he tell us how he REALLY feels? ;-)Ser...Why doesn't he tell us how he REALLY feels? ;-)<BR/><BR/>Seriously, that was an amazing takedown of popular culture - not that I am against it, mind you, it has its place, but indeed we would be better off if people would be more engaged in the business of actual elections than about who gets "voted off the island."Florahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00510346346502906435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-26534304902063665192009-04-11T09:21:00.000+01:002009-04-11T09:21:00.000+01:00I more or less agree with him - expect his strange...I more or less agree with him - expect his strange opinion about people with childhood spent in communism. I'm one of those and still manage to keep my hair and body colour pretty decent (well, I don't colour any of them...). <BR/><BR/>Well, basically I'm of the strong opinion that we do need high culture any time - before, during and after recession. And now I'm off to read a proper book !lady jane greynoreply@blogger.com