tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post3057019799523941668..comments2024-03-27T05:13:25.241-05:00Comments on The New Dork Review of Books: The New Dork Review of Literary 2011Greg Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-7959832966310403542012-01-02T12:24:10.040-06:002012-01-02T12:24:10.040-06:00Once you are ready to try TC Boyle again, I recomm...Once you are ready to try TC Boyle again, I recommend The Tortilla Curtain. It's not very long and though it was written in the mid-1990s its subject material makes it feel like it was written more recently.Suzannehttp://bibliosue.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-75352380385253476572012-01-02T11:46:48.073-06:002012-01-02T11:46:48.073-06:00Thanks, buddy - yeah, reading Anna Karenina, Gone ...Thanks, buddy - yeah, reading Anna Karenina, Gone With The Wind and War and Peace in the same year bumps up my pages-per-book average a bit.<br /><br />Yeah, I totally agree that Lisbeth is a great character - and I like Blomqvist, too - just too much detail and not enough story to make them "good." That said, I agree with you also that the films are awesome!Greg Zimmermanhttp://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-40514888608062427072012-01-02T11:44:49.319-06:002012-01-02T11:44:49.319-06:00Yeah, they were awfully violent. That didn't b...Yeah, they were awfully violent. That didn't bother me so much as all the superfluous detail - and the fact that for one entire novel, the best character did nothing but lay in a hospital bed. <br /><br />Cheers to 2012!Greg Zimmermanhttp://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-55232895711327819592012-01-02T11:43:57.845-06:002012-01-02T11:43:57.845-06:00Well, now I'm intrigued - what did Domestic Vi...Well, now I'm intrigued - what did Domestic Violets have in it that annoyed you?<br /><br />Happy New Year to you too!Greg Zimmermanhttp://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-22019940494510054672012-01-02T11:43:20.266-06:002012-01-02T11:43:20.266-06:00Wow - 99 books. Nicely done!Wow - 99 books. Nicely done!Greg Zimmermanhttp://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-24905805865924582372012-01-02T11:42:23.234-06:002012-01-02T11:42:23.234-06:00*snort* - give War and Peace a chance. Nice!*snort* - give War and Peace a chance. Nice!Greg Zimmermanhttp://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-12748318817145307092012-01-02T11:41:54.520-06:002012-01-02T11:41:54.520-06:00You were, indeed, right - though, as I say, the fi...You were, indeed, right - though, as I say, the first one is pretty good (after you plow through the first boring 100 pages). <br /><br />I can't believe I'd waited so long to read Murakami - his fans are so loyal and passionate. I had no idea what I was missing!Greg Zimmermanhttp://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-82522720378809628372012-01-02T11:39:37.650-06:002012-01-02T11:39:37.650-06:00Thanks for the recommendation - I'll check out...Thanks for the recommendation - I'll check out Hope.<br /><br />And I've also been meaning to read A Tree Grows In Brooklyn for a long, long time - glad to hear you enjoyed it!Greg Zimmermanhttp://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-89473425336185685992012-01-02T11:36:17.073-06:002012-01-02T11:36:17.073-06:00RE, Gone With The Wind - yeah, I was surprised by ...RE, Gone With The Wind - yeah, I was surprised by how (mostly) fast-paced it is. That's great that you read Wind-Up - that's next on my short list of Murakami novels, too. Kafka is sooo freakin' good!Greg Zimmermanhttp://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-66205645915897312382012-01-02T11:34:47.944-06:002012-01-02T11:34:47.944-06:00Thanks for the recommendation on Boyle - yeah, I t...Thanks for the recommendation on Boyle - yeah, I think I need to just start over with him, and I like the idea of starting with his journalism. He writes with a flair I really enjoy - just couldn't get into that particular story.Greg Zimmermanhttp://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-17050622481363230432012-01-02T11:31:47.318-06:002012-01-02T11:31:47.318-06:00Happy New Year to you, too. I wish I would've ...Happy New Year to you, too. I wish I would've stopped after The Girl Who Played With Fire - at least that one had a few redeeming qualities. It took a LONG time to get into it, but once you did, the story was pretty good. Hornet's Nest just altogether sucked.Greg Zimmermanhttp://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-41840547044593953762012-01-02T11:30:47.356-06:002012-01-02T11:30:47.356-06:00Nice - great minds. ;) I'm tellin' you, ...Nice - great minds. ;) I'm tellin' you, if you liked your brief foray into Huraki Murakami, you'll love that novel.Greg Zimmermanhttp://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-20633502846957748652012-01-02T11:30:12.896-06:002012-01-02T11:30:12.896-06:00It was definitely a successful year - good luck wi...It was definitely a successful year - good luck with your 2012 to-read list!Greg Zimmermanhttp://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-75103673551165969312012-01-02T11:29:28.998-06:002012-01-02T11:29:28.998-06:00Yeah, like many guys, I had this notion of it as a...Yeah, like many guys, I had this notion of it as all romance and smooches. That's definitely not the case - it was really a fun read!Greg Zimmermanhttp://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-81413000595595133312012-01-02T11:28:42.515-06:002012-01-02T11:28:42.515-06:00Happy New Year to you too! Definitely check out Th...Happy New Year to you too! Definitely check out The Art of Fielding - even if you don't have any interest in baseball, but especially if you do...Greg Zimmermanhttp://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-75043318497026427082012-01-02T11:28:09.796-06:002012-01-02T11:28:09.796-06:00The History of History is a novel that was definit...The History of History is a novel that was definitely under the radar this year - but the few who have read it have raved about it (me included). Hope it finds a wider readership in 2012!Greg Zimmermanhttp://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-76973661056539978802012-01-02T11:26:47.489-06:002012-01-02T11:26:47.489-06:00Tolstoy IS my homie! That Tshirt's almost bet...Tolstoy IS my homie! That Tshirt's almost better than a "I finished ... " one. <br /><br />Yeah, if you read the first one, you read the best one. Probably good enough to stop there. ;)Greg Zimmermanhttp://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-86710813075901303452012-01-02T09:41:32.056-06:002012-01-02T09:41:32.056-06:00Great year you had there Greg. 43 novels for 19 00...Great year you had there Greg. 43 novels for 19 000 pages is a LOT of material. I know people that read 60-something books, totalizing 18 000 something pages. You like those long bricks!<br /><br />Anyway, I agree with your vision of Stieg Larsson. While I thought Lisbeth Salander was a great character, the series went from a great mystery to "oh....please-tell-me-you're-not-going-there" plot wise. I don't say that often but the films are a safer option.Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11483490020980574428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-70382408984629687842012-01-01T21:58:31.706-06:002012-01-01T21:58:31.706-06:00I liked the Larsson books, but felt they were too ...I liked the Larsson books, but felt they were too violent. You can show a character's awfulness without having to tell it in gory, specific detail. But I thought the mystery aspects were good.<br /><br />I've read <i>Gone with the Wind</i> twice, and both times have found it good, if a bit long-winded.<br /><br />I'm glad you enjoyed your 2011 reading -- here's to more awesome stuff in 2012!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-63217625727386503892011-12-31T16:51:11.557-06:002011-12-31T16:51:11.557-06:00I loooved Domestic Violets. It even had one of my ...I loooved Domestic Violets. It even had one of my big pet peeves in it, but I still loved it. Shows how awesome it was.<br /><br />Happy Happy New Year!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196903315080725315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-47972700766052343762011-12-30T16:29:04.118-06:002011-12-30T16:29:04.118-06:00interesting categories. 1Q84 was my top favorite. ...interesting categories. 1Q84 was my top favorite. here is my recap: http://wordsandpeace.com/2011/12/30/year-of-reading-2011/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-69152537321744409392011-12-30T11:16:14.192-06:002011-12-30T11:16:14.192-06:00Congrats on a good year of reading,Greg and as som...Congrats on a good year of reading,Greg and as someone else suggested,you can probably make your own W&P shirt at Cafe Press. Have it say something like "I read War and Peace but all I got was this stupid T-shirt" or "All I am saying is give War and Peace a chance!"<br /><br /> Happy New Year:)lady thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16287907577241697874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-46918345707517207422011-12-30T08:12:32.724-06:002011-12-30T08:12:32.724-06:00I knew I was right in choosing not to fall into th...I knew I was right in choosing not to fall into the Dragon hype. Phew!<br /><br />But I'm glad that Murakami was a success for you! He's a big love of mine, and I'll be embarking on 1Q84 too!Bethanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14467655046379247950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-30078284727046279522011-12-30T08:08:45.423-06:002011-12-30T08:08:45.423-06:00Greg, great list.
I think you'd like Hope: A ...Greg, great list.<br /><br />I think you'd like Hope: A Tragedy by Shalom Auslander.<br /><br />I'm glad you enjoyed Gone With the Wind, I have yet to read it. But in a similar vein, I've read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn which I have put off for many years because I thought it was a "girly" book, yet enjoyed it tremendously.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ManOfLaBook.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.ManOfLaBook.com</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-50386300707322032692011-12-30T05:04:59.527-06:002011-12-30T05:04:59.527-06:00I read Gone With the Wind aged thirteen and I was ...I read <i>Gone With the Wind</i> aged thirteen and I was also certain it would be some stupid romance-y slog but I remember being so surprised at how <i>good</i> it was. It was one of the first adult books I read so quickly without wanting to do anything <i>but</i> read. Surprising, indeed.<br /><br />It was after reading your posts about Haruki Murakami that I realized I had to get around to reading him. And then I read (and was <i>very</i> impressed by) <i>The Wind-up Bird Chronicles</i>. So thank you for that! I'm looking forward to reading <i>Kafka on the Shore</i> next.Meytal Radzinskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15805413335735169073noreply@blogger.com