tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post6229932261776421445..comments2024-03-27T22:13:53.704-04:00Comments on The Misadventures of Widowhood: The Goldfinch and the Book ClubMisadventures of Widowhoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-60060554235581158722018-03-01T23:40:49.299-05:002018-03-01T23:40:49.299-05:00I hope you like it. It's very layered.I hope you like it. It's very layered.Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-14530746709650262102018-03-01T22:30:51.717-05:002018-03-01T22:30:51.717-05:00This book has been on my radar for a while, but I ...This book has been on my radar for a while, but I haven't been motivated to read it. You've definitely moved it up my list. Thanks! -Jean P.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-57465617513101009822018-02-14T11:21:54.631-05:002018-02-14T11:21:54.631-05:00We spent time in book club talking about what we&#...We spent time in book club talking about what we'd cut out of the Goldfinch to make it shorter. You are not alone in believing an editor could have done more cutting.<br /><br />Wow, I love what you wrote about secrets! I find it quite serendipitous that after I wrote this blog entry I got invited out to lunch and ended up writing about secrets a second time---secrets that molded peoples Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-84206418586672956962018-02-14T11:10:38.501-05:002018-02-14T11:10:38.501-05:00I started The Goldfinch, and gave it up pretty qui...I started <i>The Goldfinch</i>, and gave it up pretty quickly. I don't mind length, but I just wasn't enamoured. When I find myself thinking, "This one could have used an editor," it's time to move on. Of course, I like O'Keeffe, too, so what can I say? :-)<br /><br />I did enjoy your question: "Are we defined by the secrets we keep?" Living as we do in a shoreacreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16284698314697628805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-59524662417995243812018-02-13T11:36:28.178-05:002018-02-13T11:36:28.178-05:00In the settings I found a place where you can turn...In the settings I found a place where you can turn that collection of data off. It even said it was collected to improve function tailored to user...but you never know when that can change.Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-66671890494381663802018-02-13T10:59:39.088-05:002018-02-13T10:59:39.088-05:00On NPR yesterday was an interview with a couple wh...On NPR yesterday was an interview with a couple who attached a specific router to their Alexa and discovered it pinged Amazon every 3 days with info on what they used her for. <br /><br />I mostly think that kind of monitoring is to improve the functionality, but there's no question it could be used for ill in the wrong hands. <br /><br />LS Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16888269999839452459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-44748123926487858602018-02-11T23:12:26.086-05:002018-02-11T23:12:26.086-05:00I love the lyrical quality of Tartt's writing....I love the lyrical quality of Tartt's writing...she does have a poet's soul. <br /><br />I don't mind having Alexa on my Kindle because when you close the case, she is not active and can't be woke up. (Different from Alexa Home who is on all the time.) And while they say no real person ever hears what is said in your house and they don't record your voice, they are gathering Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-28085822449081516882018-02-11T20:48:16.859-05:002018-02-11T20:48:16.859-05:00After all the initial hoopla about The Gold Finch&...After all the initial hoopla about The Gold Finch' I tried reading Tartt'sI don' first novel and couldn't get very far. She writes like a poet and that can be exhausting. Beautiful, but exhausting. <br /><br />This one obviously spurred some deep thought on your part.<br /><br />I've been reluctant to bring Alexa into my house because I don't like the idea of being Laurenhttp://www.laurensnelson.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-46841251889467083472018-02-11T17:19:17.297-05:002018-02-11T17:19:17.297-05:00Did you know you that audible books have settings ...Did you know you that audible books have settings that will allow the reading to be at different speeds? Maybe you've tried books that were read too slow if you were impatient?Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-56022769073929242452018-02-11T17:17:07.097-05:002018-02-11T17:17:07.097-05:00I don't mind if a couple of people don't r...I don't mind if a couple of people don't read the book on any given month---life happens to us all---but when more people don't than do it's hard to have a discussion. <br /><br />I actually think following along while listening to the book can help me a lot. I tend to stumble over words I can't pronounce and don't know the meanings of, but with listening to the book I hadMisadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-27007614502843176942018-02-11T15:24:46.971-05:002018-02-11T15:24:46.971-05:00I used to be a serial Bad Book Finisher. I finall...I used to be a serial Bad Book Finisher. I finally let myself off the hook with that. But I cannot abide audio books; they make me impatient. The only reader I like is me.Nancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17627214346956206283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-22456259541045332952018-02-11T14:43:24.682-05:002018-02-11T14:43:24.682-05:00Have to admit I was one of those who didn't al...Have to admit I was one of those who didn't always read the book during the waning year of me being in a book club. I barely had time to think in those days, but still, it wasn't fair to the others,but we had such fun talking and laughing together I didn't want to drop out...but eventually I did. <br /><br />I'd have a hard time with the dense material in The Goldfinch. I'donnajurenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10799559087972759233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-6453205432518684942018-02-11T08:11:37.956-05:002018-02-11T08:11:37.956-05:00I used to keep looking for the redeeming quality o...I used to keep looking for the redeeming quality of books and for the reason others felt it was worth publishing. But now, at Amazon there so many books are self-published but mixed in with the others and some of those are really badly.<br /><br />It's that the truth! we do put a lot of effort into protecting ourselves and others from secrets. Your relative with the giant secret is Exhibit Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-69029287764314809612018-02-11T06:45:19.930-05:002018-02-11T06:45:19.930-05:00Interesting that you're "getting better a...Interesting that you're "getting better at not finishing" those books that don't hold your interest. Me too. I used to finish a book no matter what, but life is getting too short to spend hours on a book that isn't good enough. <br /><br />Defined by our secrets? There's some truth to that. Over a lifetime, we can put a lot of effort into protecting ourselves and others whatshesthinking1http://whatshesthinking1.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-73335454216627355262018-02-10T19:34:59.104-05:002018-02-10T19:34:59.104-05:00We don't have to buy books because our library...We don't have to buy books because our library has the Reading Club in a Bag program. Twelve books packed for the club to take for a month and they have tons of choices with multi bags of the popular books.<br /><br />I've read The Pillars of the Earth but never heard of The Historian. 704 pages about Dracula? No way would I attempt that one. Vampires just don't do it for me.<br /><brMisadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-88324536459858993652018-02-10T19:23:30.245-05:002018-02-10T19:23:30.245-05:00Someone was showing off they wrote that synopsis. ...Someone was showing off they wrote that synopsis. Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-36256654980396273122018-02-10T18:57:17.484-05:002018-02-10T18:57:17.484-05:00Ah yes, I have a review about my book club and boo...Ah yes, I have a review about my book club and books next week. Years ago, My book club in Germany had somehow decided to read the book the Historian. These days I always say, Unless you haven't read the Historian or the Pillars of the earth, you haven't read. But back then, we all looked at said gigantic book, (we had more than a month, we planned ahead), back at each other and we all Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195838412173806659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-84883447471079980012018-02-10T18:46:02.918-05:002018-02-10T18:46:02.918-05:00I didn't know the meaning of that word either!...I didn't know the meaning of that word either! ~ LibbyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-4881388231679257842018-02-10T15:16:15.927-05:002018-02-10T15:16:15.927-05:00If you ever get curious about the book there is ac...If you ever get curious about the book there is actually a Cliff Notes version. Apparently the book is studied in college classes and she's been compared to Dicken's.<br /><br />The word struck me as very funny because I doubt very many people would have a clue what it means.<br /><br />Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-60796050924578651112018-02-10T14:56:49.941-05:002018-02-10T14:56:49.941-05:00I haven't read this book yet and to tell you t...I haven't read this book yet and to tell you the truth didn't realize that it was that long, there is no way that I could read it in a weeks time, and as for "bildungsroman" I read the definition that you provided and am not afraid to admit that I didn't have a clue what it meant beforehand.Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00079471254681821763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-46840378872200780862018-02-10T13:58:22.360-05:002018-02-10T13:58:22.360-05:00That's what I'm afraid of! It seems like t...That's what I'm afraid of! It seems like the perfect tool for the disabled and I'm not. I need to keep moving! Did you know you can get smart plugs for your appliances and lights so Alexa can turn them on and off? Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-22347756099233458922018-02-10T13:39:30.651-05:002018-02-10T13:39:30.651-05:00There is your answer! You would use it every day!...There is your answer! You would use it every day! The Awkward Widowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-12811121655111917542018-02-10T13:25:31.392-05:002018-02-10T13:25:31.392-05:00It's not normal in this club for people not to...It's not normal in this club for people not to have read the book...maybe 1 or 2 but never this many. Goldfinch was just too long! But I've heard others complain about clubs that have mixed goals like you experienced.<br /><br />I've been trying to resist getting a REAL Alexa that isn't part of the Kindle. They really don't cost much but how tech to we really need to be? I Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-84684312342688017842018-02-10T13:15:48.270-05:002018-02-10T13:15:48.270-05:00My reasons for joining the book club was more abou...My reasons for joining the book club was more about trying to build friendships than about reading books though I do love books. Many of the books on Oprah's list are in the library's Reading Club in a Bag program. I love her author's talks, too. <br /><br />Boy, knowing your history with the stroke/your husband that passage up above really fits you, doesn't it! I love it because Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-73228444067410623402018-02-10T12:57:15.729-05:002018-02-10T12:57:15.729-05:00I have had l experiences with book clubs ... quit ...I have had l experiences with book clubs ... quit after my first gathering at each because only one other person (besides me) had read the book! It was just social for them! <br /><br />I think now you will want to invest in the REAL Alexa (and maybe a mini for another room)and she will read while you listen AND dust! Pretty sure the volume will be a lot better. <br /><br />My hearing aids The Awkward Widowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com