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Weekly Geeks 12


The rules for this week:

1. In your blog, list any books you’ve read but haven’t reviewed yet. If you’re all caught up on reviews, maybe you could try this with whatever book(s) you finish this week.
2. Ask your readers to ask you questions about any of the books they want. In your comments, not in their blogs. Most likely, people who will ask you questions will be people who have read one of the books or know something about it because they want to read it.
3. Later, take whichever questions you like from your comments and use them in a post about each book. I’ll probably turn mine into a sort of interview-review. Link to each blogger next to that blogger’s question(s).
4. Visit other Weekly Geeks and ask them some questions!
Books I've read but haven't reviewed:
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, by Anne Bronte
The Girls of Slender Means, by Muriel Spark
The Sister, by Poppy Adams
The Black Tower, by Louis Bayard (this is an ARC, so don't feel bad if you've never heard of it!)
No Fond Return of Love, by Barbara Pym
So my questions: are open-ended. If you've read any of the above books, or even if you haven't ask me any question you want!

Comments

Becky said…
Did you like the Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte? Would you recommend it? Does it hold up to the more well known works by the other Bronte sisters?
Bybee said…
Have you read the other Bronte sisters? Have you read Agnes Grey? Does Tenant of Wildfell Hall have that Gothic feel to it?
Anonymous said…
Hmm...I haven't heard of any of these books.

Where do you find books you'd like to read (besides, of course, in blogging land)?
Alessandra said…
Becky and Bybee beat me to it, but I'm very curious about the Tenant of Wildfell Hall as well. Were you able to relate to the main character? Is this a book you would recommend?
Maree said…
I have The Tenant of Wildfell Hall on my list for later in the year. Is it worth reading?
Kim said…
I am curious about The Sister. What is it about? What genre? Great characters that I would care about? Is this the first thing you have read by this author?

Concerning Barbara Pym: How did you like her book? Have you read others by her? I personally like her slow easy writing style and simple plots. It seems that a lot of people have never heard of her--so I was surprised to see her on your list!
*Smiles*
Kim
http://pageafterpage-kim.blogspot.com/
Suey said…
Oh, I loved The Tenant of Wilfell Hall... but it's been awhile since I read it. I remember it bounced from a letter format... back to a more normal narrative form. Did you like that? Or did it interrupt the flow for you? I need to read this one again some day!
Samantha said…
A question about The Black Tower; would you call it historical fiction? If the answer is yes, can you tell us in what historical period it plays and if that historical period is accurately depicted in the book.
I have a question about "The Black Tower, by Louis Bayard" but actually its more about the fact that it is an ARC.

To me, reading an ARC is almost like reading a "blind buy" - what I would like to know is if you enjoy finding a good book this way?

Also when reading ARCs do you find that the treasures out weigh the duds? Or the other way around?

What is the best book you have read that was an ARC?
Anonymous said…
I'm usually caught up with my reviews. The ones I don't get to review are books that I couldn't finish. I'll need to look into that and compile a list. It would be interesting to see. :)
Imani said…
Ha, ok, clearly a lot of Bronte fans here. I'm in the same boat -- what did you think of it? I've only read some of Charlotte's novels and though I have "Agnes Grey" I've yet to read it. (Only the first few pages and that was promising.)

I'm curious about Muriel Spark too -- I have one of her complete collections (Everyman Library edition). Is she as good as everyone says she is? Is that your first Spark or have you read her others? If so do you consider yourself a fan?

Thanks for dropping by my blog btw -- you asked great questions!
Anonymous said…
on The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte: How does Anne compare with Charlotte and Emily? As Anne is not most commonly listed as a "classic" (unlike Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights) do you think it deserves a more high polished reputation?
Chrisbookarama said…
I enjoyed The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. I think Anne is overshadowed by her sisters. Have you read any of the other Brontes' works? (Where does Tenant fit in for you if you have?) Did you think Helen was a strong female character?
Cheryl Vanatti said…
I, too, received both The Sister & The Black Tower as ARCs. Liked Tower, hated Sister. Do you feel pressure when you hate a book you've been given as an ARC?

Did you enjoy The Black Tower's ending? Was it what you thought?
Anonymous said…
Have you read any other books by Anne Bronte? In particular, if you've read it, how does Wildfell compare to Agnes Grey? How does it compare to Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights?

Have you read Barbara Pym before? My mother has a giant collection and seems to read them often -- but I just can't get into them. Why did you pick up this book? Did you enjoy it? Would you read more Pym?
Joy Renee said…
I'm interested in the technique and art of storytelling itself so anything along that line would interest me. My questions are for any or all of the fiction titles in your list:

How was Point-of-View handled? Was there a single POV character or did it alternate among two or more. Was it always clear whose eyes and mind were filtering?

How was language used to set tone and mood?

Was the prose dense or spare? Were sentences generally simple or complex?

How was metaphor used? Were associations fresh or did they tend toward cliche? Did they add to your understanding of the theme?

What was the central or organizing theme?

How does the title relate to the story? Was it fitting?
>>>>
BTW I'm hosting a book giveaway this week. Four copies of Still Summer by Jacquelyn Mitchard. Four chances to enter until Saturday 3PM PST.
Anonymous said…
I'm a fan of Barbara Pyms books and writing style. How would you rate "No Fond Return of Love" compared to other Pym books you've read?

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