New poll »» Auld Lang Syne

[Cosimah2o]

So, I tend to wonder why New members have not filled in to replace those no longer here. And so far, one heretical thought is that it is just too much to expect people to actually read books in order to join discussions of them, as I think we tend to do. It seems to be more appealing to join casual conversations elsewhere on any number of other topics, or just to chat. No criticism intended in any direction. Just sayin'.

So to speak, I am subscribed to « Where are you in the book....» because I really read and enjoy my books... That is, this thread allows me highlight what seems to me a remarkable fact during the reading... Writing or Making a reading list out, it doesn't - necessarily - mean that someone has read his/her books . In fact, there are people at times leave his/her readings half finished and other people Let us our imagination run wild !!
A prolonged « drought » in - Where are you in the book - as of 2017....few brainstorm with the exception of...
All in all, draw your own conclusions about the key message of my spiel . But to this day, are there a true readers or not readers among us ( in this forum ) ??

 

[Polly Parrot]

I forgot the most important, we must trust Sparky (( as carrier pigeon or wandering albatross )) has a great power of persuasion !! We cannot rule out the emails !!

I'm trying to picture Sparky as a carrier pidgeon and it's not working.

On a more serious note: I agree with Peder's post earlier, not a lot of people seem to want to make the effort to read a book and discuss it. Probably why the book of the month section has never been much of a success.
I'd happily revive it by the by but would need participants and not just a few lost souls shouting in the desert.

James Joyce has been eating up a lot of my time as of late.

 

[Cosimah2o]

I'm trying to picture Sparky as a carrier pidgeon and it's not working.

Try to visualise him drinking a red bull can ( cause gives you wings ) and at the same time, unfolding a world map . Can you see him now ?? Better than Superman, our dear carrier pigeon . Peder and myself gave him some coordinates and he brought us the first « reinforcements »

On a more serious note: I agree with Peder's post earlier, not a lot of people seem to want to make the effort to read a book and discuss it. Probably why the book of the month section has never been much of a success. I'd happily revive it by the by but would need participants....

Re-openning BOTM is a great idea, I usually read non-fiction books but I am willing read fiction books so that it doesn't dwindle the participation . Maybe, with any luck, I can achieve that someday you read First on the rope or Conquistadors of the Useless or any mountainering/ski book

 

[Ell]

I suppose I’m one of the old-timers who has drifted away. My last post was in 2014!

I came by today because direstraits spoke fondly of this forum in a posting elsewhere. To address one of the questions in this thread about what has happened to the old members (and I’m sure everyone has their own reasons), for me, life, family, and other interests seem to have taken precedence over posting online. I’m still online - I just don’t post or engage as often unless I feel I have something worthwhile to contribute.

After looking around at various threads today, I was sad to see so few actual discussions about books. Not sure what that says about the future of BAR.

 

[Cosimah2o]

I suppose I’m one of the old-timers who has drifted away. My last post was in 2014!
I came by today because direstraits spoke fondly of this forum in a posting elsewhere.

Then welcome on board !! It's a good sign to know this forum has left very fond memories and the old-timers are returning - without hesitation- when we our boat adrift .

To address one of the questions in this thread about what has happened to the old members (and I’m sure everyone has their own reasons), for me, life, family, and other interests seem to have taken precedence over posting online. I’m still online - I just don’t post or engage as often unless I feel I have something worthwhile to contribute.

The priorities or reasons of each one are very respectable and we Empathise with these . I have been 10 years in this forum but neither I have been a highly persevering member with my posts... Actually, now we have a sub-discussion about Facebook and the forums activity in general. In broad terms, Sparky and Peder are pessimistic and I am positivist or was surrealist

After looking around at various threads today, I was sad to see so few actual discussions about books. Not sure what that says about the future of BAR.

We are the Present and our predisposition to « re-float » this forum is the best « asset » for counteracting an uncertain or negative future . Polly Parrot talked about re-openning Book of the month, I think...joining efforts we can come back to those wonder years .

 

[Polly Parrot]

I agree, more book discussion is necessary. General discussion is fun too but it's a book forum...

 

[Peder]

I suppose I’m one of the old-timers who has drifted away. My last post was in 2014!

I came by today because direstraits spoke fondly of this forum in a posting elsewhere. To address one of the questions in this thread about what has happened to the old members (and I’m sure everyone has their own reasons), for me, life, family, and other interests seem to have taken precedence over posting online. I’m still online - I just don’t post or engage as often unless I feel I have something worthwhile to contribute.

After looking around at various threads today, I was sad to see so few actual discussions about books. Not sure what that says about the future of BAR.

Hi Ell!

Really good to see a post from an old-timer. More would be good -- either posts or posters -- but 'life, family and other interests' sure sounds real to me.
In any event, good to hear from you.
Hope you are well and happy in the middle of all that living.
Anything you would care to share?
Any good books lately? (Back to on-topic).

Peder

 

[Ell]

Hi Ell!

Really good to see a post from an old-timer. More would be good -- either posts or posters -- but 'life, family and other interests' sure sounds real to me.
In any event, good to hear from you.
Hope you are well and happy in the middle of all that living.
Anything you would care to share?
Any good books lately? (Back to on-topic).
Peder

Hello Peder,
I'm doing very well. Thanks for asking. Since 2014 both sons got married (one in Hawaii - fun but logistically complicated) and we have an almost 3 year old grandson that we babysit from time to time.

As far as books, I'm on the last of Robert Galbraith's series and have been diving in and out of Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. Have either you or the missus read Infinite Jest? It's such a doorstop of a book that if I leave it for any length of time, I feel like I have to start over again. And since I don't have great blocks of time available, I pick up shorter, quicker reads instead of IJ -->which means I never really get back to IJ!

 

[Peder]

Hello Peder,
I'm doing very well. Thanks for asking. Since 2014 both sons got married (one in Hawaii - fun but logistically complicated) and we have an almost 3 year old grandson that we babysit from time to time.

As far as books, I'm on the last of Robert Galbraith's series and have been diving in and out of Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. Have either you or the missus read Infinite Jest? It's such a doorstop of a book that if I leave it for any length of time, I feel like I have to start over again. And since I don't have great blocks of time available, I pick up shorter, quicker reads instead of IJ -->which means I never really get back to IJ!

Ell!
You walk, you talk, you reply! What a wonderful breath of fresh air here!
Sounds like our families are keeping pace, happily. It's just amazing how quickly the kids grow up.
Two sons here, two daughters.
#1 son married some time ago and acquired a ready-made set of children with his wife.
Second son also married and now has two children, a fur piece away in London.
Both girls all grown up too, but each preferring their own company it seems.
All spread out geographically, so I hardly ever see them (like decades apart).

It seems we have a common challenge in Infinite Jest. I've dipped into it several times but never been trapped into spending much time with it.
Same with most of Pynchon, although I have made more headway there (in his shorter works only).
I think I'm the wrong generation to appreciate their attitudes and humor. Too old.

For some time now, Kate and I have been reading detective series by Nordic (and Icelandic) authors: Anne Holt, Arnaldur Indridason, et al.

But back to DFW, I read a pure-genius one of his short stories in New Yorker some time ago. Good People is an absolutely fabulous piece of writing
and story telling. Style and story mesh unbelievably! And it easily falls into the "one-of-the best-I-have-ever-read" category. Catch it whenever you have time for appreciative reading.

Wonderful to hear from you
Sincerest best wishes from both of us
Charles and Kate

 

[Ell]

For some time now, Kate and I have been reading detective series by Nordic (and Icelandic) authors: Anne Holt, Arnaldur Indridason, et al.

But back to DFW, I read a pure-genius one of his short stories in New Yorker some time ago. Good People is an absolutely fabulous piece of writing
and story telling. Style and story mesh unbelievably! And it easily falls into the "one-of-the best-I-have-ever-read" category. Catch it whenever you have time for appreciative reading.

Thanks for the DFW recommendation.

I haven't read much Nordic Noir. The only Nordic/Scandi detective books I've read are the Stieg Larsson series, one by Peter Hoeg, and a couple by Jo Nesbo. I've quite enjoyed them, so will have to take a look at Anne Holt and Indridason.

 

[Cosimah2o]

So much rambling made me lose track of the subject we were dealing with ------I told some of you in « small committee », now it's time to reflect before closing this poll...Taking a stock, some ideas for revitalizing this forum had successful ( short term ), we re-opened old & new threads, we bring together some old-timers by means of our homing Pigeon aka Sparkchaser, we are still thinking up a new International section...Well, the final reading would be : « The old guard » is still too stubborn for giving up at this forum, just like that . A sample...I've gotten Peder « delves into » the mountaineering Literature !!

 

[Cosimah2o]

Before putting the padlock to this poll, I must cast a result...There is a triple tie between the options A, B, D...So, I'm going to break the tie and Sparky dressed like Druid wins !! I would had preferred a triple tie between the options more absurd ---- All joking aside, I am convinced that we will continue reading books although we don't post a review about them . Maybe, in a near future our participation only will limit itself to read us from time to time, but what counts is that we have endeavoured for « mitigating/ counteracting » our undesirable drift.....Thanx a lot Peder, Polly Parrot, Sparky and those old-timers who returned for « refloating » this forum !!

 

[sparkchaser]

 

[Polly Parrot]

Will a picture of Sparklepants the Druid now become the forum's new logo and / or background?