tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post477418256829943352..comments2024-03-25T20:57:40.930-04:00Comments on Gulfside Musing: Mini-review: The Dinner by Herman KochJoAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-48211928816914928212013-09-23T07:19:01.732-04:002013-09-23T07:19:01.732-04:00Lisa - I read this on the train to NYC and the hou...Lisa - I read this on the train to NYC and the hours passed very quickly!JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-6690154056837765192013-09-22T21:04:10.421-04:002013-09-22T21:04:10.421-04:00I've read so many differing opinions about thi...I've read so many differing opinions about this one but always respect your opinion. Think I'll have to pick this one up.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05554217416500328610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-36897199063052910662013-09-12T21:04:02.387-04:002013-09-12T21:04:02.387-04:00Nan - That type of narrator can be very frustratin...Nan - That type of narrator can be very frustrating, so it helps if you know what you're up against before getting started. I certainly remember the importance of those secret twists...sadly, not as big a thing these days.JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-4201098239885912742013-09-12T19:47:11.000-04:002013-09-12T19:47:11.000-04:00Thank you! I'm not sure I would like that kind...Thank you! I'm not sure I would like that kind of narrator, though I must have read some over the years. I couldn't read RA because I knew the 'secret' beforehand. Kind of like the movie, The Crying Game. Remember when it was a huge deal to keep the twist a secret?Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-75852807361453962582013-09-12T17:20:14.679-04:002013-09-12T17:20:14.679-04:00Nan - To me, an unreliable narrator is one that ca...Nan - To me, an unreliable narrator is one that cannot necessarily be believed - often due to mental illness, delusions, a pathologic liar, memory problems, etc. I recently read The Other Typist and would put that book in this category. The Good House by Ann Leary (an audio favorite this year) features an alcoholic first person narrator, so what she said could be suspect. Other title that pop into my head - We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Atonement, When We Were Orphans, The Turn of the Screw... I'm blanking on the most well-known though. I haven't read Roger Ackroyd, so can't say for certain, but it's not a new thing. JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-38961926485815568612013-09-12T15:05:44.040-04:002013-09-12T15:05:44.040-04:00This is the second time I've read the phrase &...This is the second time I've read the phrase 'unreliable narrators.' Could you explain what exactly that means, and what books feature them? Would Roger Ackroyd be considered one? Or is it a new thing?Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-25793083796757802852013-09-10T15:30:49.018-04:002013-09-10T15:30:49.018-04:00Ti - Having the main action of the novel take plac...Ti - Having the main action of the novel take place over one dinner was very appealing to me, too. I really like the way it all unfolded.JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-68800139943060566782013-09-10T15:28:11.006-04:002013-09-10T15:28:11.006-04:00Bellezza - I'm finding myself drawn to shorter...Bellezza - I'm finding myself drawn to shorter reviews, too. They're also much easier to write and leave me more time for reading!JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-24174249913738963312013-09-09T13:13:19.549-04:002013-09-09T13:13:19.549-04:00This one has been waiting so patiently for me to p...This one has been waiting so patiently for me to pick it up. I had no idea it all took place during one dinner. My kind of book. Tihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00926060806244061354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-58552183439331777482013-09-08T19:26:49.855-04:002013-09-08T19:26:49.855-04:00That sounds absolutely fascinating. And I love thi...That sounds absolutely fascinating. And I love this "mini" review which gives me exactly what I want to know in just a few short paragraphs. My favorite kind of review, because sometimes I spend so long reading a review I could have read a chapter of my book instead. Not here, of course! I mean those NYTimes four page long reviews. Off to mark this book on hold at my library. xoBellezza https://www.blogger.com/profile/18073864187188953633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-78230522067583923642013-09-08T08:38:29.434-04:002013-09-08T08:38:29.434-04:00Pat - Some reviewers refer to it as a 'Europea...Pat - Some reviewers refer to it as a 'European Gone Girl'. Not sure if it's accurate... I've avoided that one!JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-83702446802153604672013-09-08T08:37:23.011-04:002013-09-08T08:37:23.011-04:00Stacy - It's compelling, but in a very dark wa...Stacy - It's compelling, but in a very dark way... definitely not for everyone!JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-14504640970469142652013-09-08T05:49:25.654-04:002013-09-08T05:49:25.654-04:00I enjoyed your review. The Dinner sounds interest...I enjoyed your review. The Dinner sounds interesting.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16263900929320390381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-12645888968260732472013-09-07T00:20:41.772-04:002013-09-07T00:20:41.772-04:00I'm still not sure I want to read this one.I'm still not sure I want to read this one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-73668261863958489462013-09-06T16:15:59.932-04:002013-09-06T16:15:59.932-04:00Nise' - It takes a really good writer to get r...Nise' - It takes a really good writer to get readers to dislike characters and their behavior, yet still like the book!JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-68555758869810759062013-09-06T16:14:25.587-04:002013-09-06T16:14:25.587-04:00Diana - Unreliable narrators can definitely be fru...Diana - Unreliable narrators can definitely be frustrating, but part of the fun for me is trying to figure out exactly what parts of their stories are true.JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-60990974670628274532013-09-06T16:13:11.682-04:002013-09-06T16:13:11.682-04:00Diane - Haha, I do! But I don't think any les...Diane - Haha, I do! But I don't think any less of you ;-)JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-18455459978476360862013-09-06T16:12:11.621-04:002013-09-06T16:12:11.621-04:00Col - Yes, it was definitely intense....darkly int...Col - Yes, it was definitely intense....darkly intense. I couldn't stop reading!JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-46747849066692917482013-09-06T16:11:07.183-04:002013-09-06T16:11:07.183-04:00Carrie - Oh, I'll bet this was fabulous on aud...Carrie - Oh, I'll bet this was fabulous on audio! I'm going to head over to audible and listen to a clip.JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-86174031934695708782013-09-06T16:10:20.246-04:002013-09-06T16:10:20.246-04:00Andi - Wasn't sure whether it would be a hit o...Andi - Wasn't sure whether it would be a hit or miss for me, but I really liked it.JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-481674473121463572013-09-06T16:09:10.562-04:002013-09-06T16:09:10.562-04:00Shannon - After reading this, I can definitely und...Shannon - After reading this, I can definitely understand the wide range of opinion! I couldn't put it down.JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-46905229222344268552013-09-06T16:08:04.725-04:002013-09-06T16:08:04.725-04:00Kathy - Unreliable narrators are usually a draw fo...Kathy - Unreliable narrators are usually a draw for me, too.JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-2580254557367595182013-09-05T21:54:42.179-04:002013-09-05T21:54:42.179-04:00Despite not liking any of the characters or their ...Despite not liking any of the characters or their behavior, I enjoyed this novel.Nise' https://www.blogger.com/profile/15586400022454009379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-18239123892647669442013-09-05T21:29:28.936-04:002013-09-05T21:29:28.936-04:00I'm intrigued by the premise, though unreliabl...I'm intrigued by the premise, though unreliable narrators can be frustrating!Book of Secretshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06259592113584639013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7080965436653289398.post-8834545469607843292013-09-05T19:37:18.375-04:002013-09-05T19:37:18.375-04:00Loved it (but I feel awful saying that if you know...Loved it (but I feel awful saying that if you know what I mean).(Diane) Bibliophile By the Seahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10519875632878992728noreply@blogger.com