tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809898288133088941.comments2009-04-07T11:05:52.198+09:00Gary Patrick Norrishttps://profiles.google.com/106142208596893034748noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809898288133088941.post-49068334685752902752009-04-07T11:05:00.000+09:002009-04-07T11:05:00.000+09:00I just finished reading the speech given by "Trueblood" (what a name)...Pree-ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353760866737973414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809898288133088941.post-4137180355686567622009-04-02T12:35:00.000+09:002009-04-02T12:35:00.000+09:00I'm not done with Chapter 1!!Pree-ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353760866737973414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809898288133088941.post-90009986488718758652009-04-02T12:22:00.000+09:002009-04-02T12:22:00.000+09:00because this is such a monument of a novel--i simply don't understand who'd torture hs students with this super-complex narrative--the first chapter is often anthologized and entitled "Battle Royale."<BR/><BR/>so many high school and university students know the novel as or because of chapter one.<BR/><BR/>i think it sets the mood and is an interesting tonal contrast with the prologue.<BR/><BR/>nevertheless, i'll get i am on 5. i will read to 34 tonight and post by tomorrow. then we can move on to the next chapter or two. where the novel truly opens up with some amazing stories.<BR/><BR/>this is simply one of my fave books of all-time sort of thing.Gary Norrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04336286974067459325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809898288133088941.post-8903768356362483862009-04-01T17:38:00.000+09:002009-04-01T17:38:00.000+09:00I meant charming, not charmind. One bad thing about blogging is that I get very, very impatient with publishing. Hence, typos. <BR/><BR/>Also, I like your thesis. Alain de Botton tries to utilize the structure to his advantage, but really he ended up loving the structure more than the tale itself.Pree-ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353760866737973414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809898288133088941.post-69283873750527843342009-04-01T15:00:00.000+09:002009-04-01T15:00:00.000+09:00your "in a charmed display of marketing" reminds me of a great Peter Gabriel song title from his days with Genesis and the album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway:<BR/><BR/>The Grand Parade of Lifeless PackagingGary Norrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04336286974067459325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809898288133088941.post-38542560256821370152009-04-01T13:06:00.000+09:002009-04-01T13:06:00.000+09:00The irony surrounding Billy Collins, is that despite what he says ABOUT poetry, he writes from an elitist point of view: the academic white male /slash/ poet laureate (how many times now?) <BR/><BR/>I share two poems with my students-"the blues" and one other- i think it's about his parents nagging him from the grave- and they, neither being white or academic, think his poetry is too complicated. Although I like Billy Collins at times. <BR/><BR/>In fact, if they like any privileged white male, it's Bukowski. They find him to be common sense. But it takes me too long to blot out curses from his poems before I make copies- that's annoying. <BR/><BR/>Regarding yer post, I loved the point about "structure"-- well-worded there. I can picture the book developing in that way-and your description of it made me appreciate it. <BR/><BR/>I also liked yer point about the dichotomy of common sense and philosophy. YES. Any great point to ponder is based on paradox. But de Botton wraps it up into a neatly redemptive package and sells it in a charmind display of marketing.Pree-ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353760866737973414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809898288133088941.post-24548174392334162072009-04-01T12:50:00.000+09:002009-04-01T12:50:00.000+09:00oh yes you nailed it. chloe lacks substance. see if you agree/disagree with how i put it in my post.<BR/><BR/>killer. i love being on the same page. together.Gary Norrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04336286974067459325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809898288133088941.post-41744542909416739602009-04-01T12:09:00.000+09:002009-04-01T12:09:00.000+09:00I want to add, that as a woman who wants to be SEEN (this may have to do with the fact that we are going into Invisible Man next) by her lover, I am annoyed that the man does not really ever get to know her. He just thinks about love as a concept, as a pattern of behaviors and emotions, and how he fits into the equation of love. <BR/><BR/>He's annoying. Plus, as much as he rambles about himself, I don't feel like I know him at all. Which then made me think, why should I trust what he has to say? I don't even know who he is.<BR/><BR/>(I think it's charming of you to finish the book this morning... can't be outdone! :D)Pree-ozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353760866737973414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809898288133088941.post-20103468545884384762009-04-01T08:33:00.000+09:002009-04-01T08:33:00.000+09:00who's this gary guy the walking wikipedia?<BR/><BR/>gosh at least you could have gone for a walking britannica or something in book form with a nice binding.<BR/><BR/>[ps: i love how praise wrote her post so i'd have to respond.]Gary Norrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04336286974067459325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809898288133088941.post-53389415506543869892009-02-20T20:55:00.000+09:002009-02-20T20:55:00.000+09:00YOU GUYS ARE RIDICK. I'm at a PC BANG ON A FRIDAY NIGHT. WAAAH!thugolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353760866737973414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809898288133088941.post-75329053508998186042009-02-19T22:34:00.000+09:002009-02-19T22:34:00.000+09:00i am sorry i didn't meet you as well. so come back and lets hang out.Gary Norrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04336286974067459325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809898288133088941.post-58043535070252713542009-02-19T22:33:00.000+09:002009-02-19T22:33:00.000+09:00I was being sarcastic. blush.Gary Norrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04336286974067459325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809898288133088941.post-45615231613610259012009-02-19T22:03:00.000+09:002009-02-19T22:03:00.000+09:00oh i'm sorry, i didn't mean to sound sarcastic. i really did mean that. i am horrible with theory, ask praise. many apologies.big whighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019517271416955933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809898288133088941.post-67242523078744165312009-02-19T19:03:00.000+09:002009-02-19T19:03:00.000+09:00so do i. can i have my smartypants back now?<BR/><BR/>sheesh.Gary Norrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04336286974067459325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809898288133088941.post-38693619532001611902009-02-19T13:40:00.000+09:002009-02-19T13:40:00.000+09:00oh so true! english people hardly ever read those philosophers. i got through 4 years of grad school by skimming the intros of those philosophy books. snore! i shouldn't have gone to grad school, but thank god i have this blog to wade through the craziness of life and literature. :) hello gary! i am a friend of praise's. i wish we could have met while i was in korea.big whighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019517271416955933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809898288133088941.post-87440439290329348432007-06-26T12:41:00.000+09:002007-06-26T12:41:00.000+09:00Intelligent analysis - always good to come upon a site like this.Paul Levinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07609987407926836519noreply@blogger.com