tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post8514832686807641597..comments2024-03-24T13:45:25.132-05:00Comments on Bookfoolery : To Catch the Lightning by Alan CheuseBookfoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-80888544395762076292009-11-08T19:58:14.953-06:002009-11-08T19:58:14.953-06:00Veronica,
Yes, I can relate. I still remember fu...Veronica,<br /><br />Yes, I can relate. I still remember fussing over that book and wanting to abandon it, although it's been a year. This year, I gave myself permission to abandon books that weren't grabbing me and I've had a much better reading year.Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-58123232248752442232009-11-08T18:32:07.944-06:002009-11-08T18:32:07.944-06:00I admit it. I haven't finished reading To Catc...I admit it. I haven't finished reading To Catch the Lightning. The problem is, I may never be able to force myself to do so. When I read Cheuse's dialogs I feel like someone tied a couple of cinder blocks to my ankles: it's hard, hard slogging to get through the stiff, stilted, unnaturally stylized "conversations" indeed.Veronica Waldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16367665889716556106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-78447390354513540882008-11-05T14:42:00.000-06:002008-11-05T14:42:00.000-06:00Chartroose,I might have a fighting chance in the f...Chartroose,<BR/><BR/>I might have a fighting chance in the future. Hahaha. That sounds funny. ;)Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-20693658728129327702008-11-05T12:36:00.000-06:002008-11-05T12:36:00.000-06:00How cute! I think "I" should try to oust "Me" and...How cute! I think "I" should try to oust "Me" and "Myself" in some of your future me myself and I reviews!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-37364226436432037872008-11-04T14:56:00.000-06:002008-11-04T14:56:00.000-06:00Bellezza,Thank you!! You're so sweet. Isn't that ...Bellezza,<BR/><BR/>Thank you!! You're so sweet. Isn't that a wonderful quote?<BR/><BR/>We do like changing our headers pretty often, don't we? :) I was looking for a fall theme and couldn't come up with anything that didn't clash with my background colors, so that's why I chose the rain. At the moment, I'm craving cloud cover. It's been bright and sunny for weeks. Need a day off from that bright light!!!Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-82946816567467431762008-11-04T14:29:00.000-06:002008-11-04T14:29:00.000-06:00Off subject, as all too often the case with me, yo...Off subject, as all too often the case with me, your header never ceases to surprise and enlighten me. I like how you change it as often as I do, and how you always find a meaningful quote.<BR/><BR/>You are a blessing.Bellezza https://www.blogger.com/profile/18073864187188953633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-63021903702500786812008-11-04T00:17:00.000-06:002008-11-04T00:17:00.000-06:00Veens,Caught you off-gaurd, eh? I'm glad you like...Veens,<BR/><BR/>Caught you off-gaurd, eh? I'm glad you like the idea and the review. Thanks!Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-88771249597849215712008-11-03T22:41:00.000-06:002008-11-03T22:41:00.000-06:00Got I was surprised at this one...but i love your ...Got I was surprised at this one...but i love your idea of a review like this one :-) <BR/><BR/>GOOD JOB :-)<BR/>and great review!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-32579406406343495852008-11-03T22:28:00.000-06:002008-11-03T22:28:00.000-06:00Framed,Thank you. You must be a morning person. ...Framed,<BR/><BR/>Thank you. You must be a morning person. :)Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-74023184167729313832008-11-03T22:09:00.000-06:002008-11-03T22:09:00.000-06:00Loved your review. And I would love to have Day-L...Loved your review. And I would love to have Day-Light Savings all year.Framedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13703547279309902320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-44882080451342042942008-11-03T18:16:00.000-06:002008-11-03T18:16:00.000-06:00Care,You're so funny! I think the two of you are c...Care,<BR/><BR/>You're so funny! I think the two of you are correct in a way -- basically, I think the author ticked me off. He seemed a bit on the misogynistic side. Now, as far as whether Curtis really was that way, I can't say. But I think it really peeved me that Cheuse focused on the negative when it came to describing Mrs. Curtis. I've got a million-miler husband and I know how tough it is to hold down the fort. And, she kept a business running! So, yeah. I enjoyed the book and would read more by the author, but he rubbed me the wrong way, this time around.<BR/><BR/>Edward Curtis lived to be 84 and died in the 1950s, so most of his photography took place around the turn of the 20th century -- from 1900 - 1927. By that point, Native Americans were losing their traditions and some were being absorbed into the society of white men. He apparently requested that his subjects dress in traditional costume in order to preserve images of those traditional outfits before they disappeared. <BR/><BR/>Lisa,<BR/><BR/>Well, thank you for that! I love historical fiction, but I know it's not everyone's cuppa.<BR/><BR/>I don't hate you, but I wouldn't want to share a room with you. Hahaha. My husband is a morning person. It's really painful. Sometimes he has to turn on the light to find matching socks. Maybe light in the morning is good for that, but the sun set sooo early.Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-37582924115649423482008-11-03T17:17:00.000-06:002008-11-03T17:17:00.000-06:00I have absolutely no interest in this one, but hav...I have absolutely no interest in this one, but have to say I still loved the interview.<BR/><BR/>I'm a morning person, I LOVE waking up at 5 instead of 6. You can hate me, I'll understand.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17401807675546808620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-70316992599888471102008-11-03T16:48:00.000-06:002008-11-03T16:48:00.000-06:00I had my Me and my Myself read this and we discuss...I had my Me and my Myself read this and we discussed... We all got the impression that you actually disliked the author, yet still liked his writing? And Me wants my I (I'm typing) to type a question as to WHEN this dude took pictures of the Indians - what time period did this guy live? We thank you in advance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-16143491732844590612008-11-03T15:52:00.000-06:002008-11-03T15:52:00.000-06:00Jeane,I'm so glad you agree! I didn't mention how...Jeane,<BR/><BR/>I'm so glad you agree! I didn't mention how quickly Jimmy Fly-Wing educated himself, but yeah . . . actually, I didn't buy that. I'm sure it's possible, but it just seemed beyond the pale. And, I would so have loved to read more about the actual processing, especially the banana-oil procedure. Pretty much all you get out of the book is, "It smelled awful." I think we could have surmised that much. :)<BR/><BR/>Nikki,<BR/><BR/>I'm dragging, today. I think my body is saying one thing and the clocks are saying another. I even let the kiddo drive us downtown to get smoothies because I was hoping the juice would perk me up. Does Italy do DST?Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-67631115718580795452008-11-03T14:55:00.000-06:002008-11-03T14:55:00.000-06:00I don't like the time change either.I don't like the time change either.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02853980637566992330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-7002886770113675942008-11-03T14:34:00.000-06:002008-11-03T14:34:00.000-06:00I felt pretty much same as you about this book. Th...I felt pretty much same as you about this book. The mix of narrative voices really, really annoyed me. The swiftness with which Jimmy Fly-Wing educated himself surprised me. And I wished to read more about the actual work of photography. Like the part where he described using banana oil? It was so interesting, and so poorly explained.Jeanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02270303640902731044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-18545974740446263092008-11-03T12:00:00.000-06:002008-11-03T12:00:00.000-06:00Nat,That was a nod to you, adding "I" to the pictu...Nat,<BR/><BR/>That was a nod to you, adding "I" to the picture. :)<BR/><BR/>I think I need to move to Moosejaw. It's very, very important to find regular excuses to say "toque". But, you knew that. LOL Isn't it funny how something you've lived with for years can be so impossible to explain to people who've never experienced it? It seems like a perfectly straightforward concept, but really . . . it makes no sense to me, <I>why</I> we turn our clocks.<BR/><BR/>Teddy Rose,<BR/><BR/>Thank you! I really did enjoy the book, in spite of all those negatives. I hope you like it! It's an unusual read, but I love history and felt like I got something out of the reading.Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-88851513717512569252008-11-03T00:11:00.000-06:002008-11-03T00:11:00.000-06:00Excellent self-interview! Despite the negatives, ...Excellent self-interview! Despite the negatives, I think I would like this book and added it to Mt. TBR.Teddy Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145413222317511542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-74850786588063218272008-11-02T22:41:00.000-06:002008-11-02T22:41:00.000-06:00Fun interview, as always! Nice to see I, however ...Fun interview, as always! Nice to see I, however briefly. ;)<BR/><BR/>Come to Japan! No DST here, although I think they were talking about it but I don't know if they'll ever agree to start it. I try to tell a Japanese person about DST and it's simply beyond their comprehension! Seriously! Oh and the province of Saskatchewan, in Canada, doesn't do DST either! You could move to Moosejaw and say toque all the time! :Ptanabatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04592550784537825632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-27519979635234013472008-11-02T20:02:00.000-06:002008-11-02T20:02:00.000-06:00J.Kaye,Wahoo! I can't wait to hear what Steve thi...J.Kaye,<BR/><BR/>Wahoo! I can't wait to hear what Steve thinks. It's just as fun reading what everyone else thought as it is reading the book, sometimes. And, thank you. :)Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-61624188733164959112008-11-02T19:34:00.000-06:002008-11-02T19:34:00.000-06:00Chris,All three of my personalities thank you. An...Chris,<BR/><BR/>All three of my personalities thank you. <BR/><BR/>And, thank you for agreeing with me on the tit thing. LOL<BR/><BR/>I would so love it if we could opt out of time changes. I know there are places that's done, but I don't know where they are. Need to figure it out and move. I've had a migraine for 8 or 9 days, now (waking up with it, getting rid of it for a while, waking up with it), so I'm already there on the lack of sleep and headache. I hope it doesn't cause you too much trouble.<BR/><BR/>Carrie,<BR/><BR/>Yes, I realize the earth is farther away from the sun, but we screw with the clocks twice a year, regardless of which time change is considered a return to normality. Springing and falling. The falling really stinks, if you ask me. For my part, I like having a little daylight when the husband comes home, so I can make him do yardwork during the cool months. We have shorter days than folks farther up on the map in the summer (which is probably good) but most of the year it's too hot to work on the yard for long. <BR/><BR/>You morning people rule the world. (insert raspberries)<BR/><BR/>Hmm, it may be language of the time but it's used in the narrative rather than the dialogue. So, there are lovely paragraphs like that first quote with vulgar words in the midst. It just threw me. There are gentler terms that could have been used.Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-79597401902385513632008-11-02T19:22:00.000-06:002008-11-02T19:22:00.000-06:00LOL! Steve is reading this book right now. I am cu...LOL! Steve is reading this book right now. I am curious how he will feel about it. Love your interview style...made me smile.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-47538867826965425182008-11-02T18:43:00.000-06:002008-11-02T18:43:00.000-06:00The "fall back" business is actually the end of Da...The "fall back" business is actually the end of Daylight Saving Time. The "spring forward" is when we screw with the clocks. <BR/><BR/>I like earlier nightfall myself, one of the reasons I like winter. The shortening up of the evening light isn't just due to people thinking they can control the sun, y'know. <BR/><BR/>Yeah, don't mind me. I hate losing that hour in the Spring and "DST" with a purple passion. <BR/><BR/>Interesting interview! The book does sound good, the head hopping would be annoying but the crude vernacular sounds like the language of the tim.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-83494932391664305582008-11-02T18:31:00.000-06:002008-11-02T18:31:00.000-06:00As always, your multiple personalities are amusing...As always, your multiple personalities are amusing. :)<BR/><BR/>I hate the word 'tit' no matter how it's used, so I'm with you there.<BR/><BR/>Changing the clocks always messes me up. I'll have a week of terrible sleep and headaches now.Chrisbookaramahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11972547663609480210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29370872.post-89036917998347711672008-11-02T18:09:00.000-06:002008-11-02T18:09:00.000-06:00Bermudaonion,Me, too! I am so not a morning perso...Bermudaonion,<BR/><BR/>Me, too! I am so not a morning person. It should stay dark while we're trying to sleep off those evening reading sessions. :)<BR/><BR/>Samantha,<BR/><BR/>Thank you! Have to shake things up, now and then (and this method does seem to work when there's some need to depart from the typical). LOL<BR/><BR/>Wendy,<BR/><BR/>Thank you! I enjoy tossing one of those weird reviews in, now and then. Self-interviewing is a fun change of pace.<BR/><BR/>CJ,<BR/><BR/>Oh, good, I'm glad you like that quote. I don't want to put people off entirely; the book is good but I had some personal quibbles with it, you know? My objective was to keep the review as balanced as possible, not to hang the author out to dry. :)<BR/><BR/>I have no idea -- that's not an expression I've read anywhere else, as far as I know. "Nursing" is probably the most common term. There are a lot of other terms like that one that just were jarring to me.<BR/><BR/>Why, thank you.Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.com