I found some lists I'd made of books I read in the 70s, and I remembered checking this out from the library. Incredibly I found a used copy online, anI found some lists I'd made of books I read in the 70s, and I remembered checking this out from the library. Incredibly I found a used copy online, and it was fun to reread. A man who doesn't usually watch TV watches for a solid week in 1968. That was the year I turned 13. This would be a great book for a cultural historian or anyone interested in hearing about contemporary news programs, especially concerning the Vietnam War. But what I enjoyed most were his attempts to watch soap operas. This is where I got "Claw Hand", an expression we still use...on Days of Our Lives, Dr Bill was suffering from a claw hand (will he ever operate again????), but the big bonus was a daily log of General Hospital, which I did watch. Audrey's artificial insemination! the Dr. Tom Baldwin/Jessie Brewer/Dr Prentice love triangle! Lee Baldwin, the recovering alcoholic! Dr Phil! The lunchroom! (Dr Hardy always ordered fruit salad and black coffee, which seemed like a yucky combination.)...more
Well I assume I've read this before, and I know I've seen a TV version because I remembered parts of it pretty well, but I didn't have enough braincelWell I assume I've read this before, and I know I've seen a TV version because I remembered parts of it pretty well, but I didn't have enough braincells to remember the ending. Listened to the Emilia Fox audiobook. Not one of my favorite stories, but it's still pretty good....more
I found a list of books I'd read in junior high, and there were a bunch of Beany Malone books on it. I found a copy of this one that is a 50s library I found a list of books I'd read in junior high, and there were a bunch of Beany Malone books on it. I found a copy of this one that is a 50s library book, so probably a reasonable facsimile of what I originally read. I never owned any, and I have no particular memories of them. The book kind of surprised me, as it was rather grim a lot of the time. I obviously liked the series, though, but I wasn't inspired now to re-read any others....more
Update Sep 2024 Listened to the Emila Fox audio version, and I liked it better, so I upped it a star. It is everything I said below, but I wasn't expe Update Sep 2024 Listened to the Emila Fox audio version, and I liked it better, so I upped it a star. It is everything I said below, but I wasn't expecting anything different this time, so I had a better attitude and enjoyed the audiobook.
June 2022 I was a little cranky about this. It's not a mystery, really, but a damsel-in-distress adventure tale. It's an early Christie book, written in the 1920s, so it did have a lot of period charm, but the heroine was typically idiotic in the way you have to be to end up in the predicaments she found herself, and it was just something I apparently wasn't much in the mood for....more
I read an article recently about how this book, which is apparently out of print, is now the darling of the new preppies and they are paying big bucksI read an article recently about how this book, which is apparently out of print, is now the darling of the new preppies and they are paying big bucks for copies on eBay. It inspired me to dig out my now valuable copy, bought for $3.95 in 1980 (is it possible this book is 44 years old?????) and reread it. As always,(I re-read it every now and then) it was delightful....more
I have this marked as read before, but have I? Or am I just extremely familiar with the faithful 1938 David Selznick film version that I watched a milI have this marked as read before, but have I? Or am I just extremely familiar with the faithful 1938 David Selznick film version that I watched a million times as a child? Who knows. Anyway, I've read it for sure now, and it was pretty swell. (made me watch the movie again too, it's on YouTube)...more
According to me I've read this before, so I won't argue with me but I had no memory of it. Listened to the audio, and I got a little confused what witAccording to me I've read this before, so I won't argue with me but I had no memory of it. Listened to the audio, and I got a little confused what with all the characters as it was on a short library loan and I didn't have time to go back and re-listen like I normally would, but it was pretty good, might go back and reread in print....more
I've read this but I had no idea what was going to happen, so kudos to my dead brain cells. This is a pretty good one, some stretches of logic, I suppI've read this but I had no idea what was going to happen, so kudos to my dead brain cells. This is a pretty good one, some stretches of logic, I suppose.
I just read and liked Lauren's review and now I'm going to copy her because it's mine as well. Very entertaining reading, then when it was over, the..I just read and liked Lauren's review and now I'm going to copy her because it's mine as well. Very entertaining reading, then when it was over, the..."what, wait a minute"s started, and I stopped myself. Say "that was entertaining", put it down and move along....more
I read this the first time years ago, but I never didn't know the outcome because I knew that it was based on a true incident involving Gene Tierney, I read this the first time years ago, but I never didn't know the outcome because I knew that it was based on a true incident involving Gene Tierney, so I can't rate the surprise value of the ending. Listened this time to the Emila Fox audiobook...she's a good narrator. ...more
An early Miss Marple, the character is rather less endearing then she became on screen. This is pretty quick and entertaining, but has a surprisingly An early Miss Marple, the character is rather less endearing then she became on screen. This is pretty quick and entertaining, but has a surprisingly comic tone for the fact that the crimes are so grisly.
Update 9/24 Sometimes it pays to have dead braincells, as I forgot the plot of this as I listened to the audiobook, well narrated by Stephanie Cole. I thought, this is a bit grisly, and sure enough, that's exactly what my larger amount of braincells thought five and half years ago......more
Entertaining Hercule Poirot. I decided I would try to figure out the solution, I don't usually do that. I was correct about one thing BEING a clue, noEntertaining Hercule Poirot. I decided I would try to figure out the solution, I don't usually do that. I was correct about one thing BEING a clue, not what SORT of clue, but A clue, so good for me.
5/24 reread as Hugh Fraser audiobook, although I only read it five years ago I didn't remember much about it owing to my dead brain cells, so not only did I not remember whodunnit I don't even know what I meant by the above review. :)...more
Update 2/24 listened to the David Suchet audiobook. In the five years since I last read this, I had forgotten the ways it differed from the 78 movie, Update 2/24 listened to the David Suchet audiobook. In the five years since I last read this, I had forgotten the ways it differed from the 78 movie, which I had rewatched since. (Decent audio for th most part, but the voice David uses for Colonel Race is fingernails-on-a-blackboard awful.)
2018 I've sure I've read this before so I'll call it a reread, and I've also seen the swell 1978 movie version (Angela Lansbury's tango with David Niven is worth the price of admission alone) I'd love to read this without knowing the outcome, it's one of her more complicated scenarios. One of the best things about Agatha is that her stories always have more than one surprise element, so many mysteries I read now have one denouement and that's that. It's so much more satisfying and fun to have several little reveals at the end.
7/24 Well, I see I'm reading this every four years, so enough brain cells have died that I need the refresher. Once again, I think I'm upping the rat 7/24 Well, I see I'm reading this every four years, so enough brain cells have died that I need the refresher. Once again, I think I'm upping the rating. Good honest analysis.
3.5 (2/20...a little early to be starting my Everest thing, but I see it's been four years since I read this. Original review still stands but I upped it a half star)
Working my way through ALL the books about the 1996 Everest tragedy. I've see Lou in several documentaries, he seems like a straight shooting fellow, and he certainly is here. Other books I've read have really tiptoed around the true cause of the deaths...bad decisions... and blamed the storm. Lou points out bluntly that if the guides Rob Hall and Scott Fisher had followed their own rules and common sense, the storm would have been a moot point and most of the casualties would have been avoided. It's hard to criticize dead people and I imagine that's why he waited quite a few years before publishing this. The book is not polished, he's not a professional writer, and it doesn't compare with Into Thin Air in that respect, but it is very interesting take on the situation. He also details his own climbing experience and how really awful it was. (Looking at his climbing resume, which is vast, he must REALLY have had a bad time, because I wouldn't think he would have done so much of it if it was always that dreadful) He does ramble on here and there about his faith and his love for his long suffering wife...sweet, but a little boring. But definitely recommended for anyone interested in this. (Illustrations are by him and they are quite good)...more
Update 4/19 Everest time, so just reread Into Thin Air. This book is not nearly that one, but it's fascinating nontheless.
Well first of all this is NOUpdate 4/19 Everest time, so just reread Into Thin Air. This book is not nearly that one, but it's fascinating nontheless.
Well first of all this is NOT by Anatoli Boukreev, it is by G. Weston deWalt who uses Boukreev as his primary source. Boukreev barely spoke English. Although this is about the same situation as "Into Thin Air" it is not as well written, but it is very interesting and if you have, like me, developed a freakishly intense interest in this story it is compulsory reading. Jon Krakauer was with Rob Hall's group, and Boukreev with Scott Fisher's, so there are some different perspectives. In his book Krakauer was very critical of much of Boukreev's behavior , but Boukreev defends himself pretty well here. (There is, however an interesting little video on YouTube of Rheinhold Messner, a world class mountaineer, who says that if he has to take sides he believes Krakauer's version, judging by his own personal experiences with Boukreev. Boukreev was killed by an avalanche in 1997, so, this is his last word on the matter.)...more
Hmm, was my memory of this book screwy. Oh well. Listened to the Hugh Fraser audiobook, and its entertaining, but the final explanation is illogical iHmm, was my memory of this book screwy. Oh well. Listened to the Hugh Fraser audiobook, and its entertaining, but the final explanation is illogical in spots. It felt a bit sloppy....more
9/21 I missed rereading this last year as there was no Everest season to inspire me; this year I said, I don't need to read that again, do I? but I did9/21 I missed rereading this last year as there was no Everest season to inspire me; this year I said, I don't need to read that again, do I? but I did.
4/20/19 update
It's Everest time again, I've been following 'the Blog on Alanarnette.com' who is another lunatic mountaineer, and just felt compelled to read this again. It's unputdownable every time...
10/17/17 Update
Was moving books around and this just jumped out at me and I ended up reading it again. Sometime when I've read a bunch of bad or mediocre books in a row I need to reread something I really liked to remind myself why I like reading in the first place....
11/15/16 Update below
Wow. What an incredibly terrifying story. And the morbid fascination for me comes from the fact that all these people CHOSE to be where they were at the time. As someone with an extreme fear of heights who considers "climbing" the feat of reaching the TOP step of my two step step-stool, it boggles my mind. And now I have turned into a fanatic, I'm binging on documentaries...I now need to know all about K2 and Annapurna and the north face of the Eiger...stop stop stop....I guess this is the same impulse that makes people like horror movies. I hate horror movies, why am I now obsessing about mountain climbing? Anyway, not a book to read yourself to sleep with.
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I just upped my original rating of four to five stars, it has certainly had enough of an effect on me to merit it, I don't give out five stars lightly. I also just reread this, after it prompted me to read fourteen OTHER mountain sagas. (so far) This is still the best. Despite what I now know to be it's controversies, it was just as intriguing to read knowing exactly what happened as it was knowing absolutely nothing. More so, actually, because I "know" all the principles involved so much better now.
I really liked this book the first time I read it, back when it first came out. On a reread, still entertaining, but more bad animal stuff then I remeI really liked this book the first time I read it, back when it first came out. On a reread, still entertaining, but more bad animal stuff then I remembered that I had to skip. ( Or maybe I've just gotten that much more sensitive to it)...more
4.5 I liked this book when I first read it at the time it came out. Reread it ten years ago, and that time I loved it, thought it was much better than4.5 I liked this book when I first read it at the time it came out. Reread it ten years ago, and that time I loved it, thought it was much better than I remembered. Just reread it again, and this time I wasn't as enamored as the last time, I quibbled a bit here and there. I'm ten years older and that much crabbier. But it is still a plausible and interesting take on the creation of the painting. ...more
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