tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post2403968314209001245..comments2024-02-10T19:58:20.327+00:00Comments on Stuck in a Book: Housekeeping - Marilynne RobinsonStuckInABookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-50418665877185842972013-03-30T16:04:44.704+00:002013-03-30T16:04:44.704+00:00A fine review of one of my favorite books. Robinso...A fine review of one of my favorite books. Robinson lived in Sandpoint, Idaho, which is on Lake Pend d'Orielle. The railroad bridge is much as she described it, though no longer used and hosting a large heron's nest when last I was in Sandpoint. She captures the setting well, with the mountains in the distance, the evergreens, and little development around the enormous lake, which is so large and deep the US Navy used it to train submariners during World War II.<br /><br />You remind me it's time to re-read Housekeeping.Mary Ronan Drewhttp://maryslibrary.typepad.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-45362360138292612372013-03-30T00:09:05.390+00:002013-03-30T00:09:05.390+00:00And thank you for reminding me of that lovely line...And thank you for reminding me of that lovely line, which I'd forgotten! I do hope your good intention comes to fruition.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-8048713455281807902013-03-30T00:08:34.228+00:002013-03-30T00:08:34.228+00:00I only came across her when she was two books in, ...I only came across her when she was two books in, and only read her when all three were out - but it would have been so frustrating to read this and have to wait 25 years!StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-70386081066532951322013-03-30T00:07:53.143+00:002013-03-30T00:07:53.143+00:00She is a fantastic, funny, warm speaker!
If those...She is a fantastic, funny, warm speaker! <br />If those were the reasons you didn't enjoy Housekeeping, then I think you'd definitely fare better with Gilead. Let me know if you do try it!StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-65183532547297416552013-03-30T00:06:57.268+00:002013-03-30T00:06:57.268+00:00I could definitely see how it wouldn't appeal ...I could definitely see how it wouldn't appeal to everyone - and I think I might not have liked it, in a different mood. But there are enough great books out there for you to shelve Marilynne Robinson, for now at least :)StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-27731561205106823002013-03-30T00:04:53.022+00:002013-03-30T00:04:53.022+00:00Marilynne Robinson is definitely a very honourable...Marilynne Robinson is definitely a very honourable exception, Karen! I think you'd like her - she has qualities in common with, say, Elizabeth Bowen, I think.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-49999361339559138662013-03-30T00:04:01.279+00:002013-03-30T00:04:01.279+00:00I think she must perfectly craft - I would be fasc...I think she must perfectly craft - I would be fascinated to read the drafts.<br /><br />And so glad that I'm not alone with landscape-reading! I always feel like such a pariah when I admit it...StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-35698455103526403492013-03-30T00:03:14.220+00:002013-03-30T00:03:14.220+00:00Thanks Victoria!
I would definitely have to be in...Thanks Victoria! <br />I would definitely have to be in the right mood for any Robinson book, I think - so that could explain a failure of connection with Gilead.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-4974930131363465992013-03-30T00:02:42.034+00:002013-03-30T00:02:42.034+00:00I definitely preferred Gilead too - and soon I'...I definitely preferred Gilead too - and soon I'll read Home, soon!StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-69620984222275270342013-03-30T00:02:22.780+00:002013-03-30T00:02:22.780+00:00Thank you, Alex, that's a lovely comment! I do...Thank you, Alex, that's a lovely comment! I do try to get the experience across, and I'm really pleased that you think I have :)StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-9391003133077709452013-03-30T00:01:51.447+00:002013-03-30T00:01:51.447+00:00If they've got Gilead, grab it! She's only...If they've got Gilead, grab it! She's only written three novels so far.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-47176452829333664782013-03-30T00:00:30.913+00:002013-03-30T00:00:30.913+00:00My thought process:
1) There's a film! I had n...My thought process:<br />1) There's a film! I had no idea!<br />2) Oh... not available on Region 2 DVD :(StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-58136654252354950422013-03-28T22:25:06.772+00:002013-03-28T22:25:06.772+00:00"...prejudiced against the living"...
: ..."...prejudiced against the living"...<br />: )<br />Another minority group to worry about?Carson Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11426505356407204408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-29726883174480535242013-03-28T11:29:49.773+00:002013-03-28T11:29:49.773+00:00Thanks for mentioning Gilead again, Simon. I'v...Thanks for mentioning Gilead again, Simon. I've been meaning to read it ever since I read your blog post about it, in which you quoted this sentence: "Why do I love the thought of you old? That first twinge of arthritis in your knee is a thing I imagine with all the tenderness I felt when you showed me your loose tooth." As one feeling that first twinge, I nodded in agreement.<br /><br />Is that just another good intention of mine? Possibly. Perhaps the sentence was enough! But it's good to be reminded of where it came from.<br />Diana Birchallhttp://www.lightbrightandsparkling.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-71740142669917805542013-03-27T02:48:35.497+00:002013-03-27T02:48:35.497+00:00I love this book. I thought for years (decades eve...I love this book. I thought for years (decades even) that she was the literary equivalent of a one hit wonder but then discovered her second flowering with Gilead and Home. A truly great author, sentence by exquisite sentence. Séamus Dugganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00574186409184247059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-45506898785747981872013-03-27T00:15:22.556+00:002013-03-27T00:15:22.556+00:00I will try someday to read Gilad, but I was underw...I will try someday to read Gilad, but I was underwhelmed by Housekeeping. Maybe it was a case of too much character and not enough plot for me. I have heard Marianne Robinson speak, however, on a podcast, and I love her. She is so articulate and interesting. Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-1787707217773344532013-03-26T20:52:32.167+00:002013-03-26T20:52:32.167+00:00Hi,
I read this one recently and didn't like...Hi, <br /><br />I read this one recently and didn't like it. I totally understand your review, though and my brain understand that you enjoyed it that much: it is a good book. <br />It didn't work for me: I felt smothered by the wet, foggy and cold atmosphere. I was bored by the descriptions of the walks in the woods, by the lake, of the house. I found it terribly creepy, I felt I'll at ease.<br /><br />Emma. Emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09716351799835873036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-63963544219959350902013-03-26T15:42:11.321+00:002013-03-26T15:42:11.321+00:00Gosh, Simon, your first statement about not readin...Gosh, Simon, your first statement about not reading many living authors made me think - because I don't either and I find myself wondering why and whether I just am skeptical about the current state of literature or just prefer books from a certain period or am simply prejudiced against the living! However, if I *was* reading living authors I would certainly be tracking down this because it sounds wonderfully atmospheric!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-88077077675151023402013-03-26T15:21:46.650+00:002013-03-26T15:21:46.650+00:00Housekeeping is the only work of Robinson's th...Housekeeping is the only work of Robinson's that I've read, but it left me with an impression of her as an author who carefully perfects every word she writes. <br /><br />I also had an "aha" moment reading your review when you say that you're usually unaffected by descriptions of place and landscape. I realized that I feel exactly the same way, and just hadn't acknowledged it in so many words!Miss Bibliophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-72349008536768827132013-03-26T13:36:11.331+00:002013-03-26T13:36:11.331+00:00Lovely review, Simon. I've read this, but not ...Lovely review, Simon. I've read this, but not Gilead. Or at least, I tried it but couldn't get on with it. I probably picked it up at the wrong moment (this accounts for a lot of my failures - I do have quite specific moods for books these days, which makes me wonder how I ever got through that Ph.D.....). One day, I'll try it again.litlovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10952927245186474480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-30151941688499751062013-03-26T11:37:53.351+00:002013-03-26T11:37:53.351+00:00I loved Gilead, but this one not so much. Alas, I ...I loved Gilead, but this one not so much. Alas, I need more plot. :) Susan in TXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09550766549670690646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-41542671644312514562013-03-26T10:12:51.390+00:002013-03-26T10:12:51.390+00:00It's always a pleasure to read your thoughts o...It's always a pleasure to read your thoughts on favourite authors, especially those I haven't yet discovered, as you always manage to convey a sense of the experience as well as their style. I had no idea that it had a train derailment/loss in the lake at its core but I can see how Robinson might use that metaphor in so many ways.Alex in Leedshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03581135303575274237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-5811454418798608442013-03-26T01:57:13.142+00:002013-03-26T01:57:13.142+00:00This sounds like another wonderful author that I h...This sounds like another wonderful author that I have completely missed - let me see what the library has.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17782561487396697870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-76989730158351226872013-03-26T00:54:23.483+00:002013-03-26T00:54:23.483+00:00One of my favorites. I read this after I saw the...One of my favorites. I read this after I saw the<br />movie. Which is also one long poem - highly .recommend ithekateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05248476836969662392noreply@blogger.com