Comments on: TKOG Who checks you out

By: Vittoria

Vittoria — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:13:18 +0000

(Ok catching up forgive me). When I first moved down south, I rode my bike (for the first time since I was 10) out to the Arlington Public Library and spent the entire day after getting a new card just sitting happily in the stacks. Why hadn’t I done this before?! It’s like being 10 but not having to secretly hide the sexy books!! BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!

By: Pop Tart

Pop Tart — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:36:58 +0000

I”m a sucker for the classics- The Count of Monte Cristo is my absolute favourite. But Jane Eyre and Rebecca are also great.

I’m reading Dancing for Degas by Kathryn Wagner right now and am loving it.

My Grandmother was a librarian, but I confess, I hated going there as a child. Did you know they expect you to be quiet?!?! Yeah, I was the noisy kid in class…

By: That Kind of Girl

That Kind of Girl — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:53:00 +0000

I’d much, much, much rather get shown how to use the scanner by an adorably hyper-literate little kid. That failing, close second would be getting shown at a normal rate by someone with no agenda and whom I never have to see again.

By: That Kind of Girl

That Kind of Girl — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:50:20 +0000

The only graphic novel I've ever read was Maus, which was, of course, amazing. Oh, and Fun Home now that I think about it. Point being: I'm willing to take on a few more! Also, dude, I love Remains of the Day. What a perfectly moving, quiet little book. Speaking of Brit Lit, that totally reminds me that I want to read Howard's End. I'm a huge fan of On Beauty, so really ought to read its inspiration!

By: Ken O

Ken O — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:54:37 +0000

Not knowing “how to work a self-scanner” is a case of “not having done it before”. If I’d been in the place of the guy who helped you, I’d have showed you how to work it slow-time, whilst deciding if I wanted to ask you to come for a coffee with me.

Also from the World of graphic novels, “V for Vendetta”, which even managed to convince my Mom that a “comic” could still be serious literature. I’ll presume you’ve done all the obvious stuff like Catch 22, and suggest “The Committments” by Roddy Doyle.

By: Francie

Francie — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 07:24:04 +0000

If you are willing to dip into graphic novels, I think you would just adore “One Hundred Demons”–and you could finish it within two hours. I also adored “Blankets” by Craig Thompson.

“Sophie’s Choice” sounds like schmaltzy chick-lit, but isn’t. I think you would eat it up because a lot of it is about the main character (a guy) trying to make a go of it as a sex-starved, struggling writer in Brooklyn, but there is also a beautiful storyline that goes on behind it about Sophie’s past.

“The Remains of the Day” would appeal to the British half of you; honestly the book that has most changed my perception of the world after “The Giver.” Lastly, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” for your Southern strain. ;)

By: That Kind of Girl

That Kind of Girl — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:57:59 +0000

The only other Lockhart I’ve read is Dramarama, which I thought was good but fluffy at the time, but now find myself thinking about a surprising amount. I love the unexpected places her books go.

Also, looooved The Book Thief. Definitely in the top five books I read in 2009.

Haven’t heard of Elinor Lipman. I’ll check her out tomorrow!

By: ali

ali — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:28:16 +0000

Have you read E. Lockhart’s other books? I have to agree that Frankie Landau-Banks is pretty awesome. As a character and as a book, I mean. I just took a course in YA lit; that was one of my favorite books on the reading list (after The Hunger Games and The Book Thief) but really, there’s a ton of great YA stuff these days.

Do you know/like Elinor Lipman? She gets compared to Wodehouse a lot. And she does readings at Brookline Booksmith.

By the way, I totally agree that Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is great (my favorite by Maguire).

By: That Kind of Girl

That Kind of Girl — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:33:14 +0000

Dude, YA lit recommendations never come too late for TKOG! Actually, after I graduated from college, I took a year-long sabbatical from normal literature and only read children’s books. One of the most enjoyable years of my literary life and — once you know where to look for good children’s books — easily as rich and rewarding as reading lots of modern fiction for the over-12 set.

I tend to steer clear of books written for kids old enough to be concerned with sexual orientation / carnal contretemps, but I do have a keen love of gypsies. I’ll have to check it out!

By: Norwegianette

Norwegianette — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:32:02 +0000

It might be a bit late for this one, but all the talk about the YA section reminded me; If you haven’t already read it, my 13 year old self really enjoyed Brothers by Ted Van Lieshout. Confusing discoveries of sexuality, running away with gypsies and a fervent battle against book burning, what’s not to like?