House of Sand and Fog

“Has anyone read this book? I just finished it and I don't know who to talk to about it. It was NOT about backpacking--but neither are any of the other new threads. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?”

“I read a lot but haven't seen that one yet. Who wrote it and what is it about?”

“Andre Dubus III. I can't even begin to tell you what it is about. You would have to read it to understand. It is awesome--but very unsettling.”

“I've never heard of it. I'll just wait for the movie.”

“The last book I read was Left Behind, the first in a series of six books about the Rapture of Christ, the anti-christ and the time just before the beginning of seven years of tribulation. It was great, like a Stephen King book, only not quite as wild as a lot of supernatural books. A friend lent it to me and I was very surprised at how much I liked it. I usually read mysteries or history. What kind of book is Andre DubusIII's book? A biography, mystery, historical novel, horror, science fiction, romance?”

“Hey Lyndy, have you read "Guns Germs and Steel" by Jared Diamond? It is an awsome book (Cultural History), and an easy read for all the non-historians out there.”

“No, but Jared Diamond sounds like a great pen name, Buddha. Is it yours? Just kidding. I'll look for both books when I get to the library.”

“I read House of Sand and Fog. The main thing I took from the book is how other nationalites view how we view our freedom. It again showed me what I saw when I was studying engineering in college. People come from all over the world to work their a$$ off, while we, for the most part, take it for granted. That was not necessarily a theme for the book, but it's what I got out of it.”

“it never ceases to amaze me that we can communicate here, share thoughts, pictures and a million other things...and it is all happening on a tiny chip of sand.

i havent read this interesting sounding book,,,i just see the word - sand- and get zoned out.”

“This book unravels so cleverly that the author makes you think that you are the only one noticing the downward spiral. But there is nothing you can do to save the characters! It is the kind of book that you want to discuss with someone--that is why I posted here. All my teacher/reader friends are gone for the summer.”

“I didn't care for the book. I also found it very disturbing because there was no one to root for. Everyone in this book made mistakes that cause themselves and other nothing but trouble. The writer was excellant because he wrote in a way that I wanted to shout at the characters to "stop that, can't you see that is wrong".

I guess I like a book with a good guy and a bad guy and this book didn't have that.

I just finish "The Women of Brewster Place" by Gloria Naylor. Now she is an outstanding, creative writer. I will read more of hers.
I have started a bio of Colin Powell - good so far.”

“running girl, i agree....a great, great, book that examines our prejudices in a way in which we as americans are generally unaccustomed to seeing them presented, and which accurately (and tragically) depicts family and what it means to be a family in this increasingly complex world....you are exactly right when you say that you (as the reader) can foresee the terrible events that are destined to occur and are powerless to warn the characters to "back off" before it is too late....excellent, thought provoking reading....”

“yay, a thread about books! finally, something i know about :) i've never read the House of Sand and Fog, but that's an awesome title...maybe i'll have to check it out. right now i'm on the third book in the His Dark Materials (Paradise Lost reference) trilogy--anyone ever read those? it's a really good book...the heroine, Lyra, is fated to be the next Eve when the worlds collide again and there is a fight between good & evil.
the whole series is really clever--ostensibly they're children's books, in the way that Alice in Wonderland is...there's stuff about alchemy, and the religious allegory alone makes it pretty complex.
any Hermann Hesse fans out there? he's my favorite writer ever--Demian's my theme book :)
jeez, i need to find a literature chat site!”

“Argghhhh!”

“hi, Tarp Monkey :) whassa matta, you jealous 'cause i read good stuff while you read crotch rocket magazines? hehehe...”

“AZHiker- I LOVED The Women of Brewster's Place!! It is very good. I like Gloria Naylor. Gonzo--yes! Exactly! I am glad that you liked it. My apologies for not finding a lit forum. But I wanted to hear from you folks--not strangers. Hehe.”

“Haven't read it but thanks for recommending it. I'll look for it on my next trip to the liberry (my 4 yo neighbors pronounciation). I always love to hear about good reads!”

“running girl, i didn't mean to imply that i thought you should've found a lit forum to talk about books :) i was just saying...i graduated from college last May (English degree), and since then, i've been having major withdrawal from literature discussions! i mean, shakes, nausea, the whole works ;) i like this site (lurker that i usually am), but i need more, more, MORE!! :)”

“My degree is in English, as well. Do you like John Irving--he is my favorite modern day man. Some of the moms on the bleachers at Little League are in a book discussion group--but they also have fancy dinners to discuss the books. I want pizza and beer.”

“yeah, *The World According to Garp was awesome :) i read that maybe 3 years ago, along with something else by him, so it's not so clear in my mind...but i remember i really liked it. i like fantasy-esque things anyway :) actually, i took a lot of 17th Century classes--Milton, John Donne, etc....so i'm more familiar with a lot of old-schoolers. and i LOVE poetry! Robert Frost, Elizabeth Bishop, have i mentioned JOHN DONNE :) i like ironic, complex things that are fun to analyze. what're your faves, besides Irving? (i hear ya on the pizza & beer!)”

“Trail-er Park, I want to apologize. When you first posted, I thought you were a troll, because of the things you said. What was that all about anyway?”

“i think she is another one of tarpy's ex girlfriends. he sure has a way of racking 'em up!”

“yeah, i sorta had a feeling that people didn't know what to make of me...i didn't realize that "trolls" were so prevalent in these-here parts :) umm...i don't really remember what i said when i first started posting...maybe inside jokes to tarpy? (with whom i am still going out, mr. radagast, at least until he finds out about--i mean--never mind.) i think most of my jokes are only between me, myself, and i, though...and damn, am i funny! ;);)”

“tarpy has a GIRLYfriend! ha ha-ha haaa ha!”

“She's killing my image!”

“aww, baby, you still a bad-ass! you cute little sweetie honey monkey! smoooooch! <<<<>>>>

hehehheheehehe....”

“ain't THAT rich! ROTFLMMFAO!!!!”

“but enough about you! can i get a what-what for some Robert Frost? see, that's trail-related...nature poetry! "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"...is he Santa Claus? me thinks not!

Stopping By Woods on A Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Robert Frost”

“more nature poetry!!

Smokin trees, makes me feel high / Burnin like the forest in my mind / Do-nu-nu-nu-nu-nu, I can't stop fiendin for Mary Jane / Everyday dreamin for a taste / When I come home, from a hard day's work / And my Philly's there, oh yeah, gettin shorter / Take one to the head and I feel like / Playstation wit the Live 2 triple 0 / Hit pause, I'm reachin for my ashtray / Light the clip, take a hit, inhale it slow / Ohhhhh, ohhh, ohh, smokin, smokin trees

now, that's what i call subtlety...”