Book completed

[eve_prime]

The Hopes of Snakes: & Other Tales from the Urban Landscape, by Lisa Couturier. Reread. I read this book soon after meeting her at the ASLE conference in 2005, just after the book came out, and I remembered having a certain insight when I read it, but skimming through the book didn't show me what had sparked my thought all those years ago, so I ended up reading it cover to cover. Page 82, as it happens, and even in the essay I'd guessed - but by the time I found it I was more than halfway through the book so I kept going.

Couturier is a nature writer from Maryland (DC suburbs and more rural areas) and New York City, and her book was one of the first about "urban wildlife." It's good, though when you read all the essays back to back the various quotes from Jung and numerous poets start to feel a bit formulaic.

Comments

[kaishin108]

Ahh formulaic. Yes it can get old pretty fast sometimes. Yet I am reading a mystery series and the lay outs are very predictable now that I am on the fourth book. I don't know if I am tired of it or it is comforting, lol.

[eve_prime]

Oh, I was going to say, your Jane Austen book club might like the series by Stephanie Barron in which Jane herself solves some mysteries. The reason I suggest it is because the author does an incredible amount of research into where Jane was living every year and makes it all quite vivid, so you learn a lot about her and her family while reading it. But then of course it's strange because the actual events of the books are made up.

[kaishin108]

I am not sure what to do about that book club. Quite a few of them are DAR and that bugs me a bit. And a few others are so snobby. And then I got roped into hosting twice and I mean my house is tiny compared to their large lovely houses. It feels a bit odd. Hmmm.

[eve_prime]

Hmm. Well, I would say that there are two kinds of people who qualify for DAR or the Mayflower Society or other organizations like that. There are those who qualify for membership and eagerly sign up and want people to know they're part of it, and then there those of us who qualify but wouldn't dream of actually joining. Although who knows? Maybe they have fun together?

[kaishin108]

That is very true, it is a hard thing to judge and why judge anyway. I just can't get over how exclusive it feels. Some of them may be in it for the clothes styles though. You know, dressing up in period clothes.

The other thing is, to host again (and they will expect me to), I need to do some interior painting here! You know how hard that can be, clearing out everything and the smell that will give me a headache.

Things to consider. :)

[eve_prime]

Oh, dressing up for book club? That sounds like a lot of work, though I can see why it would appeal to some people.

Can you host outside? I only host book club outside.

[kaishin108]

Oh, sorry to not be more clear on that. No one dresses in costume for book club but at the Tea people did and for the conventions. :)

But my house needs dressing up, hee hee!

Our yard is awkward to get in and out of because we don't use the screen door. I just like Zilly thinking it is a window so we go thru the garage. Also our back yard is a tad well, I just don't think it would work. :)

[eve_prime]

Oh, okay - yes, I remember the tea. Well, it doesn't seem to me that it should be your turn again for hosting for quite a while.

[kaishin108]

But that author sounds great for me! :)

Edit: I just ordered the first one, thank you!

[eve_prime]

I enjoyed reading them very much - I felt like I learned so much about her world and her family and the many places that she lived or stayed. The only thing I didn't like about it, and maybe it won't be an issue for you, is that it's now a little hard to keep "Jane Austen the fictional character" and "Jane Austen the actual human being" separate in my imagination. I'm not confused, but they overlap a bit more than they probably should...

[kaishin108]

Yes! I started it last night and the author seems bold with the overlap. But I will just keep reminding myself that from what I know, JA was NOT into writing mysteries. She is taking some liberties there. ;-)

But oh how I love to read mysteries. :-D

[eve_prime]

I hope you'll enjoy them! :)