tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post3708121193454754580..comments2024-03-29T03:04:00.853-05:00Comments on Wuthering <br>Expectations: I’m going to France – so the long wind-up beginsAmateur Reader (Tom)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-70702297531564720852017-07-29T17:04:19.379-05:002017-07-29T17:04:19.379-05:00Good gravy, for days the post has had Under Wester...Good gravy, for days the post has had <i>Under Western Skies</i>, plausible but imaginary, rather than <i>Under Western Eyes</i>. Maya's correction was too gentle, although appreciated.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-20240370942000054882017-07-28T16:02:13.223-05:002017-07-28T16:02:13.223-05:00All right, I've stared at "LES ESPÉRANCES...All right, I've stared at "LES ESPÉRANCES DE HURLEVENT" long enough. "LES EXPECTATIONS DE HURLEVENT" is funnier. Classic translation dilemma.<br /><br />Thanks, Jenny. Put that way, we all sound crazy. No, I mean, thanks!Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-56574169599602281392017-07-28T15:30:51.475-05:002017-07-28T15:30:51.475-05:00I hope this ten months is wonderful. And whatever ...I hope this ten months is wonderful. And whatever you put here, I'll read. Thanks for so many ideas -- I've absorbed more of your writing over the years than plenty of my favorite authors. No regrets, dude. Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00251983804060081813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-47934542531943770472017-07-28T10:30:44.643-05:002017-07-28T10:30:44.643-05:00The searchable archive has a lot of advantages ove...The searchable archive has a lot of advantages over the commonplace book.<br /><br />I think I don't repeat myself enough. Maybe I'll come back from France and just start over in the 1830s. Balzac, Poe, Carlyle. See how much I just write the same things.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-18563877936002353222017-07-28T10:10:49.662-05:002017-07-28T10:10:49.662-05:00The great danger of having fifteen years of posts,...The great danger of having <i>fifteen</i> years of posts, plus being in my mid-60s, is that I just assume that <i>I</i> remember whatever I wrote, which is also ludicrous (and leads to repeat posts). On the plus side, I no longer assume that, and try to remember to search the archives for whatever I've just thought about posting.Languagehathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13285708503881129380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-80868166618563856882017-07-28T10:00:59.706-05:002017-07-28T10:00:59.706-05:00Mel, it is lovely to hear that. The project years ...Mel, it is lovely to hear that. The project years were terrific - Yiddish, Portuguese, Austrian, etc. More people should do them. Pick a tradition you don't really know, pick, I don't know, three standard books. It'll be great. Pick ten books and it'll be even better.<br /><br />Let's see, where is Balzac buried? Père Lachaise. Got it.<br /><br />The great danger of having ten years of posts is that I suspect that I sometimes just <i>assume</i> that everyone has read and remembers whatever I wrote about whatever book, which is ludicrous.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-28000374064256910912017-07-28T07:56:36.310-05:002017-07-28T07:56:36.310-05:00I am a relative newcomer to this blog, but I have ...I am a relative newcomer to this blog, but I have often dipped into earlier comments on specific authors to see whether your opinions of one work by an author I admire is similar to others you expressed before I arrived on scene. I have received great pleasure from these columns and our occasional exchanges over the two years or so that I have been reading. Since I am in Oxford myself at the moment, I certainly won't criticize your desire to spend time traveling. I hope, however, that we have not seen the last of your literary scribbling.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00014242874264804584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-84839019460510832062017-07-28T00:04:48.622-05:002017-07-28T00:04:48.622-05:00Thanks directly to Years of reading your posts I d...Thanks directly to Years of reading your posts I discovered the amazing world of Yiddish literature, your Portuguese event lead me to late 19th century Brazilian short stories, your Scottish period reunited me with an old hero, James Boswell, your great series of posts on Balzac motivated me to embark on a full read through of his La Comedie Humaine, almost finished it now.<br /><br />I also think the imposed discipline of regular blog posts have helped keep me going through some now passed dark times. <br /><br />Sometimes your posts are beyond by level of erudition but I always read them. <br /><br />Good luck in France. Visit Balzac's tomb for us!!Mel uhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714473754458914681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-48690942784572381022017-07-27T16:42:01.786-05:002017-07-27T16:42:01.786-05:00Paris, even Paris in August, will go some way to r...Paris, even Paris in August, will go some way to relieving the distress. Most of the distress was tied up in getting the long-stay visas and so on. Thanks for the good wishes.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-57414739793443990952017-07-27T08:06:24.387-05:002017-07-27T08:06:24.387-05:00A big change. Potentially quite a distressing one....A big change. Potentially quite a distressing one. But I hope you'll be able to give us the benefit of your insights and knowledge in another form in the not too distant future. More importantly, I hope you have a whale of a time in France.Mimic Hootingshttps://mimichootings.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-19584729042092962312017-07-26T15:07:53.824-05:002017-07-26T15:07:53.824-05:00Oh, thank you for all of the conversation and comm...Oh, thank you for all of the conversation and commenting.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-7987826974747616802017-07-26T13:01:54.902-05:002017-07-26T13:01:54.902-05:00Above the fallow fields
of silenced voices
rises ...Above the fallow fields<br />of silenced voices <br />rises the hemlock smoke<br />and nowhere the inscription:<br />Here lies one who <br />would not quit singing <br />with a thistle in his mouth. (Peter Huchel)<br /><br />Thank you for all the wonderful posts. Best of luck in all your future endeavors. You'll be missed.Cleanthesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15363416290397892659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-35874591233826668572017-07-26T12:03:38.703-05:002017-07-26T12:03:38.703-05:00A little conservation, some native plants - maybe ...A little conservation, some native plants - maybe some milkweed, attract the monarchs. I don't know where this metaphor is going. Poor book bloggers, mostly bindweeds and invasive thistles.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-943205518918223102017-07-26T10:05:38.152-05:002017-07-26T10:05:38.152-05:00Cleared fields fill with weeds. Mauvaises herbes,...Cleared fields fill with weeds. Mauvaises herbes, mon ami!Languagehathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13285708503881129380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-83076662548543008072017-07-26T09:37:48.077-05:002017-07-26T09:37:48.077-05:00Surely someone will fill the gap now that the fiel...Surely someone will fill the gap now that the field is cleared. Someone else who reads style-first, as I wrote yesterday. I guess I was a little surprised how few people read style-first. I mean, I did not expect there to be a lot.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-67955309315803013632017-07-26T08:09:20.720-05:002017-07-26T08:09:20.720-05:00Noooo! Where am I going to get my dose of thought...Noooo! Where am I going to get my dose of thoughtful, eloquent responses to literature? I mean, I get that the chance to drop everything and move to France is pretty irresistible, but still. I'll try to make the time pass quickly (lots of editing work will help), but don't you dare disappear for good!Languagehathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13285708503881129380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-79180562643132287662017-07-25T23:58:21.384-05:002017-07-25T23:58:21.384-05:00I vote that I go to France. Do you see Gargantua ...I vote that I go to France. Do you see Gargantua up there in the header now, eating giant spoonfuls of mustard in Paris? That will be me. That wins the vote.<br /><br />Thanks, Anthony; thanks Maya. Very kind.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-34808322338669284722017-07-25T22:33:32.166-05:002017-07-25T22:33:32.166-05:00Bon voyage, and enjoy Under Western Eyes! I've...Bon voyage, and enjoy Under Western Eyes! I've enjoyed reading your blog very much, and wish you all the best!mayareadsbookshttp://mayareadsbooks.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-13027468235596781432017-07-25T21:58:58.702-05:002017-07-25T21:58:58.702-05:00Very best of luck whatever you decide, Tom. Your b...Very best of luck whatever you decide, Tom. Your blog (like Anecdotal Evidence) is part of my daily reading diet. I like what you do here very much. If it evolves into a film or glutton blog I'll happily read along.Anthony (@timesflow)http://timesflowstemmed.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-36625207671361612692017-07-25T19:35:38.102-05:002017-07-25T19:35:38.102-05:00Vote! Vote!Vote! Vote!dorian stuberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10069923023770087626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-87472640030286467662017-07-25T14:29:53.143-05:002017-07-25T14:29:53.143-05:00Not writing is so easy. Not reading is neurotical...Not writing is so easy. Not reading is neurotically impossible, but not writing - writing needs that extra push. <br /><br />I like the idea that I should have put this decision to a vote, or maybe formed a committee.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-18466228956401512492017-07-25T14:23:52.902-05:002017-07-25T14:23:52.902-05:00Let’s see. What to say. What nice responses. Th...Let’s see. What to say. What nice responses. They are an argument against closing a blog. It’s bad for the vanity. “greatest thing out there” – all right! That’s the spirit.<br /><br />I know what people mean about the end of the regular stream of posts, especially over years. Even if – when – you fall away from it, stop reading for a while, it is still there when you return. I know I’ll be shocked when Patrick Kurp stops writing Anecdotal Evidence. He posts every day, even on vacation! And I read it, or at least look at it, every day except when <i>I’m</i> on vacation. It’s like we’re writing newspaper comic strips. <br /><br />The friendships are a real pleasure of book blogging, and a surprise to me. I’ve only met two book bloggers in so-called real life.<br /><br />Speaking of which, Lisa – yes, let’s meet in Frankfurt, that would be a pleasure. I believe you have already met my wife, actually, possibly very briefly, at ALTA.<br />How nice to hear that I have inspired someone to read <i>Italian Journey</i>.<br /><br />If our apartment has a guest room that means me made a mistake and could have gotten something cheaper, but if anyone is coming to Lyon in the fall, we can help you with your AirB&B selection. Let Emma know you’re coming, too.<br />We saw Chartres a couple of visits ago, but the big stained-glass window that tells the story of <i>The Song of Roland</i> was covered up, so we have to go back. I don’t know when. <br /><br />Emma has reminded me that I should write a bit more about Pennac’s book. Easy to recommend to any reader, but especially to any teacher.<br /><br />Your encouragement about the language is very helpful! Your list of book shows is just one more example of French cultural riches.<br /><br />Thanks again to everyone for all this well-wishing.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-82535239402657100332017-07-25T14:04:14.985-05:002017-07-25T14:04:14.985-05:00Like Rohan, I declare Wuthering Expectations a par...Like Rohan, I declare Wuthering Expectations a part of my daily reading fare, and I'm a little alarmed that you've got the nerve to make such an important decision on your own. I just spent two weeks in the Netherlands, and WE was one of the few websites I checked during my travels.<br /><br />On the other hand, I didn't post a word anywhere during those two weeks, and now that I'm back, I find that it is indeed very easy to continue not posting.scott g.f.baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05726743149139510832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-38468316858019566142017-07-25T13:11:24.006-05:002017-07-25T13:11:24.006-05:00I'm more than impressed by you stamina and the...I'm more than impressed by you stamina and the five posts a week for 10 years. I don't know how you did it. I'll follow the new version of Wuthering Expectations and your adventures in France. <br /><br />Happy to have you spend 10 months here and thanks for the mention about Pennac's Ten Rights of the Reader. I love this man and his joyous and irreverent love for literature.<br /><br />I'm sure your French will improve greatly and you'll get used to it and be fluent when you leave. You know what happened to me today? I was in a museum and they mixed up my audioguide and gave me one in English instead of French. It took me a few minutes to realize I didn't have one in my native language. I'm so surrounded by English all the time that I didn't even notice. In ten months, that's going to be you in France. French won't sound so foreign.<br /><br />Glad you plan on visiting Quais du Polar. Lucky you, they have a stand with books in English.<br /><br />There will also be Le Salon du Livre in Paris and La Fête du Livre de Bron (Lyon's suburb, both in March.<br />If you have the chance, I guess that going to Angoulême for the festival of Bandes Dessinées is worth the trip. <br /><br />Meanwhile, good luck with the packing and have a safe trip. See you around.<br /><br />EmmaEmmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09716351799835873036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383938214852108244.post-63966404957247933772017-07-25T11:22:59.382-05:002017-07-25T11:22:59.382-05:00Wow! Congratulations. I hope you are able to see C...Wow! Congratulations. I hope you are able to see Chartres. Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15097908023032528200noreply@blogger.com