Drama’s Comments (group member since Feb 21, 2024)

Drama’s comments from the FAH Reading Challenge group.

August was a great month to sit outside and/or swim! Read? Not so much. :))). Happy September! I hope everyone is well!

A Canticle for Leibowitz
#50. Book that Makes You Think of Foil or One of His Characters
Imagine the laugh when finding out one of the characters was named Fingo! :). This was a strange, post-apocalyptic book about monks trying to rebuild society and finding/translating lost writings. That made me remember the monk song skit, and I started chuckling again. The book wasn't as good as the connections made to the group! :)

Monty Python Speaks!
#56 Book Written By A Comedian or About Comedy
Thís book is a collection of interviews, commentaries, and other tidbits focusing on the career of Monty Python. The organization of material was interesting. The author presents an interesting portrait of the group as a whole as well as their mechanics.

The Freaks Came Out to Write: The Definitive History of the Village Voice, the Radical Paper That Changed American Culture
#75 Book About or By A News Reporter
Even being part of the NY community for so long, I had no idea about the history of the Village Voice ... or that it is now online. The book chronicles the history of the publication and includes snippets of the more controversial or discussion-generating articles.

I hope everyone is well - happy September!

Ruwanthi wrote: "Drama wrote: "Hí! Happy August! The summer seems to be flying by. I hope everyone is enjoying nice weather and making great memories. :)

July was a slow read month. The Shadow Key..."

That sounds like an interesting read! Are you enjoying it? Foil doesn't seem to have left the world of academia too far behind him, that's for sure. :)

Ruwanthi wrote: "The censored version put Dorian as kind of an artistic muse to Basil Hallward, whereas the original is clear that Basil was in love with him. If you compare the two, there are maybe two or three pl..."

That is fascinating. I've got to read this again! It's ridiculous that authors couldn't write what they wanted; there's an audience for all works. :(

Hí! Happy August! The summer seems to be flying by. I hope everyone is enjoying nice weather and making great memories. :)

July was a slow read month. The Shadow Key
#19 Book written by a Welsh author
In this novel, a doctor tries to discover why or how the previous doctor died. What's intriguing is his struggle and fascination with learning Welsh customs and language. The characters are well delineated, but I was intrigued most by a Welsh author trying to capture Wales from a foreigner's perspective.

he
#1 Book you would recommend to Foil
I loved this book. Connolly writes from the perspective of Stan Laurel and includes his relationship with Hardy, Chaplin, and other comedic greats. Somehow he infuses so much personality into the characters he makes them jump off the page. It's less about the comedy and the skits, films, etc. and more about their attitudes about their art. The in-depth characterization and nod to comedic greats seemed like things that might appeal to Foil.

Mecanoscrit del segon origen
#28 Book written by a Spanish author
Does Catalan count as Spanish? The Catalanians might be upset with this category. ? This is a fascinating post-apocalyptic novel about two children who survive and try to maintain the universe and culture. It's chilling in many parts.

It's Only Drowning: A True Story of Learning to Surf and the Search for Common Ground
#32 Book about Travel or a Character Who Travels
As an ex-surfer, I loved learning about the author's experience with picking up the sport in his later youth. He is so self-effacing and honest in his portrayal. It was great fun to read. In his narrative, he is not only trying to learn a sport but also trying to connect to his brother in law. The travel is minor, but they do travel up and down the coast and through a few US states on the hunt for new waves. :)

Wow! So many of these sound like great reads; I've added them to my to be read list! :).

Your points about Song of Achilles are great. I hadn't realized what bothered me about the relationship until you nailed it. "They were Greek warriors, not high school sweethearts." Perfectly stated!

Paris Architect sounds like a fascinating read.

Also, I didn't realize there was an "uncensored" version of Dorian Gray. Was there a censored version? Why did anyone publish it if they were going to censor it? You're making me want to reread this now! :)

Two more - sorry!

#90. Book that features a musician
How Sondheim can Change Your Life by Richard Schoch
He organizes his reflections and insights by musical. I listened to the musical first, so I could follow his arguments. It was interesting. I certainly gained a deeper appreciation for Sondheim!

#101 Cover or title that references a theatre
American Theatre Wing: An Oral History, 100 Years …. By Patrick Pacheco
I learned a lot about the group, which was intriguing, and the photos were beautiful!

I hope everyone is having a great summer!

Hi! Happy summer! The weather seems to finally be with us - hooray! Because I’m on my phone, I can’t seem to find the same buttons to add my June reading. Sigh.

#4 book to recommend to La Bullshat
Modern Classics Theory of the Modern Stage: From Artaud to Zola by Eric Bentley
This was intriguing. Bentley organized the book by authors and excerpted their nominal works about theatre. A little dry at times, it was still interesting.

#10 book to recommend to Richard Chandley
The Lucid Body by Fay Simpson
This is a great resource for actors. The author explores each chakra, explains its relevance, provides reflection activities, and adds popular monologues from works for reflection. It’s a fascinating read.

#38 Diary
Spamalot Diaries by Eric Idle
It’s a quick read about Idles reactions and experiences with moving Holy Grail to Broadway, which was interesting. If you’re a fan of Monty Python, this is a fun read.

#40 cookbook
Lilo and Stitch: The Official Cookbook by Tim Rita
Not practical (with ingredients available near me), it was still interesting to explore his suggestions.

Hi All,

Happy June soon!

The weather changes, etc. made for a bumpy May. I hope everyone is doing well. :)

Boy's Life
#2 Book you would recommend to Arms
Thís was so well-written. It was equally charming and compelling in its narrative about a son't understanding of life, his father, and potentially magic elements. Even though it was lengthy, it was a great read.

Trump in Exile
#12 Book you would recommend to Tiernan Callaghan
Truthfully, I was hoping this would be more of a "how to" novel. ;). It wasn't. What it was, though, was an intriguing look at his time in Mar-a-Lago from a reporter who had served in/near the White House. It offered some interesting takes on his experiences and reactions.

Poet, Mystic, Widow, Wife: The Extraordinary Lives of Medieval Women
#63. Book that would be considered a "period piece"
The author arranged the book by topic, which was intriguing, and focused primarily on one female representative per chapter. It was an interesting read.

Galway's Edge
#70 Book that features a country in which FAH have a large fan base
Thís was a fast-paced crime drama about a group called the Edge. A detective is encouraged to "stop" the group, and some of its members are associated with the Catholic Church. It was really a fun read.

The All of It
#77 Book about or by a religious character
Thís novel reads a lot like a confessional, which it is. Someone confides a very disturbing truth to their priest, and he has to process the news while remaining objective. It's disturbing, but a fast read.

Mr. Clarinet
#100 Cover or title that references music
A detective goes to Haiti to locate a missing child. This part of the plot I followed. Other parts became confusing - voodoo and changes of names/identities tangled my being able to follow this easily. It was still a good read, but I missed a lot of the details.

Total to date: 39

Happy June everyone!

Hi! Happy (is it ever going to really be) spring! Yesterday people panicked over a possible tornado while wearing shorts and today we are back in sweaters, but at least the birds are still singing! :). I hope things are going well for everyone. I really enjoy getting new recommendations and reading about possible new "literary finds" - it has been great fun!

Paper Monsters: Persona and Literary Culture in Elizabethan England
#6 Book you would recommend to Snob
The author's concept was really intriguing - he looked at the "monster" as both the persona or speaker of the work as well as the fictional representation of its original audience. I was glad it wasn't a long book because I got lost pretty quickly after nailing down the argument, so it definitely seemed like something Snob might try to explain to someone (including me). :)

The Inheritance
#23 Book written by an Indian author (or set in India)
The combination of settings intrigued me. An Indian family meets on the coast of Scotland for a reunion, and it turns into a (literal) fight for money. The carryings-on of these characters following their greed was like watching a reality tv show - guilty pleasure at points.

Peter Pan
#55 Book that makes you think of a live skit FAH has preformed - or a potential one you hope they cover one day
Parts of this book reminded me of the "sandcastle" skit. Peter doesn't want to (or is unable to) grow up, and his parents are missing somehow. The young boy in the skit is unable to grow up and his mum is also "missing." :)

My Name Is Red
#57 Book that is about writing or about a book (metafictional)
The book has a variety of narrators, artists who are asked to illuminate a medieval manuscript, even though it is forbidden by their religion. So many parts of this book were beautiful, but I got lost in the many threads of a love story that they were illustrating and the voices of the various narrators. The idea was compelling, though, and I never realized the conflict between certain religions and artistic representations.

Only Ever Yours
#58 Book written by an Irish author (or set in Ireland)
If you liked Handmaid's Tale, this is definitely worth a read. Although a lot of her ideas are similar and might be borrowed in places, she modernizes some aspects and keeps it very dark. ... I have a new favorite author now. :). (She wrote a very dark novel closer to the original tale of Little Mermaid also ... Hopefully she is writing a new book to be released soon.).

The Lost Bookshop
#68 Book that features a supermarket or store setting
My mother bought me this book for Christmas and loved the painted picture on the side of the cover. If you face the book outward so the leaves are visible, it looks like you have many books on a shelf. ... Aside from the pretty artwork, the story is interesting. There are three perspectives/narrators who have a connected to a lost bookshop and rare books. The way they connect is really very clever.

Claire, Darling
#76 Book about or featuring a narcissist or influencer
Thís is a messed-up, fast-paced story! There are some interesting twists and devious characters. The narcissist reveals herself early on, but there might be more than one ... Claire has a difficult past to untangle.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10
#93 Book that features a scam or game
Thís was disturbed. An invitation to a party turns into a killer hide and seek game (pun intended). I used to feel bad when someone didn't receive an invitation. This book killed that. Ha. :)

Marilyn in Manhattan: Her Year of Joy
#94 Book that features celebrity or fame
In this book, the author recounts the year Marilyn Monroe seemed to find joy in relationships and in acting while living in NYC. Because she seemed so used by Hollywood and others, she's always fascinated me. Hopefully she enjoyed more than just "one good year," because some of the stories within that good year still upset me. Not many people seemed to really appreciate or learn who she was; they were just taking from her or belittling her.

Total to date: 33

Here's to Happier Books and Warm(er) Weather Soon! Happy May!

Chupeco's series sounds really interesting! The settings and plot twists are intriguing.

I'm very sorry to hear about the passing of Enzo. What a beautiful way to look at time as both a concept and the concrete physical time we have with our loved ones - it really resonates.

Melissa wrote: "Drama wrote: "Wow!!! Melissa, you rock! I love the variety of all of your choices - you must be either very easy to buy a book for because you have so many interests or very difficult because you'v..."

Hi Melissa! I visit Buffalo and Rochester often. :) The last time I went, I saw the glorious changes to the Knox and was really impressed. It's a beautiful city.

Please let us know when your book is available!!! It sounds like a great read. Where did you get your ideas? Have you always been a writer? This is so exciting! :)

March neither came in like a lion or a bear, it came in the form of a bus and kept going after it ran over me. Hopefully, April will be less busy. :)

Yes Please
#49 Audiobook
Amy Poehler has many delightful stories and observations that made this fun to listen to. She shares personal stories as well as inside tales from her days on SNL and Parks and Rec.

Pearly Everlasting
#60 Book written by an author from a location that YOU hope to visit one day (or set in that location)
The setting of this book was in New Brunswick, which was close to Newfoundland. I'd love to see Newfoundland one day, as my grandmother came from St Johns. :) It's an unusual story about a girl and her brother who is technically a bear. There are conflicts about the bear in a lumbering/logging community (shocking, right?). ... If bears are important members in New Brunswick communities, I might need to readjust my travel plans accordingly. I like bears - from a distance. :)

Live from New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live
#66 Book that features a theatre, film, or television setting
I watched the film Saturday Night and became obsessed with the personalities and behind-the-scenes stories of SNL. This book features excerpts from writers, directors, guest stars, actors; there were so many voices that I felt like I was reading the extended script of Saturday Night. It was really interesting.

The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness
#88 Book that features technology or problems with it
Everyone was talking about this book, so I caved in and read it. The author's main argument was that the popularity of social media and cellphones has had a major impact on the young generation's mental welfare. A lot of his observations and evidence suggested that we need to offer more support somehow. The immediacy of technology, particularly with cellphones, could be causing some major distress among our youth.

Total to date: 24

Happy April everyone! I hope you're enjoying a great start to spring. :)

_inbetween_ wrote: "I wish we could swap locations, we haven't had snow in years and while I hate ice, I would take it (and a car). I could hardly believe that Small Things has less imagery and dialogue than the film ..."

I'll be interested in hearing what you think if you watch the film! Maybe you'll disagree. I felt they were both equally compelling in different ways.

The old lady hero was a gem - it was such a great idea! I'm a fan of dragons as characters too, so it was a fun read. :)

It's not giving the entire discussion though ... still needs work

I am today years old and realized I could use my phone and screenshot the writers who approved their comments be shared! That way the novel photo transfers ... let's see if that works ...

Wow!!! Melissa, you rock! I love the variety of all of your choices - you must be either very easy to buy a book for because you have so many interests or very difficult because you've read so many books! :))).

You're from Buffalo? I love visiting your city - great people, great museums, great restaurants! Have you ever been to the Classical Irish Theatre?

So many questions now ... you're WRITING A BOOK???? Is it a mystery? You mentioned that it's set in the 1920s. Can we get any other details or will you wait until it's available for us to read? This is so exciting!!! You know you'll have FAHn fans who will love to read this when it's done - keep writing!!!!! (and how do you have time to write with all the reading?). I'm really excited for you and can't wait to read your work! :))))))

These look interesting! I've heard a lot about Three Body Problem - was it a good read? :)

Hí! I was buried in Harry Potter - holy cow that has been a lot of work! I apologize for the late response. I think the FB fans aren't active on Goodreads, so they can't see what we are writing. One writer wasn't sure if she was doing it correctly, so I thought I could copy/paste our updates there for writers who were comfortable with that.

Is there a way to add the covers? I haven't played with this yet in FB. ??

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, please holler. I'll try to get some discussions over there and report back.

Hi! We have a new group member on Facebook at the 2025 FAH group who has started posting and might get another member soon. :). Hooray!

Would it be ok if I copied and pasted your reads and comments into that group so they could join the conversation? I won’t do so without your permission.

Hooray more FAH reader fans!

Happy end of February! The snow could go away now, please. It's great reading weather, but not so great for skating to my car without the use of ice skates. (There were several great almost-perfect prat falls this month. The neighbors might be taking bets on when I break something and finally land in hospital.). Spring will certainly be welcome even it ever arrives! :)

War, Politics and Superheroes: Ethics and Propaganda in Comics and Film
#13. Book you would recommend to Gerald (or a book you envision would be on his bookshelf)
Because Gerald sometimes tries to be the voice of reason, I wondered if he would identify with this author's connections. It's a compelling look at comic books and the political happenings during their creation. I feel like Gerald would have a favorite comic book hero (Superman?) and this might appeal to the little boy in him as well as the intellect in the grown man.

The Children of Húrin
#26. Book that features a Star Wars, science fiction, or Tolkien-inspired character
This was the book of regret. I don't know what happened. Pages were turned and words were read. In researching whether I'm a moron, I learned that Tolkien's son felt the work was unfinished. That would have been good advice as well. If Tolkien didn't finish it, why did I try to? It wasn't like the Fellowship of the Ring, that's for sure. :)

American Scary: A History of Horror, from Salem to Stephen King and Beyond
#27 Book written by an author from the US (or set in the US)
The author used American history to look at horror fiction and made some interesting connections. It was a toss-up sometimes to wonder which was actually worse. I wish he had also connected more to horror and suspense films.

Chicago
#31 Book that features an immigration or emigration scene/situation
This story explores Egyptian students in the US. The characters' experiences, reasons for their current studies, and actual agendas (one is a spy) made it really intriguing. The events were post-9/11 so there was an ongoing tension that characters felt. It was one of those reads where you wondered what inspired him to tell the tale - did he experience or observe any of these things? Even though it was fictional, parts certainly felt like they could have happened.

Mural
#54. Book that makes you think of an online skit FAH has performed
Darwish wrote a series of poems about feeling exiled. The translator included some interesting pen drawings as well; they apparently evolved as he translated and reflected on the poem. Because he was Palestine's national poet at one point, I thought of the FAH skit about "urinal politics." It was interesting to learn that Darwish also wrote the Palestinian Declaration of Independence; he seemed like he must have been a fascinating person. The poems were intriguing, but I was more swept away by his life experiences than his writing.

The Examiner
#61 Book that features an educational setting
This novel had a clever construct. You're almost placed in the role of the examiner yourself as you try to figure out (through emails, school chats, and other media) how one of the art students disappeared. The author details an art assignment, grading process, and chats students had as well. It was fun to play "detective." It also helped satisfy that wish of being an artist; maybe not being able to draw beyond a labeled stick figure is a good thing. :)

Star Wars: I, Jedi
#62. Book that features a setting in space (or future)
A character believes that he is losing memories of his wife and receives help from the Jedi. I really wanted to like this more. There was a great scene with Luke Skywalker "reading" his mind, but that was about it. Good side, bad side, light side, dark side. Pfft.

Small Things Like These
#64. Book that features an Irish setting
How often do you say the movie was better? This was one of those times, for me. It was a fast read and a great story, but I loved the imagery and dialogue that wasn't as prevalent in the novella. (Hard to compete with Cillian Murphy's acting talents, though, to be fair.)

The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher
#79 Book that features an older character
This was an interesting adventure story involving a woman in a retirement home. She learns that she is the Chosen One, which surprises everyone including herself. I'm a sucker for a story with a dragon, and there was a dragon on the cover. She has to defeat a wizard who rides a dragon, but alas the dragon was not like Toothless from How To Tame Your Dragon series. I loved the concept of an elderly protagonist as active hero and role model, though!

Sally's Lament
#89 Book that features St Patricks Day or any holiday (or has a holiday reference somewhere within it)
Sally was Jack the Pumpkin King's girlfriend from The Nightmare Before Christmas. In this version of the story, she is the one who finds Christmas Town and meets toy dolls who will be possible Christmas presents ... until something goes wrong, of course. It wasn't a bad story at all. Zero (the dog) felt more like a real canine to me and Sally's relationship with her creator/father really offers a writer so many possibilities to explore.

Year to date total: 20 (which is also close to the number of ice skating fails in the driveway).

I hope everyone is having a good year so far - and hope the weather is better where you live! :)