Elizabeth’s Comments (group member since Jun 24, 2010)

Elizabeth’s comments from the fiction files redux group.

Hello, guys. Very interesting comments. I am also about half done.

This is my first novel that includes vampires of any kind, so I don't know how bloodthirsty and bloodlust are typically done. The way she leans on the lust doesn't feel incredibly original to me.

The overlap of sexuality and children has ruined novels for me in the past. It is the biggest reason I absolutely hated the commercial novel "The Kite Runner." The fact that Butler established it from the beginning as a baseline reality of the novel helped, versus using it as a shocking jolt for sensationalism.

The theme of rebirth without complete detachment from prior experiences is exciting.

I'm looking forward to finishing the novel and reading more of the comments in the Octavia Butler thread.

Dan and I are going to read "The Fledgling." Octavia Butler has been recommended to me by several friends, including our own Patty. Dan has already made some serious headway into this novel, so we should be able to get some great comments soon about the first third of the novel.

I am creating an Octavia Butler group read with Dan. Anyone who is interested in reading "The Fledgling" should come on over.

Is there a party at the cabin 7/8-12? Would love to see any and everyone. Would love to find an excuse to visit my brother in West Seattle as well.

Just checking, because the last message was over a month ago.

I'm in. I will go wherever it is and like it. I would have come last year, but I had my 40th during the trip.

Happy to see everyone here. Wishes for bliss to Neil and Chris!

Hello... Just wanted to check in here, especially with whoever is coordinating.

I'm having trouble with my passport. There are several issues because my legal name is in transition.

If anyone happens to be an expert on how the whole passport system works in the US, please let me know. I am going to try and do a little more research. If I can figure it all out, I'll be there.

It isn't looking good. I know this seems last minute, but I started working on it a month ago. I'm just hitting one road block after another.

It has to do with the timing of finalizing my divorce and having access to those legal documents to give to social security. Arrgggghhh!!!

Please add me to the 'Maybe' list. I have to be home for my sister's wedding shower on the 20th, but I might come on Monday and stay 3-5 days during the week.

Maybe that would work out well if others are coming for either of the weekends? I know partial stays are usually ok, and I could even bring a tent... Let me know.

I liked this translation so much, I felt like I was cheating on Constance Garnett.

Lots of great moments in this profile, but I really liked one of the experts. I tried to wrap my mind around what it would have been like to read Portnoy as a 12 year old girl.

Obsolete Words

I just can't choose a favorite.

Slowrabbit wrote: "i have trouble focusing on flights. i'm a nervous air traveler. always have a book with but don't usually get too far. short stories sometimes work. i read Ben's book on a flight and arrived safe a..."

Great post.

Hi Dan! Mencken's "In Memoriam: WJB" is the original, detailed smackdown of a bigoted ass. If you haven't read it, you'd love it.

I hadn't seen that video in a while. I just rewatched it and saw that the real bird gets hurt in the end. :( Boo.

Yeah, in the pensive, real birds kind of way. Not the put a bird on it Portlandia kind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XM3vW...

Happy New Year, each and every one. Tonight I'm making strawberry sorbet champagne cocktails and hot fudge pudding cake. Anyone else making anything festive?

Kerry, I enjoyed your spotify list. Thanks for the winter cheer.

I haven't been going on Facebook at all. I have no idea what everyone's been up to, but I hope you all ring in 2013 very happily.

Patty wrote: "One criticism I might make of IJ on the whole is that it's incredibly easy to lose oneself in all of the intricacies and sleuthing out connections and in empathy for the characters, and lose sight of what seem to be really incredible and important insights into life and the world outside of the novel. It becomes such a self-enclosed universe that we sometimes forget that it's a commentary on us. I feel like the eschaton scene is DFW maybe getting really blatant and obvious and direct with us."


I have been considering some of the warnings of IJ all week. As the details unfold about the way that the Sandy Hook tragedy is related to entertainment, isolation, mental instability, family dynamics... I can't help but wonder if DFW would have officially reacted to it in any way.

Matt wrote: "so you mean like Shakespeare?"

Is there a background story here, Matt? Let's hear it. :)

Ry wrote: Also, we see Mario trying to make connections left and right, which is why he's such a wonderful character: with Hal, with the Moms, with Schtitt, and even with Millicent Kent. I think part of the reason that most of these characters seem to be in a sort of hell is because they don't make connections to each other. In T.S. Eliot's words, "Hell is a place where nothing connects with nothing." Chalk another point for Mario.

A perfect illustration of the mystery of interpersonal affinity. Either there is chemistry, or there is nothing.

Mastery of the entire english lexicon can't buy it for Hal, and being a professional athlete can't buy it for Orin.

Great post, Ry!

Does it strike anyone else as strange that E.T.A. is named after Enfield? J.O.I. certainly had more creative charisma than it takes to create a 'here's where we are on the map' brand name.

Action figures might exceed my skill set, but how about paper dolls? I know I suggested 3D, but now I totally want role playing to ensue.

A few of us have said that IJ is the book they'd least like to see become a movie, but a paper doll puppet show would be great! Just a little bit smaller budget and skill than that guy who made the Tesla Tanagra-Theater. ;)

Patty, I think you have to really earn it to have a dream in text. That's amazing.