Magdelanye’s Comments (group member since Feb 01, 2015)

Magdelanye’s comments from the On Paths Unknown group.

What's the book, Nilanjana?

Traveller wrote: "Hi James, it looks like you like Magical Realism and might like adult retelling of fairy tales. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen is a very dark interpretation of a retelling. I r..."
Since this was at the top of my inbox I thought I might drop in to say HI, Of course I always love hearing from you,

Add to your list of masters of magic realism Ben Okri . The last book I read by him The Freedom Artist is actually more of a a fable a la our dear CM?
Let me know what you think.

Astonishing the Gods is another favourite. plus I will find two more because its easy to get lost in his catalogue (although do try that too especially if you have other languages you can read)

The Famished Road and Songs of Enchantment

Also if you haven't read The Enchanted by Rene Denfeld it will amaze you

James please feel to consider these suggestions as well. I havent read the whole thread, planning on writing a couple of reviews as my reading list has gotten out of hand as seems to be the pattern for this time of the year.

can't resist on more recommendation
Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann
This one is more historical fiction, but you will quickly see why I am including it.

Cheers

BTW I love Jane Yolen and of course FK and JLB,

what do people think about the new GR homepage?

hey traveler? the first thing I did this morning was visit the mevillians and just posted a little message for your well being, missing you and wondering how things are with you. well, you may have been posting this at the same time. that says something to me, and its quite mevillian!

O Cecily....too bad.
For me, its the opposite. I loved her short story collections but although I appreciated her cleverness, her novels didnt totally click with me. I was usually disturbed by the characters and what I perceived as writing that is too tidy and pristine,plus a meanspiritedness and a notable lack of warmth. I just adored this book (have I already said that?} and chortled all the way through.

Derek. dont expect bellylaughs but yes, I will be interested in your take.

so what was not to like?

this isn't exactly a spoiler,nor a brag, but O I have just finished MAs latest ( I think) the Heart Goes Last and whoa, I wasn't expecting such intense pleasure.
it is wickedly funny and a delicious suspenseful read, you owe it to yourself, after the agony of blind assassin, to read it right away

Cecily, thanks for the references. I am not fussy about too much fussing so can't see myself worrying too much about the degree of boil. the key for me is warm pot, quality tea and covered. its sad to see a careless bag uncovered in a cup
as for bitter, vanilla soy( organic) deals with that.
of course tastes vary and no one should feel ashamed of theirs. after all, the main thing about a culpa is its warming and relaxing quality, its rejuvininating power.
The perfect accompaniment to a good book. Enjoy!

busy here!
so much shocking information!
I always thought that the whole point of pouring boiling water over the tea leaves is to release the volatile essences of the leaves. never imagined they'd be burned-- it seems preposterous.
After drinking herb teas for a while, I found I never desired my old faces, earl grey and constant comment, and even jasmine was too flowery. now I make my own blends tailored to the occasion. I have a few commercial blends in teabag form and many different blends of the green tea. Heads up Trav! the rumour is that green tea needs a bit of milk to neutralize high tannin. I love vanilla soy and I have a cup beside me now

just wondering how Derek can see the tea leaves in action through a steel teapot. personally, I prefer ceramic or glass teapots and covered is also important. never use soap in the washing up...it will retain a soapy flavor.
as for different boiling times for different types of tea....isn't the boiling point uniform? I'm mean, when its boiling its boiling...do you mean the water needs to cool down a bit?

gosh, yes, well, its swell to get feedback. I am aware that Dradin is standing in for all of us pathetic petty dreamers and our vain and foolish hopes.
but is it steampunk?

Ruth! we must have been posting at the same time as I just saw your comment there: yes, that attitude of entitlement. not even a romantic anti- hero
his attitude towards women and his role in relationship... I don't think he even thinks of this.
may the force be with you!

ah. sorry...Dradin refuses to acknowledge reality in this as well. in his fevered imagination he has it all plotted out, throwing away his last valuables as of money and will were all that counts in getting reality to co-operate.
but it got so gross and nasty and the vision so bleak, I rather recoiled from it.
if this is an example of new weird I guess I have to admit I found it ostentatious, glib, and creepy,depressing even, despite the sly humor.

how I wish I could have had this discussion to refer to as I struggled through Dradin. for some reason, perhaps this devices editing, I can't always, or never can, access certain topics. eg the group flight paths shows only 4 topics, its frustrating.
be that as it may,the book was a special order and I had my 3 weeks with it.
perhaps some might appreciate the synchronicity of reading this in season. but i t was too much for me alone.
I do think Dradin is very cleverly worked and initially I was pulled in, fascinated. Dvorkin! in so unlikely a personage he entrusts his love. The map on the body of the dwarf leads directly to betrayal, but Dradin

what happened there? it cut off where I had moved the little curser to correct a typo.... I meant to ask if you were saying that morality is subject to the vagaries of fashion, or creed, and ethics is eternal
and to Derek, I never heard of science as a reason to be ethical, bit love is a reason and that is totally irrational

hmmm...are you saying that morality is subject to v

it appears that these definitions are rather biased. is it possible to be one without the other?
without getting all judgmental, I think the so-called moral majority has given morality a bad rap

are you implying that without the ego imposing morality people would be totally immoral? Ethics are not the sole domain of those who consider themselves morally evolved. Every level and subset have their code of ethics. Our morality is in some kind of ratio to our desire to contribute to good of others, I think

just finished a book that might qualify as hilarious...that is, if the reader is up for it, for the theme is dark and horrifying. in the hands of chuck palaniak its theater of the absurd. ' beautiful you' is apocalypse by orgasm...I'd love to compare notes

SSoS was a great library find for me. another translation, from the Russian, is Insects and angels (or is it angels and insects) by victor pelevin, up there with CM in my pantheon of greats. and has nobody else loved Russell Hoban? Riddley Walker...the book of the last century, well, certainly in the top 10.

hot yes.
personally I don't like this mix cool tho no reason .
Siante!