Comments on: Sunday Salon – June 22, 2008

By: Caribousmom

Caribousmom — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:20:24 +0000

WendyCat: I worry about you guys in Southern California with fire danger as well. Not good. I finished Life of Pi and will post a review soon. It was okay…perhaps a bit deep for me to process right now!

Ann: I can see how Martel’s novel would provoke discussion. Very interesting underlying story.

Jill: I agree that the story began losing something once they got to the island…and the ending was just downright odd to me. But, I am so overwhelmed with my real-life drama right now that I can’t seem to focus enough on this book to figure it out!

Heather: I hung in with it Read my comment above to Jill

Hillary: I can see where reading this twice would help!

Marie: I’ll be posting my review a bit later.

Unfinished: I agree with your review

RR: Read my latest post on this blog – we unfortunately are facing a couple of real fire threats and are currently on standby to evacuate Thanks for visiting my novel challenges blog!

Mrs. S. : Yup it’s me I think reviews on Chesil Beach have been quite mixed…so I’m interested to see what I think of it.

Ti: Hope you are not having the fires we are getting. It is horrible here and a real worry. I *did* get through Pi…I’ll post a review later. Atonement was weird at times – that I agree with!

TheDuckThief: You’re right – it took about 100 pages to really get interesting.

By: theduckthief

theduckthief — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:01:13 +0000

“Life of Pi” is slow for about the first 100 pages. Martel takes this time to completely ground you in the setting. After that, the story really takes off.

By: Ti

Ti — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:03:34 +0000

I live in Southern California and it was dry as a bone down here, 110 degrees, and breezy so I was also worried about fires breaking out.

I could not get through Pi. I gave it a shot and just decided to skip it. I am interested in what you think of it once you finish though as most of my book group really liked it once they got into it.

I liked Atonement a lot but had a hard time with The Innocent (also my McEwan), which I still feel is one of the most bizarre books I have ever read.

By: Mrs S | Blue Archipelago

Mrs S | Blue Archipelago — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:53:32 +0000

I read Chesil Beach earlier this year and was really disappointed – so I’ve been avoiding Atonement! My friend loves Chesil Beach though and her advice is to read it as if its a one act play rather than a novel – it is a novella I believe though I’ve never read one before! I think if I’d have read it with that advice in mind I might well have enjoyed it!

Your novel challenge blog is a fantastic resource – I recommended it this week in my WG post – funny thing was I never realised it was you that wrote it!

By: ravenous reader

ravenous reader — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:46:41 +0000

I hope there has been no imminent fire threat – as a resident of coastal Florida, I get the same feeling when I see those tropical storms brewing on the weather map.

I just visted your Novel Challenge Blog – what a great idea, putting information about all the challenges and memes in one place.

By: unfinishedperson

unfinishedperson — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:40:54 +0000

Ditto, what everyone else has said about Life of Pi, including even the person who said they didn't like it, because it's one of those books that doesn't sit well with everyone. I'm not sure I loved it, but here's my my review of it, plus links to others who reviewed it.

By: marie

marie — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:28:44 +0000

Life of Pi gets better. it is a little slow at first but it *does* get better. that said, it’s not for everyone but I thought it was spectacular. I’ll look forward to reading your review!

By: Hillary

Hillary — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:05:57 +0000

I read Life of Pi a couple years a go. The first time through I didnt get what was so great about it. When I read the end, the rest of the book made sense. It is the kind of book you have to read twice to fully understand it, but it is worth it.

By: Heather

Heather — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:45:42 +0000

I would definitely hang in there with Life of Pi. I thought it was kind of slow in the beginning too, and it’s never really too fast-paced of a novel, but it is SO excellent once you get to know Pi and really get into the book. I think it’ll be well worth it.

By: Jill

Jill — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:33:53 +0000

I liked The Life of Pi until the main character ended up on an island. I won’t say much more than that in case you haven’t reached that point of the story. Then, it just went from bad to worse, and I deplored the ending. I really liked the flash forwards of the character as an older gentleman, but those flash forwards all but disappeared during the last half of the book, which was a disappointment for me.

Aren’t you glad you asked? =)

I am reading Moloka’i right now – a book I know you loved. I should be finished with it today – it’s definitely an engaging book.

Enjoy a fire-free Sunday!
Jill