In a world where the privilege to use color must be purchased as a "Pleasure" (and there are many other "Pleasures" one must purchase, too), a young apprentice artists discovers a secret world in paintings that he can enter into. First of a series, good stuff!
Three sisters go to Oakland in the 60s to visit the mother who abandoned them when they were babies. Interesting view of Black Panthers from the children's viewpoint.
Briddey and her boyfriend get an brain operation to enhance their relationship by being able to share emotions more better. Yeah, well, that didn't work out so well. Good book, my usual complaints about Willis's obstinate characters.
I was liking this book very much, then the author stepped on the gas. Woah!
Why the hate for Dances With Wolves, I like that movie. I liked the book Pollyanna, too, but I read it as an adult of maybe forty or so. I liked the movie Titanic, too!
I didn't realize Vielle was a black woman until chapter 32. Shows my reading comprehension level, I guess!
I didn't read Three Men In A Boat until I was like, forty, or so. My son said, "Dad, Heinlein mentions it in Have Spacesuit, Will Travel." Well, I read that when I was in junior high school, I didn't realize those book mentions were actual books I should read. Anyway, my thanks to Mr. Lampedusa for recommending Three Men to me!
This was a good book, the third I've read in this world/setting, and this fun is much more fun!
Quote:
"It makes the rounds from year to year. Like fruitcake." -- Hey, I like fruitcake! A lot!
Quote:
"You need to switch to a safer habit, like smoking." -- Said to a cat.
Quote:
And kissed her for a hundred and sixty-nine years. -- I teared up a little bit!
The trouble with this book was that every couple of pages I had to stop to look something up on the internet. Then, a few hours later, I'd get back to the book. Very slow going!
Subtitled "A tale of murder, insanity, and the making of the Oxford English Dictionary". Good book.
QUOTE:
The policeman, plodding and imperturbable, replied that if he did have another gun, perhaps he would be so kind as to keep it in his pocket for the time being.
Students in Rome solve a mystery. First published in 1956, I'm sure I read it when I a lad. I see the author also wrote "Castaways In Lilliput", which I remember was one of my favorite books in elementary school.
I rember Mr. Lusk in college telling me this was the classic western story. It took me ten years to get around to reading it, but it was worth it! First published in 1902.
Eftsoons (pg. 352) -- 1. Soon afterward; presently. 2. Once again.
From the O.P. to the Prompt Side (pg. 380) -- Stage directions. The Prompt Side (P.S.) is stage left, O.P. is Opposite Prompt.
Excrescence (pg. 382) -- 1. An outgrowth or enlargement, especially an abnormal one, such as a wart. 2. A usually unwanted or unnecessary accretion
Bally (many instances, pg. 396 for one) -- Informal intensifiers; "You bally idiot!"
The Carmantle(pg. 396) -- A ship. probably fictional.
Jimmy Mundy (pg. 431) -- Not the jazz musician, probably a fictional charactor.
Mens sana in corpore sano (pg. 470) -- Latin, a healthy mind in a healthy body
Ris de veau à la financière (pg. 496) -- Calf's sweetbreads in a sauce of wine, olives, truffles and mushrooms (from Blandings: Anatole.)
Consommé pâté d'Italie (pg. 497) -- Soup of italian pasta . Paupiettes de sole à la princesse (pg. 497) -- Rolled fillets of sole garnished with asparagus tips.
Caneton Aylesbury à la broche (pg. 497) -- Aylesbury duckling on the spit.
Lady Bablockhythe (pg. 513) -- Fictional author created by Wodehouse, see the Wikipedia List Of Fictional Books. Gaspers (pg. 520 ) -- Slang for cigarettes, OBVIOUSLY, probably a lesser brand.
Quotes:
She was rather like one of the innocent-tasting American drinks which creep imperceptibly into your system so that, before you know what you're doing, you're starting out to reform the world by force if necessary and pausing on your way to tell the large man in the corner that, if he looks at you like that, you will knock his head off. (pg. 365)
'Mens sana in corpore sano,' observed the Prof.
'I shouln't wonder,' I said cordially. (pg. 470)
My daughter Bootles has just developed mumps. (pg. 483)
Young Bingo uttered a frightful cry of agony.
'What! Is that - that buzzard trying to pinch our cook?'
'Yes, sir.'
'After eating our bread and salt, dammit?'
'I fear, sir,' sighed Jeeves, 'that when it comes to a matter of cooks, ladies have but a rudimentary sense of morality.' (pg. 500)
Bertie is ordered to his aunt Dahlia's place in the country, ends up having to steal another necklace, inadvertently gets engaged to Florence Craye, and yet another run-in with Spode.