Another Deadline Blows By

Well, the suggestion of finishing by August 22 has come and gone.  Anyone read it?  I've tried, but I'm not having much luck.  I've been on vacation and have had plenty of reading time, but it just wasn't compelling enough for me to stick with it.  I can't really put my finger on what it is that I don't particularly like.  I intend to keep trying, though.  Unless, of course, you both tell me otherwise.

Let's Try...

Never Let Me Go as the next title, with a finish date goal of August 22nd.  That gives us 6 weeks, and we'll be able to celebrate Sarah's birthday, too.

I have put the website into my Google RSS feed.  So I do get notices of both posts and comments.  But if you don't have an RSS feed, that's a stumbling block.  Would you prefer we discuss over Facebook?  I've noticed that you can "chat" with more than one person at a time on FB if we all happen to be on at the same time, and/or we can just try to keep track our our thoughts through FB e-mail.  I can go either way -- I just want to do whatever is easier for you girls.

Sarah, I'd love to hear your thoughts on ATOTC.  So whenever you feel like dumping them, go ahead!

New book?

Hi ladies! I know it's Natalie's pick but I have a couple of books I've been wanting to read: Room (or is it The Room?) and Never Let Me Go. Have either of you read those? Suggestions? Looks like Nat's on vacation, but when you get a chance, let me know what you think. Miss you girls! ~K

Stalled!

But I still think this is a worthy endeavor, so let's move on.  Who's pick is it?  This month features a nice holiday weekend, so hopefully we can sneak away from various picnics and family get-togethers and read!

The Parts I Liked

Sarah asked which parts made me have trouble putting the book down.  It's been quite awhile since I've read it, but what I remember is that almost all the parts in France were page turners: the whole backstory of Charles Darnay/St. Evremonde, the man locked in the tower, the knitting woman.  I loved that woman!  Loved to hate her, loved her sly trick.  How is it that I never had heard about this knitting trick?  Surely that should be one of THE moments in literature that should be known by all.

All of this makes me realize that since all the parts I liked were taking place in Paris, maybe that's why I felt like it was really only a tale of One City.  Only one city's tale intrigued me.  That whole part about the identical looking men, and the body-snatcher guy with a son.  Ugh.

Let's Start with the Title

I'm just not getting it.  And I'm going to be brave and voice all my ignorance and THEN go look stuff up on the internet.

This does not seem to be a tale of two cities.  To me it's a tale of one city (Paris during the revolution) with the second city existing only as an escape location for some characters.  The very famous beginning, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," yada yada yada makes me think the story is really going to compare/contrast London and Paris.  Does the reader have to be a British Dickensian contemporary to see the comparison?  (Or a historian?)

All this makes me sound like I didn't like the book.  Which is not true.  In fact, I found myself not wanting to put it down at some points.  I just figured the best place to start a discussion is at the beginning, no?

Ides of March

They have come and gone and I have failed to finish our book. :-( How are you two doing? Postpone discussion for a week? Or can you kick it off and I'll catch up?