Wednesday, October 02, 2013

Books I read in the second quarter

Actually, that should read Books I didn’t read in the second quarter. Unlike in the first quarter, April to June, when I read 17 fictional and non-fictional books, I read only six in the past three months, averaging a poor two books a month. I didn’t read much because I didn’t feel like reading. You don’t have to scroll far down the blog to find out the ones I did.

The only book I read but didn’t review was A Dog of Flanders (1872) by English author Marie Louise de la Ramée. The short fiction, published under her pseudonym Ouida, is the beautiful and touching story of a poor boy and his bighearted dog. There is history behind this story which has been adapted to film thrice. I think there is an animated version too.

Of the remaining five books, I enjoyed reading The Girl from Sunset Ranch by Amy Bell Marlowe (1914), Vultures in the Sun by Brian Garfield (1987), and All the Lonely People by Martin Edwards (1991).

As always, I read comic books including Action Comics #1 (June 1938) where Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster introduce Superman to the world. The rather immature storyboard didn’t hold up but that is to be expected in this digital world of comics. I read the comic book online though I wouldn’t mind owning the rare comic worth millions of dollars.

So if I didn’t read books in my spare time, what did I do? I have been watching Friends all over again with the family. We are now in Season 6 where Monica proposes to Chandler. I think it is one of the best sitcoms to come out of the nineties. It has plenty of good humour. I also like its central premise about six friends who stick up for each other. It gives you a nice feeling.

I’m hoping to read more books in the third quarter, from now until new year’s eve. Let’s see how that comes out.

11 comments:

  1. I liked Friends. Never watched the episodes in order but just picked up one here and there.

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    1. Charles, FRIENDS was telecast repeatedly through most of the last decade but it's only now that I'm watching it sequentially. I'm familiar with most of the episodes and seasons and I still enjoy it. There's a little bit of Archie and the gang in the sitcom, like Joey's love of food, sandwiches and pizza, reminds me of Jughead's voracious appetite, particularly for burgers and hot dogs.

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  2. Ouida popped up as a reference in one of the early westerns I've been reading. “‘Handsome fellow,’ went on the quartermaster, ‘and looks like a gentleman. Glories in the Ouida-esque name of Charles Morely Cairness.” Gwendolen Overton, The Heritage of Unrest. I don't remember coming across her pen name before, though the book title is familiar.

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    1. Ron, it was interesting to know how Ouida was used in early westerns. This was one of those story books that popped up during my search for vintage books. It reminded me of that other children's classic HEIDI where the little girl lives with her grandfather. The boy in this book also stays with his granddad.

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  3. You read Garfield which was good! And Edwards! My resolve to put a cap on my book buying means I may not be seeking out these 2 particular titles..........boohoo!

    I need to catch up on some tv series, like Justified and Luther!

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    1. Col, I have a couple of other books by Brian Garfield of which I'm looking forward to reading THE PALADIN. I'm told it is one of his best-known novels. I have put a cap on book-buying too though occasionally I pick up a used book or two depending on what I find. I don't know anything about JUSTIFIED and LUTHER.

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    2. Luther is a UK police series starring Idris Elba, very dark, very gripping.
      Justified is a US series about a marshall - Raylon Givens, inspired by an Elmore Leonard short story.

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    3. Col, thanks for the explanation. Both sound interesting, JUSTIFIED more so. I'll see if I can find anything on online.

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    4. Justified is an excellent TV series. I hope that you're able to watch it Prashant. Luther, never watched that one.

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    5. Keishon, thanks for recommending JUSTIFIED. I'll surely check it out.

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  4. Coming late to this - how interesting, the Ouida sounds much better than the book by her that I read, and I'm glad you liked it. When I was young I read a story about a Flanders dog in a book my mother had had, I wonder if it might have been the same one? Your other commentator brings out a good point - her characters have extraordinary names!

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