Comments on: Francesca recommends books

By: oliviacw

oliviacw — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 05:57:12 +0000

Just finished Joy in the Morning. A fairly quick read, and a nice tale – thanks for the recommendation. (Have already read A Handmaid’s Tale, not quite up to tackling Wilkie Collins yet.)

By: Ninjarina

Ninjarina — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 05:37:51 +0000

I don’t know why but Margaret Atwood bores the @#$ out of me and I had to find that out through “A Handmaid’s Tale” in AP English. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone with a decent education above age 15.

I grew up in Williamsburg, where “A Tree Grows In Brooklyn” takes place. It’s nice to learn about my town’s history – before my time when the blacks and the Puerto Ricans held it and before the current gentrification embodied by the mass exodus of pretentious art and film students from the Midwest. My piano teacher lived there in the 60s and continues to live there now. She confirmed a lot of the racial/religious strife that went on in that area.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:42:02 +0000

Margaret Atwood is the best. Oryx and Crake is my second fave after Handmaid…third on the list is The Robber Bride, which is intelligent, yet somehow manages to be a fantastic “beach read”.

By: the unfashionista

the unfashionista — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:58:34 +0000

Oryx and Crake is another chilling futuristic cautionary tale by Margaret Atwood – I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoyed The Handmaid’s Tale.

By: Twistie

Twistie — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:41 +0000

I’ll never forget the first time I read The Handmaid’s Tale. (shivers) Brilliant stuff. It was my introduction to Margaret Atwood. She’s written a lot of terrific books, but hands down, Handmaid’s Tale is my favorite. Still, I’d never try to stop anyone from reading, say, The Edible Woman.

I enjoyed The Moonstone when I was eighteen, but somehow have never read it again or picked up anything else of Wilkie Collins’. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s time to re-introduce him into my reading world. Then again, I’m also thinking it’s time for me to read War and Peace again.

Good books make boon companions.

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 23:52:39 +0000

I looooove A Tree Grows in Brooklyn! I never new there were more books by the same author. Also, I second Handmaid’s Tale- its a little scary when compared to some current laws, hint hint. Terrifying.

By: Margo

Margo — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 20:51:31 +0000

I love book recommendations – from intelligent people with oodles of style and class, that is. Have been on a bit of an autobiography kick lately, after I discovered V.S. Pritchett’s short stories I tracked down his memoir A Cab At The Door, which I can’t recommend highly enough.

By: bonnie-ann black

bonnie-ann black — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:26:52 +0000

i love all three books… another one by Betty Smith i loved years ago was “Maggie Now”. and The Woman in White — absolutely great! the francesca has the most exquisite taste in the books.

By: Ottermatic

Ottermatic — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:51:19 +0000

Oooo I just read that Joy in the Morning is about a girl who moves from the east coast to Chicago… JUST LIKE I DID. Now I’m super excited. Thanks for the recommendations!

By: Ottermatic

Ottermatic — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:44:11 +0000

Oh Wilkie Collins! How I love thee. I just read The Woman in White and it is one of my favorite books now. I’ll definitely check out The Moonstone. And A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is another one of my favorite books, so Joy in the Morning is now on my short list.

Our great minds are clearly thinking alike, book-wise.