tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post927758133619847605..comments2023-12-27T22:26:20.552-05:00Comments on synch-ro-ni-zing: a book report, I mean review: Henry James' The AmbassadorsRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-2547705493707740962009-12-20T07:37:32.309-05:002009-12-20T07:37:32.309-05:00Oh hello, Vagabonde, dratted word verification.
...Oh hello, <b>Vagabonde</b>, dratted word verification. <br /><br />I think I'll try Portrait next, but I don't know when. <br /><br />And thank you, the photos in the header were taken last winter. We have snow now, but not that much.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-15882928374042103402009-12-20T07:33:27.309-05:002009-12-20T07:33:27.309-05:00Hello, Renee, love and warmth to you.Hello, <b>Renee</b>, love and warmth to you.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-5885711943222872362009-12-18T11:22:34.028-05:002009-12-18T11:22:34.028-05:00I did write a comment for this post but somehow mu...I did write a comment for this post but somehow must have written the wrong word verification. I was telling you that I bought both the Ambassadors and Portrait of a Lady a while back and that because of your interesting review they will now be at the top of my reading list. I also would like to say that you header photographs are lovely.Vagabondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774109692564954568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-49454694512184105162009-12-18T10:04:43.350-05:002009-12-18T10:04:43.350-05:00I don't think I have read any thing from him.
...I don't think I have read any thing from him.<br /><br />xoxoxReneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11785932958464359112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-88525472594671067242009-12-18T00:42:20.306-05:002009-12-18T00:42:20.306-05:00Thank you for your kindness, DS. I'll more lik...Thank you for your kindness, <b>DS</b>. I'll more likely be floating with <i>you</i> than the other way around in the near future. Thanks for the inspiration.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-69148990969089367852009-12-18T00:40:25.076-05:002009-12-18T00:40:25.076-05:00Thank you, Linda.
I think being numb as the root...Thank you, <b>Linda</b>. <br /><br />I think being numb as the root of the word fits the context of the passage I quoted. Actually that's a good way of thinking about lack of awareness. I heard someone say yesterday (was it Pema Chodron?) that when she gets up in the morning she asks in her mind, "What am I curious about today?" When you're numb to what's around you, you stop being curious.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-5831661515169088012009-12-18T00:34:56.836-05:002009-12-18T00:34:56.836-05:00Really, rauf?
And I like this picture too. I hadn...Really, <b>rauf</b>?<br /><br />And I like this picture too. I hadn't thought of using it as a header. Maybe if I did more book reviews I would!Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-78113735258981290882009-12-18T00:32:59.245-05:002009-12-18T00:32:59.245-05:00Thank you, Arti. This made me want to see the film...Thank you, <b>Arti</b>. This made me want to see the films again, the couple I've seen already. I wonder if you saw "The Golden Bowl"? I remember when it came out, Uma Thurman I think? I love this period in costumes and set designs.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-79406767612537528042009-12-18T00:29:25.995-05:002009-12-18T00:29:25.995-05:00CottageGirl, I avoid book reviews. First, I avoid ...<b>CottageGirl</b>, I avoid book reviews. First, I avoid books, which then leads to avoiding book reviews. But when my friends write them, I am intrigued in one way or another and wish I were more of a reader - or - that I could gobble up the ideas without actually sitting down and reading them. (Like I wish I could understand economics, without taking a course; but then does anyone really understand economics?) <br /><br />Thank you for your kind words. I really wasn't trying to sound lofty. I just felt all these things pouring out of me as I finished the book.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-73458466565450413202009-12-18T00:25:42.922-05:002009-12-18T00:25:42.922-05:00Try him, Shattered, and tell me what you think.Try him, <b>Shattered</b>, and tell me what you think.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-26158982296441982012009-12-18T00:23:55.599-05:002009-12-18T00:23:55.599-05:00Bella, I am going to remember your grandma advice....<b>Bella</b>, I am going to remember your grandma advice. Best I've heard.<br /><br />Thank goodness for audio books for your sake. I may come to that yet myself.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-85705994926238233872009-12-18T00:22:01.142-05:002009-12-18T00:22:01.142-05:00Patricia, what a great way to put it. I took four ...<b>Patricia</b>, what a great way to put it. I took four years of Latin in high school, and I'd say that sounds about right.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-39834123723335035002009-12-18T00:20:42.140-05:002009-12-18T00:20:42.140-05:00Ok, Laura, maybe The Golden Bowl. I really loved h...Ok, <b>Laura</b>, maybe <i>The Golden Bowl</i>. I really loved his short story "Brooksmith" last year. If his other works are as human as these two, I will happily read more.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-45315491794280692692009-12-18T00:18:20.440-05:002009-12-18T00:18:20.440-05:00Loring, at least this isn't as long as the Ric...<b>Loring</b>, at least this isn't as long as the Rice and Salt book you read last year. I wonder if you get books for Christmas? I think they're my favorite gift.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-27226819845495067152009-12-18T00:03:39.123-05:002009-12-18T00:03:39.123-05:00Dutchbaby, thank you for the recs. Heading into a ...<b>Dutchbaby</b>, thank you for the recs. Heading into a two week break, I wanted something to read. Now I can stop at the University library before coming home.<br /><br />Thank you for making me so happy telling me you are jealous. There probably aren't many things a person can say, especially when they are certain people, that make a person so happy as invoking jealousy in another. Jane Austen is in that thought somewhere.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-71627700986313293482009-12-17T23:45:23.187-05:002009-12-17T23:45:23.187-05:00Susie, you remind me. Yesterday I was talking abou...<b>Susie</b>, you remind me. Yesterday I was talking about Meryl Streep with my coworker, and we were gushing over her. Then we got to complaining about a generation of actresses we don't think much of. Then we started gushing some more about Judy Dench, Emma Thompson, Helen Mirren - and I said Oh! I dreamt about Helen Mirren last night. Have you ever had that happen? I didn't remember the dream, and then her name jogged the memory of it. I've had that more times than I can tell you.<br /><br />That had very little to do with what you wrote, but it's another example of how connected our thoughts are; that's what yours did to me.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-80935330685735038102009-12-17T00:58:07.642-05:002009-12-17T00:58:07.642-05:00Oh, Ruth, you have written the perfect review of t...Oh, Ruth, you have written the perfect review of this book!<i> "James writes a paragraph with more words, clauses, commas and longer more compounded sentences and descriptions than you might think necessary or possible and still keep a thought alive."</i> It's true, but it is the way he does it--which you illustrated so beautifully in your selection of quotes, and have described exactly with your metaphors and your own luscious, languorous prose. I will hop into that trunk with those delectable bites and the high-tech film equipment (hope there will be instructions for that!) and float happily down any river that Mr. James--but especially <b>you</b>--should choose to drop me into. Brava!!<br />(Thank you for the mention; it was most kind.)dshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07616750784052488695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-36181927558811966242009-12-17T00:33:56.296-05:002009-12-17T00:33:56.296-05:00I love the phrase you highlighted - Live!...Don...I love the phrase you highlighted - <i>Live!...Don't...miss things out of stupidity.</i><br /><br />I wonder if we might not miss James' full meaning by contenting ourselves with the common, modern meaning of "stupid". We tend to think of it as synonymous with ignorance, mental vacuity, intellectual poverty. But in fact its root meaning is "to be numb".<br /><br />That opens up an entirely other way of understanding the phrase, and perhaps other issues of the book.<br /><br />Lovely, lovely review.shoreacreshttp://shoreacres.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-41525666457151774722009-12-16T23:42:39.116-05:002009-12-16T23:42:39.116-05:00lovely picture of the book, it can make your heade...lovely picture of the book, it can make your header Ruth.raufhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14069291890495563749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-40945476260592801692009-12-16T23:39:06.514-05:002009-12-16T23:39:06.514-05:00if you remain ignorant you are not missing a thing...if you remain ignorant you are not missing a thing. When you gain knowledge you feel you are missing a lot.<br /><br />i personally prefer ignorance Ruth.raufhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14069291890495563749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-90184258514383568452009-12-16T18:00:39.474-05:002009-12-16T18:00:39.474-05:00Ruth,
Thanks for the mention but you've done ...Ruth,<br /><br />Thanks for the mention but you've done a superb job here capturing your extended reading experience... I just love those metaphors, yummy and fun: I'd love to be in that trunk floating down a river, eating tasty food inside and filming the whole thing, yes and with expensive film equipment. What a wild ride, and you've made me want to read this so much! I admit I've watched more HJ movies than read his novels, but this certainly will change... thanks to you!Artihttp://rippleeffects.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-52747855242073780812009-12-16T17:00:33.904-05:002009-12-16T17:00:33.904-05:00Wow! You are amazing! Sounds like a thesis to me...Wow! You are amazing! Sounds like a thesis to me <br /> :->!<br /><br />I'm so glad you wrote the review... I feel as if I've just read the Cliff Notes, only more eloquent and thoughtful, so I think I'll pass on reading the book ... at least for right now!<br /><br />You continue to amaze me with your skills, my dear friend!CottageGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07544266302604094446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-1391976740005195892009-12-16T15:21:54.303-05:002009-12-16T15:21:54.303-05:00That sounds like a wonderful book! It seems that ...That sounds like a wonderful book! It seems that many modern novels are easy to skim because the plot is so predictable or the writing is full of the mundane. I love books that force me to slow down... I'm going to have to take a closer look at this author.Shatteredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03522971021773946033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-84070983501487110762009-12-16T14:11:23.493-05:002009-12-16T14:11:23.493-05:00Ruth,
Congratulations on finishing it. Once an avi...Ruth,<br />Congratulations on finishing it. Once an avid reader, my eyes have taken a hike. I will have to listen to an audio version. <br /><br />"Live! . . . Don't . . . miss things out of stupidity."<br /><br />Just before my granddaughter was born, I told my son something similar - Pay attention. Some things only happen once. <br />BellaBella Rumhttp://culdesacchronicles.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21312708.post-77126368221195690672009-12-16T13:46:17.513-05:002009-12-16T13:46:17.513-05:00I always thought that he wrote in Latin and then t...I always thought that he wrote in Latin and then translated his stories. I often feel that I only discover the verb at the very end of the sentence.Patriciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238803337590070942noreply@blogger.com