Comments on Bookphilia.com: O-fune-sama

Well, I finished shipwrecks - which is a testament...

2009-07-14T14:33:50.578-04:00

Well, I finished shipwrecks - which is a testament only to the fact that I found the details of the villager’s lives to be very interesting indeed.

I don't tend to comment adversely on books - opinions are sooo subjective and I prefer to reserve my comments for books that I like - but I have to say, it's not a good thing when a book that is written in limited third person about a life constantly teetering on the knife-edge of disaster reads more like a pamphlet then a novel. Sorry Colleen, waaaaaaayyy too detached for me.

Heh - trying to get the head around what might be ...

2009-07-10T18:52:36.385-04:00

Heh - trying to get the head around what might be funny about gang rape. Nope. Nothing springs to mind.

What did I think of The Immaculate conception. hmmmm. It riveted me while I was reading it - though it was a little contrived. I felt for the central character. The writing was lyrical enough for me to flirt with calling it beautiful.

Celine: ah yes, what did you thinkin of The Immacu...

2009-07-10T09:13:50.931-04:00

Celine: ah yes, what did you thinkin of The Immaculate Conception?

About book blurbs being off: I once bought a T.C. Boyle novel because the blurbs just kept going on about how hilarious it was. Yeah, no. Besides being generally unfunny it featured a gang rape scene. People are crazy.

Fear not, for I am an entire ocean away and cannot...

2009-07-08T19:32:53.317-04:00

Fear not, for I am an entire ocean away and cannot hunt you down.
(Besides which, it's the second novel I've bought on your recci so you can't be that bad)

Celine: I hope you enjoy it! I'm feeling guilty an...

2009-07-08T11:17:16.040-04:00

Celine: I hope you enjoy it! I'm feeling guilty and responsible already.

Just got my hands on a copy and you will be happy ...

2009-07-08T05:42:54.385-04:00

Just got my hands on a copy and you will be happy to know that the blurb is far more sensible and accurate!

can't wait to start reading it now.

Anon-child. Book blurbs have less to do with accur...

2009-07-02T04:45:44.467-04:00

Anon-child. Book blurbs have less to do with accuracy and more to do with market. It all depends on who the blurber has been told the book is aimed at ( and yes, Colleen is right, very few blurbers have read the book) I've had quite a few novels turned down with notes attached saying things like 'wonderful book! Fine writing - but who would we aim it at?'

Launching a novel into the big bad world is such an expensive gamble for any publisher, it's amazing every cover doesn't just have a nekkid vampire-pirate in it and have done with it.

Anon: I think the people who write book copy very ...

2009-07-01T16:51:50.315-04:00

Anon: I think the people who write book copy very rarely actually read said books. Which makes one wonder why they're *allowed* to write said copy.

Kailana: Things have calmed down quite considerably here in the weather department...hope you're not still roasting!

verbivore: Excellent! I hope you'll enjoy it. I get so many book ideas from other bloggers now...I'm glad I can do the same for others.

this sounds lovely, I've never read anything by Yo...

2009-06-30T06:38:05.065-04:00

this sounds lovely, I've never read anything by Yoshimura but will add this to the list.

It isn't so much hot here as crazy humid, so I can...

2009-06-28T12:30:44.682-04:00

It isn't so much hot here as crazy humid, so I can relate! The summer sure came in with a bang! It's supposed to rain all week, though, or it was last I checked, anyways

I wonder why the book blurb is so off... it seems ...

2009-06-28T04:07:16.573-04:00

I wonder why the book blurb is so off... it seems like there are plenty of good things to say without resorting to loud and inaccurate descriptions. A quiet read sounds quite nice.