tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post4249589268042853269..comments2024-01-02T15:37:04.858-05:00Comments on Caravana de recuerdos: MiramarRichardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-31935886538694641092010-06-19T17:46:26.080-04:002010-06-19T17:46:26.080-04:00Yo, Oprah, I might join for Cairo Trilogy, too, in...Yo, Oprah, I might join for Cairo Trilogy, too, in Nov. Too funny how Kristin never leaves us. It seems like every other post we have to do must mention her.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-27618904065500439972010-06-07T23:07:07.476-04:002010-06-07T23:07:07.476-04:00*E.L. Fay: I'm not sure what the NY Times boo...*E.L. Fay: I'm not sure what the <em>NY Times</em> book reviewer had in mind with that deep emotions-and-soap opera quip nor why the publisher thought that would be a great enticement for someone to buy the book. Almost cost them a sale! The readalong's on for Nov-Dec-Jan (sort of like very late summer or early fall, ha!), and it'd be cool if you could join.<br /><br />*Lourdes: You have me even more excited than ever about the <em>Cairo Trilogy</em> if that's possible, but, um, no need to feel old around me if you catch my drift (I prob. seem younger than I am because of my immaturity!). What you described here sounds pretty great, so I'm not sure I'd be able to provoke any new <em>Tender Morsels</em>-style outrage with my Mahfouz posts even if I wanted to!<br /><br />*Bellezza: No worries--the new link started working about 5 minutes after I told you about the technical glitches. Murphy's Law in reverse for a change!Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-45041641221776664622010-06-07T22:31:52.673-04:002010-06-07T22:31:52.673-04:00No articulate thought from me here, just glad that...No articulate thought from me here, just glad that you were able to link to my new home. I'll be back later with something more philosophical. ;)Bellezza https://www.blogger.com/profile/18073864187188953633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-16999331082532804632010-06-07T20:35:12.290-04:002010-06-07T20:35:12.290-04:00I feel so old (I'm 38) when I think about writ...I feel so old (I'm 38) when I think about writing that I read the Cairo Trilogy back in 1997 or thereabouts. Glad you guys will be reading it. I did the opposite of what you did, reading his short work first and then the longer one. I started with the Trilogy, but it ruined the shorter books for me. Just wasn't the same. I remember not wanting to start Sugar Street, the last volume, because I couldn't stand the idea of it ending. I mostly loved the family and reading about life in Cairo. Beautiful, but gloomy story, and one of my favorites. If you hate it, I'll try not so send you a nasty email ;).Lourdesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-35445671570665245732010-06-06T22:40:29.443-04:002010-06-06T22:40:29.443-04:00Deep emotions and soap opera . . . I'd be leer...Deep emotions and soap opera . . . I'd be leery of this one too, except I love the Mahfouz excerpts you posted. Would be interested in doing a Cairo trilogy read-along too, maybe a bit more in the future - late summer or early fall.Eileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11058705381647529328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-90607657472699261222010-06-06T17:33:50.284-04:002010-06-06T17:33:50.284-04:00*Sarah: Yes, please read that one soon and let us ...*Sarah: Yes, please read that one soon and let us all know what you think about it (Valerie has me curious)!<br /><br />*Frances: Nov-Dec-Jan it is then! Very excited, my friend. :)<br /><br />*Emily: We're now on for Nov-Dec-Jan, so that's awesome that you might be able to join us! In related news that might serve as an incentive, I saw that the onmibus edition of the <em>Cairo Trilogy</em> is "only" 1,360 pages long rather than the 1,500 page figure I've been bandying about. Glad you liked the <em>Miramar</em> quotes--I was a little worried about how long they made the post, but I wanted to give a feel for the style and substance of Mahfouz's writing for anybody who cared for a sample.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-19018849105219496332010-06-06T15:30:47.922-04:002010-06-06T15:30:47.922-04:00I would be more likely to do the Cairo Trilogy rea...I would be more likely to do the Cairo Trilogy readalong if we started in November - am definitely doing Madame Bovary & really trying to leave room throughout the year for spontaneous reads. So I hope we do it later, 'cause I'd really like to participate with y'all!<br /><br />Re: Miramar, this sounds lovely, Richard. I especially loved the sharp yet conversational quality of the three passages you quote at the end.Emilyhttp://www.eveningallafternoon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-67881347291281718142010-06-06T14:50:05.231-04:002010-06-06T14:50:05.231-04:00Nov-Dec-Jan would be best for me. Thank you oh cha...Nov-Dec-Jan would be best for me. Thank you oh charming and accommodating host!Franceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12597485569740436880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-79226768487628660312010-06-06T09:09:56.517-04:002010-06-06T09:09:56.517-04:00Ooo, this reminds me that I have a copy of The Thi...Ooo, this reminds me that I have a copy of The Thief and the Dog lying around somewhere. Must read it! :)Sarah (tuulenhaiven)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11007601900702081303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-86131920374720445732010-06-05T21:47:33.203-04:002010-06-05T21:47:33.203-04:00*Frances: I'm looking forward to reading Madam...*Frances: I'm looking forward to reading <em>Madame Bovary</em> with your group, so feel free to let me know if Nov-Dec-Jan works better for <em>Cairo Trilogy</em> for you. Glad to have the lovely company with either schedule, though!Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-10073402134631246032010-06-05T21:15:48.369-04:002010-06-05T21:15:48.369-04:00True. You deserve a better, cooler nickname. Could...True. You deserve a better, cooler nickname. Could not resist though. Have the impulse control of a child.<br /><br />Would love to read later in the year. Oct-Nov-Dec thing sounds good. I am going to host a Madame Bovary thing in October too. But if I know we are doing this too I will prep a little in advance.Franceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12597485569740436880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-75376810225809458232010-06-05T20:03:39.946-04:002010-06-05T20:03:39.946-04:00*Jill: I liked the irony of the misanthrope/monast...*Jill: I liked the irony of the misanthrope/monastery pairing myself, my vampire-zombie-bat-thingies-loving friend. And you may indeed call me Oprah just as long as you help me answer my next reader complaint from a blogger wounded by Oprah and/or unicorn jokes and the like. :)<br /><br />*Isabella: I thought <em>Miramar</em> had a lot going on for a short and in some ways breezy kind of read. However, I love the idea that people can become better readers over time. I've reread a couple of old favorites in the last year or two, and I'm quite sure I got more out of them now than I did "back when" (except for the surprise or shock factor).<br /><br />Frances: Oprah isn't anywhere near as cool a nickname as the Book Temptress, so don't let that wisenheimer Jill go puttin' any ideas in your head! As far as more Mahmouz goes, I'm debating whether to read a book of <em>Cairo</em> every other month starting in July or August or reading the three books in succession Oct-Nov-Dec (hint: am open to suggestions). If <em>Miramar</em> is any indication, though, I'm fairly sure you'll dig the guy's writing!<br /><br />*Valerie: I don't think I've ever seen that collection you mention, but I hope you and I both have lots more Mahfouz in our futures! In the meantime, I'm way impressed that both you and Isabella read <em>Miramar</em> before--for some reason, I was under the impression that <em>Children of the Alley</em> and <em>Midaq Alley</em> were Mahfouz' big hits other than the <em>Cairo Trilogy</em>. Anyway, thanks for dropping by!Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-5320512733953508912010-06-05T12:11:55.129-04:002010-06-05T12:11:55.129-04:00Years ago, in college or soon after, I read three ...Years ago, in college or soon after, I read three of Naguib Mahfouz's works that were bound in one volume: "Midaq Alley", "The Thief and the Dogs", and "Miramar". It was such a long time ago that I don't remember anything of the stories. But, I must have been impressed enough with Mahfouz, because I still own this volume to this day! <br /><br />You are making me think I need to re-read him soon!Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10401551604933163595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-29854034042998178352010-06-05T12:11:55.128-04:002010-06-05T12:11:55.128-04:00Kristin has left us all so wary, but glad to see t...Kristin has left us all so wary, but glad to see this worked so well for you, Oprah. (giggle - Love when Jill feels playful!) I have also been wanting to read The Cairo Trilogy for some time so thanks for the author test drive. But when will I get to those 1,500 pages? When are you reading?Franceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12597485569740436880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-30021617322078694792010-06-05T10:12:31.008-04:002010-06-05T10:12:31.008-04:00This is another one of those books that I read age...This is another one of those books that I read ages ago but didn't get anything out of, I think only because I didn't really know how to read back then. Your review encourages me to give Miramar another try (someday...).Isabella Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10735198478395875257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911087927983597831.post-63470586976267278422010-06-04T18:38:06.535-04:002010-06-04T18:38:06.535-04:00I love this: "He who deserts his monastery, ...I love this: "He who deserts his monastery, I reminded myself, must be content with the company of the profane." Could one say then that misanthropes use their homes as their monasteries? I think that's a wonderful way of looking at it. But I must say, Oprah - may I call you that? - that I am not quite up for 1500 pages myself, although I look forward to reading your posts. After all, just last weekend I tackled 760 pages of The Passage, which is full of vampire-zombie-bat-thingies (and is proving to be wildly popular in its debut week), and really that is quite enough length for me for now. But I will admit there was nothing therein like the line "Core of nostalgia steeped in honey and tears" (on account of everything being steeped in blood and guts). Very nice excerpts indeed.rhapsodyinbookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07041412748239010264noreply@blogger.com