I finished it last night -- a brick of a thing -- and resolved that I had been on the whole delighted and overjoyed by it; it's a novel of genuine beauty, written by someone who clearly loves the language and tends it -- sometimes gently, sometimes harshly, as one would care for rosebushes -- to best effect.
It maintains at once tones of meticulous exactitude and unbridled, satirical glee, in the tradition of the best British humor -- and yet manages, in some passages, to be altogether transporting in its Gothic lyricism.
I will not say which novel it is that has affected me so profoundly. That would be base and mercantile, and such advertisments at any rate have become common enough on this site to be altogether meaningless.
If you should chance to read this book, however, perhaps you will recall this post and think to yourself, with some satisfaction, "Ah! This might be -- nay, must be -- the book to which Tom was referring on that day long ago! I am deeply indebted to him for that recommendation." And you will then buy me a sweetcake, because that is how things are done. Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
*swats Tom over the head with a brick*
or was that a novel?
Sorry, friend, that's just how things are done.
Posted by Vána (Member # 6593) on :
Tom, you honestly are one of my favorite people. Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Tom, if you take me out to buy pants, you can be one of my favorite people too.
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
This is bad. I have to go do a presentation, and I can't stop giggling.
Posted by Vána (Member # 6593) on :
Noemon: You're right, that helped a lot! Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Posted by miles_per_hour (Member # 6451) on :
worst. recommendation. ever. Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
The author thanks you.
Posted by Yozhik (Member # 89) on :
::pies Tom with freshly baked shoo-fly pie::
Posted by JaimeBenlevy (Member # 6222) on :
If we guess right will you tell us? Harry Potter!
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
This is Tom we're talking about.
I'd be impressed if this was actually a book.
-Trevor
Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
quote:It maintains at once tones of meticulous exactitude and unbridled, satirical glee, in the tradition of the best British humor -- and yet manages, in some passages, to be altogether transporting in its Gothic lyricism.
Hmmm...
This passage has got me seriously considering the possibility that Tom is a closet fan of Gothic Romance novels - but he's got too much pride too admit it right out. But at the same time he's too honest to keep it a secret.
Consider yourself outed, Tom. Posted by Traveler (Member # 3615) on :
My guess is that he is talking about "Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell" by Susanna Clarke.
I'm just finishing it and it would match his description.
-Matt
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
I already read that.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Goodnight Moon?
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
I love Goodnight Moon.
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Oh, Tom, I know exactly what you're talking about! Your review just touches my soul! I, too, just finished that marvelous tome that is, in my humble opinion, Jane Austen's finest. I'm still crying about the scene in the conservatory, but my spirits lift whenever I recall the deep lessons on the human condition I garnered from that fleeting witty conversation in Mr. Buckley's parlor on the mauve chaise lounge with the puppy and the atlas.
Oh, I'm so glad I'm not alone in my unspeakable ardour! I feel like we've really touched on an intimate psychic level this morning, TomDavidson!
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Obviously, he's talking about The Politics of Breastfeeding, my personal all-time favorite expose on the evils of corporate greed written by a British scientist.
Them folks know how to write . . . Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
Thwarted!
-------------
I didn't know you finished it. Did you get back up last night? Is THAT why you were in the bathroom so long?!
[ September 17, 2004, 01:35 PM: Message edited by: Christy ]
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
Nah, it was 'Have a Nice Day!: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks' by Mike Foley. (Mankind, the pro-wrestler)
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I knew you'd like The DaVinci Code. Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
Traveler: That was my first thought as well.
I haven't read it yet [it's definitely on the list], but Tom's desc. matches up well with all the reviews of it that I've read.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Nope. Kat has it totally right.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
Thank you for the compliment, Tom_Davidson. I was rather proud of my accompishment when I finally finished. However, how did you get such an early copy? I didn't complete the first draft until 2017, and the first printing was in 2021.
[ September 17, 2004, 08:36 PM: Message edited by: aspectre ]
Posted by Traveler (Member # 3615) on :
So....any more ideas on what book he is reviewing?
I'm very curious.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
To steal one from kat*, I'm going to go with Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Lover's Soul
I still laugh at the thought of that title, kat--that was definitely the best one-upping I've experienced here at Hatrack.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Nope, I'm certain he's been reading the Wheel of Time and just won't admit it.
AJ
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
*grins at Noemon* That was so incredibly fun.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Wasn't it? I wonder if that thread's still around.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
We should have a thread scavenger hunt. That could be a fun Hatrack game.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
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