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MN Little Italy 15

1000 replies

francagoestohollywood · 09/06/2009 13:41

welcome!

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McCloudsextoy · 18/08/2009 14:40

I can lend you a very good book Styron has written on depression, a slim volume. That was definetely good.

I think Styron's problem is that he lacks empathy, which makes it hard for him to imagine real characters. Agree with Damon, though have not read the book in 20 years...I also find the whole thing about her choice so extreme, hardly believeble. Does Styron have kids by the way???

Off to buy some masking tape, and no, not fr the screamying baby upstairs, though i am tempted..... {Will this appear on the DM front cover?} Mnetter leaves baby SCREAMING IN THE COT!

McCloudsextoy · 18/08/2009 14:44

I like you opinionated.

I was reading some stuff we wrote about 18 months ago, damon was moaning about dp who was moaning about a belt forgotten under a towel in the bath, i was moaning about feeling crap (i was pregnant as pippi guessed), franca was planning a huge xmas lunch and then the bit about Brangelina's dp and l'asciugamano per il pisello di papa...pmls.

francagoestohollywood · 18/08/2009 14:50

Mc cloud, I read "In a country of mothers" by Homes. Which I really enjoyed reading, though not sure what to make of it at the end. I do recommend it though.

As for sophie, I agree with pippi. Too much stuff thrown in. Though I suppose the erotic tension between Sophie-Nathan-the writer serves the narration of sophie's tragedies.

As for the choice. Would you have chosen? I don't think I would have.

Ah mc cloud, you know that a movie has been made out of lo spazio bianco. Wityh margherita buy, not sure about her though.

I've got so many things to say so littlwe time.....

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francagoestohollywood · 18/08/2009 14:52

Yes, I totally agree Mc, I don't think your average mother would have chosen, would she? She would have gone to the as chambers with both her children. Or am I barking mad?

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DamonBradleylovesPippi · 18/08/2009 15:42

agree with McC re the lack of empathy. He talks about all these very powerful and sensitive issues and yet he manages to get zero emotions from the reader: I did not care about any of the characters, in fact I even skimmed read the Nathan and Sophie's bit and Nathan's paranoia, and even all these big political, sociological and historical issues were threated from such an outsider point of view that felt really like reading an essay.

I am upset because it was a great idea for a book but he ruined it. Want to see the film now. Maybe it is better as surely they would have focused just on a few bits, no?

Re the actual choice I am sure it happened more than often, bored 'officials' exercising their 'power' etc but surely it must have been a more dramatic scene, surely. Of couse I think I would have gone, but I am sure DH would have gone too.

I bet he has no children.

I bet mine is doing something terribly naughty while I pretend to be the greatest critic of all times.

Yes I have read some of our past thread and it'll be sad to have them deleted as I am sure in years to come I'll cherish shudder cringe at the way I was. However I must take care of some details.

McC meet-up next week?

McCloudsextoy · 18/08/2009 15:45

Oh, don't know about the choice. I guess i would have chosen the youngest, then killed myself and given him/her for adoption. Lol to be honest it makes me laugh. I refuse to believe that a choice exists, and both my kids would be saved. I mean why would i have to choose. Too far fetched. I am sure it never happened. What is the choice in the book meant to represent anyway?

M Buy gets to be in everything, i think she would be good in it though.

What else have you read Franca?

Rosa · 18/08/2009 15:48

Am here - no internet then me with terrible cold no febbre - got it from nipotina who had suspected pig flu but sis said she wasn't really sick enough...but she is a very healthy girl... Anyway felt like sh*t for 2 days and now minirosa has terrible cold and a febbre insieme!!!! Dh returning to Italy domani so dd1 is bound to get it as well !!! I will catch up when I can have lots to read ..Baci a tutti

DamonBradleylovesPippi · 18/08/2009 16:27

I do not know what I would have done tbh. It is such an extreme situation in extreme circumstances that really leaves me with the foggiest idea.

I am interested in why you all think that it could not have happened? In the contest of all the horrific stories that did happen this does not even seem so far fetched ifswim. I read loads of books about the war in general and the real stories are a lot more horrific than the one described.

Have you read Everything is Illuminated? I think that book touched the issue of polish anti semitism much better as the horror of the executions etc.

hello Rosa yes dd1 with temp as well. hope it's a stomach bug and that she doesn't pass it along as we are to go away soon too.

McCloudsextoy · 18/08/2009 16:36

i meant that in lit you have to be carerful with extreme cases, agree that everything is possible in life, and this terrible thing probably happened to some lady somewhere.... but you need to be a very good writer to put it in a book, and i dont believe it in the bookwhich makes me dislike the book

penthe whee are you we want your opinion

francagoestohollywood · 18/08/2009 17:39

Hi Rosa, sorry to hear you are unwell. Hope it goes soon nad is not the maiala...

Pippi, sorry, I didn't want to give you the idea that I don't believe things like those could not have happened. Worst things happened (have just watched a documentary on the strage di sant'anna di stazzema ). The scenario is totally belivable.
What I found difficult to "believe", or, to put it better, to emphasize with is thaT Sophie came up with her choice very quickly. What you are scared, in front of a bloody scary Nazi general, in the scariest place in the world, how do you manage to think, oh I send the little one, as the big one might survive? t is too rational, in an irrational context, iyswim... the rest of sophie's story is totally believable, and I actually found it quite moving when she tried to seduce the other nazi hoping he could help with her son survival...

Mc cloud I have just read:
Sarah Waters The Night Watch
Jessica Mitford Hons and Rebels
A collection of checov's short stories
And i'm now reading Ann Enright (sp?) yesterday's weather.

Have to go and make the sugo!

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DamonBradleylovesPippi · 18/08/2009 17:40

ah siiiii. Yes that's what I meant to. The whole storywhich could have been perfectly credible in historical terms was totally unbelievable once put on a book.

I must give this book away because the mere sight of it annoys me. Anybody wants it?

Will start reading AM today.

DD2 has eaten some Canesten Nappy Rush cream. She has found it, thought it was teething gel and bit it and made a whole. she seems fine. should I worry? Imagine this on the DM????

francagoestohollywood · 18/08/2009 17:41

emphasize? no, I meant EMPATHIZE (spelling?)

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francagoestohollywood · 18/08/2009 17:43

why do you want to delete threads?

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DamonBradleylovesPippi · 18/08/2009 17:45

Wow what a perfect holiday you must have had Franca!!!

AH another thing - how much I dislkied the bit in which Stingo goes to that Leslie's house. anyway enough of Sophie. Maybe the reason I am so cross with it is because I really expected a great book.

DamonBradleylovesPippi · 18/08/2009 17:47

oh not threads but maybe some entries with a few details.. i.e. re SIL or location etc. Everything else can stay is all jibber jabber...unless unless the DM wants to use it to portray the meanningless lives of foreigners housewives !

McCloudsextoy · 18/08/2009 17:48

i think canesten is fine, dd had some sudocream the otehr day and survived...it was a nighmare she had it smear=ed everywhere...

la maiala????

rosa come back soon!

francagoestohollywood · 18/08/2009 17:48

Oh yes. that.
Though I liked the bit where he writes about going to the beach and coney island. But I'm a sucker when it comes to anything NYC...

What's AM? sorry, lots of questions. I've been away far too long

OP posts:
francagoestohollywood · 18/08/2009 17:49

la maiala... swine flu

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DamonBradleylovesPippi · 18/08/2009 17:50

Paul Auster is great in portray NYC though, don't you think? You read it, you see it and you are in it, no?

francagoestohollywood · 18/08/2009 17:50

Oh yes, I see Pippi re delating... though I don't think you are recognizable, tbh...

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DamonBradleylovesPippi · 18/08/2009 17:51

portraying... sorry dd2 is treating me like a cklimbing frame

francagoestohollywood · 18/08/2009 17:52

I'm ashamed to say that I've never read paul Auster .

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McCloudsextoy · 18/08/2009 17:53

sorry but paul auster is another de carlo!
am is alice munro

DamonBradleylovesPippi · 18/08/2009 17:57

do you think? I like him a lot. not all of the books of course, some are quite sameish.

dd2 is screaming from the bedroom - she is refusing to go to bed. she is so tired though. let's see who gives in first. dd1 has collapsed asleep on the sofa with still highish temp. I am eating crisps.

McCloudsextoy · 18/08/2009 19:41

no, dont like auster at all. would shag him though.

did i tell you that some time ago i saw due di noi by de carlo in my local charity shop! and i wondered if it was my copy or even yours!

got rid of my 2 as well, not sure what i amm going to do tonight....

actually wanted to ask you girls. when you have a kid over for a playdate and his behaviour is erratic, nothing really bad, but a bit of a pain ,do you mention it to the mum? or do you just not invite the kid again? it seems weird, spending part of a date telling a kid off, and then when the mum arrives say "oh, he was lovely...". anyway i tend not to say, and invite less over.

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