tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433153409320048017.post9107472856842293376..comments2024-03-29T00:30:43.715-07:00Comments on BookBath: The Infinities - John BanvilleKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15971901652392645980noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433153409320048017.post-60168737878869691802010-02-10T01:32:35.029-08:002010-02-10T01:32:35.029-08:00Hi Nadia - I hope you enjoy his books when you get...Hi Nadia - I hope you enjoy his books when you get to them!<br /><br />Hi Julie - I would definitely say start with this one!Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971901652392645980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433153409320048017.post-80782751736250859762010-02-08T19:43:59.798-08:002010-02-08T19:43:59.798-08:00I really like how you describe those books... and ...I really like how you describe those books... and Banville has been on my list for years. I was thinking of starting with The Sea, but I might follow your advice instead! Thanks...juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09687665641496205234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433153409320048017.post-3356135553862277052010-02-08T07:11:15.913-08:002010-02-08T07:11:15.913-08:00This sounds like a really interesting books. I hav...This sounds like a really interesting books. I have The Sea on my bookshelf, but have yet to read it. So, truthfully, I wouldn't be sure what to expect from Banville. However, after reading your great post about his book, The Infinities, I am quite excited about reading some of his work. Cheers!Nadiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14315207186180201488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433153409320048017.post-83921308665780014762010-02-07T18:49:33.809-08:002010-02-07T18:49:33.809-08:00Hi Merenia - I don't think bleak and hopeless ...Hi Merenia - I don't think bleak and hopeless is the type of book I am looking for at the moment so I might stay away from The Sea! I can see what you mean about Banville's writing style coming across as pretentious - I think if I hadn't enjoyed this book overall so much I would have found this one that way too. The Prague book sounds beautiful though.<br /><br />Hi Jackie - I think I will stick with The Infinities for now! It sounds like The Sea might drag me down a little!<br /><br />Hi Simon - I haven't heard of either of the books that your Gran would recommend so I will have to see if I can find them. Are they not as dark and gloomy as The Sea?<br /><br />Hi JoAnn - glad you like the photo, I thought it was time for a change. Did you find The Sea dark and depressing?<br /><br />Hi Mille Feuille - thanks for the recommendation! I think I'm going to enjoy Banville's more humourous books most.<br /><br />Hi Samantha - It sounds like he has written quite a bit crossing over different genres. I'm not feeling keen to go near The Sea based on what people are saying.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971901652392645980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433153409320048017.post-91546289933023972842010-02-07T17:29:33.463-08:002010-02-07T17:29:33.463-08:00You and Jackie gave made me reconsider Banville! I...You and Jackie gave made me reconsider Banville! I had completely given up on him as I thought The Sea so slow and depressing and I tried and then gave up on The Shroud. (Though I have to say I enjoyed his detective book written under the name Benjamin Black - Christine Falls).Samanthahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747440460896344541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433153409320048017.post-27532914615545329842010-02-07T08:03:44.489-08:002010-02-07T08:03:44.489-08:00Thank you for drawing this book to my attention; i...Thank you for drawing this book to my attention; it sounds like a pleasurable and interesting read. My only other experience with Banville was with _Shroud_ (you can see my thoughts on it here: http://myshelfrunnethover.blogspot.com/2010/01/reflections-shroud.html ). It, like the Sea, is much darker than what you describe, and is also peopled with characters who are unpleasant. I note that dark or humorous, Banville's prose seems to be of a literary cast.Mille Feuillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09472059574304208231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433153409320048017.post-9065188007732057772010-02-07T07:23:42.354-08:002010-02-07T07:23:42.354-08:00I really liked The Sea. Had an interesting experie...I really liked The Sea. Had an interesting experience with it as I started out with an audio, then picked up the book so I could reread passages. Ended up listening in the car, then reading ahead at home in the evenings.<br /><br />BTW, I like your new header photo!JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13691864361197071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433153409320048017.post-54804621349017149642010-02-07T03:31:53.972-08:002010-02-07T03:31:53.972-08:00My Gran really, really likes Banville she would re...My Gran really, really likes Banville she would recommend The Untouchable and The Book of Evidence!!! Both are on my TBR but I have yet to get around top any Banville and I must!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433153409320048017.post-90541343022294659312010-02-07T02:43:49.751-08:002010-02-07T02:43:49.751-08:00I enjoyed this book too. The only other Banville b...I enjoyed this book too. The only other Banville book I've read is The Sea, which as Merenia says is a lot darker. I thought The Sea was OK, but nowhere near as enjoyable as The Infinities. Let me know if you enjoy any of his other books.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07698068501004755678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1433153409320048017.post-50570241704503348412010-02-06T22:51:51.616-08:002010-02-06T22:51:51.616-08:00I've read the Booker winner, The Sea. It was ...I've read the Booker winner, The Sea. It was very melancholic and bleak and hopeless meditation on grief and death with a dark childhood experience at the root of the story. I found it pretentious with lots of unncessarily obscure words. Also the main character was so haughty it was hard to warm to the story.<br />Much better was his non-fiction book on Prague, called Prague Pictures, a homage to the city, written with beautiful wistful prose - it was this book which made me pursue his fiction. The Sea was so hard going I havn't had another go at his fiction since.Mereniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00597354144052341218noreply@blogger.com