Comments for sursumcorda.salemsattic.com/post/a-journal-of-the-plague-year

Comment #789

2019-05-06T03:27:15Z

Once I've started a book, it has to be not "fair" but really bad to get me to stop. I keep thinking it will get better, or I'll miss something important if I quit. I also think there are books that are worth "having read," even if the reading itself isn't that enjoyable.

As for the review, I do think it important to review what I don't like as well as what I like; at least, I myself don't give much credibility to reviews that are always positive or always negative.

You have a point, though. If it weren't for my New Year's resolution, I probably wouldn't have begun the book, much less finished it. But it's a start on the huge backlog of unread books on our bookshelves. I'd be making more progress if I didn't keep getting new books that I want to read first....

Comment #788

2010-02-20T15:00:22Z

Don't you know me better than that? They get a "read it" entry in my Book Collector database, but to actually... dispose of... a book??? Books come easily into this house, but they don't want to leave.

I may have to learn better, especially since I'm now getting review copies of books that I see no need to hang onto.

Actually, there was a time when we gave a lot of books to our local library's book sale, and I'm not averse to that, it's just that I've been burned at it. That is, at one point I decided to get rid of a lot of books on the grounds that I could get them from the library at any time, so why take up bookshelf space? But then our library decided to concentrate on the most popular books. Not only are they not acquiring the kinds of books you can't just go to a bookstore and buy, but they actually purged their shelves of the old, unpopular books to make room for the new. Now I'm afraid that if I get rid of an old book I won't be able to read it again without paying a huge "rare book" price.

Comment #787

2010-02-20T14:46:52Z

And I hope the books you have finished are being cleaned off your shelves!

Comment #786

2010-02-20T13:01:01Z

So why did you read it? Is writing a fair review worth the pain?

Comment #785

2010-02-20T00:47:45Z

I enjoyed my read a few years ago of "Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague" by Geraldine Brooks. In this case, a small village in England is hit by the plague and seals itself off to prevent its spread.

I would not put this book on your list if you are trying to educate yourself on the plague and English history, but might be worth a read if you like the historical fiction genre.

Per usual I don't remember the details, so can't remember if there is anything you would find objectionable.

Comment #784

2010-02-20T00:26:03Z

sounds like a good candidate for an abridged edition... unfortunately it doesn't look like Reader's Digest has done one