tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post2771599804352843136..comments2023-12-09T00:33:24.572-08:00Comments on Novel Matters: Novels as Good CompanyBonnie Grovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11377519561074174038noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-83870688256759916432012-06-07T06:33:51.660-07:002012-06-07T06:33:51.660-07:00Wanderer: We're glad you're finding compan...Wanderer: We're glad you're finding companionship among readers and writers who share your heart for a good read.Patti Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01210807015376289703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-46728292455712716622012-06-06T23:18:31.502-07:002012-06-06T23:18:31.502-07:00I've read this post and the one before it a co...I've read this post and the one before it a couple of times each. Slow reads and good company books...you're talking about some of my favorite things.V. Gingerichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01615988080091167938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-38150386108637813242012-06-06T23:18:14.467-07:002012-06-06T23:18:14.467-07:00I've read this post and the one before it a co...I've read this post and the one before it a couple of times each. Slow reads and good company books...you're talking about some of my favorite things.V. Gingerichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01615988080091167938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-56494362572319583632012-06-06T18:27:20.771-07:002012-06-06T18:27:20.771-07:00Cherry: Are you sure my name isn't on that box...Cherry: Are you sure my name isn't on that box? A smile and a wink.Patti Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07575415697841348226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-34752840592104748362012-06-06T18:03:09.045-07:002012-06-06T18:03:09.045-07:00Good-company books, let's see, that would be t...Good-company books, let's see, that would be the box marked, "Essential books," that is just light enough for me to carry and fits precisely in the footwell of the rear passenger seat. The box goes with me when I move, even and especially if the move is forever and all my earthly goods must fit in my Subaru. Contents of this book box? Entire C. S. Lewis collection, ditto for Tolkien, Austen and MacDonald. If I had to pare it down? The Marquis' Secret (MacDonald), Perelandra (Lewis), Pride and Prejudice (Austen), A New Kind of Christian (McLaren), Return of the King (Tolkien)- But Tolkien pares down nicely into DVD so I would probably sub one movie.Cherry Odelberghttp://einefeistyberg.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-29022537671985141442012-06-06T14:47:12.485-07:002012-06-06T14:47:12.485-07:00Katy: I'm glad you stopped by so I could thank...Katy: I'm glad you stopped by so I could thank you for making the fabulous graphic with Ivan Doig's quote. It's PERFECT!!!<br /><br />Megan: I do believe you're talking about Debbie Fuller Thomas. Great characters. Wonderful story. I wanted to hold the young girl's hand and walk with her for a while. Loved her.<br />These novels do have a way of staying with you.Patti Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01210807015376289703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-21424733635722921822012-06-06T14:16:47.060-07:002012-06-06T14:16:47.060-07:00I love this description: "Good company novels...I love this description: "Good company novels" are exactly what books like that are about. I'm reading one at the moment, and it's structure and style made me really curious. Nothing much happens in it, and it's a bit episodical. And I can't put it down. Strange, strange combination, but this is it! I'm reading it for the company, because these characters have fast become my friends, and I don't want to know so much what happens to them as much as I want to know how they react. I'm loving this one, a definite keeper. It's by some American lady...great writer. The book's called Tuesday Night At The Blue Moon. <br /><br />This leads me to another thought too: it's good-company novels that stay in my mind long after the book is finished, whereas ones with a stronger plot I tend to move on from more quickly. <br /><br />Funnily enough Susie my reaction is just the opposite to yours - for me Good Company novels are for snatching space in the middle of the busyness, for ten minutes of peace when life is crazy. If I've got a day off, a day of leisure, I'll throw myself into something meaty : )Megan Sayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15410068162701570057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-35709909335276537942012-06-06T13:25:58.347-07:002012-06-06T13:25:58.347-07:00Patti, what a great post. I love people who really...Patti, what a great post. I love people who really get why the novel matters. Must be why I like it here so much.Kathleen Popahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03682046279211463305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-64878639169830067582012-06-06T09:49:49.767-07:002012-06-06T09:49:49.767-07:00Sharon: I should have recognized your voice!Sharon: I should have recognized your voice!Patti Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07575415697841348226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-35875405178368696122012-06-06T09:40:33.982-07:002012-06-06T09:40:33.982-07:00Susie: I'm with you. I prefer a variety of sto...Susie: I'm with you. I prefer a variety of stories and love a "meaty" treatment. I think the most distinctive element of good-company books is this sense that we're flies on the wall of a life, bumbling or otherwise. And they should be artful, some more than others. And perhaps the pace is a bit lumbering. I could go on and on. <br /><br />Anonymous: I'm especially in awe of authors who can load a book with narrative and enrapture me with the sense of story. Turner's books are a great example. Also, Barbara Kingsolver. Who esle?Patti Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07575415697841348226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-6875342495444208152012-06-06T09:33:48.883-07:002012-06-06T09:33:48.883-07:00That comment wasn't from Anonymous, Patti. It ...That comment wasn't from Anonymous, Patti. It was from me. Blogger is doing its thing again -- aaarrrggghhh!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-5339291631747072782012-06-06T09:32:23.661-07:002012-06-06T09:32:23.661-07:00Patti, what a lovely, lovely post. It's been e...Patti, what a lovely, lovely post. It's been evident for a long time that you and I love the same books and authors. I love Elizabeth Berg but haven't read Joy School, and Anne Tyler has long been an author I enjoy, but I haven't read The Beginner's Goodbye, so I look forward to reading both of these this summer. I love how you describe good-company novels as like standing before a painting with piano music playing softly in the distance -- and with no one hurrying you away from the painting you're perusing. Jamie Langston Turner's novels are like that for me. I love her writing. Lots of narrative, but beautiful narrative. Beautiful character development. Good-company novels. Oh, and I love Jan Karon's Mitford series. Love Father Tim and Cynthia and not even a little embarrassed about it. Thank you for drawing me into your post today.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-45998661758776356272012-06-06T07:49:47.438-07:002012-06-06T07:49:47.438-07:00I do enjoy the good-company novels. I instantly th...I do enjoy the good-company novels. I instantly think about the Jane Austen novels. Her characters are endearing and become good friends. I'm only an occasional partaker of good-company books, however. If I read too many of them my writing suffers. I need to get back to more meaty novels to remedy that. <br /><br />For me, a good-company novel is for a day of leisure. They're my "day off" reads.Susie Finkbeinerhttp://www.susiefinkbeiner.comnoreply@blogger.com