Sunday Salon for 4 November 2007

I’m feeling too burned out to read today for Sunday Salon.

Yesterday, I plowed through almost 100 pages to finish After Dolly: The Uses and Misuses of Human Cloning. I enjoyed the book primarily for its descriptions of how science gets done. There’s actually not much about Dolly because, after all, she was just a sheep and lived a sheep’s life despite being a clone. After Dolly is also an excellent primer on cloning, stem cells, and embryo selection, which will change the human experience in ways we cannot begin to comprehend. I recommend Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go as a complementary read.

I also started and finished The Vagina Monologues last night. I’ve never seen the play but I’m sure the book pales in comparison. The short essays about the female “down there” made me shake my head in disbelief - sometimes in horror, sometimes in amusement. (My favorite part of the book is the autographed inscription Eve Ensler wrote for my sister and me - Bless your vaginas.) I had thought the Vagina Monologues was meant to be titillating comedy. Little did I know that the main message is ending violence against women. Learn more at the V-Day website. Tyra Banks will be devoting her Monday show to the vagina as well. You can run from the word but you can’t hide!

Going to start Digging to America by Anne Tyler this week. Tonight, I may just flip through this month’s Vanity Fair and Atlantic Monthly for a break. The jewelry ads are particularly lovely to browse.

Van Cleef and Arpel Lucky Alhambra Necklace

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Comment by KathyF Subscribed to comments via email

2007-11-04 18:47:29

Never Let Me Go–I remember desperately wanting to talk to someone about it when I read it, but no one else had read it. Now I forget what it was I wanted to say!

Good book, though I liked Remains of the Day better. They both had a detached air about them, I thought. Which is probably the best way to write such horrific thought-provoking stuff.

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Comment by Cottontimer

2007-11-04 19:45:48

Kathy, At times I imagined the characters in Never Let Me Go to be paperdolls….

Comment by Debra Hamel Subscribed to comments via email

2007-11-04 18:59:06

Never Let Me Go remains in the piles here, but I’ve not yet gotten it.

I love the colorful header of your site, coupled with the color of the post titles.

2007-11-04 19:46:46

Debra,

Thanks! Have you noticed my header image rotates? I think there are only 6 or 7 at this point but one of these days I’ll add more when I feel bored.

Comment by Kate

2007-11-04 19:45:03

I liked Digging to America. I like Tyler’s unlikeable characters who she convinces us to care about any way.

That said, my big reading discussion this week is about Harry Potter.

2007-11-04 19:47:33

Kate, Who are you talking to about Harry Potter?! I did feel sad when I finished the last page of the last book.

2007-11-04 20:20:35

No, I hadn’t realized…. That’s probably why I only just noticed that one. Then again, this one’s nice too.

Comment by Clare D

2007-11-04 20:38:40

Loved Never Let Me Go and the Remains of the Day. Not sure which I liked best - wasn’t as keen on The rtist of the Floating World. I admire the way his books are so different in subject matter and time and setting…but the tone is similar - detached, I think, and understated which I think is part of the charm.

I love Ann Tyler too - haven’t read that one though.

I like the picture of the girl with the jewellry - she looks like she’d from the roaring twenties and I find her slightly menacing - as if she’s just poisoned someone is very pleased and smug about it.

2007-11-05 11:30:31

Hi Clare! What an honor to have you here. I was wondering if I got that gorgeous necklace if it would give me a menacing air as well. I try and try to achieve that demeanor but never succeed.

Comment by Yada Subscribed to comments via email

2007-11-05 00:30:57

I just finished Digging to America, I’d be interested to hear what you think about it. I enjoyed how I cared about the imperfect characters.

I borrowed After Dolly from the library. I’m going to have a look at the other books you recommended

2007-11-05 11:31:57

Hi Yada! I’m really looking forward to reading Digging to America now that I know I’ve got some people to talk to about it.

I’ve bolded other books I’ve liked in past years in my annotated reading list in case you’re interested.

Comment by Deb L Subscribed to comments via email

2007-11-05 00:49:46

So far I’ve managed to blog my Salon entry, and I’ve managed to read a couple of other people’s entries, but I’ve got too many things going on at once! ACK! I haven’t even started my NaNo novel yet, which means I am now about 10000 words behind. Being busy is definitely better than being bored though! hehe.

I might have to read the Vagina Monologues some day. Alternating between amused and horrified… sounds like Post Secret and Overheard in New York, LOL!

2007-11-05 11:33:30

Deb, The Vagina Monologues is totally in line with Post Secret and Overheard. There’s the same bittersweet tone that makes you rethink the essays even though they seem so simple on the surface.

Comment by Ann Darnton

2007-11-05 17:16:33

I really enjoyed ‘Digging To America’, much more in fact than I expected to. I haven’t read much Anne Tyler. is there anything you’d especially recommend?

2007-11-05 18:12:05

Ann, I read Breathing Lessons about 7 years ago and didn’t quite get the marriage dynamic. Now that I’ve been married longer, maybe I would.

2007-11-05 17:57:06

Apologies for butting in here, but I have just two words: PATCHWORK PLANET! Anyone else read that? - I loved that book!

2007-11-05 18:13:46

Clare, Butt away!

2007-11-05 18:25:45

Do not encourage me, Cottontimer!

2007-11-05 20:40:20

Clare, Patchwork Planet is the one other Tyler I’ve read and I’m with you, I think it’s superb. I wish someone would start a service like that in our neighbourhood; I’d be their best customer.