tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post1004412028649104911..comments2023-08-20T07:42:52.010-05:00Comments on Trish's Reading Nook: Tea and Other Ayama Na Tales - Eleanor Bluestein (and interview)Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-7939483587727031872009-06-08T23:46:03.913-05:002009-06-08T23:46:03.913-05:00Infact I felt that it could be India too in a stor...Infact I felt that it could be India too in a story or two. It made so much sense to me!<br /><br />I linked your review with mine. Here is my review:<br /><br /><a href="http://readbookswritepoetry.blogspot.com/2009/06/tea-and-other-ayama-na-tales-by-eleanor.html" rel="nofollow">Tea and Other Ayama Na Tales</a>gautami tripathyhttp://readbookswritepoetry.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-29272318365056131742009-04-29T18:55:00.000-05:002009-04-29T18:55:00.000-05:00Okay, you sold me. I love books about other cultu...Okay, you sold me. I love books about other cultures and I like short stories. I'd probably love this book, too, as it has interesting themes. Thanks for the review!Beccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02706544792110129160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-29629874577562926312009-04-26T19:07:00.000-05:002009-04-26T19:07:00.000-05:00*Laura - This book was really interesting! The au...*Laura - This book was really interesting! The author put so much detail into every aspect that it felt like I was reading about a real country. And yes, there were only a few stories where I couldn't find the immediate point (they are listed in the review).<br /><br />*Bookfool - I enjoy short stories, but I find that I have to remind/force myself to read them! :) Don't know why that is. <br /><br />*Debi - The stories are interconnected in that they all deal with the country--the characters didn't really cross over. It was a really fascinating book, though, and definitely one you could pick up and put down. By the way--I miss you...Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-80806323391241775832009-04-26T08:39:00.000-05:002009-04-26T08:39:00.000-05:00What a wonderful review, Trish! And wonderful inte...What a wonderful review, Trish! And wonderful interview, too, for that matter. This book sounds utterly intriguing! It is going straight to my wish list, for sure. I love short stories, and there is something about the idea of them all being interconnected that I find especially appealing (maybe it's just that it makes me actually finish a book of short stories, instead of just setting it aside after a few to start something new...even when I'm hopelessly in love with the stories I read...I think it's my adult-onset ADD rearing it's ugly head). And yes, I will stop this incessant babbling now. :)<br /><br />Have a wonderful week, Trish!Debihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15429881953804634592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-27309427830525045692009-04-25T16:41:00.000-05:002009-04-25T16:41:00.000-05:00Oooh, I'd love to read this one! I'm actually one...Oooh, I'd love to read this one! I'm actually one of those rare folks who enjoy short story collections. I don't know how and when I went to the dark side, but it was a gradual thing and now I'm hooked. Also, I've read many glowing reviews.<br /><br />nancytoes (at) bellsouth (dot) net <br /><br />Not that you couldn't find me, but I'm really picky about the email address, too. It makes drawings so much easier!Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-53197230781440531452009-04-25T10:39:00.000-05:002009-04-25T10:39:00.000-05:00Wow! A completely fictional country/society--with ...Wow! A completely fictional country/society--with it's own language, government...etc. Very creative! <br /><br />You wrote a really great review, Trish, and you asked great questions! I'm glad to know there are short stories out there that actually seem to have a point! :) I have to admit that the thought of a ventriloquist's dummy coming to life creeps me out a bit! (even though she has wise words to tell her owner).Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05048221087572023485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-40081935925213652552009-04-24T18:24:00.000-05:002009-04-24T18:24:00.000-05:00*Violetcrush - "North of the Faro" was one of my f...*Violetcrush - "North of the Faro" was one of my favorite stories but they are all unique. I agree that Eleanor's message is a great one as well. Got you entered! :)<br /><br />*Joy - I hope you like this one. I found the stories individually and wholly satisfying...not something that always happens for me with short stories. Other than a few stories not resonating with me as much, there wasn't a whole lot I didn't like about this collection.<br /><br />*Michelle - the author did such a great job of creating a vivid country and culture. The stories are a little on the sad side at times, but there is a prevailing message of hope. By the way--how's it going?? Miss you!Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-53658610565734205132009-04-24T18:13:00.000-05:002009-04-24T18:13:00.000-05:00Wow Trish! I love the idea of this book. How cre...Wow Trish! I love the idea of this book. How creative. I love the idea of book about a fictional place coming to life in different short stories. I would love to be entered into the drawing for this book. I think you already have my email. If not it is michellekaemarks@gmail.com. Great interview as well. The author is right, we do all need to be a little nicer to one another. I appreciate her trying to remind us all in her book. Great post!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08404879513387292219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-23182016336378561012009-04-24T10:56:00.000-05:002009-04-24T10:56:00.000-05:00I received this book from Jessica's (The Bluestock...I received this book from Jessica's (The Bluestocking Society) Give-Away and I'm so excited! I have 2 more short stories (actually they are novellas) of the current collection I'm reading, then I will begin this one. Woo! I haven't read (skimmed) anything but glowing reviews about this collection and I'm so happy to see that you felt the same way. I'll be back to read your thoughts when I'm done. :)Thoughts of Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05572910467988997432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-5710173418836872312009-04-24T02:21:00.000-05:002009-04-24T02:21:00.000-05:00I like the message Eleanor wants the reader to tak...I like the message Eleanor wants the reader to take from the book. The stories you mentioned sound lovely, especially North of the Faro. Thanks for the review Trish.<br /><br />Please enter me (if international). I would love to read this book because it looks like something I would enjoy :)<br /><br />elizascott2005 at yahoo dot co dot inAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-6195970176783574462009-04-23T21:45:00.000-05:002009-04-23T21:45:00.000-05:00*Dar - I have a tough time with short stories also...*Dar - I have a tough time with short stories also and a lot of the ones I've received have been relatively unpleasant, but I really enjoyed these. And of course I love reading about different cultures!<br /><br />*Bermuda - Thank you! :)<br /><br />*Terri - I've been trying to think of other fictional cultures I've read about and other than Discworld am drawing a blank (well, except dystopian societies). Bluestein did a wonderful job of creating this country and painting such a vivid picture.<br /><br />*Eleanor - Thanks for stopping by! I think that getting acclimated to a society and really understanding it before appreciating it might be something. I also read the first few stories in little spurts (my reading time is sometimes sporadic). I was interested off the bat, but my attention really got grabbed after "Skin Deep."<br /><br />*Bethany - The cover is not my favorite, to be sure. I don't think I would pick it up based on the art alone. I think you would really like this book. I was actually thinking about giving my other copy away on the OT website since I think OTers would really like this book, but didn't know how much interest it would garner.Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-12140393928307995872009-04-23T16:24:00.000-05:002009-04-23T16:24:00.000-05:00I am interested in reading it! for sure. my email....I am interested in reading it! for sure. my email..even though I KNOW you have it : bethany(dot)canfield@gmail.com<br /><br />I guess I will have to be honest and say that I wanted to read this book, but was slightly turned off by the cover, and since I don't have a TON of time to read I didn't get a hold of it. But, hey...now that you are saying it is excellent and that interview was so great, seriously I need to look beyond the cover. I get soooo hung up on covers sometimes (boooo to me!). <br /><br />So, yes that is why...I guess in a nutshell because you, my bookie buddy recommended it and because I already wanted to a little before.<br /><br />b (yes call me rambling b!)bethany (dreadlock girl)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02565178664993925800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-54438012746252193512009-04-23T14:33:00.000-05:002009-04-23T14:33:00.000-05:00My thanks to Amanda, Dar, Bermudaonion, and Terri ...My thanks to Amanda, Dar, Bermudaonion, and Terri for your interest in the book and the interview. And thanks to you Trish, of course, for your great review. I'm gratified when people who don't generally like short story collections, find that they do like this book. <br /><br />Perhaps there's a clue there as to why this got off to a slow start for you, Trish--maybe you had to get to know the country a bit for the stories to start to grab you. I've wondered about that--wondered if, no matter which stories I started with, the reader wouldn't feel fully involved until about story 3. What do you think?Eleanorhttp://www.eleanorbluestein.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-77203575969226113322009-04-23T13:00:00.000-05:002009-04-23T13:00:00.000-05:00I like the way you describe being "entrenched" in ...I like the way you describe being "entrenched" in the culture. I love it when I can get absorbed in another culture -- even a fictional one. I also like the idea of the loose connection of the stories to each other. The book I just finished, Dreams Underfoot by de Lint, does that -- each story can stand on its own but are a bit interwoven making a short story collection feel more cohesive. This is good for me since I prefer novels to short stories.Terri B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12215878121282668358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-8229413925872588282009-04-23T11:57:00.000-05:002009-04-23T11:57:00.000-05:00Great review. I loved the interview too - the aut...Great review. I loved the interview too - the author has a fascinating background.bermudaonionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10726401178972099557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-41797378655649305752009-04-23T10:29:00.000-05:002009-04-23T10:29:00.000-05:00Really wonderful review Trish. I'm not a fan of s...Really wonderful review Trish. I'm not a fan of short stories as you know but this does sound good. I do like books that give me a view of another culture though. I'm glad that this was such a good read for you.<br /><br />No need to enter me. My tbr pile is so big already...Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15387389557243960084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-26790019269384813712009-04-23T06:58:00.000-05:002009-04-23T06:58:00.000-05:00*Amanda - Hmm--edited. :P I actually left a comm...*Amanda - Hmm--edited. :P I actually left a comment on someone's blog yesterday about how I usually skim over long reviews. I don't think I've ever been able to be fully concise, although I don't like my reviews to get too too long. Short stories are really hit or miss for me, but this one worked well. I didn't ever have a feeling of "huh?" when I got to the end of the story and they all felt really complete.Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-16438336628236534022009-04-22T22:29:00.000-05:002009-04-22T22:29:00.000-05:00You have a cardinal rule of writing concise review...You have a cardinal rule of writing concise reviews? Oh man, I'd totally fail if I made that my rule. I'm so bad at being concise...<br /><br />Sure, why not? I might as well enter. Generally we have similar tastes and I trust your judgement, so while I'm not usually a fan of short story collections, there might be something to this one. That 4.5 does it for me. :) You already have my email. :)Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07026099426503180472noreply@blogger.com