tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post1448882876664312568..comments2023-10-06T08:10:05.853-04:00Comments on Necromancy Never Pays: The Girl Who Trod on a LoafJeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01374498643286099244noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-75160485408082473982010-12-08T21:17:38.220-05:002010-12-08T21:17:38.220-05:00ReadersGuide, the title is amusing that way. Elea...ReadersGuide, the title is amusing that way. Eleanor belongs to a group called "When I See a Particularly Crunchy Leaf, I Go Out of My Way to Step on It."Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374498643286099244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-75168934366440979072010-12-08T15:34:59.298-05:002010-12-08T15:34:59.298-05:00My comment is gone! But the only thing I had to sa...My comment is gone! But the only thing I had to say, really, was that I kept reading the title as The Girl Who Trod on a Leaf. Which I like a lot, I think because it's so unremarkable to tread on a leaf. To notice it implies a sort of dainty catlike fastidiousness, don't you think? That is all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-75938618660252887562010-12-08T09:27:55.717-05:002010-12-08T09:27:55.717-05:00Elizabeth, Helle was not quite as repulsive as the...Elizabeth, Helle was not quite as repulsive as the character in The Wasp Factory, but she does draw you in the same way.<br /><br />Harriet, I'm glad I captured some of what you found remarkable, since you recommended this book to me. The parts about music were vivid. I've only been to one opera and seen bits of others in movies, but reading about it always makes me want to go and take my son, who is emotionally volatile like I am.<br />Also, I think I was mostly disappointed in Frances. I wanted to know her secrets or see her burst her bonds.<br /><br />FreshHell, the writing is indeed wonderful; I have by no means picked out all the best parts.<br /><br />Marie, I hope you'll like the experience of discovering the lovely turns of phrase. It wasn't a page turner for me.<br /><br />Jenny, I can't believe we finally disagree on something! I love Hans Christian Andersen. His fairy tales have always been my favorites because there's always a sadness mingled with the wish that comes true.<br /><br />Aarti, I didn't truly hate her until she (SPOILER) shot the guy Frances loved. I couldn't believe that, although I should have seen it coming--because the story of the girl who trod on a loaf is about the price she pays for her sins, and they are ugly.Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374498643286099244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-33348333469068145012010-12-07T21:47:31.196-05:002010-12-07T21:47:31.196-05:00I have not read many books in which I hate the mai...I have not read many books in which I hate the main character. I think the one that stands out vividly in my mind is The Crimson Petal and the White, but I didn't get far in that book. (Apparently it is getting a sequel, though, so I guess there is more for that man to do.) I think that might be the only one...Aartihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354873119188597611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-70288663854510877832010-12-07T21:35:14.773-05:002010-12-07T21:35:14.773-05:00I can't be doing with books where I hate the m...I can't be doing with books where I hate the main character. I have to spend lots of time with unpleasant people in real life. I do not want to be doing it in my reading too. :p (Plus I hate Hans Christian Andersen.)Jennyhttp://jennysbooks.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-40686072179429211812010-12-07T16:47:50.800-05:002010-12-07T16:47:50.800-05:00I picked this up at a used bookstore recently just...I picked this up at a used bookstore recently just because it looked interesting, and I'm glad to see I was not wrong. I'm looking forward to reading it one of these days. Your review has convinced me to keep it around!Marie Cloutierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14938166831865436287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-45978492229257271992010-12-07T10:04:01.411-05:002010-12-07T10:04:01.411-05:00Seems like this would be worth reading just for th...Seems like this would be worth reading just for the writing alone. I like the passages you quote.FreshHellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13051170717740487431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-31368515746080308712010-12-07T09:49:52.352-05:002010-12-07T09:49:52.352-05:00I should also add that I may have found Frances le...I should also add that I may have found Frances less distasteful than you. She's weak and damaged and I was willing to cut her some slack in hopes of seeing her take some initiative and responsibility for herself.Harriet M. Welschhttp://spynotes.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-54755924521821167702010-12-07T09:47:59.285-05:002010-12-07T09:47:59.285-05:00I think you capture for me many of the things I fi...I think you capture for me many of the things I find remarkable about this book. I tend to be the kind of person who doesn't stomach books with no sympathetic characters, but I found this compelling despite that. I think it helped that at the time I discovered this book (on display at Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi, right behind John Grisham, who was chatting up the sales clerk), I had been talking over the idea of setting another Andersen tale, The Snow Queen, as an opera. So it seemed like one of those books that found me instead of the other way around. Davis has some of the best fictional writing about music that I can think of. If I ever get around to teaching a music as metaphor seminar, this book -- or portions of it, at least -- would be on my syllabus.Harriet M. Welschhttp://spynotes.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-75672324609113196062010-12-07T09:45:48.305-05:002010-12-07T09:45:48.305-05:00As I read your review, I thought the book sounded ...As I read your review, I thought the book sounded repulsive in much the same way The Wasp Factory was. Unsympathetic characters who do awful things and yet I was drawn in. <br /><br />Not sure I have room in my brain for a second, equally repulsive set of characters though :-)edj3https://www.blogger.com/profile/11137939126171451654noreply@blogger.com