New Ledgie saying hi to all!

[ontheEdgeof17]

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

Don't make me come to WV. I could be there in four hours, you know.

Oh, but I'm at my parent's house until tomorrow afternoon. That's only two hours from me.

Bring. it. on.

[bushesandbriars]

Originally Posted by dissention

No, I've never read that one. To be honest, other than The Handmaid's Tale, I don't really like her novels. I love her poetry, but some of her novels leave me underwhelmed. I'll have to add that one to my ever-growing summer reading list, though. I'm re-reading Saul Bellow's Henderson the Rain King right now (and trying to finish Jane Fonda's autobio), which is my all-time favorite book. It's beautiful, definitely the best thing he ever wrote and he's written some masterpieces. I was on a big kick with the novellas he wrote during the latter half of his career about a month ago and the fact that he could write such amazing things in such a short form was just fabulous to me.

I'll admit to total Bellow ignorance; I always mean to read him and never do, though I know Henderson has all these Golden Bough references in it, and I always mean to check it just for that.

And not all of Atwood's novel's work for me, either; I didn't like The Robber Bride because I found it too predictable and--I don't know, shrill or flat or both. And I could not get through Alias Grace. Haven't attempted Oryx and Crake yet. But when she's good, she's very, very good.

Originally Posted by dissesntion

Dan Abrams is one of the biggest clowns on that network

Amen. And I seriously do not watch enough of that network to even know some of those people, because it makes me rent my garments and gnash my teeth. But I saw Carlson on dumbed-down Celebrity Jeopardy! and I was like, Is this person legitimately a newscaster?

Originally Posted by dissention

I worship her, seriously. Meryl who? I love that she's a big enough star that she can do a big Hollywood flick and then go make small indies without batting an eyelash. Her new indie biopic "Fur" (about Diane Arbus) is the one I'm really looking forward to.

Again, ditto, and I will take your advice about Dogville. I love it when they talk about something besides sets and catering.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by bushesandbriars

Paula Vogel does that to me, too...

Ooooh, I wish I'd seen this earlier. I just wanted to say that I love Paula Vogel. She blows me away every time I read something or see it performed. She's so unique.

[bushesandbriars]

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

Thank you. I am a HUGE fan. I watched The Misfts a few night ago and I think it was by far her best performance.

Her performance in that movie is beautiful and profound, and that sounds all pretentious, but I mean it. She was damn funny--Some Lke It Hot is a testament to that; it would have just been another sex comedy/buddy comedy without her--but I'm always so sorry that she didn't get to do the dramatic things she wanted to do, because she would have been amazing, and maybe it would have been a little cathartic for her by making her feel she was a serious, respected actress.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by bushesandbriars

That book makes me suicidal, and I wish I was kidding. There's something about the way that book ends that is just so--for lack of a better word--final. Massive carnage and death would be cheerier. But enough of that.

I'm with you. That book just about kills me. Granted, I haven't read it since high school and I've been out of high school for four years now, but it still haunts me. And there was definitely something about Winston and Julia. I was never so involved with a romance or a relationship between two people in a general sense in a novel until I read about those two. It tore me apart to read about the two of them being torn apart. I remember that I had to read it for class and all my classmates hated the book. It was the same thing in ninth grade when we all had to read Animal Farm, which I love.

[bushesandbriars]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

Ooooh, I wish I'd seen this earlier. I just wanted to say that I love Paula Vogel. She blows me away every time I read something or see it performed. She's so unique.

We keep just missing each other, I think, or really, I keep missing you!

And Baby Makes Seven makes me want to cry and vomit and laugh and every time I read it. She's astonishing, and I think it's completely awesome you like her. And the one with the ageing hookers who start to die off, one by one; I can't think of the title. That play is so moving and funny. And do not get me going on Baltimore Waltz.

[bushesandbriars]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

I'm with you. That book just about kills me. Granted, I haven't read it since high school and I've been out of high school for four years now, but it still haunts me. And there was definitely something about Winston and Julia. I was never so involved with a romance or a relationship between two people in a general sense in a novel until I read about those two. It tore me apart to read about the two of them being torn apart. I remember that I had to read it for class and all my classmates hated the book. It was the same thing in ninth grade when we all had to read Animal Farm, which I love.

The thing is, Orwell is so subtle and smart about it, and it's so much better than other writers who do all this: Oh, the pain! The pain! kind of thing. Just a few chlling moments and gestures, Julia and Winston are done in.

You know, I don't know if you've ever read Wicked by Gregory Maguire, but I always feel like that about the love affair between Elphaba and Fiyero. It's beautiful and moving and the way it ends up just KILLED me.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

But he's so friggin' cute, damnit!

Yuck. We agree when it comes to Hayden, but Abrams is blech. Dumbo ears and a cocky grin do not a cute guy make.

[GypsySorcerer]

Originally Posted by bushesandbriars

Her performance in that movie is beautiful and profound, and that sounds all pretentious, but I mean it. She was damn funny--Some Lke It Hot is a testament to that; it would have just been another sex comedy/buddy comedy without her--but I'm always so sorry that she didn't get to do the dramatic things she wanted to do, because she would have been amazing, and maybe it would have been a little cathartic for her by making her feel she was a serious, respected actress.

I think she was indeed a gifted comedienne.

Did you ever see Don't Bother to Knock? It was another good dramatic performance from her.

[bushesandbriars]

Originally Posted by GardenStateGirlie

Welcome to the ledge!

Thanks!

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

I've always loved that song ("Something Stupid"). Nic and Robbie did a cool version of it, definitely.
Doesn't top Frank and Nancy's original though... of course... but it was still great.

I never liked the original because I just can't stand Frank Sinatra. The video to the Nicole/Robbie version is fabulous, though. He's trying to get her into bondage, so he gives her a riding crop on Christmas, and they retire upstairs to undress and use it.

[bushesandbriars]

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

I think she was indeed a gifted comedienne.

Did you ever see Don't Bother to Knock? It was another good dramatic performance from her.

I have, and it was very good. Richard Widmark made a better foil for her than a lot of her later leading men, IMO. I think Niagra was a good performance, too, because when she's being chased into that bell tower, you feel her terror. But DBTK is probably better; she has more to do.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by dissention

I never liked the original because I just can't stand Frank Sinatra.

There were only two celebrities my grandmother didn't care for... Frank Sinatra and Eartha Kitt.
And she didn't just dislike them -- she vehemently disliked them.

I could take or leave Ol' Blue Eyes, but I love me some Eartha Kitt.

Originally Posted by dissention

The video to the Nicole/Robbie version is fabulous, though. He's trying to get her into bondage, so he gives her a riding crop on Christmas, and they retire upstairs to undress and use it.

How did I miss that vid?!?
I would've liked to have seen it.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by bushesandbriars

I'll admit to total Bellow ignorance; I always mean to read him and never do, though I know Henderson has all these Golden Bough references in it, and I always mean to check it just for that.

You should try him, you'll probably like him. I suggest starting with the novellas because he's an acquired taste and you'll be able to tell right away if you want to delve any further into his work. Henderson the Rain King is his true masterpiece.

Originally Posted by bushesandbriars

And not all of Atwood's novel's work for me, either; I didn't like The Robber Bride because I found it too predictable and--I don't know, shrill or flat or both. And I could not get through Alias Grace. Haven't attempted Oryx and Crake yet. But when she's good, she's very, very good.

I think Amber recommended The Robber Bride, but I'm not sure. Regardless, she's one of the best writers out there. Her poetry knocks my socks off.

Originally Posted by bushesandbriars

Amen. And I seriously do not watch enough of that network to even know some of those people, because it makes me rent my garments and gnash my teeth. But I saw Carlson on dumbed-down Celebrity Jeopardy! and I was like, Is this person legitimately a newscaster?

Did you see when Jon Stewart went on CNN's Crossfire and laid the smackdown on Carlson? Oh my, that was one priceless television moment. Stewart even called him a "dick."

Originally Posted by bushesandbriars

Again, ditto, and I will take your advice about Dogville. I love it when they talk about something besides sets and catering.

Dogville is the first part of Von Trier's USA Trilogy, but Kidman couldn't fit the second one into her scedule, so they replaced her with Ron Howard's daughter. Now Von Trier is saying that for the final installment, he's going to have both Kidman and Howard back. I can't wait. Let me know when you see it, I love to gush over that movie.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

There were only two celebrities my grandmother didn't care for... Frank Sinatra and Eartha Kitt.
And she didn't just dislike them -- she vehemently disliked them.

I could take or leave Ol' Blue Eyes, but I love me some Eartha Kitt.

I LOVE EARTHA. She has a set of brass balls and I dig it. Anyone who has the gall to go to the White House and chastize Lady Bird Johnson is fabulous in my book.

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

How did I miss that vid?!?
I would've liked to have seen it.

If you rent her movie "Birthday Girl," it's on it as a special feature. And it's a pretty decent movie. It's on his live DVD, too, from a few years back. I might be able to find it online, but you're on dial-up, so it might kill you to download.