Becky at Kinexxions and Schelly at Tracing the Tribe have tagged me for the 161 meme, whereby I’m asked to turn to page 161 of the book I’m currently reading and read the 6th sentence on that page.
I tend read several books simultaneously, and so I’ve selected two of these, one for each tag.
The first book is Armistead Maupin’s More Tales of the City.
Page 161, sentence 6: “I never will.”
This sentence is quite enigmatic when read out of context. Michael is dictating a letter to tell his mother he is gay. The entire passage, with the sixth sentence in context reads:
“There’s not much else I can say, except that I’m the same Michael you’ve always known . You just know me better now. I have never consciously done anything to hurt you. I never will.”
Maupin, Armistead. 1980. More tales of the city. New York: Harper & Row.
The second book is Anna R. Dadlez’Â In Time of War Growing Up during the Nazi Occupation and its Aftermath.
Page 161, sentence 6: “Her face, wet with tears, was marked by running mascara and some previous attempts with rouge.”
To set the scene, Violetta has sheltered three members of the Polish Home Army in her beauty salon . A German corporal and his unit, looking for the three men, have arrived at Violetta’s building. In context, the passage reads:
“He was, however, distracted from climbing the steps to the front entrance by the abrupt opening of its very door. In it appeared Violetta in pink overalls and matching turban. Her face, wet with tears, was marked by running mascara and some previous attempts with rouge.”
Dadlez, Anna R. 2006. In time of war growing up during the Nazi occupation and its aftermath. Lublin [Poland]: John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin.
I’d like to hear what the following five people are reading:
- Brenda at Brenda Dougall Merriman
- Brian at Zalewski Family Genealogy
- G at how to survive suburban life
- George Morgan at Along Those Lines…
- Susan at Echo Hill Ancestors
Copyright © 2007 by Stephen J. Danko
Hi Steve!
Wanna know what I’m reading? Take a look at the ATL blog at http://ahaseminars.livejournal.com/ and let me know what you think. BTW, I love Maupin’s books!
George
I’ve been tagged? I’m a bit late catching up with this …
A Russian Diary by Anna Politkovskaya. Page 161, sentence 6: “They say it is a small victory for us.†This is a quote from government apologist Ella Pamfilova in September 2004, Chairperson of Putin’s (then) newly created Presidential Commission on Human Rights. Ella sees it as a another victory for “the benign nature and democratic credentials†of Vladimir Putin. She reports support from all regions for this move. Cynical journalist Anna sees the commission as an action to control the human rights movement in Russia, which Putin considers his real opposition. Putin had already marginalized political opposition in elections by restricting the registration of other parties and removing the people’s right to vote for individual candidates. An outspoken advocate for democracy and human rights, Anna was murdered in the stairwell of her Moscow apartment building in 2006. Her friend Alexander Litvinenko, a former FSB agent in exile in London, accused the FSB of assassination. Anna was one of several free-speaking Russian journalists who have been mysteriously killed. Not long after, Litvinenko himself died from radiation poisoning placed in his teacup.
Hi Steve : I have not read a lot during the month of November, because of taking on the crazy NaNoWriMo challenge.
However I devoured two wonderful novels by Canadian writers;
1. “The Macken Charm”, by Jack Hodgins – I think you would enjoy this one tremendously… a family’s characteristic as described by the narrator, of the foibles and oddities of family members. Tragic, comic, compelling, amazing use of the English language. I re-read parts of this book every day, just savouring characters, descriptions, Hodgins’ flair with dialogue. One of those books that one comes across by accident, and realizes what a treasure one has been presented. Wowie!
2. “Lives of the Saints” by Nino Ricci – first book of a trilogy, amazing details of life in Italy of a young boy and his family. This one, I stopped writing my daily goal entirely, and just devoured. Am about to do a slow re-read – and I am never lending this book out – it’s a keeper.
Made a start on “The truth About Death and Dying” – by Rui Umezawa…The experience of a Japanese immigrant family in North America – brilliant writing, again, and a heart-rending story.
I love Armistead Maupin – first heard of him when I watched the PBS productions of Tales of the City, but wanted to read his writing of it. He is a compelling story-teller.
I shall try to get hold of the Anna Dadlez book, “In time of War…”
G