Books - Pamela Dean, Tam Lin

I just finished the book Tam Lin by Pamela Dean, and I have a feeling I need to read it again, to figure out what exactly I think about it.

I started out immediately enchanted – I loved everything – setting, people, words and images, I was falling in… something with Nick in the book, and I adored the way they were all speaking – those constant poetry citations that could feels artificial from outside, but it also can be pretty natural for the one who is talking. In fact those speech patterns in the books did more for my "getting the English poetry" thing I wrote about a while back, than actual reading English poetry.

I loved the small mysteries and big unsaid things; I loved the interactions between characters and the characters themselves, I exercised my will not to go and see the end ahead of time but let the book take me with it. Ok, I knew how it will end – it is Tam Lin, after all, but the details were unclear, and besides, I really loved Nick.

College setting was fun, though rather alien for me- I've never lived on campus neither in North America nor Russia, being lucky to have the university I wanted in my city (and dorms were only for out of city students – my husband always mocked me that I never knew real life. Probably. I was satisfied with the life I knew.) Fascinated with the college life I never noticed (until the year was spelled in the book) that it all was happening thirty years ago. No, the absence of fancy gadgets never surprised me. Who knows how those colleges should look like? Maybe the ones in Toronto are all wrong?

There are many small things in the book to pick up and enjoy or ponder. However, as the book went into its second half, and the story into its second and third year, I grew restless. That's all good and nice, but when will all shit hit the fan and the big trouble starts? I was asking myself. It never did. Even the final revelations weren't that revelatory. Mostly because I expected all that, and secondly, because not everything I wanted to know, I knew by the end. That's one of the reasons I feel the need to read it again. Maybe I am just that stupid and couldn't see it.

For example, what was about Nick's reaction to Keats? Was Keats another seven-year sacrifice? Or there is another connection between Keats and Shakespeare? I can tell you lots of anecdotes about untimely deaths of great Russian poets, but I am not that familiar the history of English literature.

Was Peg Powell normally crazy or not? Why did she need that hockey stick?

In the end I left happy for Janet and Thomas – I liked that a lot, but more curious about Nick and Robin – did they change in any way? I liked them. And I keep wondering about Molly and Robin, too. And all other stuff.

Now I want to read other people's posts about the same book. Feel free to recommend.

A question:

Are men you know capable of finding things in a fridge by themselves?

Books meme. I tried to hide, but I've been tagged.

And so I present you the book meme that is making rounds in the fandom.

1. Total number of books I've owned: six boxes in Canada and uncounted number in Russia. Some of those in Russia are totally mine, some belong to my parents. I am not sure I ever read them all, but I want to.

2. Last book I bought: Legal Machine transcriptions. Does it count if it was for my college course? I rarely buy books in Canada- unless it is a gift or I want to have too much. Right now I usually use the magnificent Toronto Public Library. We did buy a lot of books while living in BC - both in Chapters and twice a year at a library sale. But then, we had twelve boxes of books to move and pay for the moving... rather discouraging. I also bring several kilos of books from Russia every time.

3. Last book I read or am currently reading:

Last books I finished is Pamela Dean's Tam Lin, which you can read about in the previous post.

Currently reading:

Douglas R. Hofstadter, Le ton beau de Marot : in praise of the music of language. As per advice of mrissa
Melissa Bank, The girls' guide to hunting and fishing
Byliny (Russian epic poems.) Yes, it is going slowly, but this way it is more fun.

4. Five books that mean a lot to me:

I believe I picked five when I was doing similar meme the first time around, so I'll try not to repeat myself.

Ivan Efremov Thais of Athens. This book as far as I know is not translated into English, which is a pity, because it is a wonderful story that provided me with a kink for the Hellenistic culture, a sense of wonder, and a role model. What does it tell about me that my role model since thirteen was a Greek courtesan from the Alexander the Great time? I don't care. Thais is great - lively, intelligent, kind, openminded, a good friend, always curious, and she kicks Aristotle's ass - literally. I love her.

Alexandr Pushkin Evgeny Onegin I am sure I mentioned it already, but it is book I keep coming back and every time I am reading it as a different book (this is true fot the Thais as well). Beside, after reading Hofstadter, I can intelligently recommend you translation by John Falen, or if you can't get it, Walter Arndt is good too. Pushkin feels like a memeber of my family. Like in: Who's gonna wash the dishes? Pushkin!

Roger Zelazny The Chronicles of Amber THe first actual fantazy I read - bofore it was sf of various kinds. I was sixteen, and the books - in horrible, but memorable edition were magic. I almost completely forgot the content, yet I am afraid to reread it - and to lose that magic...

Some American guy A book about Language I don't remember the name of the author, or the exact name of this children's book, but it was a translation from English with the appropriate comments and additions from the translator (to have examples about Russian language), and it gave me lots of random knowledge about linguistics and languages I still use. Plus, the love and excitement over words!

Jacque le Goff Medieval Civilization of Europe. after all the marxist-view-upholding history books I grew up with, this was a revelation. I still love it and put on the pedestal, and reread from time to time. So much fun!

5. Tag five people and have them put this in their journal: and the victims are: skylee, monanotlisa, janedavitt, elisi, oyceter. What have you been reading?