Fermata, The
13 journalers for this copy...
BookList - Stuart Whitwell
Were not the subject of Baker's novel pornography, one would speak without hesitation of its delicious wit. On the other hand, this "is" the story of a 35-year-old man who, by snapping his fingers or by resorting to some more desperate measure (for example, turning on a rubber-band stretching machine built by a woman at MIT), can and does stop time for the mere pleasure of taking sexual advantage of the women around him. Sounds sick, doesn't it? Well, get over it and you will find yourself in one of the funniest and most inventive books you've read for a long time. For the nice thing about our hero--and this is what subverts our own values as well as his--is that he is really a rather sensitive and even tender young man. For instance, he has no intention of embarrassing the women whose lives he explores and whose bodies he undresses. He would certainly never undress a woman he did not think he could put back together so precisely that even she will not notice. And anyway, what is most delighful is not this sexual naughtiness but the guiltless pleasure the hero takes in all the sensual data of life: the way chalk rubs against the blackboard, the way a voice sounds on a dictaphone machine, the noise a ball bearing makes when shaken in a can of paint. Baker knows all this can lead to something dangerous and corrupt, but his hero is not only playful, kind (he gives away a brand-new dildo to a woman he will never see and will never know him); in his own way he is also very moral. This last point is tricky. We see that our hero refuses to take money in the periods he freezes time and he is delicately prudish ("'Panties' is a word to be avoided, I feel"). So what do we have here? Let every reader decide for themselves. All we will say here is that Baker can be very funny and that, perverse or not, he certainly knows how to write.
Karikitten MD
three104 WI
RlyLv2Rd MN
MollyGrue WA
tabby90 NC
WritinReader KY
copchic905 Missouri
Jolyn Canada
Sherria CT
Brujula France
Auglaise Wales
Mfa Portugal
Mundoo Australia
Newk Australia
Sent off to the first person on the bookray--
karikitten
Anyway, I just finished it today, hope I didn't keep it too awfully long, it's my first ring/ray. Hope to get it to the post office over the weekend and it'll be on the way to three104.
When I first started it, I wasn't too keen on it but I just kept at it and got into the story more. I do think Arno was a bit of a perv, but he did have some standards, say against rape and stealing. It was plenty steamy, though I tended to shy away from some parts, the ones that aren't my kind of thing. But definately an interesting read, one I never would have found on my own, at say the local library. Thanks for the chance to read it.
Sending on to next reader in tomorrow's mail.
On it's way to RlyLv2Rd.
This book was dreadful. It put me to sleep so many times I lost count. I ended up having to finish the other bookring that arrived on the same day just to get through it. I swore I would divorce it and just send it on then tried to keep giving it "one more chance" hoping I would get into it like everyone else, but no go.
First, the character is narcissistic and patronizing. Next is the fact that I can read porn with the best of them, but this wasn't even titillating. Vulgar would be more apt of a description. I thought I would scream if he used the word "vadge" one more time. Also, how many cheesy names can you call a clit once you start using "gummi bear" and "marschino cherry."
I generally read a book that size in two or three days...this one took me three weeks (I apologize for the length of time) as time and time again I dozed off a page and a half after I started. This book was dreary and insipid.
Oh, I feel so bad for bagging it. I really want to thank you for sending it out siriradha, and mailing it to me three104. It just wasn't my cup of tea :).
Sending off to the next reader.
Released 19 yrs ago (9/18/2004 UTC) at In The Mail in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Sent to Tabby90. Happy reading!
DC# 03041070000256458463
It was definitely original though, and I'm glad I got to read it.
I'm sorry that I didn't enjoy it more, since I war really looking forward to reading it. I first heard about the story from a friend who thought it was so interesting, but thinking back, he was guy barely out of his teens, so that's likely why it appealed to him!
I've PM'd the next participant for her address and will get this one moving again as soon as I can. Thanks for sharing it sirradha. Even when I don't enjoy a book, I still enjoy the opportunity to try something new.
I have several rings and rays to read ahead of it, but I'll try not to keep it longer than one month.
Thanks for the ring, siriradha, and for mailing the book all the way to France, Sherria!
I really liked the bit about his thoughts and feelings when he types tapes dictated by others... and found funny his way of punishing the kids who wanted to rob him.
But towards the middle of the book, the stories he writes or puts on tape put me off a little. They were really "too much" for me, didn't do anything for the story, or for the character, and I could have done without them. I almost stopped reading the book then. But I continued, and although the MRI scene seemed grotesque to me, I read on to the last page, and I rather liked the ending. It reconciliated me with the narrator and his weird ways...
So, thank you siriradha for letting me read this!
(oh, I'll mail the book as soon as I have the adress of the person after me in the list!)
I thought it was...interesting. I wouldn't say that I liked it, but at the same time I didn't find it difficult to read or over the top. I think that Arno has a very strange set of morals - It being okay to sneak into someone's flat for example but not okay to steal money. The concept of being able to stop time is a fairly interesting one in this context, but I did get the feeling that he was using it as an excuse to not really try to do anything with his life. The ending was also not one that I expected, especially when Joyce seems to be given the powers. This seems to be an indication that, as he realizes the need for honesty and a committed relationship his powers are taken away from him, the author is trying to say that 'Well, that was all very nice, but now it's time to settle down' by giving the main thing in his life to someone else. I also found the ending a bit abrupt, and felt that suddenly Baker just didn't know what to write anymore.
Thanks for sharing, and I'll be posting it on soon!
what i liked is the mathematical thought, the attempt at giving a scientific aura to what would otherwise be a random act of cheap science fiction. Dealing with time as a physical concept is not easy at all, and i found it convencing and well ballanced with the erotic fantasies.
it is a very intelligent book, i must say. too bad i felt it to be quite sexist too: the narrator claims to be all nice and sensitive but what he is about is forcing his own male sexuality on women who for some reason i really cannot grasp should somehow be grateful...
having said that, i must confess i'm giving it as a christmas gift to an ex-boyfriend :)
i apologise for keeping it for so long. will post it to mundoo first thing monday morning.
2 ahead of it.
I will send it on to Newk when I get his address.
Released 18 yrs ago (2/23/2006 UTC) at By Mail in per Post, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to newk
Carried on a bit in parts and these were easily skipped through.
Thanks to the organiser and all the participants.
I will release this book in the next day or two. I'll check with sirradha first
Released 17 yrs ago (6/10/2006 UTC) at pacific coffee company in Terminal 1, Changi Airport Singapore
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
near internet terminals. Buy a drink and get free internet.
If you find this book welcome to bookcrossing. please explore the site and see what it has to offer