A few more books

[dagibbs]

I've been falling behind on my Economist, but gotten a few books read instead.



Book 23: How To Rock Climb! by John Long. While a bit dated in some places (1989), this is a good general introduction to rock climbing, covering technique and safety -- top rope, anchors, gear, belay and rappel techniques and a lot more. I probably should have read this before Climbing Anchors which, essentially, takes the chapter on anchors and expands it into a whole book. Long, actually, seems to have done several books expanding other sections of this book -- I have on my shelf also More Climbing Anchors, Self Rescue, and Face Climging. (All on loan from my brother-in-law. Though, this particular book isn't.) Glad I read it, and I think Face Climbing is probably next.

Book 24: Story of O by Pauline Reage is an interesting book, combining a strong amount of erotica with a lot of almost philosophizing. It is the story of O's submission, and of why she follows it, and what she feels and thinks as it happens. Well worth reading, though I found the ending abrupt.

Book 25: Climbing on the Eardley Escarpment by Yann Troutet is a guide book for rock climbs on the Eardley Escarpment along the southern edge of the Gatineau park. It also gives an interesting introduction with geological and climbing history of the region. It seems to have been written around 1999/2000, and a lot has changed recently with conservation closing some of the cliffs routes, and accesses possibly changing for others, which can make it a bit out of date. I'll know more as to how useful it is as I try to use it for climbs on more of the cliffs. (And, probably, as I get more used to reading guides of this sort.)

Comments

[boywhocantsayno.livejournal.com]

In case you're at all interested, and find yourself in Atlanta at any point during your travels, I learned tonight that Ken Fernandez, who is a member of Outworlders whom I know via Gaylaxicons, is also a rock climber. Since I know that you're sometimes looking for climbing partners when you're travelling, I mentioned your name to him tonight and he seemed amenable to going climbing with you if you're ever there.

I don't seem to have an email address for you, so feel free to give me a shout at lance_sibley at yahoo dot com if you want his email address or want me to send him yours.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the offer, if I'm in Atlanta I'll look him up.

I'm gibbs_da at yahoo dot ca.

[ilanikhan.livejournal.com]

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<Story of O...thoughI found the ending abrupt>

The version I read had a paragraph from the editor/translator. It said that there was more to the story, but it has since been lost. Something about the book being considered obscene. If I recall correctly, the editor said that there were two rumoured endings, one where her man just leaves her for another woman. (the other I don't remember)

Personally, I hated it. I think that she didn't think she didn't feel, she just gave in. It wasn't her submitting, it was just her giving up. The rumoured endings didn't impress me either - especially the one about him leaving her.

I'd have to read it again to have an intellegent conversation on it, and I've given away my copy (I hated it that much) but I don't think the endings are relavant anyway.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Yes, it was the last page with the comment about the last chapter being "suppressed", and an alternate ending of her choosing to die. I'm not sure that wasn't, maybe, in the original French -- I don't know, though. They might have been a stylistic choice. Either way, that was what I found abrupt, but didn't want to spoil to much for someone who might not have expected it.