tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.comments2023-07-11T08:37:46.781-07:00Thomas Burchfield: A Curious ManThomas Burchfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13554344522458052169noreply@blogger.comBlogger211125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-9190299131571801972018-02-23T11:44:54.433-08:002018-02-23T11:44:54.433-08:00Thanks, John. Unfortunately, at least as far as I ...Thanks, John. Unfortunately, at least as far as I can tell, the allegory isn't very fashionable, at least right now. Maybe because it tends to generalize its characters, as opposed to being specific. The stereotypes in SS San Pedro, for one, get pretty rank.Thomas Burchfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13554344522458052169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-12877118268557248282018-02-16T16:06:11.807-08:002018-02-16T16:06:11.807-08:00Many of life's allegories allude to ships, kee...Many of life's allegories allude to ships, keeping them afloat, and their sinking. This is brought out in the reviews and makes them extraordinary.John-Ivan Palmerhttp://john-ivanpalmer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-36524193982545453762017-12-20T10:57:15.583-08:002017-12-20T10:57:15.583-08:00Thanks, John! he is indeed a folk hero to the Japa...Thanks, John! he is indeed a folk hero to the Japanese!<br /><br />Loved your piece on Teddy Qualls in WHISTLING SHADE. You capture and portray that world so well! I would've e-mailed you, but this way you might get more readers!Thomas Burchfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13554344522458052169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-2783937005353971742017-12-20T06:43:46.001-08:002017-12-20T06:43:46.001-08:00Gojira is still popular in Japan. A small izakia (...Gojira is still popular in Japan. A small izakia (bar) next to Harue's parent's old house was called Gojira and had a row of Gojira figures on the window ledge.<br />As always, an insightful essay. I'll be curious about Zigzag Man.John-Ivan Palmerhttp://john-ivanpalmer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-18646773968847953472017-03-11T11:22:51.255-08:002017-03-11T11:22:51.255-08:00Thanks so much, SAQUIB! Sorry, I took so long to r...Thanks so much, SAQUIB! Sorry, I took so long to respond, but I'm in the midst of preparing my next novel "Butchertown" for publication in a few weeks. I hope I keep entertaining you and thanks again!Thomas Burchfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13554344522458052169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-72017605037584532042017-03-07T00:00:07.234-08:002017-03-07T00:00:07.234-08:00Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog...Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon! <a href="http://www.manwithvannewyork.com/" rel="nofollow">a man with a van</a><br />Saqib Khatrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07730556578524554655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-6922495270874515542017-01-24T11:43:56.164-08:002017-01-24T11:43:56.164-08:00Unfortunately, as far as I know, the only way to s...Unfortunately, as far as I know, the only way to see THESE GLAMOUR GIRLS at this time is when TCM shows it.<br /><br />Thanks for writing!Thomas Burchfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13554344522458052169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-66002457765297083222017-01-22T16:17:33.813-08:002017-01-22T16:17:33.813-08:00Sounds like a fascinating read, the book. Good th...Sounds like a fascinating read, the book. Good thing Robin Cutler pays tribute to her mom. She seems to be a significant writer in own right. Is there any way you can see "These Glamour Girls?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-55211775801009683592016-11-21T18:02:57.019-08:002016-11-21T18:02:57.019-08:00Hi Julie: Thanks so much! The juxtaposition of th...Hi Julie: Thanks so much! The juxtaposition of the two photos was a sort of yin-yang idea, invoking the uncomfortable idea that passive resistance may not work in this crisis, posing that against the sincere desire for peace.<br /><br />As for those who voted for him, outside of those who might be mired in and blinded by rural poverty, I can't show much sympathy. If they were worried about losing jobs and insurance premiums going up, they just made their situation worse, much worse.Thomas Burchfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13554344522458052169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-58961904668583320382016-11-20T06:26:06.996-08:002016-11-20T06:26:06.996-08:00Thomas I appreciate how you pull together all the ...Thomas I appreciate how you pull together all the diverse thoughts about the election, and the individual's place in the world. Truthfully, I think this country and the world are still suffering from the ill-founded decision to go to war against Iraq (for which Hillary on John Kerry also voted). Remember that all those who voted for Trump (many who voted for Obama) have their own individual reasons, too. Some were worried about losing jobs, others concerned about the rise in health insurance premiums. We don't know what the future brings. Trump's win shows that the narcissistic "bully" comes out ahead. He's a terrible role model. But politicians today divide and separate us, instead of bringing together. I'm struck by the contrast of your photo, a picture that brings together diverse beings under one roof, and the division that politics represents.When I was upset about another election in 2004, my yoga teacher spread some comforting words about how the rhetoric against the winner treats us if we're separate beings. Your writing also reminds me of a sculpture that Elizabeth and I like, The Solitude of the Soul, at the Art Institute. We walk in a ring together but all have a different truth. Julie Schauerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09014109326652755132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-66321937924682025172016-03-16T17:16:09.692-07:002016-03-16T17:16:09.692-07:00Thanks, Thomas! Hope you enjoy the rest, BACKGROUN...Thanks, Thomas! Hope you enjoy the rest, BACKGROUND TO DANGER was a favorite of mine. Among his later books, DR. FRIGO stood out for me. (I;m still look for a first ed of LIGHT OF DAY.Thomas Burchfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13554344522458052169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-63952234429367010672016-03-16T14:58:20.905-07:002016-03-16T14:58:20.905-07:00This was my first or second Ambler and I loved it ...This was my first or second Ambler and I loved it despite its flaws. I've been buying up his work whenever I find it, but your Ambler shelf makes me a little envious.Thomas Hogglestockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14284352537015457974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-13802571861506202962015-10-14T11:45:25.616-07:002015-10-14T11:45:25.616-07:00Thanks. I had to re-read this piece (I wrote it so...Thanks. I had to re-read this piece (I wrote it some years ago and now think I laid the style on a bit thick). I agree that VN's head and heart were often bound more closely together than we might think.<br /><br />To your comment that he wrote from a different place than most people are willing to comprehend, I would agree. For example, I've just finished reading the section on SPEAK MEMORY in Brian Boyd's terrific bio of VN. I think I'm pretty smart, but even I was challenged by Boyd's analysis of VN's outlook on memory and time.Thomas Burchfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13554344522458052169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-1125384341774751292015-10-09T07:52:32.820-07:002015-10-09T07:52:32.820-07:00For a guy like VN, I don't think the mind and ...For a guy like VN, I don't think the mind and the heart are as different as you could make them out to be. He wrote from a place that not many people are willing enough to understand.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-60073517375352616752015-09-15T07:45:52.514-07:002015-09-15T07:45:52.514-07:00Thanks, Julie. Yeah, it's a pretty bumpy debut...Thanks, Julie. Yeah, it's a pretty bumpy debut!Thomas Burchfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13554344522458052169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-80201933910740179242015-09-11T11:32:15.194-07:002015-09-11T11:32:15.194-07:00Thanks for your blog, as I took this perspective i...Thanks for your blog, as I took this perspective into it while reading. Now I'm done and all your criticisms are fair. Atticus Finch is not quite a well-integrated character in her first book.Julie Schauerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09014109326652755132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-57036417089301456142015-08-24T07:36:19.621-07:002015-08-24T07:36:19.621-07:00Thank you for your review, as I was hoping you'...Thank you for your review, as I was hoping you'd do it. I'm reading the book now, only around page 40 at the rate I'm going, which is 3 pages a day. And haven't gotten to the parts you're writing about. So far, it's only her aunt that she's criticizing. A far cry from "To Kill a Mockingbird," which I couldn't put down. I like how you described that first novel. Apparently she didn't think it all that good herself. Julie Schauerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09014109326652755132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-18105362190619232912015-07-02T08:11:43.212-07:002015-07-02T08:11:43.212-07:00Thanks, Martin. I agree: even subpar Ambler is bet...Thanks, Martin. I agree: even subpar Ambler is better than most everyone else!Thomas Burchfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13554344522458052169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-26799262156979378322015-06-28T15:15:22.948-07:002015-06-28T15:15:22.948-07:00I didn't find this as boring as you did - I...I didn't find this as boring as you did - I've just finished it - but I agree it isn't awfully grippy. I also find the hero's relationship with the woman exploitative, especially in the last pages, which leave unspoken so much about the implicit racist views of the time (interesting to compare with The Quiet American, published at a similar time, and which I recently bought on the same day as the Ambler). Nor is the prose especially stylish or attractive. But: there's plenty of authenticity here, good observation about Indonesia, some quite honest sexuality (for the times), and the sense that Ambler, when writing about voiolence and violent men, knows exactly what he's talking about; and that's what, for me, lifts him above so many other genre writers.Martin Buckleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-66178169989391578522014-01-16T13:24:53.122-08:002014-01-16T13:24:53.122-08:00Hi There: I believe this may revolve around the fa...Hi There: I believe this may revolve around the fact that I publish via Firefox, leading to an inevitable clash between the two systems; so there's probably little or nothing than be done about that. Maybe you could switch to Firefox, if convenient for you.<br /><br />Thanks for the compliment and thanks for coming by!Thomas Burchfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13554344522458052169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-9825793181811996902014-01-13T06:44:23.388-08:002014-01-13T06:44:23.388-08:00Hey, I think your website might be having browser ...Hey, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues.<br />When I look at your blog site in Firefox, it looks fine but <br />when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.<br />I just wanted to give you a quick heads up!<br />Other then that, very good blog!<br /><br />My web-site ... <a href="http://Thegamblingparadise.com/" rel="nofollow">TheGamblingParadise.com</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-38060961625855834682013-11-29T08:59:37.519-08:002013-11-29T08:59:37.519-08:00I rеally like your blog..
very nice colors & t...I rеally like your blog..<br />very nice colors & theme. Did youu &X6d;aκe this websitе yourself oor did you hire someo&X6E;e to doo i&X74; <br />fоr yοu? Plz а&X6e;swer bасk as Ι'm <br />looκing to construct my own blo&X67; and <br />woulԁ &X6C;ike to know whe&X72;e u got this from.<br />t&X68;an&X6b; you<br /><br />M&X79; weblog; <a href="http://www.lewshepherd.com/modules.php?name=Your_Account&op=userinfo&username=AstridJkc" rel="nofollow">seo fort lauderdale</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-49338977561017891612013-11-21T12:47:25.758-08:002013-11-21T12:47:25.758-08:00Thanks John and Julie: Nope, the wolves are heedin...Thanks John and Julie: Nope, the wolves are heeding other calls and you're not missing much, unless you did stories about Dracula forming an energy consortium like Enron.Thomas Burchfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13554344522458052169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-70483624946014126622013-11-10T15:05:55.780-08:002013-11-10T15:05:55.780-08:00Enjoyed your review and commentary, though it'...Enjoyed your review and commentary, though it's hard to make time to watch. Guess I'm not missing much. Julie Schauerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09014109326652755132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543569223349021253.post-90334096069656628922013-11-08T10:46:29.891-08:002013-11-08T10:46:29.891-08:00Not even the wolves would heed his call. Nothing c...Not even the wolves would heed his call. Nothing could be more clear. And cold.John-Ivan Palmernoreply@blogger.com