tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6907747392138991807.post236409501370907979..comments2023-06-28T11:47:06.208-04:00Comments on a book a week: Winter by Adam GopnikAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330550798080469047noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6907747392138991807.post-14675510040602164482013-12-12T12:39:36.409-05:002013-12-12T12:39:36.409-05:00Jeanne, I'm not sure the chapter on sports *wo...Jeanne, I'm not sure the chapter on sports *would* be completely lost on you. It's pretty lyrical and enlightening, at least at points. And even the history of ice hockey is surprisingly interesting (really. I was surprised.) because it talks about the relationship between sport and class right around the time hockey was springing into being in the city of Montreal. <br /><br />I'd love to see if you come around to a different point of view on the season once you've read this!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330550798080469047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6907747392138991807.post-28641627185675218022013-12-12T10:37:29.931-05:002013-12-12T10:37:29.931-05:00I wonder if this could help me like the season bet...I wonder if this could help me like the season better. The chapter about sports would be completely lost on me, which is, perhaps, telling.Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374498643286099244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6907747392138991807.post-88057274148481622572013-12-11T17:54:55.734-05:002013-12-11T17:54:55.734-05:00"I often felt alienated from Gopnik because h..."I often felt alienated from Gopnik because he was oblivious in a way that bordered on the insensitive"<br /><br />YES. That is exactly, exactly it. It <i>was</i> baffling, wasn't it?! When he clearly is an intelligent, thoughtful guy, why would he pick the specific, loaded terms he did, as in your example above or with my "Playmate" example? There really wasn't any excuse for it. <br /><br />Agreed, though - overall enjoyable and interesting, just sadly prevented from being great by something that could have easily been avoided. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330550798080469047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6907747392138991807.post-57462330868785729462013-12-11T06:17:35.631-05:002013-12-11T06:17:35.631-05:00I've just finished this and I immediately came...I've just finished this and I immediately came to read your review :P (I was very curious about what the thing you'd mentioned in your comment would be). I can definitely see what you mean - I had a lot of fun reading Winter, but I often felt alienated from Gopnik because he was oblivious in a way that bordered on the insensitive. The best example I can think of is the chapter about Polar exploration. His point about the there being no account of homosexual love affairs in the explorer's diaries even though they must have happened is a good one, but I was REALLY put off by his casual use of the words "sodomy" and "buggery" rather than a neutral, I don't know, "homosexual sex" or whatever. I don't know if his use of those terms was meant to be joking or what, but they're really loaded, hurtful and some would even say dehumanising terms, and he seems entirely oblivious to this. And even though it's clear that he's not really discussing homosexuality in disapproving terms, the words are still there. It was honestly quite puzzling, and this and other things along the same lines prevented me from REALLY loving the book. Still, a fun read overall, and perfect for the season - I especially enjoyed the chapter about Christmas.Ana S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16092495983972185943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6907747392138991807.post-12549073078758622002013-11-26T21:29:50.565-05:002013-11-26T21:29:50.565-05:00Ha! His interests are certainly very diverse, aren...Ha! His interests are certainly very diverse, aren't they? I love that he's a sort of Renaissance man. Do let me know what you think! (It's such a good time of year to read this; I am so excited for winter now.)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330550798080469047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6907747392138991807.post-64346536393167236852013-11-25T10:31:12.467-05:002013-11-25T10:31:12.467-05:00This is a wonderful review. I didn't read ever...This is a wonderful review. I didn't read every word because I am reading this book right now!! I will come back as soon as I finish, and will read it in its entirety. Great minds, my dear! I love his writing. The very week I began reading the book he had two articles in the New Yorker which were, as always, excellent. One on the Kennedy assassination and the other on baking bread.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.com