I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

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Have you ever read this book?

Yes, and I loved it!
2
13%
Yes, and I only sort-of liked it.
1
6%
Yes, but I didn't like it.
0
No votes
No, but I plan to.
1
6%
No, and I don't plan to.
11
69%
Other answer (please explain).
1
6%
 
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Jack
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I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

Post by Jack »

Have you ever read I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, a novel by Hannah Green (Joanna Greenburg)?

After knowing of it's existance for a few years, I read it recently and it touched me in ways I couldn't begin to explain.

Here is a quote which spoke so directly to my condition that it changed my life:
the author wrote:The fisherman has won, and the fish is in the net, but it does not die and be dead. It keeps flapping and slapping against the sides of the boat, turning and seeking for its element and suffering the deprivation of the essence by which it lives. The distresses the fisherman. He does not want to think about the death-throes of the fish, which is his prize and his victory. Thus are you to the world and to us also. Re-die, and let things stand as they were."
I am a fish! Most people in the world are fish!
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Joseph E. Smith
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Post by Joseph E. Smith »

Never heard of the book, but I thought the song was only so-so.
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Jack
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Post by Jack »

Joseph E. Smith wrote:Never heard of the book, but I thought the song was only so-so.
The book was written before the song. The book is awesome. I've never heard the song.
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dubhlinn
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Post by dubhlinn »

May I respectfully suggest a reading of Hemingways great study of men and their relationships with fish..not to mention Life.

"The Old Man and the Sea".

Should not be hard to find, if you work in a Library.

Slan,
D. :wink:
And many a poor man that has roved,
Loved and thought himself beloved,
From a glad kindness cannot take his eyes.

W.B.Yeats
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Post by SteveShaw »

I am extremely glad that you have started a thread which does not concern the current vicissitudes of your life (for which I have every sympathy), because it gives me the opportunity to say that I do not read your posts nor dwell at all on any page with a post of yours on it on account of that dreadful avatar of yours. If your intention in life is to set out to irritate, I should like to inform you that, in my case, you have succeeded. I'm sure that you can find something alternative that is just as irritating (you do seem to be very resourceful in this area), preferably to others this time and not me. I wish to inform you that when I hit "send" I shall not be viewing my own message. My head is firmly down. In a nutshell, your avatar bugs me.
"Last night, among his fellow roughs,
He jested, quaff'd and swore."

They cut me down and I leapt up high
I am the life that'll never, never die.
I'll live in you if you'll live in me -
I am the lord of the dance, said he!
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Post by Jack »

dubhlinn wrote:May I respectfully suggest a reading of Hemingways great study of men and their relationships with fish..not to mention Life.

"The Old Man and the Sea".

Should not be hard to find, if you work in a Library.

Slan,
D. :wink:
I will (begin to) read it tomorrow. :)
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The Weekenders
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Post by The Weekenders »

The song is horrid. Don't get me started. One cliche after another. Never read the book though I remember it being popular a long time ago.

PS. Shaw must have a hangover or something.
How do you prepare for the end of the world?
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emmline
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Post by emmline »

The Weekenders wrote:The song is horrid. Don't get me started. One cliche after another. Never read the book though I remember it being popular a long time ago.
Me too. Thinking of it evokes the early 70's for me. If I try to run the song through my head I seem to accidently segue into "God didn't make the little green apples..." even though it's a different schmaltzy song.
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dubhlinn
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Post by dubhlinn »

emmline wrote:
The Weekenders wrote:The song is horrid. Don't get me started. One cliche after another. Never read the book though I remember it being popular a long time ago.
Me too. Thinking of it evokes the early 70's for me. If I try to run the song through my head I seem to accidently segue into "God didn't make the little green apples..." even though it's a different schmaltzy song.

:lol:
Indeed,
Sure I can hear "Rose Garden" running through my head now. Early 70s without a doubt..

What I find interesting is that everybody who grew up in that era remembers it.

Must have struck a note down deep there ..somewhere.

Mind ye, on reflection, I have known a lot of women who wanted a Rose Garden..and a few men as well.

Not that I ever promised a man a Rose Garden..

Not that I have anything against those who have..

Well..ye know what I mean..

Slan,
D. :lol:
And many a poor man that has roved,
Loved and thought himself beloved,
From a glad kindness cannot take his eyes.

W.B.Yeats
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SteveShaw
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Post by SteveShaw »

The Weekenders wrote:PS. Shaw must have a hangover or something.
Jeez, at least give me a chance to develop one! Your time-zone perception needs honing. I haven't even gone to bed yet. :D
"Last night, among his fellow roughs,
He jested, quaff'd and swore."

They cut me down and I leapt up high
I am the life that'll never, never die.
I'll live in you if you'll live in me -
I am the lord of the dance, said he!
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izzarina
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Post by izzarina »

dubhlinn wrote:May I respectfully suggest a reading of Hemingways great study of men and their relationships with fish..not to mention Life.

"The Old Man and the Sea".
Excellent story. One of my favorites.

I also have that infernal song running through my head as I type. I'm sure I'll be humming it for days now :P
Someday, everything is gonna be diff'rent
When I paint my masterpiece.
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Charlene
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Post by Charlene »

We must all be about the same age. Not only am I hearing the song, but I can remember seeing whoever it was (Lynn Anderson? I know I could Google but it's getting late and I'm lazy) with a long dress and big hair singing it on TV.

The book was ok. Kind of disturbing, but it is about a mental hospital, after all.
Charlene
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avanutria
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Post by avanutria »

Other: I've never read the book, and I've never heard of it or of the song.
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Joseph E. Smith
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Post by Joseph E. Smith »

avanutria wrote:Other: I've never read the book, and I've never heard of it or of the song.
I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden.... :lol:



Now it ought to be firnly cemented in everybody's head (who knows the song) for the remainder of the day. My work here is through. :twisted:
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Post by Flyingcursor »

Maybe I'll read the book but now I too have that song stuck in my head.
I'm no longer trying a new posting paradigm
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