Now reading...

[Matthew]

I've been reading a lot recently due to a MAJOR, depressing, malfunction of my left ear. It's so bad right now that, five weeks ago, I packed up all my audio equipment and stored it in my closet, awaiting a time where my world is no longer mono. Well, anyway, still reading John Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time. It's my second time wading through it, and I must admit, I have come to the conclusion that it's not all that great, but since I started it, I want to go to the bitter end. However, I've finally done something I wanted to do all my life: I'm reading Bosewell's Life of Samuel Johnson, and it's a hoot! Just a fascinating look at life in London during the 1700s, and the life of a very interesting character, to say the least. Has great laugh-out-loud moments, along with paragraphs that are a wonder to behold. The most fun book I've read in a while.

[Dr. Rat]

I'm reading Bosewell's Life of Samuel Johnson, and it's a hoot! Just a fascinating look at life in London during the 1700s, and the life of a very interesting character, to say the least. Has great laugh-out-loud moments, along with paragraphs that are a wonder to behold. The most fun book I've read in a while.

Which edition of the biography?

Johnson is something else. If you want more, try Boswell's London Journal, which has a fair deal of Johnson in it and helps you get to know Boswell a bit better (he's also a remarkable character).

--eric

[Matthew]

Which edition of the biography?

Johnson is something else. If you want more, try Boswell's London Journal, which has a fair deal of Johnson in it and helps you get to know Boswell a bit better (he's also a remarkable character).

--eric

I'm reading the Everyman's Library edition, the whole 1,250+ pages. It is fun, and I'm learning a lot too.

[Dr. Rat]

Which edition of the biography?

Johnson is something else. If you want more, try Boswell's London Journal, which has a fair deal of Johnson in it and helps you get to know Boswell a bit better (he's also a remarkable character).

--eric

I'm reading the Everyman's Library edition, the whole 1,250+ pages. It is fun, and I'm learning a lot too.

Wow. Not many people read the whole thing (I haven't and I have some reason to call myself an 18th-century scholar, but early 18th, though). You will soon be bale to speak as a peer with Johnson specialists, should you ever meet one!

Enjoy!

--eric

[Matthew]

I'm about half-way through vol. 1 of Rising Up and Rising Down by William T. Vollman. I was surprised to learn only 3,500 copies of this have been printed. It's a very interesting and different read. Vollman is trying to come to somekind of understanding of violence, and what is justified violence. It's challenging in the ways he looks at the world and how we live in it. Kind of depressing, and it's also daunting to know I have 3,300 more pages I get to read .

Edited April 3, 2004 by Matthew

[Jazzmoose]

I finally read Art Pepper's Straight Life, and discovered that once I had finished, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I was while reading it, if that makes any sense. A real eyeopener on several fronts. I've since picked up Cain's Mildred Pierce for the umpteenth time; it's an old favorite.

[Matthew]

I finally read Art Pepper's Straight Life, and discovered that once I had finished, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I was while reading it, if that makes any sense. A real eyeopener on several fronts. ....

Finding out from that book Pepper's absolute hatred of anyone who "snitches anyone out," I finally understood Pepper's long standing dislike for Chet Baker. Baker, dispite being arrested many times, never went to jail. Hmmm .... I wonder why .

[BFrank]

Went on a Dashiell Hammett walking tour of SF today. I had done the same one over 20 years ago and the same guy is doing it. Pretty entertaining and definitely a workout. It's over 4 hours and plenty of hills, too.

One of the highlights is a visit to one of Hammett's apartments, which also happens to be the same as Sam Spade's apartment in Maltese Falcon.

The guy is a character and you get plenty of personal asides as well as info about other authors and general SF history. It's only $10, and you DEFINITELY get your money's worth.

If you are in SF, it's worth checking out. Here's his web page: Don Herron

[ghost of miles]

BFrank, I've wanted to do that Hammett walking tour for years. I love SF--maybe the wife & I should come out & try to hook up with the Moose for a go at it. Is the grill where Spade eats still open? I know it was in the early 1980s...

Speaking of Moose, I read Mildred Pierce for the first time last year and really liked it. Cain doesn't always get his due, IMO... Sonic Youth titled an instrumental after the book on their 1990 album GOO.

Just finished John le Carre's THE HONOURABLE SCHOOLBOY and am currently reading Lewis Erenberg's SWINGIN' THE DREAM: BIG BAND JAZZ AND THE REBIRTH OF AMERICAN CULTURE.

Edited April 8, 2004 by ghost of miles

[Dr. Rat]

BFrank, I've wanted to do that Hammett walking tour for years. I love SF--maybe the wife & I should come out & try to hook up with the Moose for a go at it. Is the grill where Spade eats still open? I know it was in the early 1980s...

Speaking of Moose, I read Mildred Pierce for the first time last year and really liked it. Cain doesn't always get his due, IMO... Sonic Youth titled an instrumental after the book on their 1990 album GOO.

Just finished John le Carre's THE HONOURABLE SCHOOLBOY and am currently reading Lewis Erenberg's SWINGIN' THE DREAM: BIG BAND JAZZ AND THE REBIRTH OF AMERICAN CULTURE.

When I had to read him in college, I hated Hammet. He seemed like such a tough guy poser. Mean while, I liked Hemingway, who seemed to at least realize that his tough guy pose was a bit juvenile. Last year I read all the Hammet in the Library of America straight through and loved it. Tried to re-read In Our Time and came away feeling that I had outgrown Hemingway.

Go figure.

--eric

[Chrome]

I'm about half-way through vol. 1 of Rising Up and Rising Down by William T. Vollman. I was surprised to learn only 3,500 copies of this have been printed. It's a very interesting and different read. Vollman is trying to come to somekind of understanding of violence, and what is justified violence. It's challenging in the ways he looks at the world and how we live in it. Kind of depressing, and it's also daunting to know I have 3,300 more pages I get to read .

How is that? I've read about 5 or 6 of Vollmann's books, and have mixed feelings ... I like the books from his "American dreams" novels (the exact name escapes me, but I'm talking about "The Ice-Shirt," "The Rifles," "Fathers and Crows"), but haven't been too keen on the other stuff.

Also, how much is it?

[Jazzmoose]

BFrank, I've wanted to do that Hammett walking tour for years. I love SF--maybe the wife & I should come out & try to hook up with the Moose for a go at it.

Hey, that'd be cool! Maybe we could use the day as an excuse to get the whole Bay Area Organissimo gang together, though I don't know if everyone would be interested in the walking tour.

[Dr. Rat]

It's about the dispute in evolutionary biology between Richard Dawkins and EO Wilson (and their supporters) and SJ Gould, Ricahrd Lewontin (and their supporters).

It's pretty good, though she's rather slanted toward Dawkins/Wilson.

--eric

[Matthew]

I'm about half-way through vol. 1 of Rising Up and Rising Down by William T. Vollman.  I was surprised to learn only 3,500 copies of this have been printed.  It's a very interesting and different read.  Vollman is trying to come to somekind of understanding of violence, and what is justified violence.  It's challenging in the ways he looks at the world and how we live in it.  Kind of depressing, and it's also daunting to know I have 3,300 more pages I get to read  .

How is that? I've read about 5 or 6 of Vollmann's books, and have mixed feelings ... I like the books from his "American dreams" novels (the exact name escapes me, but I'm talking about "The Ice-Shirt," "The Rifles," "Fathers and Crows"), but haven't been too keen on the other stuff.

Also, how much is it?

Not too bad so far. I'm into vol. II right now, the "Case Studies," reading about the "defense of honor" reason for violence. It's very wide-ranging in the examples Vollman sites, and sometimes he doesn't explain those examples enough to make an impact. If you can believe this, I would say it's too early to tell, heck, I've only read about 450 pages . The cost was $120.00, which is a great deal for seven hardbound volumes. It also comes in a very nice case. I think it's one of those books that any real judgment of its worth cannot be made for a number of years.

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

Issue papers from the Center for American Progress. Truly outstanding fiction!!! B)

[Jazzmoose]

Damn you, Weizen; you're not luring me back in!

Started a new "read before bed" book (which means it'll take about three months to finish!): Mel Watkins' On the Real Side, a history of African-American humor from West Africa up through the present day. Pretty interesting so far.

[ghost of miles]

Delving again into Barbara Foley's RADICAL REPRESENTATIONS: POLITICS AND FORM IN U.S PROLETARIAN FICTION, 1929-1941. How's that for a leftie egghead title--Weizen, would you like me to send you a copy?

[BFrank]

Hey guys.....it's John's Grill near Union Square. Still there......still a monument to Hammett and the Maltese Falcon. He actually lived on the corner for a period of time.

If you decide to come in for it, maybe I'll meet you afterwards or something.

Edited April 10, 2004 by BFrank

[Brandon Burke]

Read Robert Coover's Briar Rose (1996) during my plane rides over the holiday. Very good. I don't have very much time for recreational reading but, when I do, I tend to go with the American postmodernists (Coover, Barth, Barthelme, Pynchon, etc.). Calvino as well. Anyways, I very much appreciate that Coover continues to write books that are at least readable. At this point in my life, I don't have the time to commit to Pynchon.....and Barth is just being a dick about it altogether. He must be on a quest to write the most difficult text ever. I've given up on anything he wrote past the 70's.

Back to the point, Coover keeps it fun and absolutely bursting with metaphor. He and Barthelme are two of my all time favorites in any genre.

[Chrome]

Coover has some winners out there ... check out his take on Pinocchio ... I think it was called "Pinocchio in Venice."

Also great was his book "The Public Burning" ... Have you read that one yet? It's a "Cooverian" take on the Rosenberg case and was absolutely fantastic.

And if you like postmoderns, David Markson would be worth checking out, especially "Wittgenstein's Mistress."

[Brandon Burke]

Coover has some winners out there ... check out his take on Pinocchio ... I think it was called "Pinocchio in Venice."

Also great was his book "The Public Burning" ... Have you read that one yet? It's a "Cooverian" take on the Rosenberg case and was absolutely fantastic.

And if you like postmoderns, David Markson would be worth checking out, especially "Wittgenstein's Mistress."

Pinoccio in Venice is one of my favorites and can claim the honor of having one of the best resolutions I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I absolutely love the way that book ended. Have not read The Public Burning but intend to do so eventually.

David Markson? Totally unfamiliar with him so you can trust I'll be looking his stuff up in the next couple of days because Briar Rose was really short and only took a couple of hours.

Thanks for the suggestions. Sounds like we're on the same page. (gulp.)

[AfricaBrass]

In my neverending quest to lose my mind, I've been reading "Tales From the Time Loop" by David Icke.

[Dmitry]

*The Last of the Just* by Andre Schwarz-Bart

Amazon reviews

[jack]

The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

[jlhoots]

Drop City - T.C. Boyle