Now reading...

[Matthew]

1 hour ago, BillF said:

Such a good one!

I agree! It's become my favorite Chandler novel, it has so many layers of emotion to it, that with each read, I discover different things. Though, I can't seem to get the image of Jim Bouton as Terry Lennox out of my mind, Darn you Altman! (and I have an intense dislike of the movie).

[jazzbo]

This and "The Big Sleep" rival each other as my favorites. Chandler is such a trip to read.

"Coming up for Air" George Orwell. I love reading Orwell novels. This one is interesting as it's in the first person.

[Dave Garrett]

On 9/1/2022 at 4:01 AM, Bluesnik said:

Yes it's a great book, and I was after the UK edition as opposed to the US, because of what you said some time ago. But I ordered it from my local bookshop and didn't know what I got. Specially since the cover was different. But now I know it's a reprint of the UK edition and can be calm. But it was logical they were ordering from the UK. I'm in Europe after all.

I may have posted this here previously, but just in case I didn't:

RIP IT UP AND START AGAIN: THE FOOTNOTES

[Bluesnik]

Thanks for mentioning this again. I remember there was some additional info about the book. But I didn't know if I'd read it or not. Now I know I didn't. It was new to me.

[Bluesnik]

“Reynolds masterfully captures the excitement of this period, when every week seemed to bring a new musical advancement”--The Tampa Tribune

That's something I remember very clearly from the period. All the times there was a new thing or current. But seriously. Every year was quite different to the one that preceded it. Maybe that's why I like so much David Bowie and his Ch, Ch, Changes.

Edited September 8, 2022 by Bluesnik

[medjuck]

On 9/5/2022 at 7:02 AM, Matthew said:

I agree! It's become my favorite Chandler novel, it has so many layers of emotion to it, that with each read, I discover different things. Though, I can't seem to get the image of Jim Bouton as Terry Lennox out of my mind, Darn you Altman! (and I have an intense dislike of the movie).

I'm a huge Chandler fan. I think I've read everything by and about him except  his laundry lists but I'm a heretic amongst other Chanderphiles because I believe he began to deteriorate half way through The Long Goodbye.  (Playback is hardly worth mentioning.) And I think the ending of the Altman/Leigh Brackett   movie is better than the ending of the book even if the ending of the film is partially stolen from The  Third Man.   (Go ahead-- throw things at me. ) 

[BillF]

[BillF]

On 05/09/2022 at 3:29 PM, jazzbo said:

 

Now reading:

[Matthew]

Cosmas or the Love of God by Pierre De Calan.

[BillF]

[jlhoots]

Geraldine Brooks: Horse

[Brad]

Recently finished this. It’s excellent. Now in paperback.

Now reading:

Edited September 28, 2022 by Brad

[jlhoots]

Laura Warrell: Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm

[Bluesnik]

After finishing Simon Reynolds book on post-punk today I started this, which collects all of the Bandini novels by John Fante.

On 9/28/2022 at 11:19 PM, Brad said:

What is this? It reminds me of that great Iggy Pop song, inspired I think by his many train travels with Bowie in the late 70s. I listened to it once in the 80s on a walkman on a train blasting through Europe. And it was the perfect soundtrack. I remember it very vividly.

Edited October 24, 2022 by Bluesnik
typos

[Brad]

15 hours ago, Bluesnik said:

After finishing Simon Reynolds book on post-punk today I started this, which collects all of the Bandini novels by John Fante.

What is this? It reminds me of that great Iggy Pop song, inspired I think by his many train travels with Bowie in the late 70s. I listened to it once in the 80s on a walkman on a train blasting through Europe. And it was the perfect soundtrack. I remember it very vividly.

It has to do with a Jewish businessman trying to escape the Nazis after Kristallnacht and he keeps taking train after train but can’t escape them. 

[Bluesnik]

5 hours ago, Brad said:

It has to do with a Jewish businessman trying to escape the Nazis after Kristallnacht and he keeps taking train after train but can’t escape them.

Oh, I see. So nothing to do.

[jlhoots]

Celeste Ng: Our Missing Hearts

[Brad]

8 hours ago, Bluesnik said:

Oh, I see. So nothing to do.

No, nothing to do with Iggy. 

[BillF]

[Matthew]

Tom: The Unknown Tennessee Williams by Lyle Leverich

[BillF]

2 hours ago, Matthew said:

Tom: The Unknown Tennessee Williams by Lyle Leverich

Read it some time ago, together with a re-read of many of the plays. Fascinating!

Now reading:

Just published. My local library bought me a copy.

My verdict so far: "Good in parts".

 

[Brad]

[felser]

[ghost of miles]

[ejp626]

I just finished rereading Rushdie's The Satanic Verses, partly inspired by the terrible attack on him a few months back.  😢😠  I'd say I liked it more this time around (not that I can really remember my reaction from the early 90s...).  Probably at least one of the subplots could have been excised, however.  (No, I'm not talking about the subplot that caused all the trouble in the first place...)

Currently, about one-quarter of the way through The Milkman in the Night by Andrey Kurkov. 

I suppose I was simply feeling that I should read some Ukrainian literature.  Kurkov is best known for Death and the Penguin and the sequel Penguin Lost, which I read a while back.  I'm finding The Milkman in the Night quite interesting.  One of the better novels I've read in 2022, at least so far.

On 10/24/2022 at 4:32 PM, Bluesnik said:

After finishing Simon Reynolds book on post-punk today I started this, which collects all of the Bandini novels by John Fante.

 

I have this same edition.  Been meaning to get to it forever...  I might tackle it next year.  I did manage to read some of Fante's short stories though.