Now reading...

[BillF]

William D Clancy, Woody Herman: Chronicles of the Herds. Largely verbatim recollections by Hermanites and associates over the years, with the author providing only linking passages. Yet very readable. The account of Woody's final sufferings through ill health and pursuit by the IRS was very moving.

Edited December 11, 2007 by BillF

[Lazaro Vega]

1-2-3, Magic. A book about raising children.

[brownie]

Laurent Bourdon's 'Dictionnaire Hitchcock'

A very thoroughly researched book for fans of Hitchcock!

[Jazzmoose]

In Search of Schrodinger's Cat by John Gribbin. An old favorite, it's written so well that I can actually delude myself into thinking I understand a fraction of Quantum Physics. This usually lasts until about fifteen minutes after I finish it.

Edited November 26, 2007 by Jazzmoose

[jlhoots]

James Welch: Winter In The Blood

[7/4]

[Jazzmoose]

Nicholas Nickleby. You know, if I'd known Dickens was actually fun to read, I'd have tried it years ago...

[Matthew]

Reading Willa Cather's The Troll Garden. Cather is one of those writers that I didn't think too much of in my younger days, but now, I find there is a lot more depth to her work than I ever thought. On a side note. I love this section about Cather from the chronology section in the LOA edition for 1888:

Interest in science leads to experiments with dissection and vivisection, attracting criticism from neighbors. Enters in friend's album her ideal of happiness as "amputating limbs" and favorite pastime as "slicing toads."

Willa was tough.

Edited December 11, 2007 by Matthew

[Kalo]

A Great, Silly Grin: The British Satire Boom of the 1960s by Humphrey Carpenter.

[BillF]

Alan Robertson, Joe Harriott: Fire in his Soul

[ghost of miles]

Alan Robertson, Joe Harriott: Fire in his Soul

Cool! I'd like to check that out.

[BruceH]

Re-reading Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. Recently re-read Consider Phlebas, by Iain M. Banks; the book has it's share of flaws, to be sure, but also has it's moments. (I do a lot of re-reading.)

[BillF]

Alan Robertson, Joe Harriott: Fire in his Soul

Cool! I'd like to check that out.

I'm finding it very readable, though that may because I knew a lot of the people - including Joe - and went to a lot of the gigs described. It certainly gives an accurate picture of the very distinctive British jazz scene of those days

[paul secor]

Finished Richard Russo's Nobody's Fool a couple of days ago. A number of scenes from the film Nobody's Fool were filmed in my old hometown, and I saw the film some years ago - very fine film. I hadn't read the novel until now, and it's more fleshed out than the film, as is to be expected. It's funny - I was able to read the novel without imagining any of the actors from the film, except for one. I couldn't get Paul Newman's image out of my mind whenever I read anything about Sully - the main character in the novel and the film. That speaks volumes about how well he played that role.

[BruceH]

Finished Richard Russo's Nobody's Fool a couple of days ago. A number of scenes from the film Nobody's Fool were filmed in my old hometown, and I saw the film some years ago - very fine film. I hadn't read the novel until now, and it's more fleshed out than the film, as is to be expected. It's funny - I was able to read the novel without imagining any of the actors from the film, except for one. I couldn't get Paul Newman's image out of my mind whenever I read anything about Sully - the main character in the novel and the film. That speaks volumes about how well he played that role.

I was a fan of that film too. Until now, I thought I was the only one in America who was.

[paul secor]

Finished Richard Russo's Nobody's Fool a couple of days ago. A number of scenes from the film Nobody's Fool were filmed in my old hometown, and I saw the film some years ago - very fine film. I hadn't read the novel until now, and it's more fleshed out than the film, as is to be expected. It's funny - I was able to read the novel without imagining any of the actors from the film, except for one. I couldn't get Paul Newman's image out of my mind whenever I read anything about Sully - the main character in the novel and the film. That speaks volumes about how well he played that role.

I was a fan of that film too. Until now, I thought I was the only one in America who was.

It had some popularity in this area (Hudson Valley - NY state) because it was filmed here, but probably was ignored everywhere else. A shame, because it's a very good film. The film was pretty true to the novel, so you probably would like the novel too.

[BruceH]

Finished Richard Russo's Nobody's Fool a couple of days ago. A number of scenes from the film Nobody's Fool were filmed in my old hometown, and I saw the film some years ago - very fine film. I hadn't read the novel until now, and it's more fleshed out than the film, as is to be expected. It's funny - I was able to read the novel without imagining any of the actors from the film, except for one. I couldn't get Paul Newman's image out of my mind whenever I read anything about Sully - the main character in the novel and the film. That speaks volumes about how well he played that role.

I was a fan of that film too. Until now, I thought I was the only one in America who was.

It had some popularity in this area (Hudson Valley - NY state) because it was filmed here, but probably was ignored everywhere else. A shame, because it's a very good film. The film was pretty true to the novel, so you probably would like the novel too.

For that reason I've been meaning to read the novel all these years. One of the things that made the film so appealing to me was how the Hudson Valley where it was shot reminded me so strongly of my native New England---the trees, winter snow, architecture, the occassional decaying mill town... Gotta love it.

Edited December 19, 2007 by BruceH

[AndrewHill]

Finally got back to reading Art Pepper's Straight Life. Seems that I start five or so books and never get around to finishing them. I'm going to finish this one gaddammit!

[jazzbo]

Philip K. Dick "Lies, Inc." (The Vintage American version of "Lies, Inc." which differs slightly from the Gollanz edition).

[Free For All]

Finished Richard Russo's Nobody's Fool a couple of days ago. A number of scenes from the film Nobody's Fool were filmed in my old hometown, and I saw the film some years ago - very fine film. I hadn't read the novel until now, and it's more fleshed out than the film, as is to be expected. It's funny - I was able to read the novel without imagining any of the actors from the film, except for one. I couldn't get Paul Newman's image out of my mind whenever I read anything about Sully - the main character in the novel and the film. That speaks volumes about how well he played that role.

I was a fan of that film too. Until now, I thought I was the only one in America who was.

I'm definitely a fan of this film- I've seen it several times and really enjoy all the performances. Just got the DVD.

BTW, now reading Anthony Bourdain's "Kitchen Confidential". Great read so far.

Edited December 18, 2007 by Free For All

[Christiern]

I'm halfway through volume 2. My great great grandfather bought these books on a trip to Liverpool, in 1853.

[Harold_Z]

Revisiting a classic. It's been at least 30 years.

Homer's Odyssey. The E.V. Rieu translation.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I'm about a third of the way through Paul Nugent's "Africa since independence"

Interesting academic study, complete with the usual arguments between academics. But well written and illumines just how constrained many (most) of the politicians were who took their states out of colonialism - many, even some of the bad hats, seem to have made the least worst decisions under the circumstances.

MG

Finished this last night. Slow going, but very good description of almost total disaster, with almost no signs of hope at the end.

MG

[Shawn]

Christopher Moore. My Mother recently turned me onto this writer and I've been laughing non-stop ever since. I've also read Bloodsucking Freaks: A Love Story. I can tell already that I'll be picking up all of his books. The next ones I'm most interested in getting are Lamb (the gospel according to Jesus' best friend Biff) and The Lust Lizard Of Melancholy Cove (surely one of the coolest titles ever).

Edited December 19, 2007 by Shawn

[jlhoots]

Roth: Exit Ghost