Now reading...

[Teasing the Korean]

The Big Sleep, Raymond Chandler.

[T.D.]

Have been reading some new (to me) fiction authors:

David Liss: The Coffee Trader and A Conspiracy of Paper are very enjoyable, I'd categorize them as "historical financial thrillers." Well-written and seemingly well-researched.

Ross Thomas: Can't believe I never read any of his novels before. Rather Chandleresque, "satirical thrillers" with a sense of humor and heavy doses of international travel, politics, rogue military and intelligence officers, conniving and double-crossing. Complex plots and an enviably clear writing style.

Edited February 16, 2009 by T.D.

[jazzbo]

The Big Sleep, Raymond Chandler.

I wonder how many times I've read that! At least five times. A novel that is in my psyche somewhere by now.

[WorldB3]

I am only up to the 65 Newport Jazz Festival but its already one of the best books I have ever read on music. His story on the 64 Blues tour in Europe was something, his take on the current condition of Blues at the end of the chapter was spot on. I should finish this in the next day to two as I can't put it down.

Up next:

Edited February 17, 2009 by WorldB3

[Niko]

Ross Thomas: Can't believe I never read any of his novels before. Rather Chandleresque, "satirical thrillers" with a sense of humor and heavy doses of international travel, politics, rogue military and intelligence officers, conniving and double-crossing. Complex plots and an enviably clear writing style.

never got around to checking out more than the one i'v read (missionary stew) but he is indead a pretty good alternative to chandler (or maybe ambler?)

[T.D.]

Ross Thomas: Can't believe I never read any of his novels before. Rather Chandleresque, "satirical thrillers" with a sense of humor and heavy doses of international travel, politics, rogue military and intelligence officers, conniving and double-crossing. Complex plots and an enviably clear writing style.

never got around to checking out more than the one i'v read (missionary stew) but he is indead a pretty good alternative to chandler (or maybe ambler?)

Missionary Stew is one of the three I've read. Also The Fools in Town are On Our Side (which is really wild, best of the three) and Ah, Treachery.

Not so sure about Ambler comparison, as the novels' geographical and time scope is usually wider, and the protagonists considerably less naive/innocent. Thomas also reminds me a bit of Richard Condon (Manchurian Candidate, Winter Kills, Prizzi's Honor), with the satire, cynicism and Cold War setting.

[fasstrack]

Lyndon Johnson: Flawed Giant

Robert Dallek. Vol. 2: 1961-73

So far very terse and informative and reads very well.

[paul secor]

Just finishing Anne Fadiman's At Large and at Small - a book of entertaining essays.

[sal]

Reading "To Kill A Mockingbird" for the first time. Enjoying it so far.

[BruceH]

Just finishing Anne Fadiman's At Large and at Small - a book of entertaining essays.

I'd like to read that myself.

[sal]

"Practical Demonkeeping" by Christopher Moore

[ghost of miles]

Simon Callow, ORSON WELLES V. 2: HELLO AMERICANS (1941-1947)

[medjuck]

The Big Sleep, Raymond Chandler.

I wonder how many times I've read that! At least five times. A novel that is in my psyche somewhere by now.

Ditto!

[sal]

I've read 100 pages of "Brave New World" since starting it last night. So far, fantastic.

[Niko]

I've read 100 pages of "Brave New World" since starting it last night. So far, fantastic.

funny, a friend of mine also started that one last night (because it was something like the inspiration to one michel houellebecq novl, Les particules élémentaires... thought i should check out that one maybe...)

[poetrylover3]

The Oxford Book of Adventure Stories

How My Heart Sings-A biography of Bill Evans

[jazzbo]

[paul secor]

Just finished reading Sebastian Faulks' novel, Engleby.

Edited February 28, 2009 by paul secor

[Van Basten II]

[poetrylover3]

How is this? I enjoyed A Natural History of the Senses a great deal. BTW-Is it true that a third volume A Natural History of The Census is underway?

[jazzbo]

I'm enjoying it. Not deep, but a very pleasant read.

[BruceH]

Another nice thing about this is you don't have to worry too much about it being turned into a movie.

[paul secor]

Just finished James Hanley's The Ocean.

[ejp626]

I am about 1/3 of the way through Bolano's The Savage Detectives.

He's losing me in the middle section where it is a bunch of interviews, presumably conducted by a detective trying to track the past activities/movements of the poet Ulisses Lima, following him from Mexico to Paris to Spain to Israel. It's not that the interviews are not interesting, but this novel in the form of interview has been done before. It's hardly as revolutionary as some of Bolano's fans make it out to be (not at all sure Bolano ever made such claims about the work). For instance, this is almost precisely the set-up of Jack Fuller's The Best of Jackson Payne (which we've discussed a bit on the board). Honestly, I found Fuller's book a bit more engaging.

I'm also reading through the works of Ivan Vladislavic, a South African writer (this is partly for entertainment and partly for a project looking at the history and literature of Johannesburg). My local research library has almost all his works:

Missing Persons

The Folly

Propaganda by Monuments

The Restless Supermarket

and Portrait with Keys

with the exception of The Exploded View, which they don't have. (Just trying to make MG jealous.)

I know it's a bit early to tell, but I think The Restless Supermarket is truly a masterpiece, but a nearly completely unknown one. I'll write more about it later after I am far enough in. What I did realize early on is that this was a book I wanted to own, but it is very hard to come by in the States (some of his other works are a bit easier and Portrait with Keys is going to get a Stateside publisher so it will be easy). After significant digging, I came across kalahari.net where you can buy directly from South Africa (shipping the first item is a beast, but if you order 3 or more items, it isn't so bad). Assuming the books actually get to me, I'll post more thoughts -- and let MG know if I would recommend ordering through them.

[Matthew]

Paul Theroux: Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Capetown : Interesting travel book on Africa. I have to go to Africa about three times a year now, and this book seems to capture a lot of what I see also in the various countries I go to.