Now reading...

[Matthew]

Just finished John Steinbeck's "The Pearl". Life-affirming, in a Steinbeck way. I couldn't help thinking about "The Old Man And The Sea" and "The Diamond As Big As The Ritz" when I was reading this.

Speaking of Steinbeck: I'm reading In Dubious Battle. They really, really, really, don't write books like this anymore -- which is a great loss for America.

You've got me interested in that one Matthew.

The book could only have been written in the 1930s, and you don't see books like this now, where the story:

1. Is about someone joining the communist party, and that's seen as a good thing.

2. The book in utterly sincere about the poor and labor.

3. No "winking" at the reader.

4. Historical forces are more important than the characters.

In some ways, it's a more amazing book that The Grapes of Wrath.

[porcy62]

Just finished Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby'. I really loved it ages ago, I was sixteen I think, now it has a different taste. Still a good book, but not the masterpiece I thought at time.

[sal]

"Less Than Zero" - Bret Easton Ellis

[Jazzmoose]

Just finished Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby'. I really loved it ages ago, I was sixteen I think, now it has a different taste. Still a good book, but not the masterpiece I thought at time.

That sound you heard was thousands of American English majors whispering "blashphemy!"...

[Niko]

One of those books one feels one ought to have read - Joseph Conrad's "Heart Of Darkness". I must admit, I'm struggling to see what the fuss is about - fairly tedious so far (about 45 pages in).

that's one i read when i was 17 (one of only two or three conrad books i was able to finish) and i remember it as really really great - guess i should have a second look sometime...

[porcy62]

"Less Than Zero" - Bret Easton Ellis

I think the title perfectly fits the content.

[porcy62]

One of those books one feels one ought to have read - Joseph Conrad's "Heart Of Darkness". I must admit, I'm struggling to see what the fuss is about - fairly tedious so far (about 45 pages in).

that's one i read when i was 17 (one of only two or three conrad books i was able to finish) and i remember it as really really great - guess i should have a second look sometime...

Conrad is one of the Greats, period.

The fact about the 'true' Classics is that it's really difficult to see them in perspective.

I mean that before Conrad, or Shakespeare or Dostojevskij or Kafka, the 'things' were different. They are the cornerstone, now they might sound 'obvious' , 'naive', even a 'cliche', but they build the 'obvious' and the 'cliche'.

[Chuck Nessa]

Sometimes we read books before we should, sometimes we read books after we should.

[porcy62]

Sometimes we read books before we should, sometimes we read books after we should.

True.

[A Lark Ascending]

One of those books one feels one ought to have read - Joseph Conrad's "Heart Of Darkness". I must admit, I'm struggling to see what the fuss is about - fairly tedious so far (about 45 pages in).

Reread it a couple of months back and loved it (and I don't read much 'literature' these days). Sent me off to get the background in 'King Leopold's Ghost' and now:

Other Conrad I've attempted I've found really hard going.

I loved Gatsby when I read it in the 70s. Especially the final sentence.

I don't think the problem is how great a book is or not; it's this strange need to constantly put things in hierarchies. If a book has grabbed you at 17 it hardly matters what someone else thinks about its significance...even yourself thirty years later.

[Jazzmoose]

I don't think the problem is how great a book is or not; it's this strange need to constantly put things in hierarchies. If a book has grabbed you at 17 it hardly matters what someone else thinks about its significance...even yourself thirty years later.

Excellent point, and one I must admit never occurred to me. You can't really reread a book thirty years later; the person who read it the first time no longer exists.

[BillF]

Sometimes we read books before we should, sometimes we read books after we should.

Very Confucian!

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

Norway? Who knew???

[jazzbo]

I'm rereading "Nine Princes in Amber," Roger Zelazny.

[jazzbo]

Oh also reading

[BruceH]

Ya gotta love Ditko! (Though in my case you have to love Kirby more.)

[Jazzmoose]

I always thought Ditko's best was in those late fifties Charlton SF comics. His superhero stuff was okay, but I'll take the Charltons! Um...except Dr. Strange of course. And maybe the Question. And Spiderman wasn't bad. Uh...

[EKE BBB]

"Jazz masters of New Orleans" by Martin Williams

[jazzbo]

I always thought Ditko's best was in those late fifties Charlton SF comics. His superhero stuff was okay, but I'll take the Charltons! Um...except Dr. Strange of course. And maybe the Question. And Spiderman wasn't bad. Uh...

He was great in those Timely/Marvel monster and mystery books. Amazing drawing!

[BillF]

Just finished J G Ballard's last novel, Kingdom Come. Now starting The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers.

Edited June 18, 2009 by BillF

[sal]

"Mother Night" - Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

[BruceH]

"Jazz masters of New Orleans" by Martin Williams

That's a good one. At least, I remember liking it; I read it a long time ago.

[Jazzmoose]

"Mother Night" - Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Personally, I think that's his most underrated book. The idea of a sympathetic Nazi character (yeah, I know it's more complicated than that) still boggles my mind.

[sal]

"Mother Night" - Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Personally, I think that's his most underrated book. The idea of a sympathetic Nazi character (yeah, I know it's more complicated than that) still boggles my mind.

That's good to hear. I'm enjoying it so far. I read another one recently that also seems to be underrated, "God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater"

[BruceH]

"Mother Night" - Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Personally, I think that's his most underrated book. The idea of a sympathetic Nazi character (yeah, I know it's more complicated than that) still boggles my mind.

Well, he's only pretending to be a Nazi...