Books

[hutch]

I was not impressed with the Carlin book on the Boss.... it was too much an official unofficial bio.

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

8 out of 10.  Great writing.  Almost all character development with the plot a conscious afterthought.  Some find it pretentious, but I get the sense it is a purposeful pretension that speaks to the characters.

This is on my To Read shelf in GoodReads. Your positive review will bump it up in my reading order.

[K8teebug]

david lynch

catching the big fish




read it, bitch

That means it's been 10 years since I saw him at AFI Silver? Ugh.

City on Fire...not pretentious at all? I was worried I would feel how I felt about Infinite Jest.

[walkie,talkie]

Infinite Jest might stand alone as the most controversial book of all time. Controversial, in that no one can figure out whether it sucks or not.

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

Infinite Jest might stand alone as the most controversial book of all time. Controversial, in that no one can figure out whether it sucks or not.

Its near-universal acclaim would disagree. Where is this Infinite Jest sucks movement you're citing?

[ggw]

City on Fire...not pretentious at all?

I wouldn't call it "pretentious" but I would call it "ambitious," arguably overly so.  It's long and some parts drag.  Some characters could use a little more color.  Some of the intersecting plot lines are a little too neat.  Some of the symbolism comes up a little ambiguous.  Does it live up to its hype as the next Great American Novel?  Certainly not.  But wherever it comes up a little short it does so trying.  Wherever the plot drags or the coincidence strains credulity the writing more than compensates.  It was probably the easiest 900+ page book I've read.

[K8teebug]

Infinite Jest might stand alone as the most controversial book of all time. Controversial, in that no one can figure out whether it sucks or not.

I understood what it was trying to do, it was just way too pretentious for me.

Thanks for the City on Fire review. I'll attempt it this winter.

[Bagley]

A well deserved Man Booker winner

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/26/business/media/paul-beatty-wins-man-booker-prize-with-the-sellout.html

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

A well deserved Man Booker winner

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/26/business/media/paul-beatty-wins-man-booker-prize-with-the-sellout.html

I'm halfway through this and its uproarious. It's The Director: The Book. I told him that the other day.

Glad to see the Man Booker finally giving it to an American. I would like to see this become the de facto "best English language work of fiction" award over the Pulitzer.

[Bagley]

A well deserved Man Booker winner

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/26/business/media/paul-beatty-wins-man-booker-prize-with-the-sellout.html

I should be read side-by-side with Ta Nehisi Coates'  Between the World and Me

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

A well deserved Man Booker winner

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/26/business/media/paul-beatty-wins-man-booker-prize-with-the-sellout.html

I should be read side-by-side with Ta Nehisi Coates'  Between the World and Me

See, I disliked that a lot. The satire Beatty uses makes it a lot more palletable, imho.

[Bagley]

Wow!  I'd describe it as a beautifully wrought prose poem along the lines of a James Baldwin.

[Seth Hurwitz]

reading The Man Without Qualities by Robert Musil

Patti Smith talked about him in her book

did anybody here go that thing?

[walkie,talkie]

one of my friends came up with an interesting idea on face,book

"Wanted - Participants for a book-loving social experiment. Comment if you want to participate and I?ll send you details. What do you have to do? Buy your favorite book and send it to a stranger (I?ll send you a name and address.) You will only be sending one book to one person. The number of books you will receive depends on how many participants there are. The books that will show up on your door are the other people?s much loved stories.  Who wants in?"

I thought it was a cool, idea.

[hutch]

I'm reading William Boyd's latest.. Sweet Caress...


I find Boyd to be an absolutely masterful novelist.... love him but the entire time I read his books I'm dreading finishing them.. there are only so many Boyd novels...