He mustve felt particulalry stupid after the McCarthy interview.
what are you reading now?
He mustve felt particulalry stupid after the McCarthy interview.
Corpsey
bandz ahoy
I read Camus' 'Outsider' and 'The Plague's during my pretentious late adolescence, during which I read things that I knew clever people read. It was very important to me then, as indeed it remains to this day, to be regarded by myself as clever, as it was already clear that I wasn't strong, charismatic or sexually attractive. Sisyphean old life, really.
you
Well-known member
Pft.. Senior Managers...
you
Well-known member
The Camus text - I think at one point he does say the task is achieved, perhaps for a moment, and then the boulder falls back down. But his focus is more about the outlook after this return to strife - what happens when King Sissy has to trudge back for the boulder. Tbh - if a task is completed but must be repeated ad infinitum or if a task is just nearly completed yet has to be re-run through eternity what is the difference? Each situation is still absurd and nihilistic.
Droid - can you post a link?
I've been looking at http://dreisnerbooks.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/perchance-to-dream-by-jonathan-franzen.html and this http://shirleybriceheath.net/pdfs/ENG_HarpersFranzenPerchanceToDream.pdf
I don't go for his cryptic references much.
I do think Frazen is good at writing sex in a blokey way but free from cliche. So - semi-good in this sense.
Droid - can you post a link?
I've been looking at http://dreisnerbooks.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/perchance-to-dream-by-jonathan-franzen.html and this http://shirleybriceheath.net/pdfs/ENG_HarpersFranzenPerchanceToDream.pdf
I don't go for his cryptic references much.
I do think Frazen is good at writing sex in a blokey way but free from cliche. So - semi-good in this sense.
The Myth of Sisyphus is Camus' best work I think, though IIRC, Ligotti had some harsh words for it. Finding sublime joy in the absurdity of life isnt quite down his alley.
The McCarthy interview is here: http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/oprahs-exclusive-interview-with-cormac-mccarthy-video
Not a huge success, but I am still astounded she picked the road for her book club. Like Phillip Schofield recommending Cioran... Actually, thats not entirely fair - Oprah bigged up Faulkner and a few other heavyweights - but still...
The McCarthy interview is here: http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/oprahs-exclusive-interview-with-cormac-mccarthy-video
Not a huge success, but I am still astounded she picked the road for her book club. Like Phillip Schofield recommending Cioran... Actually, thats not entirely fair - Oprah bigged up Faulkner and a few other heavyweights - but still...
jenks
thread death
I just got Ira Levin's 'The Stepford Wives'Loved the movie for ages but never read the book. Recently read Jelinek's 'The Piano Teacher' after loving the movie forever and was sooo impressed. Jelinek's a treasure! Hoping for the same with Levin.
Listened to the radio adaptation of Rosemary's Baby on a drive back home late on Saturday night - my wife and I sat in the car with rolling fog coming out of the darkness and were both totally gripped. I'd recommend it catching it on the iplayer.
Corpsey
bandz ahoy
I'm reading 'The Spy Who Came In from the Cold'. I can tell it's early le Carré; or, at least, because I haven't read any others by him, I'm assuming he gets better. There's passages of rather strenuous cynicism. But when he manages to hold the bile in, the effect is pleasingly acrid. Reminds me, unsurprisingly, of 'Casino Royale', which I read earlier this year. The relatively spare prose, the hateful/admirable protagonist, the thinly drawn love interest.
baboon2004
Darned cockwombles.
I just finished reading S Reynolds' "Rip it Up and Start Again". Obviously liking a Reynolds book is as newsworthy as being fond of oxygen round here, but his ability to construct a compelling narrative out of culture continues to be very impressive. He spins a very good yarn. The way he writes about creativity is inspiring too, which I haven't seen said as much. The only downside is that (unlike 'Energy Flash') reading his descriptions of some of the records is way more inspiring than listening to them.
@Corpsey - I picked up a Le Carre novel a couple of years ago, without ever having read anything by him, and was pleasantly surprised by how good it was, as i'd been led to believe he was shit. Nothing out of the ordinary, but a really good page-turner, and I speak a someone who tires of turning pages easily.
@Corpsey - I picked up a Le Carre novel a couple of years ago, without ever having read anything by him, and was pleasantly surprised by how good it was, as i'd been led to believe he was shit. Nothing out of the ordinary, but a really good page-turner, and I speak a someone who tires of turning pages easily.
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you
Well-known member
I did finish The Corrections a while back. Funny and touching in places but overly ambitious - pretentiousness trumps effect and function often (Alfred's fall scene is one example of Franzen being too smart). Airport lit.
Picked up Private Citizens by Tulathimutte. Really liking it.
Picked up Private Citizens by Tulathimutte. Really liking it.
you
Well-known member
Interested to hear more.
Mr. Tea
Let's Talk About Ceps
This struck me as an obscure choice at first, but I guess she's a pretty significant pop-culture figure from a gender- and queer-theoretic POV, so it makes sense.
lol, have you discovered a new line in ironic self deprecating non sequiturs or did you think he meant KD Lang?
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