I was genuinely shocked and saddened by the death of David Rakoff. I'm sorry that someone so young and whimsical and devilishly clever had to go in such a hard way. I'm very glad he lived, as I'm sure were many, many others. I hope he knew that, while he could.
I just finished _Adventureland_. Brilliant.
It got me right in the cockles.
It got me right in the cockles.
VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
nopantsdave:
I don't know From Dawn to Decedance....I'm guessing you'll say it's worth checking out, eh.
The Bellow I just finished was Sammler. I was unimpressed. I've also read Augie and Henderson the Rain King, both were ok. He just doesn't overwhelm me. His stuff has been good enough that I don't regret reading it, it's not a waste of time, but I guess I'm close to not bothering with him any more. I have a copy of Herzog laying around and may give that a chance at some point, but I don't see myself picking him up again anytime soon.
I finished off The Moon and Sixpence by W Sommerset Maugham last night. I liked it a lot. I've also read Of Human Bondage. I need to get more of his since I've enjoyed both of those so much.
I think I'm finally going to tackle Tom Jones in a couple weeks. My plan is to take that with me when I head home for Christmas. Otherwise I'll end up packing several books just on the off chance I get a ton of reading time.
I hated The Road. I read All the Pretty Horses a couple weeks ago and didn't really care for it. I'm about ready to give up on McCarthy. A friend of mine tells me I should at least try Blood Meridian and No Country before I give up. Considering I hated the movie of No Country, I'll probably skip that one, but if I find a used copy of Blood Merdian, I may try that one. I'm not going to rush out and pick up any more soon.
I went through a lengthy phase where I was re-reading a ton of longer books that I hadn't read in awhile. Now I am plowing through short books like crazy. Nothing over 300 pages. My goal is to have as many books as I can to sell at the used bookstore when I go back fro Christmas. Then I'll restock with 50 or so that will sit on my shelf for awhile before I actually get to them. I'm planning on re-reading Proust in February/March, in time to finish it up before baseball season starts. Have you read anything else by him? With how much I loved IN Search of Lost Time I would like to check out what little else there is.
How's life outside of books?
The Bellow I just finished was Sammler. I was unimpressed. I've also read Augie and Henderson the Rain King, both were ok. He just doesn't overwhelm me. His stuff has been good enough that I don't regret reading it, it's not a waste of time, but I guess I'm close to not bothering with him any more. I have a copy of Herzog laying around and may give that a chance at some point, but I don't see myself picking him up again anytime soon.
I finished off The Moon and Sixpence by W Sommerset Maugham last night. I liked it a lot. I've also read Of Human Bondage. I need to get more of his since I've enjoyed both of those so much.
I think I'm finally going to tackle Tom Jones in a couple weeks. My plan is to take that with me when I head home for Christmas. Otherwise I'll end up packing several books just on the off chance I get a ton of reading time.
I hated The Road. I read All the Pretty Horses a couple weeks ago and didn't really care for it. I'm about ready to give up on McCarthy. A friend of mine tells me I should at least try Blood Meridian and No Country before I give up. Considering I hated the movie of No Country, I'll probably skip that one, but if I find a used copy of Blood Merdian, I may try that one. I'm not going to rush out and pick up any more soon.
I went through a lengthy phase where I was re-reading a ton of longer books that I hadn't read in awhile. Now I am plowing through short books like crazy. Nothing over 300 pages. My goal is to have as many books as I can to sell at the used bookstore when I go back fro Christmas. Then I'll restock with 50 or so that will sit on my shelf for awhile before I actually get to them. I'm planning on re-reading Proust in February/March, in time to finish it up before baseball season starts. Have you read anything else by him? With how much I loved IN Search of Lost Time I would like to check out what little else there is.
How's life outside of books?
nopantsdave:
I'm just starting book V of Tom Jones......this book kicks some ass. I'm loving it.
The photo for this on the front page made me smile and took me back a decade.
Suggested title for a song about exes you keep having sex with:
"I can't get you out of my head, because your cock is still in my mouth."
Too much?
"I can't get you out of my head, because your cock is still in my mouth."
Too much?
otter:
Ahaha! 
I've never gotten used to it; I've just learned to turn it off.
I've not had access to the internet since before the election, so I'll likely be the very last to jump on this bandwagon: but, still, I've never been so proud of, nor felt so at home in my own country as I have since 11:00 Tuesday night.
In news of considerably less importance, I started my job on Monday, so I'm coming to the close...
Read More
In news of considerably less importance, I started my job on Monday, so I'm coming to the close...
Read More
Wow, it's been a bit. My access to the Internet isn't what it used to be.
Brief synopsis:
I made the big move out of Athens and was left in penury by the expense of the truck and the gasoline. I'm back in Macon, with family for the time being (as mandated by the aforementioned penury). I got myself a job, which I start Monday....
Read More
Brief synopsis:
I made the big move out of Athens and was left in penury by the expense of the truck and the gasoline. I'm back in Macon, with family for the time being (as mandated by the aforementioned penury). I got myself a job, which I start Monday....
Read More
VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
nopantsdave:
I haven't gotten to American Pastoral yet, keep meaning to, though. Like I said, Portnoy is one of my all-time favorites. I love the Zuckerman novels. Our Gang is hilarious.
I have never even heard of that Powers, maybe I'll check him out sometime.
Have you ever read any Anthony Powell? I just got a copy of A Dance to the Music of Time off of eBay. It's a 12-book series that's supposed to be quite good, we'll see.
I started Sons and Lovers by Lawrence yesterday. It's too early to have any opinion.
I have never even heard of that Powers, maybe I'll check him out sometime.
Have you ever read any Anthony Powell? I just got a copy of A Dance to the Music of Time off of eBay. It's a 12-book series that's supposed to be quite good, we'll see.
I started Sons and Lovers by Lawrence yesterday. It's too early to have any opinion.
morgan:
Thanks 
blah
morgan:
I think you described it perfectly.
I remember the first time I heard my first NMH album, I was in the car with an ex and we both kind of sat in silence for almost the entire album. We were in a car, and that same night we found a carnival on the road and went to it.
It was kind of a magical night, and the music certainly had something to do with it.
I remember the first time I heard my first NMH album, I was in the car with an ex and we both kind of sat in silence for almost the entire album. We were in a car, and that same night we found a carnival on the road and went to it.
It was kind of a magical night, and the music certainly had something to do with it.
morgan:
I think your description of it is really beautiful, honestly.
To me, listening to Neutral Milk Hotel, especially in "Aeroplane", is like listening to a dream. It holds the same strangeness, but also the strange emotional intensity and accidental honesty as a dream might have. It mixes the surreal with the things you feel most deeply, and it expresses them in a way your subconscious understands more than your logical side. And then, on top of that, every once in a while it just expresses something really beautiful and almost universal, that's deeply touching.
Honestly I can't even listen to "Aeroplane" without listening to the whole thing, because it's like waking up in the middle of a really amazing dreaming.
Fuck, all of this has made me decide to go put NMH in my top 10 bands list here on SG.
To me, listening to Neutral Milk Hotel, especially in "Aeroplane", is like listening to a dream. It holds the same strangeness, but also the strange emotional intensity and accidental honesty as a dream might have. It mixes the surreal with the things you feel most deeply, and it expresses them in a way your subconscious understands more than your logical side. And then, on top of that, every once in a while it just expresses something really beautiful and almost universal, that's deeply touching.
Honestly I can't even listen to "Aeroplane" without listening to the whole thing, because it's like waking up in the middle of a really amazing dreaming.
Fuck, all of this has made me decide to go put NMH in my top 10 bands list here on SG.
Dr. Horrible makes things a little better.
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
nopantsdave:
I read T&C years ago with updated spelling. I should do it again. The version now that I have is the Riverside Chaucer, so it's pretty badass. My understanding is that this is the version the Chaucer scholars use these days.
It's been a long while since I've read A&C. As for other tragedies are you going to stick with that time period or are you up for bouncing back to the Greeks/Romans? What is the project or are you keeping it secret until you're closer to being finished?
It's been a long while since I've read A&C. As for other tragedies are you going to stick with that time period or are you up for bouncing back to the Greeks/Romans? What is the project or are you keeping it secret until you're closer to being finished?
morgan:
It really does, which is weird because in general the lyrics make no sense. The music itself is comforting somehow.
[self-indulgent twaddle excised]
morgan:
I certainly have my hours/days where I'm completely useless because I'm braindead because of grief. The almost constant reading I've been doing helps, though.
Honestly as soon as I have the money for it, my response to the problem you're discussing in this blog is going to be to see a shrink. They have to be saintlike listeners because they're paid to be!
Honestly as soon as I have the money for it, my response to the problem you're discussing in this blog is going to be to see a shrink. They have to be saintlike listeners because they're paid to be!
I think every sentence in which I've ever used the word _epiphany_ has, in retrospect, proved to be dull, stupid, or both.
morgan:
"Putting aside the justice or injustice of such feelings, I suppose one must at least say, in their behalf, that they are the crucible of self-making."
Well said. Honestly, I'll have to keep that in mind when I'm feeling at my lowest, as a way to remind myself that good can come of this.
Well said. Honestly, I'll have to keep that in mind when I'm feeling at my lowest, as a way to remind myself that good can come of this.
In honor of the holiday, such as it is:
America I've given you all and now I'm nothing.
America two dollars and twenty-seven cents January 17, 1956.
I can't stand my own mind.
America when will we end the human war?
Go fuck yourself with your atom bomb.
I don't feel good don't bother me.
I won't write my poem till I'm in my right...
Read More
America I've given you all and now I'm nothing.
America two dollars and twenty-seven cents January 17, 1956.
I can't stand my own mind.
America when will we end the human war?
Go fuck yourself with your atom bomb.
I don't feel good don't bother me.
I won't write my poem till I'm in my right...
Read More
nopantsdave:
Hey, you do still exist!
How's the GRE coming? How mucb longer until we read Tolstoy?
How's the GRE coming? How mucb longer until we read Tolstoy?