So, there have been a bunch of books I've been meaning to read, and I finally got off my ass and went out and got them today.
Now, lately I've been ragging on the local library system, but I discovered, to my pleasure, that it's not the system, but merely the most immediate branch. I found the "regional library" today, and it's actually pretty impressive. They had all but the most obscure of my marks (and let's face it, nobody has Lacan's Seminars except the grad students who have to read them), and I'm not exactly looking for mainstream stuff here. Plus, they have a used-book shop in the basement, and it's not some lame pretentious one where all the books are from the early twentieth century and cost $80 each. It's just piles and piles of stuff like you wouldn't believe, for about 50 cents apiece. I may have to get some cash and go back there.
So, for anyone curious, here's what I got:
Never Let Go - Kazuo Ishiguro. I picked it up because I like modern Japanese literature, but apparently the guy lives in London and has for long enough that he's basically English. So, it's not what I expected, but it's interesting enough that I've read about 200 pages of it already today. It's exactly the sort of science-fiction that I've missed for so long: a very personal, emotional story that uses hypothetical technology as a foil to look at this world.
The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana - Umberto Eco's newest. I liked Foucault's Pendulum, so I figured I'd check this out. I've also been meaning to read Eco's Theory of Semiotics, but that's for another day; I've got plenty of theory writing backlogged already.
Two of John Taylor Gatto's more recent books. I wanted Underground History of American Education, but they didn't have it. I get the distinct impression that all of Gatto's writing is variations on that theme anyway, though, so I'll settle for now.
The One-Dimensional Man - Recommended to me by SignalNoise quite a while back after he saw a comment I made. R, before the beginning of our "break" time, confirmed that he was well-regarded in the theory community and said she'd probably have to read his stuff eventually. If we're back in contact when that happens, it'll be weird to be the one who's well-versed in the subject matter for once. Usually she has to teach me the theorist-of-the-day.
I also bought two more of Haruki Murakami's books, including Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World and After the Quake. I've already read the latter, but I love Murakami's short stories. For some reason, he has an uncanny ability to freak me out. Not that he writes horror or anything, it's just... sometimes the emotions in his stories... get to me. It's hard to explain, but I read South of the Border, West of the Sun and see if the ending doesn't do the same for you.
Oh, and I also stopped by the used CD place. The weekend clerk is cute, and I could almost think the feeling is mutual. Maybe I'll go back next week and talk to her a bit more.
Now, lately I've been ragging on the local library system, but I discovered, to my pleasure, that it's not the system, but merely the most immediate branch. I found the "regional library" today, and it's actually pretty impressive. They had all but the most obscure of my marks (and let's face it, nobody has Lacan's Seminars except the grad students who have to read them), and I'm not exactly looking for mainstream stuff here. Plus, they have a used-book shop in the basement, and it's not some lame pretentious one where all the books are from the early twentieth century and cost $80 each. It's just piles and piles of stuff like you wouldn't believe, for about 50 cents apiece. I may have to get some cash and go back there.
So, for anyone curious, here's what I got:
Never Let Go - Kazuo Ishiguro. I picked it up because I like modern Japanese literature, but apparently the guy lives in London and has for long enough that he's basically English. So, it's not what I expected, but it's interesting enough that I've read about 200 pages of it already today. It's exactly the sort of science-fiction that I've missed for so long: a very personal, emotional story that uses hypothetical technology as a foil to look at this world.
The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana - Umberto Eco's newest. I liked Foucault's Pendulum, so I figured I'd check this out. I've also been meaning to read Eco's Theory of Semiotics, but that's for another day; I've got plenty of theory writing backlogged already.
Two of John Taylor Gatto's more recent books. I wanted Underground History of American Education, but they didn't have it. I get the distinct impression that all of Gatto's writing is variations on that theme anyway, though, so I'll settle for now.
The One-Dimensional Man - Recommended to me by SignalNoise quite a while back after he saw a comment I made. R, before the beginning of our "break" time, confirmed that he was well-regarded in the theory community and said she'd probably have to read his stuff eventually. If we're back in contact when that happens, it'll be weird to be the one who's well-versed in the subject matter for once. Usually she has to teach me the theorist-of-the-day.
I also bought two more of Haruki Murakami's books, including Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World and After the Quake. I've already read the latter, but I love Murakami's short stories. For some reason, he has an uncanny ability to freak me out. Not that he writes horror or anything, it's just... sometimes the emotions in his stories... get to me. It's hard to explain, but I read South of the Border, West of the Sun and see if the ending doesn't do the same for you.
Oh, and I also stopped by the used CD place. The weekend clerk is cute, and I could almost think the feeling is mutual. Maybe I'll go back next week and talk to her a bit more.
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Seriously, he did more "in and out" than some Sorority Girls I know.