The Unsettling of America looks interesting. And I realize I've never read anything by Flannery O'Connor, and feel like I ought to. I have a copy of Frankenstein that I keep meaning to read. Maybe I'll get to it on vacation. I've liked some of what I've read by Phillip Roth, but I haven't read American Pastoral. I was supposed to read Things Fall Apart in high school, but never actually did. (Things got kind of rushed at the end of the year, and we were basically assigned to read that book over a weekend and discussed it one day in class.)
Okay, um, I'm lost. Uh, I'm angry, and I'm armed, so if you two have something that you need to work out --
Mal ,'War Stories'
Literary Buffistas 3: Don't Parse the Blurb, Dear.
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Hil R. - Jul 16, 2009 5:53:30 pm PDT #9618 of 28403
Sometimes I think I might just move up to Vermont, open a bookstore or a vegan restaurant. Adam Schlesinger, z''l
Kathy A - Jul 16, 2009 6:03:43 pm PDT #9619 of 28403
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil
The only book on that list I've read was Frankenstein, which I read for my feminist lit class at Marquette (all SF/fantasy written by women--I got introduced to some great writers in that class, especially James Tiptree, Jr. [aka Alice Sheldon] and CL Moore, who is a terrific pre-WWII SF writer).
I've been meaning to pick up some more Twain; I've only read Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Also, Dickens and Trollope would be good for some Victorian writers (I managed to avoid both of them in my Victorian class for some reason!).
megan walker - Jul 16, 2009 6:10:41 pm PDT #9620 of 28403
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist
Hell, read all 5. They're short.
Shit. I'm a completist, so this might be more commitment than I can handle. Is there a clear order?
Dana - Jul 16, 2009 6:14:51 pm PDT #9621 of 28403
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.
Is there a clear order?
Very clear. Over Sea, Under Stone; The Dark is Rising; Greenwitch; The Gray King; Silver on the Tree.
You can actually read The Dark is Rising first, if you want. Over Sea, Under Stone introduces characters that don't join in until the third book.
megan walker - Jul 16, 2009 6:31:10 pm PDT #9622 of 28403
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist
Oh no no no, I'm not German, but order must be maintained.
sj - Jul 16, 2009 6:56:38 pm PDT #9623 of 28403
"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."
I've read Things Fall Apart and Midnight's children, as well as parts of some of the others.
Has anyone read anything by Roberto Bolano? I started 2666 tonight, and so far I'm intrigued.
Polter-Cow - Jul 16, 2009 7:07:10 pm PDT #9624 of 28403
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
Oh no no no, I'm not German, but order must be maintained.
Hee, I completely understand.
Frankenbuddha - Jul 17, 2009 3:18:29 am PDT #9625 of 28403
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"
Sad news for the localistas here in greater Boston: Kate's Mystery Books is closing August 1. If anyone is still in touch with Deb Grabien, could you also let her know. One of the times I met her was when she did a reading there.
As far as what I'm reading, based on Jess' recommendation, I'm now halfway through The United State of Arugala. FASCINATING read, especially if you are in any way a foodie.
Fred Pete - Jul 17, 2009 4:40:25 am PDT #9626 of 28403
Ann, that's a ferret.
I just love the idea that Trollope is #1.
And not just Trollope, but my favorite Trollope. The Way We Live Now is how Twain would have written The Gilded Age if Twain were English.
Frankenbuddha - Jul 17, 2009 4:46:27 am PDT #9627 of 28403
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"
As far as the Newsweek list goes (and, yeah, pretty good list), Picture at a Revolution was a really fun book. And I love David Thomson's A Biographical Dictionary of Film, even though I diasgree with his opinions as often as I agree with them. He's just a really good film writer.