Scratch the lazy part. Though a sedentary activity, I've read a lot lately. In fact, I've been following along with with an online lecture series for a Yale course on the American novel since 1945. It's given me the chance to get around to some classics I'd previously overlooked, as well as dust off a number of texts for much deserved rereads. The reading list is as follows (in order): Black Boy, Wise Blood, Lolita, On the Road, Franny and Zooey, Lost in the Funhouse, The Crying of Lot 49, The Bluest Eye, The Woman Warrior, Housekeeping, Blood Meridian, The Human Stain, The Known World, and Everything is Illuminated.
Props to Sno-Isle Libraries for supplying the needed books - with the exception of Lost in the Funhouse , which I've been trying to get by request/interlibrary loan for the past few months (Josh, hook it up if you've got it). I'm currently reading The Human Stain, which means that I only have two more novels to finish before I can officially say that I've completed a course at Yale (sans attending "section" classes or writing any of the papers). Yeah, I've read at my own leisure, starting back in the fall. So although those Yale kids are a bunch of snooty aristocrats, their academic rigor is impressive; reading two novels week in the midst of a full credit load would have broke this camel's back early in the term.
Of the books I reread, it's Housekeeping that I'm most glad I came back to a second time. I first came across it five years ago while at college in a post-modern literature course. My thoughts at the time were something like, "Women. Nature. Hold on while I get the soy milk and Luna Bars" *escapes out back window*. Now I have a much greater appreciation Marilynne Robinson's ability as a writer. I'm not claiming to completely understand what she was doing in Housekeeping (something along the lines of Emerson or Walden). But I know originality when I see it. Did I mention she was a hardcore Christian? All the more amazing that I was feeling it. What can I say? I've got two aces up my sleeve when it comes to theologians in fiction: Robinson, the Protestant transcendentalist and O'Connor, the Catholic absurdist. (C.S. Lewis, you get no love here.)
I can't ignore the Super Bowl. Some key points.
1) I'm sure everyone's favorite commercial was the VW/Darth Vader/force-using one. It was aight. But personally I liked the Doritos one with the the crumb-stain fiend who sucks a dude's thumb and rips off another's pants; that's homoeroticism appreciated. I also enjoyed the British game show-themed Mini Cooper commercial centered around the catch phrase "cram it in the boot", as the contestant proceeded to shove a 12-foot subway sandwich into the trunk of an extremely small car. No sexual innuendos here.
2) That preview for Cowboys & Aliens? I think I'll just watch Tremors again.
3) Black Eyed Peas halftime show. Didn't watch it. Okay, I watched it on mute to know when it was over. Saw that Slash made a cameo for an abominable rendition of "Sweet Child O' Mine" (the GnR royalties must be drying up). I guess it wasn't completely muted. Would have much rather watched the Springsteen performance from two years ago. And lady Ferguson, youse a butterface ho.
The game? It was good. Rather surprised that the Steelers weren't able to pull off the comeback, despite the large deficit at halftime, since the Packers suffered some big injuries in the secondary. To Pittsburgh, I have this to say: I love Troy Palamalu's hair and Brett Keisel's beard, but rapists can't be Super Bowl champions. Ben Roethlisberger, I'm looking at you. "Alleged sexual assault", my ass. I understand that you're one ugly bastard and therefore it's hard to get piece. Doesn't mean you get to strong-arm women. You know who's even uglier than you and still gets laid on the reg without resorting to dirtbag tactics? This guy.
Lemmy Kilmister, my hero.
Thank you, Dave. It's been too long.
ReplyDeleteYale Student, indeed. Fuck man, you're kicking my ass on reading. I've barely read anything (but I've been writing a lot...does that count?). As far as the Barth book...honestly. Never heard of it, till you mentioned it, but from what I read online about it, I NEED TO READ IT. It's officially on my "too buy list." Dave I suggest hitting up half priced books, some numb-skull is bound to sell it there after they wrap post-modern writing course at UW, ECC, SCC, and other schools.
I'm glad Green Bay won. If the Steelers lose, I am happy (can't believe I almost moved to Pittsburgh).
Hang soon. I'm working on a burn list for you. Counting Crows and Arcade Fire and other goodies. American Slang is the shit. THe rest of the album, I'm waiting to grow on me. Lemuria, tonight while on the treadmill.
Later,
J
The fact that you can still find time to write is pretty amazing. I think perhaps you've discovered a vortex to an alternate dimension where time is 1/4 the speed of that here. And that is where you bust out the pad and pen.
ReplyDeleteFor the Barth novel, I was just doing my best not to have to buy any books. It's not super rare or anything. I can find it online used for about $6. We'll see if Sno-Isle comes through, though.
American Slang, the album, is great. It will grow on you. And if it doesn't...significant questions about the content of your character. The new Lemuria record , Pebble, is more demure than Get Better. But I like the dude's songs better on this one.
Oh yeah. My car stereo just gave up the ghost. So if you have some albums that you've yet to burn, give me a list and I'll track them down.