Mjarc
I'm in the suitcase, picking my way out. What to wear? What to listen to? What to read? What to think? The Punk Planet Collected Interviews are fucking great. I've never been a fan of Fugazi, though I'm sure I admire what they're doing, but the interview with Ian MacKaye was great. Steve Albini, Noam Chomsky, Voices in the Wilderness Iraqi Relief Charity, and yes, even a bit from The Man -- also known as Ted Leo. Everyone has been fascinating so far. Pick it up if you're interested.
In preparation for finishing it tomorrow, I've gone out and finally purchased The Corrections at the behest of Zook. I was beaten over the brow time and again to peruse Infinite Jest, did, and loved it. I'm not exactly expecting the same enthusiasm to preceed this book, but I've looked it over seven times now, to be exact, and was finally able to force my hands to take it to the counter. It helps that my mom was buying. I suggested that, seeing as how The Corrections is part of the Oprah Book Club and all, we buy two copies and read it together on vacation. Of course I said this with a lisp and a limp wrist and batting my eyes. She declined.
To be honest, there are times when I feel like such a sham when it comes to good literature and well-written/popular fiction. I just don't have any background in it, other than the few books I've picked up in my spare time. I have trouble reading big, complicated books, but at the same time I've tackled tales like Vineland by Thomas Pynchon and Eleven Million Mile High Dancer by Carol de Chellis Hill. Did I understand them? I think. "They're about girls, right?" Kidding. I recently received my first copy of Harper's Magazine and was literally blown away by the writing in it. There were two feature articles on the war against terrorism, and everything that they were saying was exactly along the lines of what I've been thinking and trying to say, but just couldn't get out. I guess that this is a start. I've started a short list of books that I would like to read, assuming I have time, during the next semester. And they follow:
(1) Trouble Man by Steve Turner -- biography of Marvin Gaye.
(2) The Intelligent Person's Guide to Atheism by Daniel Harbour -- Exactly what the title says. I read the first two chapters at a Borders in Vegas but regretfully didn't have the money to pick it up.
(3) Propaganda and the Public Mind by D. Barsamian & Noam Chomsky -- Didn't have time to browse, but I've yet to read Chomsky.
(4) Please Kill Me by Legs McNeil & Gillian McCain -- I think that this is a collection of interviews in and about the punk scene. The title sounds real familiar, but I can't place it.
(5) Naked by David Sedairis -- Matt and Sylvia have both told me I'd like this guy. Also browsed but had no cash.
(6) Our Band Could Be Your Life by Mike Azerrad -- Also about the independent/punk scene. Looked extremely interesting.
If any of you guys know anything about these books, or better ones by the same authors, or just downright excellent books in either case, please fill me in. Emails at the top.
I'm in the suitcase, picking my way out. What to wear? What to listen to? What to read? What to think? The Punk Planet Collected Interviews are fucking great. I've never been a fan of Fugazi, though I'm sure I admire what they're doing, but the interview with Ian MacKaye was great. Steve Albini, Noam Chomsky, Voices in the Wilderness Iraqi Relief Charity, and yes, even a bit from The Man -- also known as Ted Leo. Everyone has been fascinating so far. Pick it up if you're interested.
In preparation for finishing it tomorrow, I've gone out and finally purchased The Corrections at the behest of Zook. I was beaten over the brow time and again to peruse Infinite Jest, did, and loved it. I'm not exactly expecting the same enthusiasm to preceed this book, but I've looked it over seven times now, to be exact, and was finally able to force my hands to take it to the counter. It helps that my mom was buying. I suggested that, seeing as how The Corrections is part of the Oprah Book Club and all, we buy two copies and read it together on vacation. Of course I said this with a lisp and a limp wrist and batting my eyes. She declined.
To be honest, there are times when I feel like such a sham when it comes to good literature and well-written/popular fiction. I just don't have any background in it, other than the few books I've picked up in my spare time. I have trouble reading big, complicated books, but at the same time I've tackled tales like Vineland by Thomas Pynchon and Eleven Million Mile High Dancer by Carol de Chellis Hill. Did I understand them? I think. "They're about girls, right?" Kidding. I recently received my first copy of Harper's Magazine and was literally blown away by the writing in it. There were two feature articles on the war against terrorism, and everything that they were saying was exactly along the lines of what I've been thinking and trying to say, but just couldn't get out. I guess that this is a start. I've started a short list of books that I would like to read, assuming I have time, during the next semester. And they follow:
(1) Trouble Man by Steve Turner -- biography of Marvin Gaye.
(2) The Intelligent Person's Guide to Atheism by Daniel Harbour -- Exactly what the title says. I read the first two chapters at a Borders in Vegas but regretfully didn't have the money to pick it up.
(3) Propaganda and the Public Mind by D. Barsamian & Noam Chomsky -- Didn't have time to browse, but I've yet to read Chomsky.
(4) Please Kill Me by Legs McNeil & Gillian McCain -- I think that this is a collection of interviews in and about the punk scene. The title sounds real familiar, but I can't place it.
(5) Naked by David Sedairis -- Matt and Sylvia have both told me I'd like this guy. Also browsed but had no cash.
(6) Our Band Could Be Your Life by Mike Azerrad -- Also about the independent/punk scene. Looked extremely interesting.
If any of you guys know anything about these books, or better ones by the same authors, or just downright excellent books in either case, please fill me in. Emails at the top.
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