Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Reading Meme(ory)
Sassy Sarah Vaughan sang a rendition of “Whatever Lola Wants” (that’s been re-mixed @ here ), that always has me doing the stenography thing so that you can make sure you’re writing it all down. Don’t want to disappoint Lola…or Miss Vaughan.
Cowtown Pattie @ Texas Trifles has kindly meme-requested me for a book inquiry. How could I refuse her invitation? Here’s my modest contribution to her meme invite. Hope I didn't disappoint.
1. Total Number of Books You Have Owned: If the ever-loving wife reads this and actually sees a number, my occupancy of my current residence may be revoked. So, punking out, I’ll note that it’s a number greater than the Aniak, Alaska Public Library , but less than the Nutley, New Jersey Public Library .
2. Last Book I Bought (but still waiting to be shipped): After the list of books below is finished, this is coming off of my Amazon Wish List.
No Mercy: A Journey into the Heart of the Congo by Redmond O’Hanlen
3. Last Book I Read: Like Pattie, the Trail Boss, various books are strewn around my bed, sofa, and desk in mid-read. So, here’s a partial list; the first book listed is the closest to being finished.
Portuguese Irregular Verbs by Alexander McCall Smith
The Road Home by Jim Harrison
Guns, Germs, & Steel by Jared Diamond
Collapse by Jared Diamond
Rough Guide to Croatia by Rough Guide Press
The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs by Alexander McCall Smith
4. Five (or so) Books That Mean a Lot To Me: (no particular order)
The Life & Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin by Vladimir Voinovich Along with “Soldier Schweik”, these Slavic takes on the idiocy of war and governments and how a sense of the absurd lets one cooly step through the muck are timely reading. If there's a war, there's always a Chonkin around.
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller First “adult” book I ever read. I read this one hazy summer between 8th grade and high school, thinking it was only a war story. As close to perfection, in my limited reading opinion, as I’ve encountered. I go back and re-read this book or at least parts of it every 5 years or so. (Heller’s Something Happened is another addiction)
Nobody’s Fool by Richard Russo Older man comes to grips with his place in his town and in his family’s life. All done with humor and a gorgeously worded style. One of the few books I’ve ever read that translated well to film.
Blood of the Lamb by Peter De Vries Father dealing with the effects of a daughter who died too young. God doesn’t come out too well here.
Spinky Sulks by William Steig Never has simpering and sulking been cured in a more humorous way. Long after the kids stopped reading this book, I find myself picking it up when I’m in the throes of self-indulgent kwetching. Sets me straight each time. Plus, Steig’s illustrations are a hoot.
Sassy Sarah Vaughan sang a rendition of “Whatever Lola Wants” (that’s been re-mixed @ here ), that always has me doing the stenography thing so that you can make sure you’re writing it all down. Don’t want to disappoint Lola…or Miss Vaughan.
Cowtown Pattie @ Texas Trifles has kindly meme-requested me for a book inquiry. How could I refuse her invitation? Here’s my modest contribution to her meme invite. Hope I didn't disappoint.
1. Total Number of Books You Have Owned: If the ever-loving wife reads this and actually sees a number, my occupancy of my current residence may be revoked. So, punking out, I’ll note that it’s a number greater than the Aniak, Alaska Public Library , but less than the Nutley, New Jersey Public Library .
2. Last Book I Bought (but still waiting to be shipped): After the list of books below is finished, this is coming off of my Amazon Wish List.
No Mercy: A Journey into the Heart of the Congo by Redmond O’Hanlen
3. Last Book I Read: Like Pattie, the Trail Boss, various books are strewn around my bed, sofa, and desk in mid-read. So, here’s a partial list; the first book listed is the closest to being finished.
Portuguese Irregular Verbs by Alexander McCall Smith
The Road Home by Jim Harrison
Guns, Germs, & Steel by Jared Diamond
Collapse by Jared Diamond
Rough Guide to Croatia by Rough Guide Press
The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs by Alexander McCall Smith
4. Five (or so) Books That Mean a Lot To Me: (no particular order)
The Life & Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin by Vladimir Voinovich Along with “Soldier Schweik”, these Slavic takes on the idiocy of war and governments and how a sense of the absurd lets one cooly step through the muck are timely reading. If there's a war, there's always a Chonkin around.
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller First “adult” book I ever read. I read this one hazy summer between 8th grade and high school, thinking it was only a war story. As close to perfection, in my limited reading opinion, as I’ve encountered. I go back and re-read this book or at least parts of it every 5 years or so. (Heller’s Something Happened is another addiction)
Nobody’s Fool by Richard Russo Older man comes to grips with his place in his town and in his family’s life. All done with humor and a gorgeously worded style. One of the few books I’ve ever read that translated well to film.
Blood of the Lamb by Peter De Vries Father dealing with the effects of a daughter who died too young. God doesn’t come out too well here.
Spinky Sulks by William Steig Never has simpering and sulking been cured in a more humorous way. Long after the kids stopped reading this book, I find myself picking it up when I’m in the throes of self-indulgent kwetching. Sets me straight each time. Plus, Steig’s illustrations are a hoot.
Comments:
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Gracias, Vaquero!
Interesting selections and choices of libraries! This is what is great about a book meme; gives you an eye-opener to new stuff to try, and old stuff to remember.
Pueda todos sus poneyes corren rápidamente.
Interesting selections and choices of libraries! This is what is great about a book meme; gives you an eye-opener to new stuff to try, and old stuff to remember.
Pueda todos sus poneyes corren rápidamente.
I concur entirely with your selection of "Catch-22". I too return to it again and again as one of the 'truest' novels ever written. If you haven't read Russo's "Straight Man", you'd probably enjoy it, too.
# opined by 
: 7:53 AM, June 08, 2005
: 7:53 AM, June 08, 2005
Private Ivan Chonkin? Ooh - new book! I like Schweik - even considered a tattoo of him, in my younger days. Pfc Chonkin sounds like a worthy literary companion.
sgazzetti; Thanks for dropping by. I've read all of Russo's novels and novellas except for "Empire Falls" which I'm slogging through currently. While I've enjoyed or am enjoying them all, "Nobody's Fool" is still my sentimental favorite. I'd say "The Risk Pool" is #2.
Mr. WP: Voinovich passed muster my old man, who had Chonkin -like experiences in Tito's Glorious Socialist Army, so he's the genuine article. A Schweik tatoo? Now, that would have definitley tipped you into Supreme Coolness...though explaining a tatoo of a guy on a guy to your wife may have been a bit...
Mr. WP: Voinovich passed muster my old man, who had Chonkin -like experiences in Tito's Glorious Socialist Army, so he's the genuine article. A Schweik tatoo? Now, that would have definitley tipped you into Supreme Coolness...though explaining a tatoo of a guy on a guy to your wife may have been a bit...
DV - looks like Peter DeVries is back in print! I got the news via this link via Terry Teachout. I thought the cover art was powerfully evocative.
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