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Post by MaxQuad on Apr 17, 2006 19:57:52 GMT -5
As Pulitzer Prizes are being announced, fitting that I recently finished Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond. A well written, compelling argument regarding reasons for advancement of one society and stagnation in another. Arguing strongly against inherent differences among races, Diamond is convincing when he discusses the role of geography, climate, indigenous wild botanical species, and variety of large animals amenable to domestication - among other factors. A bit fatiguing by the end given the frequent reiterations of his hypothesis - with example after example, but overall well worth the investment of time. Highly recommended when in a non-fiction frame of mind.
Time to return to fiction, a gift from a colleague in the Arabian Gulf region: Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernieres. Having loved Captain Corelli's Mandolin, I am equally loving this long novel.
MQ
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Post by RepairmanJack on Apr 19, 2006 22:59:47 GMT -5
I am glad you liked it Max. You may want to consider reading Mr. Diamond's next book Collapse or one of his earlier books The Third Chimpanzee. I highly recommend both
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Post by Shutter Girl on Apr 20, 2006 8:43:51 GMT -5
I am glad you liked it Max. You may want to consider reading Mr. Diamond's next book Collapse or one of his earlier books The Third Chimpanzee. I highly recommend both Max, you might also be interested in reading something by Marvin Harris, a very famous cultural anthropologist. His most popular book is Cows, Pigs, Wars and Witches: The Riddles of Culture. Interesting stuff, that.
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Post by RepairmanJack on Apr 20, 2006 18:29:06 GMT -5
Cannibals and Kings: Origins of Culture by Mr. Harris is also a very good book ;D
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Post by MaxQuad on Apr 21, 2006 10:31:24 GMT -5
Cannibals and Kings: Origins of Culture by Mr. Harris is also a very good book ;D SG and RJ, Thanks for the suggestions regarding Diamond and Harris, but I have a pile of books in the wings. I'll tuck these away for future reference. MQ
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Post by Shutter Girl on Apr 21, 2006 13:47:48 GMT -5
Let us know what's tickling your literary palate when you can, won't you?
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Post by MaxQuad on Apr 23, 2006 9:39:39 GMT -5
Let us know what's tickling your literary palate when you can, won't you? Waiting in the wings (for me) in no particular order: Gilead - Marilynne Robinson The Moor's Last Sigh - Salman Rushdie Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie The Brothers K - David James Duncan Songbook - Nick Hornby Complete Short Stories - Flannery O'Connor One Man's Bible - Gao Xingjian The Whore's Child and Other Stories - Richard Russo March - Geraldine Brooks Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke Tooth and Claw - T.C. Boyle MQ
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Post by MaxQuad on May 5, 2006 19:49:55 GMT -5
The long one: Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernieres. Throughout 800 pages, this book proved an excellent read. I highly recommend it. The book is grand and sweeping while simultaneously unadorned and intimate. The back drop: the fall of the Ottomans combined with the tumultuous birth of Turkey as a nation. Through various characters - male, female, young, old, Muslim, and Christian - the author provides powerful views of friendship, love, war, religion, nationalism (among other things) in the midst of turbulent, violent, horrific times. It is beautifully written - absorbing to read.
The short one: Songbook by Nick Hornby. Less than twenty-five percent of the pages of Birds Without Wings, but amazingly entertaining in its own right, Songbook is a must for anyone who enjoys modern music. It is Hornby’s collection of essays on songs that have meaning to him, but do not look for traditional music criticism. Rather, get ready for irreverent and rollicking commentaries. Consistently, however, Hornby manages to strike a chord - a very personal chord that touches one's soul now and again. His love of music - "pop music" - is palpable, as is his love of how it transports him beyond the words of the lyrics and the chords of the tune. This is a book that ends much too quickly, but then again, it is the type of book that should end too quickly. Do not hesitate to buy it. A guaranteed winner.
MQ
Bonus: As Hornby discusses a song sung by Rod Stewart in his early days – and the pedigree of music this led him to discover, Hornby writes: “And once I knew about Aretha and Bobby Bland and the Temptations, I was led on to B.B. King and the Four Tops and Atlantic, and Chess, and… This is all pretty good stuff; I would hate not to have discovered it when I did. If I’d been similarly smitten by Elton John or Jethro Tull or Mike Oldfield, all of whom were competing for my attention at around the same time, it’s possible that I might not be listening to music now.”
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Post by RepairmanJack on May 8, 2006 0:10:31 GMT -5
Thanks for the recommendations MQ. I have a question about your bonus--so Nick Hornby would not be a fan of music now if he was smitten by Tull or Elton John or Mike Oldfield back then? That comment for me at least makes me think there is no reason to read his book now. Music is music and will lead you where it wants you to go whether you want to or not. If one group or type of music is not able to link you to others than that is your fault not theirs. If he is so dismissive of certain types of music than how entertaining can he be about other topics?
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Post by MaxQuad on May 8, 2006 11:51:22 GMT -5
Thanks for the recommendations MQ. I have a question about your bonus--so Nick Hornby would not be a fan of music now if he was smitten by Tull or Elton John or Mike Oldfield back then? That comment for me at least makes me think there is no reason to read his book now. Music is music and will lead you where it wants you to go whether you want to or not. If one group or type of music is not able to link you to others than that is your fault not theirs. If he is so dismissive of certain types of music than how entertaining can he be about other topics? RJ, Hornby is intentionally, and often hilariously, provocative. Don't let that "bonus quotation" turn you away from this book. Even if you don't agree with his specific opinion, you will agree with the principles he often uses to judge things or to assess meaningfulness. This is not music criticism per se - this is a book about experiencing life and how it is enriched by music and vice versa. It will make you think about your music likes and dislikes in new ways - and make richer the opinions you have about what music is meaningful to you and why. It is a joyous romp through a few songs, along with some great insight into how we can make it even more joyous. If you disagree after reading it, I'll buy the beer when we next see each other. MQ
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Post by RepairmanJack on May 8, 2006 22:41:20 GMT -5
An offer to buy the beer??? How can I pass that up. Ok MQ I will have to give it a try
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Post by MaxQuad on May 19, 2006 19:08:43 GMT -5
March by Geraldine Brooks. Just finished. Pulitzer Prize winner this year. The story of Mr. March, the "husband who is away" in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Never having read Little Women, I cannot comment on how she weaves themes and plot elements from that book into this one.
March is not a long book. Despite it's brevity, it packs plenty of story into the pages, almost too much at times. It portrays harrowing and horrific aspects of the Civil War - as well as many of its moral ambiguities. We meet well known people of the era: John Brown, Henry David Thoreau, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. We get a glimpse of the fervor of the abolitionists, the ambivalence of more than a few, and the resignation of many slaves. Through it all there are heroes and heroines, all flawed. Having endured much, Mr. March is a changed man in the end. He is left questioning, as are we, what constitutes courage, integrity, and moral action.
Despite many passages that are extremely well written, especially those outlining the horrors witnessed by March, it eventually fails to please at one level. Like some of its characters, it almost becomes too preachy even in the face of questions posed that are difficult to answer. Sermonizing from one end of the spectrum or the other is never surprising, but sermonizing about the middle ground, where moral ambiguity and complex characters meet - well, it becomes a bit much. Still, a very good book, but not one that leaves me in awe.
MQ
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Post by Shutter Girl on May 20, 2006 9:23:28 GMT -5
Thanks for the review Max, I was wondering how it was but wasn't inclined to read it without reading Little Women first. I wonder why it won the Pulitzer, were the pickings particularly slim this year?
As some of you know, I'm stuck here at home recovering from a surgery. This gives me the perfect opportunity to do some reading and what better time to catch up on my Harry Potter! So, it's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Good thus far, but as RJ has said, Harry sounds like a bit of a whiney teenager in this one. Get over yourself Harry, you're the greatest wizard in the world for Pete's sake! ;-)
[glow=red,2,300]Expecto Patronum![/glow]
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Post by MaxQuad on May 20, 2006 18:07:41 GMT -5
Thanks for the review Max, I was wondering how it was but wasn't inclined to read it without reading Little Women first. I wonder why it won the Pulitzer, were the pickings particularly slim this year? Not sure SG. I just read a few online reviews - many of which are glowing. Looks like the NY Times review was tepid. That review rang more true to me than the others. Hey, I've never been a literary critic, I just know what I like. MQ
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Post by Shutter Girl on May 21, 2006 9:27:25 GMT -5
Hey, I've never been a literary critic, I just know what I like. MQ That's an honest response that a lot of people can't bring themselves to say, Max! I think too many people try to force themselves to like a book because it got great reviews or it won some award. If it doesn't speak to you or you don't like it then it's not a good book for you --- period. Rosenberg's Law of Reading: Never apologize for your reading taste.
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