Friday, 5/9/2008
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Recent Reading:
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| Wonder what I'm thinking about? Where Darryl gets that unique perspective? Perhaps this reading list
will lend some insight into my mysterious psyche... over the winter I bus to work and I get most of my reading in. Here's
what I've read recently (in reverse-chronologic order; the most recent is at the top): |
- The Garden of Eden - Ernest Hemingway died before this novel
was finished, so his family finished it for him. The effect is similar to driving on a road that suddenly changes pavement, then turns to gravel,
then goes back to another kind of pavement, etc. -- you can't miss it, and you never realized how smooth the road was, before.
- Cryptonomicon - Another Neal Stephenson sci-fi; it's really
long, and I really enjoyed it. My only complaint is that it all dovetails a little too neatly, too quickly, at the end. Great read though.
- Heart of a Dog - Jesse lent me this one, and it's pretty funny/weird.
Dog turns into a man after some experimental surgery (no doubt some of you are wondering how anyone can tell the difference...).
- Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonders - Elin's friend recommended this to her,
but I can't say I'd recommend it to anyone else. It's about an unlikely but apparently real "museum" of oddities in Los Angeles. Freakish curios and the
people who covet them.
- The Bone People - This is a really incredible novel--a very hard story, steeped
in Maori/New Zealand culture. I had no idea what to expect, but I did get emotionally attached to this book. Keri Hulme won awards for the writing and the story,
both of which are excellent.
- White Oleander - This is the first novel I've read in awhile (you don't see
the time gaps here), and it was really refreshing to live in this fictional world for awhile. It's a tough story, but Janet Fitch writes so well, and the character
development is so good, I couldn't put it down.
- A Fish Caught in Time: The Search for the Coelacanth - Another book that sounds
incredibly boring, but I found fascinating. I feel a special bond to that strange fish now; I enjoyed this very much.
- The Pen and the Sword: Conversations with David Barsamian - This series of
interviews with Edward Said was assigned to me in Graduate School, but I just skimmed. Now I've read it through, carefully, and I highly recommend it. Said
makes very important points about US foreign policy in the Middle East--it's no wonder he gets so little airtime. He brings up the tough items, the things
the media and government wish you wouldn't think or ask about. Read this.
- Trouble Comes Back - Keith Snyder's books are a lot of fun--hip
mysteries with lots of wisecracks. They read without effort, and the only part I don't like about his books are that they
all eventually end.
- Good As Gold -
Joseph Heller was funnier in Catch-22, but this one has its moments. It wasn't recommended to me by anyone, and I don't
think I'd go recommending it. If you've read it, then we have something in common.
- The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide... -
This self-help guide is based on ancient Mayan wisdom--there are some good, simple lessons here:
be impeccable with your word; don't take anything personally; don't make assumptions; always do your best.
It may sound trite, but I've really enjoyed looking at myself and others from this perspective; trying to integrate the agreements is
more challenging and rewarding than you might expect.
- Fatal North -
Joan recommended this one to me, and it's pretty amazing. It's the
story of the first U.S. expedition to the North Pole, which was thoroughly wrought with bad luck. Some of the crew spent an
entire Artic winter on a chunk of ice, with fewer provisions than you'd want for a weekend of camping, and the captain died
suspiciously . . .
- The Professor and the Madman -
This details the making of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), which took about ten times longer than anyone had expected.
Dictionary making was and is a collaborative effort, and it turns out that the most active contributor to the first edition
also happened to be locked away in an institution for the criminally insane. Not only does dictionary-making turn out to
be interesting (really!), but the insanity aspect really made this a good read.
- The Tennis Partner -
Very good, very sad story. I recommend it. Another book that takes something you'd think would be boring to read about
(tennis) and makes it fascinating. But tennis is only part of the story...
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Now maybe we'll have something to talk about the next time we meet :)
More stuff... and more stuff, and more . . . stuff (these are just things I've wound up buying myself, and when you purchase stuff through these particular links, i get a little discount-action...):
Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers, Third Edition
Naturally Healthy Babies and Children: A Commonsense Guide to Herbal Remedies, Nutrition, and Health
Good Night, Sleep Tight: The Sleep Lady's Gentle Guide to Helping Your Child Go to Sleep, Stay Asleep and Wake Up Happy
Pillowcases!
Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting
Baby Einstein - Baby Wordsworth - First Words - Around the House
The Science of Self-Report: Implications for Research and Practice
DotNetNuke ASP.NET Portals
ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide, Second Edition
Sony Fontopia Earphones
Slaughtermatic
Altec Lansing inMotion Plus for iPod
Bill Cosby Is A Very Funny Fellow Right!
George Carlin - Occupation: Foole
Suze Orman Will & Trust Kit (CD-ROM)
"Dealing With Disappointment" by Elizabeth Crary
Stop Smoking Forever
Coby TF-DVD7100 Portable DVD Player
The Police - Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out (2006)
The Police - LIVE - Ghost in the Machine (1982)
Lenmar LISM50 Lithium-ion Camcorder Battery
Sandisk 4GB MicroSDHC Memory Card with SD Adapter
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