What Are You Reading?

I finally had to give up on Sophie's Choice. Sorry, guys, but I was on page 165 of 600+ and I just didn't care anymore. If the book (and movie) wasn't so well-loved by so many, I wouldn't have even made it that far. I recently decided to no longer force myself to finish books I can't get into. I was going to try to watch the film (and get past the first scenes this time) to spark more interest in the book, but I can't find it to stream for free anymore, so I'm done for now.
I haven't deleted the ebook, though, in case I want to try again in the future.

Kurben said:

reading the Mating Season by Wodehouse. I'm gonna try to read all the novels in the right order which I, for some reason, haven't done before. This one is about halfway through. He wrote, i think, 11 Jeeves novels. I've been a bit down lately for unknown reasons so I need some smiles.

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((((Kurbin))))

Started Give Me Your Heart by Joyce Carol Oates. Ten chilling tales were Love is not so nice. It takes us to dark places of obsession, selfdestruction, jealousy and uncertainty. Started real good. I still say she was more worth a noble prize than Dylan. Now, just because Dylan did get it, she will probably never get it. Sad.

Kurben, have you read John Hodgman's article on why he believes that the Nobel shouldn't have gone to Dylan? It is an excellent, even-handed argument made with sincere respect for Dylan and absolutely zero snark, and is well worth reading. I won't repeat all of his points here, but here are a few small quotes -

"Song writing is an art form. Obviously. Not greater, nor lesser, than the writing of prose, poetry, and plays and publishing them in books, which is more or less how literature was defined in the modern world until today... Songs are not “poems set to music.” They are lyrics and music written together, to complement and to create a whole effect that may be greater than either part alone... It takes nothing away from song to say that it is a distinct art form from what we had, until today, traditionally defined as “literature.” Today that term got broader. I’m not saying that’s bad per se, and we certainly can’t go back from here. And that may be a point of celebration for you–especially if you feel song is not taken seriously enough in culture, and calling it “literature” elevates it somehow.

Bob Dylan winning that prize means some author, playwright, poet didn’t, and I don’t apologize for saying that bums me out a little.

I stand behind this. Because Dylan IS a great artist. But it would be disingenuous to ignore that he is also a cliche, an icon fetish object and obsession of a particular generation. There is no news in hearing that Bob Dylan is a genius. There is no injustice corrected by giving Bob Dylan an award. And there is, to my ear, something pandering and thirsty about the Nobel “shaking things up” by picking an incredibly popular songwriter for the book award. It feels a little less like an award than a rebranding effort."

You can read the whole thing here, should the excerpt above tickle your fancy.
JOHN HODGMAN — NO ONE SHOULD WANT MY OPINION ON BOB DYLAN

I love John Hodgman. There is a great video on Youtube of him interviewing John Cleese (his hero) - and I wouldn't want to say that he outshone Cleese, but he sort of did, a little bit...

John Hodgman impersonating Ayn Rand on the ukulele... Now THIS might be worthy of a Nobel prize!

Holly Gibney said:

Kurben, have you read John Hodgman's article on why he believes that the Nobel shouldn't have gone to Dylan? It is an excellent, even-handed argument made with sincere respect for Dylan and absolutely zero snark, and is well worth reading. I won't repeat all of his points here, but here are a few small quotes -

"Song writing is an art form. Obviously. Not greater, nor lesser, than the writing of prose, poetry, and plays and publishing them in books, which is more or less how literature was defined in the modern world until today... Songs are not “poems set to music.” They are lyrics and music written together, to complement and to create a whole effect that may be greater than either part alone... It takes nothing away from song to say that it is a distinct art form from what we had, until today, traditionally defined as “literature.” Today that term got broader. I’m not saying that’s bad per se, and we certainly can’t go back from here. And that may be a point of celebration for you–especially if you feel song is not taken seriously enough in culture, and calling it “literature” elevates it somehow.

Bob Dylan winning that prize means some author, playwright, poet didn’t, and I don’t apologize for saying that bums me out a little.

I stand behind this. Because Dylan IS a great artist. But it would be disingenuous to ignore that he is also a cliche, an icon fetish object and obsession of a particular generation. There is no news in hearing that Bob Dylan is a genius. There is no injustice corrected by giving Bob Dylan an award. And there is, to my ear, something pandering and thirsty about the Nobel “shaking things up” by picking an incredibly popular songwriter for the book award. It feels a little less like an award than a rebranding effort."

You can read the whole thing here, should the excerpt above tickle your fancy.
JOHN HODGMAN — NO ONE SHOULD WANT MY OPINION ON BOB DYLAN

I love John Hodgman. There is a great video on Youtube of him interviewing John Cleese (his hero) - and I wouldn't want to say that he outshone Cleese, but he sort of did, a little bit...

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My opinion is rather simple. I don't mind a singer/songwriter like Dylan getting a prize like that but i also know how this commite tends to think. When a country has been "honored" it will take awhile before the committes eyes rests on that country again. So, supposing they felt that this time it was the US turn (and it was about 20 years or so since the latest US writer (Toni Morrison) got it) I think there were more worthy candidates. My top one is Oates and have been for a few years and now i feel her chance is gone. And i also strongly feel this is, just like last years prize Svetlana Aleksijevitj, one step in the try to broaden what the term literature can encompass. With Aleksijevitj it said that excellent done borderline stories that hovers on the edge between a journalistic reportage and literature is accepted. And this year it did the the same with songlyrics. Both very worthy winners but the committe is out to make a point, not to honor the most worthy and it also does it for its own sake. It wants to be popular. Always a dangerous thing. The danger lies in if you strive towards popularity it is a risk that you can lose your integrity. That i don't want to happen. The Nobel is not, and has never been, a popularity prize. So i guess i am more or less agreeing with Hodgman.
And if Dylan won i think he should have shared with Cohen (he was alive when the prize was announced but could have got it anyway).

danie said:

Finished The Girl with All the Gifts last night and started In Cold Blood. Capote's writing is poetry.

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80sFan said:

I finally had to give up on Sophie's Choice. Sorry, guys, but I was on page 165 of 600+ and I just didn't care anymore. If the book (and movie) wasn't so well-loved by so many, I wouldn't have even made it that far. I recently decided to no longer force myself to finish books I can't get into. I was going to try to watch the film (and get past the first scenes this time) to spark more interest in the book, but I can't find it to stream for free anymore, so I'm done for now.
I haven't deleted the ebook, though, in case I want to try again in the future.

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It does require some extra patience. Styron takes much of his writing cues from Thomas Wolfe, in my opinion. If you've read Look Homeward, Angel (which is great but laborsome) then you'll know what I mean. There isn't much that goes unnoticed under Styron's eyes, yet he skillfully connects what would otherwise be a dozen disconnected thoughts into spellbinding prose. If you haven't been impressed by page 160 then you definitely should set it aside for another time. From my experience, I have started reading books that were, although well written, too jarring from my usual fare. Sometimes it isn't that you aren't ready for the book, but the book isn't ready for you. (Sorry to sound like a fortune cookie. It's true, though.)

Kurben said:

Both very worthy winners but the committe is out to make a point, not to honor the most worthy and it also does it for its own sake. It wants to be popular. Always a dangerous thing. The danger lies in if you strive towards popularity it is a risk that you can lose your integrity. That i don't want to happen. The Nobel is not, and has never been, a popularity prize.

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Very well stated. I agree entirely.

Doc Creed said:

It does require some extra patience. Styron takes much of his writing cues from Thomas Wolfe, in my opinion. If you've read Look Homeward, Angel (which is great but laborsome) then you'll know what I mean. There isn't much that goes unnoticed under Styron's eyes, yet he skillfully connects what would otherwise be a dozen disconnected thoughts into spellbinding prose. If you haven't been impressed by page 160 then you definitely should set it aside for another time. From my experience, I have started reading books that were, although well written, too jarring from my usual fare. Sometimes it isn't that you aren't ready for the book, but the book isn't ready for you. (Sorry to sound like a fortune cookie. It's true, though.)

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Totally get what you're saying.
I really think this is one that I'll have to watch the film first (which I rarely do) then try the novel again.

80sFan said:

Totally get what you're saying.
I really think this is one that I'll have to watch the film first (which I rarely do) then try the novel again.

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Also, I understand everyone has different tastes/likes in books...I was in no way suggesting there is an aptitude test for appreciating particular books, lol.
I have hated books that others have praised up and down; for instance, I didn't like The Grapes of Wrath (nor did DJ, I believe) and it won the coveted Pulitzer.

Doc Creed said:

Also, I understand everyone has different tastes/likes in books...I was in no way suggesting there is an aptitude test for appreciating particular books, lol.
I have hated books that others have praised up and down; for instance, I didn't like The Grapes of Wrath (nor did DJ, I believe) and it won the coveted Pulitzer.

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Moby Dick. Read it once in high school for a book report. Tried to read it probably 6 or 7 times over the years, would rather gouge my eyeballs out....lol. I don't know what it is, but it's like reading stereo instructions.

Finished Nineteen Minutes by Picoult last night. Very good book - liked the different points of view, but some of them were a little longer than I felt necessary. The back story was extremely vital, but some of it (like some of Alex and Lacy's work histories) could've been tightened a bit IMHO. Didn't love the ending, but don't think any scenario could've closed that book in a satisfactory way for me. I found Change of Heart at the library's used book sale. Will have to read that sometime soon, since this was my first Picoult book.

Was going to start a reread of Gerald's Game, but couldn't find my reading copy. Started Edge by Jeffery Deaver instead (another library sale find ).

ghost19 said:

Moby Dick. Read it once in high school for a book report. Tried to read it probably 6 or 7 times over the years, would rather gouge my eyeballs out....lol. I don't know what it is, but it's like reading stereo instructions.

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Aw C'mon, you didn't like the history of whales chapter?
I actually liked the first part of the book but, in my estimation, it's a very dark and dismal book as a whole. Tedious. Stereo instructions, yeah, that just about covers it. LOL.

Doc Creed said:

Aw C'mon, you didn't like the history of whales chapter?
I actually liked the first part of the book but, in my estimation, it's a very dark and dismal book as a whole. Tedious. Stereo instructions, yeah, that just about covers it. LOL.

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I get why it's a classic and everything, some classics I very much like to read, but that one is just...I don't know, Melville just isn't my thing I guess.

Doc Creed said:

I was in no way suggesting there is an aptitude test for appreciating particular books, lol.

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I didn't take it that way at all
I also don't always appreciate the "classics".

I'm thankful I never had to read Moby Dick (could be because I attended an all-girls school)...sounds like I didn't miss out on anything.

80sFan said:

I'm thankful I never had to read Moby Dick (could be because I attended an all-girls school)...sounds like I didn't miss out on anything.

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lol, no, not unless you fancy watching paint dry as a hobby...about as interesting..