What's Everyone Reading
- Thread starter Steve williams
- Start date
I had no idea who he is, and the description of this book sounds a little heady- essential how systems work best in chaos, if i understood the synopsis, but what took me most was part of the biographical description of the author: "Although he now spends most of his time either working in intense seclusion in his study, or as a flâneur meditating in cafés across the planet...".
I like the idea of being a flanuer meditating in cafes....
I like the idea of being a flanuer meditating in cafes....
Don't we all. J. P. Sartre, Cafe de Flore. Henry Miller, Paris. Try the book.
I was thinking more along the lines of Rudy's- good BBQ and a gas station to boot. Ah, Paris. I remember the cigarette girl at Deux Magots.... It was raining that day, and we were running late, an early morning train toward Normandy to reach the coast of Brittany. None of the tabacs were open, and I didn't have much time. I ran from L'Hotel on the Rue des Beaux Arts and was dripping by the time I got to the cafe. It was empty, but the cigarette girl was still there. Oops, sorry.
This is a whole other story.
I'll give it a go. Thanks.
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I listened to "A Love Supreme" while reading the detailed commentary in the book...definitely added new perspective and insight. For example, the author muses that when Coltrane repeats the theme of "Acknowledgement" ~30 x in multiple keys that it is symbolic of God's ominipresence.
BTW, the 45 rpm reissue is wonderful, although I'd love to compare with an original pressing.
BTW, the 45 rpm reissue is wonderful, although I'd love to compare with an original pressing.
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My traveling experiences with a French girl are limited to a hitchhiking trip between Paris and Bretagne. My French companion (Nathalie) turned out to be such a nasty bitch I ended up jumping out of the back of the truck that had given us a ride, and let here proceed on her own in the front cabin with the trucker. I never heard from her again. Oh lala, those French girls..... (True story)
Death in the City of Light (King, David). It's Paris, during the Occupation. Already a pretty grim time and place. A neighbor complains about the dark, sooty smoke emanating from a nearby building, and when the police fail to locate the building owner, they break down the door to discover a charnal house, partly dismembered corpses still smoldering in a stove, a limepit in the backcourtyard filled with countless body parts, and a secret room, with false door and viewing scope- precise purpose unknown. The owner of the house, a wealthy french doctor, is the subject of an intensive manhunt. It is not clear if he was working with the Gestapo, with the French Resistance, or entirely on his own account. He ran an 'escape network,' for jews, gangsters and other 'undesirables' to get out of France, but it appears that none of his clients made the passage beyond the front door of his Parisian manse. At the same time, he had accumulated considerable wealth, not entirely explained by the valuables of his client/victims.
This was a celebrated case in France that began while the Germans still occupied France. It reads easily and contains fascinating details on the interaction of the French police and French Gestapo with the German occupiers, and involves an array of characters, from prostitutes, resistance fighters and French 'society' to the demi-monde. It also contains a highly detailed account of the trial and French trial procedure at the time; the repartee among the advocats, the defendant and the court itself is marvelous (Unlike US proceedings, the defendant himself could interject at any time, and comment on the judge's remarks or rebuke a prosecution witness- this part of the story alone is fascinating). Very much in the vein of Devil in the White City (which I think was Erik Larsen's best book), but set against a backdrop, not of the Chicago World's Fair, but instead, the ghastly period of occupied France. Highly recommended for those of you who enjoy historical 'true crime' books that are well researched and thoughtfully written.
This was a celebrated case in France that began while the Germans still occupied France. It reads easily and contains fascinating details on the interaction of the French police and French Gestapo with the German occupiers, and involves an array of characters, from prostitutes, resistance fighters and French 'society' to the demi-monde. It also contains a highly detailed account of the trial and French trial procedure at the time; the repartee among the advocats, the defendant and the court itself is marvelous (Unlike US proceedings, the defendant himself could interject at any time, and comment on the judge's remarks or rebuke a prosecution witness- this part of the story alone is fascinating). Very much in the vein of Devil in the White City (which I think was Erik Larsen's best book), but set against a backdrop, not of the Chicago World's Fair, but instead, the ghastly period of occupied France. Highly recommended for those of you who enjoy historical 'true crime' books that are well researched and thoughtfully written.
Just finishing up "Season of the Witch" by David Talbot (founder of Salon.com). It's a love letter to the city of San Francisco told by a resident and traces the history for ~20 years from the Summer of Love to the mid-80's. From Amazon.com:
Two critiques: 1) Could have included a map of the city for reference 2) Written like an online magazine and would have benefitted from better editing. But definitely a fun, entertaining read.
Two critiques: 1) Could have included a map of the city for reference 2) Written like an online magazine and would have benefitted from better editing. But definitely a fun, entertaining read.
A couple others: A Hologram for the King, (Eggers), a sort of post-modern 'Death of a Salesman' about a washed up US executive who has been divorced, outsourced and alienated, stuck in Saudi Arabia on a pointless business pitch for a dead-end project in the Kingdom.
The Absolutist (Boyne)- lyrically written, post WWI memoir about a soldier who survives, and one who didn't. Labelled 'gay fiction,' but that has almost nothing to do with the power of the book. Disturbing.
The Absolutist (Boyne)- lyrically written, post WWI memoir about a soldier who survives, and one who didn't. Labelled 'gay fiction,' but that has almost nothing to do with the power of the book. Disturbing.
I envy you guys who have multiple books going at the same time. I've never been able to do this
Just finished "Downfall" by Richard Frank. Really pulls together a lot of data regarding the conclusion of the Pacific War and rebutts a lot of fashionable revisionist history. It doesn't offer a moral justification for the urban firebombing or use of the atomic bombs, but using declassified documents, the author provides us insight into what the Allied and Japanese leaders were thinking with contemporaneous information.
Currently indulging my Murakami obsession and reading "Dance, Dance, Dance"
Currently indulging my Murakami obsession and reading "Dance, Dance, Dance"
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Will have to get to this, am a huge Richard Ford fan -- as good an American novelist as I've ever read.
A interesting and uncompromising Japanese crime novel:
http://www.amazon.com/Out-Novel-Natsuo-Kirino/dp/1400078377
Doesn't appear to be available via Kindle, which is my mainstay these days. I did buy an out of print 'real' book recently- a bio of Napoleon- but that's the exception.
Too obscure maybe? Would be happy to send my copy as I'm a believer in recycling/reusing.
carolkoh
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I recently found out about free e-books. Sign up at Bookgorilla.com and bookbub.com - and select the genres you want. You receive an email each day of free e-books available - mostly Amazon Kindle as Amazon is an e-book publisher these days. Read the reviews before you download. Some of them are quite unreadable, but this is also a good way to try out new authors. For those with kids who are voracious readers, it's a good way for them to try out new authors too.
