more books read
So I finished
1. Salman Rushdie's "Satanic Verses" which was as entertaining as his other novels and not at all what I expected. I thought it would be blatantly blasphemous and terribly intellectual, which was the vague impression gleaned from the press when the fatwa was issued. In fact, I was 2/3 of the way into the book before I understood why this would upset anyone. I mean no one excommunicated Jim Crace for writing "Quarantine" (the gene which I inherited from my mother which lead her to purposely mislead a rather fundamentalist Catholic acquaintance into reading "The Cider House Rules" has triggered me to conspire to give "Quarantine" to Blockhead. It along with "The Heavenly Kingdom" by Jonathan Spence are the two books which make me feel more atheistic than agnostic). Eventually Rushdie's implication that perhaps some of the Qu'ran is a little too convenient and inconsistent was bound to get some backlash. But personally, I suspect that including murderous, torturing secret police from Iran as characters is what really got him into trouble. You should read this book.
2. and 3. "The Tale of Genji" by Lady Murasaki, volumes 1 and 2, translated by Arthur Whaley. I always thought I should read this classic of medieval Japanese literature. I never suspected that the most apt comparison on the jacket was to "Tom Jones" in theme (rather than say Proust and whatever other accolades they dreamt up). Surprisingly enjoyable, but after a while all the stories about how incredibly beautiful was Prince Genji and which woman he seduced next got a little tiresome. Also, I really enjoyed Whaley's translation of "Monkey", but this was more pedantic.
4. "With Borges" by Alberto Manguel. I am a big Borges fan. The book is enjoyable, but very short and not actually that revealing. If Manguel was not an award-winning author, it wouldn't have been published.
5. "Promethea V" Alan Moore and the gang. Final installment.
6. "Paper- Handmade Style" by assorted persons. I'm obsessed. I confess.
7. "An Illustrated Alphabet for the Illiterate" by Rudolf and his daughter Elizabeth Kurz. I bought this delightful book at the One of a Kind, along with a 2nd and the other gave me a 3rd for free! Made my day.
9. Ryan Heshka, "ABC Spook Show". A girl cannot have too many alphabet books.
Currently, I'm enjoying Barbara Hodgson's "Hippolyte's Island".
1. Salman Rushdie's "Satanic Verses" which was as entertaining as his other novels and not at all what I expected. I thought it would be blatantly blasphemous and terribly intellectual, which was the vague impression gleaned from the press when the fatwa was issued. In fact, I was 2/3 of the way into the book before I understood why this would upset anyone. I mean no one excommunicated Jim Crace for writing "Quarantine" (the gene which I inherited from my mother which lead her to purposely mislead a rather fundamentalist Catholic acquaintance into reading "The Cider House Rules" has triggered me to conspire to give "Quarantine" to Blockhead. It along with "The Heavenly Kingdom" by Jonathan Spence are the two books which make me feel more atheistic than agnostic). Eventually Rushdie's implication that perhaps some of the Qu'ran is a little too convenient and inconsistent was bound to get some backlash. But personally, I suspect that including murderous, torturing secret police from Iran as characters is what really got him into trouble. You should read this book.
2. and 3. "The Tale of Genji" by Lady Murasaki, volumes 1 and 2, translated by Arthur Whaley. I always thought I should read this classic of medieval Japanese literature. I never suspected that the most apt comparison on the jacket was to "Tom Jones" in theme (rather than say Proust and whatever other accolades they dreamt up). Surprisingly enjoyable, but after a while all the stories about how incredibly beautiful was Prince Genji and which woman he seduced next got a little tiresome. Also, I really enjoyed Whaley's translation of "Monkey", but this was more pedantic.
4. "With Borges" by Alberto Manguel. I am a big Borges fan. The book is enjoyable, but very short and not actually that revealing. If Manguel was not an award-winning author, it wouldn't have been published.
5. "Promethea V" Alan Moore and the gang. Final installment.
6. "Paper- Handmade Style" by assorted persons. I'm obsessed. I confess.
7. "An Illustrated Alphabet for the Illiterate" by Rudolf and his daughter Elizabeth Kurz. I bought this delightful book at the One of a Kind, along with a 2nd and the other gave me a 3rd for free! Made my day.
9. Ryan Heshka, "ABC Spook Show". A girl cannot have too many alphabet books.
Currently, I'm enjoying Barbara Hodgson's "Hippolyte's Island".