Comments | ms_bracken: Vincennes Review of Books 2010

ms_bracken

Vincennes Review of Books 2010

Jan 01, 2011 15:14

Last year, my aim was really to read more books - I had been disappointed by how relatively little I'd read in 2009, and wanted to get my book larnin' game back on.

( Read more... )

vrb

Comments 15

infov0re January 1 2011, 15:24:04 UTC

Seriously, I'd emphasise the "relative" in "relatively little in 2009". I mean, 38 is nearly twice what I read this year, and I had a good year! And last year I read about nine books, though it felt like more, which made me very sad.

So, you know, don't beat yourself up about it (or rub it in, natch).

I think Infinite Jest is on the cards for next year. Although I'm pretty sure any time I've suggested I might read it, you were less than complementary about my ambitions versus ability.

Also: I think I'm buying a Kindle purely to read the big hardbacks I own - all the Baroque Cycle, 2666, etc - on the train, because I am really bored of all the books I like being heavy. The James Ellroys have been pushing it this year.

ms_bracken January 1 2011, 16:46:09 UTC

Yeah, it's very much relative. Also, and I did try to point this out in my entry, I read a reasonable number of books that fit anywhere on the bad to mediocre spectrum, so any count is going to be chock full o ballast.

I'm pretty sure any time I've suggested I might read it, you were less than complementary about my ambitions versus ability.

I had not read Infinite Jest when I cast those aspersions! Redacted, redacted. And I can see the benefits of a Kindle for that and other weighty books. If you're taking it on the train it's about as heavy as a toddler.

xxxlibris January 1 2011, 20:45:15 UTC

Ah, but what I like about the physicality MASSIVE books is also the pleasure of seeing how much you've read of it/how much of the MIGHTY MOUNTAIN OF WORDS you have scaled.

(Dude, would you ever be interested in reading my thesis?)

ms_bracken January 1 2011, 21:06:44 UTC

The mountain of words aspect was nice! The aaargh footnote arrgh footnote to footnote aaaargh train going round a corner LOST MY PLACE aspect, less so.

I'd definitely be interested in reading yr thesis. You have my email addresss...

carsmilesteve January 1 2011, 20:59:44 UTC

Hahahahahha you didn't know about FUN until this year? :)

also co-sign on Focault's Pendulum! The first 50 pages are a bit of a slog but then it's awesome and fair cracks along. I, on the other hand, have never read in the name of the rose, although I've read the rest of Eco's big novelly things (but not theory etc)

ms_bracken January 2 2011, 18:47:24 UTC

No, and fun is totally amazing, I think you would like it! (The thesis was kind of about the limits of fun - i.e. what counts as such, i.e. the implications of the fact that having a not very good time in a club is still characterised as FUN whereas having a lovely time sitting on the sofa reading a book is not.)

This Eco news is good news. And I have The Name Of The Rose if you fancy a read of it, it is ace.

carsmilesteve January 2 2011, 20:54:18 UTC

And I have FP if you want to do an Eco swap?

ms_bracken January 3 2011, 14:45:20 UTC

S'do it!

cis January 2 2011, 09:55:26 UTC

oh you definitely have to read Foucault's Pendulum, it is sheer delight and much more a silly airport historical thriller than anyone gives it credit for.

ms_bracken January 2 2011, 18:47:50 UTC

This is basically exactly what I wanted to hear. Good-o!

carsmilesteve January 2 2011, 20:56:59 UTC

I think the phrase we're both avoiding here is "it's like a good, intelligent, well-written Da Vinci Code" (I avoided it ftb never having read DVC)

cis January 2 2011, 22:10:39 UTC

I like to think of it as more of a good, intelligent, well-written The Holy Blood And The Holy Grail* tbh

**I have never read THB&THG

Thread 5

danalcapone January 3 2011, 13:04:56 UTC

Dude, this kind of post makes me wish for more LJ. I wish that the smart people I know wrote more at length pieces rather than Facebook oneliners. I am particularly impressed by your use of graphs.

I sadly lost my diary in the middle of the year, so don't have a complete record of what I read. Not that much, this year, I fear. Also, walking in as opposed to commuting means I read less.

ms_bracken January 3 2011, 14:52:09 UTC

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it, I must remember that writing is not as hard as I think it is.

I suspect I'd miss commuting a bit if I could walk to work - it's nice to have time to read in when I'd otherwise be bored rather than time when I'd otherwise be asleep...