11-4-06
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the last 10 books I read
Jerzy Kosinski: Steps
A re-read of a book I thought was too creepy and yucky to ever read again. Densely packed with uncomfortable feelings and moments of brilliance.Charlie Brooker: Dawn of the Dumb
This is a collection of Charlie Brooker's columns in the Guardian from the last couple of years. If you don't read it, you really ought to start. http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/charliebrooker He writes about (british) TV and pop culture in a way that's so f'ing funny it makes me forget that I don't get the references. A bit formulaic when you read them all at a stretch.James Kelman: How Late It Was, How Late: A Novel
A claustrophobic stream-of-consciousness rant, the focus set so tight you feel like you yourself are blind. Review quotes refer to how funny it is, but perhaps I'm too American to find it anything but choking. In a good way.Bill Buford: Heat
Lots of traveling lately, so lots of books. This book's chronology seemed deliberately obfuscated - odd for its genre. I appreciated the irrational drive of food research and I envied his research budget.Michael Ondaatje: Coming Through Slaughter
A gift from my buddy Chow, a favorite of his, I think. I'm not sure what to say about it. A few passages were exceptionally poignant, but for the most part it didn't resonate. Strong, oppressive, dusty images.Mark Helprin: Freddy and Fredericka
I didn't find Candide terribly funny - people are stupid and often have endless wells of groundless optimism backing up their foolishness. Not funny. This book - same routine, but add a bunch of tiresome flights of fancy on the subjects of nobility, history and nature.Ernest Hemingway: A Moveable Feast
I love Hemingway like I love Bob Dylan. Pure, perfect, wonderful. Also a bit gossipy and fun.Elizabeth Gilbert: Eat, Pray, Love
Read this in one long day in airports and on planes. The "Eat" part was so funny I no doubt annoyed my fellow travelers with my obnoxious laugh. Highly recommended for those going through major life transitions.Gautam Malkani: Londonstani
All the dust-jacket quotes were about how funny it was; I think that was to let you know how to read the book. Maybe this is another instance of me being a dumb American who doesn't get dry British humor? It's certainly plenty awkward. The narrator's voice shifts a lot which is intentional but sometimes clunky.Zadie Smith: On Beauty
Very well written book about awful people I'd rather not spend time with. If you know english people, you'll recognize that Ms. Smith's anglicisms have not been expurgated from her Americans' dialogue.
It's hard to do things when drunk. Sadly, I'm drunk all the time. My life is hard.
KG
Posted by: Kieron Gillen | 11/12/2006 at 07:42 AM
"You're the antithesis of everything holy and trustworthy"?!? He can say this because he's so deeply deeply pious I take it. Oh, no, wait, the truly pious would never judge. I'd take hedonism over hypocrisy any day.
Posted by: Larry H. | 11/12/2006 at 06:07 PM
Larry H, You've made some strong statements here. Because I am the subject of your attack, I'll borrow a line from Samuel L. Jackson, "Please allow me to retort!"
You are faulting me for judging people, while you are judging me. You are judging me based on one frame from a comic. You are judging me based on one phrase from a three hour conversation. A stressful, uninvited conversation that took place at the end of an eleven month relationship. The ending of this relationship was rather tough on me, as I understand it may have been for Lulu too, but I can't say. I think it's understandable to have strong feelings during such times.
When authoring this comic, Lulu decided not to draw the events immediately preceding my harsh statement. I said to her, "A lot of my feelings have turned bitter. I'm afraid of the things I might say." And Lulu said "Lemme have it."
I will openly admit that I was a horrific asshole in this situation to anyone who knows all the facts. That short list of people includes Lulu and myself. I've never tried to convince Lulu that I was perfect. In my experience, no one is.
In this instance there are a lot of things going on behind the curtains that the reader doesn't know about. Lulu has chosen what to deliver to the audience. Drawing an honest comic based on your own life must be very tough. I applaud her for being brave enough to bare the unpleasant stuff. That's what makes reader feel connected. That's what makes Lulu's comic great.
Lulu, I'm glad you're drawing again!
Posted by: matt | 11/19/2006 at 09:46 AM