I thought I might say something about the books I happen to be reading. I had planned a big dissection of themes, followed by a search for hidden connections between wildly disparate texts, but it is after one in the morning, and I doubt I could do such a thing even when well-rested and vigor-filled and boundlessly energetic.
So, anyway, Some Books.
McSweeney's #8: I'm far less than halfway through this. The theme, of course, is fakery, and of the pieces I've read so far, some are about intentional hoaxes, others misunderstandings or misinterpretations. The "deepest" bit of fiction so far, I guess, is "The Name Machine" by Ben Marcus, which turns out to be either an excerpt from his new book or a variation on its theme. It is not about a hoax. The story's narrator relates how, under the auspices of a government program, he and his family proceeded to test a variety of names on his sister, an entity who is not entirely human, or at least isn't without the right name.
Mason & Dixon: The first Pynchon novel I ever read was The Crying of Lot 49, which I picked up on a whim from the campus bookstore for reasons I can't really recall. (Unlike Cosmonaut Keep, by Ken MacLeod, which I bought because "I need some change." Good reasoning me!) I liked it. A lot. Over the summer I found a hardback copy of Mason & Dixon remaindered down to $5.99, so I bought it. I suppose I'll have to buy all his books now. This is less a vote of confidence and more a sign of a rampant and unhealthy completism. But that aside, Mason & Dixon is a wonderful novel. I can certainly see how its style, intended to imitate books of the 18th century, might be off-putting to some, but it really does work, and you catch on quickly.
What Makes Us Think?: A debate between a philosopher and, I don't know, a research psychologist or something. About thinking. Both men are French! At least, I think they are. I have not even begun to read this one, which is bad because it is due back at the library tomorrow. Alas. This is technically for my undergraduate thesis, by the way. I'm not just reading French thinkers debate for the heck of it. Or rather, I am. I guess. But in theory there will be some sort of pay-off at the end.
Republic: I guess it could be The Republic, or Plato's Republic, but on my copy it just says "Plato" and then "Republic." I'll put my faith in the cover design, I guess. I'm supposed to be reading it for class. As it turns out, I already read it, a few years ago, having bought a copy for another class but not actually reading it then. That's confusing. I mean that I bought the book for a course I took long ago, and did not really read it then, but read it shortly after. Anyway, we're using a different translation in this current class, one which I haven't purchased yet, out of the hope that just maybe I could squeeze by with the two (!) copies I already own. But, best not to rock the boat, I guess. Bye bye money. Well, not much money. But enough to go a long way towards, say, a CD. Or a DVD. Enough to see a movie in a theater, even. Hmm...
I guess I don't have much to say about the Republic itself. (As if I've said anything meaningful so far.) It is one of those important books of the western canon. Or should that be Western Canon?
My goal was to restrict this weblog to interesting or amusing links strung together in some sort of vaguely appealing mini-narrative. So far I am not doing so well.
So, anyway, Some Books.
McSweeney's #8: I'm far less than halfway through this. The theme, of course, is fakery, and of the pieces I've read so far, some are about intentional hoaxes, others misunderstandings or misinterpretations. The "deepest" bit of fiction so far, I guess, is "The Name Machine" by Ben Marcus, which turns out to be either an excerpt from his new book or a variation on its theme. It is not about a hoax. The story's narrator relates how, under the auspices of a government program, he and his family proceeded to test a variety of names on his sister, an entity who is not entirely human, or at least isn't without the right name.
Mason & Dixon: The first Pynchon novel I ever read was The Crying of Lot 49, which I picked up on a whim from the campus bookstore for reasons I can't really recall. (Unlike Cosmonaut Keep, by Ken MacLeod, which I bought because "I need some change." Good reasoning me!) I liked it. A lot. Over the summer I found a hardback copy of Mason & Dixon remaindered down to $5.99, so I bought it. I suppose I'll have to buy all his books now. This is less a vote of confidence and more a sign of a rampant and unhealthy completism. But that aside, Mason & Dixon is a wonderful novel. I can certainly see how its style, intended to imitate books of the 18th century, might be off-putting to some, but it really does work, and you catch on quickly.
What Makes Us Think?: A debate between a philosopher and, I don't know, a research psychologist or something. About thinking. Both men are French! At least, I think they are. I have not even begun to read this one, which is bad because it is due back at the library tomorrow. Alas. This is technically for my undergraduate thesis, by the way. I'm not just reading French thinkers debate for the heck of it. Or rather, I am. I guess. But in theory there will be some sort of pay-off at the end.
Republic: I guess it could be The Republic, or Plato's Republic, but on my copy it just says "Plato" and then "Republic." I'll put my faith in the cover design, I guess. I'm supposed to be reading it for class. As it turns out, I already read it, a few years ago, having bought a copy for another class but not actually reading it then. That's confusing. I mean that I bought the book for a course I took long ago, and did not really read it then, but read it shortly after. Anyway, we're using a different translation in this current class, one which I haven't purchased yet, out of the hope that just maybe I could squeeze by with the two (!) copies I already own. But, best not to rock the boat, I guess. Bye bye money. Well, not much money. But enough to go a long way towards, say, a CD. Or a DVD. Enough to see a movie in a theater, even. Hmm...
I guess I don't have much to say about the Republic itself. (As if I've said anything meaningful so far.) It is one of those important books of the western canon. Or should that be Western Canon?
My goal was to restrict this weblog to interesting or amusing links strung together in some sort of vaguely appealing mini-narrative. So far I am not doing so well.
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