Member: LouisBranning

Louis- It was so good to hear from you! I really missed your sage-like presence around here. Sorry to hear about your health issues and I hope you are well into the mending process.
I'm glad you are enjoying the Kindle. Maybe, I'll look into one someday! I see you are back reading great books! I also loved "Zeitoun" and will look for more of Egger's work. I finished "Where Men Win Glory", Krakauer's latest and was very impressed. I saw that you added both the latest Lethem and the Tracy Kidder book. I'm looking forward to both of them. I read Philip Caputo back in the 80's but haven't heard much about him, in quite some time. Stay in touch and thanks again for the kind note!

Mark

posted by msf59 at 2:55 pm (EST) on Oct 26, 2009

Hi Louis, Just dropped by to say hello. I have been quite busy and yet still finding time to read and write. Many ideas but not any that seem to stick long enough to finish a story. Sometimes the change into cold weather finds me inside writing and reading more...but hey...I meant to say writing more. Hope all is well with you. What are you reading now? MB

posted by mmignano11 at 1:05 am (EST) on Oct 4, 2009

Louis- How are you? I just wanted to stop by and say hi. I have not heard from you and have not seen you on the threads in a long while. I sure miss your steady guiding voice ,along with your great reading selections. Hope all is well!
Mark

posted by msf59 at 8:22 am (EST) on Sep 29, 2009

I'm back, Louis. Still hoping you'll find time to post a review of at least a few lines on SoldierBoy, here and on Amazon. I usually just duplicate whatever I write from one site to the other. - Tim

posted by TimBazzett at 12:43 pm (EST) on Jul 11, 2009

Wow Louis, you make me want to purchase Kindle. I can see that it would behoove me to purchase one, just for the fact that, like you, I'm now at the point where I need to purchase another bookshelf. The problem is, I cannot fit another in my library. When we purchased this house it had a room specifically built to function as a library, and I love it, but it's full.

I've been reading from Updike's Early Stories, and read all of the Olinger ones, and dropped a note about my thoughts in the reading thread. I'm now going read the Rabbit Quartet, something I've been meaning to do for quite some time. Really looking forward to it.

By the way, how was the Colum McCann book, Let the Great World Spin? That arrived recently and it's up after Updike.

Slainte!

posted by SeanLong at 12:22 pm (EST) on Jun 29, 2009

Louis,

I've been swamped with work and family matters over the past couple of months so I haven't been able to check in as much as I'd like. However, I wanted to stop by and get your opinion on Luis Alberto Urrea's Into the Beautiful North. I watched an interview with him and liked the guy immediately. I almost picked up the book today but backed off until I heard from you. If you haven't finished it yet let me know when you do. It seems like something I'd really like judging from what little I've read about it so far.

Slainte, my friend!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 6:54 pm (EST) on May 28, 2009

Hi, Louis- Thanks for the updates. You are always reading something interesting. I'm going to try to track down "The Hummingbird's Daughter", probably grab it from the library, along with "Everything Ravaged..". Boy, it's hard to keep up!I'm not familiar with Ian Pears. You'll have to fill me in on him. I'm half-way through "Home". It's a dense narrative, she makes you pay attention and stay focused. She's an intense writer, with an incredible feel for character. See you on the threads!
Mark

posted by msf59 at 10:01 pm (EST) on May 27, 2009

Hi, Louis - We just came home from a walk. Glad you liked SB. If you do Amazon blurbs I'd appreciate a couple lines there too. SB is the "middle" of the trilogy, but my second army hitch didn't come for another 10 yrs, 1976-81. I'm working on telling that story now. I hope to have the next book out by next spring. But if you want more of my "GoodCatholicBoy" story that's in ReedCityBoy and Pinhead. Tomorrow morning I'll be watching TODAY show; Doug Stanton will be on btwn 8 and 8:30 sometime talking about his new book, HORSE SOLDIERS, which is already selling like a house afire. Then a parade here in town around 9, and I'll prob go visit the cemetery in the afternoon where my dad and brother are buried. Hope you have a good and a safe holiday. Call me sometime if you want. - Tim

posted by TimBazzett at 9:33 pm (EST) on May 24, 2009

Hi, Louis- I haven't seen you post much on the threads lately and I know you're reading some great books, so what gives? I just finished "Jim the Boy" and truly loved it. Beautiful writing! I'll have to read the follow-up in the next few months. I'll be starting "Home" next. I was a huge fan of "Gilead", so I'm sure I won't be disappointed. I saw that you mentioned Jim Harrison. I read "Farmer" in the early 80s, along with a couple others but I have not read him in a long time. Is he still around and writing quality material? I see you added "Netherland". I have that in my tbr pile and I'm trying to get to it hopefully soon. I have one recommendation for you: "The Guards" by Ken Bruen. He's an Irish crime-writer and this is an excellent book, the first in a series. Hope you are having a great Memorial Day weekend!
Mark

posted by msf59 at 11:34 am (EST) on May 24, 2009

Hi, Louis - Wow, or Holy Crap, maybe. Sounds like quite an eventful and horrendous tour you had in the army as an MP. I think you oughta write your own military memoir. I've gotta go eat lunch. I've actually been writing all morning! Maybe I will get this book done one day after all. - Tim

posted by TimBazzett at 1:22 pm (EST) on May 20, 2009

L,

How are you? It has been too long! I have been very productive in many ways. My writing is coming along and I have added research for my life-savuing,lighthouse project. But I wanted to tell you that I read Neal Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book" I highly recommend it, though I don't know if it is the kind of thing you like to read. I found it toouching,scary and I liked that it left me wanting more. It is hailed as a YA book, but I don't know that it is exclusively YA. It is a quick read,if you want to give it a shot. What are you reading now, Louis? I will be cataloguing before the week is out so take a look at my new additions. I'll bet we have more books in common, too. Mary Beth PS, I noticed that we never formally became friends, so I clicked.

posted by mmignano11 at 12:49 pm (EST) on May 20, 2009

Hi, Louis - Hope you've rcvd SOLDIER BOY by now and will find time to read/blurb it here (and maybe duplicate it on Amazon too). I can use all the help I can get. I have read Doug Stanton's HORSE SOLDIERS already and it is good stuff. Reviewed it here on LT and on Amazon. It's been out just two weeks and is already #1 History on AMAZON and in top 50 overall. Was reviewed on front of NYTimes BR Sunday and shot up the charts. Doug will be on TODAY show and MORNING JOE show (MSNBC) next Monday morning, 25 May. I am sure he has another monster bestseller on his hands. Stay in touch, okay? - Tim

posted by TimBazzett at 6:43 pm (EST) on May 19, 2009

Wow, HOME FROM THE HILL? A book I read prob 40 years ago, so I probably remember the film better than the book - Robert Mitchum, Eleanor Parker, and the two Georges: Hamilton and Peppard. (All dead now except the perma-tanned George, whom I also remember fondly from Where the Boys Are.) A great film AND book. I've heard Humphrey has written a memoir, which I keep meaning to look up, as memoirs have become kind of an obsesion with me since I've been writing my own. A new favorite of mine is William A. Owens' THIS STUBBORN SOIL, first published over 40 yrs ago, which is simply superb. I'm reading its sequel right now, A SEASON OF WEATHERING. And yes I did enjoy the Gene Autry bio too. It told quite a lot more than Gene's autobiography from 1978 or thereabouts. Who'da thunk Gene a womanizer. Another hero with feet of clay. He will always be a hero though, to "kids" our age. All those Saturday matinees I attended in the fifties. I'm looking at your lists and faves here. I read a couple of Abraham Verghese books some years back - a great writer. And I can't say enough good things about OLIVE KITTEREDGE and Strout's other book, AMY AND ISABELLE. I still have to read her first novel. Petter Matthieson's AT PLAY IN THE FIELDS OF THE LORD is a beautiful, if disturbing novel, which made an equally beautiful and disturbing film. If you've never seen it, rent it. I didn't keep up with all of Updike's later novels, but may try to play catchup now that he's gone. He was an early favorite of mine from college on - RABBIT, RUN got me hooked. On Jim Harrison, I enjoyed his newest book, THE ENGLISH MAJOR, having been one myself, but I still contend his most perfect novel is FARMER, which was done as a film called CARRIED AWAY (I think), with Dennis Hopper. I haven't seen it, but want to. Lately I've been reading a lot of modern "western/cowboy" authors - Tom Groneberg, Mark Spragg, Ralph Beer, Bill Kittredge and others - the sadness of the "vanishing west," you might call a lot of their stuff. But I do need to get back to my own writing too. I'm working on another memoir of sorts, which incorporates "readin', writin' and rememberin'." If you're interested in reading one of my earlier memoirs, just send me a mailing address in a private posting and I'll get one (or two) off to you. In any case, let's stay in touch and keep up with what's good in books, okay? - Tim

posted by TimBazzett at 12:42 pm (EST) on May 6, 2009

Hi, Louis- How are you? I haven't seen you post anything on the threads lately ,so I thought I would drop you a note. The author of "The Reliable Wife" was on a podcast, that I was listening to yesterday. I know you had problems with the book and that's to bad, because it sounds very interesting. I had also heard Arthur Phillips talking recently about his latest and I see you have just added it. Let me know how it is. What else have you been reading? I'm currently reading "Labyrinth", from a friend, it's an historical thriller and it's just ok. Have you ever read Jim Butcher? I've heard great things about his series, The Dresden Files, so I'm looking forward to starting that next. hope you are having a great weekend!
Mark

posted by msf59 at 9:20 am (EST) on May 3, 2009

Hi, Louis - I live in Jim Harrison country. He spent much of his boyhood here in Reed City. I've met Jim several times, dating back to 1974. I'm a memoirist myself, and just joined that group here on LT. - TimBazzett

posted by TimBazzett at 12:18 pm (EST) on May 1, 2009

Louis,

What a pleasure to luck onto your page, because of your comments regarding a book I am currently reading, Darling Jim. Your literary riffs with Sean Long are a pleasure to read and enjoy.

It's also nice to see that we both have shared some fine reads over the past couple of years, and I get a bit of a kick out of r the fact that this old geezer residing on the west coast of Canada can relate to another book afficianado from one of my favorite places on the map, due to the simple fact that the State has been responsible for some fine whiskey and bourbons that have happily tickled my taste buds over, lo, these many years.

I also notice that we have similar tastes in books, remarkably so, in fact. So many of the books you have liked are also among some of my favorite reads. From Dennis Johnson's outstanding Tree of Smoke to T.C. Boyle's The Women, we range far and wide in literary miles.

Incidentally, I did not like The Women, much preferring The Inner Circle. Nancy Horan's Loving Frank was the best novel about Frank Wright that I have liked. I also would take Lionel Shriver's We Need To Talk About Kevin over her other books.

There are so many other books we could discuss, but I just wanted to touch base for now. Plus, I have a NBA playoff game going on, and then an NHL game, and a baseball game...ho, hum.

posted by morfam at 9:34 pm (EST) on Apr 27, 2009

Re: In Search of Lost Time... It apparently casts quite a spell! I'm really looking forward to the reading of it, especially since my friend is being so generous with his encouragement.

posted by theaelizabet at 11:31 pm (EST) on Apr 25, 2009

Noticed that you liked The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, and I was wondering if you'd be interested in reviewing my new novel and posting your comments here (as well as on a few other book-related sites). I thought you might like my novel since it's been compared to that novel by a number of reviewers. I could e-mail you the novel in an e-book format if you'd like. Let me know if you're interested. Here's a link to a summary in case you're interested:

http://christophertusa.com/

Thanks,

Chris

posted by cmtusa at 11:53 am (EST) on Apr 17, 2009

Hi - Yes, I am happy to see that I can follow up Jim the Boy with The Blue Star. I may have to quit my job to make a dent in the TBR pile!

posted by coppers at 8:22 pm (EST) on Apr 15, 2009

Hey, Louis! Thanks for the info on ABE. I'll check it out. Have you read "Peace Like a River"? If not, it's a terrific book and I highly recommend it. I'm probably trodding on very thin ice here, but what the heck. I read "Rabbit is Rich", over 25 years ago ,without reading the others,so I'm going to attempt to read the quartet. I see they have released them in 2 volumes. I might try that. Now to find time to read them, boy I've been overwhelmed lately.
Mark

posted by msf59 at 3:14 pm (EST) on Apr 14, 2009

Hi, Louis- Yes, I ended up liking "American Rust", despite it's flaws, maybe I'm a bit more tolerant than you but I could have guessed you wouldn't like it. I think with a better editor, he could be a decent writer. I read another big chunk of the Fallada book, I should be done on Thursday. I can't believe what happened to Inspector Escherich. I did not see that coming! He was a terrific character, as a matter of fact, all the characters are fascinating, the good and the scummy.
What is ABE? So, it's a good site? Thanks for all the info!
Mark

posted by msf59 at 9:13 pm (EST) on Apr 13, 2009

Hi, Louis! Happy Easter to you! I had to drop you a note and let you know that I'm well into "Every Man Dies Alone" and it's an absolutely stunning read. I wasn't sure anything would be better than "Lark & Termite", but I think this will top it! And it's only April. Once again, thanks for the hook-up. I've never read Zoe Heller, so I have listed that one and I also jotted down the Wells Tower book ,which I did hear about on a podcast. Do you buy all your books, or use the library? I was just curious. Hope you are having a great weekend!
Mark

posted by msf59 at 9:26 am (EST) on Apr 12, 2009

Louis - I'm starting Wells Tower's book next and can't wait to delve in after reading your comments. Someone mentioned that Edmund White gave it a rave review in the NYTBR recently too.

Have you read the Cheever biography yet? It's really a stunning piece of work. Of course, Bailey had unfettered access to all the Cheever material, but still, the way he puts it together makes for a compelling read. I recently finished it and I'll tell you, despite his faults and lurid sexual behavior, I came away with a greater appreciation for the man than what I had before. He fought his demons with nobility and his cancer with dignity. Easily makes my best of list for 2009. I was so impressed with Bailey's work I'm putting his biography of Yates on my TBR list.

By the way, I have not ready any Updike. Would you suggest starting with Rabbit is Rich?

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 8:15 pm (EST) on Apr 6, 2009

Thanks, Louis, for your additional recommendations. I've been thinking of buying "The Vagrants" so I'll look forward to your thoughts. And I'll take another look at "The Post-Birthday World," which initally didn't look appealing to me, based on your enthusiasm. Rebecca

posted by rebeccanyc at 8:28 am (EST) on Mar 23, 2009

Hi,

Was wondering if you'd be interested in reviewing my new novel and posting your comments here as well as a few other book-related sites. Saw you liked Paris Trout, and I thought you might like my novel since it's also southern and a bit dark. I could e-mail you the novel in an e-book format if you'd like. Let me know if you're interested. Here's a link to a summary in case you're interested:

http://christophertusa.com/blog/?page_id...

Thanks,

Chris

posted by cmtusa at 11:13 am (EST) on Mar 20, 2009

Louis - happy St. Patrick's Day to you too, my friend. My wife and I have been sitting out back celebrating and enjoying the fine weather and listening to Black 47, Dropkick Murphy's, The Pogues and other such bands from our native land. My daughter, who is 9, thinks we're crazy.

I haven't had too much to comment on in the past few weeks since I've been very deep into the work of John Cheever lately, reading from his recently published LOA edition of short stories and Blake Bailey's absolutely stunning biography. I just made a quick comment about it on the reading board. I became a huge fan of Cheever a couple of years ago when I first read his Collected Stories while recovering from prostate cancer surgery. Such a very lonely, strange and complex man, which makes the biography all the more interesting.

However, I am still reading the board and taking notes on what you're reading. As soon as I come out of my Cheever phase I'll pick up some of your suggestions, including Cutting for Stone, for which I'm anxious to read.

Until next time, slainte, my friend!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 7:07 pm (EST) on Mar 17, 2009

Louis- Thanks for the heads-up on the Falada book, but when I tried to request it, this message came up: "Sorry, this book cannot be sent to your country". I'm in Illinois. And yes, the book sounds very good and you have not steered me wrong yet.
Mark

posted by msf59 at 7:04 pm (EST) on Mar 14, 2009

Hi Louis- I wanted to thank you again for the T.C. Boyle information. I finished "The Inner Circle" and truly loved it. Some of the passages had me squirming a bit but his narrative is so smooth. There is such simmering eroticism to his writing. Have you seen the film "Kinsey"? I saw it a couple years ago and it seemed to follow much of the book, was there any connection? I also added "Alfred Kinsey" PBS, American Experience, to my Netflix. I plan on reading "The Women" next, hopefully in a couple of months.
I saw how much you loved "Cutting For Stone". I guess it's another one to hunt down. You were not a fan of King's "Just After Sunset", were you? I just started it. I've been a King fan, since I was a teenager and I loved his last 2 books. Take care!
Mark

posted by msf59 at 10:58 am (EST) on Mar 11, 2009

Hi Louis, As often happens it took me too long to finish the end of PBDW. But I am completely done now. I was saddened by her choice of endings. And a bit puzzled. I am preparing my review carefully since I hope to use it for a writing sample for a book review site. But I am ready to move on. I have been looking forward to reading "John Adams" but when I read bio's I often read another book, fiction or short stories at the same time. We'll see. I have "Memorial" on the top of my TBR pile now,and when I come across "Suttree" I will grab that, and my friend David has spoken highly of "Land of Marvels". I have picked up some real treasures recently. There seems to never be enough time and yet I feel fulfilled because I do find time to nurture my book zeal. I cannot read so much without having it help my writing also. I feel like a college student and my personal library is my field of study. and no loans to pay back! PS. I am reading Neal Gaiman's graphic novel "Coraline" Very creepy! Not at all like the movie, which I saw and enjoyed. This is much more adult and scary. The movie was toned down quite a bit. So, I gather that he has the original book, the graphic novel, the animated movie, is that it? Way to capitalize on a good thing, Neal! Bye for now, Mary Beth

posted by mmignano11 at 3:27 pm (EST) on Mar 10, 2009

Louis, Based on your review I will have to read "Suttree" Mary Beth

posted by mmignano11 at 3:40 pm (EST) on Mar 3, 2009

Louis, I just love TPBW. Lionel Shriver is brilliant . I am going to use my review of this book as my writing sample for Curled Up In A Good Book, I think the site is called. What a pleasure to read. I must read her other stuff now. This is one of the best books I've read in years. It really stands out. She has such command of where she wants the story to go, and gets there quite nicely. As planned, one has to love Irina. But Ramsey! Who wouldn't love him. After all, he's got a big...well, you'll only know if you've read the book. Thank you for recommending it. How goes your reading? I'm poised to begin David McCullough's biography of John Adams. We loved the HBO series on him. Made you see him and the time differently. And I personally loved Laura Linney's "Abigail". Did you have a chance to see it? Hope you are well. Mary Beth

posted by mmignano11 at 2:37 pm (EST) on Mar 3, 2009

Louis, that is so very, very disappointing to hear about The Missing. Since Gautreaux had not written anything new in quite some time, I was really looking forward to it, and to hold me over I was reading stories from his two short story collections. I figured he would have a hard time topping The Clearing. Damn it!

I’m sure you’ve seen that I’ve read David Fulmer’s Lost River and the book he used in his research, Al Rose’s Storyville. As I stated, Rose’s book is utterly fascinating, especially if you’re interested in reading about early 20th Century New Orleans.

I’m now in the middle of Brad Gooch’s Flannery O’Connor biography and liking it quite a lot. I’m hoping to make a trip to her former home in Georgia this summer. I’m kind of in a fiction rut so after that it’s Blake Bailey’s new John Cheever biography, assuming that it arrives in time. I've been reading a little from his journals lately and am looking forward to the biography.

That’s it on the reading front for now.

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 11:34 am (EST) on Feb 26, 2009

Hey,

Just a quick note to let you know that my new novel, Dirty Little Angels, is now available. Thought you might like it since it's been compared to Larry Brown, whom I noticed you like. Here's a link to a summary in case you're interested:

http://christophertusa.com/blog/?page_id...

Take care,

Chris

posted by cmtusa at 11:54 pm (EST) on Feb 19, 2009

Hey, Louis- Thanks for the NYT's link. This was the podcast I had heard, I thought it was NPR, but it was great to see the video. Interesting guy. What was the book about the McCormick family, he was referring to? Yes, I have 50 pages of "Lark & Termite" left, so I will save it for tomorrow and I sure will hate it to end. I love all the points of view, but Larks are really something special. Have you read any of her other novels? I have not. She is a great talent!
Mark

posted by msf59 at 5:44 pm (EST) on Feb 16, 2009

Louis- Readers seem to be divided on TC Boyle. This morning I read a review on "The Women" in the Chicago Tribune. It sounds very interesting and then I was listening to an NPR Book podcast and Boyle was being interviewed. I'll have to track that book down and try stepping-up on his others. Just over a 100 pages in "Lark and Termite". Stunning stuff! Have a good weekend!
Mark

posted by msf59 at 7:49 pm (EST) on Feb 14, 2009

Beautiful Simplicity

"The simplified life is a sanctified life,
Much more calm, much less strife.
Oh, what wondrous truths are unveiled-
Projects succeed which had previously failed.
Oh, how beautiful life can be,
Beautiful simplicity."

- The Peace Pilgrim

posted by theoldman at 8:12 am (EST) on Feb 14, 2009

Hi Louis! I think you were one of the first people I added to my interesting libraries. It's amazing how many readers despised "Beautiful Children". Even if it's not your cup of tea, you HAVE to appreciate the fiery prose and the ambition. I see you have also read "Garden of Last Days", which I compare to the Bock book. It seems that book also met mixed reviews. Readers are a fickle bunch, I guess. Yes, I really enjoyed the latest Huston book. Isn't he one of the best, fresh voices out there today? I admire his work and I love the fact that he's so prolific. I loved your review on "Sutree'. I've loved McCarthy for a long time but I'm embarrassed to say I have not read that one and to make matters worse, it's been on my tbr pile, forever! Now, I have to find a copy of "Lark and Termite". Stay in touch and take care!
Mark

posted by msf59 at 11:48 am (EST) on Jan 20, 2009

Louis, grand to hear from you my friend!

Thanks for the New Year greetings, and I hope the best for you and your family in the coming year. I hope we’ll able to successfully navigate these uncharted waters. Our holiday was pretty quiet since most of our families are spread out amongst the U.S. and Ireland, and nobody traveled this year due to the economic downturn. My brother in Ireland told me that the situation there is much the same. The Celtic Tiger is now nothing more than a docile kitten. We really wanted to go there for Christmas but it just wasn’t doable this year due to the weak dollar. It would have cost a fortune.

Serena was great, wasn’t it? I need to read more of Rash’s work. If you liked Serena you also might like Matt Bondurant’s wild fictionalized tale of Depression-era bootlegging, The Wettest County in the World, based on the moonshine running tales of his ancestors. Excellent stuff, although it’s one of those novels that won’t have mass appeal due to the violence. The story and writing reminded me of Tom Franklin’s Hell at the Breech.

Recently I finished a reread of one of my absolute all-time favorite novels, Alan Gurganus’ amazing Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All, which was, once again, an uninhibited reading pleasure. Next I moved on to another writer I had not read before, Hal Jin’s War Trash, a very powerful and haunting novel. Jin’s prose was very unsentimental and nonjudgmental for a war novel, and I swear that he modeled his main character, Yu Yuan, on Eneas McNulty from Sebastian Barry’s first-rate The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty.

I received a small parcel of books from Ireland recently and am deciding on which to start first, although I’m leaning towards Gerard Donovan’s book of short stories, Country of the Grand, which is a departure from his previous two novels, both of which I highly recommend, Julius Winsome and Schopenhauer’s Telescope.

Until next time, slainte, my friend!

posted by SeanLong at 10:31 am (EST) on Jan 8, 2009

Egad Louis, It has been forever since we have posted. I have been reading some of your posts with SeanLong and I remember so clearly how much fun it is to read them. There is so much fine information to be gleaned. I travel around on LT to many other pages and you guys are still definitely my favorite. It feels like I'm listening to my big brothers, and that is not an allusion to age! Hopefully I will be able to add some smart literary choices this year to discuss or share with you. Dare I say recommend? It would be a challenge to find something that you two would both enjoy and haven't already read.Happy New Year, Louis and I will post SeanLong too, just to say hi. Mary Beth

posted by mmignano11 at 3:49 pm (EST) on Jan 5, 2009

I read Sway on your recommendation and it will definitely be one of my 2008 favorite reads. At the time you read it you said it would be on your list, but I don't see it there and wondered what changed your mind?

Pictures at a Revolution was a favorite of mine, too.

Here's to more good books in 2009!
Christine

posted by marise at 4:09 pm (EST) on Dec 10, 2008

Louis, funny you should mention Northern Clemency. I damn near picked it up a couple of weeks ago after reading a review of it in The Telegraph, and even walked around the store with it while browsing. I can't remember why I placed it back on the shelf, but after reading your comments I'll have to go back and pick it up.

Tales about Crews exploits around Gainesville are legion, and I have one of mine which happened in the early 80s when he was teaching at UF. A few of us were in The Purple Porpoise one night, a legendary watering hole in Gainesville, listenting to Harry hold court at the bar. After a taking back a shot Harry fell off his stool and hit the floor pretty hard. When we went to help him up the bartender told us to just let him be, saying, "It's Harry. He'll get up when he's ready." He laid there for about five minutes mumbling and then picked himself up, sat back down, and started up again as if nothing happened.

I read an article in the paper recently where he's working on the second half of his memoir, in fact I think some of it was published in The Georgia Review earlier this year, but he is in very bad health and may not finish it since he reportedly is not very happy with it.

By the way, have you read Rachel Kushner's Telex From Cuba? It's a finalist for the National Book Award (which will be announced this Thursday). A friend who grew up in Cuba during the time that she writes about read it and said that Kushner is spot-on with her descriptions of what happened there before Castro came to power. I believe this is Kushner's first book.

Sorry for another long post but when you mentioned how you had met Crews in Memphis I could not pass up a chance to tell my own little Crews story.

posted by SeanLong at 8:25 am (EST) on Nov 18, 2008

Well, Louis, the election came out the way we wanted, but damn, Obama sure does have his work cut out for him. I think it may take till near the end of a full term before we get this train wreck untangled and running again. Anyway, here's a rundown of what I've been reading.

Turgenev’s Sketches from a Hunter’s Album and First Love and Other Stories. I find Turgenev’s writing very calm and pastoral, even comforting. It’s a nice escape from these doom and gloom economic times.

Harry Crews’s Car and A Childhood – The Biography of a Place. I realize Harry isn’t for everyone, but I love his work because it’s like no one else’s I’ve ever read. Over the years I’ve come to find that beyond the bizarre surfaces of his books, he’s a very sharp observer of society. Car, which was written in 1972, is a wacky story about a man who undertakes to eat a 1971 Ford Maverick a half-ounce at a time, on TV. It’s a pitch-perfect predictor of the cultural morass of the reality TV of today. And A Childhood is a small, simple little masterpiece. Spare, hardscrabble and even hilarious at times.

Nick Hornby’s The Polysyllabic Spree was a fun little read consisting of his columns from The Believer.

Next was Tobias Wolff’s Old School and This Boy’s Life: A Memoir. I’ve been meaning to read something by Wolff for years, and after finding a used copy of Old School for a dollar, I immediately started reading and was hooked. I liked it so much I picked up a copy of his memoir and blew threw it in a day.

Roger Angell’s Let Me Finish was a charming little collection from his New Yorker columns written in that old school New Yorker style.

Currently reading Tobias Wolff’s Our Story Begins, a collection of new and selected older stories that I am really, really enjoying. Two stories, The Liar and Desert Breakdown 1968, are two of the best shorts I’ve ever read. I guess for a newcomer to Wolff like me it serves as of one of those “Portable” books, one that provides an excellent introduction to his fiction.

Also reading Patrick French’s recently released biography of V.S. Naipaul, The World Is What It Is, and am having a very hard time putting it down in order to go back and read Wolff’s stories. I was into Naipaul pretty heavy back in the late 70s and 80s, but the acerbic little prick hasn't written anything worth a shite since then, IMOHO. Nonetheless, I find the man intriguing and this tell-all biography, in which Naipual gave French full access to his papers, sure doesn't leave anything out - it's warts and all, and Naipual has a slew of them.

Until next time, Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 4:25 pm (EST) on Nov 16, 2008

Louis, I’ve been on good reading run recently. I started out with Eugene Walters’ Milking the Moon: A Southerner’s Story of Life on This Planet If you haven’t read it I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s a very quirky, offbeat book full of frothy gossip about the hundreds he came in contact with over the years - Robert Penn Warren, Isak Dinesen, William Faulkner, Martha Graham, Judy Garland, Leontyne Price, Federico Fellini, Michaelangelo Antonioni, Franco Zeffirelli, Alice B. Toklas, Katherine Anne Porter… But as entertaining as those stories are, the best part of the book is the beginning where he describes growing up in Alabama in the 1920s. A perfect book to clear the literary cobwebs out of your head

I finally took your advice and picked up a copy of Chris Adrian’s A Better Angel: Stories, and breezed right through it. You are absolutely right; Adrian is one of the most exciting, powerful and inventive writers working today. Quite a unique work with some beautiful language. The only book I can recently think of that was just as edgy, imaginative and expertly written was Stephen Milhauser’s Dangerous Laughter. I’m going to have to read The Children’s Hospital and/or Gob’s Grief. Thanks so much for recommending it. It is going on my best of list for 2008.

I also finished Julian Barnes memoir, Nothing to be Frightened Of. It’s not a typical memoir in that Barnes talks about his personal or professional life, but mainly the book is about his thoughts on death. It’s not morbid though, and has some very funny moments, and believe it or not, is quite uplifting at times. Highly recommended.

Finally I started a reread of Turgenev’s Sketches from a Hunter’s Album, a book I’ve absolutely loved since I first read it in high school. For some reason I’ve always liked to read Turgenev in the fall, and now that the weather has broke somewhat down here, and the humidity has disappeared, I figured now was a good as time as any to read my favorite Russian author.

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 8:30 am (EST) on Oct 17, 2008

Louis,

My brain isn't wired to be alternating between reading two books, but after you mentioned Dexter Filkins' The Forever War and hearing an interview on NPR with Filkins, in spite of being totally immersed in The Brothers K, I picked up a copy the first chance I got, and once I started reading I could not put it down. It was a stunning, unflinching account from the very first page.

I, like you, had no interest in reading about the hubris and mismanagement by the Bush White House that lead to this mess that has been documented previously, but I'm sure glad you recommended it. It was enlightening to get a clear picture from the ground, which always interests me much more than hearing the views of a bunch of half-assed policy makers. We are lucky to have a book like this that gives such clarity at a time when complete and total ignorance reigns. I cannot wait to vote in November.

Now back to the Brothers K!

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 9:15 am (EST) on Sep 26, 2008

Louis,

Well, I finished Denis Johnson’s Tree of Smoke a couple of days ago and I just have to say, it is one of the most extraordinary novels I’ve read in quite some time. I can’t remember a book giving me a good swift kick in the ass like that since the first time I read The Sound and the Fury. And how about that opening? It rang a pitch-perfect tone for such an ambitious work. And the ending was just as heartbreaking. I came real, real close to doing an immediate reread but opted for a book that I have listed in my notebook under “Louis’s Recommendations,” and that is, The Brothers K.

I’m only 100 pages into it but have been completely absorbed and have been savoring every sentence. That first person narrative of Kincaid Chance is so personal that it feels like he’s sitting on my back porch telling me the story. And it helps that I’m a big baseball fan too. Looks like it’s a story with a large canvass, and I can’t wait to get into more of it this weekend. Until next time,

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 9:02 am (EST) on Sep 19, 2008

Louis: Excellent! I read just a brief excerpt on the NY Times, saw you'd added it, and thought I'd check. I, too, have not bothered to read any book on it--it just seems only too clear what's been happening, and I don't need to be depressed. But I liked the style and the content in the little bit I read.

thanks for the info.

By the way, I bought Nixonland, and will get to that fairly soon.

Joyce

posted by Joycepa at 9:21 am (EST) on Sep 18, 2008

Louis,

Have you started The Forever War yet? I'm interested to know what you think of the book.

Joyce

posted by Joycepa at 5:57 am (EST) on Sep 17, 2008

Louis,

Yeah, Fay was a real pain in the ass, but my flooding problems, which have been taken care of, were small compared to other parts of the local community. The St. John's River crested Wednesday and there are quite a few homes that are underwater. I helped a friend of mine this past weekend who lives on Lake Jesup, which the St. John's flows through. We took everything we could out of his house into storage and then returned and sat on the back porch with a cocktail or two and watched the gators swim right past us, about three feet away. Now it appears we have Hurricane Ike to deal with and that worries me more than Fay did. Ah well, this is what we must sacrifice for living in Florida.

You know, Hemingway just fascinates me, and it's too bad we don't live closer because I'd love to discuss him (as well as other literary subjects) with you in person. Coincidentally, I read A Moveable Feast too, immediately after I finished the Lynn biography and Hadju's biography of Strayhorn. That was my first reading, and reading about his Paris years in Lynn's biography was definitely the impetus for picking it up. By the way, the attorney I work with came from Cuba with his family in 1960 after Castro took power. His father told me a story once of having walking past Hemingway's estate in Cuba while a nude pool party was going on. From speaking with him, Hemingway loved the Cuban people and that love was definitely reciprocated.

I agree about McCarthy's The Road. Great book, but not on the level of Suttree and Blood Meridian. I'm hoping to do a reread of both before the end of the year. By the way, Hal Crowther, whose work I'm sure your familiar with from The Oxford American, wrote an excellent piece on McCarthy in, I believe, Gather at the River, which is his second book of essays after Cathedrals of Kudzu. The gist of the piece is that Crowther laments McCarthy leaving his Southern and/or gothic roots established in his early works like Child of God, Suttree and Blood Meridian when he wrote The Border trilogy.

I picked up that NYRB edition of Mailer's Miami and the Siege of Chicago and had planned on reading it right around the Dem's convention but just didn't get to it. And David Walker Howe's book has been on my radar for quite some time. Another book I need to get to soon.

I'm only about a third of the way into Marilynne Robinson's Home, but so far it has that same subtle, calm beauty that marked Housekeeping and Gilead. For me, she set the bar extremely high with Gilead, but so far Home appears to be soaring to the same height. I can't think of another author that can give me a feeling of calm and contentedness like Robinson does. And by the way, it's definitely not a sequel to Gilead, but more like a companion. Hope you enjoy it and make sure to let me know your thoughts when you're finished.

Until then, Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 9:43 am (EST) on Sep 5, 2008

i think it is..interesting..in a creepy way..that you "added" Norman Mailer's MIAMI AND THE SIEGE OF CHICAGO...in this "momentous' time (serious cynicism intended here)...it was 40 years ago and i remember it (well)...i pulled my copy out as soon as the conventions became conventional..this year

still scares me..how about you?

JUDE

posted by jdthloue at 3:51 pm (EST) on Sep 3, 2008

Louis,

Again, I've been mostly absent recently, this time due to some flooding I had from Tropical Storm Fay. Although other locations are still dealing with the rising St. John's River, we're now dry here but are watching Hurricane Hannah.

I did manage to read two books, Kenneth S. Lynn's biography of Hemingway and David Hadju's biography of Billy Strayhorn. I've always found Hemingway's life more interesting that his books, although I suppose you could make an argument that many of his books are autobiographical, and the Hadju biography of Strayhorn is first rate. Strayhorn went to Westinghouse High which was close to the neighborhood I grew up in.

I'm now reading Cormac McCarthy's The Road which I should finish this evening, and am not sure what I'll start next. Unfortunately all this hurricane activity has not been conducive to reading.

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 6:28 pm (EST) on Sep 1, 2008

Louis,

I haven't been around recently since we've been on holiday. The weak dollar prohibited a visit to Ireland so we stayed within the state of Florida, visiting sites from North Florida all the way to Key West. As part of our vacation we visited the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park in Cross Creek and the Hemingway House in Key West. The Rawlings home was recently restored and is preserved as it was when she lived there, as are the farmyard and grove. I kid you not, visiting the home of Rawlings is enough to make a you want to sit down at the table on the verandah at the old manual typewriter she used and start pounding out a story about a deer flashing by. And the Hemingway Home was great fun, except for the irritable little son of a bitch that was our tour guide. Midway through the tour, just for spite, I corrected the condescending fuck about the fallacy perpetuated by Hemingway, of his fighting for an Italian Arditi regiment in World War I while he was there as part of the American Red Cross. I thought he was going to have a meltdown right there, and ending up telling me that HE was a Hemingway scholar and that Carlos Baker's biography would back him up. I would love, someday, to get to Cuba and see the Hemingway estate, Finca Vigia. I believe that is where the majority of his library is located.

I did manage to almost finish Grant's Memoirs while on holiday. I have 200 pages to go and will finish those in the next couple of days. I did not have the Modern Library Edition with the introduction by Geoffrey Perret, but the Da Capo Press edition. Although I had no problem with Volume I, I have to say that my interest really peaked towards the end of that Volume and then when I was hurled into Volume II, especially the parts from Vicksburg, to the campaigns in Tennessee, to the Battle of the Wilderness, to Sherman's March to the Sea, and to the Battle of Franklin. I loved how it read rapidly and was rife with Grant's personal observations and insights. The Memoirs were just a real enjoyable and educational reading experience for me. I am glad to say that I have finally, after all these years, read them.

I had a feeling that you were a native of the South, but did not know you grew up in Vicksburg. Very interesting. That must have been heaven exploring the old battle grounds as a kid. The closest I've ever came to a Civil War battleground was Gettysburg, which was about a two hour drive from where we lived in Pennsylvania. I still get a chill when I remember walking the grounds for the first time.

I had no idea that T.J. English had a recently published book. As soon as I read your message I ordered a copy of Havana Nocturne. Castor and pre-Castro Cuba are subjects I've been interested in since high school. You know, when English was researching his book, Paddy Whacked: The Untold Story of the Irish American Gangster, he contacted me through a genealogy website in order to ascertain some information about William Dwyer and the Hudson Dusters Irish mob. My grandfather, who was a bit of a rogue, drove booze out of Canada for the Dusters during prohibition on one of his many stays in the U.S. where he would escape in order to avoid the British authorities for insurrection in Ireland. Unfortunately since the stories surrounding my grandfather were apocryphal, I was not able to give him any concrete information, but I was glad to see that he wrote a brief section on Dwyer and the Dusters which included some information I had given him.

Don't know what I'm going to read next, but I'll be sure to let you know. Until then, Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 2:47 pm (EST) on Aug 10, 2008

Thanks for agreeing to take a look at my novel, Louis. Would a pdf file be okay sent by e-mail? Printing costs are really starting to add up. Wasn't sure if you minded reading it on a computer or not. Let me know.

And thanks for responding!

posted by cmtusa at 3:51 pm (EST) on Aug 1, 2008

Louis,

I had completely forgotten that I had a Da Capo Press copy of the Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant until you mentioned that you were reading his Memoirs. I immediately dug it out of box of books that I haven't unpacked yet (we moved last year) and started reading. It's a book I've been meaning to read for years, and I figured now is as good a time as any. You're going to be way ahead of me, so please report back.

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 8:43 am (EST) on Aug 1, 2008

Hey Louis,

My name is Chris Tusa, and I'm a writer from New Orleans/Baton Rouge (I actually teach in the English Department at LSU). Anyway, I noticed your profile, and I was wondering if you'd be willing to read a novel I just completed. The manuscript is currently being circulated among some of the larger NY publishers, and my agent wants to get opinions from a few readers. Let me know if you'd be willing to read the manuscript and give us your opinions. Of course, if you're too busy, I'll understand. Just thought I'd ask:) I’ve included a summary below that we plan to include on the book jacket:

Dirty Little Angels
Set in New Orleans, Dirty Little Angels is the story of sixteen year old Hailey Trosclair. When the Trosclair family suffers a string of financial hardships and a miscarriage, Hailey finds herself looking to God to save her family. When her prayers go unanswered, Hailey puts her faith in Moses Watkins, a failed preacher and ex-con. Fascinated by Moses’ lopsided view of religion, Hailey, and her brother Cyrus, begin spending time down at an abandoned bank that Moses plans to convert into a drive-through church. Gradually, though, Moses’ twisted religious beliefs become increasingly more violent, and Hailey and Cyrus soon find themselves trapped in a world of danger and fear from which there may be no escape.
Thanks so much,

Chris Tusa
mail@christophertusa.com

posted by cmtusa at 9:14 pm (EST) on Jul 31, 2008

Louis,

Welcome back. I made many trips to St. Louis in the late 90s and the early part of 2000, but didn't get to see much of anything since I was working as part of a big lawsuit against Anheuser-Busch. Most of my time was spent between a hotel room and an attorney's office, but did manage to see a couple of Cardinals games, and we had great seats since one of our clients was the son of Roger Maris, and this was the summer that McGuire was chasing and eventually broke Maris's single season homerun record. The Maris family were treated like kings by the Cardinals that year so we always ended up with primo seats.

I had no idea you were in Vietnam. I can't imagine what you went through that year. Years ago I was really into reading about the war, and came across a book I'm sure you're aware of, Neil Sheehan's A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam, which is one of my all-time favorite books, one I plan on reading again. And thanks for your recommendations. I've put them on my list.

Right now I'm reading James Wood's little book, How Fiction Works. I know very little of Wood other than that he's the head book reviewer at The New Yorker and is a somewhat controversial figure. I'm always looking for something that can enlighten me as to why a book will or will not work for me and Woods seemed like something that could help me out. Enjoying it so far. After that I'm going to read Tate's The Fathers that you mentioned. Looking forward to it, as well as the O'Connor.

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 1:48 pm (EST) on Jul 24, 2008

Louis,

You know, I had completely forgotten about Yardley's "Second Reading" pieces. I will definitely go back on the WP website and check them out, especially his most recent. His columns on J.F. Powers's 1963 NBA winner, "Morte d'Urban," and Shirley Ann Grau's "The House on Coliseum Street," were the impetus for my reading those two great books. I purchased the Tate book ages ago at a used bookshop in Biloxi, Mississippi, and just now found it buried in the section of my shelves that house my Southern Literature. I've pulled it out and am going to give it a read soon.

Regarding, O'Connor, "I Was Dancing" is the only thing I haven't read by him, but I thought it was a play, although it very well could have been turned into a novel. I'll check out Charles Duffy's biography, "A Family of His Own, A Life of Edwin O'Connor." It's been quite some time since I read it but I seem to remember reading that "I Was Dancing" was a play, or at first, anyway. By the way, the Duffy is an excellent biography of O'Connor.

I've been out of town for awhile but did manage to read Tim O'Brien's classic and enduring, "The Things They Carried," Larry McMurtry's piecemeal memoir, "Books," and my favorite nonfiction writer of all-time, Joseph Mitchell's, "The Bottom of the Harbor," which Pantheon just reissued last week. Not sure what I'm going to read next, although reading O'Brien again made me pick up a copy of his "If I Die in a Combat Zone." I was fortunate enough to just miss out on that cluster-fuck, as they started pulling guys out about the time I became draft eligible.

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 5:24 pm (EST) on Jul 16, 2008

Louis -

Glad we were able to get rebeccanyc to read Dear American Airlines. I continue to work on people both at LT in our shops because I think it is such a gem.

I will return her favor and pick up my copy of Netherland soon. Have you read it?

Also curious to know if you have read The Story of a Marriage? That was the other slim novel that I read recently that also packed a big punch.

Have a good holiday.

Nancy

posted by alphaorder at 12:08 am (EST) on Jul 4, 2008

Louis,

I had to chuckle at your comment about GTAIV. We have a PlayStation 3 that a friend of my wife's gave, yes gave to us since she felt her husband and kids were spending too much time on it. However, I have not hooked it up for fear that I would become hooked, and I have too many books I need to get to. I need to get rid of it fast before the new Madden Football comes out because my will power will not hold out once it's released.

Earlier this year I went on a Larry Brown reading fringe, devouring all of his books, even his non-fiction essays (On Fire and Billy Ray's Farm, and if you havent' read On Fire I highly, highly recommend it). I agree that F&S is his best work. It was the book Brown was born to write. It's one of those rare works of literature in which the characters stayed in my mind long after I've finished the book. I've read it twice and I think I know the story so well that I'm going to pass on reading it again but will participate in the discussion. I hope there's a lot of participation because I'd like to hear other's opinion on it because it's hard for me to be objective about Brown.

I just recently finished Joseph O'Connor's epic, Redemption Falls, not a novel for everyone, especially those who like a clear and coherent plot. The story is told by way of a smorgasbord of letters, newspaper headlines and historical documents that sprawls across a vague, unmapped mid-19th-century Montana, and has no more linear clarity than a swatted beehive. At times I became perturbed at the peppered Joycean wordplay and rhetoric that got in the way of the plot, but just when I was close to quitting the book, along came a chapter that would save it. Although in the end it worked for me, it's not a book that I can highly recommend.

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 8:46 am (EST) on Jul 1, 2008

Louis, Thanks for commenting on my message in What Are You Reading Now? group. I'm still reading Revolutionary Road and am really enjoying it. Right now I'm almost at page 200 and I'm thinking either Frank or April is going to end up at Greenacres, but I'm not sure how it will end yet. I've never read Joyce Carol Oates, but I've heard she is a good writer. My next book will be either Cormac McCarthy's Sutree or Oakley Hall's Warlock.

Happy reading,
Jonathan

posted by jglassow at 12:37 am (EST) on Jul 1, 2008

Hi Louis,
I will put Towes at the top of my TBR list. I'm wondering if you have also read the memoir she wrote about her father's mental illness and suicide. I am enjoying many Canadian authors now that I hadn't know about before exploring the wonderful LT sites. Isn't it amazing how one book leads to at least ten more that you want to read?
Pat

posted by pdebolt at 10:28 pm (EST) on Jun 22, 2008

How did you like "World War Z"? I just finished it, a little over a week ago. A friend of my son was reading it and it sounded intriguing. What a fantastic book! It's like Dawn of the Dead meets "The Hot Zone". I really enjoyed it and was so impressed by the range of ideas.

posted by msf59 at 9:51 pm (EST) on Jun 22, 2008

I updated the book cover for the Deep South group during the week and invited all the LT members who had recently added Father and Son.

posted by Dystopos at 1:05 pm (EST) on Jun 22, 2008

Hi Louis,

I am amused by your Favorite Non-Fiction: list! As I've always said "I've got enough reality in the first person, last thing I need is someone else giving me their take on it" Just wanted to compliment you on your library. I am new here and have just begun to enter my library. I suspect we'll have many works in common. I will keep my eye on your doings as I catalogue my books. Dave

posted by vincentvan at 7:16 am (EST) on Jun 16, 2008

Thanks for your message about The Other by Guterson. Wish I had read the same reviews you did before starting it. Perhaps there are authors who should stop after writing one really good book. I am currently reading Mudbound and it is excellent so far - in its own right, not just by comparison with my previous book, The Other.

posted by pdebolt at 12:38 am (EST) on Jun 14, 2008

Louis, yes, The Garden of Last Days was a real page turner. I lost a lot of sleep over the past two weeks staying up way too late reading that and Warlock. Both books stayed with me long after finishing them. And those last fifty pages of Garden, well, my heart was beating faster with every turn of the page.

Glad to see you're enjoying Sebastian Barry's latest so far. It's scheduled to arrive at my home Monday. I thought I'd do a primer by rereading his previous book, A Long, Long Way, a finalist for the Booker a couple of years ago and a book I thought was more deserving of it than the winner, John Banville's The Sea. By the way, I have a signed first edition of the UK edition that I picked up in Ireland. If you haven't' read A Long, Long Way yet, I highly recommend it, as well as The Whereabouts of Enis McNulty. Really grand, grand stuff. Barry is one of those few writers who whenever he comes out with a new book I'll order without having read any reviews or hearing any buzz or hype, and he hasn't disappointed me yet. I may start it this evening although I do have a copy of Andre Dubus essays, Meditations from a Movable Chair, sitting at home that I promised myself I'd read. I also have his Selected Stories that I want to read very soon.

I think I'll pick up a copy of Dear American Airlines this weekend since I have a 30% discount Borders coupon. From reading your comments, as well as some of the reviews, that sounds like something I'd like.

Until next time, Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 2:35 pm (EST) on Jun 13, 2008

Also picked up the Tim Winton, so if you decide to read that let me know. Did you read The Story of a Marriage? Lots of buzz about that on the convention floor.

posted by alphaorder at 5:16 pm (EST) on Jun 8, 2008

I saw Andre Dubus at the book convention last week. I have his book and look forward to reading it. His father is at the top of my short story author list.

I picked up the Miles because it was short and the first two pages had me laughing out loud. I took my time with it - my life has been busy - and savored every bit. Short often means to me that every line has been given quite a bit of thought. That is how I felt about this book.

Still, I kept getting interrupted, and I believe I will need to re-read it sometime soon. Highly recommend.

I am onto Francine Prose's Goldengrove, which will be published in September.

posted by alphaorder at 5:14 pm (EST) on Jun 8, 2008

Louis, I assume you've seen my latest comments in the latest reading thread about Warlock, and that I've started The Garden of Last Days. Just wanted say thanks again for both recommendations. Warlock is a masterpiece of western literature. Hell it even transcends that genre. Just a highly complex but yet readable piece of prose. I think that and Stoner are probably the two best things I've read this year, and both, coincidentally, part of that wonderful NYRoB reprint series. I'd love to have the whole damned set, just for the aesthetic enhancement it would add to my library. What handsome editions.

I see what you mean about the The Garden of Last Days in that it would have some heading for the hills. I see that Dubus III dedicated the book to Larry Brown, one of my favorite authors, and it sure has the feel of Brown's work, especially Fay, and not just for the strip club setting. You're right, it's raw, but I'm finding it compulsively fascinating, readable, and hard to put down. A review in the St. Louis Post Dispatch stated that it was "a testament to Dubus III's ability as a writer and an observer of the human condition. It is what makes "The Garden of Last Days," portentous and powerful, to Sept. 11 what James Jones' "From Here to Eternity" is to the lead-up to World War II."

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 3:30 pm (EST) on Jun 8, 2008

I have been absolutely amazed - unexpectedly - by the novel Dear American Airlines, Do you know it? Oxford author, so I assume so. Anyway, a real find which I think you will enjoy.

posted by alphaorder at 9:27 pm (EST) on Jun 5, 2008

Louis, I'm very intrigued by The Garden of Last Days. By coincidence I was speaking with a friend who works at an independent book shop in our little town this evening, and she told me that Garden is definitely award material (NBA, Pulitzer?). She had finished it shortly before I had stopped in and couldn't stop raving about it. Well, coupled that with your comments I immediately came home and ordered it from Amazon. It is due to arrive early next week and right now I'm very psyched to read it. And since it has a Florida background that's just an added bonus.

posted by SeanLong at 9:00 pm (EST) on Jun 4, 2008

I appreciate the comment. Any recommendation on what Bellow to read next? Right now it's a coin toss between 'Herzog' and 'Henderson'.

posted by zanix at 3:03 pm (EST) on Jun 3, 2008

How could I have forgotten? Nixonland is I believe my latest addition to my Wish List, thanks to your minireview.

Joyce

posted by Joycepa at 11:50 am (EST) on Jun 1, 2008

Hi, Louis, and thanks for taking the time to write!

Born and raised in Vicksburg! Oh my! Shelby Foote converted me totally to the importance of that campaign, and I've been fascinated by it for years. For someone who loves the Civil War as much as I do, it's ironic that the only battlefield I've ever visited has been Gettysburg, and that more than 50 years ago. However, some of the areas are burned into my memory. Even more impressive than Little Round Top itself was Devil's Den. When I stood where Warren's 2nd Corps held The Angle and looked at those clear fields of crossfire, even at age 20 I had imagination enough to shiver at the thought of Pickett's corps breaking and dying against those fences. The movie "Gettysburg" for all its inaccuracies and what it leaves out is still an incredible film if only for the re-enactment of that futile charge, a well as the artillery bombardment before.

You're not the only one, Louis, who gets carried away! I expect that's why I enjoy your comment so much because I recognize a fellow traveler when I see one!

There are so many incredibly good books on history out there that it puzzles me why more people aren't hooked. If there were just bad, dry tomes with just facts, figures and dates, that would be one thing, but there are truly brilliant ones that make history come alive and show the relevancy. given the american reading public's general aversion to history, I always feel that that's a partial explanation as to why the country flounders around so much--there is no general grounding in the knowledge of the past and of the mistakes we've made in order to have any decent shot at making the same mistakes in the future.

Sean Long is another one whose comments I follow very closely. I love his mini reviews, and both of you as well as a few others have influenced my Wish List. For instance, it was Sean's solid recommendation of J.G. Farrell's trilogy that moved me to buy all three books; I wasn't wrong to do so. The

posted by Joycepa at 11:46 am (EST) on Jun 1, 2008

Just had to drop by and drop you a quick note, Louis, and let you know that I chuckled at your comments about Nixon, and thought I'd share this story with you.

Before Watergate, I was planning on majoring in Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh. I had even started taking some preliminary courses in high school. However, when all that shit started coming down and up to Nixon's disgraceful resignation, I became extremely disenchanted with politics and changed my major to Library Science. So that son of a bitch Nixon was responsible for changing my life, somewhat. Although looking back over the past eight years maybe I should be thankful!

Slainte!

Sean

P.S. - Warlock arrived today and I am really, really liking it so far.

posted by SeanLong at 4:01 pm (EST) on May 31, 2008

Good evening, Louis. It's good to make your acquaintance.

posted by SanctiSpiritus at 8:22 pm (EST) on May 29, 2008

Louis,

I was speaking to a friend over the weekend and he totally backs you up on Nixonland. I've always found RN an enigma, and tried to garner an understanding of the man by reading his memoirs ages ago, as well as Ambrose's three volume biography. I reserved Nixonland at the library but there's quite a few ahead of me. I look forward to reading it, eventually.

I should give myself a good swift kick in the ass for not having read John Williams' Stoner long before now. What a beautiful piece of work. One of those rare novels that appear in one's reading life every now and again that just floors you. You and others here at LT were the impetus for me finally pulling it off my shelves. I must make a note to read his other two novels.

I also finished Howard Bahr's latest, Pelican Road. I loved his three Civil War era novels, The Black Flower, The Year of Jubilo and The Judas Field. This novel is quite different as he uses the railroad men of the 1940s as his subjects. The writing is excellent and the story is very haunting, but it just misses making my "best of 2008" list. It had the misfortune of being the book that followed Stoner, so, maybe the bar (no pun intended), was set too high. Still though, a fine novel and time well spent.

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 7:45 pm (EST) on May 27, 2008

Louis -

I saw the words Beginner's Greek pop out at my while I was breezing through the What Are We Reading Thread and after I read the notes looked up to see who had written it. Must say I was surprised it was you. Also, must agree with you completely. I read the book in one sitting last summer and was surprised by happy I got so sucked it. I find myself thinking about it still from time to time.

posted by alphaorder at 11:41 am (EST) on May 26, 2008

Good Morn, Louis, I have, in fact, kept a list of books read, a list of books I would like to read, a list of audiobooks listened to, and journals on daily life, and a journal specifically focused on writing with the help of "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. I have my most recent journal of books read in 2008, but have to locate my past books because we built a lovely house, around my library and office,(so I can read and write, my life's blood)So that book is among the boxes filled with my writing, etc. I'm sure it will show up soon, though. I need to finish up my John Jerome book so I can move on to some of my writing magazines. There are several competitions I am interested in submitting some work to, so I must get productive, which is difficult when the garden is beckoning! Oh, and the laundry, yes, and the family does like to eat, and the construction company does require some attention, oh, dammit I've just depressed myself...Have a great day! Mary Beth

posted by mmignano11 at 10:16 am (EST) on May 14, 2008

Hi Louis, Just looking at your recently added books, and I obtained the Martin Amis memoir and have recently aquired a book by Kingsley Amis named "Lucky Jim" It is quite interesting to see the way that literary families are created and how literary friendships develop. I am reading a book right now titled "The Writing Trade,A day in the life" by John Jerome, a sort of daily journal and guide book by a freelance writer. He writes on a variety of subjects but I enjoy his ruminations on place,in this case, New Hampshire, the surrounding mountains, waterfalls, meadows and how they affect him in his daily walks or "breaks" from writing. He feels that setting is quite important to what a book or essay eventually becomes and that the skill required to set the scene, so to speak , is not always come by easily. He quotes several of my favorite writers, Sylvia Plath included and I find his reminiscing about his daily grind with his wife, also a writer, and communication with friends, again, writers, to be pithy, he makes you feel he is having fun while working hard and as a writer you hope you can have that kind of experience too. I love to write run-on sentences while I am posting but don't when I am formally writing. I love the freedom so excuse the informality. I am going to keep an eye out for Nixonland as in the past I have read much about his life. He was quite a complex, sad person.You said you enjoyed the book, is that right? Mary Beth

posted by mmignano11 at 11:32 pm (EST) on May 13, 2008

Louis, never apologize about the length of your messages. I always find them engaging, informative and a joy to read.

Interesting what you say about Harrison. I’ve shunned his books because of that label you mentioned, and cast him off soley as one for that genre's masses. Well, shame on me. After reading the passage you quoted along with your comments I’ve added The Finder and The Havana Room to my list, and will definitely get to them within the summer months.

I’ve mentioned in the most recent reading thread that I’m currently reading Bolger’s The Journey Home. A very engaging book so far and I hoping, but confident, that it holds up.

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 9:13 am (EST) on May 8, 2008

Louis, I saw your comments about Shadow Country and you answered my question as to whether or not you would lose momentum in the last third of the book. I admit at one point I found myself in the same position but I received a shot of juice at about the point in Book III after Watson is done telling about his childhood and the events that surround Book I are again brought forth. It was like walking right along side Watson all the way to his inevitable death. I agree that it’s a book that is not for everybody, and keeping momentum going for 900 pages of any book presents a challenge not only for the reader but the author as well. I’m glad that for the most part you thought highly of it.

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 10:07 am (EST) on May 7, 2008

Louis, thanks for that letter re Bolger’s book. I don’t see how anything that has happened in the last 18 years will have any effect on the reception in the US of The Journey Home. It’s no different than reading something like Clockers, or any piece of good literature written over 20 years ago, i.e., it’s a period piece that stands the test of time. Times change but great writing stands on its own. However, that “gritty, urban Dublin underclass” still exits, and as far as I know never went away. I’ve visited Dublin several times and have no desire to ever go back again. The low-lifes are ubiquitous there, and are always on the lookout to take advantage of tourists or “culchies” from the Irish countryside. It’s a very multi-cultural city now, and the Indians, Nigerians and Middle-Easterners are doing the jobs that the Irish do not wish to do, very similar to the Mexicans in the US.

I’m debating on whether to start Bolger’s book or Stephen Millhauser’s book of short stories, Dangerous Laughter, but it will definitely be one of the two. I haven’t read anything by Millhauser since Martin Dressler and am looking forward to his latest offering.

And oh, thanks for apprising me of The Tin House, as well as Ron Carlson’s Five Skies. I’ve noted both in my Moleskine and will be sure to check them out.

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 9:35 am (EST) on May 5, 2008

Louis, I'm on Book III of Shadow Country, and although I haven't finished it, I've already placed it on my Best of 2008. In fact, I'll brazenly toss out those cliches like "masterpiece," "epic," and "tour de force." I'm going to write a review of it when I'm finished, but I will say that it's so Faulknerian in scope that in my opinion it has no trouble standing right along side the great works of American Literature. I think I told you that I've been down to the old Watson place twice on Chatham Bend, the last time taking a tattered copy of "Killing Mr. Watson." I can't totally describe the feeling I had sitting near the original cistern reading the book, but at one point I felt like old E.J. was going to pop out behind me at any moment with the barrel of his shotgun poked in my back.

I don't know what I'm going to read next. I, too, have Interpreter of Maladies sitting here waiting to be picked up, and the new Bolger book you alerted me to is due tomorrow. And on top of that, one of my goals is to do a reread of another one of my all-time favorites, All The King's Men.

By the way, I don't know if you're interested in Joseph Conrad, but there is a new biography out of him, and I was wondering if you have heard anything about it. I'm seriously contemplating ordering it from Amazon.

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 12:41 pm (EST) on Apr 27, 2008

Oh good! It's nice to know that I can find you and Sean here.

I don't post often on LT, but lately I'm making a bit more of an effort. It seems like a welcoming community.

Mir

posted by mkunruh at 11:00 pm (EST) on Apr 23, 2008

Louis, a big, big thanks for the heads up about the Bolger book. I have not read it and, in fact, have been meaning to get around to his work for years, so now is the perfect time. I just ordered it and will definitely put it at the top of my reading list when it arrives.

I hate to bail on a book, and can't remember the last time I did so, but I finally had enough of O'Hagan's characters in Be Near Me and gave up on it. The writing was fine enough, no problems there, but the whole story line just annoyed me to no end.

Matthiessen's Shadow Country arrived yesterday and I immediately set forth to reading. It is indeed a very handsome volume and he has condensed the trilogy down to 900 pages from the original manuscript of 1,500. As I said, I've read all three books and this will be my fourth read of the first volume, Killing Mr. Watson. It's definitely at the top of my all-time best reads and this complete volume now goes on my list of "desert island books." Matthiessen does just a remarkable job recreating a wild place and a maverick culture that was special to southwest Florida so long ago. I just can't say enough good things about these books.

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 8:21 am (EST) on Apr 17, 2008

hi;
Just wanted to drop you a note to say thanks for your response on the "What are your reading?" fourm, and to let you know that, only half-way through, "Stoner" is easily my top read so far this year.

posted by STOCeallaigh at 7:06 pm (EST) on Apr 14, 2008

Louis,

I dropped over to drop Nancy a line and I saw that you mentioned that the Modern Library recently published Peter Matthiessen's Watson Trilogy as one volume called Shadow Country. The first volume, Killing Mr. Watson, is one of my all-time favorite books, and the other two were also well done, I thought. A fabulous trilogy that I've just ordered. I've been down to The Ten Thousand Islands twice, and KMW was the impetus for doing so. Thanks for mentioning it.

Sean.

posted by SeanLong at 9:37 am (EST) on Apr 14, 2008

Louis,

I probably won't help you with any new suggestions this week, as I do believe I will start Siri's book on your recommendation. But I am going to NY this week to talk to publishers about the fall, so I am sure I will pick up some unknown gems.

A reviewers copy of Angle of Repose. Are you serious?! You didn't say so specifically, but you have another edition for reading, I assume.

Finally, did you see Sean's post on the 'reading this week' thread? He highly praised the Lahiri. You are certainly in for a treat!

Best,
Nancy

posted by alphaorder at 9:10 pm (EST) on Apr 13, 2008

Louis -

Maybe I will read Siri Hustvedt's book next. It has been sitting on my Mount TBR for sometime. I have read her before and enjoyed it, but haven't picked this new one up yet.

I am glad that you got Sean onto Stegner - you know I am a fan!

posted by alphaorder at 9:50 pm (EST) on Apr 12, 2008

Louis, I finished Larry Woiwode’s A Step From Death rather quickly, and what a wonderful read it was. His writing is so smooth, perfect and poetic despite the wandering, interrupted pace, but that didn’t bother me because that’s exactly the way memory is. What a perfect pitch that book had. Thanks for recommending it.

I mentioned that I finished Clockers, and I just gotta say I wish I would have come to it sooner, or Price’s work for that matter. Although Lush Life was a grand read, I don’t think it was quite on the level as Clockers, and that’s not a bad thing. Clockers is just such a superb book. Price really raised the bar high on that one and that I don’t know if can ever top it.

Yesterday my daughter wanted to take a trip to Borders so despite the egregious gas prices we hopped in the car and took a trip to the nearest store which is about 30 miles away. While wandering the fiction shelves I noticed some attractive Penguin Classics of Wallace Stegner’s Angel of Repose and The Collected Stories, and I immediately remembered that you had read some Stegner recently and thought highly of it. Now I have never read a thing by Stegner, but after reading Jackson J. Benson’s introduction to AOR it immediately went into my basket. Why on earth I haven’t read any Stegner up to this point is beyond me, but I am really looking forward to AOR. I hope it doesn’t disappoint.

That Harrison novel is definitely going on my list, and please do check back in after you’ve read James Meek’s We Are Now Beginning Our Descent and Wurlitzer’s The Drop Edge of Yonder.

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 8:04 am (EST) on Apr 7, 2008

Louis -

I thought I saw on some thread that you liked The Story of Forgetting. I am well into it now and am thrilled with this unexpected find. My Tobias Wolff collection arrived yesterday, so that is up next. Glad to hear you are liking it. Haven't read too many of his stories, although I did read Old School earlier this year.

Hope you are well!

Nancy

posted by alphaorder at 7:40 am (EST) on Apr 1, 2008

Hi Louis.

I see that you are well into the Wolff book of short stories. So glad to hear that you're liking it quite a lot. Life got in the way for the past couple of days so I did not finish Clockers yet, but am getting close and should start the Wolff by mid-week. And by the way, you're glowing review of the Woiwode memoir was the impetus for ordering it today.

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 3:07 pm (EST) on Mar 30, 2008

Louis,

When I was entering the new Tobias Wolff collection of short stories in my library yesterday, I noticed that you had also recently added it to yours. I'm close to finishing Clockers and plan to start Wolff's collection next. I have never read anything by him and am looking forward to it. Any insights you can provide about Wolff would be appreciated. The only other work by his that I am familiar with, vaguely, is Old School.

Thanks

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 7:40 am (EST) on Mar 26, 2008

Thanks so much for your note. I am glad that you enjoyed Crossing to Safety. As you know, I am big on the academic novel (Stoner) and also books that deal with relationships, so maybe that is why I love it so. I am sure that part about Madison touched me as well, as I have lived my whole life in Wiscosnin.

I might have misled you about my daughter. I have one. (I think the plural was referring to mine and Tony's - at least that is what I meant.) She is six and such a wonderful kid. She has a great sense of humor and is wise beyond her few years. I could rave about her forever...

Triplets?!? And eight years old too? How do you do it? I can say all these wonderful things about my daughter, but truth be told, sometimes she can be exhausting. I don't know what I would do with three. I hope that having more than one keeps them busy sometimes as they are playing together.

I just learned about David Hadju's book yesterday. Funny how we keep overlapping. Sounds like you are liking it.

I will keep watching your and Sean's conversations, if you don't mind, as I enjoy them. And I love to know what you are both reading, since they often seem to be up my alley. Don't be surprised to hear from me now and again!

How far from Oxford do you live? I love that place and Richard Howarth's store. Did I mention that the man who started the bookstore that I work for, Harry Schwartz, published a short story of Faulkner's - Salmagundi? (http://ursusartbooks.com/item102951.html) Legend has it that he and his partner wrote to Faulkner on a wine stained napkin asking if they could publish him. Anyway, you can see it in the Faulkner exhibit at Ole Miss. Last time I was there it was right at the beginning.

All best,
Nancy

posted by alphaorder at 8:27 am (EST) on Mar 19, 2008

Louis,

I just needed to get in touch with you to say that I enjoy reading your various threads. We haven't talked in a while and I wanted to let you know that what I thought about the various books you have recently read.

Jim the Boy really struck a chord with me when I read it upon publication. So I was so excited to see that The Blue Star was coming out. I loved it too. I was lucky enough to have dinner with and sit next to Tony a few months back. I really enjoyed the conversation and got insight into the books. We also were able to talk about our lovely daugthers - both from China.

Ok, here is the other thing - Crossing to Safety is one of my all time favorites. Please send me a note whe you finish it. And I hope you will say that you loved it too.

Best,
Nancy / alphaorder

posted by alphaorder at 7:23 pm (EST) on Mar 15, 2008

Louis,

You are spot-on about Lush Life. I could not put it down last night and I'm sure that it will be one of my best reads of the year. Additionally, since I have to travel into the city today I'm going to pick up a copy of The Blue Star.

I had to laugh at your comment about Smonk. Every review I've read, as well as the two people I've spoken with who read it, have completely trashed it. Very dissappointing since I loved Franklin's book of short stories as well as Hell at the Breech.

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 8:03 am (EST) on Mar 14, 2008

Louis, a big thanks for the heads-up about the new Tony Earley. I was a big fan of The Boy too, and can't wait to read his latest.

Well, after five books, I'm somewhat bailing on my Faulkner reading project since I feel like there's too many new things passing me by. I came home one day last week and found a package from Amazon and forgot that I had pre-ordered, months ago, Benjamin Black's (pseudonym for John Banville) The Silver Swan. I immediately sat down and started reading and couldn't stop. I'm nearly finished with and it's going on my best of list for 2008. I wouldn't care if Banville stopped writing books under his own name and solely continued this crime/mystery series about the Dublin pathologist, Quirke. It's some really grand stuff and I highly recommend it. But if you want to read Black I recommend starting with his first, Christine Falls.

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 8:56 am (EST) on Mar 8, 2008

Louis, my socialist friend,

You’re story about buying The Reivers at age 15 put a smile on my face. I can’t think of one book I still have that I bought in my teens, and believe me, I purchased quite a few that I would think have quite a high value now (Ragtime, Child of God, Breakfast of Champions...). Shame on me. Anyway, I should finish The Reivers by the weekend and I have to say that I’ve really enjoyed it. Quite a nice change from the complexity of the other novels. I’m not sure what I’m going for next. Have you read The Wild Palms (If I Forget Thee, Jerusalem)? That’s one I haven’t read and am thinking of doing so. And I agree with you about A Fable. I tried it years ago and gave up on it. What in the world was Billy trying to do there?

The Harris book has been duly noted in my notebook as one to read, as is the Sinclair. I was not familiar with Oil until the movie, There Will Be Blood. I read the Jungle for the first time a few years ago when I was somewhat into “muckraking” writers, like Jacob Ris. You know, Sinclair wrote a series about a fictional character by the name of Lanny Budd that’s basically a political history of Europe and America in the early twentieth century. I remember reading a battered copy of one called Dragon’s Teeth (I think that was the title). Some of those books were best sellers at the time but they’ve been long forgotten. Maybe you’ve read about the series in the Sinclair biography. If it’s mentioned please let me know more about it.

Thanks,
Sean

posted by SeanLong at 11:54 am (EST) on Feb 28, 2008

Sean and Louis -

I saw on the What are You Reading thread Louis that you thought The Terror was amazing. So I jumped over here to see what your other favorites of 2008 were. And then I saw Sean's note.

Just thought I would let you know that one of the buyers at our bookstore is a huge fan of both The Terror and William Vollmann.

alphaorder

posted by alphaorder at 11:32 am (EST) on Feb 24, 2008

Hi Louis, sorry to keep dropping by but I had forgot to ask yesterday if you have read the new William Vollmann, "Riding Toward Everywhere." I almost picked it up while browsing yesterday but decided to wait until I heard from others who have read it. Thanks.

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 7:36 am (EST) on Feb 19, 2008

Hi Louis, sorry to keep dropping by but I had forgot to ask yesterday if you have read the new William Vollmann, "Riding Toward Everywhere." I almost picked it up while browsing yesterday but decided to wait until I heard from others who have read it. Thanks.

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 7:35 am (EST) on Feb 19, 2008

Louis,

I'm glad to have received your message regarding Bock's "Beautiful Children." I read Janet Maslin's review of the book in the NYT last week and she basically ripped it. You're the third person I've heard from that loved the book though. Just another reason why I put more stock in a reader's review than a critic's. I've gone ahead and put a "hold" on it from my local library.

Seems like 2008 is starting off with some good reads for you. I hope to catch up later in the Spring. As you know I'm on a little Faulkner reading project at the moment. Right now I'm in the middle of "Go Down Moses." I got so frustrated trying to figure out who was who in the McCaslin family due to the miscegenation and incest that I broke down and downloaded a copy of a McCaslin Family Genealogy chart on one of the Faulkner websites. I'm not sure, but I think one of the reasons Faulkner wrote about the mixing of the races so much was that one of his ancestors (The ole' Colonel?)had some Black blood. Very interesting.

Slainte!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 8:24 am (EST) on Feb 18, 2008

Louis,

Nothing could be finer that getting together with you at Rowan Oak. A "Kodak" moment that I hope we can pull off someday. I will be sure to let you know when I'm ready for Oxford.

Although I'm more than knee-deep in Faulkner at the moment, last month I did have a chance to read Roddy Doyle's new book of short stories, "The Deportees." Except for one story, I found it quite pedestrian and the endings in most of the stories flat. This may have to do with Doyle being limited to 800 words since these stories were first written for a multicultural magazine in Dublin. I can't tell you how disappointed I've been in Doyle's writing lately. I loved the Barrytown Trilogy, Paddy Clark Ha Ha Ha and A Star Called Henry, but the follow up to the ASCH, "Oh Play That Thing" which is supposed to be the second book of a trilogy, was such insipid tripe that I almost threw it across the room several times.

Keep those recommendations coming. I'll get to them eventually.

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 8:01 am (EST) on Feb 13, 2008

Saw your comment on the Biographies first lines Talk thread, and it's no surprise you are not familiar with Victor Herman, but not only is his life story fascinating, but his writing is masterful. His biography is out of print, but many public libraries still have copies. I cannot imagine anyone male or female, young or old, not being moved by that book. Here's a link to the Amazon reviews on the book to let you know what it's about: Coming Out of the Ice.

posted by EncompassedRunner at 7:46 pm (EST) on Feb 12, 2008

Louis,

I’ve been checking out what you’ve been reading in the reading thread and writing down your recommendations in my Moleskin. I’m right in the middle of my own little Faulkner reading project at the moment so I’m going to be well behind in reading anything published this year. So far I’ve done rereads of Absalom! Absalom!, As I Lay Dying and am currently in the middle of The Sound and the Fury. After SATF it’s on to Go Down Moses and The Unvanquished. We’ll see after that. If I’m not burnt out on WF I’ll move on to the Snopes trilogy.

Keep those recommendations coming. I’ll get to them eventually!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 7:51 am (EST) on Feb 11, 2008

Louis,
Thanks for the encouragement on the Volkmann, and no, it isn't for everyone. I'll drop a note to you when I finish.
Rebecca

posted by owenre at 11:09 am (EST) on Feb 3, 2008

Louis,

Thanks for your Jim Shepard recommendation...I'll put him on my shortlist (which seems to be getting pretty long). In return, might I recommend Nicola Barker's Behindlings (one of my discoveries of the past year and I thought wonderful.
Cheers, Allan

posted by abealy at 9:28 pm (EST) on Jan 24, 2008

Louis -

Let me know when you have finished Charlie Baxter's new book. I read it too. We have had quite the discussion around our bookshops' office. Unfortunately, I think I read it too quickly - and in the midst of a busy fall. I think every word of the book had meaning, and I suspect I missed a good bit of it.

I might go for the Williams novel in letters. Sounds more to my liking than a Western, even if atypical.

I think I will need to start off the year with Half of a Yellow Sun, since everyone keeps raving about it.

Do keep in touch and let me know what other good things you find!

Best,
Nancy (alphaorder)

posted by alphaorder at 3:06 pm (EST) on Dec 29, 2007

Louis,

Just read your note about Stoner / John Williams on the "Best books" thread. What do you suggest I try next? I heard his other books are very different.

Have you read [The Book of Ebenezer Le Page]? It was also republished by NYRB classics. Friends of mine have raved, so it is up on the top of my TBR pile. As is Half a Yellow Sun, which I cannot believe I haven't read yet.

Noticed that you likes A Free Life as well. That was the first Ha Jin I have read. I own Waiting. Shoud probably give that a try too, but if you look at my profile, you will see how many unread books I own.

Have a great 2008!

alphaorder (Nancy)

posted by alphaorder at 11:08 am (EST) on Dec 28, 2007

Louis, a friend sent me this link to a great article and I thought you might be interested as you are a Crowley fan. Best, Lois http://www.theamericanscholar.org/wi08/c...

posted by avaland at 10:35 am (EST) on Dec 28, 2007

Louis,

Happy holidays. I hope you're doing well.

I was searching through your libary and see that you have two books by Tom Franklin. I've read Hell at the Breech, and plan on starting Poachers this weekend, followed by Smonk. Just wondering what you thought of Franklin's books. And by the way, I envy your signed edition of Poachers.

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 10:17 am (EST) on Dec 13, 2007

Louis, I liked The Abstinence Teacher so much I purchased three copies for family and friends who I know will appreciate the humor. Thanks again for the book.

Yes, I did see the NYT Best of 2007 list but have not read anything on it. I do have Tree of Smoke and The Savage Detectives and look forward to reading both.

Glad you’re enjoying Coward’s letters. That sure is a pretty book and one I’ll be purchasing soon.

Thanks for giving me the “heads up” about the Johnny Cash DVD. If I can’t find it locally this weekend I’ll definitely order it from Amazon. I watched that show every week when I was a kid, and I have to thank my father for it. He didn’t listen to music much, but every week he would make all of us kids sit down and watch the Cash show, and I still remember him playing the Folsom Prison album on our old hi-fi. I can’t wait to see it. I’m sure it will bring back some fond memories for me.

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 8:12 am (EST) on Nov 29, 2007

Louis,

I finished the Perrotta book and enjoyed it immensely. It was just the right book to read after The Gathering.

I see that you're reading Coward's letters. I almost picked that up last week but may have to do so now. By the way, have you read anything from Tennessee Williams' Notebooks? I've been reading bits and pieces here and there and found it quite fascinating.

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 8:28 am (EST) on Nov 28, 2007

Hi Louis

I just added you to my libraries of interest, if that's o.k.?

I suspect that I know you else forum? Is that true? If so, I finally got around to reading Caputo's Acts of Faith which I picked up on your recommendation a couple of years ago.

If not, then it's been a pleasure perusing your library.

Miriam U.

posted by mkunruh at 9:27 am (EST) on Nov 20, 2007

Hi, Louis. Thanks for checking in.

Yes, I finished Enright's book last night and it's one of the best, if not the best pieces of fiction I've read this year. So tightly structured. I found it a very powerful, uncomfortable and even at times, angry book. Very impressive. I had to buy a paperback copy since I didn't want to take a chance on having something dreadful happen to my signed copy. I'm very fortunate to have a friend in Galway who sends me several signed books during the course of the year. Many Irish authors visit there and give readings at the University. Among my treasures, John McGahern, Colm Toibin, Joseph O'Connor, John Banville, Seamus Heaney and Roddy Doyle.

I also finished Leslie Garis's book and have to rate that as one of the best pieces of non-fiction this year. Thanks so much for recommending that one. I never would have picked that up on my own volition. I thought it a great mark of Garis's storytelling ability and deep regard for her family that even in the bleakest moments, I cared deeply about her family, pulled for them and was hoping for a healing miracle. Just a first rate memoir.

I loved the Faulkner interview in the Paris Review Interviews, Vol. II. He must have been in an extremely good mood that day since that interview is peppered with so many great insights. Among the many things that caught my fancy were one, Faulkner stated that he read Simenon becomes he reminded him of Chekhov, and two, one of his favorite characters was Sut Lovingwood from a book written by George Harris about 1840 or 1850 in the Tennessee mountains. I've made a note to read Simenon and to seek out the Harris book.

I'm going to start the Perrotta book today or this weekend that you were so kind to send to me. I'm really looking forward to it.

As always, good reading to ya!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 7:58 am (EST) on Nov 16, 2007

Louis,

I see you're reading The Gathering. I'd really like to hear your comments when you're finished. Last week a friend sent me a copy of the UK edition, personally inscribed to me by Enright. He went to one of her readings in Galway before the Booker was announced. He found her to be very humble and engaging.

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 11:19 am (EST) on Nov 7, 2007

Louis, hi!

Thank you for your comment re: The Tenderness of Wolves. I was also really glad to hear from you. It's been a while since I've seen your name posting in the groups that I follow, and I wondered if you had lost interest in LT. I've always enjoyed your insightful comments.

Thanks
Laura

posted by lindsacl at 5:36 pm (EST) on Nov 4, 2007

Louis Hi! I wanted to share my enjoyment and interest in a book I am currently reading, A Magnificent Catastrophe by Edward Larson, it is the story of the election of 1800. about 1/2 half through it but is so good. Perhaps the first major crisis for the new US democracy. I am becoming a big fan of John Adams, he was more important figure in American history then I realize.
Michael

posted by michaelbartley at 2:50 pm (EST) on Nov 3, 2007

Louis,

I received the Abstinence Teacher yesterday. Thanks! I plan on getting to it real soon. I've perused the reviews without taking away too much and it looks like a winner.

I recently finished a UK copy of William Trevor's new collection, Cheating at Canasta, which I've posted a short review. Most of these stories previously appeared in The New Yorker but I enjoyed reading them again. Over the last few weeks I also revisited Dashell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon and Larry Brown's On Fire, and read William Bennett's latest, the novella titled The Uncommon Reader, as well as Benjamin Black's (John Banville) excellent follow up to his 2006 Christine Falls, The Silver Swan. Currently I'm reading Madison Smartt Bell's 1990 short story collection, Barking Man.

I also should be receiving this week the second volume of The Paris Review writer interviews. The first was a treasure so I'm looking forward to volume II.

Thanks for letting me know what you’re reading, and again, for the Perrotta. I'm looking forward to it.

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 11:51 am (EST) on Oct 30, 2007

Louis,

I must admit I'm not familiar with most of the NBA nominees, or the Booker List for that matter. However, I do plan on reading Tree of Smoke. I've not read one bad review and not heard of one person who disliked it. Seems like that's the favorite for the NBA.

I posted this in the "What's That You're Reading" thread, but I've just finished William Gay's Provinces of Night and am now starting his collection of short stories,
I Hate To See That Evening Sun Go Down. Gay, although critically acclaimed, for some reason writes in relative obscurity, but he's one of the finest Southern novelists I've ever read. Gay is nothing if not a darkly humorous, supremely engaging storyteller, very much in the same vein as Cormac McCarthy's early work, albeit a unique, distinct voice all his own. Excellent stuff.

posted by SeanLong at 7:44 am (EST) on Oct 16, 2007

Hi Louis, I just wanted to take a moment and introduce myself, my name is Michael. I am impressed with you library.

posted by michaelbartley at 6:35 pm (EST) on Oct 8, 2007

Hi, Louis

Well, I finished Last Train to Memphis and it was, quite simply, the best music biography I’ve ever read. I was surprised to learn of the extent of Elvis's encyclopedic knowledge of multiple music genres, and his openly acknowledging the influence of black artists like Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, Rufus Thomas and B.B. King. Anyway, I’ve ordered Careless Love and plan to get to it before the end of the year.

Right now I’m reading from The Best American Short Stories of 2007, edited by Stephen King, and Mark Zwonitzer and Charles Hirshberg’s Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone?: The Carter Family & Their Legacy in American Music. I’m usually not one for those “best of “ selections, but King had put together a grand bunch of stories. So far I’m liking the selections. The Carter book is also first rate, although I did read the review in the NYTs that was very disingenuous and thought it was totally out of line with what I’ve read so far. Anyway, as always, good reading!

posted by SeanLong at 8:10 am (EST) on Oct 8, 2007

Louis,

You’re right, Guarlnick’s book is outstanding, and I’ve been completely immersed in it since I started. Guarlnick presents a man who is infinitely more complex and compelling than those same old popular stereotypes that have been promulgated by the media over the years. Guralnick's book, along with those memorable Sun sessions, celebrate the Elvis that should be remembered. Sadly, I don’t think that will ever be the case.

I loved McCarthy’s The Road and plan on reading Sharpe’s Jamestown, but was not aware of David Lozell Martin’s Our American King. Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll check it out.

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 8:14 am (EST) on Oct 1, 2007

Louis,
You are never bugging me when you leave a message. Drop me a note as often as you wish.

I have to say you sure are good at spending my money. I’ve ordered Holly George-Warren’s book on Gene Autry based on your recommendation and the stories you told about Johnny Cash and Autry. That sure looks like a fun read. I met Gene Autry way back in 1978 in LaPuente, California when I used to spend my summers while I was out of school there with my uncle. He owned the California Angels at the time, and they played their games in Anaheim. Anyway, long story short, he was looking to buy a ranch that I was working at for the summer and while looking the place over he noticed me and another guy working up a sweat loading up trucks with bales of hay and asked if we came along with the place. Of course, he was only joking and gave us an autographed picture that I still have to this day.

Regarding Ed Jones, I saw him speak at a literary conference a few years ago, and now regret that I didn’t have him sign a book. I became interested in Jones after I read an article whereby he stated that the obscure Irish author, Mary Lavin, was an influence and one of his favorite authors. He considered here the equal to Joyce as far as storytelling. He cared for her work so much that he nodded to her by mentioning one of her volumes of short stories, Tales from Bective Bridge in his short story, Bad Neighbors. AAHC is the first book of his I’ve read, and very much look forward to reading the others.

Can’t wait to read either of Guralnick’s books. I’m just not sure which one yet, but I’m leaning towards Last Train to Memphis. Guralnick is such a fine writer and music historian. In fact, just last week I purchased Marty Stuart’s CD, Soul’s Chapel, and saw that Guralnick wrote the liner notes.

All the best and good reading!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 8:00 am (EST) on Sep 25, 2007

Louis, thanks for letting me know what you've been reading. Much of my reading material is based on your reviews.

I've heard so much about Tree of Smoke, most of it outstanding, and think I'll have to read it soon.

I'm just about finished with Michael Streissguth’s biography on Johnny Cash. Streissguth doesn’t gush over Cash and debunks a lot of myths and exaggerations that cloaked Cash over the years, and although the tone rings pure, there seems to have been a lot of stories that grew out of proportion to the truth with each telling (and although she’s very protective of her father, it’s Rosanne who often sets the record straight). Although I run hot and cold on the American Recording series, I now want to rediscover some the Cash back catalog.

I'm not sure what I'm going to read next. I might stay in the music biogrpahy genre since I have Peter Guralnick's Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Same Cooke and his Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley, and I've been wanting to read both for quite some time.

Look forward to hearing from you with your reviews again.

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 9:35 am (EST) on Sep 24, 2007

Louis, thanks for checking in with your recent reads. I am always interested not only in what you are reading, but value your opinion. Johnson's novel is very intriguing, and I plan on reading it before the end of the year.

Right now I'm almost finished with Edward P. Jones' All Aunt Hagar's Children, and so far have found it quite remarkable. I saw Jones speak at a literary seminar once by up till now have never read any of his work. Shame on me. I can tell that he was heavily influenced by Joyce's Dubliners in this collection, but unlike the paralysis caused by Dublin in Joyce, Jones' Washington causes a sense of vertigo. They’re long and rigorously developed stories that have a craftsman quality about them and are demanding to read, but it’s all pitch perfect.

I also finished Cormac McCarthy's The Orchard Keeper recently. I almost put it down but I'm glad I persevered. Amazing that this was his first book, and although it drips of Faulkner, McCarthy eventually sheds the Faulkner cloak and you can see him developing his own voice. I've now read The Road, Suttree, Child of God and The Orchard Keeper. I still haven't read The Border Trilogy or No Country for Old Men, but was wondering if you had.

As always, best to you.
Sean

posted by SeanLong at 8:38 am (EST) on Sep 12, 2007

Louis, I forgot to add, thanks for the Amy Bloom recommendation. That looks like it has the potential for a stunning novel.

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 9:07 am (EST) on Aug 21, 2007

Louis, thanks for keeping me updated on your reading. Many of your recommendations that I’ve read have been winners. In fact, I don’t think there’s been one yet that hasn’t clicked with me, and House of Happy Endings looks like another one. I just ordered that from Amazon.

Currently I’m in the middle of one of your all-time favorites, McCarthy’s Suttree. Just a big, broken, beautiful and ugly book that I should have read years ago. Beyond the straight ahead narrative, it has just the right amount of that thick, gassy language that Faulkner used that is so perfectly placed and sparingly used that if there had been a pinch more and would have been placed anywhere else it would not have worked for me. I’ve just recently come to McCarthy's work, having read Blood Meridian and The Road, and think I’ll stick with his pre-Border Trilogy work for now. Hal Crowther wrote a great essay in his collection, Cathedrals of Kudzu, whereby that although he does not deny the merit of the Border Trilogy, he laments that McCarthy no longer writes books with that beautiful, raw language with the range he showed in Suttree, The Orchard Keeper, Child of God and Outer Dark, and wishes he “would come back home to the South.”

I have no idea what I’m going to read next. I may stick with McCarthy but there are so many others sitting on my shelf that I need to get to, one of which is Last Train to Memphis, which I believe was another one of your favorites. That’s been sitting on my shelf for sometime and I really need to get to it.

As always, all the best to you and your family.

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 8:11 am (EST) on Aug 21, 2007

Louis, thanks for recommending George Hagen's Tom Bedlam. I finished in a weekend. Definitely one of my best reads of the year.

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 10:33 am (EST) on Aug 16, 2007

Louis,

You're speaking to the king of the typos here.

Yesterday I forgot to bring Suttree to work with me (I always read during my lunch hour), so I walked over to the library to see if they had a copy I could read from. Unfortunately, they did not, but sitting right on the display shelf in the new fiction section was Hagen's Tom Bedlam. Since you recommended it I immediately picked it up and started reading. By the time I looked at the clock it was well past my lunch hour. Anyway, since I've become so captivated with Tom Bedlam's story, I've had to put Suttree aside for now. Thanks for the great recommendation though!

posted by SeanLong at 7:48 am (EST) on Aug 9, 2007

We miss your comments. Wish we knew what has taken you away from us.

posted by avaland at 10:15 pm (EST) on Jul 2, 2007

Louis, I also miss your comments. I see books entered on June 1, so at least I know your still somewhat active. Hope all is well.

posted by dchaikin at 10:20 pm (EST) on Jun 8, 2007

Louis: I came to your profile today just to check in and see that 4 others have already made the comment that I have been meaning to make for a week or so now. We miss you on the talk forums! Take care ... Laura

posted by lindsacl at 1:44 pm (EST) on Jun 6, 2007

I was just thinking I hadn't seen you around in a while, and now I see that others have already had the same thought. Hope all is well and that you'll reappear soon. Best wishes, Rebecca

posted by rebeccanyc at 9:52 am (EST) on May 23, 2007

Yes, I second Lois's comments. You are missed.
Amanda

posted by amandameale at 8:13 am (EST) on May 19, 2007

Louis, you seem a bit quiet lately (as I see others have noted). Hope all is well with you and yours. We are indeed missing your posts! Best, Lois

posted by avaland at 5:39 am (EST) on May 19, 2007

Hi, Louis--just wanted you to know that you have been a huge impact on my TBR list, and I've been missing your comments on various Talk threads. I hope everything is ok.

posted by cabegley at 8:09 pm (EST) on May 11, 2007

Hi Louis
I'm always watching your comments on the various groups in case I might pick up some good reading tips. I do have The Painted Veil and Ursula, Under - to be read.
Today I bought Cultural Amnesia by Clive James and it looks absolutely sumptuous. I expected literary figures only but found Louis Armstrong (my all-time favourite musician), Charlie Chaplin, Wittgenstein and so on. Clive's book hasn't had a lot of marketing over here and I might not have bought it if you hadn't given't it the thumbs up. So thanks in advance.
Amanda

posted by amandameale at 9:35 am (EST) on Apr 26, 2007

Louis -- to follow up.

I also thought the Alexander Quartet was fantastic. I find myself thinking about the stories (or at least scenes from them) often, even though it's been almost five years since I read them. I never would have read them if I hadn't vowed to read all the books on the Top 100 list.

The eight I have left are Sister Carrie, Wide Sargasso Sea, Light in August, Magnificent Ambersons, The Golden Bowl, Midnight's Children, Adventures of Augie March, and A Farewell to Arms. I absolutely plan to finish them and hope to do so in the next couple of months.

Thanks for the recommendations about the Raj Quartet, etc. Does Staying On come at the end of the quartet? That one is on my shelf already (Booker Prize Winners being one of my lists).

Jim Harrison is my favorite contemporary American author. I've read all his fiction (except the very latest, which is on my shelf), most of it twice, and almost all his prose (none of the poetry). I do not understand why he is so under-appreciated. He never wins one of the big prizes. If you enjoy Dalva, I highly recommend the sequel -- The Road Home. I read that once, then read it out loud to my husband. It is in my top 10 novels of all time. Not that it is earthshaking or changes literature or anything -- I just think it is a great yarn, well told.

posted by ggchickapee at 12:07 pm (EST) on Apr 24, 2007

Well, even though the address keeps getting cut-off, it still works fine.

This is my last post. Really. Honest. I kid you not. Cross my heart.

posted by bookstothesky at 1:14 am (EST) on Apr 16, 2007

Also, the link to the interview should be http://www.bookslut.com/features/2007_03...

posted by bookstothesky at 1:10 am (EST) on Apr 16, 2007

Hmm, weird. That last post somehow deleted "I'm" before "waiting." Or, maybe, developing some sort of blind spot that not aware of when I write? :)

posted by bookstothesky at 1:09 am (EST) on Apr 16, 2007

Hey, Louis,

Just ran across this Tim Willocks interview and thought you'd be interested: http://www.bookslut.com/features/2007_03...

I'm waiting for the American edition before I read The Religion, but I'm definitely going to track down his other books.

Take care.

posted by bookstothesky at 1:03 am (EST) on Apr 16, 2007

Hi Louis,
Thought I'd stop by and say 'hello', especially seeing as you're in the neighborhood. Thanks for the heads up on "Jujitsu For Christ" in one of the groups--what a lovely book. Also nice also to see another Boyd fan. Cheers!

posted by gracie68 at 10:14 am (EST) on Apr 7, 2007

Louis, Publishers Weekly gave the new Crowley book a starred review. I posted some of the review on the appropriate Readercon thread. Thought you might be interested. I think you would also very much enjoy By the Sea by Gurnah.... Best, Lois

posted by avaland at 8:02 pm (EST) on Apr 4, 2007

Louis: Thanks for the comment on the Burgess bio. I read a few titles by him as a teenager--Napoleon Symphony and End of the World News were the most enjoyable. And I struggled with the Christian epic he wrote before he died--it's still on the bookshelf with a mark halfway through. Any recommendations for other favorite works by him?

posted by wirjones525 at 12:24 pm (EST) on Apr 4, 2007

Louis- i just saw that you were the person to iniate the "What are you reading" group- well done!

posted by berthirsch at 12:31 pm (EST) on Mar 28, 2007

Hi Louis, Just came on to recommend Half of a Yellow Sun to you. I see you've read it. I'm about a third of the way through and enjoying it immensely. The Painted Veil is on my MUST BUY SOON list but I haven't found it yet in my local bookstores, and even those further afield.
Amanda

posted by amandameale at 9:03 am (EST) on Mar 26, 2007

LB- i, too, am not much of a "serious" book collector...if i had to choose the "prize possessio" it would probably be a signed first edition of Howard Fast's [Spartacus].

posted by berthirsch at 12:59 pm (EST) on Mar 22, 2007

Hey Louis- its been awhile...i,too, loved Selby's Last EXit To Brooklyn....I actually work in Bay Ridge Brooklyn now.

posted by berthirsch at 4:27 pm (EST) on Mar 21, 2007

Oh Louis Branning how sad it makes me to see that you have James Jones's biography of Kinsey but not Jonathon Gathorn-Hardy's. I am disturbed to think that you might believe bad Mr. Jones. Sex The Measure Of All Things is really a delightful book, a charming read (at many points he'll step back from his narrative in order to inform his British audience of tidbits of Americana, such as how awful the weather is in the Midwest), and a much more balanced look at a great, great man. If you are at *all* inclined, I so strongly recommend it. He also specifically takes on the Jones biography in places, pointing out the errors in research or interpretation.

Hope all is well for you this bitterly cold January.

janey47

posted by janey47 at 8:21 pm (EST) on Jan 16, 2007

Louis, just wondering if your contemplating reading the new Martin Amis. I've been reading some of the reviews and it's strange, some have high praise, others say it's pedestrian.

posted by SeanLong at 12:44 pm (EST) on Jan 16, 2007

Wow Louis -- you are a popular Library thing guy --

I have just a few pages of Midnight's Children left. I definately liked it, however I am not sure I understood it all. I think you would like a A Fine Balance -- its a similar story to Midnight's Children but not as heavy handed with the allegory and the magical realism.

posted by jhowell at 8:56 am (EST) on Jan 11, 2007

Thanks for those recommendations, Louis. I've heard quite a few good things about The Children's Hospital and have put that on my list, along with his first book, [Gob's Grief], which looks quite intriguing. Have you read this? I may just see if I can pick both of those up today. I was completely unfamiliar with Adrian's books. And that Ferris novel looks like something I would not only like, but could totally relate to. Many thanks. I'll be on the lookout for it March 1.

posted by SeanLong at 9:16 am (EST) on Jan 7, 2007

Hi Louis
Was just reading your message to SeanLong about The Night Watch and given what I know about your preferences I don't think you would like it. It was a satisfactory read - that's all. I was very surprised that it was nominated for anything.
Amanda

posted by amandameale at 7:34 am (EST) on Jan 6, 2007

Louis,

I've been in and out of town so much during the past holidays that I forgot that I wanted to wish you and your family a belated happy holidays. Good reading for the new year!

Sean

posted by SeanLong at 10:23 pm (EST) on Jan 5, 2007

Hi Louis, i read A HANDFUL OF DUST on your rec over the holidays but i was disappointed, but appreciate your rec nonetheless. i had enjoyed SCOOP so much that i may have set my expectations too high. I am now reading THE RISE OF CHRISTIANITY which is quite interesting. it is from a sociological perspective.
happy new year. Sig

posted by SigmundFraud at 6:04 pm (EST) on Jan 4, 2007

Hey Louis,

we share some similar tastes...as a younger man I was enraptured by [The Magus], the revise edition...quite magical.

i've yet to read Sutree and some day hope to get to it...as we all know there is so much to read and a finite time to deal with.

good wishes in the new year.

bert

posted by berthirsch at 9:38 am (EST) on Dec 31, 2006

Hi Louis, thanks for your greeting. Christmas must have been lots of fun with your family - I hope you all got plenty of great new reads. Somebody gave our kids some Roald Dahl, and my daughter zoomed through James and the Giant Peach on Christmas Day, and is looking forward to more. Two of our kids have read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a big hit. It's a delight to introduce the kids some of my favourite books that I read and re-read as a child.

posted by tripleblessings at 2:16 am (EST) on Dec 27, 2006

Hi Louis,
thanks for your response to the Gordimer story...it was so short yet so fulfilling.

have a great holiday.

bert

posted by berthirsch at 8:13 pm (EST) on Dec 20, 2006

Louis!! 7year old triplets!!! I don't know how you read ANYTHING!@@#@!
Amanda

posted by amandameale at 7:16 am (EST) on Dec 20, 2006

Dear Louis, Just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas in case I forget later. And a happy reading year to you.
Amanda

posted by amandameale at 7:50 am (EST) on Dec 19, 2006

Glad you liked my list, Louis.

I've been meaning to ask if you have read Sarah Waters' Night Watch. I've been on the fence about reading this for months and would value your thoughts.

Thanks,
Sean

posted by SeanLong at 3:59 pm (EST) on Dec 12, 2006

Hi Louis
I noticed that you liked Black Swan Green. I recommend Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell - it's extraordinary and I liked it very much.
Amanda

posted by amandameale at 8:28 am (EST) on Dec 8, 2006

Thank you Louis for your reply, which confirms my line of thought. I will wait for the next novel. Some novels are better without resolution or tampering.
I didn't immediately think of "Under the Skin" when reading "Never let me go" but I'll reflect upon the connection.
Have you read "The observations" by Jane Harris? It is also set in Victorian England, although not London and has a raucous, rumbustious heroine and a captivating plot line. It is an excellent first novel ... you may be aware of the good reviews it has received. Together with "Arthur and George" by Julian Barnes, it is one of my top books of 2006.
May I also say, how elegant and handsome your catalogue appears.
Bon chance!
L..r

posted by lizzier at 2:28 pm (EST) on Dec 7, 2006

Hello. Just read your comment on "What are you reading this week?" and noted your comment about Michel Faber and "Under the Skin", a stunningly bloody read, which may be single-handedly responsible for the upsurge in vegetable eating in this country.
May I ask if you are drawn to read "The Apple: new Crimson Petal stories"? I'm not sure if I want finite answers and would be interested to know if this is the case.

posted by lizzier at 4:45 pm (EST) on Dec 5, 2006

Thanks for your comments about the new Ford novel, Louis. I downloaded and listened to an NPR interview with him this morning on my ipod that was broadcast last week. After listening to the interview and reading a few passages from the novel in the bookstore this morning, I decided to pass on purchasing it. I'm glad your comments verify my decision. I did, however, purchase a copy of the Fowles Journals, Vol. II, but is it necessary to read Vol. I first?

Irish (Sean)

posted by SeanLong at 10:47 am (EST) on Dec 2, 2006

Louis,

Although it's only been out a couple of weeks, I was wondering if you have read Richard Ford's latest, The Lay of the Land. If so, I'd like to hear what you thought of it. I read Independence Day years ago when it was first published. I am seriously considering purchasing Ford's latest since it's so heavily discounted right now at B&N. For what it's worth, The New York Times named it as one of the 10 best books of 2006.

Thanks,

posted by SeanLong at 8:59 pm (EST) on Dec 1, 2006

Hi Louis, Very interested to read your favourites for 2006. So, I've decided to start a new thread for this on What are Your Reading Now.
Amanda

posted by amandameale at 8:56 pm (EST) on Dec 1, 2006

Hi Louis,
Thx for taking the time to respond. I will move up in priority A HANDFUL OF DUST. My wife loved it as well. I read SCOOP this summer and found it hilarious so i am looking forward to reading your suggestion. I will take a look at your list of books for 2006. I am reading LET IT BE MORNING now and like it a lot. it is written by Arab Israeli, translated from the Hebrew, and it give one another viewpoint on what is going on in the middle east. next in my pile is Angels by Denis Johnson. keep in touch. david (alias SigmundFraud)

posted by SigmundFraud at 4:27 pm (EST) on Dec 1, 2006

i like writing that is sparse, clean, few adjectives as in Alice Munro stories. Can you recommend any that fit this description.

posted by SigmundFraud at 12:01 am (EST) on Nov 27, 2006

Thank you Louis. I have three of these on my list and will investigate the others. I read about one third of Blue Afternoon by William Boyd and found it overloaded with adjectives and verbs that served no good purpose. Still, I've read good reports of him.
Thanks again
Amanda

posted by amandameale at 8:48 pm (EST) on Nov 9, 2006

THOUGHT you might have...

posted by amandameale at 7:51 am (EST) on Nov 9, 2006

Louis, I like your posts on the message boards. I read literary fiction too -no trash allowed. Could you tell me a few of your favourite novels of the last couple of years?? I find Australians are slightly more aware of British fiction than American and though you might have some gems I don't know about.

posted by amandameale at 7:50 am (EST) on Nov 9, 2006

And thanks for the McKinty recs, Louis. I was completley unaware of him. I don't know how he escaped my radar. I'm definitely going to check those out.

posted by SeanLong at 2:29 pm (EST) on Nov 7, 2006

Louis! It's good to hear from you! I was wondering where you went. I, as well as many others in the ville were wondering where you went, and missed your insightful reviews. I haven't been an active member here long but plan to be, and am still in the process of entering my books. I love your library and have put many of your books on my wish list. Looking forward to seeing what books you purchase and reading your reviews. All the best to you, Louis.

posted by SeanLong at 2:23 pm (EST) on Nov 7, 2006

Thanks Louis

posted by amandameale at 7:06 am (EST) on Nov 2, 2006

Louis, yes I phrased it badly but I DO UNDERSTAND. Charles Lindbergh was never President. Today I looked up The Plot Against America in 1001 Books You Must Read...etc to discover how much of the novel is factual. I underestand now that it is an alternative history. Moreover, Roth does include historical facts as a postscript.
Thank you again, I would have been so wrong and so confused.
Amanda

posted by amandameale at 7:17 am (EST) on Nov 1, 2006

Louis..I work at a small independent book shop in Louisiana...but put my second son in college last weekend in Jackson...have to cruise through Lemuria when in Jackson. What a great store. My hats off to them.

posted by bettyjo at 5:24 pm (EST) on Aug 20, 2006

(Perhaps redundant) Read "Heart Earth," Ivan Doig's loving memoir of his mother (who died when he was 6). He develops a portrait of her based on letters she wrote in 1945....letters an uncle finally gives him in 1992. Esta1923

posted by Esta1923 at 2:23 pm (EST) on Aug 4, 2006

You have a first edition copy of Evelyn Waugh's "The Loved One"? You are my new hero. Enjoyed scrolling through your collection. Happy cataloging.

posted by coffeezombie at 6:18 pm (EST) on Jul 21, 2006

Louis: Thanks for your comment about "Empire Made Me". Funny that there are two of us on here with a copy of the book. I had heard nothing about it, but saw it at a book sale and was interested enough to pick it up. I did enjoy it, though I found all the detail about the SMP tough slogging a few times. I think the author did so much detailed research that he didn't want to let any of it go!

posted by John at 2:59 pm (EST) on Jul 5, 2006