Definitely read Joyce! It's worth the effort... although I realize his writing isn't everyone's cup of tea. I'm sure Groucho is in Finnegans Wake, Joyce somehow managed to include everything in that book! It's actually my all-time favorite book, because I know I'll be reading/thinking about it for the rest of my life and will always stumble upon new ways of approaching the text. Joyce does amazing things with language & story-telling. Brilliant.

Back to Sinclair, do you just enjoy reading about London? Any other cities? I've been trying to find an author who writes like Sinclair about NYC, to get me genuinely excited to walk and explore the city. Haven't had much luck yet...

posted by palimpsestuous at 10:49 am (EST) on Jan 16, 2008

I first discovered Sinclair through "London: City of Disappearances", which he edited. I'm impressed that you managed to get a book club to read his work! I must admit that sometimes I get lost in his writing, it can get very dense and confusing. But it's incredible what he accomplishes, making the city and different layers of history so visceral... My current favorite is Edge of the Orison, esp. since he manages to work in James & Lucia Joyce, another of my obsessions! It definitely is hard finding his work here in the States, but I've had good luck at Strand and Shakespeare & Co.

cheers,
julie

posted by palimpsestuous at 3:40 pm (EST) on Jan 14, 2008