Cameron's 75 of 2010

#1 Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire

#2 The Pill Versus the Springhill Mine Disaster by Richard Brautigan

Welcome!

Thanks.

#3 The Body Artist by Don DeLillo

Welcome to the group!

Appreciate it!

#4 James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

Hope this isn't a no-no. Not only do I really enjoy children's literature, but I'm a teacher, so it's part of my life for that reason as well.

hi Cameron

There are no no-no's in this group, it is up to you what books you list.
There are more members who like children's and YA, I am one of them :-)
Anita

"no no-no's"

I like that, Anita!

Hi Cameron - I'm also a reader of YA and children's literature.

Thanks everybody...I figured you were all nice people.

#5 If on a winter's night a traveler by Italo Calvino.

Unbelievable book. Absolutely brilliant. I recommend this one to everyone out there. It really makes you think about reading and the complexity of the exercise.

I think I'm gonna take on the DFW tome, Infinite Jest. Any thoughts?

#6 Dr. King's Refrigerator by Charles Johnson

Short and sweet...well, not that sweet. Not great, actually. I'm knocking out some small stuff in the midst of Infinite Jest and The Sot-Weed Factor.

#7 2BR02B by Kurt Vonnegut

Short and Vonnegut. I need to get back to Vonnegut again, maybe Jailbird this time, which is one of the only ones I haven't tackled. There's also Fates Worse Than Death and The Vonnegut Statement. We'll see. Need to get back to some education books, too.

#8 The Women and the Men: Poems by Nikki Giovanni.

Really nice. Don't read too much poetry, but have been a fan of Giovanni for some time now. Came at a really good time for me, I think. Nice change from The Sot-Weed Factor and Infinite Jest, which I'm still trudging through, happily of course.

#9 Adolphe by Benjamin Constant.

Pretty interesting book about love gone sour. Adolphe falls in love with a mistress ten years his senior, and passions are as quick to rise as difficulties are to subvert them.

Published in 1816, the book has some interesting views of women, characterizing them as logicless beings with deceit in their hearts. Not my favorite language, though interesting to place it temporally.

#10 The Oranging of America by Max Apple.

Not bad little collection of short stories by a previously unknown author. Reminds me somewhat of Vonnegut, very American, very temporal (60s and 70s).

Tells stories of people on both sides of success, attempting to figure out what it's all about, basically. The writing style is somewhat Vonnegutesque in its simplicity, yet the content itself lacks the strength of satire and wit that makes Vonnegut Vonnegut. Interesting nonetheless.

A belated welcome to the group. I'm just catching up on threads today.
I've got If on a Winter's Night a Traveler on the list for this year. Thanks for the review.
As Anita said there are alot of members who read childrens lit and YA. Last year Dahl was very popular.
How's the DFW coming along?

#11 Hocus Pocus by Kurt Vonnegut

Good stuff. I'm not surprised by this, of course. Vonnegut's protagonist takes on the identity of a Vietnam vet caught in between a prison and a university. Interesting to see Vonnegut's approach to Vietnam as a vet of World War II. Last fiction-fiction book by Kurt definately worth the read (but isn't any word he ever wrote?).

DFW is good, but slow. I have been moving, working, and busy and haven't found the time nor the place to really dive into it. In the meantime, I'm reading stuff that comes a little more easily, Vonnegut and some education texts. I have already embraced the challenge that is DFW, much in the way that I have with Gravity's Rainbow. Basically, get through it in whatever way possible, try to get some enjoyment out of it (not too tough with these two), allow it to kick your ass, and relish the idea that it'll always be there for future reads and dissections. Yet another reason to love books.

Enjoy Calvino, by the way.

#12 The Name of the World by Denis Johnson

Interesting, short, quick little read. Funny enough, the protagonist is a professor who ends up losing his job, and the reasons are less than clear. He doesn't really fight the decision, however, and passes the remainder of the novel somewhat lost and wandering, finding himself in interesting, sometimes strange situations (but seemingly of fleeting importance, as well).

It's the story of the protagonist in Hocus Pocus by Vonnegut, which I just finished a couple of days ago. Of course, the langauge is very different. I'm excited to read Tree of Smoke by Johnson, which evidently is pretty nice. Still searching Half Price for Angels as well.

#13 A Confederate General at Big Sur by Richard Brautigan

Really funny, good book. Read it plenty of times. I'm still sludging through The Sot-Weed Factor and Infinite Jest and it helps to have a Brautigan or Vonnegut break. Quick, dirty, but fun. Loving the Barth and DFW, though. Also trying to wrap up Gravity's Rainbow, which is no slouch itself.

#14 Book of Mercy by Leonard Cohen

Nice stuff. I'd like to read it again soon.

#21: That one looks very good. Thanks for the recommendation, Cameron.

ahh Leonard Cohen!
I don't have any books of him, but a lot of cd's, his songs are poetry!
Anita

Definitely find Cohen if you can. I found a couple at Half Price Books, so there's likely more out there. After reading this, I'm interested in more.

#15 Post Office by Charles Bukowski.

I read Women a little while back. I think Bukowski's a real shit, and I think it comes through in Chinaski pretty darn clearly. I was interested to see how he might have been portrayed seven years earlier, without writing as a major theme of the protagonist's life. Similar to Women, though without even the writing to make life worth living. Pretty sad.

#24: I think it is safe to say that I can skip anything by Bukowski.

#16 Agape Agape by William Gaddis. Pretty incredible little, but tough, book. Definitely missed tons of allusions, but that's what makes it fun - knowing how cryptic and formless literature can be. Really a nice experience, one that I can't wait to have again, both rereading this book and finding others.

#17 The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. Amazing book. Really unbelievable. I truly think there would be no Harry without Milo. Really clever book that takes the child protagonist through Digitopolis and Dictionopolis, on a quest to rescue Rhyme and Reason from the land of Ignorance. Great for kiddos, but great for adults as well.

Ongoing books that I've started and am working through at the moment.

The Sot-Weed Factor by John Barth
Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
How Children Fail by John Holt
Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
The Politics of Education by Paulo Freire

#27: I have that one home from the library now. I never read it as a child. I hope I enjoy it as much as you did.

#18 Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs. Pretty incredible book. A smattering of awful, disgusting, unbelievable clips originating in and derived from the experience of a junky. Not a real pick-me-up, but powerful nonetheless. Quite clear and digestable portion near the end is really pretty incredible.

#19 Animal Liberation by Peter Singer. Really amazing. Read it a couple of times. Great reminder of the fact that vegan diets can be defended on any and all levels - environmental, health, social, philosophical, financial, spiritual, empathetic, etc...

READ IT and share it.

#20 A Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck

Interesting to read this along with Animal Liberation, considering it's a story about a group rising up in light of injustices perpetrated on them by a more powerful group, in DB an economic and political power. Of course, in AL, Singer discusses nonhuman animals' inability to speak for themselves, and reminds us that we are their voice of protection and revolution, and must utilize our powers to liberate them.

#31/32: I am going to see if I can locate copies of both of those. Thanks for the recommendations, Cameron!

Animal Liberation sounds good. I'm adding it to the wish list. I was not able to get into Naked Lunch. I tried the book and the movie. The only Burroughs I've ever liked is a recording of The "Priest" They Called Him, which, admittedly, I like more for Kurt Cobain's guitar than Burroughs' prose poem.

#21 Angels by Denis Johnson

Really pretty good read. Quicker than I expected, which is not to say that it's narrative is direct, consistently sequenced or paced. Only my second Denis Johnson book, though I'm excited for more. One of those books that I feel I'd get a great deal out of reading a second time.

#22 Immediatism by Hakim Bey

Really interesting stuff. Short and sweet, sprinkled with swear words. Don't know if he approaches the genius of Neitzche or wants to do so, but he absolutely reminds me of the little FN I've read. Very critical, very definitive, very fearless in his condemnations.

#23 What's to Become of the Boy? or Something to do With Books by Heinrich Boll

Short, quick autobiographical text about Boll's life during the first part of Hitler's rise to fame, beginning in 1933 with his chancellorhood, and continuing through about 1936. All this is subsumed in a discussion of Boll's school life. Not bad.

#37: Since that period of history interests me, I will have to give the Boll book a try. Thanks for the recommendation, Cameron.

#24 Wittgenstein's Mistress by David Markson

Unbelievable book. Really unbelievable. Took me too long to read, cause I was busy for the last weeks. I'll get back to this one, not to mention other Markson. Read it.

#39: That one looks interesting. I will look for it. Thanks, Cameron!

#25 The Wild Things by Dave Eggers

Novel created based on the screenplay co-written by Eggers and Spike Jonze based on the 1963 Maurice Sendak picture book.

Really nice novel. Eggers' version of Max is understood well by the narrator, which makes for an interesting story.

#26 Umberto Eco and Football by Peter Trifonas

Interesting little book. I'd like to have read the articles cited that were actually written by Eco about futbol and semiotics, sociology, language, sport, etc...

#27 Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon

I can't possibly begin on this one. Took me long enough, this'n did. Can't wait to get right back into it.

Nothing looks or feels the same after reading a long Pynchon, does it?

Definitely not. I really enjoyed Vineland, The Crying of Lot 49, and Inherent Vice, but this one is clearly on another level. It's taken me long enough to get through it, after try after try. Worth the challenge, one that I'll take soon again.

#28 Snow White by Donald Barthelme

Lovely little book. It had me rolling at points. "Could you describe the relation of the High Life to the project, construction of the cocktail table." "I had in mind engorgement of the High Life whilst sanding, screwing, gluing, and so forth."

Worth a quick read, and probably a second, more scrutinizing one.

#29 Seven Nights by Jorge Luis Borges

He's amazing. Funny quote, "I am almost incapable of abstract thought." Read it.

#46: I like Borges but have not read that one. I will look for it. Thanks for the recommendation, Cameron.

#30 The Story of the Eye by Georges Bataille

Pretty incredible stuff. Not the funnest book to read, it's the story (on the surface) of extreme sexual perversion. Beneath it is Bataille's exploration of symbols, experiences, and connections formed in his subconscious. Helpful (though also tragic because it's real) explanation of this is found in Part 2 of the little book.

Heavy stuff.

#48: That does not sound like one I would enjoy, so I think I will pass on it. I am glad you liked it, Cameron.

#31 Rommel Drives on Deep into Egypt by Richard Brautigan

Nice little book. Read Brautigan.

#50: I have never read anything by Richard Brautigan. Is that a good place to start?

alcottacre__I'd try A Confederate General at Big Sur or Trout Fishing in America...unbelievable little books.

#32 Black Theology and Black Power by James H. Cone

Incredible book. Learn from the fella who informed much maligned Reverend Wright, Obama's former pastor. Gives some insight, albeit somewhat late, into Black Liberation Theology. Read it.

#52: OK, thanks Cameron.

#33 Stout Rider by The Curtis Bishops

Great little book that I found at my grandfather's house in Georgetown, TX. Inside were markings, probably made by my father or his brothers, reading the book in the 1950s or early 60s. I like that.

#54: I love to see comments in the margins of old books too, but I bet it is especially interesting when they are from your relatives. That is cool!

#34 Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin

Interesting enough. Read it. Also read books by black people. They have been articulating the horrors of racism and segregation for centuries.

#56: I have got to read that one!

#35 Jailbird by Kurt Vonnegut

One of the few KV's that I'd not read yet. Good stuff, but no Sirens of Titan.

#58: Yet another writer I need to get to one of the centuries. *sigh*

#36 Reality Hunger by David Shields

pretty unbelievable stuff.

#37 Zazie in the Metro by Raymond Queneau

Great little book. Lots of wordplay and phonics fun. Awesome Oulipo.

#38 Child of God by Cormac McCarthy

Uf. Heavy, heavy stuff. Page turner. Stomach turner.

#39 Seedfolks by Paul Fleishman

Incredible little book. Wow, I was so happy after reading this. Of course, I finished the aforementioned CMcCarthy, so I couldn't go anywhere but up. This was just a gem.

Read it.

#40 The Dead Father Donald Barthelme

Loved this book. I recently read Barthelme for the first time with Snow White. With these two under my belt, I'll definitely be shopping for more in the months to come.

Unbelievably funny, difficult, sharp, and (surprisingly) quite touching at its close.

Looks like you have had some good recents reads, Cameron!

I'm really enjoying your succinct synopses, Cameron.

#41 Unrecounted by W. G. Sebald and Jan Peter Tripp

Interesting little collaborative work, with Sebald contributing short minimal poems and Tripp lithographs. Really beautiful little book.

I don't know Sebald too well, though interest has been piqued by his words here.

#67: I very much enjoyed Sebald's The Emigrants, Cameron, so I would recommend that one to you.

Great, alcottacre...I own that one, and I'll have to dig it out of the pile and move it up a few spots.

#42 The Last Novel by David Markson

Wow. Really unbelievable. Remarkably different from Wittgenstein's Mistress, I thought, more than I anticipated. As with The Dead Father, I was actually quite emotional at the end, regardless of not being given much in the way of direct character development. I'm surprised, given the number of allusions that I didn't know and didn't take the time to research, that I became that attached. Reading it in one sitting, I suppose, helps one really get the feel quite well.

Incredible book, especially in light of Markson's recent death. June 4, 2010, Markson died on. Als ick kan.

#43 The Bellarosa Connection by Saul Bellow

My first Saul Bellow. Not sure about this one. After having read so many spastic and jumpy things, it felt like absolute drudgery. Think swimming in molasses. Sprinting in mayonnaise. Just really slow and belaboured.

I am interested in reading more, though. I think I might just not be in a Bellow mood.

#69: The Markson book looks good. I will give it a try.

#44 The Age of Wire and String by Ben Marcus

Unbelievable. Really tricky, cryptic, difficult, abstract, poetic, puzzling, engaging, almost handbook technical writing. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. As in I can't believe it was written. I might need 1001 nights of reading this over and over again to really understand it. And probably not even then would I have deciphered its entire meaning(s).

#45 The Sot Weed Factor by John Barth

Jesus. This was a long trip through the 17th century Maryland. Absolutely hilarious, difficult, clever, just a great book. It did, however, take me 10 months to finally get it done. Not the kind of thing you want to pick up and read 4 pages of. Takes about 25 to get the motor running, and then you're home free.

Really incredible time, start to finish. Barth. Phew.

#73: Congratulations on finishing the book, Cameron! Ten months is a long time to be plugging away at it.

>67 CameronAllen: Maybe Ill have to check this one out as I didnt have much success enjoyment wise with the one and only Sebald book I've read.

PS 10 months to read The Sot Weed Factor? Im sure I would have given up- I know what you mean about not being able to do 4 pages of some books, some you need to knock big chunks off at a time!

#47 Exercises in Style by Raymond Queneau

Really incredible little book. Basically, there is a somewhat silly little narrative told by Queneau in about 99 different ways. Some of these include different literary permutations and styles, such as onomatopoetically, philosophically, telegraphically, and mathematically, in different slangs, dialects, and with varied moods and such.

A true gem, both for readers and writers.

#76: A true gem, both for readers and writers.

It looks like it! Thanks for the recommendation.

#48 Generation X by Douglas Coupland

First Coupland. Enjoyable, indeed. Again, surprised at how much investment seems to grow in the characters, who are altogether nothing special. Huh.

#49 Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Great book. I've read this one a few times, when I taught third grade. Really quite a frightening little book for anybody willing to imagine. I've also read Gaiman's trade books (The Wolves in the Walls and others), and have been really interested in reading American Gods. Just haven't gotten around to it, although I do own the thing.

Coraline is terrifying, if you really allow yourself to get into the story! That said, I loved it... haha.

Agreed, phoenix.

#50 Doctor Brodie's Report by Jorge Luis Borges

incredible. read Borges. all of it, over and over again.

#81: My local library has that one! I have read a bit of Borges, but not a lot, and would like to read more, so thanks for the recommendation.

Congratulations on hitting 50 books for the year, Cameron!

Thanks alcottacre. Any Borges, I've found, is good Borges, though I haven't read enough yet.

#51 Short Cuts by Raymond Carver

Unbelievable. Sadder than all get out, though. Uf. Like, stomach depressing, viscerally painfully sad situations. I loved it, though, precisely because it is so powerful.

Read it.

#52 Ask the Dust by John Fante

Great book. Foreward written by Bukowski, and it's clear to see how Fante inspired Bukowski. In fact, Bukowski seems (at least in Post Office and Women) quite a bit less unique after having read Fante.

#84: As I have read neither Bukowski or Fante, I will start with the latter.

Yeah, Fante is a little less grotesque, self-loathing, and cocky than Buck. They're both really captivating, though I think Bukowski owes any success in the novelist realm to Fante. Poetry, he's quite unique, if for no other reason than he was incredibly prolific.

#53 A Night of Serious Drinking by René Daumal

Incredible book. Are we at a raucous party, in science lab, in hell, dreaming? All of the above in this one. Nice to read this after Fante, because though they were written a year apart from one another (1938 and 39, respectively), their styles are jaw-droppingly different. Great stuff.

#86: Never heard of Daumal before. I will see if I can locate the book.

Don't know anything about him other than this book that I happened to pick up. Sometimes it pays to give something totally unknown a shot, as in this case.

#54 The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy

Hadn't read this one yet, although it's hard to believe I wasn't supposed to in my four years of high school English. Anyway, it was quite an experience. I'll someday attack the Tolstoy tomes. Not today.

#55 Sadness by Donald Barthelme

Really interesting stories. He's shaping up to be one of my favorites. Read it.

#89: My local college library has that one. I will give it a try.

BTW, Cameron, the 2011 group is up and running. I hope you will be joining us again.

#56 What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver

Great collection. I have now read two collections within a few weeks of each other. Definitely need to break from RC, because I fear I'll appreciate it quite less if I keep plugging away at his writing. Maybe I'll read some of his poetry or novels.

Really sad. Goes well with coffee, bourbon, and Closing Time album by Tom Waitz.

#57 Laughter in the Dark by Vladimir Nabokov

My first Nabokov. I really loved this book - to the extend that you can love something that is really crushing. I feel like there were so many things going on (partly because I live with a guy who wrote an 80 page thesis on Pale Fire, and we've discussed Nabokovian tricks).

#58 Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino

There's nothing to say about IC. He's one of my top five writers. If I could write like anyone, it's Calvino. He combines humor, sadness, confusion, love, anger, silliness, seriousness, mathematics, sciences, and all while playing with the literary form. Really incredible. Second time reading this one, but I appreciated it more now that I've explored more of his body of work.

Read Calvino if nothing else on this list!

Nabokov is one of my LT discoveries. I absolutely loved his memoir Speak, Memory.