Das Book: the very new reading thread

[auto-da-fey]

Man, you people just have no appreciation for great semen-drenched literature.

[Almanzo]

I just started a 10th anniversary (personal anniversary) re-read of Neuromancer, with intent to re-read all of the Sprawl trilogy. Two things that are funny is all of the borrowed names and hip references ("bobby quine" - robert quine, linda lee - from the VU's "cool it down", the cafe "Jarre", etc.) that I never got when reading it as a 17-year-old and the fact that it's SUCH a page-turner. It gives me that "oh man, I can't wait to get to the train so I can crack it open to read what happens next" feeling that I miss in far more important literature. I wish I got that feeling from Proust.

[auto-da-fey]

Just finished Donald Critchlow's Phyllis Schlafly and Grassroots Conservatism, an important, well-researched book that's occasionally infuriating because of the author's evident sympathy for his vile subject matter. But whatever, I'm just pleased with myself for tearing through this 400-page beast in two days--hardly a land speed record, but satisfying enough accomplishment for me right now.

[diesel_powered]

Did you drench it in semen afterwards?

[difficult]

what do you think? Of course he did

[difficult]

and then returned it to the library

[auto-da-fey]

diesel, would you drench this in semen? Be honest now:



suffice it to say, no tribute-stroke here.

[difficult]

Yes, but you could make the pages stick together so no-one else could read it!

[auto-da-fey]

alas, the copy is my very own, so such Eagle Forum-worthy tactics would be counterproductive.

[diesel_powered]

Okay, I'm not going to say that Schlafly isn't a total fox, but that "E.R.A. LESBIANS REPENT!" sign in the background is kind of a turn off.

[auto-da-fey]

I dunno, the illiteracy of "while your able" kinda gives me wode.

[Bernard]

I dunno, the illiteracy of "while your able" kinda gives me wode.

Good call. I think I get chode-wode.

[diesel_powered]

I guess if anything, this thread has reminded me that my knowledge of this whole period is pretty much entirely gleaned from Jello Biafra's spoken word.

[dominic]

Man, you people just have no appreciation for great semen-drenched literature.

TAKE THAT BACK!

[auto-da-fey]

Hah, not including you, Dom. Have you read Dhalgren? Maybe you'd support my side on it. For me, it just created such a complete and immersive sense of dislocation that I was completely captivated from very early on. Apparently it does not have this effect on everyone.

[nonotyet]

squee
mostly actually I just want him to write more fiction
and I am hoping that some part of the memoir will account for the exact mindset that led to him thinking the Pink Panther and the Pink Panther 2 were really good ideas
but also squee

[girl]

Pink Panther 2

? I either haven't heard about this, or have completely blocked it out. Sometimes he makes me sad.

Let me know how the book is, though.

[nonotyet]

It isn't out yet, but in the interview that I saw him do about the book he had an EXTREMELY ill-advised moustache. When the interviewer asked him about it he said it was in case they had to do Pink Panther 2 reshoots, and I was all *facepalm*

He makes me sad sometimes too, and I think that the answer to my original question is "money," BUT STILL, STEVE MARTIN, WHAT THE FUCK.

[YojimboMonkey]

I just hit Steve Martin's IMDB page to try and figure out when was the last time he did something that I enjoyed, and wow.  It's been a while.

[Greg Nog]

Hah, not including you, Dom. Have you read Dhalgren? Maybe you'd support my side on it. For me, it just created such a complete and immersive sense of dislocation that I was completely captivated from very early on. Apparently it does not have this effect on everyone.

FUCKING END ALREADY

The thing is, now that I've passed the halfway point, there's no way I can stop.  400 pages and the ability to say "I kinda just stopped, I dunno, maybe it got better" is less satisfying than 800 pages and the right to judge without any reservations.

[jebreject]

I just hit Steve Martin's IMDB page to try and figure out when was the last time he did something that I enjoyed, and wow.  It's been a while.

Planes Trains and Automobiles? Dirty Rotten Scoundrels?

[YojimboMonkey]

I just hit Steve Martin's IMDB page to try and figure out when was the last time he did something that I enjoyed, and wow.  It's been a while.

Planes Trains and Automobiles? Dirty Rotten Scoundrels?

Yes

[jebreject]

AWESOME.

[jebreject]

that is, i agree.

[Lindsay With An A]

I'm going to read Anna Karenina over winter break. I'm so pumped!!! Any suggestions as to which translation/edition I should go with? I figured this would be the place to ask.

Also, a few posts late for this, but last year I got to interview Phyllis Schafly for this documentary I worked on. It was one of the most bizarre experiences of my life. She was supposed to meet us in this banquet hall in some fancy hotel, and she ended up standing us up, but we ran into her later on and confronted her about it. She felt really bad and agreed to give us an interview on the spot, so she gave us the keys to her hotel room so we could set up while she went around schmoozing at some Republican convention that was happening in the hotel lobby. So for about a half hour, me and two of my friends were alone in Phyllis Schalfly's hotel room. Also, in person, her hairdo is basically the eighth wonder of the world.