What Are You Reading, Pt 5? - Page 21

Gordon B · December-30th-2008, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

I proofread this for him, I'm thanked in the back. whoo!

I figure I might as well read this while marking time waiting for the Keith Rowe biography to get finished and published. Who knows, you might get thanked a second time.

Jazzzoline · December-31st-2008, 01:27 AM

any of yous ever read Ray Kurzweil books ?

Jesse · December-31st-2008, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

I proofread this for him, I'm thanked in the back. whoo!

Jon, is this a reference to his collection of pieces about listening to records with jazz artists?

Jon Abbey · December-31st-2008, 05:18 AM

yeah, 'The Jazz Ear'.

Uli · December-31st-2008, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon B

Who knows, you might get thanked a second time.

I would expect more than a little thank you note in the back. At least a couple of chapters devoted to the Rowe/Aebly years.

Jon Abbey · December-31st-2008, 05:55 PM

yeah, presumably that was a joke as I'm also editing Brian's book and probably publishing it (ErstBooks? ErstPrint? dunno, something).

shrugs · December-31st-2008, 06:27 PM

I saw the add for The Jazz Ear in the Book Review last weekend maybe.
Seems interesting, if the library gets it I'll read it. Otherwise, I'll wait until I can find it used.

The Brothers Karamazov

still trying to read most or part of the Great Books.
I promised myself I would work on it more this year. At least dip into some of the books that I can read parts of instead of the whole volume.

I want to read some more Stegner too.

Monte Smith · January-2nd-2009, 03:17 PM

I read The Haunted Man, a Christmas book by Charles Dickens, and I broke my Old Year's resolution because I wanted to have it read before Christmas and I only finished it last night. But it was good, perfect for the season. Dickens is the biggest Christian writer in the language since, I dunno, Milton? But a very different writer and of a very different Christianity. I don't know all the Christian writers. Anyway, in The Haunted Man, Dickens asks "What do we lose if we lose our consciousness of sorrow, and trouble, and pain?"

Root Doctor · January-7th-2009, 03:52 PM

clinthopson · January-7th-2009, 05:41 PM

I've been re-reading Bill Crow's Jazz Anecdotes - delightful.

walto · January-7th-2009, 06:51 PM

gonzo · January-8th-2009, 04:32 AM

13-richard k morgan

walto · January-8th-2009, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

yeah, presumably that was a joke as I'm also editing Brian's book and probably publishing it (ErstBooks? ErstPrint? dunno, something).

Is it near completion?

Brian Olewnick · January-8th-2009, 08:42 AM

No, I'm looking at 2018.

Uli · January-8th-2009, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

No, I'm looking at 2018.

It seems to be such a challenge. Looking forward. Hopefully we will be able to learn a lot that we don't alredy know.

Gary Sisco · January-8th-2009, 12:24 PM

You got to know how to pony

Gary Sisco · January-9th-2009, 01:34 PM

LeCarre -- *A Perfect Spy.* I disliked it at first but then I started digging it. Kind of like if Robertson Davies wrote an espionage novel.

Brian Olewnick · January-9th-2009, 01:42 PM

Courtesy Pete C:

Pete C · January-9th-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Sisco

LeCarre -- *A Perfect Spy.* I disliked it at first but then I started digging it. Kind of like if Robertson Davies wrote an espionage novel.

Haven't read it, but I thought the TV adaptation was excellent.

I'm reading one of Le Carre's major influences, Eric Ambler, Dr. Frigo.

shrugs · January-9th-2009, 09:25 PM

finished The Brothers K and jumped into The Grapes Of Wrath
also picked up a used copy of Ian Hamilton's Robert Lowell biography,

Jazzooo · January-10th-2009, 12:06 AM

A LONG WAY DOWN, by Nick Hornby. I just loved it--four strangers, intent on killing themselves on New Years Eve, bump into each other on the top of a London building, popular for jumping. The laughs ensue from there.

GoodSpeak · January-10th-2009, 06:32 PM

A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen.

It's said to be the first femminist piece of literature.

rollhead · January-10th-2009, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

No, I'm looking at 2018.

I am doing the book about Brian doing the book. I am calling it "Waiting for Da Rowe."

We're making a documentary, too. I am on the left:

Uli · January-11th-2009, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollhead

I am doing the book about Brian doing the book. I am calling it "Waiting for Da Rowe."

He is a master of suspense, that's for sure. Did you happen to catch his buzzer-beating best of the year pick, Rollie?

shrugs · January-11th-2009, 12:15 PM

reading the Lowell biography at night/on the bus or streetcar and reading St.Augustine City of God at other times.

A. Kingstone · January-11th-2009, 05:26 PM

I'm gonna jump in here and list:

Gibbons Decline And Fall OF The Roman Empire (3rd of 8 volumes)

Mingus' Beneath The Underdog

Lapham's Quarterly - EROS

Sun Monthly

Harper's January

rollhead · January-12th-2009, 12:56 PM

Just about finished with "The Rest is Noise," and have ordered "The Triumph of Music"

Monte Smith · January-12th-2009, 07:00 PM

Brian Olewnick has, in his quiet, unhectoring way, been urging us for years to read Victor Hugo's Quatrevingt-treize and his L'Homme qui rit. I watched the movie of the latter earlier this year and that will have to do for that one. But as for the former, Quatrevingt-treize, well I bought the pretty (facsimile of 1875) edition above a year or so ago and blew through it this week. What can I say, B.O.? Formidable! Very powerful, very pacey, and wonderfully thoughtful. Maybe too thoughtful. If you have contaminated my ancien regime mind by peddling this revolutionary hornswaggle, I shall run you through.

Yes, you know within four pages that the three orphaned children are going to form the crux of a climax with their imperiled innocence. But having read eight books by Hugo's obvious influence, Sir Walter Scott, I consider a plot line buried four pages in to be darn near unpredictable. And yes, there are too many pages of mere lists (do we really need recited the name of every Breton forest, every French castle, the address of every revolutionary in Paris, or the astrological sign of every dead officer from Brunswick to La Rochelle? No). And there is some hoity-toity talky-talky. But the weaknesses are romantic. The strengths are abundant. I dug it. Thanks for the rec, Brian.

bigtiny · January-13th-2009, 04:30 AM

Recently finished the third of the Neal Stephonson 'System of the World' trilogy (can't remember the name of it...it might be called 'System of the World'. Right now I'm reading H.G. Wells' two volume History of the World and finishing Gore Vidal's 'Julian'.

I think I'll be visiting some of the Patricia Highsmith 'Ripley' books next...

Oh, and I've been knocking off a chapter here and there of the Ned Sublette book on Cuban music...

bigtiny

Brian Olewnick · January-13th-2009, 08:29 AM

Glad you liked it, Gilbert...um, Monte. Didn't know there was a new edition out, have to look for it. Mine is an ancient, tattered pocketbook from back when softcover books were small enough to fit in one's pocket.