Since I retired, I've spent a lot of time reading and exploring the Kingsport Public Library in search of books to read. When I was working, I used to really resent that Alan got to watch TV in the evenings, while I had to grade papers. Now, I can watch TV, but I've found that I don't want to because most of it is tripe. So, I explore the library, looking for my evening diversion. Recently, I went there with a list of authors who had won the National Book Award. One of the authors I had never heard of: Martin Amis. There on the shelf I found The Moronic Inferno, and Other Visits to America. The title intrigued me, so I took a look at it. When I opened the book, there was the distinct "crack" of a book that had never been read before. I love that sound--a new book. Well, this one, according to the card holder in the back of the book, was bought for $16.95 in April of 1987. I had visions of some librarian 25 years ago buying it because the author had won the book award recently. And now, I am the first to actually pick it up and check it out. I'm not recommending it, by the way, unless you are interested in witty, in-depth book reviews and commentary on people and authors from the 80's. I did love one comment on Joseph Heller, "No reader should be asked to witness an author's private grapplings with his thesaurus." It reminded me of my students, who used to throw in big words they had looked up in their thesaurus, thinking it would impress me. Having no idea what the words really meant, they would often use them so laughably wrong that they only impressed me with their lack of understanding.
This particular book has a green dot on the spine. I am mystified by its meaning. Alan's copy of Catch 22 is similarly marked. The library is always trying to help out its poor readers by putting decals on the spine. A recent copy of Charles Frazier's Wildwoods, had hearts. Believe me, it is not a romance, unless murder, drug addicts, disturbed children, and other ominous but interesting things make your heart flutter. My favorite mislabeling is the cross on the spine of John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany. I guess the thinking is, "It's got 'prayer' in the title, so it must be a religious book."
So, by not putting in titles of books you have read and enjoyed, you have caused this ramble. So help me out here! Tell me about some books you have read and enjoyed. Movies would be ok too--we stream them from Amazon.
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Books? Books? Who reads dem dingy books??? Well, me for wun. (Twain didn't like persnickety spelling)...
Lessee... Howsabout Southall's bio of Robert E. Lee? Or James Longstreet's From Mannassas to Appomattox (that's next on the list. Lee's the present big gulp). And for lightness, The Best of Ogden Nash. For Heavyness, e.e. cummings, ezra pound, or Edna St. Vincent Millay? (gooduns all) Then for ethical indigestion, howsabout the ol' Bible--especially the Old Testament -- The Big Landgrab & Major Ethnical Cleansing in a Divine Manner. Ha! (enough to make a decent person...well, I won't say what, as I'm noshing and have to keep the cookies down.) Have fun at the library!!! Aren't they great places? My favorite one though is Amazon.com. (Rosie hates it!!! ;^)
Last book I read was "1491" this past summer, largely because it is on Alan's somewhat daunting "Goodreads" list, though it's also a subject I'm interested in. As for movies, we really, really enjoyed the documentary "Man on Wire" and would recommend it to most anybody.
P.S. Looking at Goodreads again, I'll may choose "Authoritarinism and Polarization" next. I disappointed that Alan didn't enjoy Tolkein more. Oh well, nobody's perfect.
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