Thank you for sharing, Dirk. I find that these days I want to re-read books that I've enjoyed in the past as much as I want to read new books. I'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing.
It’s been a while. I remember thinking it was more accessible than Gravity’s Rainbow. Tube addiction and odd subcultures seemed to be capturing the contemporary situation, but on reflection, it was anticipating the internet. What do you make of it?
Again, it’s been a while. Wasn’t as strong for me as Crying of Lot 49 or V (my 2 favorites), but as you said a lot easier to get through than Gravity’s Rainbow (which I’ve attempted 3 times and stalled out each time). I loved all the over the top california mythology (Hollywood union strikes! Giant robots from the Pacific! Nixon/Reagan drug war concentration camps!) - but then I’m a sucker for that.
(There was a theory for many years that Pynchon lived anonymously up in Mendocino county, land of pot and lumber, but apparently that was wrong: https://theava.com/archives/69676)
A good read. Yes, like you I never maintain these lists for long. I'm impressed with the number of books you get through. I'm adopting your advice to keep a book to hand through the day. I think I've pretty much given up on social media at present.
Did you mean 2024 or 25 at the end there, re blogging?
I enjoyed book club this morning. Interesting to hear other people's take on Cugel. Thanks for organising.
Decent list. I struggle pathetically reading these days which is mad considering how much pure enjoyment I get from it and how much angst, anxiety and rage I get from what I’ve mostly replaced it with
Managed to break my duck towards the end of the year and rail through a couple of great books and need to somehow try not to fall off the wagon now, especially as whilst in the past few years I’ve read less and less, the part of my brain that is responsible for buying new books hasn’t got the memo
Thank you for sharing, Dirk. I find that these days I want to re-read books that I've enjoyed in the past as much as I want to read new books. I'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing.
I see Thomas Pynchon’s VINELAND on there, I’m curious about your take on that.
It’s been a while. I remember thinking it was more accessible than Gravity’s Rainbow. Tube addiction and odd subcultures seemed to be capturing the contemporary situation, but on reflection, it was anticipating the internet. What do you make of it?
Again, it’s been a while. Wasn’t as strong for me as Crying of Lot 49 or V (my 2 favorites), but as you said a lot easier to get through than Gravity’s Rainbow (which I’ve attempted 3 times and stalled out each time). I loved all the over the top california mythology (Hollywood union strikes! Giant robots from the Pacific! Nixon/Reagan drug war concentration camps!) - but then I’m a sucker for that.
(There was a theory for many years that Pynchon lived anonymously up in Mendocino county, land of pot and lumber, but apparently that was wrong: https://theava.com/archives/69676)
A good read. Yes, like you I never maintain these lists for long. I'm impressed with the number of books you get through. I'm adopting your advice to keep a book to hand through the day. I think I've pretty much given up on social media at present.
Did you mean 2024 or 25 at the end there, re blogging?
I enjoyed book club this morning. Interesting to hear other people's take on Cugel. Thanks for organising.
You're right of course. I meant 2024.
Decent list. I struggle pathetically reading these days which is mad considering how much pure enjoyment I get from it and how much angst, anxiety and rage I get from what I’ve mostly replaced it with
Managed to break my duck towards the end of the year and rail through a couple of great books and need to somehow try not to fall off the wagon now, especially as whilst in the past few years I’ve read less and less, the part of my brain that is responsible for buying new books hasn’t got the memo
Might well take up that tip about reading this year, as a replacement for doomscrolling. Also, website added to the RSS reader 👍