On Books

[said_scarlett]

I've been long lamenting that I'm out of things to read. And despite the fact that I have at least two books lined up, I go through books like tissues and always like to have plenty lined up. I was poking around on Amazon, and I decided to look up the author of Middlesex, since I really enjoyed that book and the themes that were present in it. And I discovered that the author was the same author who wrote The Virgin Suicides.

The Virgin Suicides was recommended to me a few years ago, and I never got around to reading it. Now, being familiar with the author and in love with his style of writing, I think I'm definitely going to have to check it out. It's been added to my list of Things to Read immediately.

I just finished my fourth re-read of Skinny Legs and All. I cannot recommend this book enough. Out of all of Tom Robbins' works, this is my absolute favorite. This one really went right down through the depths of the human mindset and gave it a good shake. And the weavings of mysticism and evangelism and paganism were beautiful and complex and wrapped around social concepts in startling and breathtaking ways. The theme of the book - figuring out what it's all about - is tried and true but done in such an original way that there's nothing to compare it to. It's just a raw, evocative and humbling piece of work. Go read it, if you haven't.

And I will grab the second VHD novel as soon as I can.

Comments

[boimim.livejournal.com]

Middlesex is fantastically well-written. Enjoy!

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine got it for me for my birthday, and I tore through it in two days. I love books that deal with gender issues, and that has to be the best one I've read so far. It was an incredible book, and I'm really looking forward to The Virgin Suicides. (Which I am starting to recall they made a movie out of, which I also never saw.)

[boimim.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry. I totally misread that as you hadn't read it. D'oh.

Definitely read The Virgin Suicides before renting.

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

Hah, I didn't even notice. :D I'm so with it tonight.

Yeah, I definitelu plan to. I always try and read the books before the movies, unless I don't know it's a book. I still need to rent Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, despite the fact that the lesbian themes were completely cut out in the movie version.

[boimim.livejournal.com]

Because of a bitchy salesperson at Barnes & Noble, I purposely hid the copy they had. While shopping, if I see her, I ask her (again) about it. Each time, she looks it up on the computer, takes me to the correct section, but is puzzled that it's just not there.

Every. Single. Time.

It's hysterical.

Anyhoggle.

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

You are my hero.

When dealing with bitchy salespeople: don't get mad, get creative!

[boimim.livejournal.com]

It's so true. Anyone can have a temper-tantrum, but it takes creativity to play mind games with the crew @ B&N...


It's very...'Doofus-like,' wouldn't you say? {chuckle}

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

Ah, the amusements of an intelligent mind...

*Laughs* I would indeed!

[zinjadu.livejournal.com]

I don't know if I've recomended Tad Williams to you yet, but if I haven't try finding his Memory, Sorrow, and Throne series. It's a slow start, but very good. Then there's Robert B. Parker's novels, detective stories set in the 70's in Boston. They're light and fun, and good mysteries.

John Irving is also good. His stuff deals with sexuality more than gender, and humanness in general. I think he might be your kinda author, but I'm not sure if you ever read anything by him. I'd say read "A Prayer for Owen Meany," "The World According to Garp," and "The Cider House Rules." Those are the ones I know for sure are good.

Anyway, that's all I can think of for now, if you were looking for recomendations. If not, well you got them anyway. XP

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

Tad Williams... did he write 'The Dragonbone Chair'?

Haven't read John Irving yet, but Cider House Rules has been recc'ed to me a couple of times.

Hey, I'm always up for recs. And I should go to bed, as I have work tomorrow.

[zinjadu.livejournal.com]

Yup, he did. I know, I know it starts off so very slow, but it's so very worth it.

*nods* I think you'd like him, at least in that book. "Owen Meany" is a classic, but "Garp" is iffy. That one you either like or you don't. Funny story about me reading "Garp," I read it in 8th grade and that's how I learned a ton of sex slang. XD

Whoo! Okay, g'night. ^_^

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I read it. Didn't like it.

I'll have to look into him, then. Hah! Glad to know where your education came from. Mine came from stand up comedy....

Night!

[zinjadu.livejournal.com]

*nods* It was a gamble of mine to rec it to you. I have a hard time telling what kind of fantasy epic you'll like and what kind you won't.

*snerk* Well, you had cable.

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can be hard to figure out. I'm picky about my epics.