What are you currently reading?

[Florestan]

James H. Johnson - Listening in Paris: A Cultural History

Just finished this. An extremely interesting, well-written (the author's sense of humor is exquisite) and thought-provoking book. The parallels between the political and ideological instrumentalization of music during the French Revolution (especially during the Reign of Terror) and the treatment of music in the Socialist Republic of Romania (especially during the 1980s) are striking. Also, who'd have thought that it was Rossini of all people who paved the way for Beethoven's triumph in Paris in the 1830s?

Highly recommended.

[bwv 1080]

Used to re-read Tolkein every 5-6 years, now I am on my 3rd time through Steven Erkison's Malazan Book of the Fallen. 

[Jamie]

Enjoying the coincidentally topical House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea. For a non North American it is an interesting take on one family's Mexican-American experience.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Just realized I never posted my final thoughts about Collins's "No Name". I enjoyed it a lot, although the first quarter was so unbelievably good that it overshadowed the rest of the book, which was very good too. The ending was a bit cliché though.

To most people Captain Wragge seems to be their favorite character in the book. He was definitely one of my favorites as well, liked the development of friendship between him and Magdalen. Not a simple case of business relations. I also enjoyed Mrs. Lecount, the charismatic well-rounded female adversary and Noel Vanstone makes me think of Niles Crane in all his neurotic tendencies. Or rather the other way around. But Mr. Clare possibly takes the cake as the greatest character. (one of my top reasons why I liked the first quarter so much). At first he seems like your typical emotionally abusive father who doesn't think his son ever amounts to anything. But then you start to see his son's increasing irresponsibility and see that Mr. Clare does have a good point and his kindness to Magdalen in the book under his gruff exterior is really touching.

Overall, a great book. I recommend it if you can get past occasional convoluted plot threads and the traditional cliché ending.

[Mookalafalas]

James H. Johnson - Listening in Paris: A Cultural History

Just finished this. An extremely interesting, well-written (the author's sense of humor is exquisite) and thought-provoking book. The parallels between the political and ideological instrumentalization of music during the French Revolution (especially during the Reign of Terror) and the treatment of music in the Socialist Republic of Romania (especially during the 1980s) are striking. Also, who'd have thought that it was Rossini of all people who paved the way for Beethoven's triumph in Paris in the 1830s?

Highly recommended.

My kinda book! thanks for mentioning this one. Goes on the list (most of which I will probably not live long enough to get to )

[Ken B]

Just realized I never posted my final thoughts about Collins's "No Name". I enjoyed it a lot, although the first quarter was so unbelievably good that it overshadowed the rest of the book, which was very good too. The ending was a bit cliché though.

To most people Captain Wragge seems to be their favorite character in the book. He was definitely one of my favorites as well, liked the development of friendship between him and Magdalen. Not a simple case of business relations. I also enjoyed Mrs. Lecount, the charismatic well-rounded female adversary and Noel Vanstone makes me think of Niles Crane in all his neurotic tendencies. Or rather the other way around. But Mr. Clare possibly takes the cake as the greatest character. (one of my top reasons why I liked the first quarter so much). At first he seems like your typical emotionally abusive father who doesn't think his son ever amounts to anything. But then you start to see his son's increasing irresponsibility and see that Mr. Clare does have a good point and his kindness to Magdalen in the book under his gruff exterior is really touching.

Overall, a great book. I recommend it if you can get past occasional convoluted plot threads and the traditional cliché ending.

Thanks for the review.

[NikF]

Gym reading while waiting for a bench  -



At the same time filing my nails. I'd also file my calluses, but they usually require a belt sander.

[Ken B]

Vacation starts soon, most of July. I always have a reading project. The main one this summer is Maupassant's Bel Ami in French.

I am also pondering reading Orlando furioso. Anyone read it? I'm looking at you Florestan.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Tolkien's poem "Kortirion among the trees" that I recently read from The Book of Lost Tales is absolutely mind-blowing. I think I like best the first version, though.

[Florestan]

Vacation starts soon, most of July. I always have a reading project. The main one this summer is Maupassant's Bel Ami in French.

I am also pondering reading Orlando furioso. Anyone read it? I'm looking at you Florestan.

No, I haven't read it but I've heard only good things about it. 

I warmly recommend you try this:



I read it in an excellent Romanian translation. If you are into Cervantes it should be a page turner.

[Christo]

If you are into Cervantes

Disappointed by the only thing I tried, Don Quixote. Though fascinating for its cryptic references to the underground life of conversos - giving rise to questions about Cervantes himself - and Jewish and other Moorish backgrounds of early modern Spain in general.

[Florestan]

Disappointed by the only thing I tried, Don Quixote.

Why?

[Christo]

Why?

Tell my why you don't find it humourless - that especially - and also somewhat grotesque, or pointless.

[Ken B]

Tell my why you don't find it humourless - that especially - and also somewhat grotesque, or pointless.

Did you find it humourless, or did it find you?

[SimonNZ]

[Florestan]

Tell my why you don't find it humourless - that especially - and also somewhat grotesque, or pointless.

Answering a question with another question is a non-answer and rather bad form, professor. Anyway, if you really find Don Quijote humourless and grotesque and pointless I'm afraid my thoughts will make no difference. The book is obviously not your cup of tea. I'd like to get an idea of your literary taste, though. What work(s) do you find humorous, normal and valuable?

Did you find it humourless, or did it find you?

[Christo]

What work(s) do you find humorous, normal and valuable?

Medieval or early modern, you mean? At least the Commedia, rightfully subnamed 'divine'. What I read of Rabelais - not much - reminded me of Cervantes, but I loved the early Britons: Swift, Defoe. Read the Quixote only once and couldn't understand its popularity, though I also oncer 'studied' these references to the Iberian conversos.

[Florestan]

Medieval or early modern, you mean? At least the Commedia, rightfully subnamed 'divine'. What I read of Rabelais - not much - reminded me of Cervantes, but I loved the early Britons: Swift, Defoe. Read the Quixote only once and couldn't understand its popularity, though I also oncer 'studied' these references to the Iberian conversos.

Great list. Strange, though, that you love Swift but not Cervantes. I find them equally humorous.

I first read Don Quijote when in early secondary school and naturally I didn't make much of it (I don't even remember finishing it). Then I read it a few years ago and was spellbound, a page turner from start to finish. Whatever interpretation one subscribes to  --- DQ as a paradigmatic madman (Ortega y Gasset) or as a noble and sentimental idealist (Dostoyevsky, who modelled his own Myshkin after DQ) --- I find this book full of great insights into the human condition presented in a humorous, heartfelt and humane style. It's not an easy reading, though, I was helped enormously by the translator's erudite and exhaustive preface, notes and commentaries.

Maybe a new and fresh reading would change your perspective?

[Christo]

Great list. Strange, though, that you love Swift but not Cervantes. I find them equally humorous.

I first read Don Quijote when in early secondary school and naturally I didn't make much of it (I don't even remember finishing it). Then I read it a few years ago and was spellbound, a page turner from start to finish. Whatever interpretation one subscribes to  --- DQ as a paradigmatic madman (Ortega y Gasset) or as a noble and sentimental idealist (Dostoyevsky, who modelled his own Myshkin after DQ) --- I find this book full of great insights into the human condition presented in a humorous, heartfelt and humane style. It's not an easy reading, though, I was helped enormously by the translator's erudite and exhaustive preface, notes and commentaries.

Maybe a new and fresh reading would change your perspective?

Many thanks, that's exactly what I was hoping for.  Yes, read it 30 years ago an although nothing wiser by now, love to give it another try. 

[Florestan]

Many thanks, that's exactly what I was hoping for.  Yes, read it 30 years ago an although nothing wiser by now, love to give it another try. 

You should. And as I said, it's of paramount importance to have a very good and copiously annotated translation. Good luck and keep us informed of your progress (or lack thereof).