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BOTW: The Graduate

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It’s Friday.

Time for my #FridayReads post of the week about books, reading and related stuff.

Going to mimic Nick Hornby’s Believer Column again about stuff I have been reading. That is not to say I am near the writer that he is.

Going to go backwards:

Stuff I finished:

“Singularities” by Susan Howe. — Amazing reviews on #GoodReads. This book of poetry just did not take off for me. Felt very MFA, like much more immediacy in my poetry. (Library book — Minerva — From Thomas Memorial Library in Cape Elizabeth, ME.)

“Harvey” by Herve Bouchard and Janice Nadeau — Janice Nadeau’s illustrations are just amazing. To me a book where the art is ahead of the story. It’s a juvenile graphic novel about losing a parent. I would have liked more of an end. The artwork is stunningly beautiful. (Walker Library — Westbrook, ME — my local library .. been spending a lot of time in the juvenile and graphic novel area).

and now for something completely different. — “American Gangbang” by Sam Benjamin — My book of the week last week. The last third of this book is extremely dark. Goes place, I didn’t think it would. I like Benjamin’s narration, curious what else he writes about in the future, and his videos are really fun. But the last part of this book goes some dark, dark places. Actually going to drop my review on Goodreads for this book from 5 stars to 4. Uncomfortable, obscene and very honest book about the porn industry. Not for everyone.

Books checked out: (Both Walker)

Harvey
“The Beats: A Graphic History” by Harvey Pekar et al, illustrations by Ed Piskor, et al … About a third of the way through so far. Interesting stuff, love Harvey Pekar’s voice from American Splendor (awesome movie too) … Kerouac had a sad life, wish he could see his fame from behind. Worth reading. At a 4 star for Goodreads right now. (Really like it).

Books purchased: (All Kindle)

“The History of the World in Six Glasses” by Tom Standage — only 7% in .. interesting so far .. talks about the influence of beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea and Coca-Cola in world history. Didn’t realize for instance that ancient Babylonian beer was basically wort in pottery and they drank it with straw because it still had the grain in it. Fascinating and a great value at $2.99

“The Dirty Parts of the Bible – A Novel” by Sam Torode — 13% of the way in .. Interesting book so far, of a child of a fallen Christian Fundamentalist preacher. About to become a book about journeys. Interesting so far, honestly think the $0.50 price hooked me. Would be 3 stars (liked it) on Goodreads right now.

“Love is a Dog From Hell” by Charles Bukowski (poetry) .. 19% of the way through. — Profane, drunk and brilliant is a good way to describe Bukowski’s poetry .. much, much rawer then the wordplay of “Singularities” .. Fun stuff and an insanely good deal right now on Amazon if you are curious about Bukowski at all. Only $0.99 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VYX9DA/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title

“Life of Pi” by Yann Martel .. not very far along … 9% .. Interesting narrator .. Was the amazon deal of the day and I book I have heard of. Was only $0.99 then .. up to $7.01 now .. will be able to say more about this book when more engaged with it.

And now the book of the week:
“The Graduate” by Charles Webb. This is an interesting book. And obviously a classic film. 80% of the way through the book .. have been since Monday basically.

Should finish it this weekend I hope.

Dustin Hoffman’s Benjamin Braddock is one of the great characters of cinema. The good student who says no to everything. He seems heroic in a way.

Webb’s Ben Braddock is nowhere near this interesting. He is an excellent student that just decided to turn his brain off after being a valedictorian and multiple award winner including a 2 year graduate fellowship in teaching after college. He just says no to all of it. He eventually of course does say yes to Mrs. Robinson (I know spoiler) but that is just part of the vernacular at this point.

But it is incredibly rare in literature and movies to have a character in a book that is actually less of a rich character then the movie version. And you wonder even more why Elaine would go for someone that had such a special relationship with her mom. Not that I am sure if she does.

I enjoyed it, and appreciate it even more what an amazing job Mike Nichols and Dustin Hoffman did with the movie. Movie ****, Book ***1/2. “The Graduate” also has a remarkably low average on Goodreads and Amazon, last one I saw as low was a book I adored (although very different then the movie). “Up in the Air” by Walter Kirn.

And “The Graduate” is very, very dialogue heavy. Fun read, overshadowed by the movie at this point.

Books still reading: (All from the Library)

“Chicago Poems” by Carl Sandburg. — Amazing, posted 4 poems on 2 separate blog posts from this classic of poetry this week. Think I will buy my own copy soon. Definite 5 stars on Goodreads. I really be reading more Sandburg.

“The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle” by Haruki Murakami — just started 2nd chapter. This is a massive book and not sure if I will be able to climb the summit. But, I have heard it is among Murakami’s best

“Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett (play) — I really think Estragon and Vladimir should go to Godot’s house already … I always find plays hard to read. Much easier to see them performed. About 2/3rds of the way through. I know it’s a classic, and I am liking not loving it. 3 stars on Goodreads.

“Sex on the Moon” by Ben Mezrich — A tale of braggadacio and insanity. Not sure why someone with this much talent and drive would steal moon rocks. About a sixth of the way in on Chapter 9. Seems to be a tale of hubris and recommended by @jchristie. Would be curious to see similar blog post from Josh.

What have you been reading? I guess I have read a lot if this is 1,000 plus words.

What I’ve been Reading 12/23

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When I originally came up with the idea of a #FridayReads day on my blog, I thought of Nick Hornby’s piece in the Believer when he talks about what is he reading. It’s literally called “Stuff I’ve Been Reading” http://www.believermag.com/issues/201102/?read=column_hornby

So far me I will talk about what I bought, what I checked, out what I read …

So checked out this week (On Thursday):

Bill Clinton “Back to Work” .. Enjoyed the sample on Kindle, got through Minerva (Gray Public Library) .. Clinton has made a fine ex-president so far.

Ben Mezrich “Sex on the Moon” .. The tale and hubris of stolen moon rocks, heard about this story through I think NPR. .. Haven’t started the book yet.

Haruki Murakami “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle” .. Starting to get into Murakami, heard this is one of his seminal books, excited to get started with it.

Carl Sandburg, “Chicago Poems” .. One of the great poets of American history, got through Minerva (Rockport Public Library) .. Beautiful edition from April, 1925. Need to read more of the man that nicknamed Chicago “The City of Big Shoulders” .. Also one of Kurt Vonnegut’s favorite authors.

The Kindle also had an excellent sale so have picked up some great books on Kindle this week.

I do love reading on the Kindle, is also easier in the call center (smaller pages), and love that can change font sizes.

Bought this week:

“Ham on Rye” by Charles Bukowski. Starting to get more into Bukowski. Tough tales from a tough time. This book makes me happy about my parents, even if I did grow up quite shy. About a third of the way in. Really good so far.

“Nation” by Terry Pratchett .. What is everything you know disappeared into the sea. Only about a tenth in, seems to be a story of lost civilizations, makes me think of all the tribes lost in the colonization of the New World.

“The Mancode: Exposed” by Rachel Thompson/@rachelintheOC on Twitter … Know Rachel as much from her fun Twitter feed as her books .. Have read quite a bit of “A Walk in the Snark” .. fun, silly advice book about the strange gulf between men and women. Her style reminds me of “He’s Not Really That Into You.” Only about 5% of the way through.

“AWOL on the Applachian Trail” by David Miller … I am fascinated by the Appalachian Trail as is my dad. Don’t know if I will through hike, would like to experience more of it. Lanna actually grew up on the last town before the 100 mile wilderness — Monson, ME. About a tenth of the way in. Fun book, very different voice then Bill Bryson’s classic “A Walk in the Woods.” Seems also like would be very useful if you wanted to try to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.

“Midnight Cowboy” by James Leo Herlihy … Have never been able to get that far into the movie … Book hasn’t even reached NYC yet. 15% of the way through the book, Herlihy’s Joe Buck is wicked different then the sports broadcaster. Another tale like “Ham on Rye” of a boy/man who felt apart from the world. Excellent so far.

“Les Miserables” by Victor Hugo — Free on Kindle, in the should read column .. might get there eventually.

And my book of the week “American Gangbang” by Sam Benjamin. Easily the most I have spent so far on a Kindle book at $11.99 this is a lot of fun. Heard about this through a Portland Phoenix column about Sam Benjamin speaking at Space Gallery on December 8th. Wish I heard of the speech earlier, because the book is a lot of fun as is a 20 minute segment of his talk on the history of porn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ERypwHimgk

Very fun, very identifiable voice of a Brown art student, who graduates and is not sure what to do. He picks up some vintage porn in a flea market and thinks why not. I love Benjamin’s voice and identify strongly with his not sure what to do in the world views. Highly recommended, don’t think I will see it in the library soon. Should finish this over the weekend.

Also reading:

“Nothing Risque, Nothing Gained” by Richard Lederer — silly double entendres .. wonderfully juvenile.

“Who’s Afraid of Post-Blackness” by Toure — fascinating so far .. there is no one black experience in America but 30 Million. Uses the example of the “Chapelle’s Show” as something that both links to, makes fun of and changes how blacks view themselves in society. Fascinating but slow read.

Books finished this week:

“After the Quake” by Haruki Murakami — 4 stars on Goodreads (really liked it) .. 6 30 page-ish short stories, supposedly linked by the Kobe earthquake. I think Murakami is better when he can invest more in his characters like in a novel. Some fun stories especially about “The Frog That Saved Tokyo”

“Granny Torrelli Makes Soup” by Sharon Creech — Again 4 stars on Goodreads .. my review on that site: Lovely little book. I like Sharon Creech’s voice.
Prefer the books written in poetry.
Cooking is a great place to teach and tell stories.

This seems especially true with Christmas coming up.

And here is my Goodreads bookshelf if you are curious. http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3177908?shelf=%23ALL%23 Most of the books I am reading on Kindle haven’t made it there yet.

What have you been reading?