June 2010 Summer is here, well Irish Summer less rain and I am reading...
I don't think you'd end up hating Foer if you read it, he's very reasonable and respectful. I loved Pollan's 'In Defense of Food' and I think he did a great job getting out certain kinds of information, important information in an accessible format.
Foer doesn't argue that meat is bad for humans, just bad for cows. So he is taking a different approach. His quibble with Pollan isn't huge. I'll try to find the quote that he picked at regarding vegans.
Also:
I think I am going to re-read Jesus' Son next. I need some inspiration.
I think I am going to re-read Jesus' Son next. I need some inspiration.
I reread that book at least once a year. Probably way more than that. It's great for grounding me in my writing. Reminding me to throw away the bullshit and stick with the basics.
I think I am going to re-read Jesus' Son next. I need some inspiration.
I reread that book at least once a year. Probably way more than that. It's great for grounding me in my writing. Reminding me to throw away the bullshit and stick with the basics.
I feel exactly the same way.
Question for everyone:
Which is your favorite story in Jesus' Son?
Mine is Dirty Wedding. I love the beginning with the train, the abortion, and the narrator following the guy into the laundry mat.
I dig the one where they're at the farm and the guy gets shot with the shotgun (I think).
Also the story where he's shaving the guy in the mental hospital.
And the first two pages of the book. I could read those two pages over and over and over.
My favorite is the one...oh shoot, spoilers, I better look up the title! You know the one where the guy comes in with a knife in his eye..
Also, if you love 'Jesus' Son', I URGE you to check out 'Cold Snap' by Thom Jones.
I believe that one is called Emergency
That's it, thanks!
Or anything by Thom Jones really - even though I know that one is your favorite.
Has anyone read anything else by Denis Johnson?
I own Fiskadoro, and it's been on my to-read list for a long time, but I haven't gotten to it yet. I also bought and read the first couple pages of Resuscitation of a Hanged Man but, and sadly this is no joke, I actually had to return it and the other books I bought on that venture -- I know another one was Miles From Nowhere by Nami Mun but can't remember what else -- because I needed to get gas.
I've read Angels, Resuscitation, and Nobody Move.
All of his writing is really good. But it's all different. His style seems to change with each book.
Nobody Move is pretty minimalistic though. I really liked that story and I plan to reread it some time.
I think I am going to re-read Jesus' Son next. I need some inspiration.
I reread that book at least once a year. Probably way more than that. It's great for grounding me in my writing. Reminding me to throw away the bullshit and stick with the basics.
oh, man, you break ma-heart, Pete. bring that writing on over to the workshop so i can spray my opinions all over it!
seriously, mate, you got the skills. now piss-off and read Jesus' Son and get back to me with some fresh pages! ha.
seriously, mate, you got the skills. now piss-off and read Jesus' Son and get back to me with some fresh pages! ha.
Matt, I've been working on some things. No stories yet. But just getting back into practice. (As you can see from me posting in that GD thread).
Also, remember how I was bitching about not having Microsoft Word? I was using shitty Microsoft Works. Well, I just ordered Microsoft Office from amazon. They're having a deal. If you buy 07 from them right now - you get a free 2010 upgrade when it comes out. So that should be here any day.
I've been working on carving a little time out of each day at least to try and type something. So, just wait! I'm getting back into it.
Already Dead: Beautiful, pulpy mess.
seriously, mate, you got the skills. now piss-off and read Jesus' Son and get back to me with some fresh pages! ha.
Matt, I've been working on some things. No stories yet. But just getting back into practice. (As you can see from me posting in that GD thread).
Also, remember how I was bitching about not having Microsoft Word? I was using shitty Microsoft Works. Well, I just ordered Microsoft Office from amazon. They're having a deal. If you buy 07 from them right now - you get a free 2010 upgrade when it comes out. So that should be here any day.
I've been working on carving a little time out of each day at least to try and type something. So, just wait! I'm getting back into it.
Too bad you already ordered it, Open Office is free and does 90% of what MS Office does. Seriously, my boss has no idea I don't use MS Office. I won't buy it on principle b/c MS Office is an evil program. The sooner open source kills it the better.
Same goes for Final Draft for screenwriters. They could sell those programs for $20 and still profit but they sell 'em for hundreds b/c it's an "industry standard" - i.e. you're being exploited, especially when free alternatives exist.
"[B]eing good is a fearful occupation; men strain at it and sometimes break in two." - Ray Bradbury
I ordered it! If it's one of your favorite books, I'll have to see what it's all about.
I'll loan you 'Eating Animals' if you'd like. I'd like to keep it in the long run though, but media shipping isn't too expensive if you want to send it back after reading it. I'm mailing you some cookbooks anyway, so let me know! (not because you can't cook, but because I'm trimming my collections and I think you'll enjoy checking them out.)
seriously, mate, you got the skills. now piss-off and read Jesus' Son and get back to me with some fresh pages! ha.
Matt, I've been working on some things. No stories yet. But just getting back into practice. (As you can see from me posting in that GD thread).
Also, remember how I was bitching about not having Microsoft Word? I was using shitty Microsoft Works. Well, I just ordered Microsoft Office from amazon. They're having a deal. If you buy 07 from them right now - you get a free 2010 upgrade when it comes out. So that should be here any day.
I've been working on carving a little time out of each day at least to try and type something. So, just wait! I'm getting back into it.
Too bad you already ordered it, Open Office is free and does 90% of what MS Office does. Seriously, my boss has no idea I don't use MS Office. I won't buy it on principle b/c MS Office is an evil program. The sooner open source kills it the better.
Same goes for Final Draft for screenwriters. They could sell those programs for $20 and still profit but they sell 'em for hundreds b/c it's an "industry standard" - i.e. you're being exploited, especially when free alternatives exist.
you really, really, really love Open Office, huh, Razor?
and Pete, i am very glad to hear and i can't wait to read more of your words.
It's more of a hate for MS Office. Until these past couple years, OpenOffice was a pain in the ass, especially on a Mac. Shit, back in the day, I used ClarisWorks. But really, paying for software is silly unless it's a professional program that requires vast resources to make, like ProTools or Logic or Final Cut. Even Photoshop's days are numbered as Adobe runs out of new "features" to throw in and Gimp improves. Selling software just doesn't work unless it's customized for a specific customer or if making the program requires resources unavailable to open source programmers (very few programs requires such). If you shut out the competition they'll just give their product away for free.
Regardless, I can't wait to see Pete in the workshop as well.
Anyway, back on topic, I'm still reading the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Not bad so far despite the very weighty description of every minor detail.
"[B]eing good is a fearful occupation; men strain at it and sometimes break in two." - Ray Bradbury
Me too.
I feel the exact same way. I've had that book in my hands, but something about it tells me my views of Foer are going to change after reading it. So I never buy it.