Went to pick up a library hold, which I selected based on the author alone, and when I got it, had to laugh at my tendency not to look up anything about a book, including the page count.
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@kimlockhartga Library has Tom's Crossing, and I, for once, wrote it down instead of believing my mind won't go completely blank when I walk into the library.
@kimlockhartga Library doors, along with bookstore and grocery store doors, have a magical memory wiping effect on me
Books? Never heard of 'em. -
Yet, the early readers say that this 1232 page doorstopper is a brilliant 5 star read. Honestly, I might prioritize it over the books I'm currently reading that I only sort of like.
It's by Mark Z. Danielewski, who wrote that completely bonkers, mind-bending, genius, multiple simultaneous storyline novel: House of Leaves*. This new book: Tom's Crossing, is a Western, at least it's grounded there, but we know that this author has an incredible talent for expanding even his own set parameters in storytelling. There's no one quite like him.
I think even before I read this, I might recommend it over House of Leaves as a better way to introduce someone to the author's writing, because I think this will be more accessible.
*coming in at only 700 pages
@kimlockhartga his sister made one of my favorite albums of all time and also reflects some of the weird stuff they grew up with in their house. It’s a counterpart to her brother’s book House of Leaves, & there’s a track by same name.
Highly recommend listening to Poe’s album Haunted.
Two of my favorite tracks ever - Control & Not A Virgin are on it.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRkE5-eyt9iVNepI1U5GKfQrBPyFMhhTA -
@kimlockhartga A book in verse reminded me of Vikram Seth, he wrote one about San Francisco. But he also wrote A Suitable Boy, which I couldn't put down (maybe because it was too heavy
), I read it a couple of times when it came out. Maybe it's been long enough since then to reread it?@sunumbral Thank you for the rec's! I added both to TBR. Looks excellent.
Speaking of San Francisco, have you ever "read" Paul Madonna? I put read in quotes, because his work is mostly detailed illustrations of places around San Francisco, with very little added text, often in two panels, and you look at them and glean the meaning behind the comparison. It's the most unusual exercise I've ever seen. It all started with a strip he did called "All Over Coffee" for the San Francisco Chronicle, that would actually make people mad because they didn't understand it. Often, the strips were a critique of modern society. It affected me so much that I've kept a running list of the epiphanies I've had while viewing panels which at first seemed to have no obvious context or relationship to each other. Then, it suddenly hits you: "Wait a minute! It's saying that adults value consistency while children value novelty." Just one example.
If you ever have an interest in All Over Coffee, I am dying to compare interpretations of any of the panels. It's hard to find someone to do that with me.
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@kimlockhartga his sister made one of my favorite albums of all time and also reflects some of the weird stuff they grew up with in their house. It’s a counterpart to her brother’s book House of Leaves, & there’s a track by same name.
Highly recommend listening to Poe’s album Haunted.
Two of my favorite tracks ever - Control & Not A Virgin are on it.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRkE5-eyt9iVNepI1U5GKfQrBPyFMhhTA@JoBlakely oh my goodness. This is fantastic and I never knew about it. Thank you so much!
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@kimlockhartga Library doors, along with bookstore and grocery store doors, have a magical memory wiping effect on me
Books? Never heard of 'em.@sunumbral I am glad I'm not the only one! I actually email myself all the time.
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@sunumbral Thank you for the rec's! I added both to TBR. Looks excellent.
Speaking of San Francisco, have you ever "read" Paul Madonna? I put read in quotes, because his work is mostly detailed illustrations of places around San Francisco, with very little added text, often in two panels, and you look at them and glean the meaning behind the comparison. It's the most unusual exercise I've ever seen. It all started with a strip he did called "All Over Coffee" for the San Francisco Chronicle, that would actually make people mad because they didn't understand it. Often, the strips were a critique of modern society. It affected me so much that I've kept a running list of the epiphanies I've had while viewing panels which at first seemed to have no obvious context or relationship to each other. Then, it suddenly hits you: "Wait a minute! It's saying that adults value consistency while children value novelty." Just one example.
If you ever have an interest in All Over Coffee, I am dying to compare interpretations of any of the panels. It's hard to find someone to do that with me.
@kimlockhartga I love his stuff. And that reminds me of Gary Kamiya, Cool Gray City of Love.
https://citylights.com/north-america/cool-gray-city-of-love-san-francisco-49/ -
@kimlockhartga I love his stuff. And that reminds me of Gary Kamiya, Cool Gray City of Love.
https://citylights.com/north-america/cool-gray-city-of-love-san-francisco-49/@kimlockhartga I'll see if there's any Paul Madonna in, because it's sounding like a day to hit up the libraries. I seem to remember he did one that followed one of the cross streets through its various twists and turns and neighborhoods.
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@kimlockhartga his sister made one of my favorite albums of all time and also reflects some of the weird stuff they grew up with in their house. It’s a counterpart to her brother’s book House of Leaves, & there’s a track by same name.
Highly recommend listening to Poe’s album Haunted.
Two of my favorite tracks ever - Control & Not A Virgin are on it.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRkE5-eyt9iVNepI1U5GKfQrBPyFMhhTA@JoBlakely OMG. Love love love this artist. I started with "Haunted" and it matches up with House of Leaves so well. I can't believe no one told me about this artist before.
See, this is what social media is for: expanding our world and sharing experiences.
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@kimlockhartga I'll see if there's any Paul Madonna in, because it's sounding like a day to hit up the libraries. I seem to remember he did one that followed one of the cross streets through its various twists and turns and neighborhoods.
@sunumbral His architectural drawing ability alone makes it worth browsing. Sorry to add to your mile long list of rec's from other people.
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@sunumbral His architectural drawing ability alone makes it worth browsing. Sorry to add to your mile long list of rec's from other people.
@kimlockhartga I'm not sorry
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@kimlockhartga I love his stuff. And that reminds me of Gary Kamiya, Cool Gray City of Love.
https://citylights.com/north-america/cool-gray-city-of-love-san-francisco-49/@sunumbral this looks like something I would definitely enjoy!
One day, when we leave our physical selves behind and become library ghosts, we should meet up at the Library of Congress or the New York Public Library.
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@kimlockhartga I'm not sorry
@sunumbral It's an embarrassment of riches.
Okay, time to check on my mom. Lemme know if you look into Paul Madonna's work and I will let you know if Tom's Crossing is even worth your time. There are only so many hours. We want them spent with the best reading experiences we can find.
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@sunumbral this looks like something I would definitely enjoy!
One day, when we leave our physical selves behind and become library ghosts, we should meet up at the Library of Congress or the New York Public Library.
@kimlockhartga Ghost lunch at the Morgan
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@JoBlakely oh my goodness. This is fantastic and I never knew about it. Thank you so much!
@kimlockhartga I can’t believe she is not super famous, her production, artistry, voice, self awareness and strength…writing, all of it…
She was too strong and powerful for the music industry and gatekeepers to let through uncontrolled. One of the best artists ever, imo.The album as a whole is a trip. So creative, original. And so many real bangers! I’ve been listening to it for 26 years now (tbh I thought it was longer!) since it came out. Someone else gave it to me. Never got tired of it.
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@kimlockhartga I can’t believe she is not super famous, her production, artistry, voice, self awareness and strength…writing, all of it…
She was too strong and powerful for the music industry and gatekeepers to let through uncontrolled. One of the best artists ever, imo.The album as a whole is a trip. So creative, original. And so many real bangers! I’ve been listening to it for 26 years now (tbh I thought it was longer!) since it came out. Someone else gave it to me. Never got tired of it.
@JoBlakely It's absolutely criminal that she is not better known!
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@kimlockhartga Ghost lunch at the Morgan
@sunumbral perfect!
People think I'm joking, but I will be disappointed if this plan does not become available in the afterlife.
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@sunumbral It's an embarrassment of riches.
Okay, time to check on my mom. Lemme know if you look into Paul Madonna's work and I will let you know if Tom's Crossing is even worth your time. There are only so many hours. We want them spent with the best reading experiences we can find.
@kimlockhartga Thanks so much for this dialogue! If you two ever want to do a video call bookclub, I love to get different recommendations, even if I can't find them or read them. My library has no Paul Madonna. All Over Coffee sounds vaguely like the Griffin and Sabine series that delighted me.
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth is one of my all-time favourite books, and I convinced various friends that they also had to read it, like @Leslie_M
House of Leaves looks a bit creepy for me. -
@sunumbral I am glad I'm not the only one! I actually email myself all the time.
@kimlockhartga @sunumbral
That memory loss is my primary reason for having a Goodreads account, even though I know there are newer non-Bezos options. Very early on in my smartphone journey, I discovered that I could scan the ISBN of any book that looked intriguing to save it in my Plan To Read list. But mainly, the app stopped me from buying or borrowing books again that I didn't enjoy much the first time around. -
@sunumbral exactly.
Also, House of Leaves is a tremendous commitment in concentration. It takes a lot of time and intense effort. It's brilliant, but requires so much of the reader.
I've read some of Everlasting, by Alix E. Harrow, whom I usually love, but I'm stuck not really wanting to finish it. I also started Rasputin Swims the Potomac, by Ben Fountain, which is a bit obvious in where it's going in a heavy-handed farce. I think I may drop both in favor of Tom's Crossing.
First, though, I may check out Maria Popova's newest work: The Universe in Verse: 15 Portals to Wonder Through Science and Poetry. It is described as "an ode to wonder and exploration of the human search for truth and meaning." It's only 112 pages, and looks to be good. High ratings! Oh, and I thought I remembered the poet being around here, and she is! I don't want to bother her by tagging her, but this is her handle: mariapopova@indieweb.social
@kimlockhartga I also usually love Alix Harrow's books but I returned Everlasting after a few chapters, it just didn't catch at my attention enough to care.
You've both given some great recommendations in this thread. I'm going to have to add a column for "recommender" on my tbr list so I know who to thank.
@sunumbral -
@kimlockhartga I also usually love Alix Harrow's books but I returned Everlasting after a few chapters, it just didn't catch at my attention enough to care.
You've both given some great recommendations in this thread. I'm going to have to add a column for "recommender" on my tbr list so I know who to thank.
@sunumbral@CuriousMagpie @kimlockhartga @sunumbral
I know that I read and enjoyed The Everlasting, but I had to see what I said. 4 stars, which for me means great but not memorable, which it clearly wasn't. This was what I said, way back in January:
I loved this female-focussed Arthurian time-travelling legend. I got a bit bogged down in the middle with the repetition and reiterations, but overall, it was an excellent read.
