4 posts tagged “culture”

I feel as though all I did in February is sleep, read, and work. And eat. Mostly I wanted to sleep. I did manage to finish several good books, including the Oscar Wilde bio. From there I went on to a William Styron bio, two Jeffrey Deaver "Lincoln Rhyme" books, and Linda Fairstein's "Death Dance." Not to mention the dozen or so other novels and/or mysteries that aren't necessarily part of a series or a regular author that I read.

 I have also gotten about a third of the way through Taylor Branch's "Pillar of Fire," the follow-up to "Parting the Waters," which won the Pulitzer. Subtitled "America in the King Years, 1963-65," this book is a history of the Civil Rights era which was actually a very memorable part of my childhood. I remember sitting with my mother in front of the television, watching the news of marches and beatings and bombings, fires and firehoses, lines of police in riot gear confronting masses of peaceful protesters. My mother was deeply affected by all of it, which I suppose affected me as much as the terrifying images, and since she was to die within a few years, that whole time is carved into my spirit in the way that scars will sometimes release some of the pain that originally caused them, years after the fact. I'm not even sure that will make sense to most people, but I know what I mean. In any event, I am learning more than I bargained for about that period, the change makers, and people that I previously admired, who end up seeming not quite so admirable. Meaning the Kennedy administration, not King.

Daylight Savings Time will soon be upon us, and Spring perhaps not so long after. I am ready to let go of Winter.

Pillar of Fire : America in the King Years 1963-65 (America in the King Years)

Taylor Branch

One in four American adults read NO books last year. How many did you read?

First of all, let me say that I find this almost impossible to believe. However, I have to believe it, because I actually know people who don't read books. They are usually the same people who simply refuse to go into a book store with me anymore, because they know that they will have to drag me out by my hair, kicking and screaming. I don't blame them. I'm an addict.

Personally, I probably read somewhere in the vicinity of 250 books last year. It's hard to say, because sometimes I'll read a book and a half in a day, but there are also days when I either don't get to read at all, or I'll only get to read a chapter or so before work, and a couple more before bed, depending on what else is going on in life. And often, I'll have a couple of books going at the same time, like right now I'm reading the Oscar Wilde bio, and a contemporary mystery. The Oscar Wilde bio is just soo dense with details, that I need a break from it periodically. Plus, I know how his life ended, and it wasn't pretty, so why rush toward what you know isn't going to be particularly uplifting?

I had decided this year that I'd keep track of all the books I read, like a list of titles. In a way though, that seems a little competitive or more like I think I'm actually accomplishing something, when, in reality, it's a necessity. And lets face it, I'd really rather... just read.

If you could choose any singer to sing at your wedding (past or future), who would you choose? 
Submitted by CYAN.

Jazz Icons: Sarah Vaughan Live in '58 & '64

Because she could, and did, do it all.

 Speaking of Sarah, I got this Jazz Icons DVD of her for Christmas. I haven't had a chance to watch it yet, mostly because I was spending my spare time catching up on the Mad Men episodes that I had missed, and re-watching some of the ones I had seen, thanks to my brother Dick, who had copies of them all. Since I gave those back the other night, and since it is going to be NO degrees here this weekend, I plan on enjoying Sarah and the Oscar Wilde biography I'm reading. Not at the same time.    

Show us how you keep yourself entertained.

Knowledge - light

I read. I browse, I buy, I read, I sometimes sell, I have scouted for other people. I read, I have occasionally reviewed, I research, and sometimes, if a book is particularly old, or simply well-made, I will lift it to my nose and and breathe it in. Some people love the new car smell. I love the book smell.

I read by author, or genre, or whatever is available at the time. This year I have read an avalanche of mysteries and crime books- all of the Carol O'Connell books, many Rex Stout books, some Dick Francis books, many many "cozies," and I have just read a few of the Lincoln Rhyme books by Jeffrey Deaver, which I like alot.

Mallory's Oracle (Kathleen Mallory Novels)

Carol O'Connell

Yesterday I read Sue Monk Kidd's "The Mermaid Chair," which I liked, although I found it oddly incomplete in a certain sense, regarding one of the primary relationships.

And other times I love to read biographies, and poetry, and books on music and photography. History, culture, and for God's sake, let us not forget the cookbooks. I love cookbooks.

Reading for me is much the same as coffee. Although I love a fresh, delicious cup of well made coffee, I would rather have a bad cup than none at all.