Books! What are you currently reading or just finished?

[Mangrove]

I found that book somewhat pointless. Much better to read the “Room to Dream” biography which has Lynch’s commentary on every chapter, and covers all of the interesting points of CtBF. I’m not anti-TM or anything, it’s just that Lynch gets kind of propagandistic when he’s talking about it outside the context of his work. I think that promoting TM was the point of his lecture, so I found Room to Dream more interesting/related to his work (of which TM is obviously a big part).

TL;DR to me Room to Dream covers the same content in more depth and is a bit more objective. It also has just has more content.

[Zeke_B]

Wild you say that because of the three novel-length tales I’m about to read (I bought the set), one is the tale of Beren and Luthien. You should check it out! I’m starting with The Children of Hurin.

[fourhoarder]

[grey]

I have kept it on my shelf after a recent purge. I keep trying to get to it. I started it once, but couldn’t build any momentum. Can you relate why the book works for you so well? I’d appreciate a push in that direction!

[davidstelfox]

Recently finished and enjoyed include Ted Ching’s Exhalation and Ali Smith’s Seasons books (although haven’t read Summer yet). Both were recommendations from this thread - thanks to the posters.

Ending the year with something that doesn’t make me think too hard - Salvation Lost by Peter F. Hamilton

[Loitering]

It jumps around a lot stylistically so if something in the opening isn’t grabbing you, I’d say keep going for it and eventually you may land on a section that’s more interesting.

There’s some crazy puzzles going on with all of the prose that are fun to figure out (plot the architecture of the main apartment building on a chess board and follow the movement on the board based on the order of the chapters — it’s entertaining if you go for that sort of thing).

In the long run it’s pretty emotional but that sort of sneaks up on you after all the intellectual gymnastics.

I guess I like it in the same sort of way that I like more chaotic Godard films like Pierrot Le Fou…

[grey]

Thanks, I appreciate the perspective. I do enjoy those sorts of things, and it was suggested as much to me before I picked it up. I always enjoy puzzle-y layers. My memory tells me the layers were less clear to me on my last attempt; I shall give it another go!

[atlas]

just finished. pretty good for a $2.00 thrift store find.

[mattlowery]

I don’t think you did it right:

#eatinfinitejest: the first year

(I kid. It’s fantastic)

I’m starting “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind” this evening.

[Gahlord]

Great thoughts about transforming audience into public presented in four different songs/institutions. Academic yet also an enjoyable read.

[casualdecay]

One of my 2021 goals is to become a book person!
I haven’t read for pleasure in years but I’d like to get back into it. Here’s my first read and so far I’m loving it! I decided to try out audible as I’ve never really attempted audiobooks and so far I like it!

[timp]

Managed to buy a copy of the English version of the Ryoji Ikeda - Continuum book (my French language abilities are minimal and the book has a lengthy & fascinating interview with Ikeda)

Continuum - Atelier EXB

[sellanraa]

Recently finished the Arthur Russell biography that I was sad not to have known about. Remedied now though
https://www.dukeupress.edu/hold-on-to-your-dreams
Currently loving this book a friend hipped me to by a Swiss author named Markus Werner:
https://www.dalkeyarchive.com/product/zundels-exit/

[Treefingers]

I wonder if anybody can help me. I’m looking for an essay I read back in college a few decades ago on the importance of play and playing. I think it was written by a North American conceptual artist, male, I think in the 1970s. Sound familiar?

[Kheone]

Might be Allan Kaprow.

[swhic]

A world of many worlds

“There are words and worlds which are lies and injustices. There are words and worlds which are truths and truthful. In the world of the powerful there is no space for anyone, in the world we want everyone fits.”

[ilikeorangethecolour]

Currently reading ‘Journey To The End Of The Night’ by Louis-Ferdinand Céline for most likely the 8th or 9th time. It’s my favourite book of all time. It is a iconoclastic masterpiece that blurs lines between fantasy and reality, highly existential & pessimistic in its nature and completely gripping in its destruction of the morality of human beings.

Céline was and still remains a controversial figure but his literature, especially Journey, and its follow up Death on Credit are essential reads in my opinion.

Some of my favourite quotes of his below.

“It is of men, and of them only, that one should always be frightened.”

“Since life consists of madness spiked with lies, the farther you are from each other the more lies you can put into it and the happier you’ll be. That’s only natural and normal. Truth is inedible.”

“To hell with reality! I want to die in music, not in reason or in prose. People don’t deserve the restraint we show by not going into delirium in front of them. To hell with them!”

[Daisuk]

I’m reading these two at the moment:

It’s quite good, got a bit of Bukowski about him - but … I don’t know, I expected a lot more, I have to say. You really shouldn’t expect anything from books, but with all the praise this got - it’s just not very original in any way - but then again, I’m reading the Norwegian translation, so there could be a lot lost there somewhere (there usually is), or something my intellect (or lack thereof) is missing.

Another excellent book by Harari. It’s so full of information it’s quite heavy to just read in one go (which is why I alternate between this and some other book). Very interesting perspective on what the future might look like from a very informed historian. Highly recommended.

[Freeways]

I’m currently reading that Arthur Russell biography! I had no idea that it existed until a few months ago, but I’m so glad it does considering there isn’t that much info on him (besides that doc).

[sellanraa]

Follow up and let us know how you like it. I thought it was really well done. Thorough interviews with people who didn’t shy away from all subject matter and it seemed to have even coverage of all this periods/obsessions.