Pretentious Literary BS

returnoftheclone
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Posts: 489

Pretentious Literary BS Sept 30, 2011 18:22:46 GMT -8

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Post by returnoftheclone on Sept 30, 2011 18:22:46 GMT -8

Sept 24, 2011 20:07:41 GMT -8 misterjimi said:

Sept 22, 2011 19:53:34 GMT -8 returnoftheclone said:

Any of you hambones ever read the USA trilogy by Dos Passos?

Not yet but it's on my long list.

This might be of specific interest to you: I'm reading "Gotham" right now, a 1200 page history of New York from first discovery to 1898. Apparently the second book is in the works right now. It's incredibly fascinating, and probably the best-written historical text I've ever read. Never a dull moment. Fun fact: "Manahatta" in Lenape (the original tribe here) just may mean "place of intoxication." Word has it when the first Dutch explorers came upon NY Bay, they got hammered with the Lenape, who'd never had European alcohol before. Makes sense to me!

While there is a Big XII I am in it; while there is a Cyclone element I am of it; while there is a soul in Kinnick Stadium, I am not free. -- Eugene Debs

returnoftheclone Super Sophomore Posts: 489	Pretentious Literary BS Oct 14, 2011 11:28:08 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by returnoftheclone on Oct 14, 2011 11:28:08 GMT -8 Anybody read "The Moviegoer" by Walker Percy? Great writer, fantastic novel set in NOLA. Percy is the one who pushed for Confederacy of Dunces to be published, by the way.
	While there is a Big XII I am in it; while there is a Cyclone element I am of it; while there is a soul in Kinnick Stadium, I am not free. -- Eugene Debs

returnoftheclone Super Sophomore Posts: 489	Pretentious Literary BS Dec 8, 2011 21:03:27 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by returnoftheclone on Dec 8, 2011 21:03:27 GMT -8 Sup fools? I just scored an almost-first edition of The Myth of Sisyphus for $3. Printed in '56, I think. Awesome. Anybody else ever track down old copies of already-owned books?
	While there is a Big XII I am in it; while there is a Cyclone element I am of it; while there is a soul in Kinnick Stadium, I am not free. -- Eugene Debs

FlaPack
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Posts: 1,463

Pretentious Literary BS Dec 9, 2011 7:22:39 GMT -8

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Post by FlaPack on Dec 9, 2011 7:22:39 GMT -8

Dec 8, 2011 21:03:27 GMT -8 returnoftheclone said:

Sup fools? I just scored an almost-first edition of The Myth of Sisyphus for $3. Printed in '56, I think. Awesome. Anybody else ever track down old copies of already-owned books?

Not intentionally. But I'm a cheap-ass mofo. When you buy books from Goodwill and steal from the old folks home you wind up with a bunch of old editions.

I've had an old paperback copy of The Myth of Sisyphus around for years and gave it a shot a couple months ago. It wasn't my favorite. Made for shitty bedtime reading. It's now a coaster.

[MpB:http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Cincinnati+v+North+Carolina+State+awItuNCpi5hs.jpg]"Whatever in creation exists without my knowledge exists without my consent."

returnoftheclone
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Posts: 489

Pretentious Literary BS Dec 10, 2011 18:46:11 GMT -8

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Post by returnoftheclone on Dec 10, 2011 18:46:11 GMT -8

Dec 9, 2011 7:22:39 GMT -8 FlaPack said:

Dec 8, 2011 21:03:27 GMT -8 returnoftheclone said:

Sup fools? I just scored an almost-first edition of The Myth of Sisyphus for $3. Printed in '56, I think. Awesome. Anybody else ever track down old copies of already-owned books?

Not intentionally. But I'm a cheap-ass mofo. When you buy books from Goodwill and steal from the old folks home you wind up with a bunch of old editions.

I've had an old paperback copy of The Myth of Sisyphus around for years and gave it a shot a couple months ago. It wasn't my favorite. Made for shitty bedtime reading. It's now a coaster.

Well, I like MOS, but I think his fiction is better.

Anybody ever read any Julio Cortazar? Can't recommend Hopscotch enough.

While there is a Big XII I am in it; while there is a Cyclone element I am of it; while there is a soul in Kinnick Stadium, I am not free. -- Eugene Debs

FlaPack Junior Captain Posts: 1,463	Pretentious Literary BS Dec 11, 2011 11:39:08 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by FlaPack on Dec 11, 2011 11:39:08 GMT -8 Scored Coetzee's Slow Man at the old folks home yesterday. Don't know when I'll get around to it. My nightstand is covered in half read junk as it is.
	[MpB:http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Cincinnati+v+North+Carolina+State+awItuNCpi5hs.jpg]"Whatever in creation exists without my knowledge exists without my consent."

returnoftheclone
Super Sophomore

Posts: 489

Pretentious Literary BS Dec 14, 2011 23:39:09 GMT -8

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Post by returnoftheclone on Dec 14, 2011 23:39:09 GMT -8

Dec 11, 2011 11:39:08 GMT -8 FlaPack said:

Scored Coetzee's Slow Man at the old folks home yesterday. Don't know when I'll get around to it. My nightstand is covered in half read junk as it is.

Coetzee is a freaking weirdo of a person. Let me know what you think--a little too "literary" for my tastes, if you get my drift.

While there is a Big XII I am in it; while there is a Cyclone element I am of it; while there is a soul in Kinnick Stadium, I am not free. -- Eugene Debs

returnoftheclone Super Sophomore Posts: 489	Pretentious Literary BS Dec 19, 2011 21:47:25 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by returnoftheclone on Dec 19, 2011 21:47:25 GMT -8 Anyone ever dipped into Peter Handke? "A Sorrow Beyond Dreams" is one of the better pieces of fiction I have ever read.
	While there is a Big XII I am in it; while there is a Cyclone element I am of it; while there is a soul in Kinnick Stadium, I am not free. -- Eugene Debs

misterjimi Moderator Moderator Posts: 6,161	Pretentious Literary BS Dec 30, 2011 14:49:24 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by misterjimi on Dec 30, 2011 14:49:24 GMT -8 Dec 19, 2011 21:47:25 GMT -8 returnoftheclone said: Anyone ever dipped into Peter Handke? "A Sorrow Beyond Dreams" is one of the better pieces of fiction I have ever read. Tell me more... I'm not familiar with him.

returnoftheclone
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Posts: 489

Pretentious Literary BS Jan 2, 2012 15:14:32 GMT -8

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Post by returnoftheclone on Jan 2, 2012 15:14:32 GMT -8

Dec 30, 2011 14:49:24 GMT -8 misterjimi said:

Dec 19, 2011 21:47:25 GMT -8 returnoftheclone said:

Anyone ever dipped into Peter Handke? "A Sorrow Beyond Dreams" is one of the better pieces of fiction I have ever read.

Tell me more... I'm not familiar with him.

Semi-autobiographical novella about his mother, who killed herself. It was out of print, but I think NYRB has started publishing it again.

Handke is also a weird guy. Sort of pro-Serbian but not. The rest of his stuff is meh. He also wrote a lot of plays, the most famous of which is called (I think) Insulting the Audience. Black box 70s theatre, etc. But A Sorrow Beyond Dreams is terrific.

While there is a Big XII I am in it; while there is a Cyclone element I am of it; while there is a soul in Kinnick Stadium, I am not free. -- Eugene Debs

FlaPack
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Posts: 1,463

Pretentious Literary BS Feb 14, 2012 9:27:09 GMT -8

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Post by FlaPack on Feb 14, 2012 9:27:09 GMT -8

Started reading Zinn's A People's History of the United States. Some of the earliest stuff seems pretty dated after having read 1491 (highly recommended) but I'm finding the later colonial period stuff pretty interesting. Of course Zinn wears his politics on his sleeve and he was a pretty radical leftist but that kind of shit usually doesn't bother me. At least he wrote with passion and didn't try to feign objectivity.

The old folks home payed off again with some Mario Vargas Llosa. Anyone read The Feast of the Goat? I haven't really read any fiction set in the Caribbean that I can remember.

[MpB:http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Cincinnati+v+North+Carolina+State+awItuNCpi5hs.jpg]"Whatever in creation exists without my knowledge exists without my consent."

returnoftheclone
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Posts: 489

Pretentious Literary BS Feb 14, 2012 9:49:51 GMT -8

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Post by returnoftheclone on Feb 14, 2012 9:49:51 GMT -8

Feb 14, 2012 9:27:09 GMT -8 FlaPack said:

Started reading Zinn's A People's History of the United States. Some of the earliest stuff seems pretty dated after having read 1491 (highly recommended) but I'm finding the later colonial period stuff pretty interesting. Of course Zinn wears his politics on his sleeve and he was a pretty radical leftist but that kind of shit usually doesn't bother me. At least he wrote with passion and didn't try to feign objectivity.

The old folks home payed off again with some Mario Vargas Llosa. Anyone read The Feast of the Goat? I haven't really read any fiction set in the Caribbean that I can remember.

Not a big MVL fellow, myself. Just doesn't quite tickle my fancy, though he's a very good writer.

I'm STILL working my way through the 1200+ page Gotham. Learning a lot of interesting history, but I swear to god the pages must be standard printer paper with 8 point font. I consider it a good night if I can knock out ten pages. Yeesh!

While there is a Big XII I am in it; while there is a Cyclone element I am of it; while there is a soul in Kinnick Stadium, I am not free. -- Eugene Debs

lbyrd02 Heisman Candidate I can explain it to you but cannot understand it for you - ED (talking about CTH) Posts: 5,797	Pretentious Literary BS Feb 12, 2018 7:55:12 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by lbyrd02 on Feb 12, 2018 7:55:12 GMT -8 Here is a topic long forgotten on this board - Books. My contribution would be "The Prize" by Yergin. Basically the history of wealth via oil in the world. It explains a lot about life now days

tribble
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Pretentious Literary BS Feb 12, 2018 8:28:50 GMT -8

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Post by tribble on Feb 12, 2018 8:28:50 GMT -8

Feb 12, 2018 7:55:12 GMT -8 lbyrd02 said:

Here is a topic long forgotten on this board - Books. My contribution would be "The Prize" by Yergin. Basically the history of wealth via oil in the world. It explains a lot about life now days

Boy, Byrdie, you are the first person to post on this board since 2012! I am trying to think of a book I read even in the last couple of years that would be of interest to anyone besides me. I am currently reading The Gnostic Gospels By Elaine Pagels. I have read several of her books. I am interested in the history of Christianity and the early Christian Churches. I enjoy trying to understand why people believe certain things.

My wife is reading Sapiens, a Brief History of Humankind, and that will probably be my next book. For what it is worth, she says it is a fantastic book, and strongly recommends it. My guess is that it would be more interesting to most people than Pagels' book. Mostly I like to read shorter things. For example, I just finished up several Abstracts (the studies require me to pay.) The abstracts were all on the subject of POPs (Persistent Organic Pesticides) They were on Pub Med or Med Line, I forget.

Anyway, why do you like your oil book? I assume it has a very liberal slant.

lbyrd02
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I can explain it to you but cannot understand it for you - ED (talking about CTH)

Posts: 5,797

Pretentious Literary BS Feb 12, 2018 10:17:12 GMT -8

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Post by lbyrd02 on Feb 12, 2018 10:17:12 GMT -8

We have had so few definitive points in history that have shaped the world and oil is perhaps the biggest - more so than religion even though it is the public front for most wars, oil has been the most consistent reason not publicized. Most wealth in the 20th century was derived from oil and its control has been at the forefront of most political decisions. If not for oil, we would not know the sh!thole countries of the middle east, south America or other global interest of the US. The importance of oil to WW1 and WW2 made the UK and USA the military Powers they are today, any wealthy 20th century families rode the back of oil. While cars and computers both had their impacts - nothing compared to oil. Why do you think Rex is in the White House? Did you know the importance of a few New Haven men in creating the oil impact?

Post by returnoftheclone on Sept 30, 2011 18:22:46 GMT -8

Post by returnoftheclone on Oct 14, 2011 11:28:08 GMT -8

Post by returnoftheclone on Dec 8, 2011 21:03:27 GMT -8

Post by FlaPack on Dec 9, 2011 7:22:39 GMT -8

Post by returnoftheclone on Dec 10, 2011 18:46:11 GMT -8

Post by FlaPack on Dec 11, 2011 11:39:08 GMT -8

Post by returnoftheclone on Dec 14, 2011 23:39:09 GMT -8

Post by returnoftheclone on Dec 19, 2011 21:47:25 GMT -8

Post by misterjimi on Dec 30, 2011 14:49:24 GMT -8

Post by returnoftheclone on Jan 2, 2012 15:14:32 GMT -8

Post by FlaPack on Feb 14, 2012 9:27:09 GMT -8

Post by returnoftheclone on Feb 14, 2012 9:49:51 GMT -8

Post by lbyrd02 on Feb 12, 2018 7:55:12 GMT -8

Post by tribble on Feb 12, 2018 8:28:50 GMT -8

Post by lbyrd02 on Feb 12, 2018 10:17:12 GMT -8

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