March 14, 2007

the love of words

Do you read much? I read most nights before I pass out at 10:30. I read a lot of crappy vampire books and really sad childhood memoir books and then I’ll grab me some of them thar lit-ur-a-tur, too. My current book is of the lit-ur-a-tur variety. And it’s so tasty and divine I can barely stand it. I’ve read Cormac McCarthy’s “All the Pretty Horses” and thought, alright, he’s a writer of westerns, albeit spare and beautiful, perfectly phrased westerns. But that would be putting him into a tiny little pocket in which he does not deserve to be.

You’ve really got to check out “The Road”. I picked it up after a recommendation by my OTHER steady source of lit-ur-a-tur, Entertainment Weekly (oh how I love your slim little booklets that slide through my mail slot like the regular drip drip drip of a morphine line!). I’m only 50 pages into it and I just marvel at this guy’s command of the language. Each line has so much subtext and subtlety. And it’s not like he’s all impressed with his command of vocabulary, because he doesn’t get all jiggy on the vohizzle or anything.

This story, you slowly learn, is set after an apocalyptic event of some sort, but he doesn’t say it all bold and scary or wordily like Stephen King might. This is SO not a disaster or sci-fi post-apocalypse book. He only slowly unfurls the hints and allusions to the fact that some really bad shit went down. There is a father and son who are traveling by foot, going south, and their tender relationship is so carefully drawn on the page, that I cared immensely about them from the start. I hope nothing bad happens to them. That would totally bum me out.

I guess I should finish the book before reviewing it, but really it’s so stellar this soon into the thing, that I can’t help raving! Read any good books lately? This one surely won’t last forever! Tell me in the comments!

Posted by Pagalina at 14:15:07 | Permanent Link | Comments (6) |
Comments
1 - I would really like to hear from a non-parent that has read this book. I don't know if this would have hit me the same way witout Miss Ruby being around. So any non-breeder readers out there willing to chime in? (Comment this)

Written by: Dickie at 2007/03/14 - 19:56:51
2 - My Random House rep (who is a non-parent) said this was her favorite book of the year, and I've been meaning to pick it up ever since. A lot of the things I've read lately have been on the downer side, so I was looking for a pick-me-up before tackling the Road. My favorite thing I read this year was Kockroach, a story of a cockroach who turns into a man. It was quirky and gritty, and isn't gaining the popularity it deserves. If you're into the more complex literary achievement kind of book, I recommend Cloud Altas, which is also very readable, but has so much depth to it. (Comment this)

Written by: Noelle at 2007/03/15 - 10:38:09
3 - yeah, the road is pretty dang heavy, in a creepy sort of way. I put it down a little early last night cause i knew a creepy part was coming up.

Kockroach sounds like a lot of fun! The name reminded me of a very funny book called "Pest Control" http://www.amazon.com/Pest-Control-Bill-Fitzhugh/dp/0060815302/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-1989630-5306523?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173974695&sr=1-1
It's a guy who unwittingly falls into the roll of "exterminator" or hit man, when in real life, he's an exterminator of bugs! it's really funny.

If you want other funny reads, I definitely DEFINITELY recommend Christopher Moore, his best is "Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal" funny funny read. I'd lend it to ya if I hadn't sent it home with my vermonter friend. HEY, maybe she can drop it off at your house, NY/VT being so dang close, right? :)

I just wish listed Kockroach! thanks for the recommendation! (Comment this)

Written by: pagalina at 2007/03/15 - 12:08:26
4 - I just finished E.L. Doctorow's "Ragtime". It's an old book, but one I'd had recommended to me. It was fascinating! It encases the main thrust of the story in between all these sub-plots that involve real people from that time period.

One of the best books I have ever read is "Lying Awake" by Mark Salzman. It's so sparse and beautiful. I read it all in one sitting, I just couldn't put it down! (Comment this)

Written by: janeylynne at 2007/03/16 - 07:53:26
5 - I've got that on my bedside stand..just haven't gotten to it yet! (Comment this)

Written by: Chris at 2007/03/16 - 08:28:50
6 - Thanks Janeylynne, I'll check those out!

Chris, if your blog is to be believed, you always have a lot of books on your bedside. How do you do it?
 (Comment this)

Written by: pagalina at 2007/03/16 - 08:57:34
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