Now that the issues of fabulist memoirs,horndog governors,Hillary’s Nietschean Will to Power and Obama’s Wacko Spiritual Guide have received proper treatment,let’s get to something far more important:what book will I read next?
I’m close to finishing Sean Wilsey’s "Oh,the Glory of It All,"a heartbreaking (and true) memoir of growing up with narcissistic parents who put the "fucked up"in "fucked up family."But with all my books in storage for another year,only a handful of slim volumes populate the bookshelves,encased in Ziploc bags (see above).
What’s more,Wife has gotten all medival on my ass,and has strongly suggested that we limit purchases of new books until the bedbug plague has been eliminated. With a paucity of choices,I should have a simple time making a decision,but oddly,it’s had the opposite effect:with limited resources and being too lazy to walk the five blocks to the library,I can’t decide what next to read.
So I’m going to let you do that for me.
Vote for one of the three texts below in the comments section. I’ll read whatever gets the most votes;if you feel strongly about something else,you can mount a write-in campaign,and I’ll beg Wife to let me buy a new book.
Then I’ll review it in this space with all the wit and wisdom you’ve come to expect from me,which is minimal.
THE CONTENDAHS
1. Ralph Ellison by Arnold Rampersad
Author of my favorite American novel of the 20th Century,Ralph Ellison has been an inspiration as a writer,if not a person. I’ve had this on the shelf for a bit,unread. The big question no one has ever adequately answered:after publishing "Invisible Man"to universal acclaim in the early 1950s,why couldn’t he finish another novel?
PROS:He lived a fascinating life,was a brilliant writer,and penned the novel that,more than any other,inspired me to want to write fiction.
CONS:After reading about his sudden ascent to fame and subsequent inability to finish another book,I may want to kill myself. I’ll probably get so depressed,I’ll quit after reading 100 pages.
2. Then We Came to the End,by Joshua Ferris
It’s "The Office"meets "Catch-22"meets "The Brothers Karamatzov."Meets a novel.
PROS:The book has been called a brilliant debut with heart,humor,and compassion.
CONS:Ferris is half my age. Bastard. I’ll get pissed off at this fact,and probably quit after reading about 100 pages.
3. The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier.
I have no idea what this book is about,except it’s in the bag of books.
PROS:Could be a pleasant surprise. Nice blurbs. It’s nice to read a book without any expectations.
CONS:The clothing on cover reminds me of Keanu Reeves from "The Matrix"from the head down. Unable to shake that image,I’ll probably quit after reading 100 pages.
4. Write-in vote
If you think of something that’s not on the list above,you can write it in,and hopefully someone will vote for it.
PROS:I could discover unknown or unread authors that make me look at the world in a whole new way.
CONS:You could pick "The Bridges of Madison County."Or "The DaVinci Code."Or "Mein Kampf."Which I’ll quit after reading 100 pages.
There you have it. Remember,my happiness for the next week or so depends on your vote. I’ll keep the polls open until I reach 100 comments,or perhaps when I just get tired,and quit.
Oh,if the book sucks,I’ll never listen to you again,whoever you are.
I’ve heard the Ferris book is very good,but I KNOW the The Brief History of the Dead is amazing. It was one of my favorite books the year it came out,and the first chapter should be enough to give you the motivation to read the rest. Oddly,I was just talking about this book yesterday,and how much I liked it. I must have known you were going to ask.
I’ve heard Brief History is excellent but haven’t read it yet.
Hello Bookfraud,
Ive heard Brief History of the Dead is fantastic. But,I just read a fantastic book,but this would be counterproductive to your bedbug problem as it might require you to go out and buy it. Actually,I have four rec. for you.
1) The Flawless Skin of Ugly People by:Doug Crandell
2) Strange Skies by:Matt Marinovich
3) Interpreter of Maladies by:Jumpha Lahiri (or some spelling combination..forgive me)
4) Diary by:Chuck Palahniuk
Have a great day.
~C
I vote for A Brief History of the Dead.
then we came to the end,but death yarn could be fabulous. Are you in the market for any new reads? When are yas getting a new bed? Why such bedbug mishigos? Oy vey,that’s hell,dahlink.
dont read ferris. u mite get pissed off.
American Psycho
Pros:fucking badass
Cons:fucking gross
I have no idea what it’s about,but I love the title “The Brief History of the Dead”You might also consider “Lovely Bones”,“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time”or “Lottery”for other reads (some other time when everything isn’t hiding in ziplocks).
Bedbugs? Horrid problem. Remember that old joke about gasoline,a match and an icepick? Wait…that was lice wasn’t it???
matt:thank you for the vote/recommendation. it’s good to hear such strong sentiments. of course,you knew i was going to ask.
collin:so noted.
cicily:that’s a great list. much thanks for putting some thought into it.
bernita:your vote is noted. i sense a trend here.
katie:i’m always in the market for new reads,just as eliot spitzer is in the market for new gals.
we’ve gotten a new bed. and clothes. and furniture. and…
bakkanal:why would i get pissed off,just because he’s young and successful and probably rich?
j.:why do i need to read about gross when it’s all around me?
wyrd:thanks for the additional recommendations.
we’ve thought about torching the place. more than once.
probably.
You might have probably already read this,but if not:Coetzee’s Disgrace.
My write-in candidate:Jack Woodford’s wonderful “Why Write a Novel? (1943).
I’m voting for Ampersand. And looking forward to read what you think. The Ferris book has a device worth studying but I wasn’t convinced it worked. Others disagree.
I’ll also suggest Martin Amis,Time’s Arrow –definitely a novel to wrap your head around. And am seconding bellascribe’s suggestion for Coetzee’s Disgrace.
bakannal:you know me well.
bellascribe:i haven’t read disgrace,but may check it out. you’re not the first to recommend it.
peter:never heard of why write a novel?,but i must say i’m intrigued.
verbivore:a vote for ralph ellison! hooray!
i read time’s arrow several years ago. agree —it’s a total trip.
I also really liked “Oh The Glory of it All,”to my great surprise.
Don’t read Disgrace! It doesn’t need to be read. Too many fans already! I appreciated it and admired it,but…eh.
I am a first time visitor to your blog –I ambled over here from Citizen of the Month’s post “My Name is Ozymandias.”Just wanted to say hello and ask a question –why are your books in plastic bags?
rellis:oh the glory of it all was rather moving,no? don’t worry,i’m not going to read disgrace. not this week,at least.
judy:welcome. thanks for stopping by.
my books are in plastic bags because that keeps the freshness in,but the moisture out.
plus,we’ve had bedbugs for the past 9 months,and they tend to hide in books. so most of our volumes are in storage,and those at home need to be kept in bags.