I linked to the amazing website promo for this book a while ago and just wanted everybody to know it's out this week. You HAVE to click that link and follow the arrows. Too. Much.
Other books I plan to read this summer are
The Children, the civil rights book by the late David Halberstam
Piety & Politics: The Right-Wing Assault on Religious Freedom by Barry Lynn (We love Barry Lynn in part because Pat Robertson called him a "left-wing thug.")
Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier (a fave author)
all families are psychotic by Douglas Coupland (another fave)
Here's the deal times two:
1. If anyone would like to co-host a skype reading group to discuss any of these books in chat after the summer, email me (see sidebar for addy). We can have many co-hosts but there would need to be at least two of us who have read the book. Rumor mill has it we might get Barry Lynn to join us in chat. Us Blog against Theocracy organizers have connections, doncha know.
2. In comments here, leave what you plan to read for the summer, so we can all have ideas, etc. Thanks.
I'm planning on reading the following: Blue Latitudes by Tony Horwitz, Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army by Jeremy Scahil, and maybe the next novel by Bangkok 8 author John Burdett.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love Miranda July, her film 'You Me and Everyone We Know' is a minor treasure.
ReplyDeleteDr. Monkey: "Blue Latitudes" is a great read, especially while you're traveling.
ReplyDeleteMy list:
"The Children," natch.
"The Last Hard Time" - Tim Egan (about the Dust Bowl.
"1491" - Charles Mann.
"Atonement" - Ian McEwan (favorite author).
Some Terry Pratchett "Disc World" books, because my son (and Suzy) have been telling me how good they are.
My own, as I write it. I hope.
Free Culture: How Big Media Uses Technology and the Law to Lock Down Culture and Control Creativity by Lawrence Lessig
ReplyDeleteThe Anger Right: Why Conservatives Keep Getting It Wrong by S. T. Joshi and Robert Glisson
The Sweet Potato Queens' 1st Big-Ass Novel: Stuff we didn't actually do, but could have, and may yet by Jill Conner Browne with Karin Gillespie
this is just for starters. Am almost done with the S. T. Joshi book and have gotten the Sweet Potato Queen book today from my handy-dandy local library.
What do I plan on doing this summer? I'm having a big left-wing orgy on the Senate floor to celebrate Falwell's rapture. Maybe I'll read a book or two in between the sodomy and bestiality.
ReplyDeleteIt’s times like this that I glad not to be part of some organized religious group.
ReplyDeleteI don't have to feign righteousness about Falwell's death.
He was a hate monger disguised as a minister.
Unfortunately there will always be somebody to take his place.
Oh yeah, QD, Terry Pratchett. I'll be relentless until you read some. I'm enjoying Wyrd Sisters right now.
ReplyDeleteMy list?
For a little light reading, I am planning on Robert Fisk's The Great War for Civilisation and John D'Emilio's biography of Bayard Rustin.
Walden ... I've never read Thoreau.
And the new Barbara Kingsolver book.
And some miscellaneous titles that have been gathering dust next to the bed for quite a while. I don't even know what all is there!
NOT Harry Potter. I'd hate to spoil my record.
You have about 11 times as many people in the U.S. as we have in Canada, so you have more brilliant academics due to population. This evening, on CBC radio, I heard an interview with Susan Friend Harding, an American cultural anthropologist. She wrote The Book of Jerry Falwell: Fundamentalist Language and Politics. I googled the book title. It was published by Princeton University Press, and won 3 academic awards, in 2000 and 2001. While fundamentalism certainly has affected my country, and the politics that influence the way we live, I think that the U.S. in particular has been affected by right wing religious politics. The book sounds worth reading. It was so refreshing to her hear provide an intelligent analysis (in brief) of Falwell's strategy of fostering not only supporters but also enemies, in order to create a conflict, and then to have a cause. Oh, and I'm going to be reading Harry Potter. There's a lot in there about kids and life, the way that people grow and change, British myth and history, and world conflict--not written to everyone's liking, but it's there.
ReplyDeleteI have the pink copy too. This opt-in book club is a good idea!
ReplyDeleteI'll be reading:
Noone Belongs Here More Than You (Miranda July)
Sidartha (Herman Hesse)
The March (E.L. Doctorow)
Harry Potter (hhm, what was her name again???)
Maybe something from one of the lists above...
Wow, I'm so getting MJ's book. Here movie "Me You and Everyone We Know" was weird, disturbing, and thought-provoking. So glad I found your blog!
ReplyDelete