I wrote every single one of my papers in college the night/morning before they were due.
Welcome to the latest attempt to get Crasstalkers talking about what they are reading: Book Pub. Once a month, check in with your fellows to see what’s interesting in their literary lives. And get smashed.*
*Optional
I think that’s enough explanation, we’ve been doing this for a few months. Let’s go!
What I’m Reading:
- The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America
by George Packer
Status: Finished
Recommended if you want a closer look at the recent history of the decline of the 99% in the U.S.
(Goodreads Avg Rating: 4.15 | Amazon
Thoughts: Also published earlier this year, George Hacker (author of The Assassin’s Gate: America in Iraq) uses the experiences of individual Americans to explore the larger stories of corporate greed, political malfeasance, financial mismanagement, and the resulting troubles in rural, suburban, and urban America. Packer examines the decline of the American factories, the ridiculous growth and subsequent spectacular bursting of the housing bubble, and the revolving door between government and lobbying groups. Even though Packer uses personal accounts and ground-level story-telling at length, the narrative never feels myopic or disconnected from the larger picture. It does bog down at points, but overall I think it’s worth a read. - The Flamethrowers
by Rachel Kushner
(Goodreads Avg Rating: 3.33 | Amazon
Status: Finished
Recommended if you like your coming-of-age stories to have ladies with motorcycles and fantastic imagery.
Thoughts: I liked this book. The narrator is “Reno”; just out of college, you know her only by the name that her new friends have given her as you follow her attempts to fit into the art scene in 1970s New York. As mentioned above, some of the imagery is fantastic; more than once I found myself turning over a description in my head for several minutes. That said, I also rolled my eyes several times. The settings also include the Bonneville Salt Flats. And there are motorcycles and Italians. So it has that going for it. I don’t know how to write about fiction here, which should be clear right about now. - Wolf Hall
by Hilary Mantel
(Goodreads Avg Rating: 3.80 | Amazon
Status: Re-read, about a 1/5 of the way in
Recommended if you like historical fiction, English/British/European history, or crying
Thoughts: I read this the first time about halfway through college, and I must have already been dead inside because I don’t remember crying at any point while reading it. Set during the reign of Henry VIII, the novel follows Thomas Cromwell, the son of an blacksmith, soldier, businessman, secretary to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey and later, chief minister to the king. After a brief glimpse into his childhood, the action really starts with the efforts of the cardinal and Cromwell to legally put aside the unfortunate Queen Catherine of Aragon so that Henry can start humping Ann Boleyn with church approval, and hopefully get a son out of her. Seriously, if you like historical fiction at all, just read it. I can’t remember what I read last Tuesday, let alone four years ago, so that is all I have to say at the moment.
Next up: Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel, and Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris.
Now tell me what you’ve been up to.
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