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The Canon
by lz in Reading Archive on 29Jul2007
It's been 20 years since I last thought about Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species (for us humans, it goes: Animalia, Chordata, Mammalia, Primate, Hominidae, Homo, sapiens). Sapiens are the only living species in our genus (we possibly killed off the Neanderthals 28k years ago in a fit...
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Devoured this in nearly one sitting. Hundreds of pages of silly white collar worker stories of wasted hours which then get turned into billable hours invoiced to clients. "The great unsung pastime of American corporate life, the wadded paper toss." Swapping stories in Benny's office. Rumors swirling. Minor wars and...
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Deliriously, shudderingly good book that will serve to kick my arse into gear; that year of global backpacking seems much more realistic now. Was this the first book to use AdWords to determine what a the most successful title would be? Ferriss walks you through the basics of creating automated...
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Gordon
by lz in Reading Archive on 17Jul2007
Originally published under the pseudonym of the main character, Louise Walbrook, because the contents are so very dirty (for 1960s standards). In 2001, Mrs. Templeton agreed to release the book under her real name. Louise falls into an affair with Robert Gordon, whom she only dares to call Gordon due...
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Bone in the Throat
by lz in Reading Archive on 13Jul2007
The raucous chef-writer has a pretty decent work of fiction here. This was entirely readable, if a bit drawn out (last scene with Charlie Wagons could have been shorter and still poignant). But his writing style was excellent-- delicious depictions of the food, naturally, and realistic impressions of NYC neighborhoods...
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Giddy, dizzying short short stories. 750 words or less, some so powerful you feel you've been punched in the gut. The authors' use of language is skillful swordplay at this level. Nothing is left to chance-- every word matters. No skimming allowed. Recommended in spades for those of you out...
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Natasha's Dance
by lz in Stranded on 10Jul2007
St. Petersburg built from nothing in 1700s as the door to Europe, build on marshy land, in styles borrowed heavily from Vienna (?Venice?) and Paris. Everything French was considered superior to backwoods Russian until the War of 1812 when Napolean invaded. Then the backlash against the French language began, the...
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The End of Mr. Y
by lz in Reading Archive on 06Jul2007
Hmm. I can't seem to remember where I picked up this book recommendation, but it was on my list when I went to the bookstore in a harried frenzy to pick up something for a last minute weekend getaway to the beaches of Baja. Parts were interesting, by the end...
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Falling Man
by lz in Reading Archive on 02Jul2007
Excellent, tight, concise work by DeLillo portraying the horror of 9/11, before and after and years after. Only DeLillo has the ability to dance around the scene, leaving most things untold, hinting and describing and not playing on our sympathy bone too much. His story follows Keith, who survives the...
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