Friday, May 21, 2021

Week 36 Book 68 : How To Talk Dirty And Influence People

 

Lenny Bruce has always been a hero of mine, a man with boundaries, but not in the same places as most people. Hilarious and so far ahead of his time, you'd think he was a time traveller fed up with the short decades of the 40s to 60s when he died, far too soon. This book is funny and just amazing.

Lenny Bruce, a hero.

Week 36 Book 67 : Seven Brief Lessons on Physics

 

Has quickly become my fave science writer, and these short but lucid explanations are a great pimer for modern things that people say they "don't get" when it comes to Physics, the Universe and the next great frontier. 

Poetic and erudite, will have to seek out more by this guy soon.


Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Wekk 36 Book 66 : Uncommon Type

 

Like Tom Hanks himself, these stories are gentle, well crafted, oozing in talent and amazingly accessible. Which is a bit of a problem, because there is no threat here. The tension is mild, even when one character meets his end, it's only grisly if you think about it, otherwise it's wistful.

Still great writing though,  the kind of book you'd enjoy in a hammock, on the beach or in the bath. Maybe not all at the same time though.


Monday, May 17, 2021

Week 36 Book 65 : The Devils You Know

 

Decent action thriller, and a good palate cleanser. Nothing outstanding and nothing that grates the senses, could see it being a movie on Netflix. Writes "American" well for a Kiwi author.

Sunday, May 16, 2021

Week 35 Book 64 : Midnights Children

 

This is like a song by Celine Dion, there's absolutely talent, but I am not a fan of the content. There is too many allusions, which are hammered to death by the writer. Clever once or twice, but the number of times he swings the sledge hammer of the number 1001, just gets tiresome. Also the constant calling out of what would happen next and how the death or major change to a character is coming, might be in line with his Arabian Nights obsession (seriously find a new allegory, how many books is it now?) - it gets irritating.

Beautiful language, but it hides misogyny and racism, whether the authors or a "product of its time" - it's a veneer over ugly thoughts and petty.



Monday, May 10, 2021

Week 35 Book 63 - A Very Punchable Face

 

From the Dedication, For My Mom, Dad & my Brother - You're like family to me. That sets the tone and the level of humour in this book. A laugh a minute - except the chapter about 9/11 when it doesn't become maudlin, but does a good job of portraying a family caught in the midst.

Saturday, May 8, 2021

Week 34 Book 62 : Conversations With Friends

 

One of those books I bought a while ago and put down as I struggled with it. I loved Normal People and consumed whole, in one go on a flight 2 years ago. So I bought this and nursed it for ages, I enjoy the writing, the insights and the structure of it all. The characters I found difficult to enjoy reading about though. I kept seeing the worst in the ordinary, which to be fair was probably the point (well done you), but apart from the Indie Film ending, it was a roller coaster of struggling with the first half, enjoying the last third of it. 

My math is awsm obv.

 

 

Thursday, May 6, 2021

Week 34 Book 62 : How Music Works

 

Fascinating look into how music works, how it has evolved, all the weird things that impact it in ways you've never thought of, and how David Byrne works too.

It's a kind of half and half, a bunch of ideas, history and sideways looks at the holistic product we call music and then a history of the Talking Heads, David Byrne and his collaborations and why he did them that way.

I found it endlessly interesting and could easily have consumed more.

Monday, May 3, 2021

Week 34 Book 61 : The Guest List

 

The problem with referencing the previous (and superior) work is that it inevitably draws comparison. A thing I guess you can't avoid as this is a carbon copy of the Hunting Party. Spoilers being that if you have read THP then you'll see the twists and tuns of TGL coming a mile off.

Still well paced and a cracking read, just less so by comparison.