Some gulp, some savor. Some chug, some sip. Could be an entire way of being, a way of approaching life. “Drink deep, or taste not the plasma spring!” as Seth Brundle would say. Or perhaps not. When it comes to drinks and to books I find I’m going more into the savor and sip. The pinch and save. Which is why I now seem to have incomplete, oh, over a half-dozen books. I just can’t finish them! I want to space it out! But then I get bored, or distracted flit about and pick up another, think something else will inspire me more, and pick it up, or feel I need to feed a different part of my brain. Or it’s just what happens to be lying around. So here’s a sample of what’s lying around:
The Angry Island by A.A. Gill, a collection of essays by a brilliant, particular, Scottish writer about England. Gill writes incredibly well, with long-big-dick swinging sentences of such keen observation and, I’m trying to find a word that means with a “wide ranging vocabulary” but I’m just not quite as skilled a wordsmith. My mom’s Scottish, My Dad’s English, so to read this guy’s words is like hearing them fighting in my head. Which actually has me LOL on more than one occasion, like, LOL like I haven’t since I’ve read Dave Sedaris for the first time. How many writers can you actually say that about? He nails it just by isolating what after a lifetime of observation he has found to be the central English characteristic: a stoically but barely controlled rage which is burbling beneath their politeness, their accents and their pint glasses. Now that I know about this guy I’m keeping an eye out for his byline in what, Vanity Fair, or The New Yorker or what have you. Very funny. Keen. Like a knife.
Writing for Comics By Peter David & Writing for Comics by Alan Moore. Well yes I’m now reading two how-to-books by two of my favourite comic writers. One’s a lot shorter than the other, and surprisingly, it’s Moore. Not much more to say about these, then hey, I should probably get back to them.
Nuclear Madness, by Helen Caldicott. After completing the Mining Hall of Fame, I thought it was safe to contemplate the other side of the equation. This was loaned to me by my friend Steve after I was passionately defending the nuclear industry one night, most likely at a bar, which is where I tend to get all uppity about these sorts of things. (“Hey I actually know something! Hey! Hey! Listen to me!”) Anyhow, it’s terrifying. And um. Well. If I finish it I’m sure I’ll be very informed about the issues.
Reading Comics by Douglas Wolk. Doug’s a friend of mine from back who I met through Liz when she was working at D&Q. His book is simply the best comics criticism there is. Again a very keen brain approaching the idea of comics without the problem of excess technical or theoretical language nor the excess of geek idolatry. Just a desire to find out what makes these things so engaging and to share that desire that engagement with others. These things are good! You will like them!
Fancies and Goodnights by John Collier. Given to me by Slates. I had no idea how good this book was before I picked it up. Collier is a short-story writer who used to write scripts for the original run of the Twillight Zone. What this man can do in 6 pages is incredible. And the book just does not run out of stories, each one an incredible concept, gleefully executed. There’s lots in here, enough to dive into one before going to bed and marvel.
The Man in High Castle by Philip K. Dick. Much much more to say about this one.
I should probably finish some of these so I can get to it…
