Folks, if I’ve been remiss on the 75 Books reviews, the following photo demonstrates why. These are all books I’ve finished or referred to (mostly the former) in the past two to three months. I’ve been hoping to get to reviews of these, but alas, the pile is the telltale sign. But let it be known that I’m a man of my word. At the very least, I’ll fess up titles!
The Call by Yannick Murphy: The always interesting author of Here They Come and Signed, Mata Hari returns with a novel that whips up a worldview from a rather quirky set of limitations: namely, the call logs that a veterinarian maintains as his son is unexpectedly put into a coma and an unforgiving economy denies him work. What emerges is a surprisingly optimistic, often funny, and very moving account on how one family uses acceptance and forgiveness as a way to atone for hard knocks. (Bat Segundo interview with Murphy)
Birds of Paradise by Diana Abu-Jaber: Forget Franzen and Eugenides. If you're looking for a social novel that counts, Diana Abu-Jaber is the author you're looking for. Building from the free-form exploration of consciousness and identity in Crescent and the gripping procedural structure of Origin, Abu-Jaber's latest novel is her finest, equally fluent with gutterpunk culture and smarmy real estate men. It has been suggested by The Washington Post's Ron Charles that you will likely gain some pounds while reading this novel. This is certainly true. Abu-Jaber's description of food is so precise that it often made me want to do more cooking. But I very much admired the way in which Abu-Jaber presents all her characters as unwitting victims of rough capitalism, which permits them some dignity even as they perform terrible acts.
The Last of the Live Nude Girls by Sheila McClear: This memoir isn't so much about the decline of the Times Square peepshow, as it is about one young woman's efforts to pull herself up by by her bootstraps when presented with few economic options. Filled with self-introspective candor and a quiet dignity, McClear's story is one that might befall any of us in these volatile times. While McClear does get back on her feet, her book leads one contemplating the terrible fates of other young women now moving to New York and falling into deadlier vocations. (Bat Segundo interview with McClear)
Yes, if you give us a list we can pester you for your thoughts on specific titles, more efficient than the daunting prospect of you having to write a thorough report from scratch!
Is the one in the green plastic bag some sort of porn that you’re trying to protect our innocent eyes from seeing?
We don’t need the list to start pestering! I see you have Extremely Lound and Incredibly Close down near the bottom of the left pile. I just finished reading that a few days ago and would love to hear your thoughts.
(And yes, inquiring minds want to know what’ in that green bag)
I just ruined my eyes trying to make out all the titles. Give us a list man.
If you are looking to get rid of that pile, I can think of someone who would take it off your hands for you.
I don’t know what it is, but whenever I see a stack of books like this, or a bunch of books on a book case in an add for Pottery Barn or something, I must try to figure out what all the titles are. It’s a bit like looking into someone’s closet and finding that they have all the same shirts as you. (I will say that FIRED is pretty funny)
Hehe…it’s like a Rorschach test. Don’t worry, I’ll spill soon. Of course, if you look hard at the details, you might be able to make out some of the guests for upcoming Segundo shows.
I agree with Megan