James Meek: The People's Act of Love: A Novel
I just began this book this morning, 10/20, but it seems very promising.
Grace Paley: The Collected Stories
I'm currently reading these wonderful short stories by a heroically engaged human being intermittently between other books.
Anthony Swofford: Jarhead: A Marine's Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles
A longer review coming soon in my main column (I think).
Carl Hiaasen: Skinny Dip
I love Carl Hiassen. When I need a book that will go down like a good burger, fries and milkshake I turn to him and he never disappoints. Completely entertaining from the first page to the last, hilarious but with serious moral concerns at its center about our use of the environment and each other.
Ernest Hemingway: Green Hills of Africa
Hemingway's complete control of his deceptively simple, direct style is always a marvel, but 295 pages about the slaughter of animals that are now endangered and simplistic, paternalistic views of the African people made me uncomfortable.
Martin Amis: The Information
As I read this day after day on the bus going to and from work I began to wonder what others on the bus thought about me as I laughed out loud again and again. What a sharp, wicked sense of humor and an amazing skill with words Amis has. In the last fifteen pages, though, either he didn't know how to wrap it up and lost his way or he just went so fast that I couldn't keep up. Either way, I wound up a little disappointed.
Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities (Penguin Classics)
I had never gotten around to reading this, but it is a great story, even if it is a little sentimental and didactic by today's tastes.
Lucero: 1372 Overton Park
Lucero rocks as always, although the songs are a little less outstanding, I thought. Still, RIYL Bruce Springsteen or The Hold Steady. (***)
Xx: XX
This young London band's dream pop makes me think of Angelo Badalamenti, but with intriguing interplay between sleek, airy male and female voices. (****)
Bell X1: Blue Lights on the Runway
I've seen this Irish band compared to Coldplay and early Radiohead. It also makes me think of The National, Elbow, and at some points of the Talking Heads. Not innovative, I guess, but every song is a good listen. (****)
The Crying Light
Antony and the Johnsons: The Crying Light
No, this won't be to everyone's taste. Rock, it doesn't. Its chief strength is Antony Hegarty's astonishing voice (think of both Buckleys). He looks clearly and mournfully, with dignity and calm, at the century of ecological catastrophes we're plunging into. I think this may be the only release this year that people years from now will look back at and say that it mattered. (*****)
Andrew Bird: Noble Beast
So far, this is my most listened to 2009 release. It sort of reminds me of Paul Simon at his peak in that it's melodic, thoughtful and literate. Bird doesn't have Simon's knack for captivating hooks, but he has greater musical intricacy and subtlety. (****)
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