Currently I am finishing one book and beginning another, so those will have to wait. But there are some fine books that have either just been released, or will be soon. Not exactly a summer beach reading list, but I don't do a lot of reading there anyway.Just out in stores now is The Eliminationists: How Hate Talk Radicalized the American Right (Polipoint Press $16.95) by author and blogger at Crooks and Liars, David Neiwert. By documenting the ideas and rhetoric that champion the elimination of opposition groups, Neiwert argues that the conservative movement itself has been transformed into something not conservative at all, but is becoming increasinly right-wing and dangerous. I will review this one as soon as possible
The historian in me is looking forward to How Rome Fell: Death of a Superpower (Yale University Press $32.50) by Adrian Goldsworthy. Apparently the author sets to look at that great Empire fell with fresh and post 9/11 eyes. (And by the way, anyone who likes historical fiction about Rome should read Gore Vidal's great novel Julian, Vintage $16.00, first published in 1963, and tells the tale of the last pagan Emperor, the Apostate Julian).
Due out in paperback in June, and in the theaters in August, is Taking Woodstock: A True Story of a Riot, a Concert, and a Life (Square One Publishers $15.95) by Elliot Tiber with Tom Monte. Tiber explores his role at the fable concert held now forty years ago, up there at Yasgur's farm. He also looks at his life and his relationship with three famous artists, Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams and Robert Mapplethorpe. The film should be released on August 14th and is directed by Ang Lee.
Finally, Denis Johnson has a new novel that has just been released. Not nearly as long as his great Tree of Smoke, Nobody Move (Farrar Straus Giroux $23.00) is apparently a crime thriller set in the American West and includes a cast of wacky characters. Johnson is one of the best prose stylists writing today, and I can never recommend him enough.These books are available, or will soon be available at Jackson Street Book and other fine independent bookstores.
democommie is awaiting the picture versions of all these tomes.
Seattle Dan:
ReplyDeleteI think I'll start with "The Eliminationists"; I ain't been gettin' enough fiber in my diet of late (not enough skwerl, I think) and can use any hits about, um, elimination, that are out there. BTW, I can't afford a colonoscoping but my plumber says he can do the job with his Ridgid drain maintenance machine, http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/K50-Drain-Machine, and he only wants $150 an hour, plus parts. Sounds a lot better than the $1,800 those thieving proctunnelists wanted!
Oh, hey, I went to the pubic liberry the other day to return the video, "My Pet Goat, Sweetheart of Sigma Chi--The Director's Cut" and they was havin' a buk sail. I bought me a whole bunch of great books; .25 for soft-covers and .50 for stiffies. I'm gonna put 'em all on a bukshelf in my living room (leastwise till I can afford that bigass flat screen) so's to impress any ladies that I can entice over for some beans and brown bread on a saturday night. If I was to line 'em all up and send you a pitcher, could you tell me which ones are upside down? I don't wanna look like a complete dewfuss.
Okay, Dan, that David Neiwert is just about as French as the come.
ReplyDeleteAnd that Ang Lee – he’s pretty damn French, too.
That's some grim shit dude. Lighten up a bit, my friend, or you'll find yourself in a bad place. My recommendation, tailored specifically for you, is Charles Bowden's new book: "Some of the Dead are Still Breathing." That would cheer you up.
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