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[gfrancie]

I finished reading the latest Thursday Next book by Jasper Fforde. It took me awhile to get into it. The previous Next book was stronger in my opinion but I did enjoy this one once I figured out where he was going with things. Plenty of puns and dorky literary in-jokes.

Now I am reading David Rakoff's latest bunch of essays which focus on one theme. It is called Half-Empty and he investigates and reflects upon the nature of our culture's love affair with positivity. The idea that anyone can be a winner/star and the hard fact that sometimes reality wins. He isn't trying to be a downer (and really he isn't) He touches on the idea that should you disagree with some notion, there is the mind-set that you just don't get it. He shares the personal side of things and also his articles as a journalist. He is screamingly funny and sharp-eyed about humans and the personal deals they might make with themselves. It's interesting because he isn't vicious (though he does share vicious moments) but he is honest and sympathetic about a number of situations. He also talks about the joy or entertainment value within misery or denial. (What can I say, he is Jewish, so it comes naturally)
I really enjoyed his piece on art and artists; especially what it is like as a writer. He makes fun of his short-comings and shares the hard truth about trying to craft something out of nothing. Having to be with yourself as you put things off and then beg yourself to come up with something. Anything.
I would love to have pie with this sweet sweet man.

Comments

[cutebutpsycho99.livejournal.com]

I have David Rakoff's book Don't Get Too Comfortable. That's a fun read also.

If you have him over for pie, can I come?

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Totes!
You would dig this book. It is truly interesting. It veers all over the place.

[sahara-harp.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a book that would make me throw it across the room. :) I am really enjoying the Stella Gibbons though, I look forward to getting back to it every evening.

Tell me more about Thursday Next books.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

The book is interesting because the essays kind of covered all sorts of topics about our culture. It isn't like he is all for cynical attitudes. He was talking more about things like the attitude during the housing bubble where it was all, "yay yay bigger better it will be awesome nothing will go wrong" and if you dared to raise a few points that maybe things won't be as lovely as that forever -that somehow you were a total downer. He talked about this with an expert who said that it is feasible to be anxious and happy at the same time. That everything isn't either/or. Like the idea within our culture among some that if you aren't happy all of the time -something is deeply wrong. People kind of go in waves. It is more of a book that questions the extremes.
He wrote a couple of really poignant pieces about his therapist dying and also about having cancer show up again.
The whole book is worth it for his aside about cupcake shops in New York. That made me laugh and laugh and laugh.

Thursday Next books are by Jasper Fforde. It is kind of a fantasy/meta series. An alternate history of England, time-travelers, characters within literature who show up in real life. If you read a lot of English literature than the jokes would appeal. A lot of puns. It is very English at times.

[jessiesquash.livejournal.com]

I love Jasper Fforde's books so much! He's so clever. If I ever got to meet him I'd probably giggle like a little school girl. Is that the one he just came out with? I haven't had a chance to read it yet.

I haven't read any of David Rackoff's books but I love listening to his contributions on This American Life. He has such a dry voice and he's very funny!

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

He is sooooooooo adorable. I have met him a couple of times. He is my Mom's imaginary bf. hee.